Author: user user

The People’s Share: Democratising Wealth And Securing The North’s Stake In The Dangote Refinery

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the Dangote Refinery’s application to float a marginal percentage of its issued share capital for acquisition by both retail and institutional shareholders.

This landmark approval formally reclassifies the Dangote Refinery as a public Limited Liability Company.

This development begs two critical questions for the northern populace: First, are we sufficiently cognisant of this historic economic inflection point?

Second, assuming awareness exists, is there a corresponding readiness to subscribe to the offered shares?

Through this modest intervention, I seek to urge northerners to affirm their faith in the Dangote Refinery’s public listing by actively participating in its share offer.

The Dawn of a New Era: The Dangote Refinery Public Offer

The historic approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the Dangote Refinery to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO) is more than just a financial market event; it is a pivotal moment for every Nigerian, especially for our brothers and sisters in the North.

The refinery, once a privately-held giant, is now opening its doors to public ownership, inviting ordinary citizens to become part-owners of the continent’s most transformative industrial asset.

The question is no longer if we are aware, but if we are ready to act.

Advantages of Subscribing to the Dangote Refinery Shares

Unprecedented Access and Affordability

This is not an offer reserved for the elite.

The IPO has been deliberately structured to be inclusive.

With a minimum subscription of just 10 shares priced at ?525 each, a total entry point of ?5,250, it is one of the most accessible investment opportunities ever seen in Nigeria.

The process is further simplified through integration with the BVN system, allowing participation from across the country.

As Aliko Dangote stated, this is the ‘IPO for the people,’ designed to allow drivers, cooks, and managers to own a stake.

A Share in a Strategic National Asset

The Dangote Refinery is not just another company; it is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy independence and industrialisation.

With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and plans to double this to 1.4 million, it is the largest single-train refinery in the world.

For the North, this project has already brought tangible benefits, stabilising fuel supply and reducing the energy-related disruptions that once plagued transport and agriculture.

By subscribing, northerners are not just buying shares; they are investing in a project that guarantees the nation’s energy security and prosperity.

Dollar-Denominated Value and Dividend Potential

The refinery is a major export player, shipping refined products to Europe and across Africa.

This global relevance translates to robust financial potential.

The company is targeting an EBITDA of over $12 billion, and dividends for investors who prefer will be payable in US dollars from the refinery’s export revenues, providing a hedge against currency volatility.

This offers a unique chance to build generational wealth.

In the words of Aliko Dangote, this is an opportunity to create an investment that could grow like global giants such as Amazon or Coca-Cola.

Patriotism and Economic Citizenship

This IPO is a call to action for economic citizenship.

For decades, Nigeria was a ‘price-taker’ in the global fuel market.

The refinery has shifted that dynamic.

Subscribing to these shares is a vote of confidence in Nigerian enterprise and a concrete way to benefit directly from the wealth being generated at home.

It is a chance to move from being a spectator to becoming an owner and beneficiary of the nation’s industrial growth.

Finally

The Dangote Refinery IPO is a defining moment.

It offers a seat at the table for every Nigerian who dares to dream big and secure their financial future.

The North, a region that has already felt the positive impact of the refinery’s operations, is now presented with the chance to build a legacy of shared prosperity.

The offer opens on September 14, 2026.

Let us be ready to seize this historic opportunity and pass a resounding vote of confidence in our collective future.

Beyond this single milestone, we envision Aliko Dangote’s achievement as a catalyst-a sustainable blueprint that will encourage a constellation of northern entrepreneurs such as BUA, Mangal, Gerawa, Indimi, TY Danjuma, Sani Bello, Yari, and Murtala Laushi to join the vanguard of Nigeria’s industrial renaissance, with lasting dividends for the North and the nation at large.

Ooni of Ife appointed Chairman of Amaranta as OML 42 enters a new phase

The appointment of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the 51st Ooni of Ife, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amaranta Oil and Gas Development Company Limited comes at a significant moment for one of Nigeria’s most strategically important upstream assets.

More than a change in corporate leadership, the appointment places renewed attention on the enormous economic potential of Oil Mining Lease 42 (OML 42) and on Amaranta’s role in unlocking that value for Nigeria.

OML 42 is not simply another oil block. Covering approximately 814 square kilometres in the onshore West Delta, the asset has been producing since 1969 and has historically ranked among Nigeria’s significant hydrocarbon-producing areas. At its peak in 1974, production reportedly reached approximately 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Today, after years of production disruptions, infrastructure constraints and the broader challenges that have affected onshore operations in the Niger Delta, the asset is undergoing a new chapter of rehabilitation, optimisation and development.

Its current production is 40,000 barrels of crude per day.

That transition is where Amaranta’s significance lies.

Amaranta Oil and Gas Development Company Limited serves as the field management entity for the OML 42 joint venture, working with its partners to manage, develop and optimise the asset.

Its mandate extends beyond simply maintaining existing production. The larger opportunity is to maximise recovery from a mature but highly valuable hydrocarbon asset, improve operational efficiency, develop its gas resources and strengthen the infrastructure required to move production reliably to market.

Just recently, under the leadership of the Amaranta FTSA Team, the Pathfinder 500 drilling rig was deployed for the first time since its acquisition about eight years ago, completing workover operations on two producing wells in Oil Mining Lease 42 without recording any health, safety and environment incidents.

OML 42 under the Amaranta FTSA has demonstrated that significant value remains in Nigeria’s mature onshore fields when investment, technical expertise, infrastructure and effective stakeholder management are brought together.

The block is estimated to contain substantial remaining reserves, alongside considerable undeveloped gas resources. Its fields include Jones Creek, Odidi, Batan and Egwa, while its network of flow stations provides considerable processing capacity.

For Nigeria, the implication is straightforward: every additional barrel recovered from OML 42 represents potential export earnings, government revenue, employment and economic activity. Every additional unit of gas developed represents an opportunity to support power generation, manufacturing and other domestic industries.

Amaranta’s challenge – and its national opportunity – is therefore to convert the resource beneath the ground into sustainable economic value above.

The value of OML 42 should not be measured solely by its daily crude production. Its broader economic footprint encompasses the entire chain of activities required to bring hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the market.

That includes engineering and field services, drilling, logistics, transportation, security, pipeline operations, employment, contracting and host-community engagement.

A well-performing OML 42 therefore creates value far beyond the boundaries of the licence area.

It generates business for Nigerian service companies, employment for skilled and semi-skilled workers, revenue for government, economic opportunities for host communities and feedstock for domestic industries.

Perhaps the most consequential opportunity associated with OML 42 lies beyond crude oil.

Nigeria possesses substantial gas resources, yet inadequate infrastructure, underinvestment and operational challenges have historically prevented the country from translating those resources into their full economic potential.

OML 42 offers an opportunity to contribute to changing that equation.

With significant gas resources associated with the block, the development of additional gas production could support Nigeria’s wider ambitions for domestic gas supply, power generation and industrialisation.

In that context, Amaranta’s work on OML 42 is aligned with a broader national imperative.

The evolution of OML 42 reflects a broader transformation taking place across Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

The future of the country’s mature oil fields will increasingly depend on the capacity of Nigerian companies and their partners to combine capital, technical expertise, operational discipline and local knowledge.

Amaranta represents part of that emerging ecosystem.

Its role in managing OML 42 places it at the intersection of several national priorities: sustaining domestic oil production, developing Nigeria’s gas resources, supporting indigenous participation in the upstream sector, creating employment, strengthening local supply chains and maintaining economic activity in the Niger Delta.

The ultimate measure of success, will be the performance of the asset.

Can production be increased sustainably? Can reserves be recovered more efficiently? Can gas resources be commercialised? Can infrastructure reliability improve? Can host communities derive greater economic value from the asset? And can more of the wealth generated by OML 42 circulate within the Nigerian economy?

These are the questions that will define Amaranta’s next chapter.

The appointment of Ooni Ogunwusi provides Amaranta with an opportunity to combine strong corporate governance with the broader national and community relationships required to operate a strategically important Niger Delta asset.

But the real story is OML 42 itself.

After more than five decades of production, the block still possesses substantial economic potential. Its remaining oil and gas resources, existing infrastructure, established production history and strategic position within Nigeria’s energy system make it an asset of national significance.

Unlocking that value will require sustained investment, technical innovation, infrastructure rehabilitation, operational discipline and constructive relationships with host communities and government.

If those elements come together, OML 42 can deliver considerably more than barrels.

It can deliver government revenue, jobs, local business opportunities, gas for industry and power, stronger indigenous participation in the petroleum sector and renewed economic activity across the Niger Delta.

That is ultimately the opportunity before Amaranta: not merely to manage an oil block, but to help transform a mature Nigerian energy asset into a more productive and enduring source of national value.

With the Ooni now at the helm of its board, the attention will rightly turn to what comes next – and whether the promise beneath OML 42 can be translated into measurable value for Nigeria.

Union Bank opens second ATM/CDM in Trincomalee

Union Bank opened its second ATM/CDM in Trincomalee recently. The new cash point offering 24×7 cash deposits and withdrawals is conveniently located at Uppuveli, providing easy access to local community as well as foreign tourists for international cards. The first transaction was carried out by Uppuveli Beach Hotel by DSK Director Sivapalan Krishanand in the presence of the Union Bank Trincomalee Team.

Colombo Marathon 2026 to draw 4,000 runners on Sunday

The Colombo Marathon 2026 – Steps for Peace and Humanity will be held on Sunday, 13 September, bringing together around 4,000 local and international runners across four race categories.

Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the event will feature the 42 km Full Marathon, 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km race and 5 km Fun Run.

The marathon will commence from Baladaksha Mawatha, Colombo, at 6 a.m., with media personnel requested to arrive by 5.30 a.m. The award ceremony is scheduled for 12 noon.

The award ceremony will be held in the presence of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Youth Affairs Deputy Minister Dinindu Saman Hennayake, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, John Keells Holdings PLC Chairperson Krishan Balendra, Cricket Transformation Committee Chairman Eran Wickramaratne and Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Jaswar Umar.

Also scheduled to attend are Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Chairman Gihan De Silva, Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau Deputy Director Masitha De Thabrew, IPG Group Founder and CEO Anil Mohan, John Keells Leisure Senior Vice President – Global Alliances and Partnerships and John Keells Group Head of Corporate Affairs Dileep Mudadeniya, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Senior Vice President – Colombo Hotels and Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka General Manager Kamal Munasinghe, and Department of Sports Development Director General S. Achchudan.

Other dignitaries from the corporate and sports sectors are also expected to attend the event.

Protest In Sokoto Over Renewed Bandits’ Attacks

Residents of communities in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday took to the streets to protest incessant attacks and kidnappings, demanding urgent deployment of security personnel to their communities.

The protesters, who were said to have come from several villages displaced by bandit attacks, blocked the Tambuwal-Jega and Tambuwal-Aleiro roads Friday morning, according to a resident who witnessed the protest.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said the protesters are displaced residents from communities including Margai, Girkau, Romon Liman, Romon Sarki and Masu, and organised it in the early hours of Friday to demand improved security.

He said the protest started in the morning and continued until about 1pm, adding that the protesters were demanding protection after being forced to flee their communities with their families because of repeated attacks. Videos obtained by Daily Trust showed residents expressing anger over the attacks and what they described as lack of government assistance after being displaced from their communities.

In one of the videos, a large number of youths were seen chanting, ‘We want justice’, while some protesters were also seen burning tyres.

The video did not show the APC office being set ablaze, The resident said the protesters later set fire to an APC office.

The resident also insisted that the protesters were not members of opposition political parties.

He said a person was shot during the protest.

A young man identified as Usama Ibrahim, who was shot in the thigh during the protest, alleged that security personnel fired the shot that injured him.

The protest came amid growing concerns over the security situation in parts of Tambuwal and Kebbe LGAs where attacks and abductions have continued to threaten residents and their livelihoods.

The residents said the insecurity had affected farming and other economic activities, with many people forced to leave their communities and seek safety in Tambuwal town.

They called on the Federal and Sokoto State governments to take urgent measures to protect residents and enable those displaced by the attacks to return to their communities.

When contacted, the Sokoto state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the police deployed personnel to the area and brought the situation under control before the protest ended.

Gunmen kill four mobile policemen, eight residents in Benue community

Armed bandits have killed four mobile policemen and eight residents of Ayilamo, Tombo Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Ayilamo is a farming community located along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari Road.

The settlement has come under several attacks by armed bandits.

According to Tyolumun Ugande, a resident of Ayilamo, more than 200 armed bandits stormed the community from the Alufu Road axis of Taraba State and advanced towards Ayilamo, shooting and setting houses ablaze.

A detachment of mobile policemen deployed to Ayilamo confronted the bandits, who were said to be armed with sophisticated weapons.

Ugande said that after several hours of exchange of gunfire, the bandits retreated, but four bodies of mobile policemen killed in the attack were discovered in the bush on Friday morning.

He said, ‘We also discovered eight bodies of residents of Ayilamo who were killed by the bandits.’

The Divisional Police Officer in Ayilamo confirmed the killings and attack, saying, ‘We have asked for reinforcement.’

Another resident, James Udough, told The Nation that the latest incident was the second time in one month that mobile policemen deployed to Ayilamo had been killed.

He said, ‘The bandits have been trying to set the whole Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We call on the Benue and Federal Governments to help secure our land and lives.’

The Nation learnt that the series of attacks on Ayilamo may be connected to reports of large mineral deposits within and around the community.

FG Pays D’Tigress Players $100,000 Each For Afrobasket Triumph

Players of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each as part of the Presidential reward approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that the accounts of the players and team officials were credited on September 9, 2026, with all beneficiaries confirming receipt of the payments.

Each team official received the naira equivalent of $50,000.

The payment completes the financial component of the Presidential reward promised to the team following D’Tigress’ historic triumph at the 2025 Afrobasket, where they secured a record fifth consecutive title and seventh overall.

In a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Kehinde Ajayi, on Wednesday, the NSC said the payment marked the completion of all components of the reward promised by Tinubu.

‘With the payment, the entire presidential rewards promised to each member of the team by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR comprising a 3-Bedroom flat in Abuja, national honours of OON and Naira equivalent of $USD 100,000 to players and $USD 50,000 to officials have been fully redeemed and completed,’ the commission said.

The NSC recalled that D’Tigress players and officials had earlier received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja, alongside certificates of national honours.

The documents, duly signed by Tinubu, were presented to the team in February 2026 during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lyon, France.

The commission said the cash component was paid following the team’s participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.

It will also be noted that the Federal Government has also extended similar Presidential rewards to the Super Falcons following their achievement at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

According to the NSC, Falcons players have received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours.

The documents were presented during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July and August 2026, while the cash component of their reward is expected to be paid before their next official engagements.

4 Policemen, 8 Villagers Shot Dead In Fresh Benue Attack

Four mobile policemen and eight villagers were reportedly killed Friday morning when armed invaders attacked Ayilamo community in Tombo Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Locals said the attackers, allegedly numbering over 200, invaded the farming community through Alufu road in the neighbouring Taraba State and advanced towards Ayilamo, where they shot at residents and set houses ablaze.

According to the locals, Ayilamo, located along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari road, had come under repeated attacks by bandits, forcing residents to call for increased security presence in the area.

A resident, Tyolumun Ugande, told journalists in Makurdi that a detachment of mobile policemen deployed to the community engaged the attackers, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons. Ugande said the gun battle lasted several hours from Thursday night before the bandits eventually retreated, adding that the bodies of four policemen were discovered in the bush Friday morning.

He said eight other villagers were also found dead after the attack, while several houses were reportedly burnt by the attackers.

Another resident, James Udough, also told newsmen that the latest incident was the second time within one month that mobile policemen deployed to Ayilamo were killed by the attackers.

‘The bandits have been trying to set the whole of Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We call on security personnel, the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to help secure our land and lives,’ he said.

Some residents also alleged that the persistent attacks could be connected to rumours of the existence of large mineral deposits in and around Ayilamo.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he would issue a statement on the incident, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Kano Governor, KASITDA Win Top Honours At 2026 EGovernment Excellence Awards In Lagos

Kano State has received two major recognitions at the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Summit and Excellence Awards in Lagos, with the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the Kano State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (KASITDA) honoured for their contributions to digital governance and innovation.

At the prestigious awards ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday night, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was conferred with the eGovernment Governor of the Year – Education and Digital Learning Award, while KASITDA received the Best State Digital Governance and Innovation Award.

The recognitions underscore the growing prominence of Kano State in Nigeria’s digital transformation landscape and reflect the administration’s commitment to leveraging technology, digital infrastructure and innovation to improve governance and expand opportunities for citizens.

The eGovernment Governor of the Year – Education and Digital Learning Award recognises Governor Yusuf’s commitment to promoting the use of technology in education and advancing digital learning opportunities across Kano State.

Under his administration, the State has continued to prioritise digital transformation as a key component of its development agenda, with emphasis on digital skills, innovation, technology-enabled public services and greater access to digital opportunities for young people.

Similarly, the Best State Digital Governance and Innovation Award presented to KASITDA recognises the agency’s emerging role in driving Kano’s digital governance agenda and coordinating technology-driven transformation across the State.

Since its establishment, KASITDA has been positioned as the strategic technology institution responsible for supporting the State’s digital transformation, strengthening digital public infrastructure, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and facilitating the adoption of technology across government and society.

The agency’s programmes and initiatives are aligned with the Kano State Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and the broader Digital Transformation Agenda of the State Government, with a focus on building an efficient, connected and citizen-centred digital government.

The awards are also a recognition of Kano State’s broader efforts to establish the foundations for a modern digital economy, including investments in digital infrastructure, e-government services, digital skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and digital inclusion.

Speaking on the recognitions, the Director General of KASITDA, Dr Bashir Abdu Muzakkari, described the awards as a testament to the vision and commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to transforming Kano into a digitally enabled and innovation-driven State.

The agency dedicated its award to the Executive Governor and the people of Kano State, stressing that the recognition would further motivate the agency to deepen its efforts towards building a more connected, efficient and responsive government.

The awards further reinforce the administration’s vision of using technology not merely as a tool for automation, but as a strategic instrument for improving public service delivery, strengthening government efficiency, empowering young people and creating new economic opportunities.

The recognition of both the Governor and KASITDA at the national eGovernment Excellence Awards places Kano State among the leading sub-national governments being recognised for advancing digital governance and innovation in Nigeria.

Fulham eager to secure ‘Bazooka’ Bassey amid Inter interest

Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Italian giants Inter Milan amid uncertainty over his long-term future at Fulham.

Bassey’s current contract situation has attracted interest from the Serie A club, with Inter reportedly considering a move should the Nigerian become available.

Fulham, however, are keen to retain the centre-back and are expected to open discussions over a contract extension.

The 26-year-old joined the London club from Ajax in July 2023 and has since developed into an important member of the squad.

His growing influence was underlined when he was named Fulham’s Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign, while he has also been handed the captain’s armband.

According to reports, Fulham want clarity over Bassey’s future before the end of December as they seek to prevent uncertainty surrounding one of their key defenders.

Inter are said to be monitoring developments and could make their move if negotiations between the Nigeria international and Fulham fail to produce an agreement.

Bassey’s performances in England have strengthened his reputation since spells with Rangers and Ajax, and his combination of strength, pace and ability to play from the back has made him an important figure for club and country.