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EXCLUSIVE: How Dangote Lied To Tinubu Over 500 Million Fuel Storage Claims, Lobbies For Fuel Subsidy, Pressures President To Force NNPC To Buy His Petrol At N990/Litre

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Aliko Dangote, the billionaire industrialist, reportedly misled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding his fuel storage capacity, claiming to have 500 million litres available.

It was gathered that Dangote is charging ₦990 per litre for loading at his refinery, with a minimum purchase requirement of 1 million litres, all of which must be paid for in advance.

Sources privy to the recent discussions between Dangote and President Tinubu disclosed to SaharaReporters that Dangote misled the president during their meeting by claiming he had 500 million litres of fuel in storage.

“Delays in loading are common. If buying with a vessel, the minimum purchase is 15,000 metric tonnes (approximately 20 million litres) at ₦971 per litre.

“The total cost of chartering a vessel, port fees, and discharge to a private depot is about 60 naira per litre, making the landing cost for private depot owners 971 + 60 naira. This is the reason why private depots are not buying,” one of the sources said.

The source told SaharaReporters that as a result, no private depot owner can afford to compete with Dangote

“Femi Otedola has suggested that private depot owners should sell their depots as scrap, which highlights the struggles in the market,” the source said.

The source explained that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is unable to purchase because they cannot afford to pay ₦990 million for 1 million litres of PMS.

“Dangote’s target is to sell to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which will then sell to other distributors,” the source said.

One of the sources also revealed that Dangote urged President Bola Tinubu to compel NNPC to purchase fuel from his refinery.

However, President Tinubu reportedly clarified that NNPC would only make purchases if the pricing was deemed reasonable, emphasizing that Dangote should treat NNPC similarly to other oil companies like Total and 11 PLC.

When questioned about the volume of fuel he claimed to have, Dangote reportedly expressed uncertainty about the current naira-to-dollar exchange rate, stating that he was awaiting guidance from NNPC.

“NNPC doesn’t want to buy from Dangote because they must cover their costs while also making a profit, which could lead to higher prices for consumers. NNPC does not want consumers to pay more,” one of the sources said.

The source added that Dangote appears to be aiming for a subsidy and a monopoly; however, President Tinubu has removed the subsidy, creating an environment conducive to monopoly.

“Dangote’s target is subsidy and monopoly, unfortunately President Tinubu had removed subsidy and this would bring monopoly.

“At the recent meeting, Dangote misled the President, claiming he had 500 million litres in storage. When the President asked him why he was keeping such volume, he stated that he was unsure about the naira-to-dollar exchange rate and was waiting for NNPC to provide a rate.

“The President pointed out that as a smart businessman, he should not need to wait for guidance from NNPC regarding exchange rates.

“Dangote urged the President to force NNPC Retail to purchase his fuel, but the President clarified that NNPC should only buy if the price is right and that Dangote should treat NNPC the same way he would treat Total and 11 PLC (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria),” the source said.

Ekwutosblog also learnt that the billionaire businessman also wanted the President to fix the foreign exchange rate to use but Tinubu declined.

One of the sources said, ” Dangote also wanted the President to fix the naira to dollar exchange rate and president refused and said ‘No’.”

Sources told SaharaReporters that African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) representatives also attended the meeting because the bank wants to become the settlement bank.

“The President of Afreximbank, Dr Benedict Okey Oramah is retiring next year from the bank, and he needs to protect his private investment in Dangote Refinery, just like former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

“Oramah and Zacchs Adedeji of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) are doing everything possible to force NNPC to give foreign exchange discount and foreign exchange subsidy to Dangote. They are putting pressure on NNPC to give this foreign exchange subsidy and charge it to the federation account but NNPC is resisting that.

“They want NNPC to provide foreign exchange discounts and subsidies to Dangote, which NNPC is currently resisting.

“Now, plans are underway to push for the removal or sacking of NNPC management if they refuse to cooperate with them. They want to bring in a Kano man named Engineer Rabiu Suleiman,” the source added.

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Stop Interest Hiking, Experts Tell CBN As Apex Bank Raises Rate Again

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Stop Interest Hiking, Experts Tell CBN As Apex Bank Raises Rate Again
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By Chris UGWU, Kasarahchi ANIAGOLU Nov 27 2024

Some financial experts have said that the CBN’s 25 basis points rate hike signals a potential pause in interest rate increases starting next year, emphasizing the need for relief for small businesses facing high financing costs.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had raised its interest rate by 25 basis points, increasing it from 27.25 per cent to 27.50 per cent, in response to the country’s rising inflation.

This decision was announced by CBN Governor Mr. Yemi Cardoso, who also chairs the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), following their meeting in Abuja.

The MPC unanimously agreed to the hike as part of ongoing efforts to address inflationary pressures in the economy.

The analysts in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER noted that despite the CBN’s tightening measures, inflation remains high, with benefits mainly seen in exchange rate stability due to foreign portfolio inflows.

They agreed that the rate hike was expected due to rising inflation, warning that it will increase business financing costs, which could be passed to consumers and further strain household budgets.

Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s first Professor of Capital Market, Uche Uwaleke indicated that the move might signal an imminent pause in the CBN’s aggressive monetary tightening cycle.

Uwaleke noted that the marginal increase aligns with analysts’ expectations, suggesting a potential shift in the CBN’s strategy.

“The marginal rate increase is a signal that the CBN may completely pause or apply the brake on interest rate hikes starting from the first quarter of next year,” he explained.

The professor emphasized the necessity of a pause, citing the rising cost of funds and its adverse impact on credit access, particularly for small businesses. “This needs to happen so that small businesses can breathe,” he remarked.

Despite the CBN’s sustained tightening measures, headline inflation remains stubbornly high, reversing recent gains and rising further.

Uwaleke observed that the benefits of the rate hikes have been most apparent in the foreign exchange market, where increased foreign portfolio inflows have contributed to exchange rate stability in the official window.

However, the broader economic picture remains concerning. The Q3 2024 GDP report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed weak performance in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, a development Uwaleke attributed to rising interest and exchange rates.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts between monetary and fiscal authorities to navigate the country’s macroeconomic challenges effectively.

“The current macro-economic challenges make it imperative for a proper synergy between monetary and fiscal policies,” he advised.

Managing Director of Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited and former President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe also shared his views on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 25 basis points, moving it from 27.25 per cent to 27.50 per cent.

Amolegbe noted that the rate hike was widely anticipated, particularly given the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report showing inflation had increased by over 100 basis points in the previous month.

“The truth is that this was somewhat expected,” Amolegbe stated, acknowledging that many analysts had predicted this adjustment, with some even anticipating a higher increase due to ongoing price instability across various sectors of the economy.

He further pointed out that the government’s fiscal and structural measures, aimed at curbing inflation, have yet to yield immediate results.

“These measures typically take time to have the desired impact,” he said, adding that as a result, monetary policy has remained the primary tool available to the CBN in its efforts to stabilize the economy.

“This leaves us with monetary policy as the only effective tool to prevent the economy from spiraling out of control,” he explained.

However, Amolegbe also warned of the potential negative consequences of the rate hike on businesses and consumers.

“The likely impact of this move will be a further increase in financing costs for businesses,” he stated.

These higher costs are expected to be passed on to consumers, potentially raising prices on goods and services and putting additional strain on household budgets.

Amolegbe concluded by emphasizing the delicate balance the CBN faces in managing inflation and ensuring that the economy does not overheat, while acknowledging the challenges that persist in the broader economic landscape.

Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri also weighed in on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s continued use of interest rate hikes as a tool to manage inflation, noting that while effective in the short term, it remains insufficient in addressing the underlying economic issues.

In an exclusive interview, Adonri explained that interest rate adjustments are a critical component of monetary policy designed to curb inflation until more sustainable fiscal measures can be implemented to address the structural causes of economic imbalance.

“Interest rates are a potent tool for managing inflation in the short term,” Adonri stated.

“However, their effectiveness is often limited when coupled with expansionary fiscal policies,” he added.

He further emphasized that the ongoing fiscal expansion, alongside factors such as insecurity and currency depreciation, continues to fuel inflation.

These persistent challenges leave the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) with few options but to maintain its contractionary monetary stance.

“As long as fiscal policies remain expansionary and the factors driving inflation persist, the MPC will have no choice but to continue raising interest rates,” he explained.

Adonri also cautioned that allowing inflation to spiral out of control would have devastating consequences for both consumers and producers. “The impact of unchecked inflation would be far more harmful than the effects of higher interest rates,” he warned, underlining the importance of the MPC’s approach in preventing further economic instability.

Despite the negative effects on certain sectors of the economy, Adonri acknowledged that the interest rate hikes provide a silver lining for investors in debt instruments.

“The bonanza for investors in debt assets will continue as the rates rise,” he noted, as higher interest rates typically make fixed-income investments more attractive.

In conclusion, while the CBN’s monetary policy actions are necessary to address the current inflationary pressures, Adonri stressed the need for a coordinated effort between monetary and fiscal policies to tackle the structural issues contributing to inflation and ensure sustainable economic growth in the long term.

Meanwhile, Cardoso called for critical synergy between the monetary and fiscal sectors of the economy to achieve price stability and curtail inflationary pressures on food and other commodities.

According to Cardoso, food prices remain a key driver of inflation, compounded by rising energy costs that affect production factors.

“The recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has also impacted the cost of production and distribution of food items and manufactured goods.

“The Committee was optimistic that the full deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry would eliminate scarcity and stabilize price levels in the short to medium term.

“Members, thus, reiterated the need to deepen collaboration between the monetary and fiscal authorities to ensure the achievement of our synchronized objectives of price stability and sustainable growth.”

Cardoso highlighted members’ concerns over persistent exchange rate pressures, driven by continued high demand in the market.

Cardoso expressed satisfaction with the resilience and stability of the banking sector despite significant external and internal challenges.

He outlined key financial soundness indicators, stating that the “Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio, and Liquidity Ratio (LR), among others, remain strong.”

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News flash : CBN raises monetary policy rate by 25 basis points to 27.50 %

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News flash : CBN raises monetary policy rate by 25 basis points to 27.50 %

* MPC expresses concern about persistent exchange rate pressure urges banks to explore measures to boost market liquidity

* Monetary and fiscal authorities urged to deepen collaboration to achieve price stability – Cardoso

* Cost of pms has continued to impact on cost of production – MPC

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Port Harcourt Refinery Commences Crude Oil Processing

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Port Harcourt Refinery Commences Crude Oil Processing

The Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State has commenced crude oil processing.

This is according to the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigeria National Petroluem Company Limited (NNPCL) Femi Soneye.

More to follow…

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