Economy
34 Firms Bid to Secure NNPC Depots, Pump Stations
By Dipo Olowookere
No fewer than 34 companies have expressed their intention to provide security for assets belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), including its depots and pump stations across the country.
The aim of the protection is to consolidate on the successes recorded in the steady supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
A total of 54 companies were invited for the jobs through selective tendering. The public opening of bid is part of NNPC’s commitment to transparency as a Focused, Accountable, Competitive and transparent organisation, conducting its business with Integrity (FACTI).
Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), Mr Luke Anele, during the bid opening exercise for the selection of firms last Wednesday, stated that the NPSC was desirous of engaging reputable and competent security firms to safeguard its critical assets to ensure unimpeded operations and efficient service delivery.
Represented by the NPSC’s Executive Director in charge of Pipelines, Mr Danladi Ahmed, the MD stated that, “This particular exercise avails us the opportunity to identify competitive offers from companies that are competent and ready to secure our assets such as depots and pump stations at competitive rates.
“The NPSC assets are wide spread nationwide, which means security is important, if you have anything of value, you must provide security to safeguard it.”
NPSC is a midstream subsidiary of the NNPC in charge of depots and pipelines.
The MD stated that the bid opening was conducted openly in the full glare of representatives of the bidding companies to demonstrate the NNPC’s commitment to transparency and due process in all its activities.
He assured the bidders of a level playing ground that would guarantee the emergence of the best companies among them.
A cross section of participating bidding companies who witnessed the event expressed their satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, describing the Corporation as a transparent company that operates according to the dictates of best global standards.
Mr Dozie Tassie, who represented Pentagon Securities Ltd, described the bidding process as credible and satisfactory, adding that everybody was given the opportunity to compete fairly.
“NNPC demonstrated that it was committed to global best practices. Now that everybody has given the opportunity to verify that the documents they submitted were not tampered with and the names of participating companies are made known, there won’t be cases of people raising eyebrows when winners emerge because they have witnessed the process and could testify that no company was smuggled in. NNPC is doing a fantastic job, it is a step in the right direction,” Mr Tassie enthused.
While applauding the efforts of the NNPC GMD, Mr Maikanti Baru, the Managing Director of Goldlight Security Ltd, Chief John Eke, stated that he saw transparency and due process in action during the bidding exercise.
“What I have seen today gladdens my heart. There is due process and transparency in place. The GMD and the MD, NPSC and those involved in the entire process deserve commendation. In fact, it shows that the NNPC is going places” a highly elated Eke stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Dangote Petroleum Refinery imported a total of $3.74 billion) worth of crude oil in 2025, to make up for shortfalls that threatened the plant’s 650,000-barrel-a-day operational capacity.
The data disclosed in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Balance of Payments report noted that “Crude oil imports of $3.74 billion by Dangote Refinery” contributed to movements in the country’s current account position, as Nigeria imported crude oil worth N5.734 trillion between January and December 2025.
Last year, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which is the refinery’s main trade partner and minority stakeholder, faced its challenges, the company had to forge alternative supply links. This led to the importation of crude from Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Algeria, and the US, among others.
For instance, in March 2025, the company said it now counts Brazil and Equatorial Guinea among its global oil suppliers, receiving up to 1 million barrels of the medium-sweet grade Tupi crude at the refinery on March 26 from Brazil’s Petrobras.
Meanwhile, crude oil exports dropped from $36.85 billion in 2024 to $31.54 billion in 2025, representing a 14.41 per cent decline, further shaping the external balance.
The report added that the refinery’s operations also reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, noting that “availability of refined petroleum products from Dangote Refinery also led to a substantial decline in fuel imports.”
Specifically, refined petroleum product imports fell sharply to $10.00 billion in 2025 from $14.06 billion in 2024, representing a 28.9 per cent decline, while total oil-related imports also eased.
However, this was offset by a rise in non-oil imports, which increased from $25.74 billion to $29.24 billion, up 13.6 per cent year-on-year, reflecting sustained demand for foreign goods.
At the same time, the goods account remained in surplus at $14.51 billion in 2025, rising from $13.17 billion in 2024, supported largely by activities linked to the Dangote refinery and improved export performance in other segments.
The CBN stated that the stronger goods balance was driven by “significant export of refined petroleum products worth $5.85bn by Dangote Refinery,” alongside increased gas exports to other economies.
Nigeria posted a current account surplus of $14.04 billion in 2025, lower than the $19.03 billion recorded in 2024 but significantly higher than $6.42 billion in 2023. The decline from 2024 was driven partly by structural changes in oil trade flows, including crude imports for domestic refining, according to the report.
Pressure on the current account came from higher external payments. Net outflows for services rose from $13.36 billion in 2024 to $14.58 billion in 2025, driven by increased spending on transport, travel, insurance, and other services.
Similarly, net outflows in the primary income account surged by 60.88 per cent to $9.09 billion, largely due to higher dividend and interest payments to foreign investors.
In contrast, secondary income inflows declined slightly from $24.88 billion in 2024 to $23.20 billion in 2025, as official development assistance and personal transfers weakened, although remittances remained a key source of inflow, as domestic refineries grappled with persistent feedstock shortages, exposing a deepening supply paradox in the country’s oil sector.
This comes despite the Federal Government’s much-publicised naira-for-crude policy designed to prioritise local supply.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An application has been submitted by Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc for its proposed N5.0 billion rights issue.
The application was sent to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, and it is for approval to list shares from the exercise when issued to qualifying shareholders.
A notice signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of the exchange, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, disclosed that the request was filed on behalf of the underwriting firm by its stockbrokers, Cordros Securities Limited, Dynamic Portfolio Limited and Cedar of Lebanon Securities.
The company intends to raise about N5.022 billion from the rights issue to boost its capital base, as demanded by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for insurers in the country.
Sovereign Trust Insurance plans to issue 2,510,848,144 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N2.00 per share on the basis of three new ordinary shares for every 17 existing ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
“Trading license holders are hereby notified that Sovereign Trust Insurance has through its stockbrokers, Cordros Securities Limited, Dynamic Portfolio Limited and Cedar of Lebanon Securities, submitted an application to Nigerian Exchange Limited for the approval and listing of a rights issue of 2,510,848,144 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N2.00 per share on the basis of three new ordinary shares for every 17 existing ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Tuesday, March 17, 2026,” the notification read.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Food Concepts Plc, the parent company of fast food brands like Chicken Republic and PieXpress, has disclosed plans to pay 10 Kobo in interim dividend to new and existing shareholders for the 2026 financial year.
This was disclosed by the company in a notice to the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, where it trades its securities.
The notice indicated that the proposed interim dividend, which comes with no bonus, will be paid to those who hold the stocks of the company as of the qualification date for the dividend, which was Tuesday, March 24.
This means only those who hold the company’s shares as of the closing session will be eligible to receive the stipulated dividend payment.
The shareholders of the company will be credited with the 10 Kobo dividend on Tuesday, March 31.
The notice noted that the closure of the company’s register will be on Wednesday, March 25, through Friday, March 27, 2026, both days inclusive.
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