Business
Conoil Strategises To Boost Earnings
Conoil Plc has undertaken a multi-million naira expansion scheme aimed at boosting its competitive edge and market share in the core segments of the downstream petroleum business.
The board had informed shareholder at the 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held in Ibadan at the weekend that the project would entail building new lubricants blending plants in Lagos and Port Harcourt; procurement of modern oil filling equipment, consolidating its strength in Jet A1 market, up grading of existing retail out lets and construction of additional one-stop mega stations to achieve a wider spread across the country.
“We are looking at building new storage facilities outside Lagos because of congestion to ensure that our products are readily available all over the country. The facilities would be ready early next year”, said J. O. Ariyo, executive director of the company.
In his address to shareholders at the meeting, the chairman, Mike Adenuga said the renewal investment in modern infrastructure would enable Conoil to optimize emerging opportunities in the industry, set new standards in service delivery and enhance its bottom line for improved shareholder value.
The shareholders were however not happy that Adenuga did not attend the meeting and had to be represented by another director Ebi Omatsola.
Oderinde Taiwo, coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association noted that directors are trustees of the shareholders in the company and as such must endeavour to attend the AGM and other meetings.
Sunny Nwosu of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) spoke in the same vein adding “since year 2000 when the directors came on board, we have not seen the chairman at this meeting and it has become important that the chairman attend the AGM as part of corporate governance.
“We know he is a very busy man but he is expected to be the chairman at this meeting”.
The company paid a dividend of 100 kobo on every 50 kobo ordinary shares, for the financial year ended December 31, 2008 having recorded appreciable growth in turnover. It posted a turnover of N124.322 billion which represents 43 percent increase over the N86.847 billion in the previous year. The gross profit stood at N3.28 billion against N3.76 billion recorded last year, while net current assets dropped from N6.14 billion to N5.59 billion.