Business

Dangote set to reduce cooking gas price, marketers kick

Published

5 months ago

July 16, 2025

Dangote set to reduce cooking gas price, marketers kick

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has announced plans to significantly reduce the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, in a move aimed at easing the financial burden on ordinary Nigerians.

Dangote, who made the statement during a recent tour of his multi-billion-dollar refinery by both local and international guests, said the current price of cooking gas is too high and unaffordable for many Nigerians — especially low-income families who still rely on firewood for daily cooking.

He warned that if existing gas distributors fail to reflect the expected price crash, the Dangote Group will begin direct sales of LPG to consumers, bypassing the middlemen entirely.

He disclosed that the refinery now produces 22,000 tonnes of LPG daily and it is ramping up production for distribution into the Nigerian market, especially as Nigerians move towards the use of gas for cooking.

Speaking to members of the Lagos Business School CGEO Africa, at the refinery in Lekki, Dangote said, “The one that we didn’t write, which you must have seen, is LPG. Currently, we do LPG of about 2,000 tonnes per day. You know Nigeria is gradually moving to the usage of LPG. But I believe it is expensive, but right now we’re trying to bring down the price and make it cheaper.”

Dangote warned that “if the distributors are not trying to bring it down, we’ll go directly and sell to the consumers, so that people will now transit from firewood or kerosene to LPG for cooking.”

The PUNCH recalls that Dangote plans to start the direct distribution of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel to marketers nationwide in August, with 4,000 CNG-powered buses procured for the exercise.

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Currently, the price of cooking hovers around N1,000 and N1,300 per kilogramme. Dangote said this would be brought down to ensure affordability.

Operators kick

It appears operators in the LPG market are not pleased with Dangote’s plan to disrupt the sector.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the former Chairman of the LPG and Natural Gas Downstream Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Godwin Okoduwa, described the plan as monopolistic.

Okoduwa expressed concern that the billionaire businessman should recognise the fact that some investors grew the market from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1 million metric tonnes in 2022, saying collaboration is the way to go.

“I think it’s monopolistic. I think a market should be protected to encourage growth. The LPG industry in Nigeria grew from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1.3 million tonnes in 2022. That was done by collaboration — collaboration with the Federal Government, the NLNG, and offtakers. Everything was done in collaboration. It grew from 70,000 to 250 to 800, and now over a million,” Okoduwa said.

He stressed that growth cannot be achieved through a monopoly but through collaboration. “Today, we are just under 5kg or 6kg per capita consumption in terms of LPG. Other countries are doing much more. South Africa is doing double digits, Morocco and Tunisia are doing double digits. We can do much more.

“So, we should, as an industry and as a country, focus on how to grow the LPG industry and not allow someone (to frustrate the players). Yes, he has invested; yes, it’s a capital economy, but he should not be allowed to frustrate the players.

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“There are people who have spent money, spent resources, even business and development, and someone just comes in to reap from the work that has been done. I’m sure he wouldn’t have built if there had not been an existing market. The work has been done, he should respect the market and let us grow. It shouldn’t be a zero-sum strategy. It should be collaborative,” he said.

In his recommendation, the gas expert said that though Dangote has the upper hand, he should embrace collaboration.

“My advice to him is that the pie can be bigger. The Nigerian market is about 1.3 million tonnes. The Nigerian LPG market can be 5 million tonnes. He should work towards collaboration rather than competition, because at the end of the day, everybody benefits,” he added.

Told that Dangote’s major concern is to bring the price of cooking gas to a rate where everybody can afford it and stop cooking with firewood, Okoduwa retorted, “I have news for him. He should go to the Northeast, where you have the least consumption of LPG. He should go to the Northeast and start developing the LPG infrastructure there. I think we will tell him thank you for that.”

Similarly, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Bassey Essien, doubted the possibility of Dangote selling gas directly to consumers or to crash the price.

“I am saying that it’s unrealistic. What is the position with PMS? Has the refinery been able to sell petrol directly to you and me into our cars at a very cheap rate?” Essien asked.

Dangote set to reduce cooking gas price, marketers kick

(Punch)

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Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

OWERRI — Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has assured Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma that the Dangote Group is prepared to become one of the biggest investors in Imo State, reaffirming the conglomerate’s commitment to expanding its footprint in Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday during the opening session of the Imo Economic Summit 2025, Dangote called on the state government to specify key sectors requiring investment, promising immediate action once directives are given.

Dangote, who described Governor Uzodimma as a long-time friend, commended him for fostering an enabling environment for business and economic growth in the state.

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“We will be one of your biggest investors in Imo. So please tell me the area to invest and we will invest,” he said.

The African industrialist also encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to focus on developing their home regions, stressing that sustainable economic growth cannot depend on foreign capital alone.

“What attracts foreign investors is a domestic investor. Africa has about 30 percent of the world’s minerals. We are blessed,” he noted.

Dangote further highlighted progress at the Dangote Refinery, announcing that the facility is on track to achieve a 1.4 million barrels-per-day production capacity, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world.

The assurance marks a significant boost for Imo State’s investment outlook as the government continues efforts to strengthen its economy and attract large-scale private sector participation.

Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

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Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, upheld a previous Federal High Court judgment prohibiting the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) from confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on motorists without lawful authority.

A three-member panel of appellate justices, led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, dismissed the appeal filed by the VIO, describing it as lacking merit and affirming the October 16, 2024 ruling of the high court.

The original suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, was filed by public interest lawyer Abubakar Marshal, who alleged that he was unlawfully stopped and had his vehicle confiscated by VIO officials at Jabi District, Abuja, on December 12, 2023. He contended that the action was a violation of his fundamental rights.

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Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court had declared that no law empowers the VIO to stop, seize, impound, or fine motorists, and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the agency and its agents from further violating citizens’ freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property.

The court held that only a court of competent jurisdiction can impose fines or sanctions on motorists. It further ruled that the actions of the Respondents violated Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Although the applicant had sought N500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded him N2.5 million. Respondents included the Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, the Abuja Area Commander, the team leader, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The appellate court’s decision confirms that the VIO and DRTS cannot legally harass motorists, reinforcing citizens’ constitutional rights on the road.

Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

Business

BREAKING: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Trends Admin

BREAKING: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced sweeping changes to its cash-handling regulations, removing all limits on cash deposits and increasing the weekly cash withdrawal limit across all channels to N500,000, up from N100,000.

The changes were detailed in a circular titled “Revised Cash-Related Policies,” issued to all banks and signed by Dr. Rita Sike, Director of the Financial Policy & Regulation Department.

According to the apex bank, the revised framework is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the rising cost of cash management, strengthen security, and address money laundering concerns linked to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on cash transactions. The CBN noted that previous cash-related policies were introduced to discourage excessive cash usage and promote electronic payment systems, but evolving realities necessitated an update.

Effective January 1, 2026, several major adjustments will take effect. The cash deposit limit has been completely removed, and charges on excess deposits have been scrapped. Weekly withdrawal limits have also been increased to N500,000 for individuals and N5 million for corporate entities, with withdrawals beyond these levels attracting prescribed excess charges.

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The special monthly authorisation, which previously allowed individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once a month, has been discontinued.

For ATM withdrawals, the daily limit remains N100,000 per customer, with a maximum of N500,000 weekly, forming part of the overall withdrawal limit applicable to all channels, including POS transactions.

Excess withdrawals above approved thresholds will attract fees of 3% for individuals and 5% for corporate customers, shared between the CBN and the operating bank in a 40:60 ratio.

Banks have also been instructed to load all currency denominations in ATMs. The cap on over-the-counter encashment of third-party cheques remains fixed at N100,000, and such payments will count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.

Furthermore, financial institutions are required to submit monthly compliance reports to supervisory departments, including the Banking Supervision Department, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and Payments System Supervision Department.

The circular clarified that revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, as well as accounts held by microfinance and primary mortgage banks, are exempt from the new rules. However, long-standing exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have now been removed.