Economy
Dangote Refinery’s ‘Dangerous’ Monopoly Could Crush Competitors—IPMAN
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed concerns over plans by Dangote Petroleum Refinery to begin free distribution of petrol and diesel nationwide, warning the move could mark the onset of a dangerous monopoly in Nigeria’s downstream sector.
According to IPMAN Chairman in Rivers State, Mr Tekena Ikpaki, the plan, backed by a fleet of 4,000 newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas, CNG-powered tankers, as a veiled strategy that could severely undermine the operations of over 10,000 independent marketers and dealers across the country.
“This initiative may appear generous on the surface, but beneath the goodwill lies a disturbing threat to market diversity and the survival of small and medium-scale operators. If left unchecked, this level of vertical integration, refining, transportation, and retail, by a single company will cripple competition,” he warned.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery had recently announced plans to distribute fuel free of charge to marketers, dealers, and large-scale consumers, citing efforts to support the sector and reduce logistics burdens.
However, IPMAN has warned that such move could distort pricing, force smaller operators out of the market, and grant Dangote undue control over the entire fuel supply chain.
“We acknowledge and support the development of domestic refining capacity. But allowing a single entity to control refining, logistics, and distribution without checks or counterweights is a recipe for monopolistic dominance.”
Mr Ikpaki noted that the introduction of thousands of CNG-powered trucks by Dangote could also push out independent logistics providers, who lack the capital and fleet capacity to compete on such a scale.
“The downstream sector thrives on diversity and accessibility. A monopolized system, no matter the initial goodwill, will inevitably distort market pricing, reduce supply options for retailers, and lead to massive business closures.”
It called on the federal government, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and other oversight bodies to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard the sector.
“We call on the government to enforce the anti-monopoly provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) ensure fair access to depots and infrastructure, monitor pricing strategies, and provide protection for independent marketers and logistics players,” IPMAN urged.
Mr Ikpaki stressed that IPMAN’s position is not an attack on investment or innovation but a necessary warning against unregulated dominance.
“This is not about stalling progress. It’s about protecting the integrity, inclusiveness, and sustainability of Nigeria’s petroleum distribution landscape. Without safeguards, this so-called generous distribution initiative could mark the beginning of a dangerous monopoly that the country can ill afford.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The duo of Presco Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The extra equities of these two publicly-listed organisations were admitted to the local stock exchange last Friday, increasing their respective total issued and fully paid-up shares.
For Presco, it listed fresh 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each on the daily official list of the NGX on Friday, January 30, 2026, increasing its total issued and fully paid-up stocks from 1,000,000,000 units to 1,166,666,667 units.
The additional equities were from the rights issue of the firm allotted to shareholders on the basis of one new share for every existing six ordinary shares held as at close of business on Monday, October 13, 2025.
In a circular issued over the weekend, the NGX said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that additional 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Presco Plc were on Friday, January 30, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited (NGX).
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N1,420.00 per share on the basis of one new share for every existing six ordinary shares held as at close of business on Monday, October 13, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 166,666,667 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Presco Plc has now increased from 1,000,000,000 to 1,166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
As for GTCO, it listed additional125,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N80.00 per unit offered through private placement.
The fresh equities taken to Customs Street have raised the total issued and fully paid-up shares of GTCO from 36,425,229,514 to 36,550,229,514 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A total of N1.969 trillion was shared to the federal government, the 36 state governments and the 774 local government councils from the gross revenue of N2.585 trillion generated by the nation in December 2025.
The money was disbursed to the three tiers of government at the January 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Mr Bawa Mokwa, it was stated that the FAAC allocation comprised statutory revenue of N1.084 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N846.507 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N38.110 billion.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N104.697 billion, while total transfers, refunds, and savings were N511.585 billion,” the statement partly read.
It was also revealed that from the N1.969 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal Government received the sum of N653.500 billion, and the state governments received N706.469 billion, the local government councils received N513.272 billion, and the sum of N96.083 billion was shared with the benefiting state as 13 per cent derivation revenue.
He said of the N1.084 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the central government received N520.807 billion, the state governments got N264.160 billion, the local councils were given N203.656 billion, and N96.083 billion was shared to the benefiting states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.
FAAC noted that from the N846.507 billion distributable VAT earnings, the federal government got N126.976 billion, the state governments received N423.254 billion, and the local government councils got N296.277 billion.
From the revenue from EMTL, Mr Mokwa explained that the national government was given N5.717 billion, the state governments got N19.055 billion, and the councils collected N13.338 billion.
He added that the companies’ Income Tax (CIT)/CGT and STD, Import Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) increased significantly in December, while oil and gas royalty, CET levies and fees increase marginally, with excise duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT)/Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), and EMTL considerably down.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s oil exports will drop in February following the shutdown of the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel scheduled for turnaround maintenance.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Limited confirmed the development in a statement issued, adding that gas output will also decline during the maintenance period.
This comes as SNEPCo begun turnaround maintenance on the Bonga FPSO, the statement signed by its Communications Manager, Mrs Gladys Afam-Anadu, said, describing the exercise as a statutory integrity assurance programme designed to extend the facility’s operational lifespan.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Mr Ronald Adams, said the maintenance would ensure safe, efficient operations for another 15 years.
“The scheduled maintenance is designed to reduce unplanned deferments and strengthen the asset’s overall resilience.
“We expect to resume operations in March following completion of the turnaround,” he said.
Mr Adams said the scope included inspections, certification, regulatory checks, integrity upgrades, engineering modifications and subsea assurance activities.
“The FPSO, about 120 kilometres offshore in over 1,000 metres of water, can produce 225,000 barrels of oil daily.
“It also produces 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” he said.
He said maintaining the facility was critical to Nigeria’s production stability, energy security and revenue objectives.
Mr Adams noted that the 2024 Final Investment Decision on Bonga North increased the importance of the FPSO’s reliability. He said the turnaround would prepare the facility for additional volumes from the Bonga North subsea tie-back project.
According to him, the last turnaround maintenance was conducted in October 2022.
“On February 1, 2023, the asset produced its one billionth barrel since operations began in 2005,” Mr Adams said.
SNEPCo operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The last turnaround maintenance activity on the FPSO took place in October 2022. On February 1, the following year, the asset delivered its 1 billionth barrel of oil since production commenced in 2005.
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