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Dangote to List Refinery on NGX, Says NNPC Won’t Take Beyond 20% Stake

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Dangote Refinery

By Dipo Olowookere

Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited will be listed on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited in the future, the Chairman of the company, Mr Aliko Dangote, has revealed.

Mr Dangote, who is the richest man in Africa, confirmed this in an interview with the Financial Times published on Saturday.

The refinery will join other businesses of Mr Dangote currently trading their equities on the NGX, Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, and NASCON.

The oil facility, believed to be worth about $20 billion, was launched in May 2023 by the immediate past president of Nigeria, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, though it is yet to commence operations.

A few weeks ago, it was reported that the refinery was starved of crude oil supply by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, one of its major shareholders, frustrating its commencement of the production of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, which the country desperately needs as it currently relies on the importation of the commodity from Europe, especially from the Netherlands and Belgium.

But in the interview, Mr Dangote confirmed that this issue has been resolved, announcing that the refinery may begin to supply the nation diesel, kerosene and jet fuel from December 2023, which is just a few days away.

“We’re starting with 350,000 barrels a day. [We have sealed a deal for the first cargo of about 6mn barrels [for delivery in December],” he was quoted as saying.

According to him, “We have resolved all the issues of supply [with the NNPC,]” he said, refusing to blame the state-owned oil-firm for the difficulties in supplying crude oil to the refinery.

“Let’s not have the blame game here,” he declared in the interview.

However, he expressed optimism that the oil facility would be a game-changer for Nigeria, especially when it is listed on the domestic stock exchange, stressing that the NNPC was not attempting to increase its stake in the organisation with the supply-restriction tactics.

Recall that in 2021, the NNPC acquired a 20 per cent equity stake in Dangote Refinery for about $2.76 billion, and there have been speculations that the firm was planning to increase its shares in the company, which has the capacity to produce 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and could generate $25 billion a year.

But Mr Dangote, who is 66, played down these rumours, saying, “I don’t think NNPC needs to buy more shares. I think they’re OK with what we’ve given them.”

Business Post reports that the commencement of production date of Dangote Refinery has been shifted more than three times in 2023.

In August 2022, the NNPC said the oil facility would begin operations by mid-2023, but this did not happen and at the commissioning of the refinery on May 22, 2023, in Lagos, Mr Dangote said the first product from the mega-complex structure “will be in the market before the end of July, beginning of August this year”.

In September 2023, the Dangote Group Executive Director, Mr Devakumar Edwin, told S&P Global Commodity Insights that the refinery will kick off production with 350,000 – 370,000 barrels per day of diesel and jet fuel by October, when the crude distillation unit, sulfur block and hydrogen plant should be online.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

Nigeria Investment Fund, Japan Unveil $50m Innovation Fund for Startups

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African Startups by Venture Capitalists

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Investment Authority (NSIA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have finalised agreements to launch a $50  Sovereignmillion impact innovation fund aimed at strengthening the Nigerian start-up ecosystem.

The fund is expected to provide patient capital to pre-seed, seed, and early-stage startups addressing critical social challenges in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, waste and water management.

JICA will provide $14 million in grant support, while NSIA contributes up to $20 million to match the grant.

Structured as an onshore public fund, the initiative combines financial support with technical assistance to help startups refine products, scale operations, and expand into new markets.

The fund is expected to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable economic development across Nigeria.

Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony between NSIA and JICA at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Aminu Umar-Sadiq, the chief executive of NSIA, said: “The Fund represents a transformative step for Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. By providing early-stage ventures in high-impact sectors with the capital and support they need to grow, we are enabling innovators to tackle some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. Our collaboration with JICA underscores our commitment to entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.”

Preparations are underway to operationalise the Fund and develop a pipeline of high-impact startups ready for investment. NSIA remains committed to advancing socio-economic development through strategic partnerships that scale impact, expand innovative solutions, and unlock access to capital.

On his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Suzuki Hideo, said, “The Government of Japan hopes this new project will take root in Nigeria and bear fruit swiftly.”

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Economy

Zichis, Japaul Gain Over 60% Each on Stock Exchange

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zichis

By Dipo Olowookere

It was a windfall for shareholders of Zichis and Japaul on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week as the prices of the two stocks expanded by over 60 per cent each.

Business Post reports that on the part of Zichis, it chalked up 60.74 per cent to trade at N17.36, while Japaul appreciated by 60.16 per cent to N4.02.

Further, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank expanded by 59.09 per cent to N15.75, Fortis Global Insurance rose by 53.85 per cent to 60 Kobo, and Jaiz Bank surged by 32.53 per cent to N11.00.

However, the losers’ group was led by RT Briscoe after it shed 20.78 per cent to close at N13.80, Mecure depleted by 18.99 per cent to N84.25, Tripple G slipped by 18.80 per cent to N5.40, Sovereign Trust Insurance moderated by 17.14 per cent to N2.32, and Ellah Lakes dropped 14.67 per cent to end at N12.80.

In the week, 71 equities appreciated, lower than 79 equities in the previous week, as 41 stocks depreciated versus 27 stocks in the preceding week, and 36 shares closed flat versus 42 shares of the previous week.

A look at the performance of the bourse showed that the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation appreciated week-on-week by 6.95 per cent to 194,989.77 points and N125.164 trillion, respectively.

In the same vein, all other indices finished higher apart from the Growth index, which fell by 15.06 per cent, while the sovereign bond index closed flat.

As for the trading data, 7.662 billion shares worth N252.566 billion were exchanged in 345,118 deals, in contrast to the 4.652 billion shares valued at N193.326 billion traded in 286,751 deals a week earlier.

Financial stocks dominated the activity chart with 5.625 billion units sold for N113.599 billion in 129,729 deals, contributing 73.41 per cent and 44.98 per cent to the total trading volume and value apiece.

Services equities exchanged 493.131 million units worth N5.866 billion in 30,396 deals, and energy shares transacted 425.657 million units valued at N35.742 billion in 23,136 deals.

FCMB Group, Access Holdings, and Zenith Bank accounted for 3.594 billion shares worth N69.147 billion in 33,802 deals, contributing 46.90 per cent and 27.38 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.

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Economy

Seven Price Gainers Boost NASD OTC Bourse by 2.19%

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Alternative Bourse NASD Securities

By Adedapo Adesanya

Seven price gainers flipped recent declines at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, raising the alternative stock market by 2.19 per cent on Friday.

According to data, the market capitalisation added N51.24 billion to end N2.389 trillion compared with the previous day’s N2.338 trillion, while the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) climbed 85.65 points to close at 3,994.32 points, in contrast to the 3,908.67 points it ended a day earlier.

Business Post reports that the advancers were led by MRS Oil Plc, which improved its value by N13.00 to N200.00 per share from N187.00 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc gained N7.40 to settle at N91.55 per unit versus the previous day’s N84.15 per unit, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc appreciated by N6.08 to N71.00 per share from N64.92 per share, Afriland Properties Plc added 66 Kobo to finish at N17.17 per unit versus N16.51 per unit, IPWA Plc rose 37 Kobo to N4.15 per share from N3.78 per share, First Trust Mortgage Bank Plc grew by 11 Kobo to N1.20 per unit from N1.09 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc went up by 10obo to N3.70 per share from N3.60 per share.

On the flip side, there were two price losers led by Geo-Fluids Plc, which depreciated by 28 Kobo to N3.32 per unit from N3.60 per unit, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc dropped 5 Kobo to sell at 45 Kobo per share from 50 Kobo per share.

Yesterday, the volume of trades went down by 92.0 per cent to 3.7 million units from 45.8 million units, the value of transactions fell by 59.4 per cent to N84.5 million from N208.2 million, while the number of deals went up by 7.7 per cent to 42 deals from 39 deals.

CSCS Plc remained the most traded stock by value (year-to-date) with 32.6 million units exchanged for N1.9 billion, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 119.6 million units valued at N470.3 million, and Resourcery Plc with 1.05 billion units traded at N408.6 million.

Resourcery Plc closed the day as the most traded stock by volume (year-to-date) with 1.05 billion units sold for N408.7 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 119.6 million units worth N470.3 million, and CSCS Plc with 32.6 million units worth N1.9 billion.

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