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Why Petrol Price Can’t Drop As Low As ₦300/Litre- Major Marketers

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A section of oil marketers have refuted claims by reports doing the rounds, that local refining of crude oil could force the pump price of petrol, to drop as low as ₦300 per litre.

Oil marketers under the aegis of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), were reacting to a report that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, will drop to about ₦300/litre upon the commencement of massive production by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other indigenous producers, operators of modular refineries.

However, they pointed out that this would be achieved when the government ensured the provision of adequate crude oil to local refiners, stressing that refineries abroad were ripping off Nigeria.

“A lot of companies today benefit from the importation of petroleum products at the expense of Nigerians,” the Publicity Secretary, the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), Eche Idoko was quoted to have told the reporter.

He added, “If we begin to produce PMS today in large volumes, provided there is adequate crude oil supply, I can assure you that we should be able to buy PMS at N300/litre as the pump price.

“Why make Nigerians buy it at almost N700/litre when you know that if you allow refineries to work the price will come down? Is it because you want to satisfy the global refiners abroad that are making so much from us?”

However, while speaking with Channels Television on Monday, a former chairman of MEMAN and current Chief Executive Officer of 11 Plc, Tunji Oyebanji, said the price of petrol could not drop as low as ₦700 per litre.

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“One barrel of crude has 159 litres. Currently, a barrel is about $80. Multiply that by ₦1,400, and you get 1400 x 80= ₦112,000 for a barrel of crude. Divide ₦112, 000 by 159, and it gives you ₦702 per litre of crude only. No refining, no transportation, no finance cost, and no distribution margins. Just ordinary crude is ₦702,” he said.

Oyebanji’s stance contradicts the CORAN’s executive insistence, that petrol price would crash when presented with wide arguments that it is not possible to have such a drop in price because crude oil, the raw material for PMS, is priced in dollars.

He said, “We were selling diesel for N1,700 to N1,800/litre, but as soon as Dangote refinery started production he brought down the price to N1,200/litre. What other proofs do you need?

“As I speak to you now there is every tendency that before December diesel prices will drop further. The only reason why diesel is not doing below N1,000/litre is because of our exchange rate.

“If the exchange rate drops, diesel will drop below the N1,000/litre price. Now the exchange rate concern is because Dangote imports crude. If he is not importing, the exchange rate may not have so much effect, though he is still buying crude in dollars (in Nigeria) anyway.”

On May 18, 2024, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stated that following the laid-down plans of the Dangote refinery, Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol starting June this year.

Dangote had also stated that his refinery could meet West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs, as well as the continent’s aviation fuel demand. He spoke at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, expressing optimism about transforming Africa’s energy landscape.

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“Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline (petrol) and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of a litre,” the billionaire had declared.

Also, Dangote had earlier in the year crashed the pump price of diesel to N1,200/litre when the commodity was selling at between N1,700 and N1,800/litre at the time.

He further dropped the price to below N1,000/litre, but could not sustain this price due to the rise in exchange rate. The refinery eventually returned the price to the initial rate of N1,200/litre.

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MTN Nigeria posts N1trn revenue surge

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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc generated N1.0 trillion in service revenue in the first quarter of 2025.

This marks a 40.5 per cent increase from the N752.99 billion earned in Q1 2024.

The company confirmed this in a corporate filing with the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Tuesday.

Profit after tax dropped by 134 per cent, falling to N133.7 billion from N392.7 billion in the same period of 2024.

Its total subscriber base grew by 8.2 per cent to 84.1 million, with 3.2 million new additions in Q1 2025.

Active data users rose by 13 per cent to 50.3 million, following the addition of 2.6 million users.

EBITDA climbed 65.9 per cent to N492.7 billion, while EBITDA margin improved by 7.2 percentage points to 46.6 per cent.

The company recorded free cash flow of N209.9 billion and earnings per share stood at N6.38.

MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, expressed satisfaction with the Q1 2025 results, citing strong strategic execution and resilient service demand.

He said momentum from Q4 2024 had helped put the firm on track to restore profitability and achieve a positive net asset position.

He added that regulatory approval for price adjustments was essential to sustain investment and maintain service quality.

This approval enabled N202.4 billion in capital expenditure, up 159 per cent, aimed at expanding capacity and enhancing user experience.

Toriola said the 40.5 per cent growth in service revenue underscored strong demand and commercial discipline.

He noted that Q1 results do not yet reflect the full impact of price changes made late in the quarter. (NAN)

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NGX transacts 733.05m shares worth N35.29bn

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The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) on Tuesday transacted 733.05 million shares worth N35.288 billion in 16,619 transactions.

This is in contrast with 500.59 million shares worth N12.110 billion that was traded in 17,637 deals earlier.

Meanwhile, transactions in the shares of Fidelity Bank topped the activity chart with 285.15 million shares worth N5.774 billion.

MTN Nigeria followed with 86.850 million shares valued at N20.931 billion while Access Corporation transacted 35.56 million shares worth N851.27 million.

Universal Insurance traded 29.810 million shares valued at N15.188 million and Guaranty Trust Holding Company sold 28.510 million shares worth N1.935 billion.

Meanwhile, the stock market on Tuesday witnessed a downturn as investors lost N1.116 billion with mixed performance indices.

Market capitalisation dropped by N1.116 billion or 0.70 per cent to close at N65.577 trillion, compared with N66.693 trillion posted on Monday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 185 points or 1.17 per cent, to settle at 105,931.18 from N106,116.18 earlier recorded.

The negative trend was driven by profit taking in MTN Nigeria, Africa Prudential, PZ, First Bank Holding Company and others.

However, the market breadth closed positive with 33 gainers and 19 losers, suggesting positive sentiment.

On the gainers’ chart, Legend Internet Plc rose by 10 per cent, closing at N8.25 while ABC Transport gained by 9.94 per cent, to settle at N1.88 per share.

Cadbury Nigeria rose by 9.91 per cent, ending the session at N32.15 and Champion increased by 9.79 per cent to close at N4.71 per share.

Similarly, Eterna soared by 9.46 per cent, closing at N48.00 per share.

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On the losers’ chart, Livestock Feeds declined by 9. 71 per cent, settling at N7.22 while Multiverse Mining fell by 9.62 per cent, closing at N7.05 per share.

McNichols Plc dropped by 9.47 per cent to close at N1.72 and Omatek lost by 9.23 per cent, closing at 59k per share.

Also, MTN Nigeria shed by 6.07 per cent to finish at N240.00 per share. (NAN)

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CAC Gives Unregistered Businesses 6 Weeks to Register or Face Prosecution

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The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has directed companies, limited liability partnerships, and business owners operating under unregistered business names to register within six weeks.

In a statement on Tuesday, the CAC warned that failure to register will result in enforcement action, including prosecution.

“The commission wishes to inform the general public that its a criminal offence under Section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 to carry on business in Nigeria as a Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership or under a Business Name without registration under the Act or by a name (or acronym) other than the name (or acronym) by which the business was registered under the Act,” the statement reads.

“The General Public should note that Section 729 of the Act requires every Company registered under the Act to state its name as registered and its registration number outside every place where it carries on business.

“In addition, the Company is required to state its registered name and registration number on all its official publications, including its letterhead, signage(s), marketing and publicity materials.

“In particular, the General Public should note the provisions of Section 862 (1) of the Act which provides that any person who, in any document required by, or for the purpose of any of the provisions of the Act (including the aforementioned official publications of a Company), makes a statement which is false in any material particular knowing it to be false, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of two years in addition to a daily fine against the Company for every day during which the offence continues.

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“In view of the foregoing, every Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership and Business Name proprietor(s) is hereby required to ensure full compliance with the above requirements of the Act within six (6) weeks of this notice failing which the Commission shall take all necessary steps (including prosecution) to enforce compliance.”

In April 2024, Mahmud Bello, the commission’s registrar-general, said business owners in Nigeria can conveniently register their businesses online within 48 hours.

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