Connect with us

Economy

Deregulation: IMPAN Cries Foul Play, Accuses FG of Monopoly

Published

on

downstream deregulation

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has accused the federal government of engaging in monopolistic deregulation of the downstream sector.

The National Operations Controller of the association, Mr Mike Osatuyi, made the disclosure against the backdrop of government inability to allow market forces to determine the petroleum pump price in the country.

He stressed the need for the government to enforce total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, something the body claims has been reserved for only one or a few selected players.

Explaining the reason behind the accusation, he said that government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been the sole importers of petrol and few markets operating crude for the refined white product under the name Direct Supply Direct Purchase (DSDP) which negates the principle of market deregulation of the sector.

According to him, government monopolising importation of petrol goes against the principle of equal participation and the creation of a level playing field in the business.

“There is need for government to allow other players into the market to import petrol by making forex available at CBN official rate as promised severally by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva.

“The federal government should make forex available to oil marketers for import so as to drive down petrol price now that crude price is at $52 for Brent and $49.5 for WTI per barrel,” he said.

“Although the federal government has announced plans to make foreign exchange available to petroleum product marketers but we are waiting to be called upon to deliberate on the modalities involved.

“Government should make foreign exchange available to petroleum product marketers, like IPMAN, MOMAN and DAPPMAN, in order to make the importation of petrol into the country competitive, reduce the rising cost of the product and stop the overdependence on the NNPC for its importation and pricing,” he said.

Mr Osatuyi, who also doubles as the National Deputy President, (South) Indigenous Gas Traders Association of Nigeria (INGASAN) said availability of forex to oil marketers would stop the current monopoly in the importation of petrol by NNPC who has been the major importer of petrol over the years with other players in the downstream oil business buying the product from them.

The controller explained that this had not been the case since the government announced full deregulation of PMS (petrol) in march 2020, adding that there are still cases of price band control up to August 2020.

“From September, the price band control was withdrawn with the hope that full deregulation will surface but what we have been experiencing now is monopolistic deregulation.

“NNPC is the only player allowed to access forex for importation of petrol in addition to the crude for petrol handed down to few players in the industry.

“Government and NNPC are the only parties that can explain the type of deregulation we are practising in Nigeria.

“Government should allow all players to participate in the deregulation processes so that we can bring private-sector efficiency to the system which will bring down the price,” Mr Osatuyi added.

Further, Mr Osatuyi commended the President Buhari administration on the gas policy launched in January 2020 and particularly the launching of autogas programme for the country.

“Apart from reducing or total stoppage of gas importation into the country, the seriousness of the Federal Government on gas expansion programme will create jobs through the production and supply chain mechanism.

“Gas will be cheaper for Nigerians. It will serve as alternative means of powering of our vehicles through the usage of compressed natural gas (CNG).

“Liquefied Petrol Gas (LPG) will also serve as power for our generator which will make power cost be cheaper if crude oil goes up to $80 per barrel,” he added.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Economy

Petrol Supply up 55.4% as Daily Consumption Reaches 52.1 million Litres

Published

on

sufficient supply petrol

By Adedapo Adesanya

The supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, increased by 55.4 per cent on a month-on-month basis to 71.5 million litres per day in November 2025 from 46 million litres per day in October.

This was contained in the November 2025 fact sheet of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday.

The data showed that the nation’s consumption also increased by 44.5 per cent or 37.4 million litres to 52.1 million litres per day in November 2025, against 28.9 million litres in October.

The significant increase in petrol supply last month was on account of the imports by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited into the Nigerian market from both the domestic and the international market.

Domestic refineries supplied in the period stood at 17.1 million litres per day, while the average daily consumption of PMS for the month was 52.9 million litres per day.

The NMDPRA noted that no production activities were recorded in all the state-owned refineries, which included Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, in the period, as the refineries remained shut down.

According to the report, the imports were aimed at building inventory and further guaranteeing supply during the peak demand period.

Other reasons for the increase, according to the NMDPRA, were due to “low supply recorded in September and October 2025, below the national demand threshold; the need for boosting national stock level to meet the peak demand period of end of year festivities, and twelve vessels programmed to discharge into October, which spilled into November.”

On gas, the average daily gas supply climbed to 4.684 billion standard cubic feet per day in November 2025, from the 3.94 bscf/d average processing level recorded in October.

The Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 also maintained a stable processing output of 3.5 bscf/d in November 2025, but utilisation improved slightly to 73.7 per cent compared with 71.68 per cent in October.

The increase, according to the report, was driven by higher plant utilisation across processing hubs and steady export volumes from the Nigeria LNG plant in Bonny.

“As of November 2025, Nigeria’s major gas processing facilities recorded improved output and utilisation levels, with the Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 processing 3.50 billion standard cubic feet per day at a utilisation rate of 73.70 per cent.

“Gbaran Ubie Gas Plant processed 1.250 bscf per day, operating at 71.21 per cent utilisation, while the MPNU Bonny River Terminal recorded a throughput of 0.690 bscf per day during the period. Processing activities at the Escravos Gas Plant stood at 0.680 bscf per day, representing a 62 per cent utilisation rate, whereas the Soku Gas Plant emerged as the top performer, processing 0.600 bscf per day at 96.84 per cent utilisation,” it stated.

Continue Reading

Economy

Secure Electronic Technology Suspends Share Reconstruction as Investors Pull Out

Published

on

Secure Electronic Technology

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The proposed share reconstruction of a local gaming firm, Secure Electronic Technology (SET), has been suspended.

The Lagos-based company decided to shelve the exercise after negotiations with potential investors crumbled like a house of cards.

Secure Electronic Technology was earlier in talks with some foreign investors interested in the organisation.

Plans were underway to restructure the shares of the company, which are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

However, things did not go as planned as the potential investors pulled out, leaving the board to consider others ways to move the firm forward.

Confirming this development, the company secretary, Ms Irene Attoe, in a statement, said the board would explore other means to keep the company running to deliver value to shareholders.

“This is to notify the NGX and the investing public that a meeting of the board of SET held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, as scheduled, to consider the status of the proposed share reconstruction and recapitalisation as approved by the members at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on April 16, 2025.

“After due deliberations, the board wishes to announce that the proposed share reconstruction will not take place as anticipated due to the inability of the parties to reach a convergence on the best and mutually viable terms.

“Thus, following an impasse in the negotiations, and the investors’ withdrawal from the transaction, the board has, in the interest of all members, decided to accept these outcomes and move ahead in the overall interest of the business.

“The board is committed to driving the strategic objectives of SEC and to seeking viable opportunities for sustainable growth of the company,” the disclosure stated.

Business Post reports that the share price of SET crashed by 3.85 per cent on Tuesday on Customs Street on Tuesday to 75 Kobo. Its 52-week high remains N1.33 and its one-year low is 45 Kobo. Today, investors transacted 39,331,958 units.

Continue Reading

Economy

Clea to Streamline Cross-Border Payments for African Importers

Published

on

Clea Payment platform

By Adedapo Adesanya

Clea, a blockchain-powered platform that allows African importers to pay international suppliers in USD while settling locally, has officially launched.

During its pilot phase, Clea processed more than $4 million in cross-border transactions, demonstrating strong early demand from businesses navigating the complexities of global trade.

Clea addresses persistent challenges that African importers have long struggled with, including limited FX access, unpredictable exchange rates, high bank charges, fraudulent intermediaries, and payment delays that slow or halt shipments. The continent also faces a trade-finance gap estimated at over $120 billion annually, limiting importers’ ability to access the FX and financial infrastructure needed for timely international payments by offering fast, transparent, and direct USD settlements, completed without intermediaries or banking bottlenecks.

Founded by Mr Sheriff Adedokun, Mr Iyiola Osuagwu, and Mr Sidney Egwuatu, Clea was created from the team’s own experiences dealing with unreliable international payments. The platform currently serves Nigerian importers trading with suppliers in the United States, China, and the UAE, with plans to expand into additional trade corridors.

The platform will allow local payments in Naira with instant access to Dollars as well as instant, same-day, or next-day settlement options and transparent, traceable transactions that reduce fraud risk.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Adedokun said, “Importers face unnecessary stress when payments are delayed or rejected. Clea eliminates that uncertainty by offering reliable, secure, and traceable payments completed in the importer’s own name, strengthening supplier confidence from day one.”

Mr Osuagwu, co-founder & CTO, added, “Our goal is to make global trade feel as seamless as a local transfer. By connecting local currencies to global transactions through blockchain technology, we are removing long-standing barriers that have limited African importers for years.”

According to a statement shared with Business Post, Clea is already working with shipping operators who refer merchants to the platform and is also engaging trade associations and logistics networks in key import hubs. The company remains fully bootstrapped but is open to strategic investors aligned with its mission to build a trusted global payment network for African businesses.

Continue Reading

Trending