UK plans new scheme to drive trade with Nigeria – Newstrends
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UK plans new scheme to drive trade with Nigeria

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The United Kingdom government has proposed a new scheme to help Nigeria and other developing countries to drive ‘free and fair’ trade in the post-Brexit.
In 2018, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, had hinted about a new trade deal and economic partnership during her visit to Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the new plan will replace the UK’s generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) in 2022.
The statement added that the new scheme, Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), will be an opportunity for the UK to grow free and fair trade with developing countries, boost the economy and support jobs in these countries as well as for British citizens.
The scheme aims to contribute to developing countries’ integration into the global economy, creating stronger trade and investment partners for the future and strengthening supply chains.
“The UK currently operates a similar scheme rolled over from the EU, but as an independent trading nation we can now take a simpler, more generous, pro-growth approach to trade with developing countries,” it stated.
“The UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme will apply to 47 countries in the Least Developed Country Framework (LDCF) and 23 additional countries classified by the World Bank as low-income and lower-middle-income countries.
“The proposed new UK scheme will mean more opportunity and less bureaucracy for developing countries, for example by simplifying rules of origin requirements or reducing tariffs on imports. For instance, this could mean lowering tariffs on products including rice from Pakistan and raw materials from Nigeria.”
Dominic Raab, UK foreign secretary, said cutting tariffs for poorer countries enabled them to trade their way to genuine independence.
International trade secretary, Liz Truss, said trade fundamentally empowers people and has “done more than any single policy in history to lift millions of people around the world out of poverty.”
“Now the UK is an independent trading nation we have a huge opportunity do things differently, taking a more liberal, pro-trade approach that leads to growth and opportunity.
“Countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam have proven it’s possible to trade your way to better living standards, and our new Developing Countries Trading Scheme will help others do the same.”
Emma Wade-Smith OBE, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, said: “The DCTS scheme signals the UK’s strong appetite to promote free and fair trade.
“It is a demonstration of our commitment to help boost economic growth and prosperity in Africa, by enabling businesses there to access the UK market more easily.
“The UK is committed to strengthening our commercial relationship with African partners.
“The new DCTS scheme will create a smoother path for companies to export to the UK. I encourage the African business community to contribute to this important consultation.
“We want to hear a range of views and perspectives, to ensure the scheme targets those areas that will have the greatest positive impact on growing our bilateral trade”.
In line with the development, the British government launched an eight-week public consultation on the UK future tariff schedule and policies in relation to the GPS that began on July 19 and will close on September 12, 2021.
It also invites views from Nigerian businesses and stakeholders with interest across the globe to send responses to the consultation via this link until September 12 closing date.
The scheme is targeted at 47 least developed countries and 23 low income and lower-middle-income countrie

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Petrol price rises to N935 in Lagos

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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.

According to the major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) latest report in its Bulletin, the increase in the landing cost of petrol is a result of the rise in international petroleum pricing in the past two weeks due to the transition from winter to summer specification gasoline (petrol) in Europe, which typically comes at a premium. MEMAN explained that supply constraints have emerged as arbitrage flows into Europe remain unprofitable, and Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub stocks have dropped to a 12-week low.
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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

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Dangote Refinery: MRS, other filling stations increase petrol price

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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

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Lanre Shittu Motors to endow Automobile Department of Lagos Technical College 

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LSM team presenting cheques to winners of competitions held at the Engineering Week of Lagos Technical College, Aso-Soba, Festac... recently

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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