Business
Nigeria To End Fuel Imports As 650,000pbd Dangote Oil Refinery Takeoff
Dangote Petroleum Refinery which commences production today, will help Nigeria transited from being the largest importer of these products to a net exporter.
Aliko Dangote, the President and CEO of Dangote Group, affirmed this during the inauguration ceremony of the plants by the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.
“This project is just the beginning of a great journey, a milestone in a new and exciting trajectory for the downstream sector of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.
“It is our firm commitment that we will replicate in this sector, what we have achieved in the cement and fertilizer markets, where Nigeria transited from being the largest importer of these products to a net exporter,” said Dangote.
He disclosed that the first product of the refinery “will be in the market before the end of July, or beginning of August this year.”
He stated that given the 650,000 barrel per day processing capacity, the refinery is more than able to meet all of Nigeria’s domestic fuel consumption, which is about 450,000 barrels per day. This leaves the excess production of 200,000 bpd available for export.
” The group’s huge investment of over $18.5 billion in the oil and gas industry has been prompted by the desire to support and contribute our quota to the Federal Government’s sustained effort to transform our economy and properly position our country as the leading Nation in Africa, and a respected member among emerging economies in the world.
“Beyond today’s ceremony, our first goal is to ramp up production of the various products to ensure that within this year, we can fully satisfy our nation’s demand for high-quality products to enable us to eliminate the tragedy of import dependency and stop, once and for all, the dumping in our market of toxic sub-standard petroleum products,” he said.
He added that beyond the local market, the group intend to ensure that the plants are run at the highest capacity utilization and highest efficiency to enable us to export competitively to other markets, especially in the ECOWAS and the wider Africa Region in which 53 countries out of 55 are dependent on imports to meet their petroleum products demand.
Gratitude For Projects’ Supports
Dangote thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians, for the immeasurable support his company got from the inception of the project to its completion.
“Well, what I want to share with Nigerians is actually to show my gratitude and that of the Dangote Group, for all the assistance that we got from the President, from the Federal Government of Nigeria, from even the President-Elect, because he also set the pace by creating the Lekki Free Trade Zone as part of his dream.
And also we want to thank Governor Fashola, Governor Ambode and Governor Sanwo-Olu; because they have given us all the assistance that we were looking for.
“We thank all Nigerians for giving us their support which is too numerous to mention,” he said.
Business
MAN woos CBN, MOF for manufacturing refinancing facility
The Director -General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call for the facility in a report on the manufacturing outlook for 2026.
Cover image: MAN
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the monetary authorities ( CBN and MOF) to introduce a Manufacturing Refinancing and Rediscounting Facility (MRRF) believing that it can reinvigorate the manufacturing sector in 2026.
The Director -General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call for the facility in a report on the manufacturing outlook for 2026.
He said that the MRRF is to enable banks to refinance approved manufacturing loans at single-digit rates for up to seven years.
He emphasised that to ensure a more robust manufacturing sector in 2026 , there was need for:
- 1. Launch a Manufacturing Refinancing and Rediscounting Facility (MRRF) that allows banks to refinance approved manufacturing loans at single-digit rates for up to 7 years.
- 2. Create a publicly accessible dashboard tracking lending flows, interest rate spreads, loan approvals and sectoral disbursement patterns in real time.
3. Further reduce the benchmark interest rate by at least 200–300 basis points over the next two quarters to make credit affordable for manufacturers.
4. Craft and ensure the effective execution of the implementation strategy for the recently approved Nigeria Industrial Policy.
5. Categorize manufacturers as strategic users of gas to remove the gap between what manufacturers and electricity generation companies pay per cubic foot of gas.
6. Introduce a stable, transparent gas pricing framework for manufacturers and prioritize local gas supply before exports.
Business
Nigeria Revenue Service unveils new logo as FIRS goes to rest
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the launch of the logo and accompanying brand elements represents an important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which has replaced the now-defunct Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has unveiled its institutional brand identity (logo) as part of efforts to reposition the country’s revenue administration structure.
The agency came into operation following the signing of the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025 by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025, marking a major shift in the legal and operational framework governing tax administration in the country.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the launch of the logo and accompanying brand elements represents an important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.
Adedeji noted that the new institutional identity “signals continuity of purpose, strengthened institutional capacity, and a forward-looking approach to supporting taxpayers and national development.”
Business
BREAKING: Heirs Energies Acquires 20.07% Stake in Seplat Energy from Maurel & Prom in $496-500 Million Deal
In a major shake-up in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Heirs Energies Limited, chaired by billionaire Tony Elumelu, has agreed to acquire the entire 20.07% equity stake in Seplat Energy Plc from French oil company Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A.
The transaction involves the sale of 120.4 million ordinary shares at approximately £3.05 per share, valuing the deal at around $496 million to $500 million.
The binding agreement was signed on December 30, 2025, after market close, marking Maurel & Prom’s exit from its long-held position in Seplat, one of Nigeria’s leading independent energy producers listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Exchange.
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Energies and its parent Heirs Holdings, described the acquisition as a “long-term investment in Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future,” emphasizing its alignment with goals of energy security, industrialization, and shared prosperity.
Maurel & Prom CEO Olivier de Langavant stated that the sale allows the company to monetize its stake and redirect resources toward direct investments in oil and gas assets, while expressing confidence in Heirs Energies as a strong, long-term shareholder for Seplat.
Seplat Energy, a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition with significant oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta, recently bolstered its portfolio through acquisitions, including ExxonMobil’s shallow-water assets.
This deal further consolidates indigenous ownership in Nigeria’s upstream sector, following Heirs Energies’ own growth as a major gas supplier powering domestic electricity generation.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
-
News1 day agoNew Year Forgiveness: Akpabio Withdraws Defamation Suits Against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Others
-
Business1 day agoMAN woos CBN, MOF for manufacturing refinancing facility
-
International3 days agoIn pictures: New Year welcomed around the world
-
Sports3 days agoAFCON 2025: Super Eagles to battle Mozambique January 5
-
Sports3 days agoAnthony Joshua discharged from hospital
-
International1 day ago‘128 journalists killed worldwide in 2025’,says IFJ
-
News1 day agoMalami: FHC adjourns bail ruling January 7
-
Business3 days agoNigeria Revenue Service unveils new logo as FIRS goes to rest
