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Marketers expressed concerns, Aliko Dangote finally reach agreement on fuel distribution amid job loss concerns

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Marketers expressed concerns about Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s direct fuel distribution plan Marketers expressed concerns about Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s direct fuel distribution plan

A day before the start of Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s direct fuel distribution plan, tanker drivers and marketers reported meeting with the corporation out of concern that they might be forced out of business.

According to The PUNCH, the refinery will begin distributing fuel directly on Friday, August 15, after receiving part of the 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles required for the plan.

In response, the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) warned that the refinery’s plan to bypass current distribution channels and supply refined petroleum products directly to end-users would cause a nationwide disruption, long-term product scarcity, and the collapse of existing supply networks.

Dangote’s announcement of the direct fuel distribution program sent shivers down the spines of tanker drivers and association members, who feared they might lose their jobs.

During the recent Annual General Meeting in Abuja, NOGASA National President Bennett Korie urged the refinery to halt its plan and seek further dialogue before beginning the distribution of products to end users.

He added that Dangote alone cannot handle the nationwide distribution of products sustainably and urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and learn from the experiences of non-functional refineries under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

In an interview with The Punch, Yusuf Othman, the National President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and Chinedu Ukadike, the National Publicity Secretary of NOGASA, confirmed that tanker drivers and petroleum suppliers recently met with the Dangote Group in an attempt to work together.

What marketers say

Dangote and the association have agreed to cooperate through the current distribution channels, according to the NOGASA spokesman. He stated that the refinery had reassured them that fuel would be sold to bulk buyers for subsequent distribution to end users, easing their concerns about job losses.

Ukadike clarified that Dangote would not sell petroleum products directly to end users, but rather to NOGASA members as bulk buyers.

“I want to say that Dangote heeded our plea by agreeing that they will be sending these products to bulk buyers, who are the suppliers. Based on that, we don’t have issues anymore.

“What we were initially concerned about was the supply chain in which we have invested so much. We requested that the supply chain be handled by us in distribution, which I believe Dangote has also complied with, since he is not going to supply directly to end users. We want to appreciate him for that,” he said.

According to Ukadike, NOGASA members were alarmed because they initially believed Dangote would sell directly to consumers.

“We are the bulk buyers; we buy in bulk, and we supply. Before, we thought he was going to sell directly to end users, like telecom masts, hotels, and others. But now, he said no, he will supply to the bulk buyers.

“This gives us the power as suppliers to continue our jobs. We were afraid that if he sold fuel directly to end users, our labor capacity would be lost, and our return on investment would be in jeopardy,” he said.

He also mentioned that NOGASA members have started signing up on the Dangote portal to purchase the refinery’s products in bulk. The trucks would deliver fuel to bulk purchasers, he added.

“Some of our members who are buying in bulk have now registered with their companies, in line with the guidelines provided to us, so they can take these products and sell to end users. We were told that the 4,000 CNG-powered trucks will deliver to bulk buyers. Once payment is made, they will deliver to you, not to end users,” he explained.

In his words, NARTO President Othman said consultations are still ongoing with stakeholders regarding the potential impact of Dangote’s fuel distribution scheme on tanker drivers.

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) changes price disclosure rule

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to discontinue the publication of daily unit prices for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and Retiree Funds on their websites, replacing the requirement with a six-month disclosure of returns based on a three-year rolling average.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the commission.

Under the new guideline, PFAs must stop implementing Section 2.0 (iv) of the Commission’s March 23, 2013 circular, which required them to display daily unit prices for the last seven days.

Instead, they are to publish on their websites the last six months’ rate of return — calculated as a 36-month compounded rolling average in line with the Circular for the Calculation and Reporting of Rate of Returns by Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs).

According to the commission, the rate of return must be clearly displayed on the homepage of each PFA’s website.

For instance, the six-month disclosure covering April to September 2025 would reflect the 36-month compounded returns ending in each of those months.

This has however raised transparency concerns in the pension industry.

The 2013 circular on Minimum Information to be displayed on PFA Websites formed part of PenCom’s transparency framework for the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The latest addendum modifies that requirement but does not remove PFAs’ obligation to disclose performance information.

Industry watchers say the development may reignite debate over the balance between long-term investment reporting and real-time transparency in Nigeria’s pension industry.

All enquiries on the addendum, the Commission said, should be directed to its Surveillance Department.

An industry analyst who does not want her name mentioned said the move could reduce contributors’ access to real-time performance data.

She said: “Daily unit prices allowed RSA holders to independently track short-term movements and detect fluctuations in fund valuation.

“With only a three-year rolling average now required, contributors will no longer see recent performance in isolation”, she noted.

The analyst added that while pension funds are long-term vehicles, removing daily disclosure raises concerns about information asymmetry.

“PFAs will still compute daily valuations internally. The issue is whether contributors should be denied access to data that already exists,” the analyst said.

However, another pension expert defended the directive, noting that pensions are structured for long-term accumulation and should be assessed over extended periods.

“A 36-month rolling average smooth’s out short-term volatility and provides a more accurate reflection of sustained performance,” the expert said, warning that excessive focus on daily fluctuations could encourage reactionary fund switching.

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Dollar rises in black market on Monday, traders quote new exchange rate

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Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading

The United States dollar at the parallel market increased in value on Monday, Febuary 23 with traders quote at N1,375/$ as the new selling exchange rate.

The new rate is a slight depreciation for the naira when compared to N1,343 a dollar market closed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abdulahhi, a forex dealer, told Legit.ng that the new exchange rate follows renew demand in the market.

“I am currently selling dollars at N1,375/$1 and buying at N1,355/$1. The pound is trading at N1,845 to sell and N1,805 to buy, while the euro is also moving steadily in the market.

“It seems this week the dollar will return to over N1,400. I have been getting a lot of request.”

The fall of the naira comes as BDC operators continue to face difficulties in accessing dollars from commercial banks.

BDCs can get dollar

The apex bank had previously issued a circular allowing licensed BDCs to access foreign exchange through authorised dealers at the prevailing market rate.

Under the directive, each BDC is permitted to purchase up to $150,000 weekly, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence checks, Punch reports.

Leadership reported that despite a policy announcement, some operators disclosed that no transactions have been completed under the new arrangement.

A BDC operator, who requested anonymity, said the directive remains largely unimplemented. According to him, the circular provides that disbursements will be made through settlement accounts, a provision that has raised operational concerns.

He questioned the feasibility of seamless, real-time transfers between domiciliary accounts across different banks, noting that such infrastructure may not yet be fully in place.

The operator added that while commercial banks appear supportive of the policy, many are still developing internal processes to align with the CBN’s directive.

He explained that BDCs are required to submit bid orders through their banks, which would then access the market on their behalf.

Naira in the official market

Meanwhile, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira closed against the US dollar on Friday, February 20 at N1,346.32/$1 from N1,341.35/$1 a day earlier.

At the GTBank FX desk, the naira weakened by N7 against the dollar to quote N1,356/$1.

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