Business
Court stops FG, Huawei from implementing E-Customs concession project
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Federal Government from enforcing or giving effect to an agreement on the Customs Modernisation Project otherwise known as E-Customs allegedly executed by its agents on May 30, 2022.
The agents who allegedly executed the disputed concession agreement are the Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and African Finance Corporation.
The court also issued an order of interim injunction against the Federal Government or its agents, acting through the Federal Executive Council, from retrospectively ratifying the decision to concession the Customs Modernisation Project also known as e- customs project to Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Limited and African Finance Corporation.
The restraining order issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division of the court shall last till the hearing and the determination of a suit brought against the Federal Government and other parties by two aggrieved companies.
The two aggrieved companies, E-customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies (West Africa) Limited, jointly challenged the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the E-custom project to the defendants.
Counsel to the two aggrieved companies, Anone Usman, had on behalf of the two plaintiffs argued an ex-parte application praying the Federal High Court for the interim orders against the defendants to protect the interest of his clients.
Justice Ekwo while ruling on the ex-parte application granted the prayers of the plaintiff having placed sufficient evidence of interest in the concession project.
The judge also granted permission to the aggrieved companies to serve a writ of summons and all other filed processes on the African Finance Corporation at its head office, located in Ikoyi, Lagos through DHL courier services.
Defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria; Attorney-General of the Federation; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission; Nigeria Customs Service; Trade Modernisation Project Limited; Huawei Technologies Limited; African Finance Corporation and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply Limited being 1st to 9th defendants respectively.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed June 28 for hearing in the matter.
The two plaintiffs had in their statement of claim narrated how they proposed to carry out customs modernisation project through several government officials for the benefit of the Nigeria Customs Service.
They claimed that after series of meetings and negotiation with some of the defendants, President Muhammadu Buhari granted anticipated approval for the e-Custom Project.
They averred that on September 2, 2020, the Minister of Finance presented a memo number EC2020/153 to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the highest decision making body of the Federal Government, and secured approval for the two plaintiffs to be granted the concession.
Plaintiffs further claimed that trouble started when the Nigeria Customs Service unilaterally reviewed the FEC approval and imposed other conditions among which are shareholding formula and governance structure.
They claimed that the power of the NCS to unilaterally review FEC approval was protested and that the Comptroller General of Customs stood his ground.
Plaintiff asserted that to their surprise they read in the news that the Nigeria Customs Service had executed a concession agreement with Trade Modernisation Project on May 30, 2022, Huawei Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in total breach of the Concession Agreement vetted by the AGF in conjunction with the Minister of Finance.
They averred that Trade Modernisation Project was incorporated April, 2022 at the Corporate Affairs Commission with one Alhaji Saleh Amodu, a close friend of the Comptroller General of Customs as the Chairman.
Plaintiff asserted that the new company having been just incorporated in April 2022 could not have obtained and did not obtain the full business case compliance certificate from the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission and the approval of the Federal Executive Council to carry out the e-Customs project.
They therefore asked the court to make a declaration that the decisions of the Federal Government and its agents to enter into concession agreement with Trade Modernisation Project, Huawei Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in respect of the e-Customs project is illegal, null and void, having been made in gross violation of Section 2 of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act 2005.
They also asked the court to declare that E-customs HC Project Limited is the approved and rightful concessionaire for the e-customs project as approved by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of September 2, 2020 and in line with Section 2 of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Act.
They also applied for an order of the court directing the Federal Government through the AGF, Finance Minister, ICRC and NCS to consummate the E- customs project with the 1st plaintiff as approved by FEC in September 2020.
Besides, the two plaintiffs asked the court to compel the defendants to pay them a sum of Two Hundred Million Naira as cost of litigation.
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Auto
Jetour Targets Abuja Market with X70 PHEV as Nationwide Expansion Gathers Pace
Jetour Targets Abuja Market with X70 PHEV as Nationwide Expansion Gathers Pace
Jetour Nigeria is taking its hybrid SUV offensive to Abuja, with the X70 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) set to headline the three-day Jetour Experience from September 22 to 24 as the automaker accelerates its drive to expand its footprint and capture a larger share of Nigeria’s fast-evolving mobility market.
The Abuja showcase, coming on the heels of a strong Lagos edition that generated significant consumer interest, test drives and sales enquiries, is designed to bring Jetour’s latest technologies closer to customers in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states.
The event at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, will give prospective buyers and auto enthusiasts the opportunity to test-drive the X70 PHEV and other Jetour models while interacting with product specialists and experiencing their technology, safety features, performance and comfort firsthand.
According to the company, expanding the showcase to the Federal Capital Territory was a direct response to rising demand from residents in Abuja and neighbouring states.
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To bolster buyer confidence, Jetour Nigeria—the country’s sole authorised distributor—backs the X70 PHEV with a five-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty.
The distributor operates through an accredited nationwide dealer network, including: Elizade Nigeria Limited,
New Era Auto Vehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos.
The X70 PHEV pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a 19.43kWh battery and a dedicated hybrid transmission. Designed to balance performance with fuel efficiency, the vehicle supports fast, slow, engine, and regenerative braking charging options—reducing reliance on external charging infrastructure.
Jetour’s rapid growth in the Nigerian market has earned both private and corporate patronage, driven by competitive pricing, high specification levels, and an expanding service footprint. The brand was named “Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year” at the 2024 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards.
With the X70 PHEV leading the Abuja showcase, Jetour aims to deepen customer engagement and consolidate its position in the local automotive market.
Jetour Targets Abuja Market with X70 PHEV as Nationwide Expansion Gathers Pace
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Business
Sanwo-Olu Joins Dangote as Historic N2.15tn Refinery IPO Opens on Nigerian Exchange
Sanwo-Olu Joins Dangote as Historic N2.15tn Refinery IPO Opens on Nigerian Exchange
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday joined business leaders, investors and capital-market stakeholders as the Initial Public Offering of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals formally opened on the Nigerian Exchange, NGX, in Lagos.
The landmark transaction, which could raise about N2.15 trillion, marks one of the biggest capital-market transactions in Nigeria’s history and gives Nigerians and other investors an opportunity to acquire a stake in Africa’s largest oil refinery.
Sanwo-Olu attended the opening ceremony at the NGX Group building in Marina, Lagos, where Dangote Industries President and Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote, sounded the gong to formally commence the public offer.
The IPO comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at N525 each, with investors allowed to subscribe for a minimum of 10 shares, valued at N5,250. The offer will remain open until October 13, 2026.
The development represents a major milestone for Nigeria’s capital market, as the Dangote Refinery becomes the first refinery to be offered for public subscription on the Nigerian stock market in the 66-year history of the NGX.
The ceremony attracted an array of prominent figures from government, business and the financial sector, including NGX Group Chairman Umaru Kwairanga, NGX Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Temi Popoola, Zenith Bank founder Jim Ovia, Coronation Group Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Also present were senior executives of Dangote Industries and representatives of the capital-market community.
Dangote described the offer as a “people’s IPO”, stressing that its primary objective was to broaden ownership of the refinery and allow ordinary Nigerians and investors across the world to participate in the wealth created by the massive industrial project.
According to him, the public offer was not primarily about raising funds for the Dangote Group, which he said already had substantial capital available for its expansion plans, but about democratising wealth creation.
The refinery is currently designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, while Dangote Industries plans to expand its capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day over the coming years. Proceeds from the IPO are expected to support the refinery’s expansion and strengthen its capacity for future growth.
The public offer follows a $2.5 billion private placement earlier in the year, which attracted strong institutional interest. Reuters reported that the refinery is valued at about $47.6 billion, making the IPO one of the most significant equity offerings ever undertaken in Africa.
The refinery has increasingly become a strategic component of Nigeria’s energy security drive, reducing the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products while positioning Nigeria as a potential major exporter of refined products.
The opening of the IPO also comes at a time when the Dangote refinery has reported a sharp improvement in its financial performance. Reuters reported that the company recorded a $1.82 billion net profit in the first half of 2026, alongside revenue of more than $13 billion.
Dangote has also sought to make the offer accessible to ordinary Nigerians, with subscriptions available through digital investment platforms and other authorised channels. The minimum subscription of 10 shares means an investor can enter the offer with N5,250.
The NGX has described the transaction as an important development for the Nigerian capital market, particularly in broadening retail participation and deepening the investment culture.
For Lagos, where the refinery is located and where the historic IPO was formally launched, the development further reinforces the state’s position as Nigeria’s dominant commercial and financial centre.
With the offer running until October 13, investors will now determine whether the historic transaction achieves its N2.15 trillion target and establishes a new benchmark for public participation in Nigeria’s industrial sector.
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Auto
X90 Plus Leads Jetour’s Abuja Drive for Bigger SUV Market Share
X90 Plus Leads Jetour’s Abuja Drive for Bigger SUV Market Share
Jetour Nigeria is taking its premium SUV battle to Abuja, with the seven-seater X90 Plus set to headline the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, as the automaker moves to capture a larger share of Nigeria’s fast-growing high-end family SUV market.
The three-day motoring showcase will give prospective buyers, families and auto enthusiasts in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states an opportunity to experience the X90 Plus and other models in the Jetour range through test drives and hands-on demonstrations.
The Abuja showcase follows the success of the brand’s earlier Jetour Experience in Lagos, where strong customer interest, inquiries and sales momentum reportedly encouraged the company to take the initiative to the Federal Capital Territory.
Jetour Nigeria said growing demand from customers in Abuja and neighbouring states was a major factor behind the decision to expand the experience to the northern market.
Positioned as a full-sized family SUV, the X90 Plus is designed for executives and families seeking a combination of space, technology, performance and comfort without the price tag associated with some luxury SUVs.
The model is offered with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged engines paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The powertrain produces up to 254 horsepower and 390Nm of torque.
Inside the cabin, the X90 Plus features a 12.3-inch LCD touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, Sony premium audio system and wireless charging.
Its safety and driver-assistance features include a 360-degree panoramic camera, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and electronic stability systems.
Jetour’s growing profile in Nigeria has also earned the brand recognition from the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), which named it Fastest Growing Auto Brand, while it was also recognised as Auto Brand of the Year at the Nigeria Transport Lecture.
To support its expanding customer base, Jetour Nigeria, the sole authorised distributor, operates through seven accredited dealer partners across the country: Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mandilas Autos, R.T. Briscoe Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, Tab Autos Limited and New Era Auto Vehicle Services Limited.
The Abuja Experience is expected to provide Jetour with another platform to engage potential customers and reinforce its position in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive SUV market.
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