FG Seeks Private Capital, States’ Support to Transform Nigeria’s Ports

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The Federal Government has called for deeper participation by the private sector and subnational governments in financing port infrastructure, operating terminals and deploying technology as part of an ambitious plan to modernise Nigeria’s seaports and cut logistics costs.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call on Thursday at the 2026 Transport Industry Summit of the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN), held at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Oyetola said the Federal Government could not shoulder the entire financial and operational burden of developing the country’s maritime infrastructure, stressing that sustainable port development required stronger partnerships among the Federal Government, state governments, private investors and other stakeholders.

He said the government was therefore seeking greater private-sector participation in infrastructure financing, terminal operations, technology deployment and logistics services, while also encouraging state governments to participate in the development of new maritime gateways.

The minister disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a major modernisation programme covering Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, Onne and Rivers ports in Rivers State, Calabar Port in Cross River and Warri Port in Delta State.

According to him, the programme will involve reconstruction of quay walls, deepening of channels to accommodate larger vessels, replacement of obsolete cargo-handling equipment and increased digitalisation of terminal and gate operations.

He said the scale of the planned intervention made private capital and institutional partnerships critical to delivering modern, efficient and commercially sustainable ports.

“Port efficiency affects the entire logistics chain. A delay at the port does not remain at the port. It affects manufacturers waiting for inputs, exporters waiting for vessels, transport operators, distributors and, ultimately, consumers,” Oyetola said.

The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was working with state governments and private-sector investors on the development of deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states.

He said the projects would expand national port capacity, create new maritime and logistics corridors, ease pressure on existing gateways and distribute economic activities along the coastline.

Oyetola said the government was particularly interested in ensuring that states and private investors became active participants in port development rather than relying solely on federal funding.

The minister further stressed the importance of technology in transforming port operations, noting that modern logistics required electronic documentation, accurate information, data-sharing and digital systems capable of reducing unnecessary physical processes.

He said digitalisation would improve cargo visibility, make port processes more predictable and ultimately reduce the time and cost of moving goods from seaports to their final destinations.

Oyetola said recent improvements had already attracted international recognition, citing the 2025 Container Port Performance Index by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, which ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.

He also announced that the United States Coast Guard had in August 2026 removed its Conditions of Entry on vessels arriving from Nigeria after 12 years of additional security-related requirements.

According to him, the development followed sustained efforts to improve compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, strengthen access controls and address security gaps.

Oyetola said the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency would also help create a more predictable investment environment through regulation of tariffs and charges, service standards, competition and protection of port users. The agency commenced operations in August following presidential assent to its enabling law.

He said effective regulation, security and infrastructure must work together with private investment and technology to make Nigeria’s ports more competitive.

“Our immediate priority is to ensure that the investments and institutional changes now underway translate into practical improvements: faster cargo movement, improved vessel turnaround, greater capacity, stronger security, transparent regulation and lower logistics costs,” he said.

Oyetola urged development partners, financial institutions, state governments and industry associations to support the reform programme, stressing that greater collaboration was essential if transportation logistics was to make a stronger contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth.

Petrol Depot Prices Fall as Dangote, Marketers Cut Rates, Pump Price Reduction Looms

The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, has fallen across several major Nigerian depots, with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery cutting its wholesale price by N25 per litre, raising expectations that filling stations could begin reducing pump prices as they replenish their stocks.

The latest reductions were recorded in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, following a decline in international crude oil prices and renewed competition among petroleum suppliers.

Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol ex-gantry price from N1,350 to N1,325 per litre, just days after raising the price to N1,350.

The latest adjustment means the refinery has reversed part of the N85 increase introduced on September 12, when its petrol gantry price rose from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre.

Other major depot operators also reduced their prices, particularly in Lagos, where several companies cut their rates by between N20 and N24 per litre.

In Lagos, Ascon, Integrated, Pinnacle and Sahara reduced their petrol prices by N24 to between N1,326 and N1,327 per litre.

MRS reduced its price by N20 to N1,332, while Wosbab was listed at N1,330 per litre.

The reductions were also recorded outside Lagos.

In Calabar, Mainland reduced its petrol price by N7 to N1,320 per litre, while Alkanes cut its price by N2 to N1,325. Matrix retained N1,330, while Sobaz marginally increased its price by N1 to N1,328.

In Port Harcourt, Stockgap reduced its petrol price by N7 to N1,323 per litre, while Masters cut its rate by N2 to N1,328. Bulk Strategic and Sigmund were listed at N1,328, while Matrix retained N1,330.

In Warri, Keonamex reduced its price by N3 to N1,327, while Nepal and Prudent cut their rates to N1,329 and N1,328 respectively. Some operators, however, recorded marginal increases, underscoring the continuing volatility in the downstream market.

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The latest wholesale adjustments followed a decline in global crude prices, with Brent crude trading below $100 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also declined.

The movement is important to Nigeria’s petrol price market because international crude and refined-product prices influence the cost of locally refined products as well as imported PMS.

Brent had climbed as high as about $109 per barrel the previous week before retreating below the $100 mark, although other crude benchmarks have moved differently.

The latest decline has provided some room for refiners and marketers to review wholesale petrol prices downward, but further reductions will depend on the direction of crude prices, foreign exchange conditions and the cost of refined petroleum products.

The reduction at the depots has not, however, immediately translated into equivalent reductions at filling stations.

Petrol was still selling at between about N1,370 and N1,450 per litre in different locations, according to the latest market checks.

In Abuja, motorists and commuters complained that several filling stations had not reduced their pump prices despite the Dangote price cut.

Some stations were still selling petrol at between N1,395 and N1,450 per litre, creating a significant gap between the new Dangote depot price and some retail prices.

The delay is partly linked to the way the deregulated downstream petroleum market operates.

Retailers that purchased their existing stocks at higher prices may continue selling those products at prevailing rates until the stocks are exhausted and replaced with cheaper supplies.

Transportation, storage, logistics, station operating costs and individual marketers’ margins also influence the final pump price.

Consequently, a reduction in the ex-depot price does not automatically translate into an immediate N25 reduction at every filling station.

The latest wholesale price movement nevertheless places additional competitive pressure on retailers, particularly as more marketers begin lifting cheaper products.

It also comes as domestic refining continues to take a larger share of Nigeria’s petrol supply.

Data attributed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that domestic refineries supplied about 76.7 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol requirement in the first quarter of 2026, while petrol imports fell by about 60 per cent year-on-year to approximately 965.5 million litres.

The figures reflect the growing importance of the Dangote Refinery and other domestic refining facilities in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market.

However, imported petrol has not disappeared from the country’s supply chain.

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The Federal Government has approved the importation of 830,000 metric tonnes of petrol for the fourth quarter of 2026, ahead of the Christmas and New Year period when fuel demand traditionally rises.

The permits were reportedly issued to Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy.

The latest allocation represents an increase from earlier import approvals this year and means imported PMS will remain part of Nigeria’s supply mix despite the expansion of domestic refining capacity.

The import programme has also become a point of contention between Dangote Refinery and the downstream regulator.

Dangote Refinery is challenging the continued issuance of petrol import licences by the NMDPRA, arguing that domestic refining capacity is sufficient to meet local demand.

The legal dispute is before the Federal High Court, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on October 7, 2026.

The continuing import programme, however, reflects concerns about supply security.

NMDPRA data cited in industry reports showed that domestic petrol supply declined from about 32.5 million litres per day in June to 25.8 million litres per day in July, while imports increased from approximately 18.1 million litres per day to 19.7 million litres per day during the same period.

Total daily petrol supply consequently fell from 50.6 million litres to 45.5 million litres.

The figures indicate that although domestic refineries now provide the larger share of Nigeria’s petrol, imports can still serve as a buffer when local production falls below market requirements.

Another factor affecting the competitiveness of local refining is import parity.

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria had estimated petrol import parity at between N1,364.02 and N1,365.02 per litre as of September 17.

Dangote’s new N1,325 per litre price is therefore below that earlier import-parity estimate, although actual import costs continue to change with international prices, exchange rates, freight and other charges.

The development could encourage more marketers to source products from domestic refineries if local products remain commercially competitive with imported alternatives.

It also illustrates the changing structure of Nigeria’s fuel market, where international crude prices remain important but domestic refining capacity, competition and supply availability are increasingly influencing prices.

The Federal Government has also been engaging operators in the downstream sector over petrol pricing and supply.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has convened consultations involving refiners, depot owners, marketers and retailers as the government seeks greater stability in the petroleum market.

For consumers, the immediate issue remains whether the reduction in wholesale prices will translate into cheaper petrol at the pump.

The latest reduction provides room for a downward movement, but the timing and size of any retail price cut will depend on the cost of existing stocks, new depot prices, transportation expenses, market competition and the direction of international crude prices.

The volatility of the market has also been reflected in the diesel segment.

Some depots reduced the price of automotive gas oil, with Lagos recording reductions of up to N15 per litre at some operators, while Port Harcourt and Warri also recorded significant cuts.

The movement in both petrol and diesel prices comes at a time when high energy costs continue to affect transportation, logistics, food distribution and operating expenses for Nigerian households and businesses.

If the lower crude prices persist and wholesale petrol prices remain at the new levels, motorists could see further reductions as cheaper stocks move through the distribution chain.

For now, the latest petrol depot price cuts have created a new opportunity for pump-price reductions, although the immediate impact will vary from one location and retailer to another.

The development also reinforces the increasingly competitive nature of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, with Dangote Refinery, other domestic suppliers and importers competing to meet demand under a deregulated pricing regime.

Petrol Depot Prices Fall as Dangote, Marketers Cut Rates, Pump Price Reduction Looms

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.