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FG committed to bridging infrastructure deficit – DMO DG

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Ms Patience Oniha, the Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), on Thursday reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the nation’s  infrastructure deficit to attract foreign investors into the country.

Oniha said this while delivering the keynote address at the 4th National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget roundtable was organised by the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) of the institution.

The event had the theme: “National Budgeting for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”

Oniha noted that most of the critical infrastructure built by the Federal Government had been funded from internal and external borrowings.

She said government borrowing was not necessarily bad if used to finance important developmental projects and programmes.

The director-general listed some of the infrastructure built by the Federal Government as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge, train station in Oddo, Lagos and Enugu airports changed from local to international.

“The Nigerian government has successfully utilised borrowing as a tool for economic recovery, to bring the economy out of cycles of recessions, first in 2017 and second in 2021.

“Government borrowing can also support other sectors of the economy that attract foreign investors and have multiplier effects on the country,” she said.

The director-general noted further that the nation’s current debt profile to GDP ratio was 22 per cent, adding that the maximum debt ratio to GDP of any country should be 40 per cent.

“The nation’s debt profile is fast growing as the country has a huge infrastructure deficit.

“However, the government is working tirelessly to diversify revenue sources to reduce pressure on crude oil, which is prone to volatility,” she said.

Oniha added that spending on infrastructure by the Federal Government was meant to create job opportunities for the youth.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Abiodun Adebayo, said the country’s natural and human resources endowment had placed it in a position to play a prominent role in the global economy.

Adebayo stressed the need for the socio-economic potential of the nation to be harnessed, so as to achieve meaningful economic growth.

“The nation’s economic growth is bedeviled by supply constraints such as a shortage of essential skills and appropriate technology to drive growth, energy, foreign exchange and unfriendly business regulations,” the vice-chancellor said.

The Country Director, BudgIT, Nigeria, Mr Gabriel Okeowo, stressed the need for the Federal Government to put necessary measures in place to meet revenue projection in the nation’s annual budget.

Okeowo noted that the country’s revenue short fall had hindered the implementation of some of the critical infrastructure.

“The country needs to fix its exchange rate, because it is adversely impacting on the nation’s debt profile,” he said.

(NAN)

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Business & Economy

NERC Dissolves Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Board Over ₦456.5bn Insolvency

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has dissolved the Board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric) with immediate effect over severe financial insolvency amounting to ₦456.5 billion.

NERC, in a statement, said the decision followed the company’s poor financial and operational performance.

According to the commission, Kaduna Electric remitted only 41.93 percent of its adjusted market invoices in 2025 and recorded aggregate losses of 71.88 percent.

The company also invested ₦2.48 billion against a required capital investment of ₦24.51 billion, while customer metering coverage remained below 36 percent.

To ensure continued electricity supply and operational stability, NERC has constituted an interim board of Special Directors chaired by Dr. Abdullahi Garba.

The commission also appointed Dr. Abubakar Umar Hashidu as Administrator of the company for an initial six-month term.

NERC further said Afrexim would coordinate a transparent 12-month competitive process to secure a competent replacement core investor for Kaduna Electric.

The commission assured electricity consumers across Kaduna Electric’s franchise area that distribution services would remain safe and uninterrupted during the transition.

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Subsidy Removal Best Thing That Happened to Nigeria — NRS Chairman

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The Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has described the removal of petrol subsidy as one of the best economic decisions taken in Nigeria, saying President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation for the policy.

Adedeji made the remarks while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

He said many of the positive economic developments being recorded by the government were linked to the decision to remove the subsidy, which he described as unsustainable and harmful to the country’s economy.

According to him, the subsidy regime had existed for decades and placed a heavy burden on government finances.

“All the good results that I will reel out soon come as a result of that courageous decision. So, it is not a mistake; it is the best thing that has happened to this country,” Adedeji said.

The NRS chairman said Tinubu inherited an economy facing several structural challenges, including an unsustainable petrol subsidy regime, an underperforming oil sector and a narrow tax base.

He said the administration had introduced major reforms to address these challenges and urged Nigerians to assess the policies based on their long-term economic impact rather than emotions.

Adedeji also challenged those seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election to explain how they would handle the country’s economic challenges differently.

He specifically questioned whether they would reverse the removal of fuel subsidy or the unification of the foreign exchange market.

The NRS chairman further argued that retaining the subsidy would have placed an even greater strain on Nigeria’s finances, particularly amid global energy market pressures.

He estimated that the subsidy bill could have risen to about ₦53 trillion, while the exchange rate might have reached ₦3,500 to the dollar.

President Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023. The decision led to a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation, food and production costs.

While the reform has increased government revenues and boosted allocations to the federal, state and local governments, its effect on the cost of living remains a major concern for many Nigerians.

 

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Dangote Refinery Overtakes US Again as Europe’s Biggest Jet Fuel Supplier

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has retained its position as Europe’s largest supplier of jet fuel for the second consecutive month, overtaking the United States and further strengthening Nigeria’s presence in the global energy market.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the refinery said the achievement highlights its growing influence in international refined petroleum trade and its ability to consistently meet the stringent quality standards required by one of the world’s most demanding aviation fuel markets.

According to the refinery, the latest European import data compiled by global commodities intelligence firm Kpler showed that more than 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel produced at the Dangote Refinery were delivered to Europe in July. This accounted for approximately 20 per cent of the continent’s total jet fuel imports during the month.

The July performance follows an even stronger showing in June, when the refinery exported a record 466,000 tonnes of jet fuel to Europe, marking the first time Nigeria displaced the United States as Europe’s leading supplier of imported aviation fuel.

Dangote Refinery noted that Europe imported about 2.06 million tonnes of jet fuel in July, with the Nigerian refinery accounting for the single largest share of those imports, ahead of traditional suppliers from the United States, the Middle East and Asia.

The company attributed its growing success to its strategic location on Nigeria’s Atlantic coast, large refining capacity, modern technology and efficient export infrastructure, which have enabled it to become a reliable supplier to international markets.

The refinery also disclosed that its export momentum has been supported by increased production.

According to the statement, jet fuel loadings at the Dangote export terminal in Lekki reached a record 550,000 tonnes in June, while crude oil deliveries to the refinery climbed to an all-time high of 660,000 barrels per day, providing the capacity needed to sustain rising exports of refined petroleum products.

Dangote Refinery further explained that changing global energy supply patterns have also contributed to its growing market share.

Although Europe continued to receive some jet fuel supplies from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman in July, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and evolving geopolitical developments encouraged many buyers to diversify their sources of supply.

The refinery said these developments created an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its position as a dependable supplier of premium aviation fuel to Europe.

Commenting on the milestone, the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, said the company has continued to expand exports beyond aviation fuel to include diesel, petrol and other refined petroleum products across Europe, Africa and other international markets.

He said the refinery’s growing export footprint is reinforcing Nigeria’s emergence as a net exporter of high-value refined petroleum products while boosting the country’s role in global energy trade.

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