Business
Updated: Reps to probe alleged sabotage at Warri refinery
The House of Representatives is set to investigate alleged sabotage at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has reportedly stalled its operation.
It has therefore asked the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, to furnish its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) with details and circumstances surrounding the storage lease at the company.
The lawmakers mandated the committee to investigate the failure and the neglect by the NNPC to address the haulage challenges such as inadequate storage tanks affecting the Warri refinery to forestall the frequent shutdown of the company and report back to the House in four weeks.
The House passed the resolutions following a motion by Ben Igbakpa (Delta PDP) on the commencement of operations at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Igbakpa said the refinery had been mandated to produce refined products from local crude and that the three main sections of the production department, namely: reforming, crude distillation and catalytic cracking units had operated for the past eight years due to the efforts of its personnel.
The lawmaker said the plants were operating at an output of around 115m3/hour translating to about 68 per cent installed capacity.
He listed products being supplied from the refinery as premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol, automotive gas oil, kerosene, LPG, low pour fuel oil for ships and industrial fuel and carbon black.
The lawmaker said, “The House is disturbed that the refinery has not operated optimally due to alleged top management decisions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ground the plant for personal benefit from marketers importing products that can be produced in the refinery;
“Concerned that the plant had severally shut down due to haulage challenges, neglect in the evacuation of products, lack of functional or operational storage tanks and poor maintenance culture on the part of management which also constitutes another reason for the refinery non – functionality;
“Aware of the alleged plan to ground the plant from refining products by members of the top echelon of the Warri Refinery in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) as well as diverting crude meant for refining.”
He also said he was “aware that when crude oil is delivered from Escravous tank farm for refining, the products are hoarded for about 14 days and thereafter diverted through the refinery jetty to interested buyers (or specific companies they have special interests in) who pay less. The resultant effects of this perceived economic sabotage is that the plant is brought down because no crude to refine as it has been diverted.
“Further aware that when it became apparent that the management of Warri Refinery has abandoned their responsibility of maintaining the plant, the staff of the refinery on several occasions contributed their money to buy materials and tools to fix faulty equipment.”
The lawmaker said that it was alarming that “currently, most of the spherical tanks used for storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have been leased out to Kwale Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited (KHNL), a private company, while other storage tanks are being leased out to private interests all in a bid to ensure that the Warri Refining and petrochemical company remains shut down indefinitely, even when the said refinery has the production capacity of 75 per cent.”
He alluded to the inadequacies at the refinery and others as largely responsible for the crisis in the nation’s petroleum industry sector with regard to supply and pricing.
He said, “Cognizant that the Federal Government has officially confirmed the return of fuel subsidy, as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has on 11 March 2021 fixed the pump price of PMS also known as petrol, at N212.61 per liter, for March, which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and NNPC has denied yet petroleum marketers sell between N175 – N200 depending on the location;
“Also cognizant that the increase is due to the shutdown of local refineries and create the cost elements of the commodity which the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency ( PPPRA) analyzed as comprising the addition to the ex-coastal price of average lightering expenses, Nigerian Maritime Administration (NIMASA) charges, jetty throughput charges, storage charge and average financing costs with the inclusion of retailers’ margin has now brought the pump price of the commodity to 212.61 per litre.”
Auto
Seven Drivers Emerge for Todays Naija Driver Challenge Grand Finale in Lagos
Seven Drivers Emerge for Today’s Naija Driver Challenge Grand Finale in Lagos
The maiden Nigerian Drivers Challenge will reach its climax on Tuesday, November 10, with seven finalists set to compete for honours at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, in a contest aimed at promoting responsible driving, professionalism and improved road safety in Nigeria.
The grand finale, scheduled to begin at 9am, follows a nationwide response that saw 160 drivers register for the hybrid competition from 23 states of the federation.
The seven finalists emerged after preliminary assessments, including a proctored online Computer-Based Test (CBT), with participants required to attain a minimum pass mark of 60 per cent.
The final stage will feature practical driving assessments designed by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) to evaluate participants’ driving skills, vehicle control, road-use awareness and compliance with safety principles.
The eventual winner will be determined through a combination of CBT performance and practical assessment scores.
Organised to raise driving standards and promote safer roads, the Nigerian Drivers Challenge seeks to draw attention to the critical role of competent, disciplined and professionally trained motorists in reducing preventable road crashes.
The event is expected to attract representatives of government agencies, road safety institutions, automotive industry stakeholders, sponsors, the media and members of the public.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Project Director, Adrian Egonu, said the encouraging response to the maiden edition demonstrated the need for platforms that promote responsible motoring.
“The Nigerian Drivers Challenge was conceived out of a conviction that safer roads begin with responsible, competent and professional drivers,” Egonu said.
He added that the initiative was more than a driving competition, describing it as a platform for raising road safety consciousness, improving driving standards and celebrating excellence behind the wheel.
The Project’s Head of Administration, Modupeola A. Elegba, also expressed satisfaction with the feedback from participants, particularly those who completed the training and CBT stages.
She said the positive responses, including participants’ appreciation of the knowledge gained on safe road use and the competition’s seamless online platform, had encouraged the organisers to expand the initiative in subsequent editions.
The organisers acknowledged the support of institutional partners, including LASDRI, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria.
Sponsors include Skinetics Aesthetics Skin Care Clinic and Med Spa, BUA Cement, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc and AXA Mansard Health Ltd, while supporting organisations include the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and Work and Play.
The public, stakeholders and members of the media have been invited to attend the grand finale.
Auto
Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10
Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10
Nigeria’s automotive industry is set for a major convergence of manufacturers, investors, policymakers and technology players as the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair opens on November 10, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja, with a renewed focus on accelerating local production, investment and industry transformation.
The four-day exhibition, organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in partnership with BKG Exhibitions Limited, will bring together stakeholders across the automotive value chain, including vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, component producers, financial institutions, technology firms, transport operators, logistics companies and government agencies.
A major highlight will be a three-day industry conference themed, “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Transformation: Policy, Production, and Prosperity.” The conference is expected to examine critical policy directions, investment opportunities, local manufacturing and emerging technologies shaping the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
In a statement, BKG Exhibitions said the conference would feature contributions from industry leaders and experts across relevant sectors.
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, said NADDC Director-General, Otunba Joseph Osanipin, would deliver the keynote address, alongside presentations by leading figures in the automotive and transport industries.
Agwu said the fair would offer participants opportunities to engage policymakers, investors and business executives while exploring new vehicles, technologies, products and investment prospects.
Other attractions include the Nigeria Automotive Excellence Awards Night, Abuja Automotive Road Show, Ultimate Test-Drive experience, exotic car displays and the Automotive and Future Mobility Arena.
The annual exhibition has established itself as a major platform for automotive business networking, product promotion and policy engagement, with this year’s edition expected to further advance conversations around investment, innovation, local production and sustainable industry growth.
Railway
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project has also reached 70 per cent completion, according to the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intensified efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, stating that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project had attained approximately 90 per cent completion.
The council also announced that the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, which extends towards the Niger Republic, had reached 70 per cent completion.
According to the statement, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent complete when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while the Kaduna-Kano railway had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.
The projects, described as part of the administration’s major infrastructure initiatives, are expected to improve transportation, strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The Kaduna-Kano railway is an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway and is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking major commercial centres in the region.
The council said the projects were recently inspected on the directive of President Tinubu by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.
The delegation reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
As part of the inspection, officials undertook a test-run journey by train from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
The statement added that Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the remaining railway corridor linking Abuja and Kano.
It further disclosed that the 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway, alongside the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project, was scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road transportation, improve passenger movement and boost commercial activities along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest economic corridors.
Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring Republic of Niger.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the projects reflected Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that ongoing infrastructure developments across the country were completed as scheduled.
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
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