Business
As controversy over Maersk-FG port investment rages, Onanuga says no $600m deal signed
As controversy over Maersk-FG port investment rages, Onanuga says no $600m deal signed
The Nigerian government and a shipping giant, Maersk, have not signed any investment agreement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has said.
Onanuga was reacting to the controversy surrounding the reported sealing of a $600 million deal for the development of the nation’s seaports.
He said there was only talk “of possible investment in Nigeria” by Maersk.
Interestingly Onanuga had hinted about the deal in a tweet said to have been pulled down after the social media backlash.
After President Tinubu’s discussion with Maersk’s Chairman Robert Uggla on April 28, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the presidency had released a statement announcing that the shipping company had pledged to inject $600 million into the Nigerian seaport industry.
“Danish shipping company, A.P Moller-Maersk plans $600m investment in Nigeria. Danish shipping and logistics company A.P Moller-Maersk has disclosed a planned investment of $600 million in Nigeria to accommodate more container shipping services in Nigerian ports,” Onanuga wrote on X.
In a statement, Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, also said “President Tinubu meets Chairman of Danish shipping giant Maersk, secures $600 million investment in Nigerian seaport infrastructure.” He quoted Uggla as saying, “We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600m in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships.”
In response to this. Maersk officials have denied any such agreement and stress no deals have been signed.
Onanuga in a new report by TheCable, an online news platform admitted no agreement on investment had been reached by the two parties.
“I think the statement issued by Maersk did not talk about a deal. There was no deal according to that statement that I read.
“However, there was talk of investment,” the special adviser said.
“No document or agreement was signed, so there was no deal. But there was talk of a possible investment in the country.
“So, go and read the statement again. They never said any deal was signed between the Nigerian government and the Dutch company. There was nothing like that.”
Onanuga however said the shipping company did not expressly deny that there was an investment talk.
He said people are “unnecessarily giddy over nothing.
Business
90 million litres stuck as NNPCL shuts petrol purchasing portal – Marketers
90 million litres stuck as NNPCL shuts petrol purchasing portal – Marketers
Oil marketers have raised concerns about a potential fuel scarcity following the shutdown of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) petrol purchasing portal.
The shutdown has prevented dealers from placing new orders for fuel, leading to supply disruptions.
According to marketers, over 90 million litres of petrol, worth approximately N79 billion, are pending delivery from NNPCL.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, confirmed that while marketers can still load fuel, they cannot access the portal to check prices or make new purchases.
READ ALSO:
- Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
- Universities on verge of collapse over huge electricity bill – ASUU
- 74-year-old woman stabbed to death by boyfriend during heated argument
Ukadike stated that there are currently over 2,000 pending tickets for 45,000-litre petrol trucks, which amounts to a significant volume of fuel awaiting supply. He warned that the continued closure of the portal could result in another wave of fuel shortages across the country.
Other marketers, speaking anonymously, echoed concerns that the portal’s shutdown is already causing fuel shortages.
One marketer mentioned, “Everyone is affected because we all go to the NNPC portal to place our orders, and when the portal is inaccessible, supply is disrupted.”
As of now, there has been no official response from NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye regarding the situation. However, some marketers believe the portal was shut down temporarily to resolve backlogs of pending orders.
90 million litres stuck as NNPCL shuts petrol purchasing portal – Marketers
Business
Naira appreciates to N1,685 in parallel market
Naira appreciates to N1,685 in parallel market
The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,685 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,700 per dollar on Monday.
Similarly, the Naira appreciated to N1,659.26 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,659.26 per dollar from N1,669.15 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N9.89 appreciation for the naira.
READ ALSO:
- Bobrisky : Why I didn’t drag VeryDarkMan to court – Falana
- Minimum wage: Disquiet as FG makes selective payment
- US President Biden does not believe there will be ‘all-out-war’ in Middle East
The volume of dollars traded (turnover) in the official market increased sharply by 155.2 percent to $450.39 million from $176.45 million traded on Wednesday.
Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate narrowed to N25.74 per dollar from N30.85 per dollar on Wednesday.
Naira appreciates to N1,685 in parallel market
Business
Naira records marginal appreciation, exchanges for N1,700/$
Naira records marginal appreciation, exchanges for N1,700/$
The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,700 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,705 per dollar on Monday.
Similarly, the Naira depreciated to N1,669.15 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,669.15 per dollar from N1,541.94 per dollar on Monday, indicating N127.2 appreciation for the Naira.
READ ALSO:
- FG exempts VAT payment on diesel, gas, electric vehicles
- Hire military contractors to wipe out Boko Haram, Ndume tells Tinubu
- Rivers govt declares Thursday, Friday public holidays for LG poll
The volume of dollars traded (turnover) in the official market declined by 2.97 percent to $176.45 million from $181.86 million traded on Monday. Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate narrowed to N30.85 per dollar from N163.06 per dollar on Monday.
Naira records marginal appreciation, exchanges for N1,700/$
-
metro2 days agoJust in: Court bars VIO from impounding vehicles, imposing fines
-
Business2 days agoNaira records marginal appreciation, exchanges for N1,700/$
-
News3 days agoBREAKING: Reps reject Tinubu offer of CFR for Speaker Abbas
-
Politics3 days agoGroup to host ‘Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria’ conference
-
Business2 days agoFG exempts VAT payment on diesel, gas, electric vehicles
-
metro2 days agoWoman suspected as victim of ‘Yahoo Boys’ dumped on Osun roadside
-
International2 days agoIsraeli Attack: Nigerian govt advises citizens to leave Lebanon
-
News1 day agoElectricity tariff will drop soon – Power minister