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.

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

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.