NEWS
President Tinubu’s National Speech [FULL TEXT]
My fellow citizens,
1. I want to talk to you about our economy. It is important that you understand the reasons for the policy measures I have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced.
2. am not going to talk in difficult terms by dwelling on economic jargon and concepts. I will speak in plain, clear language so that you know where I stand. More importantly, so that you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country.
3. For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.
4. This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance. To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it.
5. The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign.
6. The preceding administration saw this looming danger as well. Indeed, it made no provision in the 2023 Appropriations for subsidy after June this year. Removal of this once helpful device that had transformed into a millstone around the country’s neck had become inevitable.
7. Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people. Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair.
8. It also compounded the threat that the illicit and mass accumulation of money posed to the future of our democratic system and its economy.
9. I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system were key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance.
10. Thus, the defects in our economy immensely profited a tiny elite, the elite of the elite you might call them. As we moved to fight the flaws in the economy, the people who grow rich from them, predictably, will fight back through every means necessary.
11. ur economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.
12. What I can offer in the immediate is to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, most especially on businesses, the working class and the most vulnerable among us.
13. Already, the Federal Government is working closely with states and local governments to implement interventions that will cushion the pains of our people across socio-economic brackets.
14. Earlier this month, I signed four (4) Executive Orders in keeping with my electoral promise to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are stifling the business environment. These Executive Orders on suspension and deferred commencement of some taxes will provide the necessary buffers and headroom to businesses in the manufacturing sector to continue to thrive and expand.
15. To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start a sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1 Billion credit at 9% per annum with maximum of 60 months repayment for long term loans and 12 months for working capital.
16. ur administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion.
17. Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.
18. Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion. Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.
19. To further ensure that prices of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmers’ associations and operators within the agricultural value chain.
20. In the short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered the release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices. We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda.
21. Our plan to support cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice remains on course. To be specific, N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly will be disbursed as follows:
-Our administration will invest N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize.
-N50 billion each will also be earmarked to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava.
22. This expansive agricultural programme will be implemented targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business with strong performance record.
23. In this regard, the expertise of Development Finance Institutions, commercial banks and microfinance banks will be tapped into to develop a viable and an appropriate transaction structure for all stakeholders.
24. Fellow Nigerians, I made a solemn pledge to work for you. How to improve your welfare and living condition is of paramount importance to me and it’s the only thing that keeps me up day and night.
25. It is in the light of this that I approved the Infrastructure Support Fund for the States. This new Infrastructure Fund will enable States to intervene and invest in critical areas and bring relief to many of the pain points as well as revamp our decaying healthcare and educational Infrastructure.
26. The fund will also bring improvements to rural access roads to ease evacuation of farm produce to markets. With the fund, our states will become more competitive and on a stronger financial footing to deliver economic prosperity to Nigerians.
27. Part of our programme is to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate. We have made provision to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.
28. These buses will be shared to major transportation companies in the states, using the intensity of travel per capital. Participating transport companies will be able to access credit under this facility at 9% per annum with 60 months repayment period.
29. In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming.
30. Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation.
31. I want to use this opportunity to salute many private employers in the Organised Private Sector who have already implemented general salary review for employees.
32. Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt about it that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All of our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work.
33. Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being.
34. We will get out of this turbulence. And, due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
35. In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families.
36. For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon his or her education because of lack of money.
37. Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter.
38. We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.
39. I assure you my fellow country men and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.
40. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.
41. Thank you all for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Shell Companies in Nigeria on Tuesday night hosted outgoing Executive Vice President Nigeria and Country Chair, Marno de Jong to a rousing sendforth as former Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) Elohor Aiboni returns from a foreign posting to take up the role.
A company statement on Thursday highlighted that stakeholders from government, the energy industry and professional bodies joined in celebrating the achievements of a senior executive who led Shell businesses in Nigeria for more than six years.
“The way Marno drives performance is admirable,” said Chief Executive Officer Shell plc, Wael Sawan in a recorded farewell message sent to the event. He thanked him for his contributions to Shell. In another farewell felicitation, Minister of Trade, and Investment Jumoke Oduwole said the investments by Shell during his tenure aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Nigerian Government.
Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari who was represented by Executive Vice President Upstream Udobong Ntia, commended Marno for helping to “advance the vision of positioning gas as energy for Nigerians.” “We look forward to the next chapter of Shell to deepen our strategic partnership,” Bayo added.
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Among several milestones in Marno’s tenure are the divestment from onshore oil production which laid the foundation for a new future through Renaissance, sustained production at Bonga, resulting in the attainment of one billion barrels of oil and execution of Bonga North and HI projects.
Marno’s colleagues in Shell remembered a leader “who led from his heart.” President Upstream Peter Costello said: “He understands the technical detail. He understands the commercial choices. He understands the importance of partnership. And most importantly, he understands the value of people and relationships.” His views were echoed by other speakers including Osagie Okunbor who retired last year as County Chair, Shell Nigeria, Managing Director SNEPCo, Ronald Adams, Managing Director Shell Nigeria Gas, Ralph Gbobo and General Manager Deepwater Oil Iyke Nnoaham.
The highlight of the sendforth was the formal handover of the leadership baton from Marno to Elohor with guests applauding the emergence of the first female leader of Shell’s businesses in Nigeria. Elohor said: “The hard work starts now, and I look forward to the exciting years ahead.”
In his response, Marno thanked stakeholders, including government officials, regulatory bodies, and employees of Shell for their cooperation, as well his wife Anne-Marie, and their children for their support in “every move, every assignment and every unexpected change of plan.” He said of his experience: “Nigeria taught me many things. It taught me patience. It taught me resilience. It taught me the importance of listening. And above all, it reinforced my belief that progress happens when people come together around a shared purpose.”
Captains of industry turned out to bid Marno farewell. They include Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited Adeleye Falade, Chief Executive Officer, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Elozino Olaniyan, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Jagir Baxi and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel and Chairman, Independent Petroleum Producers Group, Adegbite Falade.
The proposal seeking to compel oil and gas producing companies to contribute three percent of their annual budgets to the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has met with stiff opposition from the oil industry.
Major oil industry operators and petroleum regulators on Wednesday cautioned that the levy may discourage investment and undermine the competitiveness of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The concerns were raised at a resumed public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on the SSDC on a bill seeking to amend the South-South Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2025, with a view to strengthening the commission’s funding framework.
The hearing brought together petroleum regulators, oil producers, government agencies and other stakeholders to scrutinise the proposed legislation before it proceeds for further legislative consideration.
The Chairman of the Committee, Julius Pondi, said the hearing was reconvened to accommodate critical stakeholders who were unable to attend the first session on July 8 because of their participation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference.
He said the committee considered it necessary to hear from all relevant stakeholders, given the strategic role of the petroleum sector in the proposed amendment.
According to the Delta lawmaker, the amendment is designed to broaden the funding base of the commission to enable it to discharge its mandate of promoting sustainable development across the South-South region.
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He noted that despite serving as the nation’s economic backbone through crude oil production, maritime activities and industrial operations, the South-South continues to grapple with poor infrastructure, environmental degradation and other developmental challenges.
“We are particularly interested in receiving constructive contributions on the proposed funding framework, its sustainability, its implications for government and industry, as well as alternative proposals that can further strengthen the objectives of the legislation,” he said.
However, the proposed funding model drew strong reservations from industry regulators and operators.
Presenting the position of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, represented by the Head of Regulations and Statutory Compliance, Kingsley Chikwendu, expressed support for providing the commission with a predictable and sustainable funding structure.
She, however, faulted the provision requiring oil-producing companies operating within the region to contribute three per cent of their total annual budgets to the commission.
Eyesan argued that the phrase “total annual budget” was not defined in the bill, creating uncertainty over how contributions would be calculated and enforced.
She maintained that the proposal failed to clarify critical issues, “including the basis for assessment, deductibility of payments, timelines for remittance, treatment of joint venture operations and companies with operations spanning multiple regions.”
According to her, the provision could effectively introduce another expenditure-based levy that companies would pay regardless of profitability or production levels.
The NUPRC also reminded lawmakers that upstream operators “are already subject to numerous statutory financial obligations, including petroleum taxes, royalties, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy, Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF) contributions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Nigerian Content Development Fund payments, environmental remediation obligations and abandonment fund contributions.
The commission urged lawmakers to carefully “evaluate the likely impact of the proposed levy on investment decisions, production costs and the competitiveness of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.”
On its part, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) also echoed similar concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the authority, Senior Manager Ahmed Laido advised lawmakers to ensure that any additional funding mechanism aligns with the fiscal philosophy of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
He said any new financial obligation “should strengthen investor confidence, promote regulatory certainty and support the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business agenda.”
Laido urged the committee to balance the funding needs of the commission with the need to preserve a competitive investment environment.
The strongest opposition came from the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
Its Chairman, Bala Wudiri, argued that “oil companies are already making substantial statutory contributions under existing laws” and warned against creating another compulsory levy.
He cautioned that imposing an additional three percent contribution would “increase the financial burden on operators, duplicate existing obligations and weaken Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination.”
Wudiri urged lawmakers to adopt a balanced funding model capable of strengthening the SSDC without discouraging investment in the oil and gas industry.
Despite the differing views, stakeholders unanimously supported the objective of accelerating development across the South-South region.
Most participants agreed that the commission requires adequate funding to deliver critical infrastructure and development projects but urged lawmakers to adopt a financing framework that does not undermine investment or increase the cost of doing business.
The SSDC was established to coordinate and accelerate development across the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone, addressing long-standing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, unemployment and the socio-economic impact of decades of oil exploration.
The amendment, currently before the House of Representatives seeks to strengthen the commission’s financial capacity by expanding its sources of funding.
However, the proposal requiring oil-producing companies to contribute three per cent of their annual budgets has emerged as the most contentious provision, with regulators and industry operators warning that it could overlap with existing statutory obligations under the Petroleum Industry Act and other extant laws.
The House Committee is expected to review memoranda and submissions from stakeholders before presenting its report and recommendations for consideration by the House of Representatives.
At full capacity the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) would be utilising up to 2.5 percent of globally traded crude oil.
President and Chief Executive Officer, DPRP, Aliko Dangote, revealed this while receiving the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, who led a high-level delegation from the Federal Ministry of Industry on a tour of the 700,000 barrels-per-day industrial complex.
Reflecting on the refinery project, Dangote described it as the biggest business risk of his life, recalling how many financiers doubted the project would ever be completed.
Despite challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and foreign exchange volatility to scepticism from lenders, he said the successful delivery of the refinery demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs to execute projects of global significance.
“What we have achieved here has never been done before on this scale. Once one person succeeds, many others will be encouraged to follow,” he said.
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Dangote disclosed that the refinery, at full capacity, will account for the equivalent of about 10 per cent of the United States’ refining capacity and consume approximately 2.5 per cent of globally traded crude oil.
He urged the Federal Government to place industrialisation at the centre of its economic strategy, insisting that no nation has attained prosperity without a strong manufacturing base.
“There is no way to create jobs and prosperity without industrialisation,” Dangote said.
“The greatest attraction for foreign investors is the success of domestic investors.
When local investors thrive, they send a powerful signal that the environment is conducive to investment.”
The industrialist revealed that Dangote Industries recently raised an unsecured and unrated bond at rates below Nigeria’s sovereign benchmark, demonstrating growing investor confidence in credible Nigerian private-sector institutions.
According to him, the successful fundraising underscores the ability of Nigerian companies to mobilise long-term capital when supported by stable and predictable government policies.
Dangote also emphasised that policy consistency remains the most important factor in attracting investment, stressing that frequent policy reversals undermine investor confidence more than the absence of incentives.
“If Nigeria is to achieve sustainable growth and become a trillion-dollar economy, industrialisation must be the foundation. Indigenous investors remain the strongest catalysts for that transformation,” Dangote stated.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the refinery as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1tn economy, pledging deeper collaboration with the private sector to accelerate industrialisation, job creation and economic transformation.
According to the minister, the integrated industrial complex is one of the most significant investments in Africa and a model for the type of industrial development required to drive Nigeria’s economic growth aspirations.
“You cannot be Minister in charge of Industry and not visit the Dangote Refinery,” Enoh stated. “This facility matters because of what it represents for Nigerian industry, for our people and for the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a one trillion-dollar economy.”
He added, “The more a country adds value to its products, the more respect it earns globally. The Dangote Refinery stands today as one of the strongest demonstrations of that principle.”
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