Dangote Petroleum Refinery has introduced a dedicated hotline for Nigerians to report any MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) above the approved pump price of ₦739 per litre.

The refinery stated that the move is part of its commitment to transparency, affordability, and consumer protection in the downstream petroleum sector.

The hotline, 0800 123 5264, is now operational nationwide and enables consumers to report price violations promptly across more than 2,000 MRS filling stations.

The initiative follows Dangote Refinery’s recent rollout of nationwide PMS sales at ₦739 per litre, a step aimed at stabilising fuel prices and easing the financial burden on Nigerians, particularly during the festive season.

In a statement, the refinery urged Nigerians to take advantage of the price reduction and avoid buying fuel at inflated rates when locally refined PMS is available at the approved price.

The Trump administration has recalled the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., as part of a broader shake-up involving nearly 30 career diplomats serving in ambassadorial and senior embassy posts around the world.

Mills, who assumed his post in Nigeria in July 2024 during the Biden administration, is among the affected envoys who received notices last week that their tenures will end in January 2026. The move aligns with efforts to ensure U.S. diplomatic representatives fully support President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy priorities.

Africa has been the most impacted region, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda. Other affected regions include Asia (six countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam), Europe (four countries), the Middle East (two countries), and additional posts in South Asia and the Western Hemisphere.

Many of these diplomats were appointed under the previous Biden administration and had initially survived an earlier wave of changes that primarily targeted political appointees. Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and typically hold posts for three to four years, though the administration described the recalls as a “standard process” for any new presidency.

A State Department spokesperson defended the decision, stating: “An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”

The recalls, first reported by Politico, have raised concerns among some lawmakers and the American Foreign Service Association, the union representing U.S. diplomats. The affected career diplomats will return to Washington for potential reassignment but will no longer serve as chiefs of mission in their current postings.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), on receiving a commendation award from the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) for his outstanding commitment to press freedom.

The prestigious recognition was bestowed on Ajayi during the IPI’s Annual Conference held on December 2, 2025, in Abuja. The organisation praised Ajayi, who assumed office in late August 2024, for demonstrating “an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.

“In a statement, the IPI noted that the award aims not only to acknowledge Ajayi’s commendable record but also to encourage him to build on these efforts and inspire other public officials and institutions to follow suit.

President Tinubu welcomed the honour, commending the DSS chief for promoting press freedom, safeguarding citizens’ rights, and operating strictly within legal boundaries.

He highlighted that under Ajayi’s leadership, the DSS is shifting away from past perceptions of hostility toward the media, instead fostering dialogue and constructive engagement with journalists and the broader public.

The President urged other security agencies and government officials to adopt a similar collaborative approach, treating the media as partners in nation-building rather than adversaries.

He further encouraged the DSS to sustain its positive trajectory, ensuring an enabling environment for journalists to fulfil their constitutional role of holding public officials accountable.

The statement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.