Business
Johnvents Secures $40.5mn from BII to expand
Benson Adenuga, head of British International Investment’s (BII) office in Nigeria, said the institution was providing long-term funding for the firm’s plant in Ondo state.
Johnvents, a Nigerian agribusiness and manufacturing firm, has gained $40.5 million from the UK’s development finance institution to more than double its cocoa processing capacity to 30,000 metric tons annually.
Cocoa is among the biggest non-oil exports in Nigeria and largely grown by small-scale farmers in the south of the country.
Benson Adenuga, head of British International Investment’s (BII) office in Nigeria, said the institution was providing long-term funding for the firm’s plant in Ondo state.
” We’re actually providing funding for them to acquire machines and refurbish and expand their factory,” Adenuga told Reuters. Johnvents exports processed cocoa butter and powder, including to Europe.
Adenuga said BII would also help the firm to have 90% of its cocoa certified under the Rainforest Alliance sustainability and traceability programme by 2027.
Business
Nigerian Lawmakers Demand Arrest of World Bank Official Calling for Reinstatement of Petroleum Import Licences
Declaring the unnamed World Bank official persona non grata, the Committee gave the Bank 30 days to issue a public retraction and written apology.
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has call for the dismissal and arrest of the World Bank official responsible for the April 7, 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which recommended the reinstatement of petroleum import licences.
The Committee described the recommendation as a reckless move capable of undermining Nigeria’s indigenous refining capacity.
In a formal resolution, the Committee condemned the World Bank report, which claimed that imported petroleum products are 12 percent cheaper than those from the Dangote Refinery.
It rejected the position as contrary to Nigeria’s national economic interest and an unacceptable interference in the country’s sovereign petroleum policy.
Declaring the unnamed World Bank official persona non grata, the Committee gave the Bank 30 days to issue a public retraction and written apology.
It further demanded that the staff member responsible for the report be relieved of their duties and subjected to investigation.
Business
Senate approves Tinubu’s $516.3m loan
The syndicated financing facility is being sought from Deutsche Bank, according to a letter of request Tinubu sent to the Senate last Thursday.
The Senate has approved the $516.3 million loan requested by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The money will be used for the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway (Section One, Phase 1A and B).
The approval was given on Wednesday after the Senate considered the report of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
The committee, chaired by Senator Magatagarda Wamakko, recommended the approval of the loan.
The syndicated financing facility is being sought from Deutsche Bank, according to a letter of request Tinubu sent to the Senate last Thursday.
Business
Ibukun Awosika resigns from Cadbury board
The resignation takes effect from May 1, 2026, according to a statement signed by the company secretary, Afolasade Olowe.
Ibukun Awosika has resigned from the board of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, after more than 16 years of service.
The resignation takes effect from May 1, 2026, according to a statement signed by the company secretary, Afolasade Olowe.
The board expressed appreciation for her contributions since joining as a Non-Executive Director in October 2009 and noted that a replacement would be announced in due course.
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