NEWS
Africa Needs More Refineries to Complement DPRP — Lokpobiri
It has been observed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) alone cannot meet Africa’s growing demand for refined petroleum products.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed the view, urging local and international investors to pour more capital into Nigeria’s refining, midstream and downstream sectors.
He maintained that Nigeria must build on the success of the DPRP and attract additional investments, to demonstrate eagerness to move beyond supplying the West African market and become a major refined petroleum products hub for the African continent.
Lokpobiri spoke on Tuesday at the second West Africa Refined Fuel Market Conference in Abuja, where regulators, refiners, traders, financiers and other energy industry stakeholders gathered to advance plans for a transparent regional pricing system for refined petroleum products.
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The conference was jointly hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), S&P Global Commodity Insights and the West Africa Regulators Forum (WARF).
It was themed, “Funding West Africa Infrastructure & Distribution to Create a Transparent Market for Regional Price Benchmarks.”
The minister described the conference as a turning point in Africa’s pursuit of greater energy sovereignty, saying Nigeria must now build on the progress recorded in its refining and midstream sectors.
He said the DPRP had demonstrated what could be achieved through private-sector investment but stressed that its growing capacity would still not be sufficient.
“The Dangote Refinery is not enough. Despite the fact that the refinery is increasing its refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels. But it is not enough for the African continent.
“It’s the final capacity to open for middle buyers to be able to sell this entire African continent on top of the entire world,” Lokpobiri said.
The minister called on investors with capital to seize the opportunity presented by Nigeria’s expanding energy market, saying the country was strategically positioned to serve both regional and international markets.
He said Nigeria’s location also offered an advantage because the country was not directly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for its crude and petroleum product supply routes.
The minister added, “It’s the best time for us to attract as many investors as we can. Not just into the upstream, but into the midstream, and then the downstream.”
He said Nigeria must move beyond the traditional model of exporting raw commodities and importing processed products, arguing that the country’s growing refining capacity provided an opportunity to change the pattern.
Lokpobiri urged stakeholders to replicate the success recorded by the DPRP by attracting more investment into domestic processing.
He said Nigeria should not be content with capturing the West African market but should position to serve the wider African market.
Lokpobiri recalled that European demand for the DPRP’s jet fuel had affected local market conditions, pointing out that the development is a great example of the need to deepen domestic refining capacity and develop pricing structures that could respond appropriately to market forces.
He assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue to support the development of a regional petroleum market and the institutions required to make it work.
He said the objective was not merely to increase Nigeria’s refining output but to develop the infrastructure, regulatory framework and pricing system required to turn the country into a major African energy hub.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said West Africa was not short of energy resources or demand but was constrained by fragmented markets and inadequate infrastructure.
She said Nigeria’s growing refining capacity and declining dependence on imported petrol had created an opportunity for the country to serve as an anchor for a more integrated regional petroleum market.
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
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Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has flagged off the disbursement of ₦689.79 million in bursary payments to 19,318 continuing students across 97 institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The disbursement follows a 100 per cent increase in academic bursary rates, marking the first adjustment since 2007.
The latest payment forms part of the state government’s broader investment in education and student welfare, with cumulative bursary disbursements and related student awards under the administration reaching ₦3.29 billion.
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More than 174,000 beneficiary payments have been recorded across successive payment cycles.
Increased Allowances for Veterinary and Law Students
Under the revised scholarship support framework, allowances for Veterinary Medicine students have increased by 150 per cent for students in the 300 and 400 levels and by 200 per cent for those in the 500 and 600 levels.
Support for Nigerian Law School students and academic excellence awards has also continued.
The state government has also approved a scholarship programme for 1,700 students, with 50 beneficiaries drawn from each of the state’s 34 local government areas.
The programme is designed to support tuition fees, registration and other educational expenses.
₦6bn Scholarship Trust Fund
The government has made provision for ₦6 billion in seed funding for a scholarship trust fund intended to strengthen educational financing.
The fund is expected to support specialised scholarship opportunities in fields including engineering, medicine, Artificial Intelligence and mechatronics.
The state’s foreign scholarship initiatives have also supported 118 students studying Medicine, Artificial Intelligence and Bioengineering in Egypt, Ethiopia and China, with approved educational and living expenses covered by the government.
More Scholarship Opportunities
Other educational support initiatives include 34 maritime scholarship beneficiaries and seven students receiving 50 per cent financial support at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The state has also nominated 34 candidates for MBBS studies in Russia, identified 70 prospective master’s degree candidates and selected 10 candidates for Qur’anic Sciences scholarships in Ghana.
These initiatives form part of the state’s broader efforts to expand access to education across different fields and levels of study.
Scholarship Board Strengthens Accountability
The Katsina State Scholarship Board has also strengthened its application, verification and payment systems.
As part of its accountability measures, the board interviewed more than 14,925 fresh applicants and returned approximately ₦86 million in unclaimed funds to the state government.
The state also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in expanding access to educational financing and digital learning resources.
Radda Inaugurates Tinubu/Dikko Education Beneficiary Network
As part of the activities, Radda inaugurated the Tinubu/Dikko Education Beneficiary Network (TDEBNET), a voluntary organisation comprising parents and beneficiaries of educational programmes.
Members of the organisation expressed support for the re-election bids of Radda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
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