Business
Why Petrol, Diesel Prices May Not Drop Despite Dangote Refinery — Experts
Experts believe that prices of petrol and diesel may not crash significantly despite the commencement of production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
With the removal of subsidy on petrol in May 2023, the price per litre of petrol jumped from around N184 to over N600 depending on the location. Diesel also sells for about N1500 per litre at retail outlets.
Petrol marketers are optimistic that production at Dangote refinery will significantly force down the prices of petrol and diesel.
But the experts said though the behemoth refinery is located in Lagos, Nigeria, the input cost for the operationalisation of the $20bn facility is import-dependent, adding that the volatility of the foreign exchange rates might make it difficult for any marginal reduction in the prices of the premium commodities.
These were the thoughts of the Publisher of Sweet Crude Reports, Hector Igbikiowubo; and Nairametrics Founder, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu; on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.
Both Igbikiowubo and Obi-Chukwu commended Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, for defying all odds to ensure that his dream to build a functional refinery came to life.
They said Dangote demonstrated that the Federal Government has no excuse not to get the country’s four dormant refineries working and urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to increase crude supply to the private refinery.
READ ALSO: Petrol Price May Crash to N300/Litre If…– Modular Refineries
The billionaire business tycoon recently said his refinery would continue to import 24 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude due to insufficient local crude production and supply by the state-run NNPC.
The experts said though the private refinery won’t solve Nigeria’s energy security needs, its operations would go a long way in making premium petrol products available in the country.
“The Dangote Refinery cannot solve the problem because the Dangote Refinery will continue to pay for crude oil in USD (United States Dollar),” Igbikiowubo said.
“The question now is how come the NNPC isn’t allotting all of its 445,000 barrels per day to the Dangote Refinery for refining? Why is it convenient to export crude oil when you have a facility like the Dangote Refinery up and running? You make more money if you export refined petroleum products than if you export crude oil.”
Obi-Chukwu agreed with Igbikiowubo that the dominance of the greenback in the operational cost of the Dangote Refinery might not necessarily lower the cost of the refined products for end users.
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Obi-Chukwu said, “As much as the refinery is local, most of the input cost for that refinery is still going to be imported. Whether it is the personnel that will service the refinery. Whether it is the spare parts that will be changed and serviced. Even the crude itself is also being imported.
“A lot of the breakdown of the cost still has foreign components in there. So, it is quite unlikely that you might see a substantial amount of savings to the end consumers. Nevertheless, even if we get 10% savings, it is still better than what we currently have.”
The refinery sited in Lagos and owned by the billionaire businessman commenced operations last December with 350,000 barrels a day. The refinery hopes to achieve its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.
The refinery has begun the supply of diesel and aviation fuel to marketers in the country while petrol supply is expected to commence mid-July.
Energy Security
The experts said though the Dangote Refinery has been operational, the country’s four refineries sited in three locations across the country should be made to function to guarantee energy security for the country.
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The four state-owned refineries which are in dilapidated condition are sited up north in Kaduna with three units sited in the southern region – Port Harcourt and Warri. Attempts to get them working for about two decades have not been successful despite billions of naira spent on turnaround maintenance.
The newspaper publishers believe the Bola Tinubu administration should do all in its ability to make the state-owned refineries work.
Igbikiowubo said, “The essence of having the NNPC refineries working is to guarantee energy security for the Nigerian state.”
He said though the NNPC has about 20% stake in the Dangote Refinery, the refinery does not belong to the Nigerian state.
“We should have a coherent energy security in place,” he said. “If you have refineries, those refineries should work.”
Igbikiowubo said privatisation of the state-owned refineries does not guarantee energy security as the private company is interested in profit-making for its shareholders and not necessarily ensuring that the populace gets the premium commodities easily and at cheap rates.
“Where is NITEL today? It was privatised. Where is Daily Times today? It was privatised. We need to be accountable. The money sunk into the refineries, what happened to them?”Igbikiowubo asked.
“Last year, the petroleum minister granted an interview that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be up by December. This is June and nothing has happened. He is not being held to account.”
He said subsidy removal should be predicated on local refining and not import-dependent products controlled by the vagaries of foreign exchange.
“You have a group of persons who are benefitting with the status quo and they will do everything to ensure the status quo remains,” said the Sweet Crude Reports publisher.
‘Privatise With Clear Mandate’
The publisher of Nairametrics posited that privatisation can work – and it has worked before in other sectors of the country – if done the right way.
“We’ve practiced one model before, the government trying to run the refineries. It hasn’t worked. What we see now is funds being misappropriated from the very limited funding space that we have as a country and these funds are being squandered. So, there is no point. The same thing with the Ajaokuta Steel.
“You have to privatise properly with a clear mandate and key performance indicators including public list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),” he said.
He urged the government to set the right policies to allow private businesses to flourish in the country.
Business
CBN Revokes Licences Of Aso Savings, Union Homes As NDIC Begins Deposit Payments
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, citing persistent regulatory infractions and deepening financial distress in the two primary mortgage banks.
The revocation, which took effect on December 15, 2025, was carried out under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and Section 7.3 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria, the CBN said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to the apex bank, the affected institutions failed to meet minimum paid-up share capital requirements, had insufficient assets to cover their liabilities, recorded capital adequacy ratios below prudential thresholds, and consistently breached regulatory directives.
“The CBN remains committed to its core mandate of ensuring financial system stability,” a statement, signed by the apex bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali said.
READ ALSO:CBN Directs Nigerian Banks To Withdraw Misleading Advertisement
Following the licence revocation, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was appointed liquidator of the defunct banks in line with the law.
The Corporation said it has commenced the liquidation process and begun verification and payment of insured deposits to customers.
Under the deposit insurance framework, depositors are entitled to receive up to two million naira per depositor, with payments made through BVN-linked alternate bank accounts.
Depositors with balances above the insured limit will receive the initial two million naira while the remaining sums will be paid as liquidation dividends after the realisation of the banks’ assets and recovery of outstanding loans.
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The NDIC said depositors may submit claims either online or physically at designated branches of the closed banks, while creditors will be paid after all depositors have been fully settled, in accordance with statutory provisions.
The two mortgage banks have faced prolonged operational challenges, including depositor complaints, governance concerns, and delisting from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in 2024 for failure to submit audited financial statements for more than six years.
The CBN assured the public that the action was taken to strengthen the mortgage banking sub-sector and protect depositors, adding that banks whose licences have not been revoked remain safe and sound.
This means the two financial institutions can no longer operate as licensed financial institutions.
Business
9th FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre Launched In UNIBEN
First Bank Nigeria Plc on Tuesday launched its Digital Xperience Centre (DXC) at the University of Benin Branch, Benin City.
In his remarks at the launching, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank Plc, Olusegun Alebiosu, described the digital xperience centre as “an exceptional feat in our shared commitment toward innovation,” adding that
“this is our 9th Centre, and it operates round-the-clock.”
Alebiosu, while stating that the “FirstBank’s DXC is more than a banking facility,” added that “it is a step toward redefining how banking connects with education, technology, and the whole community.”
He said: “In partnership with the University, we’ve created a hub where students, faculty and community members can access FirstBank’s digital world.
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“Our DXCs are more than just banking hubs – they are gateways to a smarter, faster, and more personalised financial journey. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, customers have access to state-of-the-art self-service terminals designed to simplify transactions while ensuring top-tier security and efficiency.
“Whether you need to deposit cash, request for debit card, or update your account details, the DXC’s provides an elevated banking experience with speed and ease, designed to put you in control.
“Our DXCs operate round-the-clock, including weekends, providing the convenience you need to bank anytime in just a few minutes.
READ ALSO: First Bank Releases Statement On Foiled Abuja Robbery Attack
“The DXC embodies our commitment to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) principles as it promotes financial inclusion, fosters digital literacy, and uses sustainable technology to empower underserved communities.”
The CEO, while thanking the leadership of UNIBEN for “partnering with us to bring this vision to life, aligning academic excellence with cutting-edge technology,” urged the public to “embrace this DXC as a catalyst for learning, innovation, and development.”
In his remarks at the launching, the Vice-Chancellor, UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie said: “We are very happy that First Bank is doing this in our institution,” describing UNIBEN as a “first generation university.”
Earlier, while playing host to the First Bank CEO and his team in his office, Prof. Edoba had sought support from the company in the revamp of the university Information Technology Centre (ICT).
Business
Full List: 82 Newly Approved, Fully Licensed BDC Operators
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted final operating licences to 82 Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators under its revised regulatory framework, reinforcing warnings against transactions with unlicensed foreign exchange dealers.
In a statement on Monday, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, confirmed that the licences took effect on November 27, 2025, in accordance with the 2024 Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for BDC Operations. The guidelines require all operators to meet specified capital thresholds and regulatory conditions to qualify for licensing.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria, in exercise of its powers under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and the 2024 Guidelines, has granted final licences to 82 Bureaux De Change to operate with effect from November 27, 2025,” the statement read.
The apex bank emphasised that only BDCs listed on its official website are considered fully licensed, urging the public to verify the status of any operator before engaging in foreign exchange transactions.
“While the CBN will continue to update the list of Bureaux De Change with valid operating licences for public verification on our website, the Bank advises the general public to avoid dealing with unlicensed Foreign Exchange Operators,” the statement warned.
READ ALSO:CBN Issues 82 New BDC Licences, Moves To Curb Unregistered FX Operators
The CBN noted that operating a BDC without a valid licence constitutes an offence under Section 57(1) of the BOFIA 2020, and confirmed that legal action would be taken against non-compliant operators.
TIER 1
1 DULA GLOBAL BDC LTD
2 TRURATE GLOBAL BDC LTD
TIER 2
1 ABBUFX BDC LTD
2 ACHA GLOBAL BDC LTD
3 ARCTANGENT SWIFT BDC LTD
4 ASCENDANT BDC LTD
5 BARACAI BDC LTD
6 BERGPOINT BDC LTD
7 BRAVO MODEL BDC LTD
8 BRIMESTONE BDC LTD
9 BROWNSTON BDC LTD
10 BUZZWALLET BDC LTD
11 CASHCODE BDC LTD
12 CHATTERED BDC LTD
13 CHRONICLES BDC LTD
14 COOL FOREX BDC LTD
15 CORPORATE EXCHANGE BDC LTD
16 COURTESY CURRENCY BDC LTD
17 DANYARO BDC LTD
18 DASHAD BDC LTD
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19 DEVAL BDC LTD
20 DFS BDC LTD
21 EASY CASH BDC LTD
22 ELELEM BDC LTD
23 E-LIOYDS BDC LTD
24 ELOGOZ BDC LTD
25 ENOUF BDC LTD
26 EVER JOJ GOLD BDC LTD
27 EXCEL RIJIYA FOREX BDC LTD
28 FABFOREX BDC LTD
29 FELLOM BDC LTD
30 FINE BDC LTD
31 FOMAT BDC LTD
32 GENELO BDC LTD
33 GENTLE BREEZE BDC LTD
34 GRACEFUL GLORY AND HUMILITY BDC LTD
35 GREENGATE BDC LTD
36 GREENVAULT BDC LTD
37 HAZON CAPITAL BDC LTD
38 HIGH-POINT BDC LTD
39 I & I EXCHANGE BDC LTD
40 IBN MARYAM BDC LTD
41 JOURNEY WELL BDC LTD
42 KEEPERS BDC LTD
43 KHADHOUSE SOLUTIONS BDC LTD
READ ALSO:CBN Directs Nigerian Banks To Withdraw Misleading Advertisement
44 KIMMELFX BDC LTD
45 KINGSOFT ATLANTIC BDC LTD
46 M.S. ALHERI BDC LTD
47 MASTERS BDC LTD
48 MCMENA BDC LTD
49 MKOO BDC LTD
50 MKS BDC LTD
51 MR J GOLF BDC LTD
52 MUSDIQ BDC LTD
53 MZ FOREX BDC LTD
54 NEJJ BDC LTD LTD
55 NETVALUE BDC LTD
56 NEW WAVE BDC LTD
57 NOTABLE AND KINGSTON BDC LTD
58 PILCROW BDC LTD
59 RAPID BDC LTD
60 RIGHTWAY BDC LTD
61 RWANDA BDC LTD
62 SABLES BDC LTD
63 SAFETRANZ BDC LTD
64 SAMFIK BDC LTD
65 SEVENLOCKS BDC LTD
66 SHAPEARL BDC LTD
67 SIMTEX BDC LTD
68 SOLID WHITE BDC LTD
69 ST. NICHOLAS GLOBAL BDC LTD
70 TOPFIRST UNIQUE MULTICHOICE BDC LTD
71 TOPGATE BDC LTD
72 TRAVELLER’S CHOICE BDC LTD
73 TUCA GLOBAL BDC LTD
74 TURBOVA BDC LTD
75 TURN-UP BDC LTD
76 UNIGO BDC LTD
77 VICTORY AHEAD BDC LTD
78 WHITEWAY WWW BDC LTD
79 YUND GLOBAL LINK BDC LTD
80 ZAMAD FOREX BDC LTD
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