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How Obasanjo insulted me over diesel deregulation – Otedola

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Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, has disclosed a heated confrontation with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the deregulation of diesel importation in 2004, in which Obasanjo was so angry that he accused Otedola of misleading him to deregulate the importation of the product.

Otedola revealed this in his memoir, ‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business,’ published by FO Books and slated for release on August 18, 2025.

In excerpts from the book seen by TheCable, the oil magnate elaborated on how Obasanjo flew into a rage after being told that there was diesel scarcity across the country because of deregulation.

Otedola, who owned Zenon Petroleum at the time, had convinced Obasanjo that the private sector could meet Nigeria’s diesel demand without the involvement of NNPC, which had been selling imported diesel below market price and getting subsidy reimbursement from the federal government.

The business tycoon wrote, “When President Obasanjo deregulated diesel in 2004, Zenon took an unassailable lead in the market.

“My opponents’ reaction was to tell the president that we’d turned the market upside down (and that the) economy was about to be brought down because there was no diesel, and Obasanjo was mad at me because he’d sought and received assurances from us that NNPC’s exit from diesel importation wouldn’t affect supply. “My critics then fanned the flames by telling him there was no diesel in the country, that trucks couldn’t move and that industries were shutting down.”

He continued, “The President called me at 2am, shouting through the phone. ‘You’re a stupid boy! God will punish you! You persuaded me to deregulate diesel, and now there’s no diesel in the country!’ He was livid. I flew to Abuja the following day. As soon as Obasanjo saw me, he flew into a rage again. ‘What kind of rubbish is this? What kind of nonsense is this?’ He was right in my face, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“I allowed him to cool down, and when he stopped talking, I tried to explain the situation. ‘Baba, they’re lying to you. It’s all lies. I have six ships waiting to discharge big supplies of diesel.’”

Otedola argued that diesel was available across the country and that he was even paying demurrage fees due to delays in offloading his shipments.

“I was even paying demurrage. I told the president that I was the victim of competitors’ backbiting,” he wrote, saying he asked Obasanjo to “see what they come up with next… You’ll see that it’s me who’s telling you the truth.”

To disprove the misinformation, Otedola said he proposed to Obasanjo that they advertise the availability and price of diesel on the front pages of national newspapers, aiming to reassure the public and address pricing concerns.

“I knew it was people in NNPC – the state monopoly, in their now – teetering positions of power, who were against deregulation – who’d been telling him these lies. They wanted to continue to import, and rake in the subsidy money.

“Obasanjo was a determined and robust president. Jealous people did not easily sway him. Once he made up his mind that someone was trustworthy and genuine, as he seemed to do about me that day, he stopped listening to the naysayers,” he added.

Nigerian government liberalised the diesel market in 2004, making it the first petroleum product to be fully free of subsidy and ending the associated rent culture.

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133-year old photography company Kodak says it might have to cease operations

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Eastman Kodak, the iconic photography company founded in the 19th century, is warning investors that it may not be able to stay in business.

In its latest earnings report on Monday, the company said it lacks “committed financing or available liquidity” to cover roughly $500 million in upcoming debt obligations — a situation that “raises substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

To preserve cash, Kodak plans to halt payments to its retirement pension plan. The company added that tariffs are unlikely to have a “material” effect on its operations because most of its products — including cameras, inks, and film — are made in the United States.

Despite the grim outlook, CEO Jim Continenza insisted Kodak is “making progress” on its long-term strategy. A spokesperson told CNN the company is “confident” it can pay down a significant portion of its debt ahead of schedule and refinance or restructure the rest.

Shares of Kodak (KODK) plunged more than 25% in midday trading Tuesday, USA time.

Founded in 1892, Kodak revolutionized photography with George Eastman’s first camera, marketed under the slogan: “You push the button, we do the rest.” By the 1970s, it controlled 90% of the U.S. film market and 85% of camera sales.

Ironically, the company invented the digital camera in 1975 but failed to adapt to the new technology. In 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy, burdened with $6.75 billion in debt and 100,000 creditors.

A brief revival came in 2020 when the U.S. government enlisted Kodak to produce pharmaceutical ingredients, sparking a stock surge. Today, the company still makes film and chemicals — including for Hollywood productions  and licenses its name for various consumer products.

But without new financing, one of America’s most storied brands could soon fade to black.

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FULL LIST: Nigeria, 66 other countries hit with Trump tariffs

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Nigeria is one of more than 60 countries facing increased tariffs after US President Donald Trump launched a reciprocal-tariff programme that targets individual products and countries with different rates.

According to figures on the White House website, Nigeria will face a 15% tariff under the programme.

The White House says the plan sets a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the US, with additional duties applying to certain products or countries.

China would face a 30 per cent tariff, with extra levies on some products, while Brazil is listed at 50 per cent, with lower levels for certain sectors such as aircraft, energy, and orange juice.

Canada is subject to a 10 per cent tax on energy products and 35 per cent for other products not covered by the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement, while India is listed at 25 per cent, with a further 25 per cent threatened to take effect on August 28.

Below is a list of targeted tariffs he has implemented or threatened to put in place.

Country-specific tariffs

Afghanistan – 15%

Algeria – 30%

Angola – 15%

Bangladesh – 20%

Bolivia – 15%

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30%

Botswana – 15%

Brazil – 50%, with lower levels for sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice.

Brunei – 25%

Cambodia – 19%

Cameroon – 15%

Canada – 10% on energy products, 35% for other products not covered by the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement.

Chad – 15%

China – 30%, with additional tariffs on some products. This agreement, which was due to expire on August 12, has been extended for another 90 days through an executive order, according to a White House official.

Costa Rica – 15%

Cote d’Ivoire – 15%

Democratic Republic of the Congo – 15%

Ecuador – 15%

Equatorial Guinea – 15%

European Union – 15% on most goods

Falkland Islands – 10%

Fiji – 15%

Ghana – 15%

Guyana – 15%

Iceland – 15%

India – 25%, an additional 25% threatened to take effect on August 28

Indonesia – 19%

Iraq – 35%

Israel – 15%

Japan – 15%

Jordan – 15%

Kazakhstan – 25%

Laos – 40%

Lesotho – 15%

Libya – 30%

Liechtenstein – 15%

Madagascar – 15%

Malawi – 15%

Malaysia – 19%

Mauritius – 15%

Mexico – 25% for products not covered by USMCA

Moldova – 25%

Mozambique – 15%

Myanmar – 40%

Namibia – 15%

Nauru – 15%

New Zealand – 15%

Nicaragua – 18%

Nigeria – 15%

North Macedonia – 15%

Norway – 15%

Pakistan – 19%

Papua New Guinea – 15%

Philippines – 19%

Serbia – 35%

South Africa – 30%

South Korea – 15%

Sri Lanka – 20%

Switzerland – 39%

Syria – 41%

Taiwan – 20%

Thailand – 19%

Trinidad and Tobago – 15%

Tunisia – 25%

Turkey – 15%

Uganda – 15%

United Kingdom – 10%, with some auto and metal imports exempt from higher global rates

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Marketers raise petrol prices amid drop in crude cost

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Filling stations have raised their pump prices for petrol to N900/litre and above despite a decline in the cost of crude oil since Sunday.

Some retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited raised petrol prices to N900 per litre in Lagos and Ogun, even as crude prices dropped from nearly $69 to $66 per barrel.

Dangote refinery partners, including Ardova and Heyden, jerked prices above N900 per litre. Our correspondent observed that AP, a partner of the Dangote refinery, sold petrol at the rate of N925 per litre in the Mowe area of Ogun State, while Heyden offered N910.

Filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway displayed different prices on Monday, confirming a new price regime despite no significant rise in crude prices or the naira-dollar exchange rate.

But marketers said that the prices might come down this same week.

Throughout last week, petrol was sold below N900 in many of the filling stations in Lagos, Ogun and environs, while the prices were higher in the South-East, South-South and the North.

As of yesterday, TotalEnergies sold petrol at N910 while Asharami offered N905 per litre. NIPCO and Fatgbems were yet to hit the N900 line on Monday, selling petrol at N890 and N892 respectively. Enyo sold the product at N915 per litre.

On Friday, the Dangote refinery confirmed raising its ex-depot petrol price to N850 from N820. No reason was given for the increment. The latest data from Petroleumprice.ng showed that petrol depot prices among selected suppliers averaged N855 per litre. Prices ranged from N850 at Aiteo to as high as N870 at Sobaz and Mainland, reflecting slight variations across major depots.

Other listed depots include NIPCO Lagos at N852, Northwest at N860, Alkanes at N860, Ever at N863, TSL at N864, Pinnacle at N851.5, Menj at N852, and Sahara at N855.

But as traders adjusted pump prices higher in Nigeria, Brent crude fell 4.4 per cent, while West Texas Intermediate finished 5.1 per cent lower on Friday. According to Reuters, oil held steady on Friday as markets awaited a meeting in the coming days between the Russian President, Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, but prices marked their steepest weekly losses since late June on a tariff-hit economic outlook.

Brent crude futures settled 16 cents, or 0.2 per cent, higher at $66.59 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were unchanged at $63.88. US crude fell over 1 per cent earlier in the session after it was reported that Washington and Moscow were aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia’s occupation of territory seized during its military invasion.

Marketers expect price drop

Speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, said marketers were expecting a drop in fuel prices this week.

Obele noted that fuel prices went up because crude prices rose about 10 days ago. However, he noted that crude prices dropped a few days later, stating that pump prices should be adjusted downward this week.

“Last weekend, there was a rise in the price of crude oil. So, arising from that, the refineries responded by adjusting their price upwards. A few days later, the price dropped again, arising from the meeting between Trump and the Russian Ambassador.

“What affected the price was the threat given by President Donald Trump to the Russian president. So, we saw an upward review and a few days later, when the threat subsided, traders reviewed the existing price downward. So, tomorrow, next tomorrow, we hope to see a downward review of the price of petroleum products,” he said

Obele added that another factor that pushed up petrol prices was the fact that the Dangote refinery “suspended PMS loading for about eight days.” The refinery had since denied this claim, saying it supplies 40 million litres of petrol daily. Obele concluded that “by Tuesday or so, we hope to see a downward review of petrol prices.”

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