By Kunle Odusola-Stevenson, Lagos When Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the $50 billion Sunshine Infrastructure Joint Venture (JV) on November 5, 2025, Ondo State was projected to become Nigeria’s next industrial powerhouse. The plan — a 500,000-barrels-per-day refinery and a 1,471-hectare Free Trade Zone in Ilaje — was hailed as a turning point for job creation, investment, and energy independence. The consortium, featuring Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (BINL), MJ Care Investment Finance, China Harbour, and Honeywell OUP, claimed to be backed by NEFEX Holdings Limited (Canada) through its Nigerian subsidiary, Nefex…
Read MoreONDO STATE’S $50 BILLION REFINERY DEAL: PROMISE, PERIL, AND THE PITFALLS OF UNVERIFIED AMBITION
