Business
Dangote: My 650,000 BPD Refinery Was Built Without Government Incentives
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, stated that the construction of his 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery was accomplished without any form of support or incentives from the Nigerian government.
He made this known during the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria Summit held in Lagos, where he was represented by the Executive Director of the Dangote Group, Engr Mansur Ahmed.
Dangote highlighted the refinery’s remarkable capacity, which already supplies enough diesel and jet fuel to satisfy Nigeria’s domestic needs, addressing the country’s long-standing dependency on fuel imports.
This project, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone of Lagos, was built at a cost of $20 billion and began operations on January 12, 2024, with an initial refining capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.
By September 2024, this capacity was increased to 400,000 barrels per day, showcasing the rapid expansion of its output.
The refinery has since played a significant role in reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) being the exclusive distributor of the refinery’s petrol.
This strategic partnership led to the distribution of petrol across the nation, beginning on September 15, 2024.
Following this development, NNPCL announced an adjustment in fuel prices, setting rates between N950 and N1,100 per liter across its retail outlets nationwide.
Despite Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest crude oil producer, it has struggled for years to meet its refined petroleum needs domestically.
This has resulted in an overreliance on imports, a situation the Dangote Refinery aims to change.
Dangote emphasized that this refinery will not only reduce the nation’s import dependency but also boost economic growth by creating jobs and stabilizing fuel prices over time.
In his continuous push for reforms, Dangote has been a vocal advocate for the Nigerian government to completely eliminate fuel subsidies.
He reiterated this stance in September 2024, stressing that the removal of subsidies is essential for economic development, as it would free up government resources that could be directed toward infrastructure and social programs.
Business
FG Empowers 500 Women and Youths With Agricultural Skills In Ogun State
The Federal Government trains 500 women and youths in food production and agriculture. The programme was started to support food security.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security partnered with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT).
The women and youths were taught tomato, okra and Telfairia production techniques. The government believes this will help boost agriculture, improve food production and strengthen the economy in Ogun State.
Business
Fuel Prices Continue to Drop Across Some Nigerian Filling Stations
According to reports, fuel stations are reducing their prices a bit. This has become a general thing around Nigeria after the spike due to the removal of subsidy.
The prices are dropping to ₦1,275 and ₦1,299, going lower than ₦1,300 compared to what it was before.
Business
MTN Advances IHS Holding Acquisition Following Shareholder Approval
MTN has moved closer to acquiring IHS Holding, following shareholder approval of the proposed takeover, marking another major milestone in the transaction.
The approval was secured during the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on 4 August, allowing the deal to progress to the next stage.
If completed, the acquisition is expected to strengthen MTN’s infrastructure capabilities by giving the company greater control over its telecommunications tower assets. Industry analysts believe the move could improve network efficiency, reduce long-term operating costs, and support MTN’s continued expansion across its markets.
The transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions before it can be officially completed.
