Business
Foreign Students at NCAT Boost Federal Forex Earnings
There is Foreign Exchange boost for the federal government as foreign students now throng the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State for training
This was disclosed by the rector of the College, Dr Danjuma Ismaila, over the weekend, in an interview with LEADERSHIP at the just concluded 2025 training for Aviation journalists, held in Zaria, Kaduna State.
According to him, students from Egypt, Asia, other French speaking countries among others now come to the school for aviation training.
He, however, complained about funding and infrastructure challenges which he said has limited the prospect of the foremost aviation training college.
“We have opportunities to serve every part of the world. For instance, training on ATPL certificate whether you obtain it here or there, it is the same thing that is certified by the UK CAA.
Our CAA is being certified by the NCAA which is equally International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certified.
“We have opportunities to have participants from all over the world because some of the courses we run which are in collaboration with ICAO. We generate a lot of foreign exchange into the country and we have the potential to generate more to the nation.
“By the time our flight simulators start operation, we will expect more participation from Asian countries. Right now, both Nigerian pilots and Asian pilots are queuing in Dubai waiting for the period to go and attend the flight simulator training. We have it here and will soon start operating it here.
“By then, people will be queuing on our own side because it is scarce globally and this will fetch us a lot of foreign exchange,” the Rector stated.
Dr Ismaila continued, “Right now, we are expecting some Egyptians. They are pleading with us to come and organize a programme for them on June 16. One of our instrument rating wanted to have a training on that. They are controllers from Egypt and wanted to learn. Some two months back, we trained some French speaking countries who wanted to learn aviation English only that we don’t have the right infrastructure that will attract them.”
The Rector, however, stated that right infrastructure will attract foreigners to the institutions because the institution charges are affordable compared to its comptemporaries across the world.
“When we put the right infrastructure in place, we can attract these foreigners because our own charges are affordable by most of these countries when you compare it with other parts of the world. I think previous management of the college did not give that the attention it requires or they were not so aggressive in terms of looking for developing critical infrastructure.
“For me and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, we are working day and night to see how we can reposition this college. This is a simple challenge; it is not technical. It is just issue of accommodation, limiting us for our intake. Like I said, there are some infrastructure that are of critical need and these are infrastructure that will facilitate us to position the college.
“One of these is befitting accommodation. Most of the accommodation are in shambles or incorrect shape but we can easily renovate them or upgrade them to the standard that we want to be. Another one is to have classrooms and also have facilities, especially technical facilities for the different type of courses.
“Many courses that are being required by aviation professionals globally and locally; we need all of these facilities in place. Some of these facilities also need continued upgraded. Even if you own the facility, it is not the end of it, we need to continue to upgrade the system, cultivate new developments and new areas and that is why we need a lot of investments.
“We need to make the facilities truly look international. Some of these buildings are as old as 1960s. We need to upgrade them to look modern. A student has a choice especially the one that is used to international arena. When he comes here, he will respect us,” the Rector stated.
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Business
JUST IN: Dangote Confirms N200 Petrol Price Reductions Nationwide; New Price Emerges
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced another reduction in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), marking its fourth price cut within a month as the company said it continues to pass lower production costs to consumers despite still processing crude oil purchased at significantly higher international prices.
The latest N50 per litre reduction brings the cumulative decrease in the refinery’s PMS ex depot price to N200 per litre since May 30, 2026, reducing the gantry price to 1, 075. Over the same period, the refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) by N300 per litre and Jet A1 aviation fuel by N520 per litre.
The company said the successive reductions demonstrate its commitment to ensuring Nigerians benefit from favourable market developments while maintaining the long-term sustainability of domestic refining operations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Dangote Refinery explained that petroleum product pricing cannot mirror daily movements in international crude oil markets because crude is purchased weeks, and sometimes months, before it is processed. According to the refinery, the petroleum products currently being supplied to the market are being produced from crude inventories acquired during periods of substantially higher prices.
It disclosed that the average landed cost of crude processed stood at approximately US$124.80 per barrel in May and US$95.25 per barrel in June, compared with the current international benchmark of about US$71.01 per barrel.
The refinery also clarified that its crude procurement costs are not based solely on the headline ICE Brent benchmark commonly quoted in the media.
Rather, crude is purchased on a Dated Brent basis together with applicable market premiums, freight and logistics costs, resulting in actual feedstock costs that differ materially from benchmark prices.
Despite the sharp increase in crude acquisition costs during the period, Dangote Refinery said it deliberately refrained from transferring the full impact to consumers, choosing instead to absorb a significant portion of the additional costs in order to support market stability and cushion Nigerians from the volatility in global energy markets.
The company noted that this pricing approach has helped to keep petroleum product prices in Nigeria below those prevailing in neighbouring countries, even after accounting for applicable taxes. It added that as lower priced crude cargoes progressively enter its production cycle, the refinery has begun systematically passing the benefits to the market through phased price reductions.
“Today’s N50 per litre reduction is the fourth price cut in one month, bringing cumulative reductions to above N200 per litre on PMS. This approach ensures that pricing decisions are anchored on actual production economics and inventory costs rather than short term fluctuations in international oil markets,” it said. “Nigeria today benefits from the stabilising role of domestic refining capacity. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery currently supplies volumes sufficient to meet national demand, helping to strengthen energy security, eliminate dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange and provide greater price stability for consumers and businesses”.
The company expressed confidence that if international crude prices remain favourable and lower cost feedstock continues to replace higher priced inventories, Nigerians should expect further moderation in petroleum product prices.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery reiterated its commitment to supplying high quality, internationally certified petroleum products at competitive prices while supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and the long-term development of the country’s downstream petroleum sector.
Business
NNPC Announces Petrol Price; List of 10 States With Lowest Rates Emerge
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has reduced petrol price across its filling stations nationwide, with many now selling below N1,200.
Data obtained by Legit showed that NNPC’s retail stations across the country are selling between N1,170 and N1,395 per litre, depending on their location
Lagos and Ogun recorded the lowest pump price at N1,170 per litre from N1,210, while the price list shows that Yobe recorded the highest pump price at N1,395 per litre.
Other states with high petrol prices include Bauchi (N1,385), Sokoto (N1,378), Plateau (N1,375), and Benue and Zamfara (N1,370 each).
Also, Kaduna (N1,365), Niger (N1,364), Kogi (N1,360), Adamawa (N1,355), and Gombe (N1,345) are among the northern states with high petrol prices. Abuja (N1,210), Osun (N1,220), Kano (N1,222), Ondo and Rivers (N1,230 each), and several southern states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, and Jigawa, where NNPC retail stations are located, sell petrol for N1,235 per litre at the time of reporting
Top 10 states with the lowest NNPC petrol prices
Lagos – N1,125
Ogun – N1,170
Abuja – N1,210
Osun – N1,220
Kano – N1,222
Ondo – N1,230
Rivers – N1,230
Abia – N1,235
Akwa Ibom – N1,235
Anambra – N1,235
Top 10 states with the highest NNPC petrol prices
Yobe – N1,395
Bauchi – N1,385
Sokoto – N1,378
Plateau – N1,375
Katsina – N1,377
Benue – N1,370
Zamfara – N1,370
Kaduna – N1,365
Niger – N1,364
Kogi – N1,360
Business
BREAKING: Meet Emmanuel Nnorom, Incoming UBA Chairman
On Monday, July 6, 2026, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) announced that billionaire investor Tony Elumelu is set to retire as Group Chairman after 12 years.
The Group also revealed the executive chosen to inherit one of Africa’s most influential banking boardrooms: Emmanuel N. Nnorom.
The leadership transition takes effect on August 21, subject to regulatory processes, marking the end of Elumelu’s tenure under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate governance limits for non-executive directors.
For Nnorom, the appointment caps more than four decades in banking, finance, auditing and corporate leadership, much of it spent helping shape institutions that have become household names in Nigeria’s financial sector.
Nnorom’s career spans more than four decades across banking, finance, auditing and corporate leadership.
Born on April 7, 1958, he studied accounting and related services at Templeton College, Oxford University, completing the programme in 1996 before embarking on a series of senior management roles that established him as one of Nigeria’s most experienced banking executives.
He joined Diamond Bank Plc in January 1996 as General Manager for Operations and Branch Businesses, overseeing branch operations until May 1998. He later held brief executive roles as Senior Consultant at Equitorial Trust Bank between August and October 1998 before becoming Executive Director of Operations at Liberty Merchant Bank from November 1998 to November 1999.
His career trajectory
In January 2001, Nnorom was appointed General Manager for Finance and Planning at NUB International Bank, a position he held until April 2004. He subsequently moved to Standard Trust Bank as General Manager for Operations and Control, remaining there until July 2005 before the bank’s merger with United Bank for Africa.
His career accelerated at UBA, where he spent more than eight years rising through the executive ranks.
Beginning as General Manager for External Reporting in August 2005, he was promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer in April 2008, followed by appointments as Executive Director for Group Office in April 2009, Executive Director for Finance in July 2010 and Executive Director for Risk in March 2012.
In January 2013, he was named Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Africa, overseeing the lender’s operations across the continent during a period of rapid regional expansion.
Nnorom joined Heirs Holdings in January 2014 as President and Chief Operating Officer, helping oversee the investment company’s growing portfolio across financial services, energy, healthcare, hospitality and infrastructure.
Eight months later, in September 2014, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), where he led the diversified conglomerate’s businesses spanning power generation, hospitality, agribusiness and energy.
During his tenure, Transcorp expanded its strategic investments, including interests in the Ughelli Power Plant, Transcorp Hotels and Teragro Commodities, while strengthening its position as one of Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerates with roughly 300,000 shareholders.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
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