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Lagos Must Think Bigger, Act Smarter — Adedipe, George

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Renowned economist and Chief Consultant at B. Adedipe Associates Limited, Professor Biodun Adedipe, has said Lagos State must aggressively deepen wealth creation if it aims to build an inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive economy.

Speaking yesterday at the Roundtable Discussion on Lagos Economic Outlook 2026, Adedipe stressed that the state stands at a pivotal moment where deliberate policies, bold investments, and strategic innovation will determine its long-term economic future.

Adedipe noted that global challenges such as infrastructure gaps, housing shortages, and funding pressures are universal, adding that what separates successful economies is how governments deploy policy tools to expand opportunities.

According to him, Lagos must focus on producing quality jobs, expanding enterprise opportunities, and stimulating sustained wealth generation. “If I have to choose between job creation and wealth creation, I will choose wealth creation. When you create wealth, jobs follow naturally,” he said.

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He projected that Lagos will close 2025 with a Gross State Product of ¦ 66.47 trillion, representing 34.64% of Nigeria’s GDP. With a growth rate of 6.49%, Lagos is expanding at nearly twice the national average of 3.78%.

He argued that Lagos should no longer benchmark itself against African economies but against top-performing global sub-national economies. Citing California’s $3.37 trillion GSP, he noted that Lagos, already Africa’s second-largest city economy after Cairo, must now model the most competitive global state economies.

Adedipe identified technology, real estate, finance, creative industries, clean energy, and innovation-led manufacturing as critical sectors that will determine Lagos’ competitiveness in the next decade. He called for deeper investment in human capital, stronger infrastructure, and sustained collaboration between government and major industry actors. “Everything will be fine in the end. If it is not fine, it is not the end. Lagos must keep improving daily,” he added.

Earlier, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, said Lagos has reached a defining point in its development journey and must adopt smarter, more data-driven planning as it prepares for the 2026 economic cycle. He highlighted the proposed ¦ 4.2 trillion 2026 budget as evidence of Lagos’ bold economic ambition.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to evidence-based governance, noting that Lagos has implemented over 94 percent of resolutions from previous economic summits. She commended researchers, analysts, and the state’s economic intelligence team for the insights that continue to shape policy direction.

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‘Cooking Gas, Petrol Prices Crash Nationwide’  [DETAILS]

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Petrol and cooking gas prices declined year-on-year in December 2025, signalling a gradual easing of household energy costs, according to separate reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Naija News reports that data from the bureau showed that both Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly used for cooking, and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, recorded notable price reductions compared with December 2024, alongside modest month-on-month declines.

The NBS noted that while the downward trend was observed across most states and geopolitical zones, prices continued to vary widely depending on location.

5kg Of Cooking Gas Price Drops By 25%
According to the report, the average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG declined by 1.20 per cent month-on-month, falling from ₦5,425.78 in November 2025 to ₦5,360.43 in December 2025.

On a year-on-year basis, the price fell sharply by 25.31 per cent, down from ₦7,177.27 recorded in December 2024.

Confirming the trend, the NBS stated, “The average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) decreased by 1.20 per cent on a month-on-month basis,” adding that the year-on-year decline stood at 25.31 per cent.”

A state-level analysis showed that Kaduna recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at ₦5,838.66, followed by Jigawa at ₦5,825.09 and Osun at ₦5,777.80.

On the lower end, Katsina recorded the cheapest average price at ₦4,855.80.

Similarly, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of LPG fell by 0.74 per cent month-on-month, declining from ₦13,538.79 in November 2025 to ₦13,438.90 in December 2025.

Year-on-year, the price dropped by 22.20 per cent from ₦17,274.16 recorded in December 2024.

On a state-by-state basis, Abia recorded the highest average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦14,489.96, followed by Osun at ₦14,444.50 and Delta at ₦14,393.17, the bureau said.

Petrol Price Dips To ₦1,048
The NBS also reported a decline in the average retail price of petrol.

According to the report, the average price of Premium Motor Spirit stood at ₦1,048.63 in December 2025, representing an 11.81 per cent decrease compared with ₦1,189.12 recorded in December 2024.

The bureau stated, “The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for December 2025 was ₦1,048.63.”

On a month-on-month basis, petrol prices declined by 1.20 per cent, down from ₦1,061.35 recorded in November 2025.

Further analysis showed that Kogi State recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,104.45, while Oyo State had the lowest at ₦996.55.

Regionally, the North East emerged as the most expensive zone for petrol, while the South West recorded the lowest average prices.

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BREAKING: Naira Hits Two-Year High In Official Window As External Reserves Rise 

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Nigeria’s naira recorded one of its strongest performances in months on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, appreciating sharply against the US dollar at the official foreign exchange window amid improving liquidity and rising confidence in the country’s FX reforms.

The local currency strengthened to around ₦1,400 per dollar at the official market, marking its firmest level since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN implemented sweeping FX reforms.

The move signals easing pressure on the naira and renewed optimism among investors and market participants.

According to the CBN’s daily foreign exchange report, the naira closed at ₦1,401.22 per dollar, representing a 1.27 percent appreciation on the day.

Market operators described the move as a reflection of improved dollar supply and stronger participation by banks and other authorised dealers.

Traders said the official window saw increased volumes, with the improved liquidity helping to narrow volatility and reduce speculative demand.

The latest performance reinforces the view that the reforms aimed at unifying exchange rates and improving price discovery are beginning to yield results.

The positive momentum extended to the parallel market, where the naira also posted modest gains.

Channel checks showed the local currency appreciating by about 0.33 per cent to trade around ₦1,476 per dollar. While the gap between the official and parallel rates remains, analysts say the narrowing spread reflects improving confidence across both the regulated and informal segments of the FX market.

According to a report by MarketForces Africa, reduced arbitrage opportunities and stronger supply conditions are helping to stabilise pricing.

The naira’s rally comes against the backdrop of rising external reserves, which have strengthened the CBN’s ability to intervene when necessary and support market liquidity.

Higher reserves are widely viewed as a key confidence signal for foreign investors, particularly portfolio investors who remain sensitive to currency risk.

Market watchers say consistent inflows from export earnings, improved remittance flows, and cautious monetary management have all contributed to the improved outlook for the naira in recent weeks.

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After Dangote, Another World Class Refinery to Be Built in Nigeria, CEO Confirms Location

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Clarivo Oil and Gas, led by Chief Obidike Chukwuebuka, has announced plans to build a world-class oil refinery in Calabar, Cross River State, aimed at boosting Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.

Speaking to journalists, Chief Obidike said the project will be implemented in phases, in collaboration with foreign partners to bring advanced technical expertise and international industry standards.

The planned refinery will feature state-of-the-art technologies, including crude distillation, catalytic cracking, and hydrotreating units, enabling the production of high-quality petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.

The phased approach will begin with feasibility studies and front-end engineering design, followed by construction of core processing units, and conclude with installation of secondary units and commissioning.

Chief Obidike noted that the refinery aims to increase domestic refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and enhance Nigeria’s energy security. He added that the project is expected to create significant employment across engineering, construction, operations, and logistics, while facilitating technology transfer through partnerships with international EPC contractors and investors.

On funding, he revealed that agreements with foreign stakeholders are being finalized to provide both technical and financial support. The refinery is projected to come online within five years, following the completion of all project phases and regulatory approvals.

 

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