Business
Days of bowing to foreign powers for fuel gone, Otedola hails Dangote
Days of bowing to foreign powers for fuel gone, Otedola hails Dangote
Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has congratulated his friend, Aliko Dangote, on the success of his $20bn refinery in Lagos.
Otedola said with petrol now rolled out by the Dangote Refinery, the days of Nigeria bowing to foreign powers for fuel needs are over.
“You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long. The days of bowing to foreign powers for our fuel needs are over, thanks to your vision and determination,” Otedola wrote in a social media post.
The letter read, “My Dear Brother Aliko,
“First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support and belief in actualizing this monumental achievement under his administration.
“This day belongs to every Nigerian who has dared to dream of a better future. Congratulations to our great nation—today, we all stand a little taller.
“Aliko, it feels like just yesterday, but it has been 25 long years since we first set our sights on transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape.
“I remember vividly when we set up the Blue Star Consortium to acquire stakes in the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries—20% for me and 51% for you. We were ready to change the game, but fate had other plans.
“The government of the day, in an act I can only describe as utterly obnoxious, canceled our stakes and thwarted our vision. But, as always, you refused to be deterred.
“You never gave up on the dream we shared. You carried the torch forward, igniting a spark that has today become a roaring flame.
“And now, 25 years later, here we stand on the precipice of history, with the first fuel shipment from the Dangote Refinery—a feat that is nothing short of miraculous.
“While the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries have remained dormant, their promise unfulfilled despite billions of dollars spent on so-called turnaround maintenance, you have achieved what many said was impossible. You have beaten all the skeptics, silenced the naysayers, and proved wrong those who doubted your resolve, even those who never wanted this project to succeed.
“You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long.
“The days of bowing to foreign powers for our fuel needs are over, thanks to your vision and determination.
“You have dealt a death blow to the so-called local cabals who have fattened themselves for years, feeding off our nation’s economic slavery.
“These cabals, who have grown rich by keeping Nigeria in a perpetual state of dependence, must now face the reality that their era of easy gains is coming to an end.
“I am reminded of the time you revolutionized the cement industry in Nigeria. Ships that once brought in cement turned into rusting relics, scraps of a bygone era.
“Now, with your refinery in full swing, I foresee a similar fate for fuel imports. The depot owners should take heed—it’s time to dismantle those depots and sell them as scraps while the market is still high. The world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.
“When I ventured into the depot business with Zenon, it was in response to the inefficiencies of the NNPC.
“Zenon pioneered the diesel business in Nigeria and quickly became the largest in the country, filling the gaps left by our inefficient system.
“But today, your refinery stands as a beacon of what is possible when one has the audacity to dream and the tenacity to see it through.
“Aliko, you have my deepest admiration and respect. Congratulations to you and the entire board, management and staff of Dangote Refinery on this monumental achievement.
“This is not just a victory for you but for every Nigerian who dares to dream. May this be just the beginning of even greater things to come.
“With profound respect and warmest regards, F. Ote$.”
Business
Shell, partners employ 133 young graduates after internship engagement
Shell, partners employ 133 young graduates after internship engagement
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and its partners have offered jobs to 133 young graduates after their engagement in internship programme.
They are part of 170 young graduates that benefitted from the NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme attached to indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors for hands-on experience.
A statement obtained on Monday said the 133 employed by the companies indicated the success of the programme as a talent pipeline for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
It disclosed that the latest batch of 49 intakes graduated at a ceremony in Port Harcourt early this month after completing their internship which began in 2022.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya, commended the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Joint Venture for the support for the programme, helping to build local manpower for a critical sector of the economy.
SPDC and PETAN had jointly set up the programme in 2014 whereby young graduates are attached to the over 100 member companies of the organisation with SPDC paying them monthly stipends.
From 2022 when the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) joined the collaboration, the programme has run for two years with 100 intakes.
The NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme has been lauded as a key human capital development initiative which is central to the promotion of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.
SPDC’s General Manager Nigerian Content, ‘Lanre Olawuyi, said, “The internship is more than a learning opportunity. It provides fresh graduates with technical expertise, equipping them with the practical skills needed to excel in their careers.
“It aligns with SPDC’s broader educational initiatives, contributing significantly to the actualisation of the UNESCO ‘Education for All’ agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta.
“We owe the success of the programme to the untiring support of our JV partners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL,) TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited for which we’re grateful.”
Business
Warri refinery now operational, doing 125,000bpd – NNPCL boss
Warri refinery now operational, doing 125,000bpd – NNPCL boss
Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State has commenced production after a major rehabilitation of the facility.
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, disclosed this on Monday.
Kyari said the refinery is not fully completed but is producing 125,000 barrels per day.
He spoke to journalists during a tour of the facility on Monday, attended by key stakeholders.
The announcement is coming about a month after the old Port Harcourt refinery idle for five years resumed full operations, producing petrol, kerosene and diesel.
There are also expectations that the other state-owned Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC) currently undergoing rehabilitation would bounce back soon.
The NNPCL in April promised restore the Kaduna refinery to 60 percent of its production capacity by the end of this year.
Business
Real reason Dangote, NNPC drop petrol price — IPMAN
Real reason Dangote, NNPC drop petrol price — IPMAN
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has attributed the fierce competition between Nigeria’s two refineries owned by Dangote and NNPC Limited for the recent drop in the pump price of premium motor spirit, PMS, also known as petrol.
Checks by Vanguard yesterday showed that most petrol retail outlets have reduced their pump prices in response to a drop in ex-depot prices by Dangote Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Findings showed that while NNPC Retail reduced its price from N1,030 to N965 per litre, other retailers, such as AA Rano and AYM Sharfa, dropped their pump price from N1,070 to N1,020 per litre.
However, despite these reductions, it was observed that pump price at Conoil remained at N1,090 per litre, the same as it was in November.
Speaking to Vanguard, Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, said competition between the local refineries and the smooth flow of the product have resulted in the reduction in prices.
He said: “It is a good development for independent marketers and for consumers too. Now, because of increased demand, price normally goes up during this period but right now the opposite is the case. ‘’Availability has been taken care of and we are now seeing price war among the gladiators, NNPC and Dangote.
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“By next year when the Warri and Kaduna refineries are expected to come onstream, things will even be more interesting”.
Ukadike noted that independent marketers were now able to buy directly from both refineries because “there is a slight increase in turnover. When the price was around N1,300/litre most of our members barely sold 5,000 litres daily but we are doing far better than this.
“We are also now able to get products directly. NNPC portal is open now for marketers to take as much product as they want. Dangote has also heeded our call and reduced the volume for bulk purchase eligibility.
“Initially it was limited to 10 million litres but now they sell at two million litres which is about N2 billion. This is more bearable for independent marketers who are now able to come together to place orders for the product.’’
There were indications that the coming on stream of the Port Harcourt Refinery and Dangote Petroleum Refinery would impact Nigeria’s foreign exchange rate in 2025.
The old Port Harcourt refinery and Dangote Petroleum refinery have the capacity to process 560,000 barrels per day, bpd and 60,000 bpd of crude oil respectively.
Before the coming on stream of the two refineries, Nigeria used to depend on the international market for its petroleum products.
However, the Director/CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, who expressed the optimism in his Outlook, yesterday, said: “The Import substitution effect of the Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries with the consequential easing of demand pressure on the forex market.”
Marketers adjust pump prices
Meanwhile, checks by Vanguard, weekend indicated that oil marketers continued to adjust pump prices following the provision of new ex-depot prices by both NNPCL and Dangote Refinery at N899 per litre and N899.50 per litre, respectively, last week.
Further checks by Vanguard showed that both NNPCL and MRS filling stations involved in marketing Dangote Petroleum Refinery have started adjusting the pump prices.
Real reason Dangote, NNPC drop petrol price — IPMAN
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