Business
Aliko Dangote’s Surprise Resignation From Sugar, Cement Companies Triggers Reactions
Dangote has stepped down as chairman of Dangote Sugar PLC and Dangote Cement PLC to focus on his $20 billion refinery and petrochemical project
The refinery, which is Africa’s largest, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel despite facing several industry challenges.
Stakeholders have praised Dangote’s move to exit the companies as a sign of strong succession planning and good corporate governance
Nigerians have shared mixed reactions to Aliko Dangote’s decision to step down from leadership roles in two of his companies.
The President of Dangote Industries Limited and Africa’s wealthiest man recently resigned as chairman of both Dangote Sugar PLC and Dangote Cement PLC, creating space for new leadership in these major subsidiaries.
These resignations occurred within a two-month period, marking a significant shift in Dangote’s direct involvement in the day-to-day operations of the publicly listed firms.
In June 2025, Dangote Sugar PLC announced that Dangote had stepped down after two decades at the helm. His resignation officially took effect on June 16, 2025.
Following a comprehensive selection process, the board appointed Arnold Ekpe, a veteran in the banking sector, as the new Chairman.
Not long after leaving the sugar company, Dangote also relinquished his position at Dangote Cement PLC. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, who previously served as an independent non-executive director, was named as his successor.
Dangote’s decision to retire from Dangote Sugar and Dangote Cement is mainly driven by the need to focus on the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project.
This massive facility, located in the Lekki Free Zone in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, can process up to 650,000 barrels of oil per day. It is considered the largest refinery in Africa and the biggest single-train refinery in the world.
When production began in January 2024, it marked a major turning point for Nigeria and Africa in reducing dependence on imported fuel.
Despite having four government-owned refineries, Nigeria has relied heavily on fuel imports for years, spending huge amounts of money without getting any output from those refineries.
In an interview with Forbes, Dangote described the refinery as the biggest risk of his life.
He has faced many obstacles, including clashes with powerful figures in the oil industry, often referred to as a “cabal.”
One of the early challenges was a dispute with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) who questioned the quality of his petrol.
Perhaps the most challenging for the refinery was with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the supply of crude oil.
However, relations have improved under the current NNPCL leadership, which Dangote recently praised for supporting the refinery’s progress.
What people are saying
In an interview with Daily Trust, Adebayo Adeleke, former General Secretary of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said that Aliko Dangote’s decision to step down from two of his companies makes sense.
He said: “The implication to me is rather positive. It is good one that now in the life of the entrepreneur and the core investor, a very dominant core investor, his stepping aside is a sure sign of succession planning and is also a positive one for corporate governance.”
Adeleke said that as a business expands, the founder should focus on key areas and ensure effective leadership succession is in place.
Also sharing his thoughts, Mr. Boniface Okezie praised Dangote’s achievements in the cement and sugar sectors, especially his efforts to make the companies more self-sufficient.
He said: “For me the refinery is a bigger project for him than Sugar and Cement combined. Also the refinery is also more complex. He had been in cement for decades and in line with the corporate governance principle, he has got people to run the companies for him and that does not take him away from those companies.”
Even though Dangote is stepping back, Okezie said he is still the owner and visionary behind the companies, and the people managing them are working under his direction.
Speaking with Legit. Dr. Ifeoma Uzor, a corporate governance analyst, said that Dangote’s exit from his sugar and cement boards signals a mature shift toward strategic leadership.
She said: “It reflects strong succession planning and enhances investor confidence. Focusing on the refinery, a high-risk, high-impact project, demonstrates vision. This move shows that sustainable businesses outlast individual founders, and it’s a positive development for long-term corporate stability in Nigeria.”
Also reacting to the trending topic, Tunde Olukoyede, a social critic, said that Dangote’s full commitment to the refinery project is a game-changer.
He said: “His resignation frees him to tackle the enormous operational and political complexities of running Africa’s largest refining facility. It’s a calculated decision that could shift Nigeria from fuel dependency to self-sufficiency. While cement and sugar are stable, the refinery needs his full attention to succeed.”
Business
Dangote Refinery Fixes Petrol Price in New Pricing Template
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has fixed the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, at $0.779 per litre as it officially transitioned to a dollar-denominated pricing system for refined petroleum products.
The new pricing template, which took effect on Monday, July 13, 2026, also pegs Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) at $1.087 per litre and aviation fuel at $0.942 per litre, while coastal deliveries of petrol have been priced at $1,044.62 per metric tonne.
The move effectively ends naira payments for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel purchased from the refinery, marking a significant shift from the naira-based transactions introduced under the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude policy, which commenced on October 1, 2024.
In a notice to petroleum marketers and customers, the refinery said all previously issued naira-denominated Proforma Invoices (PFIs) and Deal Recaps for both gantry and coastal transactions had become invalid.
The notice, signed by the refinery’s Group Commercial Operations, stated: “Following our email of July 9, 2026, regarding the transition from naira to United States dollars (USD), please note that all issued naira coastal and gantry PFIs/Deal Recaps are now invalid, and no payments should be made against them.
“The applicable USD prices for each product, effective today, July 13, 2026, are provided below.”
Under the revised pricing template, petrol sold through the gantry will cost $0.779 per litre, diesel $1.087 per litre, aviation fuel $0.942 per litre, while coastal PMS supplies will sell for $1,044.62 per metric tonne.
The refinery, however, clarified that the transition does not affect Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) transactions.
“Also note that this transition to USD does not apply to LPG transactions,” the notice added.
Industry sources said the change was necessitated by an increasing mismatch between the currency used to purchase crude oil and the currency in which refined products were being sold.
According to one source familiar with the development, Dangote Refinery now receives a significant portion of its crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under dollar-denominated supply arrangements, while a large volume of refined products has continued to be sold domestically in naira.
The source said the imbalance had heightened the refinery’s exposure to foreign exchange risks.
Another industry official explained that the refinery had received fewer crude cargoes under the naira-for-crude arrangement in recent months, making it commercially necessary to align product sales with the currency used for crude procurement.
“Dangote Refinery is receiving fewer naira-denominated crude cargoes from NNPCL than dollar-denominated cargoes, while a larger volume of its petroleum products has been sold in naira.
“The resulting currency mismatch, combined with volatility in international crude oil prices and continued exchange-rate uncertainty, made it necessary to migrate product sales to dollars,” the source said.
The development is expected to have far-reaching implications for petroleum marketers, many of whom source products directly from the refinery for nationwide distribution.
It also raises fresh questions about the future of the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude initiative, which was introduced to strengthen domestic refining, reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand and help stabilise fuel prices.
Although the refinery has fixed a dollar benchmark for product sales, the retail pump price of petrol across the country will continue to depend on several factors, including the prevailing naira-dollar exchange rate, international crude oil prices, transportation and logistics costs, regulatory charges and marketers’ margins.
With Dangote Refinery now accounting for a substantial share of Nigeria’s refined petroleum supply, industry stakeholders are expected to closely monitor how the new pricing regime influences fuel prices and competition in the deregulated downstream petroleum market.
Source: Tribune
Business
Nigeria Strengthens Maritime Leadership as Fadahunsi Emerges Vice Chairman of Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission
The Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydrographic Agency (NHA), Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) for the 2026–2028 term, further reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in regional and global maritime governance.
Rear Admiral Fadahunsi’s election was confirmed on Friday, 3 July 2026, during the ongoing EAtHC Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where member states endorsed his emergence to one of the commission’s most strategic leadership positions.
Established on 26 November 1984 under the auspices of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission was founded by France, Nigeria, Portugal and Spain. Over the past four decades, the commission has expanded significantly, comprising 11 member states, 10 associate members and six observers committed to promoting hydrographic excellence across the Eastern Atlantic region.
The commission plays a pivotal role in advancing hydrography, nautical cartography and maritime safety through capacity-building initiatives, the development and implementation of International (INT) Charts and Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) schemes, improved hydrographic surveys, enhanced charting standards, effective dissemination of nautical information and sustained advocacy on the importance of hydrography to regional maritime development.
Since its inaugural conference in Paris, France, in April 1986, the EAtHC has convened biennially to strengthen collaboration among member states and chart the future of hydrographic development.
In another significant endorsement of Nigeria’s expanding maritime profile, the country has been selected to host the next EAtHC Conference in June 2028. Nigeria will also host the 25th Meeting of the Capacity Building Sub-Committee (CBSC25) and the 19th Meeting of the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC19) in June 2027, positioning the country at the centre of major international hydrographic engagements.
Rear Admiral Fadahunsi’s election is widely regarded as a testament to Nigeria’s sustained investment in hydrographic development, maritime safety and regional cooperation. It also reflects growing international confidence in the National Hydrographic Agency’s contributions to safer navigation, marine resource management and the blue economy.
As Nigeria prepares to welcome leading hydrographers, maritime regulators and technical experts from across the world over the next two years, the country is poised to consolidate its reputation as a key driver of hydrographic innovation and maritime security in the Eastern Atlantic region.
Business
Canada Publishes 2 Official Websites to Find Jobs, Says Over 2,000 Vacancies Are Posted Daily
Canada has made it easier for unemployed individuals and foreigners who wish to live and work in the country to find jobs that can help them live comfortably and meet their basic responsibilities.
On the official Canadian government website, two links are provided to websites where job seekers can find available jobs in Canada
According to the Canadian government website, applicants who apply for jobs through these platforms can get hired by different companies, as more than 2,000 jobs are posted every day.
Aside from these two websites, the Canadian government explains that individuals can also use employment agencies to help them find jobs that match their skills.
A job seeker can also ask friends or family members if there are job openings or vacancies, as not all positions are advertised on these websites.
1. Job Bank
The Canadian government explains that thousands of jobs are advertised on this platform every day by organisations and companies. The link to access the website can be found in the detailed post published on the Canadian government website.
2. Jobs GC
Another website where foreigners who wish to work in Canada or Canadian citizens can find government jobs is the Jobs GC website. Federal public service jobs are advertised on the website, alongside several other opportunities that may match an applicant’s skills.

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