Business
Governors to meet Buhari on naira withdrawal limit
- Say CBN’s policy will hurt rural dwellers
State governors have rejected the N100,000 cash withdrawal limit prt week imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on bank custobers.
They feel the new policy will hurt the economy and rural dwellers in particular.
They also fear that the CBN action may set the masses against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
They have therefore resolved to send a delegation to the President to direct the CBN to review the policy, according to an investigation by The Nation.
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) met on Thursday in Abuja to deliberate on the matter and take appropriate decision. A source at the session said the governors also resolved to appeal to Buhari to retain the prevailing cash withdrawal limits in the country and extend the January 30th, 2023 deadline for the phasing out of the redesigned Naira notes.
“Our decision was across party lines. We were all united that the policy will adversely affect the poor in the rural areas which Buhari administration seeks to protect,” the source said.
He also said, “With likely job losses of about 1.4million by POS operators, there is no way the rural populace can survive this policy. It is like bringing down the ceiling on the economy.
“It is becoming ridiculous that some banks now issue out as low as N2,000 to a customer. Also, no matter how influential you are, banks may only give N200, 000 new notes under the table.
“As governors, we are closer to the grassroots more than the President. This policy may set the masses against Buhari. It is not a good exit package from a President who has enjoyed the confidence of the masses.”
Another governor also said, “We agreed to beg the President to have a rethink and retain the status quo cash limits to save the economy.
“Having tried his best to salvage this economy, no individual should ruin Buhari’s achievements with a stroke of the pen.
“The CBN policy is unpopular but those profiting from it do not want him to see the other side of the coin.”
A governor from the North-East said: “The NGF opted to send a delegation to the President to tell him our feelings and the implications of the CBN policy on the economy.
“For instance, we also recommended that the new notes should be in operation side by side with the old notes for about six months.
“There is too much confusion at the grassroots. It is just unfortunate that the CBN has led us to this level.
“In a country with low access to banks in rural areas and high illiteracy, how do you implement a cashless policy? Already, the middle class is gone and now some people somewhere are out to neutralise the poor class.
“The implication is that crime rate will be higher. Can we afford this? No.
“We want audience with the President. If possible, let the CBN Governor be there. We will lay all the cards on the table and what the nation should do to save the economy from collapse.”
Asked if the governors chose to gang up against the CBN because of lack of access to illicit funds for campaign, the source responded, “Not at all. Governors from all the parties opposed the policy at our meeting.
“We are talking of the survival of a country; you are attributing our position to the 2023 poll which will come and go.
“After the 2023 poll, the political class can effect changes in the CBN. So, at any point, those in charge of the apex bank cannot have the last laugh. There will be life after the elections.
“We believe that they have not told the truth to the President. The CBN’s action is anti-people but the President is pro-people. This is an indication that something is wrong somewhere.”
Some other Nigerians and institutions including the two chambers of the National Assembly had earlier asked the CBN to review the cash withdrawal limit policy immediately, citing the danger it portends for the economy and the generality of Nigerians.
On Friday the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) sent a petition to President Buhari calling for the suspension of the policy to save 1.4million bank agents from losing their means of livelihood.
On the same day the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said in a statement that the CBN’s insistence on implementing the policy would lead to a catastrophic collapse of the informal sector of the economy.
The forum said while the CBN might mean well for the country with the policy, it “evidently failed to consider the unintended consequences of implementing it in the way they have planned; consequences that may be extremely grave.”
It said: “If the CBN insists on implementing this wholly unrealistic policy of restricting individual’s cash withdrawal from the banks to N20,000 per day and N100,000 for a week or N500,000 in the case of corporate bodies, it won’t be long before we suffer a catastrophic collapse of the informal sector of the economy. More than anyone, CBN knows that transactions in commodity markets especially in the rural areas are entirely cash based.
“The villager that brings to the market his chickens, beans, onions, goat or cows does not typically have a bank account or internet skills. Cash remains the overwhelming medium of exchange for much of the country particularly in the North. This should surprise no one as bank offices are largely unavailable even for people who are keen and have the skills to use them.
“Even by the CBN’s reports, over 38 million adults in Nigeria do not currently have access to banking services with “women, rural dwellers, Micro-Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Northern Nigeria” being among the most disproportionately excluded. And despite its pious pretensions, it is on record that the CBN under the present management, apparently out of desire to safeguard the interests of the commercial banks, has done much to undermine and stifle the progress of financial inclusion in Nigeria.
-The Nation (excluding headline and minimal editing}
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.
Business
Dangote raises petrol price 6.7% to N1,350/litre
Dangote raises petrol price 6.7% to N1,350/litre
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, gantry price by 6.7 per cent, raising it from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, with the new price taking effect from September 12, 2026.
The latest adjustment represents an N85 increase per litre and is the fourth upward review of Dangote Refinery’s petrol price since August 21, further raising concerns about the possible impact on petrol pump prices, transportation costs and the wider cost of living.
The refinery also increased its coastal price from N1,669,543 to N1,783,530 per metric tonne, representing an increase of N113,987, or about 6.8 per cent.
In a memo to customers, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced the revised prices and directed customers with existing loading arrangements to return their Authority to Collect (ATC) documents for repricing.
The refinery said new volume contracts would subsequently be issued to allow loading to resume under the revised prices.
The latest increase means Dangote’s petrol price has risen by N185 per litre, or about 15.9 per cent, in 22 days.
The refinery had increased its gantry price from N1,165 to N1,185 per litre on August 21. It subsequently raised the price to N1,200 on August 26 and then to N1,265 on August 29, before the latest increase to N1,350.
The development comes amid renewed pressure in the international crude oil market, with Brent crude recently trading above $100 per barrel as geopolitical tensions and disruptions to oil supplies in the Middle East continue to affect global energy markets.
The pressure on global fuel markets is also being felt by refiners and petroleum traders as disruptions to Middle Eastern refining capacity and shipping routes create concerns over the availability of crude and refined petroleum products.
Dangote Refinery’s management recently said global fuel shortages could persist beyond the current Iran conflict because of damage to refining infrastructure, high refinery utilisation rates and the need to rebuild fuel inventories.
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For Nigeria, the increase comes as the downstream petroleum market continues to operate under deregulation, meaning petrol prices are largely determined by market conditions rather than a fixed government-controlled price.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently identified crude oil sourcing, refinery delivery timelines, imported cargoes, transportation, logistics and taxes among the factors influencing movements in petrol prices.
NMDPRA Head of Public Affairs George Ene-Ita said petrol prices are fully deregulated and therefore exposed to fluctuations across the supply chain.
Consequently, the new Dangote price does not necessarily mean motorists across Nigeria will immediately pay exactly N1,350 per litre at filling stations.
The price consumers pay will depend on the cost at which individual marketers obtain their supplies, transportation and distribution expenses, depot charges, operating costs, location, competition and profit margins.
However, the increase in the refinery’s gantry price is expected to put additional pressure on marketers who source petrol from Dangote Refinery, particularly as they replenish existing stocks.
Recent reports indicate that petrol prices in several parts of the country had already moved higher, with pump prices in some locations reaching the N1,310-N1,350 per litre range before the latest Dangote adjustment.
The latest price review could therefore trigger another round of adjustments by petroleum marketers, especially if the higher wholesale acquisition cost persists.
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The development is also significant because Dangote Refinery has become an increasingly important source of locally refined petrol as Nigeria seeks to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products.
The refinery has secured at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude for October delivery, equivalent to roughly 520,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters. The purchases represent a substantial portion of the refinery’s current 700,000-barrel-per-day capacity and underline its growing role in Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply.
Despite the increase in petrol prices, Dangote Refinery is pursuing plans to expand its capacity significantly. The company announced a $14.3 billion expansion programme that is expected to increase its processing capacity from about 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2029.
The refinery is also preparing for a major initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising about N2.15 trillion, with the offer scheduled to run from September 14 to October 13.
For consumers and businesses, the immediate concern remains the potential effect of the latest petrol price increase on transportation, logistics and the cost of goods and services.
Petrol remains a major input for transportation and commercial activities in Nigeria. Any sustained increase in its price can raise the cost of moving people and goods and increase operating expenses for businesses that depend on petrol-powered vehicles and equipment.
The extent of the impact of the new N1,350 per litre Dangote petrol price, however, will depend on how marketers respond and whether international crude prices remain elevated.
For now, the latest adjustment establishes a higher wholesale benchmark for customers buying petrol from Dangote Refinery, while the retail market is expected to respond according to prevailing supply, distribution and competitive conditions.
Dangote raises petrol price 6.7% to N1,350/litre
Auto
Jetour Takes Award-Winning Dashing, Other SUVs to Abuja
Jetour Takes Award-Winning Dashing, Other SUVs to Abuja
Motorists in Abuja are set for a close encounter with Jetour’s award-winning Dashing and other models as Jetour Nigeria moves to deepen its foothold in the nation’s capital with the Jetour Experience Abuja, beginning September 22.
The three-day motoring event, which runs until September 24, is expected to draw prospective buyers and automobile enthusiasts to a hands-on experience featuring test drives, product demonstrations and direct engagement with Jetour’s seven authorised dealers and product specialists.
The participating dealer network comprises Elizade Nigeria Limited, Kojo Motors, Mandilas Autos, Germaine Auto Centre, R.T. Briscoe, Tab Autos and New Era Auto Vehicle Services Limited.
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The Abuja Experience follows the success of the Lagos edition, which attracted thousands of visitors for test drives and direct engagement with product specialists. According to the organisers, strong demand and inquiries from motorists in Abuja and neighbouring states prompted the expansion of the event to the Federal Capital Territory.
The Dashing has gained attention in Nigeria’s competitive compact SUV segment for its combination of modern styling, technology, performance and competitive pricing.
The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engines, producing up to 145kW of power and 290Nm of torque, paired with six- or seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions.
Its features include a 15.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging and smartphone integration.
For safety, the vehicle comes with a 360-degree surround-view camera, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection and multiple airbags.
Beyond vehicle sales, the authorised dealers provide warranty, genuine spare parts and after-sales support to Jetour customers across their respective locations.
The Abuja Experience is expected to strengthen customer engagement and give motorists in the FCT a closer look at Jetour’s growing range of vehicles, while further expanding the brand’s footprint in the northern market.
Jetour Takes Award-Winning Dashing, Other SUVs to Abuja
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