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Lagos-Calabar Highway Will Cut Logistics Cost By 15%, Says NOA

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Lagos-Calabar Highway Will Cut Logistics Cost By 15%, Says NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will serve as a transformative infrastructure project, driving economic growth and national integration.

In its weekly publication, The Explainer, the NOA quoted David Umahi, minister of works, as describing the 700-kilometre 10-lane superhighway as a “blueprint for national transformation.”

According to the agency, the minister said the project will reduce travel time between Lagos and Calabar from 12 hours to just 4.5 hours, reduce logistics costs by 15-20 percent, and empower over 500,000 small businesses.

“This is not just road construction—it’s an investment in Nigeria’s future,” Umahi was quoted as saying.

“It is a visionary undertaking that will drive inclusive development, improve access to markets, and empower over 500,000 small businesses along the corridor.

“The project links the industrial strength of Lagos with the agricultural potential of the Niger Delta and Southeast, while addressing key infrastructure, economic and security challenges.”

In the report, the minister also highlighted the project’s potential to increase Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2 percent by creating new industrial corridors, expanded trade, and enhanced tourism access along the coastal route.

The NOA said the Lagos-Calabar highway is expected to generate 10,000 direct jobs in construction and engineering, and over 15,000 indirect jobs in logistics, materials supply, and support services.

“The highway is expected to boost tourism revenue by 25 per cent by providing access to underutilised beaches such as Ilashe Island in Lagos and Ibeno Beach in Akwa Ibom State,” the agency said.

“Its eco-friendly elements, such as reforestation initiatives and a rail system to reduce emissions, align with sustainable development goals.

“The road’s design features solar-powered CCTV surveillance systems for safety, a central rail line for integrated transport, and a tolling system to ensure sustainability. It is financed through a 30 percent public and 70 percent private investment model, with full cost recovery targeted over 15 years.

“The project is comparable to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, which generates €3 billion annually,” the agency stated, adding that its environmental components—such as mangrove restoration and wildlife corridor designs—are aligned with international standards.”

The NOA also said the highway is a strategic step toward closing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, which it noted stands at 30 percent of GDP — well below the World Bank’s 70 percent benchmark.

Citing the 2025 Appropriation Act, the agency applauded the Tinubu administration for allocating N23.96 trillion to capital expenditures, which, for the first time in decades, surpasses recurrent spending, which is pegged at N13.64 trillion.

“This shift reflects a clear commitment to reversing decades of underinvestment in public infrastructure,” the NOA said.

The agency noted that the highway is one of several signature projects, alongside the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway and Eastern railway, geared toward unlocking regional development and national productivity.

President Bola Tinubu had said the road is a “pathway to prosperity” and a symbol of national unity while commissioning the projects to mark his two years in office.

Thecable.ng

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Black Market Naira To Dollar Exchange Rate Today 12th January 2026

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What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange rate at the black market, also known as the parallel market (Aboki fx)?

You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.

How much is a dollar to naira today in the black market?

The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1490 and sell at N1505 on Sunday, 11th January 2026 according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).

Black Market Exchange Rate Today 12th January, 2026
Buying Rate N1485
Selling Rate N1500

The exchange rate between the US dollar (USD) and the Nigerian naira (NGN) which rate we have given above; is a topic of high constant interest for people who are Nigerian and businesses and policymakers in Nigeria.

This rate of dollars to naira exchange rate influences not only the cost of imported goods but also the cost of travel, international education, and even local prices of certain commodities.

Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.

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BREAKING: Petrol Depot Owners Crash Prices To Cheapest; Details Emerge

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Petrol prices at Nigerian depots have dropped to their lowest levels in months as intense competition grips the downstream market, following the apparent collapse of the fuel supply agreement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and independent marketers.

Fresh findings show that depot owners have slashed ex-depot prices to as low as N710 per litre, a sharp reversal from the steep hikes recorded just weeks earlier.,

In the first week of January 2026, depot owners sharply increased gantry prices after reports emerged that the Dangote Refinery had shut down its petrol production unit for maintenance.

Although the refinery denied the reports, the speculation was enough to jolt the market.

Depot prices surged, and the increases quickly filtered through to filling stations nationwide.

Independent marketers raised gantry prices from around N720 per litre to over N800 per litre, with analysts noting that depot operators were exploiting uncertainty surrounding Africa’s largest refinery.

Depot owners reverse course as competition intensifies
The price spike, however, has proven short-lived.

Checks reveal that depot owners have now reversed course, cutting prices aggressively to stay competitive with Dangote Refinery’s pricing structure, especially as fresh fuel imports enter the Nigerian market.

Data from PetroleumPriceNG shows that several major depots reduced prices significantly in recent days.

As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, ShellPlux sold petrol at N710 per litre, MAO at N715, while A.Y.M.

Falling crude oil prices add more pressure
Energy experts say global oil market dynamics are also contributing to the decline in local petrol prices.

“Crude oil is currently trading between $50 and $60 per barrel in the international market,” energy policy analyst Adeola Yusuf told Legit.ng.

According to him, ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela and Iran have pushed crude prices lower, with direct implications for refined fuel costs.

“Crude oil is often used as a political tool and is highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. When prices drop, refined product prices usually follow, especially in domestic markets,” Yusuf explained.

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Good News: Cooking Gas Prices Drop As LPG Supply Improves Across Nigeria

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Prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, are crashing in several parts of the country as retailers report improved supplies.

According to a market survey by PUNCH, retailers and consumers confirmed that prices have dropped and the product has become more available across the country.

This development follows months of scarcity, which led to a nationwide hike in prices. The scarcity peaked in September 2025.

Consumers in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and other states confirmed that they purchased cooking gas within the N1,050 to N1,400 range. Some major marketers were also reported to be selling directly to consumers at around N900 per kilogramme.

For many households, the current prices represent a significant improvement from the sharp increases recorded last year, when LPG prices surged after a dispute involving the Dangote refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) led to the shutdown of some gas facilities.

Despite the improvement, several consumers said they were hopeful that prices would fall below N1,000 per kilogramme in the new year, arguing that lower costs are critical to promoting clean cooking and reducing reliance on firewood and kerosene.

Speaking on the situation, the National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ayobami Olarinoye, said the LPG market had become relatively stable, with increased supply reaching Lagos.

According to Olarinoye, some off-takers are now receiving gas in Apapa, Lagos, helping to ease availability challenges experienced in previous months.

He explained that retail prices at street-level outlets currently range between N1,300 and N1,400 per kilogramme, noting that costs vary based on neighbourhoods, transportation and logistics.

Olarinoye added that prices could be lower at filling stations and gas plants, where operational and distribution costs are reduced.

He further disclosed that retailers currently purchase LPG from major marketers at prices between N960 and N1,050 per kilogram, depending on the supplier. According to the NUPENG official, sellers offering LPG below N1,000 per kilogramme are typically major dealers who own their own plants and sell directly to end users and do not distribute to retailers.

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