News
Petralon Energy Appoints ‘Labi Ogunbiyi as Strategic Advisor to BoDs

Petralon Energy Limited has appointed Mr. Constantine ‘Labi Ogunbiyi as Strategic Adviser to its Board of Directors.
‘Labi Ogunbiyi founded First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited (FHN), where he served as Chief Executive Officer between 2009 and 2014. In the years before joining FHN, Labi Ogunbiyi functioned as Deputy Head of leading American law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s Africa Practice.
He worked with the International Finance and Banking Department of Magic Circle law firm Herbert Smith Freehills for four years; was an advisor to the Banking Association PPP Unit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and has offered strategic advisory services to The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Business Group.
He currently serves as a director to Newrest ASL plc and Interswitch Limited and is a Special Advisor to Babban Gona (an agricultural franchise, developed by impact investing firm, Doreo Partners), as well as a number of upstream E&P companies, oil services companies and investment funds operating in Africa. ‘Labi holds legal qualifications from King’s College, London , the University of Passau, Germany, and the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice.
As Strategic Advisor, he will work closely with Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, chairman of the Board and Non-Executive Directors, Ms Edith Unuigbe and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Mr Sunmonu enjoyed a successful 36-year career in the oil and gas sector, working with prominent companies including Shell Petroleum Development Company, where he served as Managing Director. Recently appointed to the board, Ms Unuigbe worked for over 20 years at Nigeria LNG (NLNG) as General Counsel, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser.
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, Founder and Chairman of investment firm, Coronation Capital, was formerly Managing Director of Access Bank. He currently serves as the President and Chairman of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Wapic Insurance, respectively
Speaking on his appointment, ‘Labi Ogunbiyi said, “This is an opportunity to support the growth of an indigenous company with an excellent track record of capital raising and executing on its development plans. I am delighted to be part of an exceptional team at the helm of Petralon at a very exciting time in the evolution of the indigenous oil and gas sector in Nigeria. I look forward to working with the team to achieve Petralon’s goal of becoming one of the largest indigenous producers in the country, while delivering collective value for all”
’The Founder & CEO of Petralon, Ahonsi Unuigbe also added, “Petralon’s board of Directors will benefit immensely from the depth of ‘Labi’s prior experience in growing upstream businesses and attracting foreign investment. Petralon is an indigenous company with a cross-border outlook that builds on valuable partnerships for sustainable development. I also personally look forward to working closely with ‘Labi again”.
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News
Guinness Rolls Out Nationwide Consumer Rewards Promotion

Guinness Nigeria has launched a nationwide National Consumer Promotion (NCP) tagged ‘Open For More’. This is a consumer rewards initiative that will see more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes won by consumers across the country.

The promotion, which runs nationwide, offers consumers the opportunity to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash rewards for 1,000 winners, and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. The campaign is designed to reward loyal consumers while creating more opportunities for everyday Nigerians to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.
To participate, consumers are required to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, check for the unique code beneath the crown cork, and enter the code at www.guinnessng.com/1759 for a chance to win.
Speaking on the launch, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the promotion reflects the brand’s longstanding relationship with consumers and its commitment to creating memorable experiences beyond the product itself.
“Nigerians have made Guinness part of their celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments for over seven decades. The ‘Open For More’ promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty by giving consumers genuine opportunities to win prizes that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
Solayappan added that the promotion was deliberately designed to make participation simple and accessible to consumers across the country.
“We believe, at Guinness, that there is always room for more possibilities, more progress, and more reasons to celebrate. Through this campaign, we are inviting consumers and beloved Nigerians over the age of 18 years to take part in an experience that goes beyond enjoying a Guinness. Every eligible purchase could open the door to something more.”
Beyond rewarding consumers, the promotion comes at a time when many Nigerians are placing greater value on opportunities that offer tangible returns. By putting more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes directly into the hands of consumers, Guinness Nigeria is creating a campaign that celebrates loyalty and delivers meaningful rewards that can support personal aspirations, family needs, and everyday goals.
As part of the campaign, winners will emerge weekly throughout the promotion period, with regular winner announcements and prize presentations aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the process.
The Open For More National Consumer Promotion strengthens Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumers while creating excitement around the brand through meaningful and impactful experiences. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and further information on participation mechanics.
News
Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) approvals granted by the Federal Government rose to about N34 trillion in 2025.

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Monday during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja.
He said the import duty exemptions had significantly affected the service’s revenue generation, although many of the waivers were introduced to support critical national priorities.
According to him, about 60 per cent of the approved waivers were granted for the importation of military hardware in response to the country’s security challenges.
He said other beneficiaries included importers of compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food intervention programmes.
“IDEC approvals reached about N34 trillion in 2025, about 60 per cent of which was rightly granted for military hardware procurements due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges,” Adeniyi said.
The Comptroller-General noted that the introduction of the IDEC scheme in March 2020 had remained one of the major fiscal policies affecting Customs revenue.
He said the service would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government fiscal measures and other external factors that reduced its revenue base.
Adeniyi, however, maintained that fiscal policy should not be evaluated solely on the basis of revenue generation.
He said government interventions through duty waivers were intended to stimulate economic growth, improve healthcare delivery, encourage industrial production and address national security concerns.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that beneficiaries of import duty waivers achieved the intended objectives, including reducing prices, increasing production and improving access to essential goods and services.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025.
He added that out of the N11.04 trillion revenue target for 2026, the service had realised N4.5 trillion as of June 30.
Adeniyi expressed optimism that the service would continue implementing measures aimed at improving revenue collection while supporting government fiscal policies.
News
DataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+

DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.
DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.
It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.
The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.
According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.
DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.
It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.
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