Business
DR Congo: Heineken Forced to Withdraw Staff as Rebels Seize Facilities
Heineken has lost operational control and withdrawn its staff from facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CNN on Saturday quoted that the Dutch brewer announced on Friday.
In March, the company had suspended operations in three eastern cities, citing safety concerns after breweries were damaged and depots raided during clashes between government forces and rebels.
On Friday, Heineken said the situation had worsened. Armed groups have taken control of its sites in Bukavu and Goma—eastern Congo’s largest cities—as well as surrounding areas.
“The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control,” it said in a statement.
Heineken’s local unit, Bralima, continues to operate in parts of the country not affected by the fighting. The company said it is monitoring developments closely.
Heineken owns four breweries in the DRC, producing its namesake beer along with local brands such as Primus. It previously said its Bukavu facilities employed about 1,000 people directly and indirectly.
“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees,” Friday’s statement read.
Reuters also reported, “We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and we have continued to support them financially.”
Nearly 14 per cent of Heineken’s total revenue comes from its Middle East and Africa operations, with Congo—home to over 100 million people—a significant market.
Before the suspension, operations in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira represented roughly one-third of Heineken’s business in the country.
Conflict in eastern Congo has intensified in 2025, with the M23 rebel group making major territorial gains, sparking fears of broader regional instability.
Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons—allegations Rwanda has consistently denied.
Business
Nigeria’s oil minister orders marketers to reduce fuel price
“While we believe that market forces will eventually restore equilibrium, the regulator also has a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation does not become an avenue for profiteering. This must be done in line with the extant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,”said Lokpobiri.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at the NMDPRA General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum, directed petroleum marketers to reduce fuel price .
At the two-day forum themed: “Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector, Lokpobiri noted that refiners and marketers have continued to sell petrol at elevated pump prices despite the significant decline in crude oil prices from a peak of $120 per barrel to about $72 per barrel last week.
He said: “Following de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, we expected to see a commensurate downward adjustment in the prices of PMS and other petroleum products.However, that has not yet happened.”
“While we believe that market forces will eventually restore equilibrium, the regulator also has a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation does not become an avenue for profiteering. This must be done in line with the extant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,”said Lokpobiri.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates Tuesday, 30 June 2026
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1, 390
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,855
EURO (EUR) ₦1, 585
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 390 Sell ₦1, 395
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1,870
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 585 Sell ₦1,605
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
OFFICIAL CBN EXCHANGE RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,383. 63
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,831.64
EURO (EUR) ₦1,578. 03
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,710.71
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.55
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦203. 65
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.40
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,872. 07
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦368.43
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦84.24
OFFICIAL CBN EXCHANGE RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,380. 93
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,824.90
EURO (EUR) ₦1,577. 58
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,710.13
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.54
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦203. 13
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.39
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,867. 05
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦367.72
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦83. 89
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 393 Sell ₦1, 400
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,850 Sell: ₦1,870
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 580 Sell ₦1,600
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Nigeria’s oil minister orders marketers to reduce fuel price
Naira Exchange Rates Tuesday, 30 June 2026
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