It is no longer news that Oando Plc Group Chief Executive, Jubril Adewale Tinubu, has been instrumental in the transformation of Oando group into a multinational energy player across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

Over the years, he has succeeded in positioning Oando as a leading integrated energy solutions provider in the continent of Africa.

From its current 25,000 barrels per day, Oando expects to double its oil equivalent output to 50,000 barrels per day upon finalizing its landmark deal with energy giant Eni.

This projection, disclosed by Oando Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Alex Irune to S&P Global Commodity Insights, in a recent interview, comes with the expectation of further scaling up to 100,000 barrels daily by 2029 through new drilling and security improvements.

The disclosure follows the announcement eight months ago of a historic agreement with Eni for the acquisition of 100 percent of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).

The proposed deal, awaiting ministerial consent and regulatory approvals, would elevate Oando’s stake in OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 from 20 percent to 40 percent.

This reflects a shift in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with indigenous firms taking over from departing International Oil Companies (IOCs).

Irune, in a recent interview, downplayed concerns about approval delays.

He stated that the focus is on “ensuring the country isn’t materially impacted” and that “indigenous players are able to take advantage of this opportunity.” Oando, poised to become a major domestic producer, is “on track” to close the deal this quarter, Irune added.

S&P Global Commodity Insights estimates the acquisition value at $500 million.

It covers four oil-producing blocks (OMLs), a joint venture with the Brass terminal, onshore exploration concessions, and power plants.

Eni currently holds a 20 percent operating stake alongside Oando and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which holds the remaining 60 percent.

The company’s dual listing on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges underscores its regional and global reach.

Tinubu’s influence extends beyond Oando’s direct operations. Through Ocean and Oil Development Partners (OODP), co-owned with Omamofe Boyo, he indirectly holds a significant 66.67 percent stake in Oando to solidify his position in Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered all banks to start charging a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions within the country excluding 16 listed banking deals.

According to a circular signed by the Director, Payments System Management Department, Chibuzo Efobi; and the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustafa; the cybersecurity would commence two weeks from May 6, 2024.

The apex bank, in the circular, directed to all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, among others; to start the implementation of the cybersecurity charges after two weeks of the information.

“The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, ‘Cybersecurity Levy,’” the circular partly read.

However, the CBN listed 16 banking transactions exempted from the new cybersecurity levy.

The exempted transactions are listed below:

1. Loan disbursements and repayments

2. Salary payments

3. Intra-account transfers within the same bank or between different banks for the same customer

4. Intra-bank transfers between customers of the same bank

5. Other Financial Institutions instructions to their correspondent banks

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6. Interbank placements,

7. Banks’ transfers to CBN and vice-versa

8. Inter-branch transfers within a bank

9. Cheque clearing and settlements

10. Letters of Credits

11. Banks’ recapitalisation-related funding – only bulk funds movement from collection accounts

12. Savings and deposits, including transactions involving long-term investments such as Treasury Bills, Bonds, and Commercial Papers

13. Government Social Welfare Programmes transactions e.g. Pension payments

14. Non-profit and charitable transactions, including donations to registered non-profit organisations or charities

15. Educational institutions’ transactions, including tuition payments and other transactions involving schools, universities, or other educational institutions

16. Transactions involving bank’s internal accounts such as suspense accounts, clearing accounts, profit and loss accounts, inter-branch accounts, reserve accounts, nostro and vostro accounts, and escrow accounts.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to implement a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers.

This is contained in a circular signed by Chibuzor Efobi, director of payments system management and Haruna Mustafa, director of financial policy and regulation on Monday.

The directive was issued to commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks, as well as mobile money operators.

CBN said the policy would take effect in two weeks and charges would be described as ‘Cybersecurity Levy’.

According to the apex bank, the deduction and collection of the cybersecurity levy is a sequel to the enactment of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc) Amendment Act of 2024.

“Following the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (amendment) Act 2024 and under the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, “a levy of 0.5% (0.005) equivalent to a half percent of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the second schedule of the Act, is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), which shall be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),” CBN said.

CBN said the charges would be remitted to the national cyber security fund, which would be administered by the office of the NSA.

“Deductions shall commence within two (2) weeks from the date of this circular for all financial institutions and the monthly remittance of the levies collected in bulk to the NCF account domiciled at the CBN by the 5th business day of every subsequent month.”

CBN said failure to remit the levy is an offence which attracts a fine of not less than 2 percent of the annual turnover of the defaulting business, amongst others.

“Finally, all institutions under the regulatory purview of the CBN are hereby directed to note and comply with the provisions of the Act and this circular.”

Meanwhile, earlier, banks announced the reintroduction of 2 percent charge on deposits above N500,000.