The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has underscored the strategic importance of Dangote Industries Limited -particularly Dangote Fertiliser Limited—in addressing Africa’s mounting food security challenges, while calling for stronger global partnerships to scale its impact.

Speaking during a visit to the company’s industrial complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Mohammed said the United Nations would prioritise amplifying scalable solutions capable of mitigating the continent’s food crisis, describing Dangote’s integrated industrial model as a critical pathway.

“I think the UN’s job here is to amplify and to put visibility on the possibilities of mitigating a food security crisis, and this is one of them,” she said. “I hope that when we go back, we can continue to engage partners and countries that should collaborate with Dangote Industries.”

Her remarks comes at a time of heightened concern over food shortages and supply chain disruptions across Africa, driven by global economic pressures, climate-related shocks and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

The President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said the group has ramped up exports of urea and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to African markets affected by supply disruptions arising from the crisis.
Noting the widening impact of the situation across the continent, Dangote said the company has intensified shipments of fertiliser to support agricultural productivity and ease supply constraints.

“The challenges are many. One is of urea, which is fertiliser that we have. I think in the last couple of days we’ve been loading to mostly African countries, which we were not doing before,” he said. “And then now it’s to do with petroleum products, which we are now sending mainly to African countries,” Dangote said.

He added that the refinery has shipped about 17 cargoes of petrol to African countries to cushion the impact of the crisis, leveraging its 650,000 barrels per day capacity to stabilise supply across multiple regions.

“What I can do is assure Nigerians … and most of West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa, we have the capacity to supply them,” Dangote said.

On feedstock supply, Dangote commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for increasing crude deliveries to the refinery in March, noting that volumes rose to 10 cargoes—six supplied in naira and four in dollars—to support domestic fuel availability.

“Last month, they gave us six cargoes for naira and four cargoes for dollars,” he said.

Despite the improvement, the supply remains below the 19 cargoes required for optimal operations, with the refinery continuing to bridge the gap through imports from the United States and other African producers.

Dangote also expressed concern over the unwillingness by international oil companies operating in Nigeria to sell to the refinery, stating that their preference for selling crude to traders forces it to repurchase at higher costs, with broader implications for the economy.

He added that the refinery is seeking increased access to domestically priced crude under local currency arrangements as part of efforts to moderate fuel costs and enhance long-term energy and food security across the continent.

Eterna Plc yesterday announced its audited financial results for the full year ended 31 December 2025, delivering a strong performance marked by significant profit growth and improved balance sheet strength.

The Company recorded revenue of ₦302.37 billion for the year, while profit before tax (PBT) rose to ₦7.27 billion, representing a 52.9 per cent year-on-year increase from ₦4.48 billion in 2024. Profit after tax stood at ₦2.92 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) of ₦2.24, reflecting enhanced value creation for shareholders.

The company’s financial position strengthened during the year, with total assets rising to ₦92.19 billion, driven by its inventory, while shareholders’ funds increased to ₦7.77 billion, reflecting improved retained earnings and enhanced balance sheet resilience.

The performance reflects the Company’s continued focus on operational efficiency, improved cost management, and strategic positioning across its fuels, lubricants, and gas businesses.

In line with its commitment to delivering value to shareholders, the Board of Directors has proposed a dividend of ₦0.50 per share for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, subject to shareholders’ approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Commenting on the full 2025 FY results, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Olumide Adeosun, stated that the company remains focused on operational efficiency and sustainable asset expansion, while strengthening its market position across its fuels, lubricants, and gas businesses.

“Eterna Plc remains committed to building on this performance through retail expansion, increased product offerings, operational improvements, and customer-focused initiatives aimed at enhancing value for our shareholders,” Adeosun said.

….Culled from Reuters

Oil prices could extend gains today as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered a third week, putting oil infrastructure at risk and keeping the Strait of Hormuz shut in the world’s largest supply disruption. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, drawing a defiant response of further retaliation from Tehran.
Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures have already spiked sharply and ⁠rattled global financial markets. Both contracts have surged more than 40 per cent so far this month to their highest levels since 2022 after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a key chokepoint for a fifth of global oil supply.
Trump has urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to deploy warships to secure the strategic gateway.
The United States struck military targets on Kharg Island on Saturday, which was swiftly followed by Iranian drone attacks on a key oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates.
“This marks an escalation in the conflict,” JP Morgan analysts led by Natasha Kaneva said.
“Until now, the region’s oil infrastructure has largely been spared.”
Besides UAE’s ⁠Fujairah, Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura export terminal and Abqaiq oil processing facilities have been listed as critical and highly vulnerable energy nodes in the Gulf, the analysts said.
However, oil loading operations at Fujairah have resumed, a Fujairah-based industry source told Reuters yesterday.
Fujairah, outside the Strait of Hormuz, is the outlet for about one million barrels per day of the UAE’s flagship ⁠Murban crude oil – a volume equal to about one per cent of world demand.
Global oil supply is expected to fall by eight million bpd in March due to disruptions to shipping while Middle Eastern producers have cut output by at least 10 million bpd, ⁠according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Last week, the IEA agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles held by member nations to combat price spikes. Japan plans to start releasing its oil today.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic negotiations, according to three sources familiar with the efforts, while Iran has rejected the possibility of any ceasefire until U.S. and Israeli strikes end, dimming hopes of a quick end to the conflict.