Business
Nigeria To Privatise Raw Materials Sector for Growth – Minister
Set up Council for Industrial Revitalisation
▪︎ MAN, RMRDC agog
Cover image: From left to right: Interim Chairman of Pan African Manufacturers Association, Engr Mansur Ahmed; MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye; Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olumuyiwa Ajayi-Ade, at the NME, and NIRAM EXPO 2023 in Lagos.
By Ocheneyi Alli
The Federal Government of Nigeria is considering to privatise the country’s industrial raw materials sector for development by local or foreign investors.
Doris Anite Uzoka, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, gave this hint, during the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)’s ongoing Manufacturing Equipment and Raw Materials Exposition, in Lagos.
At the event which will end tomorrow, themed ‘ Future Manufacturing: A Roadmap To Enabling Environment With Sustainable Industrialisation,’ the Minister said ,” we must privatise our raw materials sector to support our Manufacturing industries and by focusing on value addition and local content development; we can reduce our reliance on imported raw materials and improve the overall competitiveness of our products.
This will also contributes to the growth of the SMEs and empower local entrepreneurs to participate actively in the manufacturing value chain.
Represented by Olumuyiwa Ajayi- Ade, a Deputy Director at the ministry, the Minister, also disclosed : ” since my assumption of office, with the approval of President Tinubu, a Presidential Council For Industrial Revitalisation, has been established, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Wale Edun, as the Chairman, and myself as the Vice Chair.
In addition, various Task Forces have been formed to effectively implement the mandates of the Presidential Council…”
In picture: A tour of the RMRDC exhibition stand by the representative of the Minister, Olumuyiwa Ajayi -Ade, led by Otunba Francis Meshioye, President of MAN, and other top dignitaries

The Minister enjoined all the stakeholders- manufacturers, policy makers , investors including the industry experts to ” let us work together to shape the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, in-line with Mr. President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
There are so many projects now at the RMRDC… if only we can get genuine and willing investors to take over these projects and start the raw materials productions in large quantity. It will go a long way in the supply of raw materials for our industries
Dr. Abubakar Aliyu, a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology , applauded the government’s policy intention to privatise the country’s raw materials sector, given the facts that the efforts of the RMRDC alone coupled with the 100 companies operating in the sector are not enough to meeting the industrial sector’s demands for local raw materials.
Dr. Aliyu, a former Director-General of the RMRDC, spoke as the guest speaker on the topic ‘ Opportunities For Jobs Creation and Wealth Generation with Emphasis on Raw Materials Value Addition.
He said that since the establishment of the RMRDC in 1987 till- date , it had researched , developed, patented and established 100 Technology Innovation Centers (TICs) to address local raw materials development.
All these TIC have been brought under one umbrella because of the insecurity situations across the country now.
We can hardly move to every sites where there are raw materials to establish model factories. This was why the TIC have been brought under one location in Abuja.
There are so many projects now at the RMRDC.. if only we can get genuine and willing investors to take over these projects and start the raw materials productions in large quantity. It will go a long way in the supply of raw materials for our industries.
He further said that besides the 100 TICs, there are 100 individual companies that have been producing fertiliser raw materials in Nigeria.
” Unfortunately, the 100 companies are not able to produce enough to meeting local demand. Nigeria needs about 3 million metric tons of the urea fertiliser and 5 million metric tons of the NPk fertiliser.
We need to do more; that’s why I said if we can get correct investors to invest in organic fertiliser, I believe that after few years, we can ban the importation of organic fertiliser in Nigeria,” he said.
Otunba Francis Meshioye, the President of MAN, also the government to also establish synergy between trade and industrial policies.
” It will be a great legacy if this is achieved during your tenure because industry and trade are under your portfolio.
In addition, it will also be great if your tenure births a new Industrial Policy for the country,” he said.
He said that beyond the government’s solutions, local manufacturers should begin to switch their manufacturing plants to Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing technologies into their production processes, so that they can realize greater revenue and profits from their investments.
” If manufacturers can efficiently balance a combination of efficient economies of production and supply chains; strong and reputable products; loyal customers; an established logistics network; as well as reliable on-line business elements, they will be well-positioned in the future to compete favourably in the industrial marketplace,” he said.
Business
CPPE Tasks Govt to Fix Cost of Living Crisis Amid GDP Growth
Reacting on Nigeria’s third quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.98 percent , CPPE said that it’s laudable, but called for policy interventions to fix the cost of living crisis.
The Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) tasks the government to ensure that GDP Growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare.
Reacting on Nigeria’s third quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.98 percent , CPPE said that it’s laudable, but called for policy interventions to fix the cost of living crisis.
Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the CPPE, notes that despite the improvment in the GDP, the cost-of-living crisis remains a concern .
He said: ” While disinflation is underway and prices of some food items and manufactured products are easing, the social outcomes of economic reforms continue to weigh on households.
” It is therefore imperative for policymaking to prioritise targeted interventions to address the uneasiness around the cost of living and ensure that GDP Growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare—particularly for vulnerable groups.”
To consolidate the gains recorded in Q3 and unlock stronger, more inclusive growth, Dr Yusuf, said that the following policy interventions are critical:
Reduce Structural Bottlenecks
Address energy supply constraints, reduce logistics costs, improve port efficiency, and accelerate transport infrastructure development.
Mitigate the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Implement targeted social interventions and remove structural impediments that elevate consumer prices.
All tiers of government [local, state and federal] must sustain targeted interventions in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transportation and energy to fix the cost of living crisis.
Business
Dangote Targets Nigeria Festive Season Monthly Supply of 1.5 billion litres of PMS
This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery says that it has concluded arrangements to supply over 50 million litres of petrol per day into the Nigerian market this festive season (December to January).
The company said that the decision was taken to ensure that there is no shortage of the product during the festive season.
This translates to 1.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the month of December.
The same amount of product will also be supplied in January 2026, it was added.
President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, announced the plans.
Dangote said: “In line with our commitment to national well-being, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month.
This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment.
We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.75 billion litres in February, which translates to over 60 million litres per day.”
Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily.
He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.
Business
Dangote Partners Honeywell International to Boost Refinery Capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day
Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, has signed a landmark contract with U.S. industrial giant Honeywell International to execute a significant capacity upgrade that will boost the facility’s crude processing capability from the current 650,000 barrels per day to an ambitious 1.4 million barrels per day.
The multi-billion-dollar project, described by sources close to the deal as one of the largest refinery expansion initiatives globally in recent years, will involve the installation of advanced process units, automation systems, and energy-efficiency technologies supplied and integrated by Honeywell UOP and Honeywell Process Solutions.
Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, confirmed the partnership, stating: “This strategic collaboration with Honeywell will position the Dangote Refinery as one of the top five largest refineries in the world by capacity.
The upgrade will not only enhance our ability to meet Nigeria’s complete refined products demand but also establish the refinery as a major export hub for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals across Africa and beyond.
”The expansion is expected to be implemented in phases, with key units including additional crude distillation, hydrocracking, and catalytic reforming modules.
Honeywell’s proprietary technologies are anticipated to improve yield of high-value products while reducing energy consumption and emissions.Upon completion, the 1.4 million bpd Dangote Refinery will surpass the current global top-tier facilities such as Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar Refinery (1.24 million bpd) and Paraguay’s planned 1.2 million bpd project, cementing its status as the world’s largest single-train refinery.
The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs during the construction and commissioning phases and further reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
A spokesperson for Honeywell confirmed the award, saying the company was “honored to partner with Dangote on this transformative project that will reshape the African downstream landscape.
”Detailed timelines and the exact value of the contract were not disclosed, but industry analysts estimate the expansion could exceed $5–7 billion in total investment.
The statement said: Dangote Group is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Honeywell International Inc to support the next phase of expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
This collaboration will provide advanced technology and services that will enable the refinery to increase its processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, marking a major milestone in our long-term vision to build the world’s largest petroleum refining complex.
Through this agreement, Honeywell will supply specialised catalysts, equipment, and process technologies that will allow the refinery to process a broader slate of crude grades efficiently and to further enhance product quality and operational reliability.
Honeywell, a global Fortune 100 industrial and technology company, offers a wide portfolio of solutions across aviation, automotive, industrial automation, and advanced materials.
Honeywell’s division UOP has been a technology partner to Dangote since 2017, providing proprietary refining systems, catalyst regeneration equipment, high performance column trays, and heat exchanger technologies that support our best-in-class operations.
Dangote Group is also advancing its petrochemical footprint. As part of the wider collaboration, we are scaling our polypropylene capacity to 2.4 million metric tons annually using Honeywell’s Oleflex technology.
Polypropylene is a key industrial material widely used across packaging, manufacturing, and automotive applications.In addition to refining expansion, Dangote Group is progressing with the next phase of its fertiliser growth plan in Nigeria. We will increase our urea production capacity from 3 million metric tons to 9 million metric tons annually.
The existing plant consists of two trains of 1.5 million metric tons each. The expansion will add four additional trains to meet growing demand for high-quality fertiliser across Africa and global markets.
Dangote Group remains fully committed to delivering world-class industrial capacity, strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, and driving sustainable economic growth through long-term investment, innovation, and strategic global partnerships.
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