Business

Igbo Behind Major Investments In Nigeria, Says Speaker

Published

2 years ago

December 30, 2023

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has urged Igbo leaders to seek ways of interfacing with the Federal Government to address their legitimate grievances.

The lawmaker, in his address at the launch of the Peace in the South East Project, a brain child of the Deputy Speaker. Benjamin Kalu, lamented that despite South-East’s economic strengths, agitations in the zone had caused it many losses.

Speaking on Friday at the event held in Bende, Abia State, Abbas stated that the peace in the South-East was invariably, the peace and progress of the entire Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Musa Krishi, on Friday, Abbas noted that the PISE-P was borne out of his deputy’s deep love for the zone and profound concern over the rise of insecurity, “which has cast a dark shadow over the region.”

He lamented that the wave of insecurity “continues to cripple daily life and significantly paralyse socio-economic endeavours, in a region whose people are renowned for their resourcefulness and economic enterprise.”

Describing the project as “historic and patriotic endeavour” the statement quoted Abbas as saying, “Between 1956 and 1965, the then Eastern region was regarded as the fastest-growing economy in Africa and Asia. Indeed, the South-East has remained an economic powerhouse in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, leading in trade and commerce.

“From Aba to Adamawa and Enugu to Europe, Igbo are known to be entrepreneurial, resourceful, peace-loving, savvy, tenacious and peace-loving. That is the character of the Igbo. That is who you are. Three of your cities, Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi, are among the most industrialised in Nigeria.

“A sizeable chunk of the major investments in many parts of Nigeria are Igbo-owned. Your contributions to the Nigerian economy, either through imports, business investments, or Diaspora remittances, among others, are indisputable.

“The contributions of the Igbo are apparent not only with regard to the economy but also in all fields of human endeavour, including literature, academia, the creative industry and many more.”

Despite its natural endowment, the Speaker added that the challenges facing the South-East have often manifested in the form of separatist agitations, unrest, and terrorism, noting that “The consequences on both lives and property have been colossal.”

To address these issues effectively, the Speaker said the stakeholders must first understand their root causes.

Business

Fuel Scarcity Imminent As NUPENG, Dangote Face-off Festers Business

Published

3 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

The stability in the distribution and availability of petroleum products being enjoyed by Nigerians is about to be aborted as a result of the seeming cold war between the management of the Dangote Refinery and one of the umbrella unions of workers in the oil industry, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

NUPENG, in a statement jointly signed by Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, President and General Secretary, respectively of NUPENG and issued to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the Union accused the management of Dangote Refinery of alleged anti-labour practices, inimical to the survival and means of livelihoods of its members under its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Branch.

The Union specifically expressed strong reservations about the position of Chairman of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, that drivers recruited for operations of its 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Trucks imported into the country would not be allowed to join any trade union.

The Union described the position taken by the management of Dangote Refinery as an affront on the right of association, guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, and a breach of relevant international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.

The NUPENG recalled several meetings it initiated, jointly with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners ( NARTO), to prevail on Aliko Dangote to rescind his stance not to allow its drivers to join trade unions. The Union expressed regret that its appeals fell on deaf ears.

“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union has made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Ali Dantata, follow the line of global best practices and decency, but all to no avail.

“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG Trucks on Friday, 29th August 2025. “The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the Oil and Gas Industry.

“NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits. To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and a voice, amounts to creating filthy wealth.

“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers.

“NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning.

“We did so in good faith, in expectation that it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people, under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.

“Unfortunately, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has chosen to betray that trust by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, and enslave the sector and raise prices, which would ultimately result in an attack on the living standards of the masses of ordinary Nigerians.

“This is not philanthropy, it is economic sabotage!”
While appealing to relevant oil industry regulatory agencies to wade into the unfolding crisis, the Union dropped the hint that it would call on its members to down tools and shun loading of petroleum products, effective from Monday, September 8.

“We call on the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority (the Authority, for
short) to invoke its powers under Section 32(u) & (aa) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Under those two provisions, the Authority is empowered to promote competition and private sector participation in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

“The Authority has responsibility to identify, investigate, and prevent abuse of dominant positions and
restrictive business practices with regard to midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

“Nigeria is a member of the international community and a member state of the International Labour Organisation. Nigeria has ratified Convention No. 87 of 1948, the Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948. This Convention had
been ratified by Nigeria as far back as 17th October 1960. Under the Convention, workers have the right to join unions of their choice, for the protection of their employment and trade union rights, and without prior authorization of any employer or authority.

“Indeed, by virtue of section 254C (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria, a ratified ILO Convention is a constitutional provision.

“Therefore, any practice or policy by any employer that seeks to deprive workers of the right of association is an affront to the Constitution.

“Above all, the rights of association, including membership of trade unions, are guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution. Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, should not be allowed to enslave Nigerian workers. They should be made to be lawful business persons and not lawless individuals or business outfits. Nigeria is a country of laws, not a lawless society.

“By this statement, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, including well-meaning segments of the Nigerian society, to call the two trillionaire businessmen to order. They should be told to obey the laws of Nigeria. If they persist in their anti-union, tyrannical attitudes, NUPENG is set and ready to mobilise its forces to fight within the framework of the law.

“Meanwhile, since Alh Aliko Dangote and his cousin have resolved to replace all Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Nigeria, and no one or institution can stop them, the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG will, from Monday, 8th September 2025, start
looking for alternative employment/skills and sources of livelihoods.

“We plead with the general public to bear any inconveniences our struggle against this tyranny and indecency may cause.“
(TRIBUNE)

Business

FG Offers Up To 16.54% Yield On September Savings Bonds

Published

4 days ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government, through the Debt Management Office, is offering investors annual yields of up to 16.541% on its September 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bonds.

The DMO, in a circular on its website on Monday, announced that the subscription window opens immediately and will close on Friday, September 5, 2025, with settlement scheduled for September 10, 2025.

Coupon payments will be made quarterly on March 10, June 10, September 10, and December 10 and will be paid directly to investors.

The DMO offered investors two subscription categories of the Federal Government Savings Bond.

The first is a two-year bond, which will mature on September 10, 2027, and attracts an annual interest rate of 15.541 per cent.

The second is a three-year bond, set to mature on September 10, 2028, with a higher annual interest rate of 16.541 per cent.

The two-year bond interest rate rose to 15.541% in September 2025, up from 14.401% in August.

Similarly, the three-year bond recorded an increase to 16.541% in September, compared to 15.401% in the previous month.

The FGN Savings Bond programme, launched in 2017, aims to deepen the domestic bond market, promote financial inclusion, and give retail investors access to secure, low-risk government securities.

Each bond unit is priced at ₦1,000, with a minimum subscription of ₦5,000 and additional subscriptions in multiples of ₦1,000. Individual investors can subscribe up to ₦50 million.

On the status of FGN Savings Bonds, DMO noted it “qualifies as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act; Qualifies as Government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act (“CITA”) and Personal Income Tax Act (“PITA”) for Tax Exemption for Pension Funds, amongst other investors.

“Listed on The Nigerian Exchange Limited (and); qualifies as a liquid asset for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.”

The office said the bond is “backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and charged upon the general assets of Nigeria.”

Business

NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price After Dangote Refinery’s Adjustment

Published

3 weeks ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price on Thursday, according to DAILY POST.

It was confirmed that NNPCL retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have reduced their pump price to N890 per litre from N945.

This new fuel price has been reflected in NNPCL retail outlets such as mega station Danziyal Plaza, Central Area, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6, and other of its filling stations in the nation’s capital.

The latest downward review of fuel price in NNPCL outlets represents an N55 reduction in fuel pump price.

“It was reduced to N890 per litre this afternoon, down from N945,” an NNPCL fuel attendant told DAILY POST anonymously on Thursday.

This comes a Nigerian filling station, MRS Empire Energy, on Thursday adjusted their fuel pump price to N885 and N946 per litre, down from N910 and N955 per litre.

The latest fuel price reduction trend is unconnected to Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot petrol price adjustment by N30 to N820 per litre from N850 and the price of crude oil in the international market.