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Dangote Refinery Guarantees Consistent Petrol, Diesel Supply

Dangote Refinery Guarantees Consistent Petrol, Diesel Supply

*Delivers 45 million litres of petrol, 25 million litres of diesel daily

Peter Uzoho

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring steady and uninterrupted supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) nationwide, with a daily production capacity exceeding the domestic demand.
Speaking on the development, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, said the refinery’s operations are driven by the company’s dedication to supporting national energy stability and consumer confidence.

“Our refinery is currently loading over 45 million litres of PMS and 25 million litres of diesel daily which exceeds Nigeria’s demand,” Chiejina said in a statement yesterday. “We are working collaboratively with regulatory agencies and distribution partners to guarantee efficient nationwide delivery. Dangote remains steadfast in its commitment to meeting the energy needs of Nigerians. This significant production capacity not only guarantees local supply but also enhances energy security and reduces dependence on imports,” he added.

He noted that improved local production of petroleum products has helped stabilise the exchange rate and strengthen the naira.
“We have reduced foreign exchange outflows and increased inflows, which in turn supports the naira and strengthens the economy,” he added.
He further explained that it would be unpatriotic for anyone to criticise the recently announced tariff, which, according to him, was a good start. He emphasised that the tariff was designed to protect domestic industries from unfair competition and safeguard local production.

“Dumping engenders poverty, discourages industrialisation, creates unemployment and leads to revenue loss for the government. Across the world, nations protect their local manufacturers and industries from the threat of dumping. Dumping destroyed our textile industry, which was once a major employer of labour and creator of wealth,” he added.
He noted that beyond the tariff, the government should strengthen its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the dumping of substandard and toxic petroleum products by unscrupulous and rent-seeking individuals who prioritise profiteering at the expense of Nigerians, often undermining well-intentioned government policies for their selfish interests.

He added that the prevalence of dumping in past years discouraged investors from establishing industries in Nigeria, as imported products flooded the market at unsustainable prices, undermining local production. The new tariff policy, he noted, would benefit local refiners and encourage fresh investments in the downstream oil sector, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base and creating more jobs.

He commended the foresight of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the tariff policy aimed at strengthening and transforming Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector. He noted that the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to creating a stable, business-friendly environment that supports local investment and enhances energy security.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to embody courageous and visionary leadership, renewing the hope of Nigerians and restoring investor confidence in the nation’s economy. His administration’s bold and business-friendly reforms are reshaping the downstream oil and gas sector, unlocking new opportunities for industrial growth and national prosperity. The latest policy initiative stands as a testament to his foresight — one of the most transformative steps yet toward securing Nigeria’s energy future and empowering local industries to thrive,” he said.

He warned that failure to protect local industries could lead to large-scale dumping from countries in Asia and Europe with excess production capacity. Such practices, he said, would strangulate domestic refineries, cripple allied industries, and undermine the laudable policies of Tinubu’s administration aimed at promoting industrial growth and economic stability.

Chiejina urged rent-seekers to reconsider their business practices and align with the Federal Government’s vision for a self-sustaining energy sector, rather than promoting the dumping of petroleum products in Nigeria. He emphasised the need for a collective sense of patriotism and responsibility among industry stakeholders, noting that national progress can only be achieved through shared commitment to policies that strengthen local industries and protect the economy.

Equipped with advanced technology and extensive infrastructure, the refinery was expected to significantly eliminate reliance on fuel imports, enhance supply chain stability, and alleviate pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, recently assured Nigerians that the prices of petrol will not be hiked during the ember months, despite recent global price increases.

 “I want to assure Nigerians that the Dangote Refinery is fully committed to maintaining an uninterrupted supply of petrol throughout the festive period. Nigerians can look forward to a Christmas and New Year free of fuel anxiety.”

Since commencing petrol production in September 2024, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has played a pivotal role in ensuring price stability, reducing the cost of petrol, aimed at stabilising the market and easing the burden on consumers. It has also eliminated the recurring fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations that Nigeria often experienced, particularly during festive periods.

He noted that the average price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in September 2024 was about N1,030 per litre, compared to an average of N841–N851 per litre in September 2025, following the implementation of the Dangote Refinery’s Direct Delivery Scheme.

Similarly, as of September 2024, the pump price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) ranged between N1,400 and N1,700 per litre, depending on the state, with prices reaching up to N1,700 in most northern states. By September 2025, however, the average price had dropped significantly to around N1,020 per litre, reflecting the refinery’s impact on stabilising the market and reducing logistics costs.

In comparison, petrol prices in neighbouring West African countries range between $1.20 and $2.00 per litre, while the average price in Nigeria remains around $0.60 per litre, a clear indication of the refinery’s profound impact on affordability and supply stability.

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*Delivers 45 million litres of petrol, 25 million litres of diesel daily Peter Uzoho Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring steady and uninterrupted supply of Premium Motor

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Trump Lists Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Amid Alleged Christian Killings

Trump Lists Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Amid Alleged Christian Killings

*FG to issue official response today

Sunday Ehigiator

President Donald Trump yesterday designated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ citing alleged widespread killings of Christians and rising religious intolerance.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” — But that is the least of it.”

This comes despite pushback from the Nigerian government, as only a few days ago, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, faulted some US lawmakers for relying on what he described as “inaccurate and misleading data” to accuse Nigeria of carrying out a Christian genocide.
When contacted yesterday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, said the “Federal Government of Nigeria is studying the situation and by tomorrow (today), we shall respond.”
The ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ is a list of nations the US finds to have engaged in religious freedom violations. The list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan, among others, according to the State Department website.

The US President emphasised that action must be taken when people are persecuted for their faith.
FOX News quoted Trump to have said he had directed Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and report their findings to him.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” Trump said. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
According to the international watchdog group Open Doors, nearly 70 percent of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year were in Nigeria. The group warned that Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militant herders were responsible for most of the bloodshed, often targeting Christian farmers in the country’s Middle Belt. Rights organisations estimate that thousands of believers are murdered every year, while countless others are forced to flee.

Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, Mark Walker, told Fox News Digital that the United States must do what it can to pressure Nigeria’s government to act.
“Even being conservative, it’s probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually,” Walker said. “This has been going on for years — from ISWAP to Islamist Fulani ethnic militias — and the Nigerian government has to be much more proactive.”
The White House also acknowledged a surge in anti-Christian violence across sub-Saharan Africa, where jihadist movements were exploiting political instability and porous borders. Both Pope Leo and the U.S. State Department had condemned recent massacres in Nigeria, warning that the crisis risks spreading beyond the country’s borders.

Walker added, “The United States should always stand up for freedom of religion, and that starts with speaking the truth about what’s happening.”
While humanitarian groups continue to raise alarm, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Idris recently told Fox News Digital that claims of mass persecution are “very misleading,” rejecting U.S. reports that tens of thousands have been killed.
Idris spoke during an interview on CNN earlier this week, saying the claims, which prompted calls for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose diplomatic sanctions on Nigeria, distort the country’s complex security realities.
“Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and the assumption that victims of violence are largely Christians,” Idris had said.

“Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion — they attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”
According to Idris, the federal government remains committed to protecting religious freedom and upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. He emphasised that freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and must be respected by all.

The minister warned that spreading false narratives about a religious genocide risks playing into the hands of criminals who seek to incite sectarian conflict. He insisted that Nigeria’s insecurity should not be characterised as a religious war.

“Characterising these attacks as being against Christians alone will drive Nigeria towards unnecessary division,” he said.

“The criminals want to portray the situation as a fight between Christians and Muslims. It is wrong to describe Nigeria as a country that does not tolerate religious freedom. It is also inaccurate to say that nowhere is safe in Nigeria. Our country is indeed safe.”

Idris maintained that Nigeria remains a tolerant nation where people of diverse faiths coexist peacefully, adding that it was wrong to describe the country as unsafe or hostile to religious freedom.

While admitting that Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, Idris said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated stronger commitment and better coordination among security agencies to tackle the problem.

He added that recent changes in the leadership of the armed forces were part of efforts to enhance Nigeria’s security architecture and ensure a faster, more effective response to emerging threats.

“Yes, we have security issues in Nigeria, but the government has made massive investments to ensure safety for everyone,” he noted.

Idris added, “In recent years, the government has focused more attention on improving security through better military hardware and strategy.”

“We are also investing in agriculture and social services to strengthen non-kinetic approaches to peacebuilding. Even the recent changes in service chiefs were made to improve our security architecture and ensure government responds effectively to emerging threats.”

Onanuga, had dismissed the criticism, saying, “Christians are not targeted. We have religious harmony in our country.”

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*FG to issue official response today Sunday Ehigiator President Donald Trump yesterday designated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ citing alleged widespread killings of Christians and rising religious intolerance.“Christianity is

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Naira Strengthens to N1,421/$, Stock Market Gains N35.07trn in 10 Months

Naira Strengthens to N1,421/$, Stock Market Gains N35.07trn in 10 Months

Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede

The Nigerian economy has continued to show signs of resilience as the naira yesterday appreciated to N1,421 to a dollar on the official forex market, reflecting improved liquidity and investors’ confidence.
At the same time, the stock market maintained its upward momentum, with investors gaining N35.07 trillion in value over the past 10 months, underscoring renewed optimism across key sectors.

The naira extended its rally by appreciating by 1.1 per cent against the dollar to close at N1,421.73 on the official market yesterday. Yesterday’s gain was the strongest level since the launch of the Central Bank’s Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS).
The sustained rally, underpinned by policy reforms and improved foreign inflows, signalled rising confidence in the management of the foreign exchange market.
Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) showed that the naira gained N15.24 from Thursday’s rate of N1,436.97/$.

On the parallel market, the naira exchange rate against the dollar also firmed by 0.7 per cent, closing at N1,450 in Lagos, compared to N1,460 the previous day. The spread between both markets narrowed to N28.27, indicating a gradual convergence between the official and informal market rates.
Analysts attributed the appreciation in the naira exchange rate to CBN’s sustained reforms, stronger oil receipts, and improved foreign portfolio investment inflows.

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, recently expressed optimism that the domestic currency’s rally would continue in the coming months. Speaking at a world press conference in Lagos, Dangote had said: “I can assure you that within the next one or two months, with the new policy of the government supporting the downstream, you will see the dollar rate actually improve a lot.

“If I have dollars today, I would rather sell them than wait for the next month or so.”
Speaking to THISDAY on the current momentum, the Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co., Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi, said: “The strengthening naira is caused by the combination of several factors. The acceptability of the various reforms of the CBN and the success in attracting FPIs have significantly supported the currency.
“The naira also benefited from the weak USD on the back of the various policies of the Trump administration. The removal of Nigeria from the Grey List would further support the currency. However, navigating the bond obligations maturing before year-end will be imperative in keeping the exchange rate stable.”

Meanwhile, average investors’ return on the stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) appreciated to N35.1 trillion in the first 10 months of 2025, attributable to the favourable foreign exchange,  among other  reforms of the federal government.
Measuring the performance by market capitalisation, data compiled by THISDAY revealed that the stock market opened for trading in 2025 at N62.763 trillion, gained 55.87per cent or N35.07 trillion to close October 31, 2025, at N97.829 trillion.
On the other hand, the NGX All-Share Index closed yesterday at 154,126.46 basis points, gaining 51,200.06 basis points or 49.7 per cent from 102,926.40 basis points, the index closed for trading in 2024.

The market capitalisation in October 2025 gained N7.25 trillion or eight per cent from the N90.580 trillion it closed for trading in September 2025, to N97.829 trillion in October 2025, while the NGX ASI advanced by 11,415.98 basis points or nearly eight per cent to 154,126.46 basis points from 142,710.48 basis points the major NGX index closed for trading in September 2025.

Equally, in October 2025, the stock market crossed the 150,000 basis points mark, which was a historic record.

Speaking on the development, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group, Mr. Temi Popoola, described the milestone as a reflection of growing investor confidence and the Exchange’s strategic focus on deepening market participation.

“Crossing the 151,000-point threshold is a testament to the strength and adaptability of our market. It demonstrates how local and international investors continue to see value in Nigerian equities despite global headwinds,” Popoola said.

“At NGX Group, we are committed to driving innovation, transparency, and market expansion to sustain this growth trajectory. This milestone reinforces our belief that the Nigerian capital market remains a critical enabler of economic transformation.”

For the 10 months 2025 performance of the stock market, analysts  attributed the  55.87per cent growth to stability in the foreign exchange market, companies recovering from foreign exchange losses, market liquidity, capital inflow, dominance of domestic investors, increasing portfolio investment, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s banking sector recapitalisation  and insurance sector reforms have played a critical role in overall stock market performance in the period under review.

Also, the yield on Nigerian Treasury Bills dropped to 15 per cent in October 2025, from 18 per cent.

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Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede The Nigerian economy has continued to show signs of resilience as the naira yesterday appreciated to N1,421 to a dollar on the official forex market,

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Onanuga: Tinubu’s Pardon Review Shows He Listens, Corrects Mistakes

Onanuga: Tinubu’s Pardon Review Shows He Listens, Corrects Mistakes

Boluwatife Enome

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s review of the controversial prerogative of mercy list, saying the decision was not a sign of weakness but of strength, compassion, and accountability.

Speaking in an interview on ARISE News’ ‘Prime Time,’ Onanuga described Tinubu as a leader who listens to the people and is never afraid to admit and correct mistakes.

“What Nigerians ought to have seen by now is that this President is not one who is afraid to reverse himself. If he feels he has made an error, he will admit it. He is human. He listens to the public,” Onanuga said.

He wakes up every morning to read all the newspapers, watch television, and understand what people are saying. So this is not weakness — it is strength. It shows that he can reappraise his actions and make adjustments when necessary.”

Onanuga explained that the public outrage that followed the initial release of the pardon list was largely focused on specific cases, particularly that of Mariam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for killing her husband.

“Most of the criticisms were coming from the case of Mariam Sanda,” he said. “Even the revised list still contained some drug offenders who were granted clemency, not pardon. In her case too, it was clemency.”

He described the President as a compassionate leader, citing Sanda’s case as one that evoked empathy because of her young children.

 “Her case was complicated by the fact that she has two children. The father is gone, and the mother is in jail. Who takes care of them?” Onanuga said. “It was a crime of passion, not premeditated. Anything can happen between a husband and wife in the heat of an argument.”

Onanuga stressed that the President’s action did not amount to condoning crime but reflected a humane outlook.

 “The President is a compassionate person. His decisions often show where he is coming from — his personal philosophy and humanity,” he said.

Responding to criticisms that the government acted only after public pressure, Onanuga dismissed claims of inconsistency, saying Tinubu’s review was part of a deliberate process to strengthen the justice system.

“There is no flip-flop here. The President looked at the issues again, identified where the process failed, and corrected it,” he said. “The Secretariat of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee has now been moved to the Ministry of Justice to ensure proper oversight.”

Onanuga also clarified that the President acted based on recommendations from senior Nigerians who served on the committee.

“These are respected people. They must have considered several factors before making their recommendations. Many of those granted clemency are young people — some were teenagers convicted for illegal mining,” he explained.

He said the case of former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan, convicted of bribery, was misinterpreted by critics.

“Lawan had served his sentence. The President’s pardon allows him to live a new life. The State has a duty to rehabilitate reformed citizens who have shown remorse,” Onanuga said.

On whether Tinubu’s action undermined judicial authority, Onanuga insisted the President acted within his constitutional powers.

“The same Constitution empowers him to exercise the prerogative of mercy after the judiciary has completed its task. The executive keeps prisoners — that’s why the President can grant clemency,” he explained.

He added that anyone opposed to this provision should seek constitutional reform.

“If people feel that Section 175 should be reviewed or repealed, they should take it to the National Assembly. Until the law is amended, the President retains that power,” Onanuga said.

On lessons learnt, he maintained that the episode demonstrated Tinubu’s openness to public opinion.

“This President listens. He’s always guided by what people say and is never too proud to make corrections. That’s strength, not weakness,” he said.

Onanuga also addressed reports of an alleged coup attempt, warning sections of the media against “irresponsible sensationalism.”

“The military has already issued a statement saying investigations are ongoing. Journalists should wait for official information. Rumours about coups scare investors and harm the economy,” he cautioned.

“As journalists, we must ask ourselves — of what benefit is this story to Nigeria? Not everything is fit to print. The media has a social responsibility to protect the nation’s stability.”

Onanuga emphasised that the Tinubu administration remains focused on stability, accountability, and public trust.

“The President is human, compassionate, and willing to correct mistakes. That’s what true leadership is about,” he concluded.

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Boluwatife Enome Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s review of the controversial prerogative of mercy list, saying the decision was