Maritime Agencies
DANGOTE Refinery Raises Alarm: Citizens Health, Vehicles Longevity Under Threat As Substandard Petroleum Products Are Being Smuggled Into Nigeria.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Dangote Oil Refinery, Nigeria’s apex private crude refiner, has strongly debunked recent claims by some organizations that premium motor spirit (PMS) could be imported at a rate cheaper than N990 per litre. The conglomerate has also raised the alarm on the danger of allowing an international oil company to acquire a depot next to her facilities to process and blend substandard petroleum products destined for sale in the Nigerian market.
This development, the company insists, is detrimental to the growth of domestic refining in Nigeria since the sole intent is to compete with Dangote’s refined petroleum products that meet global quality standards.
Anthony Chiejina, the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, disclosed this in a press release, Sunday.
While reaffirming the determination of Dangote Refinery to provide affordable, good quality domestically-refined petroleum products in Nigeria, the image maker called on the public to disregard what he calls a deliberate disinformation being circulated by agents of people who prefer that as a country, Nigeria continues to export jobs while spreading poverty among the citizens.
Much as Dangote Refinery has no interest to engage in any media fight with anybody or group, the spokesman remarked, it has become necessary to respond and straighten the lies the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and other associations are bandying for selfish gains, he explained.
“Both organizations claim that they can import PMS at lower prices than what is being sold by the Dangote Refinery. We benchmark our prices against international prices and we believe that our prices are competitive relative to the price of imports,” Chiejina submitted.
Dangote Refinery says while it may be possible to make available relatively cheaper petrol, what is important is the assurance of top quality product that can guarantee good health for the users and the vehicles that use the product.
“If anyone claims they can land PMS at a cheaper price than what we are selling, then they are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low quality products in the country without concern for the health of Nigerians or longevity of their vehicles.”
Unfortunately, Dangote Refinery regrets, NMDPRA, the regular, does not have laboratory facilities which can be used to detect substandard products when imported into the country.
“Post deregulation, the NNPC set the pace by selling PMS to domestic marketers at N971 per litre for sale into ships and at N990 for sale into trucks. This set the benchmark for our pricing and we have even gone lower to sell at N960 per litre for sale into ships while maintaining N990 per litre for sale into trucks.”
“In good faith and the interest of the country we commenced sales at these prices without clarity on the exchange that we will use to pay for the crude purchased.
At the same time, an international trading company has recently hired a depot facility next to the Dangote Refinery intending to use it to blend substandard products that will be dumped in the market to compete with Dangote Refinery’s higher quality production.”
“This is detrimental to the growth of domestic refining in Nigeria. We should point out that it is not unusual for countries to protect their domestic industries to provide jobs and grow their economy.
For example, the US and Europe have had to impose high tariffs on EVs and microchips to protect their domestic industries. ”
While the Dangote Refinery continues in her determination to provide affordable, good quality domestically-refined petroleum products in Nigeria, the spokesman stated, the public should disregard what he calls the deliberate disinformation being circulated by agents of some people “who prefer for us to continue to export jobs and import poverty.”
Maritime Agencies
Dangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has received commendation for demonstrating tact and economic sense in the way and manner it implemented the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in Naira.
The President/ Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote made the commendation while donating a brand-new Coaster bus to the One-Stop Shop (OSS) Committee to further ease her operations.
In a letter he personally signed, Alhaji Aliko Dangote assured that his organisation would continue to explore ways to support the NPA-led committee to sustain its successes in the implementation of the presidential directive on the sale of crude and refined products.
“In recognition of the enormous responsibility placed on the shoulders of the One Stop Shop (OSS) by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and our commitment to ensuring the committee delivers on its mandate”, the letter stated, “I am pleased to donate to the committee one (1) brand new Coaster bus to facilitate the daily discharge of their operations.”
“We believe this bus will be used productively by the committee as we continue to look for ways to support and appreciate the efforts of this noble committee.
Mr Zach Adediji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services
It is recalled that during a recent visit to NPA, the Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in Naira, Zach Adedeji,
commended the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Team, led by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for ensuring smooth operations of the directive. Adedeji is the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
He lauded the team led by NPA for playing a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the presidential directive on the domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in Naira.
Adedeji said: “We recognize that this pioneering effort is a significant achievement, and no doubt reflects your commitment and patriotism”.
“Thus, we encourage you to maintain the hard work and dedication that has made this initiative a success.
“We also extend our gratitude to all participating agencies for their invaluable cooperation and support,” Adedeji stated.
Maritime Agencies
Release Approved N200bn Capital Projects Fund To MAN, Oron, House of Representatives Charges NIMASA .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In her determination that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron is adequately empowered to function to achieve her statutory mandate, the House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to release the N200 billion approved for key projects at the apex maritime training institution.
Hon Khadija Abba- Ibrahim, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration made the appeal when the management of NIMASA appeared before the Committee for the 2025 budget defence. To drive home her point, the Committee reminded NIMASA that it was aware that the approved project fund is contained in the agency’s 2025 revenue target of N774.66 billion.
Dr Kevin Okonna, Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
In his presentation, Chudi Offodile, the agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration who stood in for the Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola explained that when federal remittances funding, maritime fund contributions and other deductions are made, N264.96 billion would be available for operations.
He listed freight levies, offshore waste management, sea protection and ship registration as primary revenue sources, alongside new gains expected from automation, the rollout of a modular floating dock, amongst other economic and financial prospects.
Speaking on the budget performance for 2024, the executive director disclosed that actual collections for last year amounted to N370 billion as against the projected N467.4 billion which stands at 79% performance rate.
“Recurrent expenditures reached 87% of budgeted allocations, while capital spending stood at 51% implementation,” he said.
While drawing NIMASA’s attention to what the committee described as significant fiscal shift in the remittance of 50% of its IGR to the federal treasury, Hon Abba -Ibrahim described the development as “a significant departure from the previous policy that allowed the agency to retain all IGR”.
The committee expressed concern on the need to double the revenue target in view of the N97 billion shortfall recorded in 2024. It also expressed worries on the observed rise in personnel costs, from N42 billion in 2024 to N73 billion in 2025.
The committee wondered how NIMASA plans to implement ₦89 billion in capital projects when 50% of its revenue would be deducted at source.
In his response, the NIMASA Executive Director, Finance and Administration explained that budgets are mere projections which depend on economic variables. He attributed the ambitious 2025 targets to anticipated oil production increases, enhanced revenue automation, and what he referred to as operational scale-up.
“We are confident that with better systems and strategic partnerships, we can meet these targets,” he assured.
Maritime Agencies
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 2nd July, 2025, berthed “MV Ocean Dragon”, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The craft with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Number 9508770 which belongs to Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) and demonstrates a concerted investment drive by the NPA aimed at reaping the gains of cost and time- saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region. It offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi- modalism in transportation is being realized.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for businesses already being established.
As stated by Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA: “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
Speaking about the development too, the Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition of the vessel as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria. It signifies a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Clarion Group, she stated, aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the NPA MD of injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
Dangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
Release Approved N200bn Capital Projects Fund To MAN, Oron, House of Representatives Charges NIMASA .
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
HALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
PORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
Kebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
CG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
Container Movement To Seaports: NPA Meets With APM Terminals, Shipping Lines, for Coordination.
ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS: FOU, Zone ‘A’ Ups the Ante, Confiscates Bulletproof Vests, Cannabis Sativa,etc, worth N1.2bn
INLAND WATERWAYS SAFETY: Oyetola Flags Off 3,500 Life Jacket Distribution Campaign in Lagos.
Dangote Hits Another First, Named “Most Admired African Brand” in Addis Ababa.
NPA Secures Approval to Dredge Lekki Deepsea Port Channel To 19 Metres
Apapa Customs , International Network and NDLEA Collaborate to Confiscate Unregistered Pharmaceuticals.
Nigeria Hosts French Ambassador, Seeks Support for Her IMO Council Membership Quest.
TRADE FACILITATION: Nigeria And Benin Customs Deploy SIGMAT To Address Diversion And Fraud
APFFLON Seeks Immediate Reform of CRFFN, Replacement of Registrar.
OMIS AWARDS, 2022: Greg Ogbeifun, Industry Gurus For Special Recognition.
FG Set To Re-establish National Shipping Line, To Take Advantage of $10 bn Annual Ship Charter Market.
2023 ELECTIONS：CILT Hosts Seminar on Logistics & Electoral Process
INLAND WATERWAYS OFFERS NIGERIA ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE, Says Sambo
MAN, ORON: It’s Encomiums Galore From International Seabed Authority (ISA).
MAN, Oron, Kick-starts Simulator-based Training, Commends FG, NIMASA.
Photo News: Salah Celebration
MUAZU SAMBO: Showcasing Nigeria’s Maritime Potentials At The Global Arena
Lilypond Export Command Is Meeting Expectations, Handles 70% of Nigeria’s Total Tonnage of Export Cargo, says CAC Odusanya.
PHOTO NEWS: Maritime Capacity Development
BENIN SEAPORT UPDATE: Edo State Government, Host Communities, Conduct Bidders To Inspect Project Site.
MARAN Salutes DCG Adeniyi On His Elevation As Customs Comptroller-General.
WAR AGAINST OIL THEFT: Tompolo’s Company Nabs VLCC Laden With Crude Oil
PUBLIC RELATIONS: New Image Maker Mounts the Saddle at NPA.
SIFAX GROUP: Ojeniyi Becomes Sky Capital GMD, Omajuwa Strategy Director.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoCG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoPORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoKebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
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Maritime Agencies3 days agoNPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
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Maritime Agencies4 days agoHALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
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Maritime Agencies4 days agoNIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
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Maritime Agencies2 hours agoDangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
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Maritime Agencies4 hours agoRelease Approved N200bn Capital Projects Fund To MAN, Oron, House of Representatives Charges NIMASA .