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Dangote Refinery to Expose Nigeria’s Downstream, Midstream Sectors to Int’l Markets

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Dangote Refinery to Expose Nigeria’s Downstream, Midstream Sectors to Int’l Markets

The coming on stream of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery will guarantee availability of high quality environmentally compliant products in Nigeria, regional markets in West Africa, Southern Africa and inter-continental markets.
The President/CE of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote made this disclosure on Tuesday at the Nigerian Content Midstream – Downstream Oil and Gas Summit 2022, which held in Lagos.
Dangote, who was represented by the Technical Consultant, Dangote Industries Limited, Engr. Babajide Soyode, said Dangote Petroleum Refinery would promote competition of local refining in Africa by encouraging existing large refineries to upscale, which would result in surplus products for exports.
He stated: “Dangote Petroleum Refinery will guarantee adequate fuels production for domestic consumption, availability of excess products for export, stabilisation of domestic currency, upgrading and expansion of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation refineries and promotion of prospects of Nigeria transformation to a regional refining hub.”
Soyode emphasised the need for the Federal Government to invest more on quality infrastructure to reduce importation of refinery equipment that would ordinarily be sourced in Nigeria. He noted that the development of specific, sustainable equipment manufacturing and services should be the focus of the NCDMB and the Federal Government.
“Funding of a project should be to ensure that substantial part of the product plant must be of Nigerian origin; the same applies to goods and services. Government should ensure a single digit tax regime to encourage investment in the downstream sector”, he added.
Speaking also, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote reiterated the government’s target to increase domestic refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day in the next five years.
Wabote said this was being done by rehabilitating the existing four national refineries and providing strategic support for setting up private-owned Greenfield and modular refineries in the country.
“Combined refining capacity of more than 1.4mbpd is expected from these focus areas within the next five years. About 400,000bpd is expected from the rehabilitation of NNPC refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna using target performance of not less than 90 per cent of nameplate capacity. The greenfield element of the roadmap covers the 650,000bpd Dangote Refinery in Lagos and the 200,000bpd BUA Refinery in Akwa Ibom,” said Wabote.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, said there were huge opportunities in the oil and gas value chain.
Ahmed, represented by Mr. Francis Ogaree, Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure, NMDPRA, said the authority would continue to enable business in the sector.
He said the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had introduced a governance framework for the industry with clear delineation of roles between regulation and profit-centric business units.

Ahmed noted that the Act contained fiscal incentives to attract investment in gas development and local refining.

Dangote Refinery to Expose Nigeria’s Downstream, Midstream Sectors to Int’l Markets

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Setting the Record Straight: Clarifying NNPCL’s Role in the Dangote Refinery Investment

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General Buratai Urges Dangote Not To Succumb To Marketers Blackmail, Reveals Why

Setting the Record Straight: Clarifying NNPCL’s Role in the Dangote Refinery Investment

We have received numerous inquiries from the media and concerned stakeholders seeking clarification regarding a recent report attributed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The report suggested that NNPCL’s decision to secure a $1 billion loan backed by its crude was instrumental in supporting the Dangote Refinery during liquidity challenges.

Setting the Record Straight: Clarifying NNPCL's Role in the Dangote Refinery Investment

We wish to categorically state that this narrative is a misrepresentation of the facts. The $1 billion referenced constitutes just about 5% of the total investment in building the Dangote Refinery.

Our partnership with NNPCL was established based on their strategic importance as the largest offtaker of Nigerian crude and, at the time, the sole supplier of gasoline into Nigeria. As part of this agreement, a 20% stake in the refinery was valued at $2.76 billion. Of this amount, NNPCL agreed to pay $1 billion upfront, while the remaining balance was structured to be recovered over five years through crude oil supply deductions and dividends.

If we had been facing liquidity challenges, such generous credit terms would not have been feasible. At the time of the agreement in 2021, the refinery was still in its pre-commissioning phase. Any claims suggesting financial struggles are inconsistent with the structure and nature of this agreement.

Regrettably, NNPCL was unable to meet its commitment to supply the agreed 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil due to pre-existing financial commitments tied to their crude cargoes. Given this, we extended a 12-month period for NNPCL to pay cash for the balance of their equity. However, they were unable to meet the deadline, which expired on June 30, 2024. Consequently, NNPCL’s equity stake in the refinery was adjusted to 7.24%.

It is therefore inaccurate to claim that NNPCL facilitated a $1 billion investment amid liquidity challenges. Their $1 billion investment secured a 7.24% ownership stake in the Dangote Refinery, a strategic partnership beneficial to their interests.

NNPCL remains a valued partner, and we urge all stakeholders to adhere to the facts and provide accurate information to ensure proper media representation for the benefit of all stakeholders and the public.

Anthony Chiejina
Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer
18th December, 2024

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MTN Contributes N200bn Monthly in VAT, Driving Tax Reform Debate

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MTN Contributes N200bn Monthly in VAT, Driving Tax Reform Debate

MTN Contributes N200bn Monthly in VAT, Driving Tax Reform Debate

 

MTN Nigeria, the nation’s largest telecom company, pays over N200 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) monthly, making it the single biggest contributor to the country’s VAT revenue, according to Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.

Speaking at Channels Television’s Town Hall on Tax Reforms, Oyedele highlighted significant disparities in the current VAT allocation system, revealing that all VAT paid by MTN is credited solely to Lagos State, where the company’s headquarters is located, despite the fact that services generating this revenue are consumed nationwide.

“MTN is the largest contributor to VAT in Nigeria,” Oyedele stated. “They pay over N200bn every month, and the gap between them and the second-largest contributor is massive. However, all this VAT is currently allocated to Lagos, even as calls are made across states like Kano, the FCT, Ekiti, Edo, and Kebbi.”

As part of the ongoing tax reform efforts, the committee has proposed a new framework to ensure equitable distribution of VAT revenues based on consumption rather than the corporate headquarters’ location.

Under the proposed redistribution model, Lagos State, which now retains the full N200bn from MTN, would see its share reduced to around 20 per cent. The remaining revenue would be distributed more fairly among other states where the services are consumed.

“This adjustment ensures states where VAT is generated get their fair share,” Oyedele explained. “While Lagos State’s share decreases slightly, every other state stands to gain under the new system.”

The tax reform bill, designed to address inefficiencies and promote fairness in Nigeria’s fiscal policies, has sparked debate among stakeholders. Critics have accused the committee of advancing policies that may negatively impact certain regions.

Oyedele, however, dismissed these claims, arguing that the current system is flawed and in need of urgent correction. “If something is being done wrongly, how can Lagos State or anyone oppose reforms aimed at fixing it?” he questioned.

The proposed reforms, which include provisions for revenue redistribution and efficiency improvements, are seen as pivotal to ensuring fairness and sustainability in Nigeria’s tax system.

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Foreign Digital Giants Boost FG Revenue with N3.8tn Tax Payment in 2024

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Foreign Digital Giants Boost FG Revenue with N3.8tn Tax Payment in 2024

Foreign Digital Giants Boost FG Revenue with N3.8tn Tax Payment in 2024

 

Google, Netflix, Facebook, and other foreign companies operating in Nigeria contributed N3.85tn in taxes to the Federal Government in the first nine months of 2024. This represents a 68.12 per cent increase compared to the N2.29tn collected in the same period of 2023.

The tax revenue includes payments from Company Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT), as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. The report highlighted a progressive increase, with collections rising from N1.03tn in the first quarter to N1.52tn in the second quarter and N1.30tn in the third quarter.

An analysis of the data shows a significant boost in tax remittance, with N2.57tn collected as CIT between January and September 2024—a 43.65 per cent rise from N1.789tn during the same period in 2023. VAT collections also surged by 157.03 per cent, reaching N1.28tn, up from N498.34bn in 2023. This growth underscores the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) improved collection efforts.

CIT is a 30 per cent tax on corporate profits, while VAT, set at 7.5 per cent, is levied on goods and services and ultimately paid by the final consumer.

Quarterly analysis reveals that CIT revenue climbed from N598.13bn in Q1 to N1.12tn in Q2, before slightly dipping to N852.29bn in Q3. VAT collections rose from N435.73bn in Q1 to N448.85bn in Q3, reflecting a 3.01 per cent increase.

The Federal Government’s efforts to tax foreign digital service providers have further bolstered revenues. These companies, including Netflix, Facebook, and Amazon, earn income in naira without physical offices in Nigeria. Digital tax policies require these entities to remit taxes for services like video streaming, social media advertising, and e-commerce.

Compliance among foreign platforms remains uneven, with Google, LinkedIn, and Meta adhering to regulations outlined in the “Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries.” Meanwhile, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are yet to fulfill tax obligations.

The former Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, noted earlier this year that tax revenue has become Nigeria’s highest income source. She emphasized its importance in supporting government activities across federal, state, and local levels, describing it as a critical contributor to the nation’s economic stability.

With the Federal Government’s tax revenue target set at N19.4tn for 2024, these gains bring Nigeria closer to its fiscal goals.

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