Business
With $537m, US Begins Construction of Largest Consulate Globally in Lagos
The United States Government yesterday commenced the construction of a new Consulate office, which would be the largest globally, to be situated at the iconic Eko Atlantic City in Lagos.
An impressive ground-breaking ceremony on the project, estimated at $537 million, was witnessed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was joined US Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, and US Consul General Claire Pierangelo.
Located on a 12.2-acre site in the rapidly developing Eko Atlantic City, the new US Consulate General in Lagos would support diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Nigeria and provide American and Nigerian Consulate employees with a safe, secure, sustainable, and modern workplace.
“When completed, it will be the largest US Consulate in the world, demonstrating the importance of the relationship between the United States and Nigeria,” according to a statement issued after the ceremony by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The new Consulate, the statement said, would directly benefit the Nigerian people, and throughout the project, an estimated $95 million would be invested in the local economy, with the project employing approximately 2,500 Nigerian citizens, including engineers, architects, artisans, construction workers, and administrative staff.
“These workers will have the opportunity to learn new technical skills and safety awareness that will help distinguish them in the local market,” the statement said.
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In her remarks at the ceremony, Leonard expressed appreciation to the federal government and Lagos State Government for their support.
“Our vision for this remarkable Consulate campus is to create a facility that both honours the vibrant relationship between the United States and Nigeria and communicates the spirit of American democracy, transparency and openness,” Leonard added.
“Nigeria and the United States have a long-standing history of people-to-people engagement fostering bridges between our two nations. We look forward to the many accomplishments we will continue to achieve together in the future,” Pierangelo said.
The new Consulate would provide a modern space for the largest consular operation in Africa, including improved public-facing interview and waiting areas.
The construction project targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification ––a globally recognised designation for achievement in high performance, best-in-class, green buildings –– and incorporates many features designed to make the building more sustainable.
Ennead Architects LLP of New York is the design architect, Pernix Federal, LLC of Lombard, Illinois, is the design/build contractor, and EYP, Inc. of Albany, New York, is the architect of record. The construction project would take approximately five years, with completion expected in 2027.
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Nigeria Takes Centre Stage at UN Road Safety Summit as Tinubu Delegates FRSC Corps Marshal
Nigeria Takes Centre Stage at UN Road Safety Summit as Tinubu Delegates FRSC Corps Marshal
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to the global campaign against road traffic fatalities by appointing the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, to lead the country’s delegation to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety in New York, United States.
The high-level gathering at the United Nations General Assembly Headquarters has brought together Heads of State, ministers, global policymakers and road safety experts to review progress and accelerate efforts towards achieving the UN target of reducing road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent before 2030 under the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
Representing President Tinubu at the plenary session, Shehu Mohammed delivered Nigeria’s national statement on the meeting’s theme, “Scaling Up and Accelerating Implementation of Commitments to Halving Road Traffic Deaths and Injuries by 2030.”
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to strengthen road safety governance through sustained political commitment, strategic investments, innovation and stronger international partnerships in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Corps Marshal highlighted the significant progress Nigeria has recorded in advancing road safety, noting that the Federal Government has strengthened the institutional capacity of the FRSC through strategic reforms, technology-driven enforcement systems, enhanced emergency response mechanisms and intensified public education campaigns aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities.
He also showcased Nigeria’s growing influence in road safety across Africa, citing the recent launch of the Nigeria Road Assessment Programme (NigeriaRAP) in partnership with the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).
According to him, the initiative adopts the globally recognised Safe System Approach to improve road infrastructure safety and reduce crash risks.
Mohammed further pointed to Nigeria’s role as host of the Secretariat of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA), describing it as a strategic platform for promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and institutional development among road safety agencies across the continent.
On sustainable transportation, the FRSC boss told delegates that Nigeria is aligning its mobility agenda with global environmental goals through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), while developing comprehensive safety standards for heavy-duty vehicles and emerging transport technologies.
While acknowledging the progress already made, Mohammed stressed that achieving the 2030 target would require stronger international cooperation in areas such as intelligent enforcement technologies, road infrastructure safety assessments, institutional capacity development and technology transfer.
He therefore urged development partners and the international community to expand technical cooperation and support capacity-building programmes that would help countries accelerate the implementation of global road safety commitments.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, the Corps Marshal declared that road safety remains a national priority under President Tinubu’s administration, assuring the global community that the country would continue to collaborate with international partners to build safer roads, save more lives and contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN High-Level Meeting, convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), is expected to adopt a Progress Declaration that will shape global road safety actions towards meeting the 2030 target.
The meeting is also reviewing countries’ progress since the 2022 Political Declaration and the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2025.
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Business
Dangote Refinery resumes naira petrol sales, fixes gantry price at ₦1,215 per litre
Dangote Refinery resumes naira petrol sales, fixes gantry price at ₦1,215 per litre
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in naira, ending its temporary dollar-denominated pricing regime and fixing a new gantry (ex-depot) price of ₦1,215 per litre.
The refinery announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the decision is expected to provide relief to petroleum marketers and consumers after days of uncertainty caused by the temporary switch to dollar pricing.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in naira, providing a measure of relief to marketers and consumers. The gantry price is fixed at ₦1,215 per litre,” the company stated.
The announcement comes barely a week after the refinery suspended naira sales and introduced U.S. dollar pricing for some refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
Under the temporary pricing template circulated to marketers, petrol was sold at $0.779 per litre, diesel at $1.087 per litre, while aviation fuel (Jet A1) was priced at $0.942 per litre.
The refinery had attributed the temporary dollar pricing to commercial realities surrounding crude oil procurement and foreign exchange obligations, particularly following challenges associated with the Federal Government’s crude-for-naira initiative.
The decision immediately triggered higher depot prices across the downstream petroleum sector, forcing marketers to source products at increased costs.
Consequently, retail petrol prices rose sharply in several parts of the country. In Lagos, pump prices climbed to between ₦1,200 and ₦1,280 per litre, while motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and many other states paid even higher prices due to transportation costs, logistics and regional distribution margins.
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Industry operators, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), had warned that prolonged dollar pricing would expose marketers to foreign exchange risks, increase operating costs and ultimately push higher fuel prices onto consumers.
Many independent marketers also complained that the pricing structure forced them to purchase petroleum products from private depots at significantly higher prices after loading from the refinery became more expensive.
The refinery’s decision to resume naira sales is therefore expected to ease pressure on marketers by reducing their dependence on foreign exchange for product purchases while improving fuel availability across the country.
Although the new ₦1,215 per litre gantry price is higher than the refinery’s previous naira ex-depot price before the temporary suspension, analysts believe the return to naira transactions could help stabilise the downstream market and reduce price volatility.
Energy experts, however, noted that the gantry price represents only the wholesale cost of petrol. The final pump price paid by motorists will continue to depend on transportation costs, depot charges, distribution expenses, retail margins and other operational factors across different regions of Nigeria.
The development also supports the Federal Government’s broader objective of encouraging local currency transactions in the petroleum sector through the crude-for-naira policy, which is intended to reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand and strengthen domestic fuel supply.
With a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery remains Africa’s largest single-train refinery and is expected to play a central role in improving Nigeria’s energy security, reducing fuel imports and stabilising the domestic petroleum market.
Industry stakeholders are now watching closely to see whether the refinery’s return to naira transactions will translate into lower retail petrol prices and improved product availability in the coming days.
Dangote Refinery resumes naira petrol sales, fixes gantry price at ₦1,215 per litre
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Business
Blessing Computers marks over 20 years of building trust, expanding access to genuine technology
Blessing Computers marks over 20 years of building trust, expanding access to genuine technology
For more than two decades, while Nigeria’s technology landscape has evolved at a remarkable pace, one company has steadily built its reputation on a less glamorous but enduring asset—trust.
Blessing Computers Limited, established in 2003 and incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), has marked over 20 years of providing genuine technology products, ICT infrastructure solutions, technical support and after-sales services to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, government agencies and corporate organisations across Nigeria and beyond, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s dependable technology solution providers.
Reflecting on the role of technology in today’s society, the company said access to reliable digital tools has become increasingly critical to personal and economic development.
According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Blessing Ikhayere Usinode, “Technology has quietly become the infrastructure of modern life. It powers how students learn, how businesses operate, how professionals deliver their best work, and how individuals stay connected to the opportunities around them.
“But access to reliable, genuine, and well-supported technology has never been evenly distributed — and for many people across Nigeria, finding a trustworthy place to start has been the first and hardest challenge.”
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Headquartered in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Blessing Computers says its growth has been anchored on a simple philosophy of ensuring customers receive honest professional guidance, quality products and dependable support long after every purchase.
As an authorised Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner for globally recognised brands including Dell, HP and Lenovo, Blessing Computers supplies laptops, desktop computers, printers, network servers, networking equipment and a broad range of technology accessories.
It also offers products from other leading global technology manufacturers to meet the diverse needs of its growing customer base.
Beyond hardware sales, the company has expanded its offerings to include IT infrastructure deployment, system upgrades, network solutions, technical consultancy, repairs and maintenance, delivery services, deployment support, structured after-sales support and warranty management, positioning itself as a long-term technology partner rather than simply a retailer.
From its Lagos base, Blessing Computers has steadily expanded its reach across Nigeria while serving clients in international markets.
Over the years, the company said it has earned the confidence of businesses, institutions and organisations through consistent service delivery, professional expertise and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.
The company says its sustained growth has been driven less by aggressive marketing than by referrals from satisfied customers and a reputation built on reliability, integrity and quality service.
Evaluating the milestone, Blessing Computers notes that technology goes beyond the devices people use every day, describing it as a critical enabler of education, business growth, productivity and economic opportunities.
The company reaffirms its commitment to delivering trusted technology products, expert technical support and innovative ICT solutions that help individuals and organisations embrace digital transformation with confidence while making reliable technology more accessible to Nigerians.

Blessing Computers marks over 20 years of building trust, expanding access to genuine technology
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