VAT row: More northern states team up with FIRS – Newstrends
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VAT row: More northern states team up with FIRS

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There are indications that the Attorney-General of the Federation and some state governments in the north will jointly challenge the court order which permits states to collect Value Added Tax (VAT).

Following the judgment of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which upheld the powers of the Rivers State Government to collect VAT, Lagos, Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Oyo States had begun moves to enforce the order.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on September 10 ordered status quo in the matter; while it allowed an application by the Lagos State Government to join the appeal.

Rivers State is currently challenging the order for status quo order before the Supreme Court.

Sources said more states opposed to the judgment planned to team up with the Federal Inland Revenue Service in filing applications against states’ collection of VAT.

But the Solicitor-General of Kaduna State, Chris Umar, told Daily Trust that the state was yet to file any application for joinder.

“You must have heard the position of the Northern Governors Forum. Our position would not be far different from others. When we receive contrary instructions, we’d let you know,” he said.

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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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