Economy
Nigeria to Phase Out Obsolete Pioneer Tax Exemptions
By Dipo Olowookere
The federal government has disclosed that it plans to phase out some old pioneer tax exemptions granted to some companies as it looks to bolster its revenue to cut its fiscal deficits.
The government has expressed concern over the country’s debt burden, and with earnings from crude oil sales not improving, it is looking toward taxes to generate more funds.
Last month, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said the total debt profile of Nigeria increased by 2.98 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis to N42.84 trillion in June 2022 from N41.60 trillion in March 2022.
It explained that the total public debt stock of N42.84 trillion comprises the funds borrowed by the federal government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In Dollar terms, the money owed by Nigeria stood at $103.31 billion as of June 30, 2022, in contrast to $100.07 billion as of March 31, 2022.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed concerns over the debt burden of Nigeria, advising the government to use proceeds from oil sales to reduce the fiscal deficit.
The federal government, through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, agrees that something must be done to slice the debt burden, but this can be done by increasing taxes and not earnings from crude oil.
At a workshop on tax expenditure in Abuja, she said that the government would commence the rationalisation of tax exemptions by phasing out antiquated pioneers and other tax incentives for matured industries.
According to her, contrary to what was obtained in the past, the country is reaping the benefits of tax exemptions and concessions given to small businesses.
“A lot has changed, the system is more transparent, and tax expenditure that government has given which is a tax for a bond, is to encourage ailing and infant industries to do more and employ more youths,” the Minister, represented by the Director, Technical Services in the Ministry, Ms Fatima Hayatu, said.
Mrs Ahmed further said the government would introduce some taxes to generate more funds to repay the loans from various sources, including China, the World Bank, and the IMF.
Mrs Ahmed expressed confidence that if the government introduces more taxes or expands the current tax base and block revenue leakages, the nation would have more funds to ease the debt burden.
“The debt is not something that cannot be surmounted. The programme is to block leakages where the taxes are being diverted.
“So, if we block leakages, and if it is transparent, Nigeria will borrow less, and we will have more money to finance other sectors,” the Minister said at the programme organised by the ECOWAS Commission under the Context of the Implementation of the Support Programme for Tax Transition in West Africa (PATF).
She reemphasised that, “If we have more taxes and redirect the taxes to the right fiscal sectors of our economy, we will reduce our debt burden.
“It is not as if the debt is beyond what the government can handle. If you look at the debt to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, I think the government is doing well.”
Business Post reports that the workshop was put together to examine directives on the harmonisation of tax expenditure management practices and the monitoring and evaluation of tax transition in ECOWAS member states.
Economy
Beta Glass Rejigs Board to Drive Next Phase of Innovation, Growth
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The board of Beta Glass Plc has been reorganised, with the addition of four new executives, who will help to drive the company’s next phase of innovation and growth.
In a statement, Beta Glass announced the appointments of four non-executive directors, who are Mr Nitin Kaul, Ms Olusola Carrena, Mr Bolaji Olatunbosun Osunsanya, and Mr Boye Olusanya.
They are replacing the departing Mr Emmanouil Metaxakis, Mr Vassilis Kararizos, Mr Serge Joris, and Mr Gagik Apkarian from the board.
Their appointments, however, are subject to the ratification of the shareholders of the organisation at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 26, 2026.
Mr Kaul brings to the team over 25 years of global experience in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and business transformation across developed and emerging markets. He is a Partner, Portfolio Operations and member of the Executive Committee at Helios Investment Partners. Prior to joining Helios, he co-founded a boutique advisory firm focused on M&A and operational improvement for private businesses. He previously served as President of diversified industrial and aftermarket businesses at Gates Corporation, where he
was part of the executive team that led its sale to Blackstone in 2014. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Tomkins and began his professional journey at Arthur Andersen. He currently serves on the boards of several companies across emerging markets.
As for Ms Carrena, she is a highly respected financial services leader with over 23 years of experience across investment banking, private equity, and corporate finance in Africa. She serves as Managing Director (Nigeria) on the Investment Team at Helios Investment Partners, where she oversees deal origination, execution, exits, and portfolio management across sectors. Before this, she spent a decade at Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, rising to Executive Director and Head of Corporate Finance. During her tenure, she led and closed over 30 transactions valued at more than $4 billion across diverse industries, including oil and gas, FMCG, financial services, infrastructure, and healthcare. A CFA Charterholder, she holds a Master’s degree from the University of Alberta and a First-Class degree from the University of Lagos.
For Mr Osunsanya, he is an accomplished CEO, investor, and governance leader with more than 35 years of experience spanning energy, finance, and infrastructure. He previously served as Group CEO of Axxela Ltd., where he led strategic restructuring and significant value growth initiatives. Earlier, he held executive leadership roles at Oando PLC and Access Bank Plc, contributing to business transformation, governance strengthening, and sustainable expansion. He has served on the boards of several publicly listed and private companies, providing oversight in areas of strategy, audit, risk, and corporate governance, and remains an influential voice in Nigeria’s energy and financial sectors.
On the part of Mr Olusanya, he is a transformative business leader with over three decades of cross-industry experience spanning engineering, telecommunications, manufacturing, and agribusiness. He currently serves as chief executive of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, where he is leading a strategic transformation agenda focused on value chain integration, sustainability, and digital innovation. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile and as Chief Transformation Officer at Dangote Industries Limited, driving enterprise-wide restructuring and operational efficiency programs. He also served as Group Operating Partner at Helios Investment Partners, overseeing performance optimisation across portfolio companies. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, contributing to national economic policy dialogue and private-sector development.
Economy
Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Prices of Petrol, Diesel as Oil Tumbles
By Adedapo Adesanya
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its ex-depot prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), marking the first downward adjustment after several sharp increases recorded in recent days.
According to the refinery’s latest pricing template released on March 10, 2026, the gantry price of petrol has been cut by N100 to N1,075 per litre, down from N1,175 per litre previously.
The 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery also disclosed that PMS supplied through coastal distribution will now sell at N1,050 per litre, reflecting a marginal price differential for marine deliveries.
In addition, the gantry price of AGO, commonly known as diesel, has been reduced to N1,430 per litre, representing a N190 drop from the earlier price of N1,620 per litre.
The company noted that the quoted gantry prices exclude statutory charges imposed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The price adjustment came amid a recent decline in global crude oil prices, which has started to ease cost pressures across the international petroleum market and is influencing pricing trends in the downstream sector.
US President Donald Trump reassured markets and claimed the war would end soon, but Iran on Tuesday vowed not to let “a litre” of oil be exported from the Middle East until the United States and Israel stop bombing it.
Brent crude price, which hit a high of $109 per barrel, has now dropped to $90 per barrel, as the largest oil producers in the Middle East Gulf have deepened production cuts and are already lowering output by a combined more than 5 million barrels per day, as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has started to affect upstream production.
However, there are worries that, unlike the speed at which petrol stations hiked their cost at the pump, the revised ex-depot prices will not reflect through depot channels and translate into lower retail pump prices nationwide.
Economy
Petrol Station Owners Urge NNPC to Expand Local Refining to Withstand Global Oil Shocks
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to urgently strengthen domestic refining capacity to shield the country from global petroleum market shocks.
The National President, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, on Monday called on the Group Chief Executive Officer of the state oil company, Mr Bayo Ojulari, to facilitate the immediate commencement of production at Nigeria’s local refineries.
Mr Gillis-Harry said that production at the refineries was paramount, particularly the Area five Plant at Port Harcourt Refinery and the Warri Refinery, which previously operated briefly before shutdown for profit index evaluation.
He said that this had become imperative due to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran, which was pushing global petroleum prices to alarming levels.
Projecting future trends, he warned that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) could rise close to N2,000 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) may approach N3,000 per litre if the situation persists.
He said that sustained drone and missile attacks now threaten critical oil routes and infrastructure, creating uncertainty in global supply chains.
“With no clear end to the conflict, petroleum product prices in both international and domestic markets are expected to rise sharply in the coming days.
“Before the crisis, PMS, known as fuel sold at N774 per litre, but now sells above N1,000 per litre, representing an increase of about 30 per cent.
“Diesel, previously sold at N950 per litre, has risen to N1,400 per litre and above, an increase of about 49 per cent,” he said.
Mr Gillis-Harry said that rehabilitating Nigeria’s refineries for immediate domestic production was critical.
On local refining, he said that it would reduce exposure to international market volatility, especially as Nigeria had abundant crude oil resources under the custody of NNPC Limited.
He said that government-owned refineries were less vulnerable to global supply disruptions compared to privately owned refineries dependent on imported crude.
The PETROAN president said that continued fuel price increases would worsen inflation, cause job losses, deepen economic hardship, increase transportation costs, and raise prices of goods and services nationwide.
“Fuel remains essential for daily mobility, while diesel is vital for manufacturing and industrial operations,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing bold policies to reform the oil and gas sector, and called on Tinubu to direct the immediate rehabilitation and commencement of production at the government-owned refineries.
According to him, this will ultimately bring relief to citizens and stimulate economic growth.
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