Dangote to FG: Make Law to Jail Sellers of Smuggled Textiles Without Option of Fine - Newstrends
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Dangote to FG: Make Law to Jail Sellers of Smuggled Textiles Without Option of Fine

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President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

•Wants Nigeria to target 20% manufacturing contribution to GDP in 10yrs 

•Utomi: Textile industry victim of poor trade policy

The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has thrown his weight behind the clamour for the revival of Nigeria’s ailing textile and manufacturing sectors by urging the National Assembly to pass a law that would penalise sale of banned textiles materials by imprisoning culprits without any option of fine.

Dangote made call yesterday, in Lagos, while presenting the Second Adeola Odutola Lecture titled, “Agenda Setting for Industrialising Nigeria in the Next Decade,” in commemoration of the 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

He said: “For the textile industry, I think the government needs to formulate a law by the National Assembly that will say that anybody selling banned foreign textile must go to prison without an option of fine. So, it will be just going to jail even if it is just for two years.

“The real problem in the textile industry is not basically lack of cheaper power. If you give them cheaper power but allowed the smuggling to continue the textile will not last.

“What is happening is that foreign companies are using us (Nigeria) as a dumping ground. That is why I do not like to import. Anytime you import you will be importing poverty and exporting prosperity and job opportunities outside.”

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He said government should apply the same force it mustered to enforce the ban on rice importation in the bid to end smuggling of textiles into Nigeria, adding that, “few decades ago textiles used to be the largest employer of labour after the federal government of Nigeria.”

Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, also tasked the federal government on the implementation of its policies meant to protect the country’s industrial sector, especially textile manufacturing, without caring who would be offended.

He said as at today people would be sent to jail in India for selling foreign textiles anywhere.

“Also, if something is banned in the United States of America for example, there is no way it could be displayed for sale in a shop.

“But what is stopping the implementation of Nigeria’s government policies is the absence of the political will to make sure that we implement those policies no matter who is going to be upset by us,” Dangote said, adding that manufacturers should “meet with the government to find a lasting solution, especially now that government is desperate about job creation, to stamp out smuggling for our industries to stand. If we have a prosperous environment the insecurity will drop.”

He also said Nigeria should focus on enabling its manufacturing sector to achieve the following targets within the next 10 years.

“Nigeria needs to henceforth intensify efforts at promoting industrialisation with specific focus on the attainment of the following targets in the next 10 years: 15 per cent manufacturing growth; 20 per cent manufacturing contribution to the GDP; 15 per cent growth in export of manufactured products; 10 per cent increase in the share of manufacturing to total export machandise, stronger inter-industry linkage between SMEs and large corporations, improved manufacturing contribution to government tax revenue and 20 per cent increase in manufacturing employment,” he said.

Commenting on the comatose state of the country’s textile industry, the Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, ascribed the decline in textile manufacturing to bad trade policies.

Utomi said: “But to get straight to the point, the textile industry failed because of Nigeria’s trade policy. The lesson we shall take from this is that we should have a standing working group consisting of some real experts and manufacturers to put the government under pressure about its trade policies.

“I wonder if we still remembered that Nigeria Textile Limited (NTL) break even within one month of its operation in 1960. And in its first six months of production was exporting to Manchester, United Kingdom.

“So, why did the textile industry die? Because wrong trade policies where being made and there was not enough pressure to get the government to do the right thing.

“And the government people were not doing it out of wickedness but ignorance. So, we have to remember that Nigeria is our country and collectively we can get the experts, manufacturers and the government to sit together and plot our way.

“The global textile industry today is dominated by five firms. How can Nigeria align with them and provide incentives to them to make Nigeria their base? So that today we cannot be talking about jobs because the textile industry will be providing millions of jobs.”

The President of MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, said in his welcome address that the choice of Dangote as the guest speaker for the lecture was, “clearly predicated upon our belief that only experienced industrialists are well equipped to do justice to the theme, visibly highlight essential advocacy issues, suggest workable solutions and point the sector to key industrial development agenda for the next ten year.”

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Transport Expert Segun Musa to Chair 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture

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Transport Expert Segun Musa to Chair 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture

 

Renowned transport and logistics expert, Dr. Segun Musa, has been named chairman of the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 18, 2026.

Organised by Transport Day newspaper, this year’s lecture will focus on the theme, “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth.”

Musa, Chairman and Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, is widely respected for his extensive experience in transportation, logistics and supply chain management spanning several decades.

The event will also feature a keynote presentation by the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe.

Scheduled to take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, the lecture is expected to attract key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to deliberate on critical safety issues, policy reforms and strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s multi-modal transportation network.

Other notable speakers include the National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma.

Over the years, the Nigeria Transport Lecture has evolved into a leading industry platform, bringing together policymakers, regulators, academics and business leaders to discuss solutions to challenges confronting the transport and logistics sector.

Previous editions have featured distinguished personalities such as former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, among others.

Ahead of the gathering, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, said the annual lecture has become an important platform for industry stakeholders to examine emerging issues and develop practical solutions for the transport sector.

He noted that this year’s focus on multi-modal transportation safety was informed by the increasing integration of road, rail, maritime and air transport systems, stressing that safety must remain at the centre of efforts to modernise the sector.

“As governments continue to invest in transport infrastructure and interconnectivity, safety cannot be treated as an afterthought. The success and sustainability of these investments depend largely on how effectively safety concerns are addressed across all modes of transport,” Kintum stated.

He further explained that the lecture forms part of Transport Day Media’s broader mission to encourage policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration aimed at building a safer, more efficient and globally competitive transport and logistics ecosystem in Nigeria and the wider African region.

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NERC Orders Compensation for Band A Customers Over Power Supply Shortfalls

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Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

NERC Orders Compensation for Band A Customers Over Power Supply Shortfalls

 

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a special compensation package for eligible Band A electricity customers affected by power supply shortfalls between February and March 2026.

The regulator announced the measure in a public notice issued on Thursday, citing widespread generation constraints that prevented electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) from meeting the minimum service levels promised to some Band A customers during the period.

According to NERC, the disruptions were largely triggered by inadequate gas supply as well as vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure, factors it said were beyond the control of the DisCos.

Under the directive, Band A feeders that maintained an average daily supply of between 18 and 20 hours will continue to receive compensation under the existing framework contained in Addendum No. NERC/2024/003, covering both Maximum Demand (MD) and Non-Maximum Demand (Non-MD) customers.

For feeders that recorded less than 18 hours of daily electricity supply, NERC ruled that they would not be downgraded during the affected period.

Instead, eligible Non-MD customers will receive compensation equivalent to 20 per cent of the approved February 2026 energy cap for their feeders, while MD customers will receive credits equal to 20 per cent of the average energy billed per MD customer in February 2026.

The commission said prepaid customers would receive the compensation through energy token credits, while postpaid customers would benefit through adjustments to their electricity bills.

NERC directed all DisCos to complete compensation for February 2026 by May 31, 2026, and for March 2026 no later than June 30, 2026.

The regulator also barred DisCos from using the compensation to offset outstanding customer debts and instructed them to clearly communicate the value and period of the credits granted to beneficiaries.

Reaffirming its commitment to consumer protection, NERC said it would continue to monitor implementation of the directive and verify compliance across the industry to ensure that all eligible customers receive the compensation due to them.

The commission added that the intervention is aimed at safeguarding consumer interests while supporting the stability and long-term sustainability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

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Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

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Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Nigeria’s petrol prices have begun to decline across several parts of the country after Dangote Refinery announced a fresh reduction in its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), raising hopes of further relief for motorists and businesses grappling with high fuel costs.

The 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price from N1,275 per litre to N1,250 per litre, while also lowering the ex-depot price of diesel from N1,800 per litre to N1,700 per litre. The company attributed the latest adjustment to a decline in global crude oil prices and its commitment to making refined petroleum products more affordable for Nigerians.

The development has already triggered price reductions at several filling stations, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states, where some marketers are now selling petrol below N1,300 per litre.

Checks along the Mowe-Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway showed that marketers moved swiftly to adjust pump prices following the refinery’s announcement. MRS stations reduced petrol prices to N1,286 per litre, while NIPCO and Heyden sold at N1,290 per litre. SGR outlets adjusted their pump price to N1,297 per litre.

The downward trend was also noticeable in the diesel market, where several stations reduced prices to around N1,800 per litre from previous levels of about N1,900 per litre.

However, not all retailers have fully reflected the latest reduction. Some outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) were still selling petrol above the N1,300 mark. In Ibafo, NNPC stations dispensed fuel at N1,305 per litre, while Mobil and Asharami stations sold at N1,310 and N1,320 per litre respectively.

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Industry observers believe the latest move by Dangote Refinery could lead to additional price adjustments nationwide as marketers exhaust existing inventories and take delivery of products purchased at the new rate.

The reduction comes after months of sustained pressure on consumers following a sharp rise in fuel prices. Petrol prices had surged from around N830 per litre to over N1,300 per litre in many parts of the country as global crude oil prices climbed above $115 per barrel amid tensions involving the United States and Iran.

Energy analysts say increasing local refining capacity is beginning to reshape Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market. Since commencing large-scale operations, Dangote Refinery has emerged as the country’s dominant fuel supplier, significantly reducing dependence on imported petroleum products and introducing stronger competition among marketers.

The latest price cut is expected to provide some relief to households and businesses struggling with rising transportation, logistics and production costs. Many Nigerians are also hoping that continued declines in global crude prices and improved local supply will force further reductions in pump prices in the coming weeks.

Stakeholders, however, caution that future petrol price movements will continue to depend on global oil market trends, foreign exchange stability, transportation costs and overall supply conditions within the domestic market.

For now, motorists are beginning to enjoy modest savings at the pump, with the prospect of more competitive pricing as marketers respond to changing market realities.

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

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