Business

Bayelsa Wants FG To Establish Gas Terminal

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Federal Government to establish a liquified natural gas terminal in the state to optimize economic benefits accruing from the gas sub-sector of the country’s petroleum industry.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call recently when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him also stressing the need for the Federal Government to resume and complete work on the abandoned Brass Fertilizer Company for the general good of the country.
Describing the state as the headquarters of gas in Nigeria, the state’s Number Two Man lamented that Bayelsa had nothing commensurate to show for its huge natural gas endowment and contribution to the economic development of the nation.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, about 60 percent of the total gas feedstock or supply to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal at Bonny Island was transported from Bayelsa.
He stated that it would make a lot of economic sense for the Federal Government to establish another gas processing and export terminal in Bayelsa in its next phase of investment in the subsector to cut off the cost of transporting the raw material.
Speaking further on the Brass Fertilizer Plant, the Deputy Governor said the State Government was prepared to partner all relevant federal authorities to ensure that work on the project takes off the ground.
He also appealed to the visiting Minister to prevail on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure that companies handling fabrication components of contracts carried out such projects in the state to meaningfully engage youths in relevant areas.
“For us here in Bayelsa, we are sitting on oil and gas. We are not only the headquarters of gas, but also substantial or major producer of oil.
“However, we feel that Bayelsa is not treated fairly enough in the gas subsector. You will not believe that 60 or 70 percent of the feedstock at the LNG in Bonny, Rivers State is from Bayelsa here, and yet there is nothing to show for it.
“So, in the second phase of the Federal Government gasification drive, Bayelsa should have one plant. That will be the only way Bayelsa will feel a sense of belonging in the sector she is contributing so much to.
“I also want to remind you that we have this Brass fertilizer plant issue that has remained too long in the pipeline. We will really appreciate if your ministry can look into the Brass Fertilizer Plant, because it is a project that if we get it right, it would engage a lot of our youths”, he said.
He continued that “Since you are here also supervising the NCDMB, we feel you should also help us pass this message to the Board, that some of the contracts they award, some of the companies don’t want to be here to execute their jobs.
“For example, they award a contract to a company to do fabrication, but they want to do it outside and not employ our youths. We are appealing that once a project is for Bayelsa, the fabrication and everything should be done in Bayelsa”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, said his team was in Bayelsa to meet with the management of the NCDMB to work out modalities for improvement in the gas subsector of the petroleum industry.
He said the current Federal Government takes the issue of developing the gas subsector seriously with a view to reducing the cost of transportation in the country.
The Minister commended the in the state.

State Governor, Douye Diri, for identifying with President Bola Tinubu, particularly his timely and mature handling of the “End Bad Governance” protest and thereby sustaining peace in the state.
“I am here in Bayelsa to meet with the NCDMB management team to deliberate and discuss the issue of gas; how we are going to progress in that sector. And of course, gas is the way to go today.
“The progress of Nigeria today depends on gas. With gas in total circulation, there would be reduction in transportation fare. The economy of this country do well with gas because we have in abundance. That is why I am here.
“Let me use this opportunity to equally thank you and the Governor of Bayelsa State, for what I have heard that you have appointed two members of the APC as commissioners into your state executive council. This is how politics should be played, and I believe if we take it in this route, peace will be sustained.
“Thank you for maintaining peace in Bayelsa State. I heard on the first day of the end bad governance protest, when the boys came out, the Governor addressed them and asked them to relax, assuring everything would be put in place.
“I wouldn’t be here if there was continued protest in Bayelsa. So, I salute your courage; I salute your government, and I salute the people of Bayelsa State for identifying with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu”, the Gas Minister said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Business

Nigeria’s ETF correction deepens as STANBICETF30, VETGRIF30 see 50% decline in a week

Published

1 day ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria directs all oil, gas revenues to federation account in sweeping reform

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has signed an order directing that all oil and gas revenues owed to the government be paid directly into the federation account, in sweeping reforms aimed at boosting public finances, the presidency said on Wednesday.

Under the law, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation keeps 30% of oil and gas profits for frontier exploration in inland basins. The presidency said those funds will now be paid into the federation account and appropriated by the government.

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NNPC also retains 30% of oil and gas sales as operational costs and receives 30% of proceeds from Production Sharing Contracts. Under the new directive, all revenues under these arrangements will flow directly to the federation account, while the company will instead receive appropriated management fees.

Royalty payments, petroleum profit taxes and other statutory revenues previously collected and retained by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will also be paid directly into the Federation Account. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) will likewise remit its revenues in full, with its cost of collection to be funded through appropriation.

Tinubu’s office said deductions enabled by the law had sharply reduced net oil inflows and contributed to fiscal strain across federal, state and local governments. The president also ordered a review of the law and established an implementation committee to enforce the changes.

Business

BOI Introduces Business Clinic

Published

1 day ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has introduced a business clinic model designed to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure long-term growth and sustainability.

The Divisional Head, Business Development, BoI, Dr Obaro Osah, made this known at the bank’s Thrive Summit with the theme: “Driving Growth through Innovation and Financial Empowerment” on Tuesday in Lagos.

Osah noted that traditional banking often treated businesses as mere account opening and management relationships.

He said the BoI business clinic model was created to reimagine the essence of a bank as a specialised teaching hospital.

According to him, just as a hospital requires a thorough diagnosis before service treatment/surgery, the bank must analyse the structural health of a small business before injecting capital.

“Financial distress is often just a symptom, the disease lies in operations and adopted philosophy, strategy, or governance,” he said.

Osah noted the many MSMEs, in spite of their potential, suffer from recurring ailments: restricted cash flow, poor operational structure, lack of proper packaging and market access, poor management among others.

He said the bank’s triage and vital signs included screening SMEs by maturity stage, pulse check to assess cash flow and liquidity and market temperature to evaluate competitive landscape.

Osah said after these evaluation, advanced diagnostics, prescriptions, surgical interventions and recovery and rehabilitation would be carried out where necessary.

“Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice and the Thrive Summit ensures we treat the root cause, not just the symptoms,” he said.

The Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BoI, Dr Isa Omagu, noted that MSMEs needed more than finance to succeed.

Omagu said they needed structure, advisory, capacity building, governance, digital readiness, access to market information and the right business infrastructure to operate and scale effectively.

He said as part of the bank’s 2025-2027 Corporate Strategy, the business clinic would expand BoI’s value proposition to broaden its products and services to better reach target segments.

Omagu said by offering structured business advisory and project development support, the clinic would enable the bank deliver deeper, more holistic value to MSMEs beyond financing.

“This vision of a structured, holistic business clinic; one that strengthens MSMEs across all core business functions and makes them more bankable, competitive, digitally enabled, and sustainable, is fully aligned with our strategic initiative to develop and roll out non-financial product offerings.

“Through this initiative, BoI commits to providing business advisory for MSMEs and project lifecycle support for enterprises, and the business clinic serves as the practical platform through which this commitment comes to life,” he said.

Omagu urged MSMEs to apply the guidance received to strengthen structure, governance, and financial management.

He added that they must adopt digital tools and improve internal processes to boost competitiveness while engaging BoI as a long-term partner in building a resilient, scalable business.

Mrs Eniola Akinsete, Divisional Head, Sustainability, BoI, said adopting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), principles often led to business prosperity.

Akinsete, however, noted that in spite of the benefits, adoption challenges persisted.

She affirmed BoI’s support on the adoption of ESG Practices by the MSMEs.

Earlier, the Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Sustainability and Investments, BoI, Mr Rotimi Akinde, said the summit represented a shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient business ecosystem in Nigeria.

Akinde stated that the business clinic created a platform for practical knowledge sharing where entrepreneurs and small business owners could gain actionable insights to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

He said discussions would focus on critical areas that drive sustainable growth, including branding and marketing, financials and activities, human rights, human resources, raising capital for equity and technology.

Business

Dangote signs $400 mln equipment deal with China’s XCMG to speed up refinery expansion

Published

1 day ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria’s Dangote Group has signed a $400 million equipment deal with China’s Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group to speed up the expansion of its oil refinery toward a planned 1.4 million barrels per day, the company said on Tuesday.

The additional equipment is expected to support major projects under construction across refining, petrochemicals, agriculture and infrastructure.

Dangote said the XCMG agreement would allow it to acquire a wide range of new heavy-duty machinery to complement existing assets deployed for the refinery build?out, which the company expects to complete within three years.

As part of the expansion, polypropylene capacity will rise to 2.4 million tons per year from 900,000 tons. Urea production in Nigeria will triple to 9 million tons per year, alongside an existing 3 million-ton plant in Ethiopia, positioning the conglomerate as the world’s largest urea producer, the company said.

The output of linear alkyl benzene – a key raw material for detergents – will increase to 400,000 tons annually, making Dangote the biggest supplier in Africa. Additional base-oil capacity is also planned in the programme.

Dangote Group described the equipment deal as a strategic investment aligned with its ambition to become a $100 billion enterprise by 2030.

“The additional equipment we are acquiring under this partnership will significantly enhance execution across our projects,” it said in a statement.

Owned by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, the $20 billion refinery began operations in 2024 after years of delays. Once fully operational, it is expected to reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported refined fuel and reshape fuel supply across West and Central Africa.

Reporting by Isaac Anyaogu; Editing by Anil D’Silva

The Nigeria-Slovenia Chamber of Commerce on Thursday urged the Nigerian business community to explore business opportunities in Slovenia to widen their horizons.

The Tide source reports that the chamber made the call at its 2025 Last Quarter Business Forum held in Lagos State.

The forum is the chamber’s routine session aimed at informing businesses about the latest opportunities of mutual benefit between both countries, encouraging people to explore them to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by businessmen and trade regulatory agencies, the Director-General of the Nigeria-Slovenia Chamber of Commerce, Mr Uche Udungwor, described the relationship between the two countries as a bilateral economy.

Udungwor said the body, established to build, promote and facilitate trade and investment activities between Nigeria and Slovenia, had positively impacted both nations.

He said the mandates of the chamber include: “To provide a forum representative of Nigeria and Slovenia’s interests for the development and improvement of commerce and industry between the two countries.

“Also, to create, promote and sustain broad exchanges and interactions in commercial, industrial and economic fields between the countries.

“To promote cooperation on technical and scientific innovations between institutions of the countries through the exchange of regular information on trade and investment opportunities.

“To advise members on opportunities, challenges, legislation or otherwise arising from the pursuit of trade between Nigeria and Slovenia, and to encourage the exchange of ideas and views on trade matters within the context of trade promotion between both countries.”

According to him, Slovenia’s major imports include organic chemicals, agro products such as cocoa beans, iron and steel/metal scraps, wood, and mineral fuels/petroleum products.

He said the trade balance between Slovenia and Nigeria is “not quite encouraging”, citing United Nations COMTRADE data indicating that Slovenia’s imports from Nigeria in 2022 amounted to $5.7 million.

Udungwor described the Republic of Slovenia, located in Central Europe with about 2.1 million inhabitants, as a promising business frontier for Nigerians.

He noted that the country features Alpine mountains, thick forests and a short Adriatic coastline.

“Slovenia, which borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Hungary to the northeast, has a 2024 GDP of 72.49 billion dollars, a sound economy and a low-risk business environment.

“Slovenia has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and of the Schengen Group since 2007. It is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“Slovenia today is a stable, vibrant democracy that offers a stimulating business environment and represents a bridge between the Balkan, Central European and Western European countries.

“The Nigeria-Slovenia Chamber of Commerce is at your service to provide up-to-date information and advice about Slovenia’s economy, business opportunities, companies, products and services for the mutual benefit of all,” he said.

A participant, Mr Muyiwa Ajose, said his partnership with the chamber had bolstered his agro exports to Slovenia.