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FG halts NNPCL’s move to cancel crude deal with Dangote – FG
The Federal Government on Tuesday stepped in to halt the move by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), from ending its deal with Dangote Refineries Limited to purchase crude oil in Naira instead of dollars, a move which sent worries across the country.
Against the backdrop of apprehension by Nigerians that the recent reliefs they have been enjoying due to the marginal reduction in the prices of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol from Dangote would be short-lived as a result, the government, said the Naira-for-Crude deal between would remain intact.
Femi Soneye, NNPCL spokesman, who confirmed the move, had explained on Monday that the deal signed with Dangote, the first private refinery in Africa, in October last year, was for six months and due to be renegotiated by the end of March, 2025.
But Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), at a meeting with the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said the agreement, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), was still in effect.
Stressing that though the NNPCL operated a private sector model, the government still had limited control over major decisions, adding that operators in the oil and gas industry were free to transact business in any currency.
Hear him: “Government is not canceling it. What was taken to council was a pilot scheme where they said NNPC should be selling crude in Naira to Dangote Refinery. We’ve always encouraged people to buy crude in whatever currency. Even if you buy in Naira, it’s going to be at a prevailing exchange rate. And I do know that people have been buying crude to refine in their respective local refineries in Naira.
“The dispute has always been, what is the exchange rate? Which the government is not involved. It is purely private sector issue. If you are in the upstream and you have a modular refinery next to you and the man wants to buy crude, it’s between two of you that would negotiate and agree on what price. And the person may decide to pay you either in dollars or in Naira.
“We’ve always done that. So, it is not true that the scheme is canceled. Not at all. That one that was taken to FEC was a scheme specifically for Dangote Refinery and they said orders will also follow. And that was why that one didn’t include the crude for Naira from IOCs and other operators. It was basically only NNPC.
“But that doesn’t mean that Dangote doesn’t buy crude from other operators. They buy. But that Naira for crude scheme was basically between NNPC and Dangote Refinery.”
The Minister explained that in order for NNPC to operate and compete with other national oil companies across the globe, the Petroleum Industry Act made NNPC a private sector driven company so that the country can maximize the opportunities existing in the industry.
“And so NNPC take decisions that they feel is best for Nigeria in the industry with limited government interference. That doesn’t mean that we can’t call them to order from time to time because they are a national oil company.
“But the point I’m making here is NNPC has a measure of independence now so that they can make proper business decisions that will be best for Nigerians.”
Expressing the commitment of the government to continue to support the downstream sector, pointing out that there are more opportunities in the downstream than in the upstream sector, he urged the retailers to open Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, points in their outlets because the government saw gas as the country’s transition fuel.
Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN President, who expressed the support of the group for the Naira for Crude policy, which he said had helped to reduce the cost of petrol, added that while the group fully supports the local refining of crude oil, it urged the government against placing restrictions on petrol importation.
He argued that petrol import has ensured that local refineries maintained export parity price with consumers benefiting from the competition between imported and locally refined products.
“And also importation of products should no longer be ruled out because we want to be able to compete favourably in a fully liberalized economy where every source of petroleum product is allowed and we as the most critical downstream grassroots participants in the industry should be able to tell you sir, when one product is very good and when one product is affordable and how it can work.
“So we want to advocate that refineries should work and importation also should be considered as one of our sources of getting product. This will drive healthy competition and guarantee that our domestic prices will not be above import parity thereby ensuring the best possible, affordable product with sustainability of petroleum products,” he stated.
He commended Lokpobiri for the achievements recorded in the oil sector since he became Minister in 2023 including improvement in oil production, reduction in oil theft and the coming onstream of local refineries.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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