Business
FG Wants Japanese businesses in special economic zones
By Joseph INOKOTONG
Japanese companies are invited to take advantage of the various business opportunities that will be presented by the Special Economic Zones being established in various parts of the country.
The zones which will serve as manufacturing hubs will have the necessary infrastructural facilities to support the country’s industrialization drive.
Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, told the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, who visited him in Abuja that the Federal Government will grant incentives to encourage investments in the priority sectors listed in the recently released Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government.
He said the plan is focused on achieving macroeconomic stability, transforming agriculture, driving sufficiency in energy, improving transportation infrastructure and growing industrialization with attention on small and medium scale enterprises.
According to him, implementation is paramount in the realization of the Plan’s objectives, therefore attention will be on prioritizing the identified strategies, establishing a clear system of accountability, allocating resources to prioritized interventions, creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment and developing an effective monitoring and evaluation system to track progress.
The Plan, he explained, is driven by some fundamental principles, including a focus on tackling constraints to growth; leveraging the power of the private sector and promoting national cohesion and social inclusion as well as allowing markets to function. “We believe in using the markets to drive the engine of the economy and allowing markets to work”.
The Japanese Ambassador was told that already things are beginning to look up in the Nigerian economic space, pointing to the gradual reduction in the rate of inflation, the economy which has stopped contracting and the narrowing in the gap between the official and parallel market exchange rates.
The Minister said government is focused on transforming Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation; and that requires working closely with development partners for necessary support, especially in the area of technology.
He was delighted at the information that a delegation of Japanese businessmen will be in Abuja on May 4, to explore more areas of investments and partnerships.
A statement signed by Mr. Akpandem James
Media Adviser to the Minister said h
e acknowledged the Ambassadors efforts in promoting Japanese interest in the country as well as his country’s support in humanitarian assistance and other areas.
Ambassador Kusaoke in turn observed that Nigeria’s economic trajectory has been trending upwards recently and disclosed Japanese companies’ interest in investing in new areas and expanding existing ones in Nigeria’s business sector, listing a number of companies that are already investing in Nigeria.
He pledged his country’s continued support for the Nigerian economy, funding of more development projects as well as providing humanitarian support and social stabilization in the North East and the Lake Chad region.
Business
Nestoil: Lagos CP dragged to court for contempt, risks imprisonment
This is certainly not a good time for the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moshood Jimoh as he has been dragged to court for commiting contempt by defying a clear court order that he and his men must not go near the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD.
The fresh suit by Drawcok Estates LTD followed Monday’s deployment of over fifty armed police officers by Mr. Moshood Jimoh to seal off the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD despite an order by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia.
Also, despite a directive by the federal government that police escorts be withdrawn from VIPs, Mr. Moshood Jimoh illegally allocated several police officers to be guarding Mr. Sulu Gambari, the self-acclaimed Receiver Manager which was appointed by a former judge that was handling the case, Justice Isaac Dipeolu.
Recall that Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi vacated all the orders made by Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu who wrongly appointed the Receiver Manager.
Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the action of the Lagos Police Commissioner, Drawcok Estates LTD yesterday filed a case of contempt against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh Moshood (Contemnor) before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025, the applicant wants Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh to be found guilty of contempt of court and also be committed to prison unless he obeys the directives contained in Justice Ofili Ajumogobia’s Order of November 24, 2025.
Recall that Justice Ofili Ajumogobia had on November 24, 2025 ordered that the building in question belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD, adding that no police officer must be seen carrying out orders of the Lagos State Police Commissioner around the premises.
The Orders made by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia on November 24, 2025 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025 were that:
The applicant has a right to own and possess her properties as mentioned in the addresses above as guaranteed by the 34 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights..
That the sealing-off and occupation of the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above by the Respondents constitute an infringement on the right of the applicant to own property, as guaranteed by Sections 43 and 44 of the he Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves , their agents, agencies and servants, acting for it through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to vacate the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above, and deliver possession over to the applicant forthwith.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies, and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to provide security for the applicant to take back possession of her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
That the Respondents is restrain, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, from harassing the applicant and refusing her access to her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
Nigerian Concord Newspapers reporters that visited the business premises yesterday reported that pollice officers have been denying workers of several companies access to their offices located within the Nestoil building in Lagos on the order of Moshood Jimoh, despite a subsisting court order directing that they be allowed into the premises.
The affected workers had resumed duties following a court order delivered by Hon. Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja on November 24, which directed that they be granted access to their offices.
Business
Dangote Refinery Boosts Fuel Exports as Gulf Refineries Shut Down
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up fuel exports to international markets amid widespread refinery shutdowns in the Middle East, industry sources confirmed.
A senior official at the $20bn Lagos-based plant told The PUNCH that the facility exported significant volumes of petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and aviation fuel (Jet A1) to foreign buyers in August, following earlier shipments in June and July.
The surge comes as Saudi Aramco and other regional producers face heavy maintenance schedules, tightening fuel supply. Aramco has already shut down two plants and plans further closures, including its 460,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail for a 60-day turnaround in November–December. Kuwait and India are also scaling back capacity for maintenance and seasonal demand.
According to Argus Media, these shutdowns are pushing Gulf nations to import record volumes of gasoline, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE sharply increasing purchases from Europe and other markets in recent months.
While some reports pointed to operational constraints at Dangote’s 650,000 b/d facility, the company dismissed such claims, insisting production is on track to reach 700,000 b/d by December. Earlier this year, Aliko Dangote announced the refinery had sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco and recently achieved exports of about 1 million tonnes of petrol between June and July.
“With Gulf refiners offline, Nigeria has now emerged as a net exporter of refined products,” Dangote said.
Analysts suggest the extended refinery outages in the Middle East will further strengthen demand for Dangote’s output, positioning the Nigerian plant as a key supplier in regional fuel markets.
Would you like me to tighten this further into a 5–6 paragraph wire-style news brief, or keep it as a detailed feature-style report with more context on Gulf refinery shutdowns?
Business
US Oil Exports to Nigeria, Others Fall to 3.3m bpd as Local Output Rises
By: Fabian Apechihin
The United States’ crude oil exports to Nigeria and other African countries fell for the fifth consecutive month in July 2025, averaging 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd), the lowest level since March 2022.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) disclosed this in its August 2025 Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), attributing the decline to weaker flows to Europe and Africa, particularly Nigeria, but without giving further details.
Industry analysts link the slowdown to the ramp-up of local refining capacity, especially the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, which has reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported crude, including from the US. Vanguard checks also show that crude importation has slowed further in recent months due to improved domestic production.
According to OPEC data, Nigeria’s crude oil output—excluding condensates—rose by 11 per cent year-on-year to 1.559 million bpd in July 2025, up from 1.386 million bpd in the same period of 2024. This marks the country’s highest monthly production level so far this year.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) corroborated the figures, stating that overall output, including condensates, exceeded 1.8 million bpd in July.
Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, said the milestone was achieved through the agency’s “Project 1 MMBOPD Incremental” initiative, supported by a multi-stakeholder collaborative framework.
“We are glad to report that we crossed the 1.8 million bpd mark on peak production last month, with average production hovering at 1.78 million bpd,” Komolafe stated.
He added that the Commission is working to sustain production growth by optimising the Maximum Efficient Rate (MER) framework, improving produced water management, and aligning operational shutdowns and maintenance schedules to minimise disruptions.
“With these measures and continued collaboration, the presidential mandate on production increase is well within reach,” he said.
Do you want me to make this rewrite more concise for a newspaper front-page brief or keep it detailed like a full energy market report?
-
Uncategorized5 years agoFG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
-
Headlines10 years agoBreaking: EFCC seals Borno House of Assembly, as Hon members take to their heels
-
News11 years agoNigeria Security Operatives Stage Manhunt For Homosexual Perpetrator
-
News9 years agoHow 21-year-old Girl fled community over accusation of lesbianism
-
News10 years agoYobe Gov Moves Against Deputy
-
Opinion7 years ago7 signs she has friend zoned you
-
Technology4 years ago
Online job placement company headhunts women
-
Headlines10 years agoBorno Dep Gov Abducts Another Church Leader
