Business

World Bank, Nigerian Govt Disagree ON n 2025 Budget Assumptions

Published

1 month ago

May 13, 2025

The World Bank has described the Nigeria’s 2025 Budget key assumptions of 2.1 million barrels per day oil production and $73 per barrel price as ambitious given the current production level of 1.6mbpd and $60pb price at the international market.

The Nigerian government, however, disagreed and stated that the assumptions were based on the potentials of the economy.

The World Bank in its May 2025 Nigeria Development Update presented on Monday in Abuja, explained that though most of all economic indicators remain positive, inflation remains high.

It noted that for Nigeria to achieve its target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030, the growth rate needs to be five times faster than its current rate of 3.8 percent.

The global bank, despite the challenges and the rising cost of living in the country, urged the Federal Government to stay on course in the implementation of its economic reforms.

While presenting the report to a gathering that included the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun, Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, as well as the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfgang and private sector leaders, the Lead Economist at World Bank Country Office, Dr Alex Sienaet, commended the government for removing subsidies on petrol and liberalizing the foreign exchange market.

It reported that Nigeria’s fiscal outlook remains cautiously optimistic but hinges on the necessary consolidation of recent advances.

“First, it is essential to ensure that the full revenue gains from the removal of the PMS subsidy, estimated at about 2.6 percent of GDP in 2024, are transferred to the Federation Account.

“Despite the subsidy being fully removed in October 2024, NNPCL started transferring the revenue gains to the Federation only in January 2025.

“Since then, it has been remitting only 50 percent of these gains, using the rest to offset past arrears. “Resolving any remaining net arrears and channeling the full benefits of subsidy reform to the Federation is critical for sound fiscal management.

“Second, close monitoring of the 2025 budget implementation is essential, as it has overly ambitious revenue assumptions and may lead to a larger-than-anticipated fiscal deficit.

“The budget aims to boost capital spending, and this must be done sustainably, within the broader objective of fiscal consolidation to complement monetary policy and achieve an overall policy mix that maintains fiscal discipline and brings down inflation.

“Third, sustained efforts to enhance expenditure efficiency and transparency are crucial to maximizing development outcomes.

“This responsibility lies not only with the Federal Government, but especially with states, which now receive more revenue (N13.8 trillion in 2024) than the Federal Government (N12.3 trillion)”, it added.

The Minister of Finance, Wake Edun, pointed out that the government needs to push for transparency of fiscal data and transparency in the oil revenue sector, adding this is key to what the government is trying to achieve.

“In terms of where we go next, the key is investment. It is investments that allow increases in productivity that grows the economy and creates jobs,” he said.

According to him, the government is conducting a forensic audit of the NNPC Limited, assuring that all monies due to the federation account from NNPC Limited would be recovered.

On his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, disagreed that the assumptions made in the 2025 budgets were over ambitious, pointing out that they were based on the country’s potential.

“Are the projections in the 2025 budget ambitious? No, they are not, in all modesty. This is because even in the presentation, two things were said: the oil price which is now $60 per barrel but the average for Nigeria is $73 because of our premium grades,” he submitted.

Also speaking, CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso said the economy needs a period of sustained stability for it to grow, which is what the central bank has been doing.

“We recognize our role as the custodian of stability and we recognize what we have to do to ensure that we accomplish and attain stability,” the CBN boss explained.
(DAILY POST)

Business

JUST IN: Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol Ex-depot Price

Published

4 days ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

Nigerians may soon pay more for petrol as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Friday increased its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit to N880 per litre, raising fresh concerns over fuel affordability and price volatility in the downstream sector.

Checks on petroleumprice.ng, a platform tracking daily product prices, and a Pro Forma Invoice seen by The PUNCH confirmed the hike, representing a N55 increase from the previous rate of N825 per litre.

The increment would ripple across the entire fuel distribution chain, likely pushing pump prices above N900/litre in some parts of the country, especially in areas far from the distribution hubs.

The hike comes despite global crude prices falling. Brent crude dipped by 3.02% to $76.47, WTI fell to $74.93, and Murban dropped to $76.97 on Friday. The decline in benchmarks offers little relief due to persistent fears of sudden supply disruptions.

The refinery has increased its reliance on imported U.S. crude and operational costs amid exchange rate instability, which adds to its pricing pressure.

On Thursday, the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said his 650,000-barrel capacity refinery is “increasingly” relying on the United States for crude oil.

This came as findings showed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is projected to import a total of 17.65 million barrels of crude oil between April and July 2025, beginning with about 3.65 million barrels already delivered in the past two months, amid ongoing allocations under the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude policy.

Dangote informed the Technical Committee of the One-Stop Shop for the sale of crude and refined products in naira initiative that the refinery was still battling crude shortages, which had led it to resort to imports from the United States.

On Monday, the president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Festus Osifo, accused oil marketers of exploiting Nigerians through inflated petrol prices, insisting that the current pump price of PMS should range between N700 and N750 per litre.

He criticised the disparity between falling global crude oil prices and the stagnant retail price of petrol in Nigeria.

“If you go online and check the PLAT cost per cubic metre of PMS, convert that to litres and then to our Naira, you will see that with crude at around $60 per barrel, petrol should be retailing between N700 and N750 per litre.”

He asserted that if Nigerians bear the brunt of higher fuel costs, they should be allowed to enjoy the benefit of low pricing.

His forecast of increased costs now appears spot on, considering the latest developments.

Marketers are already adjusting. Depot owners and fuel distributors in Lagos and other cities anticipate a domino effect, with new price bands expected to follow Dangote’s lead.

Many had held back pricing decisions since Tuesday, when the refinery halted sales and withheld fresh PFIs. The delay fueled speculation, allowing opportunistic price hikes across various depots.

Business

Naira Appreciates At Official Market

Published

1 month ago

May 24, 2025

Editor

The Naira, which has seen steady appreciation against the Dollar all week, closed stronger on Friday, trading at ₦1,580.44 in the official forex market.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website show the Naira gained ₦4.51k against the Dollar on Friday alone.

This marks a 0.28 per cent appreciation from Thursday’s closing rate of ₦1,584.95 in the official foreign exchange window.

The local currency maintained consistent strength throughout the week, recording gains daily.

On Monday, May 19, it traded at ₦1,598.68; on Tuesday, at ₦1,590.45; and on Wednesday, at ₦1,584.49.

These gains suggest increased investor confidence and improved forex supply, contributing to the naira’s performance.

Meanwhile, the CBN, at its 300th Monetary Policy Committee meeting held Monday and Tuesday, retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 27.5 per cent.

Business

BREAKING: Again, Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Price

Published

1 month ago

May 22, 2025

Editor

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a nationwide reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, with new prices now ranging between ₦875 and ₦905 per litre, depending on location.

The ₦15 per litre cut applies across all regions and partner fuel stations, and was confirmed via an official announcement posted on Dangote Refinery’s social media channels on Thursday.

Major marketers participating in the new pricing regime include MRS, Ardova, Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde Energy — partners in the distribution of Dangote-refined products.

Under the previous pricing structure, Lagos residents paid ₦890 per litre, while prices reached ₦920 in the North-East and South-South regions. With the latest adjustment, Lagos now pays ₦875 per litre, while the North-East and South-South will see prices drop to ₦905.

A regional breakdown of the revised prices is as follows: Lagos: ₦875, South-West: ₦885, North-West & Central: ₦895, North-East & South-South: ₦905 and South-East: ₦905.

In its announcement, Dangote Refinery encouraged consumers to purchase fuel only from authorised partner stations and urged the public to report any cases of non-compliance via its official hotlines: +234 707 470 2099 and +234 707 470 2100.

“Our quality petrol and diesel are refined for better engine performance and are environmentally friendly,” the company said.