Business
DANGOTE INDUSTRIES COMPLETES ISSUANCE OF ₦187.6BN SERIES 1 FIXED RATE SENIOR UNSECURED BOND, MARKING NIGERIA’S LARGEST CORPORATE BOND ISSUANCE
DANGOTE INDUSTRIES COMPLETES ISSUANCE OF ₦187.6BN SERIES 1 FIXED RATE SENIOR UNSECURED BOND, MARKING NIGERIA’S LARGEST CORPORATE BOND ISSUANCE
By Olorunfemi Adejuyigbe
Dangote Industries Limited (“DIL” or the “Group”), one of the leading, diversified and fully integrated conglomerate in Nigeria and Africa, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its ₦187.6bn Series 1 Bond Issuance (the “Transaction”), which is the largest corporate bond ever issued in the history of the Nigerian capital market
This landmark transaction represents the first issuance by DIL at Group level and comprises of a 7-year Tranche-A bond issued at 12.75% and a 10-year Tranche-B bond issued at 13.50%, under the newly established NGN300 billion Debt Issuance Programme
The bond issuance was well received by the market and recorded participation from a wide range of investors including domestic pension funds, asset managers, insurance companies and high net-worth investors. DIL plans to utilize the net proceeds from the Series 1 bond issuance to part-finance the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Project, an Integrated Petrochemical Complex, and the largest Single Train Petroleum Refinery in the World.
Standard Chartered Capital & Advisory Nigeria Limited acted as the Lead Issuing House and Bookrunner on Transaction, while Meristem Capital, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Vetiva Capital, Absa Capital Markets, Afrinvest Capital, Coronation Merchant Bank, Ecobank Development Company, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, FCMB Capital Markets, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Quantum Zenith Capital, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria and United Capital acted as Joint Issuing Houses.
Commenting on the significance of the Transaction, Mr. Olakunle Alake, Group Managing Director of Dangote Industries, said:
“Dangote Industries is delighted to have successfully conducted its debut issuance under our newly established Debt Issuance Programme. We are very pleased to have set this remarkable milestone, showcasing the depth and liquidity of the Nigeria Debt Capital Market. The success of this transaction further demonstrates investor confidence in our credit story and the appreciation of the work done by the Group across several key sectors that are crucial to the development of the continent. The proceeds from this landmark transaction will be used to part-finance the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Project which is the initiative by the Group to establish the largest refinery in Africa, thus positioning Nigeria as a net exporter of refined crude. We want to specially thank the investor community for their support on this transaction, as well as our various advisors and stakeholders.”
Also speaking on the transaction, Mr. Olukorede Adenowo, Standard Chartered’s Executive Director, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Nigeria & West Africa, said:
“On behalf of the Issuing Houses, we are proud to have led this historic transaction which reflects the strong credit quality of the issuer as well as the resilience of the Nigerian domestic debt capital markets, despite the current global market volatility. We thank the Board and Management of the Dangote Group for continuously striving to develop the domestic debt capital markets and setting records through its various issuances both at the subsidiary and Group levels. We also thank the Securities & Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange Limited (“NGX”) and FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (“FMDQ”) for their unwavering support throughout this entire process.”
The Bond notes will be listed on the NGX and FMDQ.
About the Issuer:
Dangote Industries is one of the leading, diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with operations in Nigeria and Africa across a wide range of industries, including cement, sugar, salt, condiments, packaging, energy, fertiliser and petrochemicals. Its core business focus is to provide local, value-added products and services that meet the “basic needs” of the African populace through the construction and operation of large-scale manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa. DIL is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment, reduce capital flight from Africa and increase local value additions.
The Group has 11 distinct business lines, with the cement, sugar and salt business currently contributing majority of the group earnings. These subsidiaries are industry leading players with strong brand values, underpinned by long operational track record, diverse customer base, ongoing investments in capacity expansion and control over their respective value chains. DIL also has two project companies, Dangote Oil Refinery Company Limited (“DORC”) and Dangote Fertilizer Limited (“DFL”), located at the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos State, who (together with DIL) will serve as co-obligors on the Offer. DORC is a 650,000 b/pd integrated crude oil refinery and petrochemical plant, which is expected to be Africa’s largest oil refinery, while DFL is expected to be Africa’s largest granulated urea fertiliser manufacturing facility, with a production capacity of up to 2.8 Mtpa.
DIL is currently domestically rated AA+ by GCR and AA (ngr) by Fitch Ratings.
More information can be found at: https://www.dangote.com/
*Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas LTD to appeal Federal High ruling over forfeiture assets*
Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited has said it will appeal to the recent ruling of the Federal High Court ordering the forfeiture of certain assets.
Barr. Nnenna Onyeaso, the Company Secretary said in a statement on Thursday insisting that neither the company nor its leadership was found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Onyeaso said that the firm has described the court’s decision as a civil asset forfeiture order based on suspicion rather than proof, stressing that the judgment did not establish any criminal liability against the organisation.
According to her, the company maintain that it has already directed its legal team to file an appeal, expressing confidence in the judicial process and the outcome of a thorough review of the case.
“To be clear, this ruling is a civil asset forfeiture order with no finding of wrongdoing against Oceangate or its leadership.
“The court’s decision rested on a legal standard of suspicion, not proof, and it is one we intend to pursue fully through the appeals process,” she said in a statement.
The firm secretary also said that Oceangate has reiterated its belief in the rule of law, noting that the appellate system exists to address such outcomes.
She added that the company remained confident that the facts of the case will ultimately affirm its integrity and business practices.
Onyeaso said that the firm also emphasised that its operations remained unaffected, stating that it continues to provide employment for many Nigerians while contributing to the country’s energy sector and broader economy.
“We have always believed in the ability of the judicial process, and that belief has not wavered,” she added.
She noted that Oceangate further expressed appreciation to its employees, partners, and clients for their continued support amid the development, assuring stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Secretary said that the company reaffirmed its confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for investment, describing the country as a land of equity, growth, and opportunity.
“We remain committed to the continued growth of our business and the communities we serve as we are optimistic that justice will prevail at the end of the legal process.
FirstBank Empowers SMEs with AI-Driven Growth Strategies, Hosts SMEConnect Webinar
Lagos, 20 March 2026 – FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, is pleased to announce the upcoming edition of the SMEConnect Webinar scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. The event will equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the knowledge and tools to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business growth.
This edition is strategically curated to inform and educate SMEs on how AI can be applied to scale their businesses in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy. The chosen theme, “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact,” reflects the growing importance and timeliness of AI as one of the most influential trends shaping the SME business landscape. The session will provide SMEs with actionable insights on how to leverage AI to enhance productivity, streamline operations, strengthen customer engagement, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
The SMEConnect webinar will feature experts, including Temitope Odude, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft as a guest speaker. Odude will provide credible and globally relevant perspectives on how SMEs can successfully adopt and integrate AI into their everyday business operations. Other speakers include Abednego Ugwueke, Head of Digital Channels and Ibidun Adedewe, Head of SME Acquisition & Partnerships at FirstBank.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, said “SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank, we recognise that the economy cannot thrive without them. As a committed growth partner to SMEs, this session reinforces our strong focus on innovation, demonstrated through initiatives such as the use of AI‑enabled credit scoring to deliver fast, instant loans to micro‑SMEs, with over ₦1 trillion disbursed to support customers’ financial needs. Building on this foundation, we are equipping business owners with the right knowledge and practical insights on Artificial Intelligence to help them scale in the short term and drive sustainable growth. I encourage every business owner to participate in this session to gain hands‑on guidance on integrating AI into everyday business operations.”
SME owners and entrepreneurs can register for the webinar at https://firstbanknigeria.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cUr1LhWFQXymTqWtONOOVg
SMEConnect Webinar series is one of FirstBank’s signature platforms for supporting SMEs with practical knowledge and strategic insights. The Bank has consistently won awards for impacting businesses and for providing innovative solutions for customers and other stakeholders, including SMEs.
The Bank was named Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Best SME Bank in Africa by TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards for 2 years as at 2025. The Bank also won the SME Financier of the Year- Nigeria awarded by The Digital Banker.
EvaluatePR to Explore “PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026
P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s leading independent media intelligence and PR measurement agency, will host the 31st edition of its flagship thought-leadership platform, EvaluatePR, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (WAT).
Themed “PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026,” this virtual session will convene professionals across public relations, communications, and media measurement to explore how algorithms, artificial intelligence, and digital ecosystems are reshaping reputation management, media influence, and audience trust.
With the increasing role of automation in communications, the event will challenge professionals to rethink how credibility is built and sustained in a fast-evolving digital landscape, while emphasizing the need for transparency, ethical measurement, and strategic intelligence.
The session will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers representing diverse expertise across global communications, media intelligence, and analytics: Felicia Nugroho – Director, Analytics & Insights, Maverick Indonesia / Chair, Asia Pacific & International Board Director, AMEC; Cyrille Djami – Founder & Publisher, CommsOfAfrica; Strategic Communications, Editorial and Influence Consultant; Amrita Sidhu – Managing Director, Medianet / Director & Board Representative, AsiaNet / Board Member, AMEC; and Satira Osemudiamen Oreweme – Principal Consultant, Satira Media & Public Relations Limited.
Together, they will lead insightful discussions on how communicators can navigate the intersection of technology and trust, maintain authenticity in automated environments, and leverage data-driven intelligence to deliver meaningful communication outcomes.
Participation in the session is free, with access available via the official registration link:
https://bit.ly/4stWjUh
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