Anambra-born billionaire industrialist and renowned entrepreneur, Dr. Ikenna Ifejiofor, has announced strategic plans to establish what he described as the largest food processing factory in the entire South-East region of Nigeria.

Dr. Ifejiofor, who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ike God Foods Industries Limited, made this known during an exclusive chat with journalists, where he unfolded his company’s expansion drive and his unrelenting vision to not only boost the Nigerian economy but also position Anambra State as the industrial hub of the South-East.

“Our goal is to make quality food products at affordable prices for everyone, and we’re committed to achieving this through the use of the latest technology and the best professionals in the industry,”

Ike God Foods Industries Limited is the proud producer of the popular Jolly-Jolly Noodles, a brand that has grown to become a household name in Nigeria’s instant noodles market. He also disclosed that plans are underway to incorporate other products into the company’s growing catalogue, including peanut-based snacks, flour, and other value-added food items. The company, headquartered in Anambra State just ventured into bread production

The plan to venture into other productions , he noted, will significantly increase their production capacity and create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in Anambra and beyond.

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price.

Ekwutosblog correspondent who went round NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja on Tuesday gathered that state-owned firms have also slashed their petrol pump price to N895 per litre from N910.

This comes as NNPCL filling station along Kubwa Expressway, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6 (Berger), and other locations in Abuja visibly adjusted their fuel pump price to reflect the new price.

The reduction represents an N15 downward petrol price review in NNPCL retail outlets.

NNPCL is not alone in the petrol reduction; Dangote Refinery’s retail partner, MRS filling stations in Abuja, also reduced their petrol price by N25 to N885 per litre from N910.

Similarly, other filling stations in Abuja, such as Ranoil and Empire Energy, also reduced their petrol pump prices to N910 and N915 per litre on Tuesday from the previous N920 and N935.

The development comes hours after Ekwutosblog exclusively reports that Nigerian Petroleum Products Marketers announced a plan to slash petrol prices to between N900 and N920 per litre in Abuja.

Recall that Dangote Refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price twice this July so far.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Port Harcourt Depot Unit, has stressed that the Port Harcourt Refinery requires more than periodic rehabilitation, calling instead for a “consistent and experienced management focused on functionality and long-term sustainability”.

The position was made known in a statement signed on June 12, 2025, by the Chairman of IPMAN Port Harcourt Depot Unit, Tekena Thankgod Ikpaki.

The association was reacting to a recent statement by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, who hinted that the Federal Government may consider selling some of its refineries as a solution to persistent rehabilitation and efficiency challenges.

Ikpaki noted that as major stakeholders in the downstream oil sector, petroleum marketers fully understand the strategic importance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, not just for Rivers State and the Niger Delta region, but for the Nigerian economy as a whole.

He observed that the brief resumption of operations at the refinery in November 2024, followed by another shutdown in May 2025 for maintenance, once again underscored the lingering operational and technical issues affecting Nigeria’s refineries.

Ikpaki, however, stated that it is less concerned about who manages the facility and more focused on ensuring the refinery functions optimally.

He said, “Whether the facility remains under the direct control of the NNPCL or is eventually handed over to a private entity, the most critical issue for us at this point is ensuring the Port Harcourt Refinery operates at optimal capacity.

“We believe that a fully functional refinery will have far-reaching benefits, offering alternative sources of refined products, stabilizing the domestic market, creating jobs, boosting local content, and contributing to national energy security,” the statement added.

The association appealed to the Federal Government and NNPCL to ensure that any future sale or concession process prioritizes competence and technical proficiency.

IPMAN urged the authorities to “prioritize competence, technical expertise, and a proven track record in refinery operations in selecting any prospective buyer or management partner, should the company proceed with the sale or concessioning process.”

The association emphasized that privatization should not be pursued for its own sake but must lead to measurable improvements in output, performance, and national benefit.

Ikpaki concluded by reaffirming the association’s willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure a successful transition.

“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the transition, if and when it happens, will be transparent, accountable, and ultimately beneficial to Nigerians, particularly those of us who operate directly within the value chain,” he said.