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
Black Market Naira To Dollar Exchange Rate Today 12th January 2026
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.
Business
BREAKING: Petrol Depot Owners Crash Prices To Cheapest; Details Emerge
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.
Business
Good News: Cooking Gas Prices Drop As LPG Supply Improves Across Nigeria
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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