Business
WhatsApp may exit Nigeria over $220m fine
One week after Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission imposed a $220 million fine on WhatsApp for a data privacy breach, the company may suspend its operations in the country due to further regulatory demands.
Sources close to the situation indicate that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is contemplating the withdrawal of certain services from Nigeria.
Alongside the substantial fine, the FCCPC has directed WhatsApp to cease sharing user data with other Facebook companies and third parties without explicit user consent.
The commission also requires WhatsApp to disclose details about its data collection practices and to enhance user control over data usage.
In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson emailed TechCabal, “We want to be clear that, technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally.
” The spokesperson criticized the FCCPC’s order as flawed, asserting that it inaccurately portrays WhatsApp’s data handling and would necessitate significant changes to the platform’s infrastructure.
Meta has not addressed the FCCPC’s allegations regarding user opt-out options from the 2021 privacy policy but maintains that the update does not involve sharing user data.
The company’s privacy policy states, “While traditionally mobile carriers and operators store this information, we believe that keeping these records for two billion users would be both a privacy and security risk and we don’t do it.”
The potential suspension of WhatsApp could have significant repercussions for individuals and small businesses in Nigeria, many of whom rely on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook for customer engagement.
Some privacy lawyers have questioned the FCCPC’s use of the National Data Protection Regulation as the foundation for the fine.
Enacted in 2019 by the National Information Technology Development Agency, the NDPR is Nigeria’s principal data protection framework.
Two unnamed lawyers have expressed doubts about the NDPR’s authority in such a high-stakes matter and questioned whether a government regulation can be deemed definitive in privacy issues.
Additionally, two unnamed government officials have raised concerns about the fairness of the $220 million fine. “We are too revenue-focused.
What is the opportunity cost of $220 million in government coffers?” questioned an industry expert.
Should WhatsApp choose to halt its operations in Nigeria due to these demands, both the FCCPC and the Nigerian government will face significant scrutiny and consequences.
Business
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.”
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
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.
Business
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.”
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.”
Business
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.
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.
-
Business7 hours agoDangote exports N757bn jet fuel to Europe in June
-
Business8 hours agoNaira Exchange Rates To Foreign Currencies Today, Monday, 6July 2026
-
News7 hours agoAnambra State Introduces 12-Point Development Agenda
-
Sports7 hours agoNational Sports Commission Confirms Dimkpa As Nigeria Karate Federation President
-
Entertainment6 hours agoOkonjo-Iweala Showcases Dance Skills As Igbo Masquerades Perform At WTO Open Day Ceremony
-
News6 hours agoAlmajiri commission earmarks N8.4bn for road projects
-
Politics4 hours agoJonathan denies ₦500bn offer to challenge Peter Obi
-
Sports5 hours agoD’Tigers seal place in second round of 2027 World Cup qualifiers
