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Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery Will Transform our Downstream Sector, Says Ghana Petroleum Authority

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4 years ago

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Aliko Dangote

Chief Executive Officer, of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of Ghana, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said the coming onstream of 650,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Dangote Petroleum Refinery will transform the Ghanaian downstream sector through the reduction in the cost of importation of petroleum products into Ghana.

Speaking at the 16th Oil Trading and Logistics Expo in Lagos with the theme: “Regulating Downstream Energy Transition in Dynamic Times”, Abdul-Hamid said the completion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery project would be a breakthrough for the West African region which has for a long time depended on importation of petroleum products.

According to him, Ghana is presently facing the challenge of continuous rise in the cost of petroleum products, adding that getting importers to turn their attention towards Nigeria, rather than going all the way to the Netherlands for petroleum products importation, would help his country stem the tide of a continuous increase in the price of fuel.

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He stated: “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery will have a huge impact on Ghana’s downstream sector. Right now, Ghana’s downstream industry is completely deregulated. There is no petrol subsidy in Ghana. For a deregulated market where the importers recover their costs fully, importing from Nigeria will certainly be more cost-effective and cheaper than importing from Rotterdam in the Netherlands where we get the bulk of our fuel in Ghana.

“As we all know, the price builds up for a liter of fuel will include the cost of shipment, transportation, insurance, and others, but if we are importing from Nigeria into Ghana, this will bring down the cost of fuel in our country. Ghanaians are very excited about the prospect of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Ghana had in the past built a good relationship where we get petroleum products from Nigeria at a reasonable and more affordable cost. I believe that the coming onstream of Dangote Petroleum Refinery will further strengthen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.”

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Abdul-Hamid said the Ghanaian government was also developing a 60-billion-dollar petroleum hub project on 20,000 acres in the western part of the country for storage and marine facilities.

“All the above-mentioned projects will help accelerate the petroleum hub, consisting of refineries, and petrochemical development of the continent’s oil and gas resources, by connecting the downstream to the upstream. It will promote cleaner fossil fuels and biofuels as the pathway to a just energy transition. Gas has been accepted as the transition fuel because gas is the least carbon-emitting fossil fuel”, he added.

Speaking also at the event, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, Gabriel Aduda said deregulation would increase transparency in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. He said full deregulation would also create healthy competition among investors.

Aduda, who was represented by Mr. Augustine Okwudiafor, the Deputy Director, of Downstream Department, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, noted that deregulation would give business guarantees to potential investors at the stage of conceptualisation. According to him, deregulation would significantly reduce, if not eradicate completely, the diversion and smuggling of petroleum products across Nigerian borders.

“All hands are on deck towards full deregulation of the downstream sector, as this will ensure commercialisation and liberalisation of the sector. It will also increase investment opportunities, create more jobs and promote a seamless energy transition. All these measures and many more will cushion the projected impact of downstream sector deregulation on consumers and the economy at large,” he said.

He further said data was key in the Oil and Gas Industry, and that any reliable and accurate data would give investors a certain level of assurance.

“Hence, the government is keen and determined to harmonise all downstream data across the relevant agencies and parastatals to eradicate data variations. The government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, its agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, is considering enhanced technologies. They include Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor and gather downstream data for effective policy formulation and investment guidance,” he said.

Aduda emphasised that oil also had a place in the energy transition space in the sense that oil could be made cleaner through the development and use of appropriate technologies. He said moving the downstream sector forward to that enviable position required collaborative efforts from all stakeholders. “I challenge you all to come along to move the downstream sector towards achieving the downstream we could all be proud of,” he added.

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Bank of Ghana Appoints Prof. Bashir to Chair Islamic Banking Council

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9 hours ago

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August 20, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Bank of Ghana has appointed Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar, a distinguished Islamic scholar from Nigeria’s Bayero University, Kano (BUK), as chairman of its newly constituted council for interest-free (Islamic) banking operations.

Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama formally inaugurated the council members during a brief ceremony in Accra. Professor Umar, a seasoned lecturer in Islamic studies at BUK, will lead the body in ensuring that Ghana’s non-interest banking sector operates in full compliance with Sharia law and its associated ethical principles.

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The appointment marks a significant step for Ghana’s financial sector, underscoring the central bank’s commitment to diversifying its banking landscape amid the rapid global expansion of Islamic finance.

Umar’s selection also highlights the increasing reliance on expert scholarly oversight to maintain regulatory integrity and religious adherence within this growing alternative banking model.

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MURIC Writes ICPC, Demands Access to Elrufai

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9 hours ago

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August 20, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has formally requested permission from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to visit former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in the custody of the anti-corruption agency.

MURIC made the request in a letter submitted to the ICPC on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, by the chairman of its Abuja branch.

The group said the visit was intended to enable its representatives to meet with the former governor and assess his condition while in custody.

According to the organisation, a three-man delegation has been nominated to undertake the visit. The delegation comprises MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola; the chairman of the Abuja branch, Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen; and the branch’s assistant secretary, Shehu Ahmad Lemu.

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MURIC urged the ICPC to grant the delegation access to El-Rufai, stressing that the request was made in line with its civil liberties advocacy and concern for the welfare and rights of persons in detention.

The group noted that Mr El-Rufai had been in ICPC custody since Monday, February 16, 2026, following his detention by the anti-corruption commission.

MURIC said that, as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the former governor had spent approximately six months and two days in the custody of the commission.

The organisation did not disclose the specific conditions it intended to assess during the proposed visit, nor did it state whether the request was prompted by any particular complaint concerning El-Rufai’s treatment in custody.

The former Kaduna governor has been under scrutiny by anti-corruption authorities over allegations linked to his administration in the state. His continued detention has also attracted public attention, particularly given the length of time he has spent in custody.

MURIC’s latest request adds a civil liberties dimension to the ongoing case, with the organisation seeking direct access to the former governor through a formally constituted delegation.

The group said it was awaiting the response of the ICPC to its request.

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President Tinubu Appoints Abel Olumuyiwa As Head Of Service

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1 day ago

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August 19, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective August 27, 2026.

Mr Enitan succeeds Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who will retire soon from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

Mr Enitan, from Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President. He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

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He brings considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.

President Tinubu expresses his profound appreciation to Mrs Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure.

The President wishes her a fulfilling and successful life after service and conveys the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service.

President Tinubu charges the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the service, and build a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President further urges Mr Enitan to lead a Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.

Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He had his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He later attended the University of Lagos and graduated in 1988 with a B.Sc. in Finance and Banking.

In 2015, Enitan obtained an M.Sc. in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia.

 

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