NNPCL can buy our refinery out, run it - Aliko Dangote – Newstrends
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NNPCL can buy our refinery out, run it – Aliko Dangote

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Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote

NNPCL can buy our refinery out, run it – Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has expressed his willingness to sell his oil refinery to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited amid ongoing disputes with Nigeria’s regulatory authorities.

Dangote made this statement during an interview with Premium Times on Sunday.

“If they [NNPCL] buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can, they have labeled me a monopolist,” Dangote said. “That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s okay. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way.”

Dangote highlighted the long-standing fuel crisis in Nigeria and the potential of his refinery to help resolve it. He expressed frustration over the opposition he faces, attributing it to some individuals being uncomfortable with his involvement. He also mentioned his age, saying, “I am 67 years old, in less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life.”

The billionaire emphasized that his actions are in the best interest of Nigeria, stating, “Everything I do is in the interest of my country. So, I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs.”

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Dangote’s refinery, inaugurated in May 2023, has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is located in the free zone area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. While diesel production began on January 12, petrol production has been delayed due to various challenges, including crude supply issues and a fire outbreak at the facility. The refinery has had to import crude from countries like Brazil and the US due to constraints in accessing crude from international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria.

At the inauguration, the refinery announced a supply deal with the NNPC and agreed to a 20 percent equity participation. However, only 7.2 percent had been fully paid for before the deadline for acquiring the stake.

Dangote reflected on the obstacles his refinery is facing, noting that some friends and associates had advised him to be cautious about investing billions of dollars into the Nigerian economy. He mentioned one wealthy friend who began investing abroad due to policy inconsistencies and interest group interference, saying, “That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right.”

The challenges with crude supply were highlighted on June 4 when Dangote stated that some IOCs were struggling to supply crude to his refinery. This claim was disputed by Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), who said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides for willing buyer-willing seller transactions. However, Dangote Industries Limited insisted that IOCs were frustrating its crude feedstock requests.

On July 18, Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), criticized local refineries, including Dangote’s, for producing inferior products compared to imported ones.

NNPCL can buy our refinery out, run it – Aliko Dangote

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Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has described President Bola Tinubu as an epitome of wealth with no interest to loot Nigeria’s resources.

Olawande stated this while speaking at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch in Abuja.

The minister also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president, noting that in no distant time there will be positive changes.

He said, “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of the citizens will be transformed.

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“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper; he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria.”

Olawande continued, “He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury.”

He emphasized that the administration is putting in efforts to transform the lives of Nigerians through various policies of the federal government.

Olawande thanked the staff of the ministry for being supportive of the government policies and assured them that their welfare will not be compromised.

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

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BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

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BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 32.15% in August 2024 down from the 33.40% recorded in July 2024, reflecting a decrease of 1.25 percentage points.

This represents the second consecutive monthly slowdown in inflation after easing in the previous month.

This is according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

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However, on a year-on-year basis, the August 2024 inflation rate was 6.35 percentage points higher than the 25.80% rate recorded in August 2023, indicating a significant increase over the past year.

On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in August 2024 stood at 2.22%, slightly lower than July’s rate of 2.28%, signaling a slower pace in the increase of the average price level compared to the previous month.

BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

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Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

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Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six young men in a hotel located in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Benin City with fake letterheads, stamps, and forged signatures belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its chieftains.

The young men, who were apprehended with incriminating materials such as printers, mobile phones, power banks, laptops, and a photocopy machine, are believed to have been involved in drafting and circulating fake PDP letters and statements.

Their objective was to paint the PDP as instigators of unrest ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The arrest, which was made following a tip-off, uncovered an elaborate scheme allegedly designed to discredit the PDP and its leaders by sending fabricated documents to unsuspecting journalists.

These fake letters and statements, according to police sources, were intended to portray the party as warmongers and troublemakers in the run-up to the critical election.

A police officer involved in the operation, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that the suspects had been using the hotel as their base of operations for weeks.

“We found that these individuals were using forged PDP letterheads, stamps, and signatures to create fake documents.

“Their goal was to send out these documents to journalists in an attempt to misrepresent the PDP and create an atmosphere of tension ahead of the elections,” the officer said.

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In addition to the counterfeit materials, the police discovered that the young men had several technological devices, including laptops and printers, which they used to produce and disseminate the fraudulent documents.

“Their setup was sophisticated. They had everything they needed to make the documents appear legitimate, from forged letterheads to printers.

“We also found power banks, mobile phones, and a photocopy machine, which they used to mass-produce the fake letters,” the officer added.

Further investigation has revealed that the six young men were funded by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Meanwhile, another police source disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, has come under intense pressure from senior APC figures, who are reportedly pushing for the release of the arrested men.

“Since the arrest, there has been immense pressure on us from certain chieftains within the APC, urging the command to release these individuals.

“We believe that their involvement with these young men is being covered up, and they are worried about the potential fallout from this arrest,” the source noted.

A journalist with one of the prominent national newspapers, who had been unknowingly receiving fake statements from the group, expressed shock upon hearing about the arrests.

“It’s alarming to think that we’ve been receiving statements from people who were impersonating the PDP. This shows how low some people will go to try and sabotage the other party. The integrity of this election is now under serious question,” the journalist stated.

The Edo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but sources within the command say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects remain in custody.

Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

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