The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is best placed to investigate alleged corruption involving the former Chief Executive of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, to accelerate the prosecution process.

Dangote, through his legal representative, has filed a formal corruption petition against the former Chief Executive of the NMDPRA at the headquarters of the EFCC. This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent by the Dangote Group media team on Friday.

Recall that Dangote had earlier petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate Ahmed for allegedly spending $5m on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. He withdrew the petition a few days ago, even as the ICPC vowed to continue with its investigation.

The statement on Friday said Dangote’s petition to the EFCC followed “the withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”

In the petition signed by Lead Counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed and to prosecute him if found culpable.

“We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N. (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337,” the statement quoted Onoja as saying.

Onoja further urged the commission, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”

The petition also stated that “the commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers out there with such corrupt proneness and tendencies.”

According to the statement, the development “reinforces Dangote’s unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability” in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

On December 14, 2025, Dangote raised concerns about Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator was living far beyond his legitimate means.

According to Dangote, four of Ahmed’s children reportedly attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, incurring costs running into several millions of dollars—an expenditure he said raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.

“Dangote listed the schools attended by Mr Ahmed’s children: Faisal Farouk (Montreux School), Farouk Jr (Aiglon College), Ashraf Farouk (Institut Le Rosey), and Farhana Farouk (La Garenne International School), noting that each child spent six years in these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel, and upkeep per child at $200,000, totalling approximately $5m for their secondary education,” the statement read.

Additionally, Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent another $2m on tertiary education for the four children, including $210,000 for Faisal’s 2025 Harvard MBA programme.

“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as N10,000 in school fees,” Dangote stated.

The petition, it was learnt, called for a comprehensive investigation to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.

Ahmed had resigned his position as the head of the NMDPRA in December amid the crisis. He had earlier described the allegations as untrue.

The credit rating company, Agusto & Co., has assigned a Long-Term Rating of ‘A’ and a Short-Term Rating of ‘A1’, both with a stable outlook, to Stanbic IBTC Insurance, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

This new rating was announced in the credit ratings for the 2025–2026 financial year.

The credit rating upgrade reflected stronger confidence in Stanbic IBTC Insurance’s financial resilience, governance standards, and long-term sustainability.

Commenting on the rating upgrade, the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Insurance, Akinjide Orimolade, said, “We are delighted with this upgrade as a reflection of our progress and the trust we’ve earned from stakeholders.

“Our focus remains on delivering reliable protection, exceptional service, and enduring value to both policyholders and other stakeholders. This recognition motivates us to uphold the highest standards of financial discipline, service excellence, and integrity.”

The underwriter said that the improved ratings underscored its commitment to robust risk management, operational discipline, and its strong capacity to meet obligations to policyholders.

Agusto & Co. also cited Stanbic IBTC Insurance’s sound liquidity position, prudent business strategy, and the strategic backing it receives as part of Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

As part of its growth strategy, Stanbic IBTC Insurance said that it had continued to expand its retail footprint across Nigeria, enhancing access to life insurance solutions and deepening its presence in key markets.

“This expansion supports its mission to serve individuals, families, and businesses with reliable and accessible insurance offerings. In terms of claims settlement, Stanbic IBTC Insurance has consistently demonstrated its commitment to prompt and efficient payout to policyholders and annuitants. Since its establishment in 2021, the company has settled over 2,000 claims, amounting to more than N1.8bn in cash,” said the insurer.

Additionally, it has paid over N16bn in annuities to more than 4,900 retirees, reaffirming its dedication to delivering reliable and timely benefits. Stanbic IBTC Insurance also recommitted to maintaining its strong financial position, driving customer-centric innovation, and consistently delivering on its promise of security and peace of mind for Nigerians.

The fuel supply arrangement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and 20 major petroleum marketers, under which the parties agreed to offtake 600 million litres of petrol monthly, has collapsed over pricing disagreements, The PUNCH has exclusively learnt.

It was also gathered that the disagreement sparked the surge in petrol importation witnessed in the month of November 2025, with total imports rising to 1.563 billion litres, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The authority disclosed the import figure in its November 2025 Fact Sheet, titled State of the Midstream and Downstream Sector, which showed a sharp spike in imported volumes during the period the pricing dispute intensified.

Recall that the deal, reached in October 2025, was structured as a pilot arrangement under which 20 depot owners were to collectively offtake about 600 million litres of petrol monthly, with each marketer lifting roughly 30 million litres from the Dangote Refinery.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, had confirmed in an interview that the refinery set the target after a strategic meeting with key players in the downstream sector.

Ukadike said the agreement was part of efforts to stabilise supply in the domestic market and ease the recent surge in pump prices. According to him, the meeting, which included representatives of A.Y.M. Shafa, A. A Rano, NNPCL Retail, Salbas, and several other major distributors, focused on how to streamline product allocation and reduce the layers of middlemen contributing to price distortions.

“At the meeting, Dangote announced plans to sell to only 20 selected marketers who will serve as primary distributors to other dealers. Each of them will lift a minimum of two million litres, which will translate to about 600 million litres every month,” Ukadike said.

“We believe that once this structure takes effect, petrol availability will improve significantly and retail prices will start to ease,” he added.

However, two industry sources who spoke to The PUNCH on Thursday confirmed that the deal, which lasted barely a month, has now collapsed, attributing the breakdown to the refinery’s reluctance to adjust its gantry price in line with falling international benchmarks.

According to the first source, an industry stakeholder who requested anonymity due to the nature of the matter, the agreement was structured to include monthly price reviews. Products were initially sold to marketers at N806 per litre for coastal delivery and N828 per litre at the gantry.

Under the arrangement, Dangote temporarily suspended direct sales to independent marketers, who could only purchase 250,000 litres or less, forcing them to rely on the 20 approved marketers for supply.

The source said, “The arrangement between Dangote and 20 marketers has collapsed. Remember that there was an agreement in October, and they agreed on a particular price, and that every month, there will be a price review. So in the month of October, the price was shifted for the marketers, and they were given products at N806 per litre and sold gantry at N828 per litre.

“That was fixed, and they now stopped all forms of product sales to independent marketers who were only buying 250,000 litres or less. Due to the agreement, marketers who needed products had to go buy from the 20 marketers.  This is because the marketers had mentioned in the agreement that Dangote won’t sell directly to other marketers but only to the approved members, and then the rest would buy from them.”

The official added that the initial system functioned smoothly, with products being loaded through ships and gantries, and additional interested parties gradually added to the approved list.

However, the deal began to unravel in November, when importers noticed that international petrol prices had fallen below Dangote’s selling price.

“But the agreement had a bit of issues in the month of November when importers saw prices at the international benchmark and that it was lower than the price Dangote was selling to them. They said it was supposed to drop to around N750 per litre. But Dangote was reluctant to review. This caused the heavy influx of imported petrol in November.”

In response, Dangote later slashed its gantry price to N699 per litre, the lowest in 2025, but the move came too late to prevent losses.

The source also revealed that depot owners and marketers who had purchased products at N828 per litre in October but had not yet sold were left bearing heavy losses, while smaller marketers also struggled to adjust to the sudden price change.

According to data from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria and petroleumprice.ng during the period, the average landing cost of imported premium motor spirit dropped to N829.77 per litre, a price lower than the ex-depot price of the fuel produced locally.

The MEMAN data showed that the average landing cost of petrol as of October 30 was N829.77 per litre. This was a further drop in the landing cost, which was an average of N849.61 on October 13, N847.61 on October 14, N841.54 on October 20, and N839.97 per litre on October 21.

In contrast, Dangote refinery’s gantry remained N877/litre as of October 24, 2025.

He further said the dispute boomeranged into a public confrontation between Dangote and the former NMDPRA boss, Farouk Ahmed, over the agency’s issuance of multiple import licences to other marketers, a conflict that eventually led to the ACE’s resignation in December 2025.

“Now there is no agreement or alignment between Depot owners and Dangote. The refinery is now selling to another marketer that can offtake any quantity of products,” the source stated.

Confirming the position of the industry stakeholder, the Chief Executive Officer of petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olatide, said the pricing mechanism for the deal was tied to Eurobob, the international benchmark for European gasoline, with the understanding that prices would be reviewed monthly in line with global crude oil movements. Under the initial arrangement, Dangote published a coastal price of N806 per litre and a gantry price of N828 per litre.

He explained that after the first month, the international crude oil benchmark declined sharply, prompting the depot owners to request a reduction in the gantry price. While Dangote implemented a price adjustment, it fell short of expectations when compared with international prices.

“Yes, it has collapsed. It was agreed that the process would be determined by Eurobob, which primarily refers to the benchmark price for European gasoline (petrol), that is the international benchmark. That for every benchmark, the price would be discussed and agreed to be adjusted.

“They agreed on N806 coastal rate and N828 gantry price as published by Dangote refinery. After the first month, the international crude oil benchmark dropped, and the private depot owners requested a reduction in the Dangote gantry price. The reduction was effected but not what they expected in comparison with international prices. It was this difference that made the marketers turn to imports in the month of November 2025.

“Importation surged in November, and there were a large number of vessels at berth. So when Dangote noticed the new development, he slashed the price from N828 per litre to N699 per litre, a 129 per cent reduction and the highest in 2025. Days later, he had a press conference, making allegations against the former NMDPRA ACE, Farouk Ahmed, on the issuance of licenses to marketers.

“So the relationship between depot owners and Dangote lasted for just a month before falling apart. Now the refinery doesn’t have a choice but to sell to independent marketers who buy in bits.”

Confirming the collapse, the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, told The PUNCH that the agreement was no longer in force.

“No, it is no longer in place. Dangote has decided to liberalise the buying options. Marketers are now free to buy products, even down to those who can lift as little as 250,000 litres,” Ukadike said.

He added that the refinery had specifically invited independent marketers to come forward and load products directly. “These are market strategies. You don’t want unnecessary issues in distribution or artificial price hikes. The market is now open. It is also about competition,” he said.

Ukadike explained that tensions also arose because some marketers continued importing petrol even after signing the October agreement, undermining the exclusivity clause.

“Even after the agreement was signed, some marketers still went ahead to start importing petroleum products, which is against the agreement signed. So he decided that since they are keeping to it or evacuating products well, he has decided to allow all marketers to take products. That is the situation on the ground,” he added.

For now, the refinery has reverted to open-market sales, offering product sales from as low as 250,000 litres to any interested marketer, a departure from the offer given in October.

When contacted, Dangote spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, did not respond to calls and messages sent to his phone number by our correspondent for an official reaction.

Meanwhile, fresh market data show that the spot price of imported petrol into Nigeria has dropped to about N696 per litre, according to the latest energy bulletin released by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria.

The price, calculated at the Apapa jetty, is below Dangote’s current gantry price of N699 per litre. This was the 30-day average import parity price of N772.65 per litre, reflecting a temporary easing in international crude oil costs and foreign exchange stability.

The bulletin, obtained on Thursday, showed that the difference between the on-spot import price and the 30-day average, currently about N76 per litre, creates opportunities for marketers to optimise inventory and timing, especially as local refiners adjust gantry prices.

For instance, Dangote Petroleum’s gantry petrol price is currently N699 per litre, slightly above the import parity spot price, which could incentivise competitive pricing in the downstream market.

The spot price for petrol in Apapa had fallen steadily alongside a slight decline in Brent and WTI crude prices, which currently trade at $63.75 and $60.14 per barrel, respectively. Similarly, Bonny Light crude fluctuated around $66.22 per barrel, reflecting global market adjustments following a period of relative stability.

According to MEMAN, the decline in spot prices has been driven by a combination of lower international benchmark prices, reduced shipping costs, and a stronger naira, which currently trades at N1,419.07 against the dollar, down from N1,450 earlier in December. The association noted that diesel and kerosene have also experienced downward pressure, with spot prices for diesel at N844.88 per litre and kerosene at N882.94 per litre.

The report also highlighted that average 30-day import parity prices are calculated using Platts commodity prices, freight charges, insurance, and terminal costs, providing a benchmark for local marketers and regulators in the Nigerian downstream sector. According to MEMAN, fluctuations in these prices directly impact retail pump prices, the profitability of depot owners, and the viability of local refining operations.

PwC Nigeria has projected that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product growth in 2026 would settle around 4.3 per cent.

This was disclosed in a statement shared with The PUNCH on Wednesday following the release of its 2026 Economic Outlook.

This projection broadly aligns with that of the World Bank, which, in its latest Africa’s Pulse report, anticipates that Nigeria’s economic growth will strengthen to 4.4 per cent between 2026 and 2027, driven by higher activity in ICT, finance, and real estate.

“Looking ahead, the outlook projects real GDP growth of about 4.3 per cent in 2026, with inflation moderating gradually and the naira remaining broadly stable. Fiscal constraints persist, reinforcing the importance of capital efficiency and balance-sheet discipline.

“Against this backdrop, PwC Nigeria highlights practical imperatives for business leaders in 2026: making selective investment bets in attractive sectors and regions, scenario-planning for macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks, adapting business models and cost structures for resilience, accelerating digital transformation and responsible AI adoption, and strengthening regulatory and tax compliance as reforms move from design to execution,” the statement read.

Also, PwC Nigeria’s 2026 Economic Outlook asserted that recent gains in macroeconomic stability are reshaping the operating environment for businesses, investors, and markets.

The report indicated that Nigeria recorded improvements in macroeconomic stability in 2025 following key monetary and foreign-exchange reforms, with inflation easing, exchange-rate conditions stabilising, and external reserves strengthening. PwC’s Economic Outlook 2026 highlighted how this stability is influencing strategic business choices in 2026, particularly around investment, cost and funding decisions, and regulatory, tax, and digital priorities.

Commenting on the report, the Country Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria, Sam Abu, said, “PwC Nigeria’s Economic Outlook 2026 provides forward-looking analysis of key macroeconomic indicators and what they signal for the economy and for business leaders. Nigeria has achieved improved macroeconomic stability over the past year. The focus now is on how that stability is translated into sustainable economic growth and how businesses position themselves for 2026. For companies, this stability provides a more predictable operating environment for planning, investment, and growth decisions.”

The Economic Outlook 2026 also identified seven key issues shaping Nigeria’s economic performance in the year ahead, spanning global and domestic forces. These include monetary policy effectiveness, fiscal sustainability and reform execution, global economic and geopolitical dynamics, domestic security and social pressures, uneven sectoral growth, consumer affordability constraints, and the expanding role of the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

Speaking on the outlook, Partner and Chief Economist, PwC Nigeria, Olusegun Zaccheaus said, “The seven themes in the Outlook show how global and domestic forces will shape economic performance in 2026. Globally, growth is projected at around 3.1%, while merchandise trade growth slows to about 0.5 per cent, keeping oil prices, capital flows, and access to foreign inflows as key channels influencing Nigeria’s growth and FX liquidity.

SIFAX Group has opened the 2026 business year with a strong declaration of intent.

This comes as the company rolled out an innovation-led growth strategy designed to enhance operations, accelerate technology adoption, and broaden its presence across West Africa.

SIFAX announced this in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Olumuyiwa Akande.

According to the statement, the Chairman of the Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, made this known in his New Year message to employees, partners, and stakeholders, where he outlined the company’s strategic priorities for the year while reflecting on a strong performance in 2025.

According to Afolabi, the Group’s focus for 2026 is anchored on “growth through innovation”, with renewed emphasis on operational excellence, collaboration across subsidiaries, sustainability, and customer-centric service delivery.

He noted that SIFAX Group is positioning itself to respond proactively to industry changes and emerging opportunities across its diverse business portfolio.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Port Command, has stated that it collected a total of N2.93tn as revenue in 2025, representing an increase of N573.2bn compared to the N2.35tn collected in 2024, a 24.3 per cent growth.

“The command collected a total of N2.93tn as revenue in 2025, recording an impressive increase of N573.2bn when compared to N2.35tn collected in 2024, representing a 24.32 per cent growth. The performance reinforces Apapa Command’s position as the nation’s leading revenue hub,” the statement read in part.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Emmanuel Oshoba, attributed the achievement to effective leadership, disciplined manpower, and the strategic deployment of technology under the guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

He also commended compliant stakeholders whose lawful trade practices contributed significantly to the revenue growth.

“A major contributor to the success was the deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu, which enhanced transparency, efficiency, and accountability in cargo clearance processes. Regular performance reviews and timely revenue recovery measures further strengthened collections,” Oshoba stated.

According to Oshoba, in the area of trade facilitation, the command intensified stakeholder sensitisation following the rollout of the Authorised Economic Operator Programme and expanded the One-Stop Shop initiative to ensure faster processing and release of compliant cargoes.

“Efforts are also at an advanced stage to deploy the FS6000 cargo scanning system, a non-intrusive technology capable of scanning up to 200 containers per hour,” he added.

Oshoba highlighted that the command also recorded enforcement successes, intercepting 53 containers laden with illicit drugs and prohibited items, including cocaine, Canadian loud, tramadol, and expired pharmaceuticals with a duty paid value of N12.6bn.

He added that some of the interceptions in the year 2025 were handed over to relevant agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Oshoba expressed optimism that the command would achieve greater revenue milestones in 2026, driven by deeper implementation of B’Odogwu, AEO, and OSS, stronger intelligence-led enforcement, and expanded collaboration with sister agencies.

He assured stakeholders of enhanced engagement with terminal operators, shipping companies, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, haulage operators, and the media to promote transparency, compliance, and seamless trade at the nation’s busiest port.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, said that from January to December 2025, it collected a total of N15.5bn as revenue, marking a remarkable 117 per cent increase when compared with the N7.1bn collected by the command in 2024.

Announcing this in a statement on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Tunde Ayagbalo, stressed that the command recorded unprecedented revenue milestones in 2025, achieving its highest-ever monthly and annual revenue collections since inception.

Ayagbalo stated that in December 2025 alone, the command collected a historic N3.6bn, “the highest monthly revenue on record.”

He added that the record is attributed to the effective rollout of the One-Stop Shop Initiative by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, which improves the command’s coordination and trade facilitation for stakeholders.

“From January to December 2025, the command generated a total of N15.5bn only, showing a remarkable 117 per cent increase when compared to N7.1bn recorded in 2024,” Ayagbalo said.

The command’s PRO added that the command also maintained robust anti-smuggling operations, in December 2025, intercepting “685 parcels of cannabis sativa, 495 packs of tramadol, and 2,000 packs of Super Power sildenafil tablets, an excessively high-dosage sexual enhancement drug, through intelligence-led operations, enhanced patrols, risk profiling, and inter-agency collaboration.”

Ayagbalo reiterated that in alignment with the CGC’s directive, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme Command, Wale Adenuga, has successfully reduced checkpoints along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor to the two locations approved by the Federal Government, significantly easing legitimate trade, minimising delays, and contributing to the command’s outstanding revenue performance.

Speaking on the achievement, the CAC, Wale Adenuga, warned smugglers that the Seme borders are no longer safe for illicit activities.

“With advanced intelligence, technology, and unwavering vigilance, the officers and men of the command will intercept and prosecute offenders,” he warned.