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  • Dangote: it’s time to start local medicine production, stop medial tourism

    Dangote: it’s time to start local medicine production, stop medial tourism

    For Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote, local production of medicines is the way to go. He expressed the need for Nigerians to stop medical tourism.

    He spoke yesterday during a panel discussion at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event in Lagos.

    Gates, who is the Chairman of the Gates Foundation, said the foundation invested $100 billion in the last 25 years to improve healthcare in Africa helped to develop partnerships in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

    Stressing the need for every Nigerian – including the rich – to be able to treat themselves locally when they fall sick, Dangote hinted the importance of collaboration with Bill Gates and the Bill & Belinda Gates Foundation.

    He said: “What we need to do is to make sure we stop this health tourism and we should now get in to start producing our own drugs.

    “We should now make sure that when we are sick, we don’t have to travel abroad, all of us, but we need to do partnership with Bill (Gates).”

    The Africa’s richest man recalled that the Dangote Foundation, through partnership with the Gates Foundation, has helped to end Polio in Nigeria and did quite a lot in improving nutrition.

    READ ALSO; The fire next door

    Noting that his company has changed some narratives, Dangote said: “Nigeria used to be the second largest importer of cement in the world but now it exports cement more than any other African country.”

    He also highlighted how farmers previously struggled to access fertilizer, “but today, he has built the second-largest fertilizer plant in the world from the ground up.

    “So, Nigeria now, not only export, we actually export 37% of our fertilizer to the United States of America.”

    In the oil and gas sector, Dangote stated that he did what nobody has ever done before by building 650,000bpd refinery.

    He hinted that Dangote Refinery alone exported 400,000 metric tons of petrol last month.

    According to him, the refinery’s intervention in the sector has ended Nigeria’s dependency on imported petrol.

    Hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the first time in Lagos, the Goalkeepers event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to assess progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Other notable dignitaries at the event included Gates Dangote; Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), among others.

    $100b healthcare investment

    Gates explained that when the Foundation started in 2000, the basic guiding principle was that all lives have equal value, with a major concern about reducing infant mortality globally, especially in Africa.

    He said: “And so I looked and I said, okay. Are people taking this seriously, are they making the medicines cheaper, or are they tailoring the medicines to the particular needs of those areas, for example, investing in new malaria tools? And the answer was no.

    “And so, that became the guiding light for the Gates Foundation. Over 70 per cent of what we’ve spent, the $100 billion we’ve spent in these last 25 years, went to global health, and throughout that 25 years, we’ve developed the partnerships, throughout Africa.”

    “Here in Nigeria, we’ve had amazing partners who understand the delivery and the way that we can work and help the government. The government, in the long run, has the responsibility for all of this work. We’re there to accelerate these systems.”

    Gates noted that improving health accelerates the economic growth of a country to a point where it can become self-sufficient. He expressed optimism that the global child mortality rate can be reduced by 50 per cent from the current five million cases worldwide.

    He said: “These next 20 years, you know, the countries in Africa will get to that status. So, helping them accelerate that, helping them understand what the unique local challenges are, which things we need to make simpler, and bring the price down. That’s done, as a partnership, and the last 25 years went way better than I expected; that is, childhood death, globally and in Africa, was cut in more than half.

    “We went from almost 10 million worldwide to now less than five million. And I feel confident we can cut that in half again, even though, as you mentioned, right now, we’re in a stunning and completely unjust withdrawal of support from a number of rich governments, including the United States (U.S.), but even despite that, which is going to make the next four or five years, we’ll have some reversal because it’s just too large and too sudden to overcome. We will get back to incredible progress reducing those.”

  • Nigerians pay just 55% of what West Africans spend on petrol – Dangote

    Nigerians pay just 55% of what West Africans spend on petrol – Dangote

    Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has said that Nigerians are paying only 55 percent of what their counterparts in other West African countries pay for petrol — thanks to local refining at the Dangote Refinery.

    Speaking during a visit by Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dangote said the refinery is already having a positive impact on fuel prices and national energy security.

    “In neighbouring countries, the average price of petrol is around $1 per litre, which is N1,600. But here at our refinery, we’re selling at between N815 and N820,” Dangote said.

    “Many Nigerians don’t realise that they are currently paying just 55% of what others in the region are paying for petrol.”

    He said the refinery was built with Nigerians in mind and promised more benefits to come:

    “We also have a much larger initiative in the pipeline, something we’ve not yet announced but Nigerians should know that this refinery is built for them, and they will enjoy the maximum benefit from it.”

    Read Also: Olawepo-Hashim, Dangote, Akpabio, others honoured in Lagos

    Dangote linked the price drop to domestic refining, highlighting its role in reducing dependency on fuel imports:

    “As long as we continue importing what we can produce, we will remain underdeveloped,” he said.
    “This refinery is proof that we can build for ourselves at scale, to global standards.”

    Addressing concerns about production capacity, he noted:

    “The refinery is fully equipped to meet the petroleum needs of Nigeria and the entire West African region… But now, they are here to see the reality for themselves and, more importantly, to encourage other nations to embark on similarly large-scale industrial projects.”

    He further noted that the refinery’s production has already had a tangible impact, particularly with diesel:

    “Last year, when we began diesel production, we were able to reduce the price from N1,700 to N1,100 at a go, and as of today, the price has crashed further. This reduction has made a significant impact across various sectors.”

    Dangote concluded by urging Africa to embrace intra-continental trade and value addition, describing his refinery as a model of economic self-sufficiency for the continent.

  • Olawepo-Hashim, Dangote, Akpabio, others honoured in Lagos

    Olawepo-Hashim, Dangote, Akpabio, others honoured in Lagos

    TimelineNG, a Lagos based media outfit on Thursday, organized the 6th edition of the “Timeline Awareness Initiative Lecture/Awards”, to celebrate the best Nigerians who have shined like stars in various endeavors.

    The event themed, “Importance of the media in Information Gathering, Disclosure in the face of Security Challenges,” was chaired by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Dr. Monday Ubani, his Special Adviser on Constitutional and Legal Matters.

    The Senate President  used the opportunity to urge all media professionals to treat national security as a shared responsibility, and to draw a line between freedom of expression and the freedom to endanger.

    Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was among the few Nigerians who got honoured for “Inspiring Leader and Philanthropic Icon Award for regularly contributing to the polity positively through numerous interventions politically and socially to the development of Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Tinubu understands weight of office -Minister

     In his citation read by an On Air Personality, (OAP) Mrs. Niyi Olayinka at the event,

    “Dr. Olawepo-Hashim is one of the few Nigerian leaders who combine a solid business record with strong political background.

     “A successful entrepreneur with a 30-year impeccable business history, Olawepo started exhibiting leadership qualities from elementary and secondary school days. A national bridge-builder and complete detribalized, charismatic and excellent negotiator, Olawepo-Hashim’s experience is deep rooted in the broad political sphere that is useful in formulating a national consensus for the unity of a nation at a time of great division. His understanding of political economy and the global architecture of international finance are invaluable for an economy that desperately needs growth and development and a people that urgently need prosperity.

     “In 1990, Olawepo-Hashim became the National Administrative Secretary of the National Consultative Forum led by the indefatigable patriot and democrat extraordinaire, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Alao Aka Bashorun.

     “Born in Yelwa, Yauri, Kebbi State by a Yoruba mother to a Hausa father, Olawepo-Hashim was mentored into partisan politics by the progressive stock of politicians led by the duo of Late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi. Olawepo-Hashim had at one time functioned as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Party, under the joint chairmanship of Ambassador Jolly Tanko Yusuf and Alhaji Yunusa Kaltungo.

    “In 1998, working closely under the supervision of Professor Jerry Gana (Secretary), he and two other young political leaders; Late Senator Dahiru Ahwesu Khuta and Dubem Onyia, Olawepo-Hashim assisted during the years of the G-34 initiative, in the formation of political parties.

     After the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, in the intervening transitional period, Olawepo-Hashim served as member/secretary, Youth and Women Development Sub-Committee of the General T.Y. Danjuma Policy Advisory Committee with Late Hajia Laila Dogonyaro as Chairman of the Youth and Women Sub-committee.

    ‘In 1999, Olawepo-Hashim was elected as the first Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the then ruling Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a highly influential national officer and became the founding chairman of the Group of 54 NEC members. The group had His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige as Secretary and Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, former Minister of Mines, as Deputy Chairman.

    “For his passion for people’s welfare, his business acumen and, most importantly, his commitment to the principle of internal democracy, transparency and good governance, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is hereby honoured.”

    Responding, Mr. Oluwasegun Abifarin, his Special Adviser on Media and Communication who collected the award on his behalf regretted the inability of Dr. Hashim to be physically present for the award because he was out of the country and thanked the organisers for counting him worthy of recognition.

    Mr. Yusuf Adeoye, Publisher of TimelinesNG and convener of the Award added that “the Awards organizers really appreciate and pray that God will give Dr. Hashim more grace to continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria as a nation.”

     Other winners of the awards included the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Business man, Aliko Dangote, Dr. Niyi Akinsiju and others.

  • Whose table? Why Nigeria’s petrol future needs more voices

    Whose table? Why Nigeria’s petrol future needs more voices

    By Olawunmi Farominiyi 

    When Aliko Dangote—Nigeria’s wealthiest businessman—warned of an “oil cabal” strangling the country’s energy sector, I couldn’t help but laugh. The irony was striking. 

    Here is a man whose refinery could single-handedly supply Nigeria’s petrol needs, yet he’s suing regulators to block petrol imports entirely. And still, he points fingers at unnamed elites. It’s a bit like a chef demanding a monopoly over your kitchen, then blaming the neighbours for your hunger.

    Theatrics aside, the real question is not about cabals, it’s much simpler. Who should shape Nigeria’s energy policies? At the moment, we are seeing conversations revolve around boardrooms and presidential villa meetings; spaces are dominated by billionaires and bureaucrats. 

    Meanwhile, the people who have kept petrol flowing to Nigeria, depot owners, independent marketers, and even women selling petrol in jerrycans in the hard-to-reach areas like Agbokim in Cross River state, are not in the room. That needs to change. 

    When control is an illusion 

    The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is impressive. It is a $20 billion bet on Nigerian self-sufficiency. But we need to remember that refineries are just one link in the chain. What happens when that chain snaps? Independent marketers have been accused of being exploitative in the past, but, importantly, they are adaptive. When NNPC’s supply falters, they tap into other networks. When prices swing, they adjust not out of altruism, but survival. 

    In Nigeria, where plans often serve more as polite suggestions than binding commitments, adaptability isn’t just useful,  it’s essential.

    Yet, the government’s current approach seems to view these players as relics.  At this moment, deregulation, which was supposed to level the playing field, seems to be tilting entirely towards the one mega refinery. 

    Case in point: the lawsuit to ban imports, which, if granted, will mean the refinery will not just dominate, it will dictate. What is a “Perfect” Market? Supporters of the single supplier model argue it will bring order, no price swings, no shady middlemen, just corporate efficiency. 

    But when has Nigeria, or any single-market economy, ever truly thrived on that kind of “order”? Nigerian markets are chaotic. The terrain is unpredictable. That chaos, and the networks marketers have built within it, is its own form of resilience.

    When the Dangote Petroleum Refinery slashed petrol prices, only to abruptly halt supply after the naira-for-crude deal expired, prices crept up, but depot operators and independent marketers sustained supply. In a monopolised market, if the refinery goes down for maintenance, it’s dismissed as a minor hiccup. 

    But when your only water source runs dry, that “hiccup” quickly becomes a national crisis. Compare that to the patchwork import system: if one supplier falters, others step in. It may be inconsistent, but it doesn’t collapse.

    The government’s push for standards isn’t misplaced. Fuel adulteration exists, and price gouging is real, but regulations designed without the input of independents are like rewriting traffic laws without consulting the drivers.

    An example from telecoms past

    We have learned this lesson in the past. In the 1990s, when Nitel was the only player, Nigerians were paying exorbitant prices for landlines that rarely ever worked, until deregulation unleashed Celtel (now Airtel), MTN and Glo. 

    The GSM revolution was upon Nigeria; prices plummeted, and coverage exploded. It was not seamless. There were still dropped calls, network congestion and billing fraud, but that chaos birthed innovation. 

    Today, market women use mobile banking, thanks to the innovation from properly done deregulation. Energy is more difficult, but the same principle holds. Competition breeds accountability. 

    A Dangote monopoly might offer price standardisation, but the vulnerabilities will also be standardised. What happens when global crude prices dip and Nigeria can’t pivot to cheaper imports? Or what happens when the refinery faces downtime? 

    Necessary ingenuity

    Several Nigerians have decided to transition their cars to run on both petrol and CNG. According to a taxi driver I spoke to, “Fuel prices change like the weather. I have to adapt.” This adaptation was not born from policy papers, it is a necessity–the same necessity that has depot owners keep a stockpile that is often more-than-necessary to prevent the country from entering a permanent scarcity.These players are stakeholders in a complex ecosystem. 

    Excluding them from policy discussions overlooks the fact that Nigeria’s energy economy isn’t just about FX reserves and corporate profits — it’s also about the truck drivers on the highways, the mechanics fixing generators, and the woman selling kerosene to feed her family. Their workarounds are the system.

    What way forward? 

    This is not about demonising the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The refinery is transformative for Nigeria and Africa, but it needs to be integrated into Nigeria’s already diversified market, not become the entire market. 

    This diversification requires intentionality: Regulate with and not against the oil independents: Involve depot unions in drafting pricing and safety standards. Use their grassroots networks to combat fuel adulteration.

    Retain and encourage imports: The more, the merrier; let refiners prove they can meet demand before shutting down alternatives.

     America guarantees its residents globally competitive oil prices because it mandates petrol importation.

    Resist the allure of “big is better”: Nigeria’s depot operators and petrol retailers are a latticework of redundancy. This is a safeguard. 

    This is deregulation in action. Whose Security? Dangote’s “cabal” rhetoric against the backdrop of Nigeria’s state house is framing our collective energy security as a war against boogeymen. But, security is about honesty, clarity and options. 

    Quick media wins by a large player, sure to gain media airtime, is not energy security. Security is the taxi driver with his dual-fuel car, marketers stockpiling reserves and planning for any eventualities. Nigeria’s energy security can not be decided by courtrooms or closed-door deals, all hands must be on deck. 

    When petrol is scarce, it is not the well-tailored suits in Nigeria that will keep power and generators humming. The question. The only question that matters and must be answered is: How do we build our energy ecosystem and keep it resilient, fair and open? How can Nigeria become Africa’s refining hub? 

    We all have that proverb. “One tree does not make a forest.” Let the Dangote refinery thrive. But let others breathe. 

    •Olawunmi Farominiyi is a public administrator and strategist working in the intersection of energy and economic sustainability. She leads Client Relations at Mosaic & House Advisory.

  • NPA, Dangote to deepen maritime industry growth

    NPA, Dangote to deepen maritime industry growth

    • Targets $7m daily revenue through fertiliser export

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) have promised to develop the nation’s Marine and Blue Economy sector, with plans to ensure expansion of Nigeria’s export operations.

    Speaking during a courtesy call to NPA headquarters in Lagos yesterday, President of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote explained that as the biggest customer to the NPA, it is important that the interaction between NPA and DIL is sustained.

    Dangote said: “We are here to thank the NPA for doing a great job, because as we speak today, we are the biggest or largest customer to NPA.

    “I think this kind of interaction between us and them is very, very important for the growth of the industry. So, we discussed quite a lot of issues. We also discussed issues of how to deepen the Marine and Blue Economy of the nation. And we have agreed to actually work together for the benefit of Nigeria.”

    The size of our own operation at Lekki alone, he said,  is going to be almost 240 ships of crude, with each ship carrying one million crude each. And then we’ll have products which now will amount to over 600 ships in a year.

    “Then we also have our fertilizer operation, which will be loading almost eight ships. This is an operation that has never, ever been seen in the country.

    “So, it’s a major challenge. But with the leadership of the NPA, we are very, very comfortable that they’ll be able to deliver.

    Read Also: Economic patriotism: The example of Rabiu, Dangote

    “Our operations will sink if NPA doesn’t give us the services we will be needing for our operations. So, the NPA will be needing a lot of support from the Federal Government because they won’t be able to do these things with their own physical hands. They need equipment. They need more Tug Boats.

    “We will also be putting in some few words in necessary quarters to make sure that NPA gets all the necessary assistance from the Federal Government,” he said.

    In the area of export, Dangote explained that efforts are on to expand export products outside Nigeria.

    “We will soon be massively expanding our export operations. For some of you that have been to our Cement factory in Itori, we’re already exporting cement out of Nigeria. We have a whole factory of six million tons for cement export,” he said.

    In the next couple of weeks, he said, “ we will start exporting coal out of Nigeria. Our fertilizer export will be almost like eight cargos. The refinery operations will not export less than 25 million tons of various products. We will also be exporting almost about 600,000 to 700,000 metric tons of polypropylene. So when you are talking about export, we are going to be very big.

    “In the next two years, we will be exporting almost about 16,000 tons of fertilizer. When you talk about 16,000 tons of fertilizer, it’s actually about $6.5 million to $7 million revenue that will be coming into the country on a daily basis.

    “With our export programme, our company will be the major supplier of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria.

    “So the operations of Nigerian ports will definitely double in the next one or two years.”

    In his own remarks, the NPA Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho explained that Dangote has come to the Authority to show appreciation for the dividends of the Naira for crude sale policy of the Federal Government.

    He said: “Alhaji AlikoDangote is here to show appreciation, especially regarding the establishment of the One Stop Shop policy on Naira for Crude deal, which is being coordinated by the Nigerian Port Authority.

    “He’s here to appreciate that the initiative has contributed immensely to achieving a lot of efficiency in the area of the transactions and operations between Nigerian government agencies.

    “This is something that started on the 1st of October last year 2024, and so far, we have treated or operated over 57 vessels every month. The projected volume that Dangote was looking at per annum was 600 vessels. If you do 56, 57 vessels into 12 months, you will see that we are already doing bigger than what they projected. We will continue to do our best with support from the government.

    “If all agencies of government can collaborate and be on the same dashboard, then efficiencies in other sectors of the economy will also be witnessed.

    “We’re happy that the government has approved the National Single Window. We’re also happy that as of today, we are 95 per cent ready for the Port Community System.”

    On development of new ports, Dantsoho said: “There are two ways you can handle capacity improvement/expansion or deepen port capacity. You can do it on a brownfield, which is, you renovate or rehabilitate existing ports; or on a greenfield, which is to build new ports.

    “The last time the government built a new port in Nigeria was 1977, which was Tin-Can Island Port. There is already an approval for the port modernization of both Tin-Can and Apapa ports. We are hopefully looking at maybe the third quarter of this year to commence construction. That is on the brownfield.

    “On the greenfield part, like I said earlier, we have deep seaport development projects that have already been approved by Federal Executive Council. We have Ibom Port, we have Bakasi, we have Olokola, we have Ondo port; we have Badagry in Lagos.

    “These are new ports that the government is concerned about. Very soon we’ll begin to see that these ports will become reality,” Dantsoho declared.

  • NPA, Dangote to boost maritime industry growth, expand export operations

    NPA, Dangote to boost maritime industry growth, expand export operations

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) have announced plans to collaborate in advancing Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy sector, with a focus on expanding the country’s export operations.

    During a courtesy visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos, President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, emphasized the importance of sustained engagement between DIL and the NPA, describing his company as the authority’s largest customer.

    “We are here to thank the NPA for doing a great job. As we speak, we are the biggest or largest customer of NPA,” Dangote stated. “This kind of interaction is crucial for the growth of the industry. We discussed several key issues, including how to deepen Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy. We have agreed to work together for the benefit of the country.”

    Dangote highlighted the scale of the company’s operations, particularly at the Lekki facility, where he said over 240 crude oil vessels—each carrying one million barrels—are expected to operate annually. Additionally, the group’s refined products will require more than 600 vessel movements per year.

    He also noted that Dangote’s fertiliser operations would involve the loading of nearly eight ships annually, describing the scale as “an operation that has never been seen in the country.”

    “So, it’s a major challenge. But with the leadership of the NPA, we are very, very comfortable that they’ll be able to deliver.

    “Our operations will sink if NPA doesn’t give us the services we will need for our operations. So, the NPA will need a lot of support from the Federal Government because they won’t be able to do these things on their own. They need equipment. They need more tugboats.

    “We will also be putting in a few words in the necessary quarters to make sure that NPA gets all the necessary assistance from the Federal Government.”

    In the area of export, Aliko Dangote explained that efforts are on to expand export products outside Nigeria.

    “We will soon be massively expanding our export operations. For some of you who have been to our Cement factory in Itori, we’re already exporting cement out of Nigeria. We have a whole factory of six million tons for cement export.

    In the next couple of weeks, he said, “We will start exporting coal out of Nigeria. Our fertiliser export will be almost like eight cargoes. The refinery operations will not export less than 25 million tons of various products. We will also be exporting about 600,000 to 700,000 metric tons of polypropylene. So when you are talking about export, we are going to be very big.

    “In the next two years, we will be exporting about 16,000 tons of fertiliser. When you talk about 16,000 tons of fertiliser, it’s about $6.5 million to $7 million revenue that will be coming into the country daily.

    “With our export programme, our company will be the major supplier of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria.

    “So the operations of Nigerian ports will double in the next one or two years.”

    In his own remark, the NPA Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho explained that Aliko Dangote has come to the Authority to show appreciation for the dividends of the Naira for Crude sale policy of the Federal Government.

    He said, “Alhaji Aliko Dangote is here to show appreciation, especially regarding the establishment of the One Stop Shop policy on Naira for Crude deal, which is being coordinated by the Nigerian Port Authority.

    “He’s here to appreciate that the initiative has contributed immensely to achieving a lot of efficiency in the area of transactions and operations between Nigerian government agencies.

    “This is something that started on the 1st of October last year, 2024, and so far, we have treated or operated over 57 vessels every month. The projected volume that Dangote was looking at per annum was 600 vessels. If you do 56, 57 vessels into 12 months, you will see that we are already doing bigger than what they projected. We will continue to do our best with support from the government.

    “If all agencies of government can collaborate and be on the same dashboard, then efficiencies in other sectors of the economy will also be witnessed.

    Read Also: Economic patriotism: The example of Rabiu, Dangote

    “We’re happy that the government has approved the National Single Window. We’re also happy that as of today, we are 95 percent ready for the Port Community System.”

    On development of new ports, Dantsoho stated that, “There are two ways you can handle capacity improvement/expansion or deepen port capacity. You can do it on a brownfield, which is, you renovate or rehabilitate existing ports; or on a greenfield, which is to build new ports.

    “The last time the government built a new port in Nigeria was 1977, which was Tin-Can Island Port. There is already an approval for the port modernisation of both Tin-Can and Apapa ports. We are hopefully looking at maybe the third quarter of this year to commence construction. That is on the brownfield.

    “On the greenfield part, like I said earlier, we have deep-seaport development projects that have already been approved by the Federal Executive Council. We have Ibom Port, we have Bakasi, we have Olokola, we have Ondo Port, we have Badagry in Lagos.

    “These are new ports that the government is concerned about. Very soon we’ll begin to see that these ports will become reality,” Dantsoho declared.

  • Economic patriotism: The example of Rabiu, Dangote

    Economic patriotism: The example of Rabiu, Dangote

    By Otega Ogra and Temitope Ajayi

    There is a particular kind of silence that greets progress in Nigeria—when food prices fall, inflation slows, the country is positively recognised, debts paid, or things begin to work. It is the kind of silence that would rather keep a good story buried than be told. But make no mistake. What we see in the market today is not magic. It is the outcome of vision, backed by execution, from the Tinubu-Shettima administration.

    When President Bola Tinubu signed off on a six-month waiver to allow the importation of select food items, it was not an act of political showmanship. Rather, it was a visionary economic strategy at play. That singular decision broke a cartel of hoarders who had turned food insecurity into an immoral enterprise. But strategy alone does not and cannot lower the cost of rice. What does is when industry leaders respond with urgency.

    Last week, at the Aso Villa, the seat of the Presidency in Abuja, Abdul Samad Rabiu, did not just show up to thank President Bola Tinubu. He came prepared and showed up with results. He brought evidence—bag by bag, commodity by commodity—of how Mr President’s policy met action. Rice that once sold for N110,000 for a 50kg bag now sells for less than N70,000. Flour is down. Maize is down. And for once, the loudest people in the room are the ones who used to profit from scarcity, not the ones out to end the criminal profiteering.

    What happened here was disruption. The BUA team, as well as other major Nigerian manufacturers and industrialists who heeded President Tinubu’s call, understood the assignment. They flooded the market, shattered the economics of hoarding, and exposed a truth few want to say: sometimes, the real enemy is not the system. It is the silence and sabotage that follow reform.

    Read Also: UNA-Nigeria inducts new members for Abuja branch

    But Alhaji Rabiu did not stop at food. He announced a second move upon the advice of fellow billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, which was just as consequential. In an economy that is recovering from FX volatility, energy price surges, and imported inflation, cement manufacturers have decided to freeze the price of cement, not for everyone, but for every contractor working under the government’s Renewed Hope infrastructure projects. This is not charity at play. This is alignment.

    Our two big businessmen understand the time, and they are doing their businesses conscious of the need to balance profitability with social responsibility. We have Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu to thank for leading the way and showing how to be worthy examples to Corporate Nigeria. The truth is that the business environment has been quite challenging. While this is so, there is also the problem of arbitrariness in how prices of goods and services have moved in the last two years. Many businessmen and women have taken undue advantage of Nigerians to engage in price gouging, unduly raising the cost of living for average Nigerians.

    Cement isn’t just a product. It is the bloodline of infrastructure. By holding the price steady for public works under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, Lafarge, and new entrants like Mangal Cement didn’t just make a corporate gesture. They bought the government fiscal room, time, and momentum. That is what nation-building looks like when it wears a private-sector face.

    It gets deeper. Working with Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu in the same spirit of putting country first, other cement manufacturers are partnering with the two prime movers in the cement manufacturing sector to resuscitate the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria, pledging up to N20 billion annually to train artisans, real human capacity, not PowerPoint plans. We live in Nigeria, where, for the longest time, conversations about growth rarely touch skills. This novel move is, therefore, a bet on people because when people are trained, projects do not just get built but they endure.

    President Tinubu alluded to something important during that meeting. He did not just commend BUA, he called the actions of the private sector who have taken a bet on Nigeria throughout this period, “economic patriotism.” Whilst many sit on the sidelines waiting for stability before they act, it matters when Nigerians step in to create it.

    Nigeria does not just need big men; it also needs bold moves. What Rabiu, Dangote, and their peers are doing, from freezing prices and disrupting hoarding to funding technical skills, is not corporate PR. It is policy execution; and that is what separates firms that extract value from those that build it.

    In this phase of Nigeria’s transformation, we will need more of the latter. Our country can make do with more businessmen and women who understand that the private sector is not a spectator sport; that stability is not gifted but engineered. And to win the confidence of 250 million people, you must show, not tell, that the future of Nigeria is under construction.

    And if we tell these positive stories loud enough and well, if we stop whispering good news while bad actors shout, we may just shift the national mood from that of despair and hopelessness to productivity.

    We make bold this statement because when industry starts to move like this, it is more than just a market correction. It is a clear signal that the tide is turning positively.

    Our country must be a nation of strong, hopeful, and productive people. While some of the challenges of nation-building still persist, we must never shy away from telling those who take undue advantage of fellow citizens that businesses can still make fair and decent profit and not overburden citizens.

    President Tinubu knew from his first day in office that the task of reforming and retooling our economy for optimum performance would not be easy. He also knew what would be his place in history if he refused to take the difficult but necessary decisions that would create medium – and long-term sustainability and prosperity for Nigerians.

    Truly, the last two years have posed some economic challenges for Nigerians. As the reforms kick in, the macroeconomic variables are turning positive. The fiscal space is becoming more robust. National and subnational debts are being repaid, investors’ confidence growing faster at a higher rate than last decade. Nigeria is getting a more favourable credit rating from global institutions, inflation slowing down and the country is in a stronger balance of trade position with more robust foreign reserves.

    All these positive indicators point to how effective the policy prescriptions have been. The government is also working hard to tackle insecurity across the country with remarkable progress. At the same time, the government is investing in critical infrastructure such as roads, energy, rail, ports, irrigation, and social services.

    Overall, the economy recorded 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024, the highest in three years. The President Tinubu-led administration restored a new wave of final investment decisions into the oil and gas sector by signing an executive order that shortened the contracting cycle and freed up more fiscal incentives. On the back of these, the hydrocarbon economy has been bolstered by over $8 billion in new investments from SHELL, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies.

    The economic prospects are very bright, and the shared prosperity promised by President Tinubu is crystallising. Nigeria only needs more patriotic and passionate citizens who will always commit to national development and advancement.

    As the President has always said, the future of Nigeria will be one built by Nigerians, for Nigeria, and indeed, for Africa. No one, but ourselves, will build the Nigeria of our collective dream or Africa for us. The time to build together is now!

    •Ogra and Ajayi are senior aides to President Tinubu

  • ‘Dangote among top 100 global philanthropists’

    ‘Dangote among top 100 global philanthropists’

    The Chairman Aliko Dangote Foundation and President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has been named in the inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list, which recognises the 100 most influential leaders shaping the future of philanthropy across the world. Dangote is the only Nigerian on this distinguished list.

    The list, published by TIME Magazine yesterday, featured Aliko Dangote, whose Foundation spends an average of $35 million a year on programmes across Africa, alongside other global figures in charitable work, such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda Gates, all of whom are recognised as Titans.

    A total of 100 influential individuals from 28 countries have been honoured for their philanthropic efforts in four categories: Titans, Leaders, Trailblazers, and Innovators, with Dangote emerging as one of the 23 Titans.

    TIME highlighted Dangote’s remarkable rise to wealth, having built a fortune of $23.9 billion through ventures in cement, agriculture, and oil refining in Nigeria. However, his philanthropic efforts are equally noteworthy. In 2014, he endowed the Aliko Dangote Foundation with $1.25 billion, with the aim of giving back to the continent that played such a key role in his success. The foundation spends on average of $35 million each year on various initiatives across Nigeria and Africa.

    “Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success” – Dangote remarked, reflecting the foundation’s core priorities.

    Among the foundation’s ongoing efforts is a $100 million multi-year initiative to combat severe childhood malnutrition.

    Furthermore, an earlier vaccine programme in Nigeria, developed in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others, contributed to the World Health Organisation’s 2020 declaration that polio had been eradicated from Africa, Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa and the last country to eradicate the disease.

    Education is another area where Dangote is making a significant impact. He recently announced a $10 million donation to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, based in Kano State. The conglomerate has provided a wealth of infrastructural support to the country’s tertiary institutions.

    Read Also: Dangote Refinery assures of petrol price stability

    In 2019, the Federal Government revealed that the N1.2 billion hostel donated by the Aliko Dangote Foundation to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was the largest donation ever made by an individual to a university in Nigeria’s history at that time.

    As a member of The Global Business Coalition for Education, the Aliko Dangote Foundation has also focused on early childhood education. Through the Mu Shuka Iri (Let’s Plant a Seed) programme, local women – affectionately known as “Aunties” – are trained in Montessori-style education to become community educators in Kano.

    The foundation’s investments in education include providing vocational training and providing scholarships at the secondary and tertiary levels, in addition to offering annual fellowships through the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders programme. “We need to create the next generation of African leaders,” Dangote said underscoring his commitment to long-term societal change.

     “My mother instilled in me the ethos of giving back, which inspired my philanthropy 30 years ago. I trust my three daughters will continue this legacy, just as they will continue to grow our business and impact. I want to be known not just as Africa’s richest person but also as its biggest philanthropist.”

  • Dangote donates N15bn to Kano varsity

    Dangote donates N15bn to Kano varsity

    Group President of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has announced the donation of a whopping N15billion to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil(ADUSTECH), Kano State.

    Dangote, who is also the Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) was reappointed the chancellor of the university.

    In his speech at the 5th convocation ceremony, he said the university must be repositioned to lead the race of producing cutting edge research and highly skilled manpower that meets the requirements of market demands, industries and real problem solvers in the Nigerian society.

    He said: “It is in this vein that I wish to use this opportunity to announce the launch of the 5-year Development plan which I envision for this institution.

    “Over the next 5 years, we will commit the sum of N15 billion to the following projects: the design and construction of additional student hostels; the design and construction of a world class Engineering Lab; the design and construction of a world class multipurpose computer lab -open to all students of the institution which will also be equipped with 24-hour internet access to support academic research and the installation of a mini-solar plant to support access to power on campus.”

    He added that: “We also undertake to design and construct a befitting Senate building that will house the administration of this institution. Finally, we will also reserve post-NYSC employment slots for the best performing graduates in Engineering and other related courses that form part of our areas of interest at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant and Dangote Cement Plants.”

    Read Also: Dangote donates N15bn to Kano varsity

    The business mogul  said the funding for such an institution places a significant burden on the government, which is why, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, it was able to offset the University’s electricity bill to ease the strain on their finances.

    “Additionally, to support the infrastructural drive of the University, we built two blocks of Male and Female Hostels with 500 bed spaces each.

    “We also ensured the availability of electricity in a specialized University like ours for continuous teaching, learning and research, via the connection of the University to a 33KVA line, and provided a 2.5 MVA transformer and six (6) step-down transformers. This, I believe, has gone a long way in solving the energy needs of the University.”

    Dangote therefore congratulated the vision of those who dreamt of the institution 25 years ago.

    “An institution that began with a student population of 88, today has a population of more than 21,877 students and this combined convocation has a total of about 18,000 graduates. This is indeed a milestone,” he added.

  • Dangote donates N15bn to Kano varsity

    Dangote donates N15bn to Kano varsity

    Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group and Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH) Wudil,  has pledged N15 billion for various capital projects in the university.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dangote announced the largesse at the university’s 5th combined convocation ceremony held  on Saturday in Kano.

    Dangote hinted that the funds would support a five-year development plan to upgrade the university to global standards.

    He said the planned projects included design and construction of additional student hostels, design and construction of engineering labs.

    Other projects were the design and construction of a world-class multipurpose computer laboratory  with 24-hour internet access.

    He said others were the design and construction of a befitting Senate building and post-NYSC career opportunities for high-performing students.

    Dangote also commended Gov. Abba Yusuf for his efforts to address the issue of out-of-school children.

    He encouraged wealthy individuals to support the government’s initiatives in enrolling children and emphasised that public contributions were essential for the country’s overall development.

    Justice Abdu Aboki, Pro-Chancellor of the university, appreciated Dangote’s generosity, stating that it would bring modern development to the university.

    He stated that the institution was working hard to produce graduates with expertise in both character and learning.

    Also, its Vice-Chancellor,  Prof. Musa-Tukur Yakasai, said the convocation ceremony celebrated hard work and resilience, disclosing that over 18,000 students graduated in the seven combined convocations.

    He commended the Kano State Government for settling the university’s backlog of over N100 million and completing abandoned projects on campus.

    The vice-chancellor explained that the recipients of honorary Doctorate Degrees were chosen based on merit and their contributions to the state and Nigeria.

    He also said that all the 45 courses offered by the university were fully accredited by the National University Commission (NUC).

    Yakasai, however, commended the state government’s commitment to supporting the university’s development, while adding that the university’s researchers had gained international recognition.

    Those confered with Honourary Doctorate Degrees were

    Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, Author Eze, Dr Adeniyi Raji (SAN) ,Alhaji Ado Mohammad-Mustapha (Amasco),and Sen. Rabiu Musa kwankwaso.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony drew personalities from across the country.

    Yusuf, also the Visitor, congratulated the institution and the students on successfully completing their studies.

    He pledged continued support for the institution’s optimal performance and announced two exciting opportunities for the top nine students.

    Read Also: NNPC, Dangote reaffirm commitment to healthy competition

    They were granted automatic employment and foreign scholarships to study at universities of their choice, recognising their outstanding achievements.

    The governor also congratulated Kwankwaso, the founder of the institution, and reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the institution’s values.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, expressed gratitude for Dangote’s commitment to investing N15 billion in the institution, which would facilitate its development.

    Alhaji Dahiru Mangal also received commendation for his pledge to construct a 500-capacity female hostel.

    The awardees vowed to continue supporting the institution’s growth and  expressed their commitment to supporting the institution’s optimal performance.

    (NAN)