Business
National Assembly tackles Amaechi over Nigeria-Niger Republic rail line, others

The Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on Land and Marine Transport on Thursday protested against the proposal of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Ameachi, to construct a standard gauge for the Kano-Maradi rail line while an old narrow gauge was planned for other parts of Nigeria.
The lawmakers became angry when Amaechi presented the 2022 budget proposal of his ministry before the Joint National Assembly Committee.
While presenting the budget, Amaechi said, “The construction of Kaduna-Kano railways to link up the Abuja-Kaduna rail line has commenced. Survey and design for Ibadan-Minna-Abuja is ongoing.
“Construction of the 284 kilometres Nigeria-Maradi (Niger Republic) standard gauge rail line enabling interconnectivity with countries in the West Africa sub region for the promotion of trade and commerce.
“This important contribution by Nigeria would be mutually beneficial by adding to the economic growth of the two countries, Niger and Nigeria.”
Chairman of Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, and House Committee Chairman, Mr Pat Asadu, kicked against the marginalisation of other regions of the country in the rail line construction.
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Both Chairmen queried the minister why he was not constructing uniform rail lines across the country.
They also asked him to explain the rationale behind the modern standard gauge being proposed for the Kano-Maradi rail line when he was constructing the old narrow gauge in other parts of Nigeria.
The Chairman, Committee on Port, Pat Asadu, who opened the floor after the minister presented the budget to the committee, specifically asked why he was constructing modern rail line in one place and old rail lines in other parts of the country.
He said, “Looking at your key railway projects which you’ve highlighted, I think they are worth the spend.
“We are now looking at the difference between project D which is the construction of 284 kilometers Nigeria-Maradi railway standard world class line against Project C where you talked about the total rehabilitation and reconstruction of Port Harcourt to Maiduguri eastern rail network defined as narrow gauge.
“For a segment of this country that is known for trade and commerce, they need railway as they need air.
“Why is the ministry doing a 287 kilometers of railway track from Kano to Maradi that you will fund with Nigerian money borrowed for Nigerians to be paid by our children to do a world class railway to Maradi.
“I also know the economy of Niger Republic and I believe the economy of the South-East is bigger than that of Maradi. I am not even talking of South-South.
“So what policy guide, what need assessment, what study of federal character integration would make the Ministry of Transportation to put 284 kilometers railway from the end of the North to Maradi and then constructing a narrow gauge in the South-East and South-South.
“This to me is why the integration of this country will always be challenged because things are done with so much impunity. This is our commonwealth.
“So if we approve this budget for you, you will go and do Kano-Maradi standard rail line and do a narrow gauge rehabilitation for the South-East. My heart bleeds.
“Instead of doing the right thing, you are now giving us this one as what will enhance the economy of Niger and Nigeria, while the economy of Nigerians especially those who have the containers and who are always on the road are given a narrow gauge rehabilitation.”
Similarly, Danjuma Goje, said, “I concur with you because we have consistently challenged the minister.
“Why will you give those of us from the eastern part of Nigeria, from South-East, North-Central, North-East the archaic, old modern narrow gauge, then you are now spending a lot of money to do the modern standard gauge to another country.
“Are people from the South-East, North-Central and North-East not Nigerians? Why should there be double standard in this matter?
“That is why we are quarreling. You are telling us you are designing Ibadan to Abuja, you are doing Kaduna to Kano, you are doing Abuja to Itakpe and to Warri.
“What wrong did the South-East, North-Central and North-East, particularly the South-East, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa. What is wrong with us?
“Are we not Nigerians? I completely concur with Honourable Pat Asadu, 100 per cent.”
Ameachi, while responding to issue raised by the committee, said the difference between the narrow gauge and standard gauge was speed, adding that the country might not get the money to build standard gauge across the country.
He said that the negotiation for loan for the construction of Kano- Maradi standard gauge line was about to be completed.
He also clarified that his ministry was yet to get money for Kano-Kaduna, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects.
On the economic justification for constructing the $1.3bn Kano-Maradi rail, Ameachi said the project was not based on sentiments but economic benefits for the country.
Business
Petrol price rises to N935 in Lagos

Petrol price rises to N935 in Lagos
Petrol marketers across the Lagos metropolis at the weekend raised the pump price of the commodity to between N925 per litre and N935 per litre.
This is in response to the increase in the landing cost of petrol, the stoppage by Dangote Refinery of the sales of the commodity in naira about two weeks ago and the delay in conclusion of negotiation on the naira for crude policy.
Last Monday, the landing cost of the commodity rose to N843.28 per litre from a previous N797 per litre a forthnight ago.
This increase represents an addition of N46 per litre to the landing cost of petrol.
Some filling stations like TotalEnergies sold at N935 per litre; MRS, N925.
ARA is a crucial global oil and biofuel hub known for its physical infrastructure, pricing benchmarks, and significant oil consumption.
It added that seasonal refinery maintenance across Europe and a recent fire at the Falconara refinery in Italy have further restricted supply, adding to market tightness and price volatility.
The Association said the foreign exchange rate remained fairly stable, with minimal fluctuations observed over recent periods.
Therefore, the landing cost of petrol, being fundamentally influenced by these elements, is likely to change several times intra-day.
It advised that savings can be achieved through negotiations, access to foreign exchange, and logistics efficiencies, for example, by eliminating Ship to ship (STS) transfer where possible or receiving larger cargos.
MEMAN explained that the landing cost into Apapa/ASPM Jetty is calculated based on the following assumptions: exchange rate, finance charges at 32 per cent per annum for 30 days; STS and related charges; NIMASA charges at two per cent of local STS; NMDPRA at 0.5 per cent MDGIF; NPA and VAT charges covering towage, berthage/mooring, ship dues, cargo dues, contingency, fire coverage, agency fee; other costs at N2 per litre.
Petrol price rises to N935 in Lagos
Business
Dangote Refinery: MRS, other filling stations increase petrol price
Dangote Refinery: MRS, other filling stations increase petrol price
The price of petrol has surged to N930 per litre in Lagos and N960 in northern states, following the recent suspension of naira payments for crude oil by the Dangote refinery.
MRS filling stations implemented the new pricing structure on March 28, 2025, marking a N70 increase from the previous rate of N860 in Lagos and N80 higher than the former N880 in the North.
Other fuel retailers have also adjusted their prices, with NIPCO reportedly selling at N930 per litre in Magboro, Ogun State, on Saturday.
According to MRS Oil & Gas, trucks will load products from its Lagos depot and distribute them across the country at varying costs.
The company’s latest pricing document confirms that Lagos has the lowest fuel rate, while northern states face the highest prices. However, the company did not specify whether it sourced its supply from the Dangote refinery.
Under the revised price framework, petrol now costs N930 per litre in Lagos, N940 in other South-West states, and N960 in the South-South and South-East regions, including Edo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Enugu.
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In the North, Abuja, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Nasarawa will pay N950 per litre, while Zamfara, Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, and Yobe will pay N960.
The Free Carrier Agreement (FCA) price, which determines how much marketers pay before reselling fuel, also differs by region. Lagos has the lowest FCA price at N905 per litre, whereas states like Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, and Yobe have FCA prices around N888 per litre.
The recent suspension of the naira-for-crude initiative by the Dangote refinery was attributed to discrepancies in crude oil allocation. Sources indicate that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) allocated large volumes of crude to foreign creditors to settle outstanding loans, making it difficult to sustain local transactions in naira.
As a result, independent fuel importers have taken advantage of the situation, increasing depot prices. Industry analysts warn that the rising petrol costs could drive up transportation fares and the prices of goods and services.
Experts suggest that prices may stabilize once the Dangote refinery secures a reliable crude oil supply from NNPCL and resumes selling in naira. Until then, consumers across the country will have to contend with higher fuel costs.
Dangote Refinery: MRS, other filling stations increase petrol price
(PUNCH)
Auto
Lanre Shittu Motors to endow Automobile Department of Lagos Technical College

Lanre Shittu Motors to endow Automobile Department of Lagos Technical College
Lanre Shittu Motors has announced a novel idea that will boost automobile studies in a Lagos technical college.
Specifically, it has pledged to adopt the Automobiles Department of the Government Technical College, Aso-Soba in the Festac area of Lagos.
This is intended to raise academic and practical programme standards of the school.
The company said this would involve adequate funding, in-school training and intensive industrial training (IT) with welfare package to encourage more young people to pursue academic career in automotive engineering.
Business Support/Admin Manager of LSM, Mr Babatunde Adenuga, disclosed this in Lagos, in an interview with journalists.
Adenuga represented the LSM Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Shittu, at the just concluded Engineering Week of the college sponsored by the auto company, where he unveiled the plan to the staff and students at the event’s grand finale.
Aside from the needed financial support to make the auto department functional and standard, he said LSM would provide the tools, overall wears/workshop uniform, among others, as part of the welfare package for the students.
He said it would be a win-win situation for the school and the company.
Adenuga said, “The school will benefit immensely from the LSM package for the department as we take the financial trouble of running the department away from them.
“Students from the department can come for their internship at LSM workshops, and getting jobs after school won’t be difficult.
“For us, it will be a seamless arrangement in getting suitable personnel familiar with our training and business orientation.”
He also said the LSM had been absorbing students from the school and others for their industrial training (IT), providing them with useful hands-on training and monthly stipend to keep them going.
The LSM MD, Taiwo Shittu, commenting on the support, said, “We’ll be part of the progress of the school. We want to own a department in the technical college, the automobile department of studies that will enable us to fund the place; take care of the welfare of students, providing the tools, overall uniform and other facilities.”
“At LSM, we see training the youths as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility. Every year, we take in youths into our facility and train them; even while in training, we give them stipends.”
The highpoint of the LSM-sponsored Government Technical College event was the presentation of prizes to outstanding students in the various competitions held for the Engineering Week.
Three of the students whose projects stood out such as locally produced water pumping machine and water heater went home with impressive cash awards.
Principal of the college, Mr Folarin Sunkanmi, expressed appreciation to LSM for the interest in the school, starting with giving the students the opportunity for industrial training and offering them monthly stipend.
The principal commended the LSM efforts of sponsoring the engineering week’s activities, whose theme was given as ‘Engineering for Sustainable Development (Innovators of tomorrow)’
He urged other companies to emulate the LSM example in order to boost the employability chances of products of the technical colleges and engineering departments of higher institutions in the country.
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