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Firm Hails Tinubu Over DICON Act Signing

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….Says Nigeria Capable of Attaining Self-Sufficiency in Military Hardware

A Nigerian firm, DICON Gray Insignia, has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the amended Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act, which allows for the local manufacturing and storage of military hardware.

The firm also praised the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and other relevant government agencies in the security and defense sector for their efforts to develop the local market for security equipment manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported military hardware, which comes at a huge cost.

In a statement over the weekend, the MD/CEO of DICON Gray Insignia, Mr. Bem Ibrahim Garba, said President Tinubu has demonstrated bold leadership by ensuring that the vast foreign exchange spent on importing weapons is redirected toward initiatives that enhance the livelihood of Nigerians.

He stated that DICON Gray Insignia is ready to offer its technical expertise to ensure that, as the giant of Africa, Nigeria no longer remains at the mercy of countries that profit from exporting weapons to the highest bidders.

Garba described the amendment of the DICON Act by the National Assembly and its signing by President Tinubu as a game changer that will have significant security and economic benefits for the country.

Highlighting the far-reaching impact of the Act, he emphasized that local manufacturing of defense equipment will strengthen the naira, as transactions will be conducted in local currency rather than in foreign exchange.

Furthermore, he noted that the usual delays in military procurement—where orders can take up to a year before delivery—will be eliminated.

He stated: “This is a huge win for our country. We will no longer need to export massive amounts of foreign exchange to international markets, nor will we have to endure long waiting periods to supply our military and security forces.

The order and delivery gap will now be closed.”

“Our young people will be exposed to new technical skills, empowering them with meaningful employment opportunities and reducing pressure on the labor market.

Training them to manufacture these tools is in the best interest of our nation.

”Garba also expressed profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for their visionary leadership in prioritizing Nigeria’s defense capabilities.

He further highlighted that local manufacturing will not only serve Nigeria but also benefit neighboring West African countries, many of which rely on imported military hardware to combat insecurity.

Experts have applauded the DICON Gray Insignia partnership, viewing it as a strategic shift in Nigeria’s defense procurement policy—one that prioritizes technology transfer and local production over foreign dependency.

President Tinubu’s administration has made local manufacturing of defense equipment a key policy focus, leveraging strategic collaborations with both foreign and local partners through DICON as the central platform.

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Emmanuel Nnorom takes over as UBA Chairman

” I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”

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Emmanuel Nnorom, incoming board chairman , and the outgoing Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Tony Elumelu…Photo Credit: Tony Elumelu

United Bank for Africa Plc has announced that Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Group Chairman of UBA, will retire from the Board of Directors of UBA on 21 August 2026.

Alero Ladipo Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications United Bank for Africa Plc, said that Elumelu was retiring

upon the completion of the 12-year tenure limit prescribed for Non-Executive Directors of Banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

At its meeting held on 6 July 2026, the Board accepted Mr. Elumelu’s retirement and elected Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a Non-Executive Director of the Bank, as his successor, with effect from 21 August 2026.

The Board places on record its profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the strategic vision and institutional strength of the UBA Group.

Mr. Elumelu’s tenure has been a defining chapter in the Group’s history. Under his stewardship, UBA was transformed into a pan African institution, operating in 20 African countries and 4 global financial centres and serving over 50 million customers.

Mr. Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over forty years’ experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.

Commenting on his retirement, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu:

“Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career. UBA has established a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future. Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, on his appointment, said:

“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”

United Bank for Africa Plc is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across twenty African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 50 million customers globally.



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Dangote Cement targets 20% emissions cut by 2030

“By 2027, all fleet trucks operating in Nigeria, except at the Gboko plant, will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), with electric trucks scheduled for introduction in 2026.”

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Dangote Cement Plc has unveiled a sustainability roadmap aimed at reducing its carbon emissions by 20 percent and expanding its installed production capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030.

The plans were announced during the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, where Chairman, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, presented the 2025 Sustainability Scorecard to shareholders and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles at the core of its operations in line with Dangote Industries Limited’s Vision 2030.

Ikazoboh said sustainability had evolved from a compliance obligation into a central business strategy designed to drive growth, resilience and long-term value creation.

As part of its decarbonisation agenda, the company disclosed that it approved plans in 2024 to reduce its net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions intensity by 20 percent while accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation.

He said, “By 2027, all fleet trucks operating in Nigeria, except at the Gboko plant, will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), with electric trucks scheduled for introduction in 2026.”

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Dangote exports N757bn jet fuel to Europe in June

The report stated that flows of jet fuel from Nigeria to Europe rose from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June, the highest volume exported from the country to Europe since Nigeria became a net exporter of jet fuel in 2024, when the Dangote Refinery commenced aviation fuel production.

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Latest data from the S&P Global Commodity Insights, indicates that Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 466,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel to Europe in June, valued at an estimated N757 billion.

According to the market report, the refinery’s exports came as the European jet fuel market turned increasingly bearish following a sharp decline in prices from the highs recorded during the Middle East conflict.

The report stated that flows of jet fuel from Nigeria to Europe rose from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June, the highest volume exported from the country to Europe since Nigeria became a net exporter of jet fuel in 2024, when the Dangote Refinery commenced aviation fuel production.

The June export volume is equivalent to about 582.5 million litres of jet fuel. At an estimated domestic value of N1,300 per litre, the shipment is worth about N757.25 billion.

On the other hand, aviation fuel exports from the United States fell sharply in the past months.

The report showed that jet fuel exports from the United States to Europe declined steadily over the same period, falling from a record 818,000 metric tonnes in April to 560,000 metric tonnes in May and further to 399,000 metric tonnes in June, leaving Nigeria as a bigger supplier to Europe during the month.

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