Economy
FG, Agro Dealers Quarrel over N66b Debt
There is a misunderstanding between the Federal Government and agro dealers and suppliers that participated in the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES).
This is because the Ministry of Agriculture claimed it has paid over N20 billion of the N66 billion debt to the agro dealers and suppliers.
However, the Nigeria Renascent Group, representing the agro dealers, disagreed with the government, saying it has refused to pay what is owed the suppliers and agro dealers, resulting in progressive collapse of their businesses and death of some participants of the GES Programme.
Speaking with Sunday Telegraph in a telephone interview, the Director of Agribusiness, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Engineer Ohiari Badmus Jatto, said that all the documents and information relating to the non-payment of the outstanding debt owed to the agro dealers have been made available to the Federal Ministry of Finance, and they have made part payment to the suppliers. He also added that there are plans to settle the balance soon.
The debt was accumulated through GES programme, as part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which encouraged firms to supply fertilizers and seeds to agro dealers for delivery to farmers.
Coordinator of Nigeria Renascent Group, Mr Abdulrasaq Lawal, some participants in the scheme have lost their lives due to the non-payment of their money by the Federal Government, even as many can no longer pay their children’s school fees.
“Participants are dying by the day. Instances will be given. Musa Baba, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Fertilizer based in Kano, died in December 2016 from complications not unrelated to his inability to meet his obligation to creditors,” he claimed.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the federal government is owing his company over N1 billion. “Also the story of Gali Gali in Kaduna is not different from that of Musa Baba. ‘Gali Gali’ as he is fondly referred to by all, was a well-known force in the fertilizer market. His company, Gali Global, was at the forefront in championing the GES cause; he took it personal as a way to get his people to enjoy direct interventions from government.
“He went all out to mobilize farmers to register. His personal input and resources were put in ensuring the GES was a success.
“The result, over N1 billion, the chunk of which is a bank loan, is trapped. He died in the late 2015 of heart and blood related issues,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to pay the debt to the participants in order to bring an end to the death of participants of the GES programme and ensure that all hands will be on deck in ensuring that there is food for all and eradicate famine in the country, which according to him, is imminent with the present situation of things.
Also speaking recently, a participant who pleaded anonymity, said that he has closed his company because banks were after him, adding that he is hiding in shame because he cannot face the people who had assisted him financially to make supplies to the Ministry of Agriculture.
On the claim by the Ministry that it has made part payment to the suppliers, he urged the Ministry to desist from playing politics with the debt owed agro dealers in the country.
He lamented that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, has been silent over the debt, saying that this is the worst situation they have ever experienced with any government in the country.
He urged the Minister to make public who got the purported N20 billion part payment from the N66 billion accumulated debt.
He further urged the Presidency, senators and House of Representatives members to intervene in the situation, adding that some of them collected loan from banks when the United States American dollars was lower than what is obtainable now.
“That is another challenge we will face in repaying the loan to the banks whenever the Federal Government decides to settle the debt,” he said.
Director of a Non-governmental organisation, Agricultural Development Watch Initiative, Dr Mark Adebisi, lamented that a situation where people will make financial commitment to support a government project and they are then treated as if they are no longer important is a bad omen.
He lamented that efforts by the group to get the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Mr Abdullahi Adamu; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, to assist them ensure that the suppliers are paid their money did not bear fruit.
A highly placed official of the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, who spoke with Sunday Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said there are a lot about the debts which Nigerians don’t know about.
According to him, the debt was not N66 billion but N47 billion. He added that the agro dealers over inflated the money owed them by the Ministry, thinking that it would be easy for them to get the money from government.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/business/fg-agro-dealers-bicker-n66bn-debt/
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The board of Presco Plc has proposed the payment of an interim dividend of N10 per share to shareholders of the organisation for the first six months of this year.
This information was conveyed in the unaudited financial statements of the company released to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
In the results for the half-year ended June 30, 2026, the fully integrated agro-industrial firm said the cash reward reinforces its commitment to delivering consistent shareholder returns.
It further assured that looking ahead, it remains focused on disciplined capital allocation, operational efficiency and long-term value creation while navigating evolving market conditions.
A look at the key financial highlights of the results showed that revenue was relatively stable at about N199.0 billion in the first half of 2026 and the same period of 2025 amid a high-cost operating environment and softer crude palm oil prices.
However, the pre-tax profit rose by 9.3 per cent to N122.2 billion from N119.9 billion as result of a 31.9 per cent reduction in financing costs.
Further, the Edo State-based company posted an EBITDA of N123.1 billion, which yielded a margin of 61.9 per cent, as the organisation strengthened its balance sheet, reducing total liabilities by 42.5 per cent to N277.8 billion, while equity grew 13.8 per cent to N503.6 billion, with a current ratio of 345.6 per cent, which underscores robust liquidity.
“Our H1 2026 performance underscores the strength of our operational model in a challenging environment. The 9.3 per cent growth in profit before tax, driven largely by a 31.9 per cent reduction in financing costs, reflects our deliberate focus on cost optimisation and balance sheet discipline.
“With equity up 13.8 per cent and liabilities down by 42.5 per cent, we have further fortified our financial foundation.
“The proposed interim dividend of N10 per share signals our confidence in the business’s trajectory and our commitment to rewarding shareholders,” the chief executive of Presco, Mr Reji George, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The ex-depot prices of the two major petroleum products in the country, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), have been slashed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The company, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that while petrol is now N1,165 per litre, diesel is now N1,570 per litre.
The energy firm said it slashed the prices to reaffirm its commitment to providing affordable, high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market.
The latest cut in the price of PMS represents N50, as it was previously sold to marketers at N1,215 per litre, while diesel witnessed an N80 reduction, as it was formerly being sold at N1,650 per litre.
Dangote Refinery stated that the downward price review reflects its ongoing efforts to enhance energy affordability, improve access to refined petroleum products, and support economic activities across Nigeria, saying it remains committed to ensuring stable supply while leveraging operational efficiencies to deliver value to consumers, businesses, and stakeholders.
As Africa’s largest refinery, Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting the nation’s economic development through the supply of world-class petroleum products.
The company reaffirmed its dedication to contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy and passing on the benefits of improved operational efficiencies to consumers whenever market conditions permit.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is preparing to raise about $5 billion through an initial public offering (IPO) expected to conclude in October, in what could become the largest stock market listing in Africa’s history.
The company has already submitted an initial application to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with approval expected in the coming weeks. Once authorised, the refinery is expected to release its prospectus in September ahead of the public offer.
The primary listing will be on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, although investors across Africa are expected to participate through structured investment instruments rather than a dual listing.
The proceeds will be used to expand the capacity of the 700,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Lagos and possibly support plans to replicate the project in Kenya as Dangote seeks to deepen Africa’s energy independence.
The proposed IPO comes after the refinery benefited from increased demand for refined products during the recent Iran conflict, supplying jet fuel across Africa and into Western Europe as global shortages disrupted markets.
As per Reuters, stock exchanges in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana and Rwanda have held discussions with advisers to the transaction as interest in the offering continues to build across the continent.
Kenya alone could account for as much as $500 million of the targeted capital raise, driven largely by demand from institutional investors, including pension funds, the publication reported.
While the company is targeting a $5 billion raise, the final amount will depend on the outcome of the SEC’s review. If achieved, the offering would represent more than four per cent of the Nigerian Exchange’s current market capitalisation.
The IPO follows a $2.5 billion private placement completed last month, in which a six per cent stake in the refinery was sold, implying a valuation of about $40 billion.
That valuation, however, would place the refinery well above several listed global refining companies. Turkey’s Tupras, which operates a similar combined refining capacity across four facilities, has a market value of roughly $12 billion, while US-listed HF Sinclair, with a comparable processing capacity, is valued at around $16 billion.
Although the NGX generally requires companies on its main board to maintain a minimum free float of 20 per cent, there have been exceptions. Dangote Cement, for instance, currently has a free float of just over 12 per cent.
The publication also reported that investors outside Nigeria are likely to gain exposure through instruments such as global depositary receipts or exchange-traded products linked to the Nigerian-listed shares, rather than through a cross-listing on other African exchanges.
The founder of the 700,000-barrels-per-day capacity plant, Mr Aliko Dangote, said in April that the refinery aims to increase production capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day.
Mr Dangote is also pursuing plans to build another refinery in Lamu along Kenya’s coast in partnership with other East African governments, although it remains unclear whether part of the IPO proceeds will be allocated to that project valued at an estimated $17 billion.
