The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refining Company is not for sale. The company remains committed to completing the high-quality rehabilitation of the plant.

Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, announced this decision during a company-wide town hall meeting at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Ojulari emphasised that this position is not a change but is based on ongoing detailed technical and financial reviews of the Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri refineries. He explained, “The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery before fully completing its rehabilitation was ill-informed and sub-commercial.”

He noted that while progress is being made on all three refineries, the current outlook suggests the need for more advanced technical partnerships to successfully complete and enhance the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. Therefore, selling the refinery is highly unlikely, as it could lead to further value erosion.

This announcement comes amid widespread speculation following Ojulari’s comments at the 2025 OPEC Seminar in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month. During an interview with Bloomberg, he stated that “all options are on the table,” which sparked concern and discussion regarding the future of the nation’s refining assets.

In a statement released by NNPC Limited on Wednesday, July 30, Ojulari reiterated that the national oil company aims to reposition itself as “a commercially driven, professionally managed national energy company, grounded in transparency, focused on performance, and unwavering in its responsibility to its primary stakeholder group, Nigerians.”

Emmanuel Emefienim, the Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, praised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for successfully attracting investments to the region. Emefienim highlighted Sani’s visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to peace, unity, and progress, noting that these qualities have revitalised the hopes of the people in Kaduna State.

He made these remarks during the opening of the PremiumTrust Bank branch in Kaduna on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Emefienim stated, “Through improved security, urban renewal, economic diversification, infrastructural development, and youth empowerment, Governor Sani has created an environment where businesses can thrive and investments can flourish, positioning Kaduna as a preferred destination for partnerships like ours.”

He also remarked, “Kaduna’s political influence, entrepreneurial spirit, and urban renewal initiative make it a natural home for a forward-looking institution like PremiumTrust Bank.”

Emefienim addressed the residents of Kaduna, saying, “PremiumTrust Bank has arrived to work alongside you, invest in you, and grow with you. Together, we will write a new story of economic transformation and shared success.”

At the event, Governor Sani emphasised that the opening of the bank’s branch in Kaduna State represents a strong vote of confidence in the region’s growing economic strength and the reforms his administration has consistently pursued since 2023.

He described the bank’s commissioning as “an affirmation of our government’s tireless efforts to build an investment-friendly, growth-oriented business environment.”

Sani added, “From the beginning of our administration, we have recognised financial inclusion as the foundation of sustainable development. That is why my first Executive Order focused on expanding financial access for the underserved and unbanked.”

“Since then, we have enrolled over 2.5 million residents—particularly women, youth, and those underserved—into the formal financial ecosystem. We have increased support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), empowered agri-preneurs across all 23 local governments, and launched targeted social interventions.”

He concluded by stating, “The arrival of PremiumTrust Bank brings fresh momentum to these efforts, with new products, digital solutions, and literacy initiatives that will make banking accessible to everyone.”

By AbdulRahman Obaje

Mangal Cement has reiterate its commitment to consistence quality while reinforcing its relationship with it stakeholders.

The General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Omowunmi Goriola Oduguwa made this known Monday, July 14^th, 2025 during this year Annual Stakeholders Forum, Abuja.

Omowunmi said, “We are here today basically because of this title: ‘building stronger partnership, quality trading solution and value for money’. We are here; number one, to tighten the collaboration that we’ve been having with our stakeholders. We know that we’ve been having relationship with you by virtue of the fact that you are partner to our business, you are using our brand; that automatically has clarify the fact that we are in partnership”

”We don’t just want it to be like that, we want it to be tighter, so we want to strengthen that collaboration, we want it to be tighter. That is why we are here and that is why we have invited you to be part of this event.”

“And secondly. We are also here to reaffirm the consistency in quality and innovation. We want to assure you that our quality remain the way it has ever been since inception; since we started production. My colleague said this is first of its kind; I mean the stakeholder forum we are having. But obviously this is first of its kind in Abuja environment. And I want to also appreciate us for being part of this very first one.”, she continued.

Participants also expressed satisfaction with Mangal product. Obastar Block Industry Said the cement is very good. He said, “People should join in using it, we have been using it. The cement is good. We have been using other cements but since we have tried Mangal cement, we have not been disappointed.”

“The only place they need improvement is setting, outside that, the cement is very good.” he concluded.

Olayinka AbdulWahid, IBZA Blocks said, “Mangal cement is very good in terms of quality and durability.

The blocks that we produced with Mangal cement, the customer actually vouch for. I have some few friends that whenever they want to cast, they always request that make Mangal cement available.

So, in terms of quality, it is a very good quality/ the only challenge we have is the availability and most of the time the delivery is very very poor in which sometimes, some of us we are unable to wait. we have to look for alternative product.

But with this seminar we attend today, if we can have access to more of the vendor or more of the distributor, we can have alternative demand.

So, that is the only challenge, the availability.”

However, Omowunmi further revealed that Mangal Industries is not slowing down on innovation and quality assurance, asserting that this is the reason for the forum, so as “to reaffirm our commitment to quality and innovation as an organisation.”, she continued.

The forum saw notable personalities such as Engr. Yusuf Ibrahim, Industrial Training Fund, Silifa Shagaya, SON and others in attendance

High point of the event was the distribution of wheelbarrows and protective gears to all the participants of the stakeholder forum.