IMF projects Nigeria’s economy to recover by 2022 - Newstrends
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IMF projects Nigeria’s economy to recover by 2022

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The International Monetary Fund says Nigeria’s economy is expected to start recovering next year but it can only reach its pre-pandemic level in 2022.

This is the outcome of a virtual mission conduced by an IMF staff team led by Jesmin Rahman in the context of the 2020 Article IV Consultation with Nigeria.

The survey was done between October 30 and November 17, 2020, according to the IMF.

The fund, however, said the team concluded that under current policies, the outlook in Nigeria was, however, challenging.

The IMF said, “Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is projected to contract by 3¼ per cent in 2020. The recovery is projected to start in 2021, with subdued growth of 1½ per cent and output recovering to its pre-pandemic level only in 2022.

“Despite an expected easing of food prices, inflation is projected to remain in double-digits and above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s target range, absent monetary policy reforms.”

The IMF stated that fiscal deficits were projected to remain elevated in the medium term, following a significant decline in revenue collections from levels that were already among the lowest in the world.

It said there were significant downside risks to this near-term outlook arising from the uncertain course of the pandemic both globally and in Nigeria.

The IMF said the COVID-19 global pandemic was exacting a heavy toll on the Nigerian economy, which was already experiencing falling per capita income and double-digit inflation, with limited buffers and structural bottlenecks.

It said, “Low oil prices and sharp capital outflows have significantly increased balance of payments pressures and, together with the pandemic-related lockdown, have led to a large output contraction and increased unemployment.

“Supply shortages have pushed up headline inflation to a 30-month high.”

 It said real GDP was contracting; inflation was increasing, and external vulnerabilities remained large.

The fund stressed that major policy adjustments embracing broad market reforms were needed.

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Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol Price to ₦995 per Litre Amid Global Oil Price Surge

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Pump price

Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol Price to ₦995 per Litre Amid Global Oil Price Surge

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price to ₦995 per litre, marking a sharp increase of ₦221 in just four days amid rising global crude oil prices and shipping costs. The move signals further upward pressure on fuel prices nationwide, with retail petrol likely to surpass ₦1,050 per litre in many parts of Nigeria.

A senior refinery official confirmed the revision, stating that the price adjustment reflects recent fluctuations in international oil markets, crude oil replacement costs, and logistics expenses. The official said, “Yes, the price has been reviewed. The new gantry price is now ₦995 per litre.”

This hike follows an earlier increase this week when the refinery raised its ex-depot price from ₦774 to ₦874 per litre, meaning the cost of petrol from Dangote Refinery has risen nearly 29 per cent within four days. Updated pricing data on petroleumprice.ng confirmed the new benchmark for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

The refinery temporarily halted truck-out operations early Friday, a move often preceding price adjustments, leaving marketers uncertain about future costs. Industry sources noted that this pause in loading activities indicated a likely price increase, which has now been confirmed.

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Refinery officials emphasised that petrol prices in Nigeria’s fully deregulated market are influenced by global crude oil prices, foreign exchange rates, and supply chain costs, and are not set arbitrarily. They added that the facility has absorbed about 20 per cent of rising costs to reduce the impact on the domestic market.

The development comes amid geopolitical tensions, particularly the US-Iran conflict, which has pushed Brent crude prices above $84 per barrel, fueling additional cost pressures. Dangote Petroleum stated that it will prioritise domestic supply to help insulate Nigerians from global supply shocks.

Data from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) shows that imported petrol remains cheaper than locally refined fuel, with landing costs at ₦809.37 per litre, compared to Dangote’s gantry price. Diesel prices reflect a similar trend, with Dangote diesel at ₦1,169.42 per litre versus ₦1,125.70 per litre for imports.

The latest price hike is expected to push retail petrol prices higher, further straining household budgets and increasing transport costs across the country. Consumers and businesses alike are bracing for a surge in energy costs as the ripple effects of the gantry price increase reach filling stations nationwide.

Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol Price to ₦995 per Litre Amid Global Oil Price Surge

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FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

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FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced a temporary hybrid toll payment system at airports nationwide following heavy traffic congestion caused by the rollout of its cashless toll payment policy. The move comes after President Bola Tinubu directed the authority to ease implementation challenges to prevent travel disruptions.

FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, told journalists in Lagos on Thursday that the decision followed severe gridlock at major airport toll gates, particularly Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as motorists struggled to adapt to fully digital payment methods. “He [the President] saw the traffic congestion and directed us to temporarily revert to a hybrid approach,” Kuku said. “This ensures smoother access while we refine the cashless system — it is a win for the industry.”

The hybrid model allows commuters and travellers to pay tolls using a combination of cash, prepaid FAAN cards, e-tags, debit cards, and other electronic options. Kuku emphasized that the arrangement will let FAAN continue its digital payment initiative while still accommodating users who have yet to register or activate electronic payment channels.

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She highlighted that the authority had registered over 100,000 users on its cashless platform between October 2025 and March 3, 2026, with around 60,000 sign-ups occurring in the final three days before the March 1 rollout deadline. The technology reportedly achieved a 99% success rate during initial operations, demonstrating strong potential for adoption once operational challenges are addressed.

Kuku explained that the initial rollout lacked a comprehensive pilot phase due to the pressure to meet the government’s deadline. The additional time granted by the Presidency now serves as an extended pilot period, enabling FAAN to raise public awareness, onboard private technology partners, and enhance monitoring mechanisms to prevent revenue leakages while cash payments are still allowed.

The MD noted that no new deadline has been set for the complete elimination of cash payments. The focus now is on refining the system, ensuring user convenience, and achieving a smooth transition to a fully digital tolling platform in line with global best practices in airport infrastructure management.

FAAN said the hybrid arrangement aims to prevent delays that could cause passengers to miss flights, while also maintaining transparency in revenue collection and improving overall airport operational efficiency.

FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

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NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja

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supply stabilization

NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has increased the pump price of petrol at its retail stations to ₦933 per litre in Lagos and ₦960 per litre in Abuja, triggering fresh concerns among motorists and businesses over rising fuel costs in Nigeria.

The national oil company raised the price by ₦103 in Lagos, moving from ₦830 per litre to ₦933, while motorists in the federal capital Abuja now pay ₦960 per litre, representing an ₦85 increase from the previous ₦875 price.

Checks on Wednesday showed that the new petrol price has already been implemented at several NNPC retail outlets, including stations at Apple Junction and Ago Palace Way in Lagos, while stations along Airport Road in Lugbe, Abuja, were dispensing petrol at the new ₦960 rate.

The latest fuel price hike comes shortly after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its ex-gantry petrol price to ₦874 per litre on March 2, up from ₦774 per litre, a development that has influenced retail pricing across the downstream petroleum sector.

Industry analysts say the rise in petrol prices in Nigeria is closely linked to growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have unsettled global energy markets and pushed up crude oil prices.

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Recent market data shows that Brent crude oil rose to about $85 per barrel on March 3, compared with around $72 per barrel recorded on February 28, intensifying pressure on petrol landing costs for markets that still rely partly on imports.

Experts note that Nigeria’s deregulated fuel market means pump prices now fluctuate in response to international oil prices, exchange rate volatility, and supply chain costs.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the federal government to ensure steady crude oil supply to domestic refineries, particularly as Nigeria seeks to strengthen local refining capacity.

The association warned that continued instability in global oil markets could weaken the naira, raise petrol prices further, and push inflation higher, thereby worsening the cost-of-living challenges faced by Nigerians.

Energy stakeholders have also stressed the importance of expanding local refining operations, including production from the Dangote refinery and rehabilitation of government-owned refineries, to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

The latest price adjustment reflects the ongoing transition in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector following the removal of fuel subsidies and the adoption of a market-driven pricing system.

Motorists across Lagos, Abuja and other major cities have expressed concern that rising petrol prices could increase transportation costs, food prices and overall inflation, placing additional pressure on households and businesses.

NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja

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