Aliko Dangote, who leads the Dangote Group, has revealed plans to construct what he describes as the “biggest, deepest seaport in Nigeria”.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Dangote mentioned that he has submitted an application to initiate development of the planned Atlantic seaport located in Olokola, Ogun state.

He explained that the project is aimed at simplifying the export process for products — including liquefied natural gas (LPG) — and will contribute to the rapid expansion of his industrial ventures.

Dangote noted that the initiative “to build the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria” progressed after submitting the necessary documentation for approval last month.

“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I think doing this will encourage other entrepreneurs to come into it,” he said.

The proposed port marks Dangote’s return to the same location where he had once halted plans for a refinery and fertiliser plant due to disagreements with local authorities.

Back in March, Dangote stated he had resumed construction in Ogun state “because of His Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun”.

In a separate interview, Devakumar Edwin, Dangote Group’s vice-president, disclosed that the company also intends to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Lagos.

He added that this effort will involve laying pipelines from the Niger Delta to the coast.

“We want to do a major project to bring more gas than what Nigeria LNG is doing today,” he said.

“We know where there is a lot of gas, so run a pipeline all through and then bring it to the shore.”

On May 26, Dangote announced that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) aims to generate $7 million in daily fertiliser sales within the next two years.

Roughly a month later, the company declared that it would commence nationwide distribution of diesel and premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, starting August 15.

The organisation also revealed that it has procured 4,000 new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered tankers to improve its fuel delivery network across the country.

On June 27, Dangote further stated that the continent will become self-reliant in fertiliser production within 40 months.

The total amount of electricity tariff subsidy shortfall borne by the Federal Government in 2024 reached ₦1,949 billion.

This figure, based on data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2024 Annual Report, resulted from electricity tariffs that were set below cost-reflective levels for the year under review.

To bridge the gap between actual cost-reflective tariffs and the approved ones, NERC stated that the government provided tariff shortfall funding totaling ₦1,949.17 billion in 2024.

However, the report did not clarify whether the Federal Government had already disbursed this subsidy amount.

An in-depth look at the data reveals that in Q1 2024, the Federal Government incurred ₦633 billion in gross tariff shortfalls. In Q2, the amount dropped to ₦380 billion. By Q3, it rose again to ₦464 billion and further increased to ₦471 billion in Q4.

Meanwhile, electricity Distribution Companies recorded a significant 40 percent year-on-year increase in revenue for April 2025, with total billing amounting to ₦257.57 billion for the month.

During this period, electricity companies collected ₦199.85 billion in revenue, marking a notable increase in recent records, according to NERC.

Despite this collection milestone, the efficiency rate stood at 77.6 percent — an improvement from March’s 71.1 percent — but still not sufficient to meet the full liquidity demands of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

The surge in billing occurred even as total energy received by Discos declined to 2,622.46 gigawatt-hours, reflecting a 9.2 percent decrease compared to the previous month.

Out of that, 2,184.61 GWh were actually billed to customers — a 5.8 percent drop — indicating that the increase in revenue was driven primarily by higher tariffs rather than improved electricity supply. This especially affected Band A customers, who began paying cost-reflective rates of about ₦209 per kilowatt-hour after the April 2024 tariff revision, up from ₦66/kWh.

The new tariff structure, which significantly raised power costs for Band A customers, was designed to better reflect the actual cost of supply, lessen the government’s subsidy burden, and enhance investor confidence by improving cash flow for Discos and Gencos.

In Q1 2025, the power sector billed a total of ₦744.27 billion and collected ₦553.63 billion, leading to a quarterly collection efficiency of 74.4 percent, slightly lower than the 77.4 percent recorded in Q4 2024.

From January to April 2025, total billing climbed to around ₦1.02 trillion, while unrecovered revenue amounted to ₦260 billion. This reflects ongoing issues with consumer payments, rising energy poverty, and inconsistent service levels.

A key concern remains the Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) losses, which averaged 39.6 percent in Q1 2025. This is nearly double the MYTO target of 20.5 percent, resulting in estimated losses of ₦200.5 billion.

In April, Eko Disco achieved full revenue collection, totaling ₦38.7 billion — a 28.82 percent increase. Ikeja Disco brought in ₦34.68 billion, marking a 6.1 percent rise, while Abuja Disco earned ₦30.27 billion, reflecting a 4.3 percent decline.

Two men who were found guilty of the “deliberate and mindless” act of cutting down one of the UK’s most treasured trees will learn on Tuesday whether they will receive prison sentences.

In May, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who were formerly friends, guilty of criminal damage for felling the tree at Sycamore Gap in 2023.

The tree, which had stood close to Hadrian’s Wall in northern England for nearly two centuries, was notable enough to be featured in the 1991 Hollywood film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”.

A look back at the Sycamore Gap tree cutting in September 2023 shows how the case, now at the sentencing stage in a Newcastle court, captured national attention.

They were found guilty of two charges: one for destroying the sycamore and another for damaging the Roman wall, which was hit when the tree collapsed.

The court is scheduled to sentence them on Tuesday. They could face up to 10 years in prison. The session is expected to begin at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).

Following the verdict, the National Trust said the “needless felling” had “shocked people around the country and overseas”.

A spokesperson mentioned that the loss was felt most in northeast England, where the tree held deep emotional and cultural significance for many.

Moronic mission

A review of the September 2023 Sycamore Gap tree incident reveals that two men are now awaiting sentencing for destroying one of the UK’s most well-known trees.

Prosecutor Richard Wright explained that the two drove to the area near Hexham in Graham’s Range Rover on the night of September 27, 2023, and cut down the tree using a chainsaw within minutes.

He added that once the tree was down, the men got back in the vehicle and drove back to Carlisle, where they lived.

The prosecution stated that they jointly caused £622,191 worth of damage to the tree and an additional £1,144 in damage to Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman-era structure stretching across northern England.

The sycamore had become an iconic part of the region, drawing millions of visitors over time and being honored with the Tree of the Year award in 2016.

Authorities are now working to determine whether the tree can be regrown using its remaining stump or from its seeds.

According to the National Trust, which owns both the wall and the tree, 49 saplings have been cultivated from the sycamore’s seeds. These young trees will be planted across different UK locations this winter.

A piece of the felled tree, more than six feet long, now serves as the focal point of an art display located near where the original tree stood.

Visitors are invited to see and touch the remaining piece of the tree, and the space is meant to be one where people can come together, reflect, and remember.