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Tag: Kogi State

  • Q1 2026: Dangote Cement Grows Exports by 71.6% as Capacity Hits 55MTA

    Q1 2026: Dangote Cement Grows Exports by 71.6% as Capacity Hits 55MTA

    Dangote Cement Plc has recorded a strong performance in the first quarter of 2026, growing its cement and clinker exports from Nigeria by 71.6 per cent, as the Group’s total installed production capacity reached 55 million tonnes per annum (MTA) across Africa.

    During the period under review, the company completed 10 clinker shipments from Nigeria to neighbouring markets, further consolidating its position as Africa’s leading cement exporter.

    According to the company’s unaudited Q1 2026 financial results, total sales volumes increased by 13.8 per cent year-on-year, driven by growth of 11.5 per cent in Nigeria and 19.5 per cent across its pan‑African operations.

    Commenting on the performance, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, said the results reflected the strength of the company’s operating model and its disciplined execution across markets.

    “We have delivered an outstanding start to 2026, with revenue up 20.4 per cent year‑on‑year to ₦1.198 trillion, driven by a strong rebound in volumes, which grew 13.8 per cent across our markets. EBITDA increased by 22.8 per cent to ₦567.1 billion, demonstrating the strength of our operating model, disciplined cost control, and our ability to convert growth into superior profitability,” he said.

    For the quarter, Dangote Cement reported a profit before tax of ₦421.1 billion, representing a 35 per cent increase from ₦311.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Earnings per share rose to ₦19.14, up from ₦12.29, underscoring sustained value creation for shareholders.

    On exports and expansion, Pathak noted the rapid scaling of Dangote Cement’s export business and progress across key growth projects.

    “Our export business continues to scale rapidly, with volumes from Nigeria up 71.6 per cent and 10 clinker shipments completed in the quarter. This performance reinforces our strategic position as Africa’s leading cement exporter,” he said.

    “Following the commissioning of our 3Mta grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire, we are progressing well with our expansion projects in Itori and Ethiopia, alongside other growth initiatives across the continent. These investments will further strengthen our footprint and keep us firmly on track to reach 80Mt of production capacity by 2030.”

    Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Pathak expressed confidence in the company’s growth outlook.

    “We have entered the year with strong momentum and a clear strategic focus. Demand across our markets remains resilient, our expansion pipeline is delivering, and our operational discipline continues to drive margin improvement. We remain confident in sustaining this growth trajectory and in consistently delivering long‑term value to our shareholders.”

    Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer, with 55.0MTA installed capacity across the continent. A fully integrated quarry‑to‑customer producer, the company operates 35.25MTA capacity in Nigeria, where its Obajana plant in Kogi State—the largest in Africa—has 16.25MTA capacity across five lines. The Ibese plant in Ogun State has 12MTA, Gboko plant in Benue State has 4MTA, while Okpella plant in Edo State has 3MTA.

    Through sustained investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria’s reliance on imported cement and transformed the country into a net exporter of cement and clinker, supplying markets across West and Central Africa.

  • Dangote Cement Re-trains Hundreds of Truck Drivers to Boost operational efficiency

    Dangote Cement Re-trains Hundreds of Truck Drivers to Boost operational efficiency

    …expresses commitment to absolute safer roads policy

    The management of Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) has expressed its irrevocable commitment to training and constant retraining of its truck drivers to promote operational efficiency and safe driving across Nigeria.

    Speaking during its 2025 Annual Drivers’ Retreat, Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director Arvind Pathak emphasised that as a leading cement manufacturer with thousands of trucks in its fleet, safety on the road remains the company’s core mandate. He said the essence of the yearly training is to remind the drivers of the brand’s core values and ensure that they are all committed to the Absolute Safer Road Policy of the Group.

    The training exercise for the drivers in DCP Ibese Plant took place in the Ilaro area of Ogun State, with over 900 drivers in attendance. Another extensive re-training exercise for more drivers is scheduled to take place in Obajana, Kogi State, next week.

    The Dangote Cement boss reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to road safety, transparency, appropriate ethical conduct, and provision of detailed clarity on the comprehensive systems and procedures to mitigate against any incident along roads across the country.

    Mr. Pathak said Dangote was a responsible organisation that consistently cooperates with the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities in the investigation of reported incidents with support of all lawful processes, aimed at establishing the facts and routinely implement recommendations that strengthen public safety.

    He explained that that every driver employed by Dangote Cement is required to undergo an extensive and rigorously structured recruitment process that includes Valid Driver’s license class G, background verification of both the driver and their guarantors, comprehensive medical evaluation, including vision screening (eye test), blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI), random blood sugar (RBS) test as well as drug and alcohol testing.

    “Other recruitment screening covers usage within a three-month detection window, ensuring identifying any history of substance use before employment, completion of a two-week intensive training programme, which consists of twelve safety modules, practical driving assessments, and written examinations”, the Cement GMD stated.

    According to him, “In the past two months alone, over 2,000 prospective drivers have successfully completed this process. Only those who meet all required standards were engaged and certified to operate any Dangote Group vehicles. Our commitment to safety extends beyond recruitment. All drivers undergo mandatory pre-trip medical assessments, conducted by licensed nurses and doctors.

    “These include regular checks on blood pressure, vision, and overall fitness, ensuring drivers are physically and mentally fit to operate safely. To enforce compliance with our zero-tolerance policy on substance use, random drug tests are conducted routinely across our operations.”

    Mr. Pathak stated that Dangote Cement would continue to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other regulatory agencies to ensure that all training, compliance, and operational processes are not only standardised but also continuously improved, adding that these authorities are also actively involved in monitoring and evaluation of their safety practices.

    He maintained that Dangote Cement remains fully committed to strengthening driver onboarding and training, enforcing strict safety and behavioural standards, applying punitive measures to curb errant driving, collaborating with government agencies, regulators, and communities to improve road safety, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compassion in everything they do.

    Also addressing the assembled drivers, the Group Chief, Health Safety Social and Environment Officer & Sustainability function, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Dr. James Adenuga stressed the importance of safety protocols and noted that the process was not just to train the drivers on the consequences but to continuously remind them of essentials of safety guides.

    Adenuga further stated that the regular training was to educate them in the language they understand and teach them how the training matters to them. He gave insights on the measures put in place to ensure the right individuals are recruited as drivers, saying some of the qualifications for recruiting the drivers included minimum of secondary school certificate, ability to speak English language with writing and reading skills, free of substance abuse, 2-5 years driving experience, possession of Class-G drivers’ license, guarantors and rigorous training among other measures.

    “We also partner with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to train and prepare them for professional driving so as to equip and give them the basics and fundamentals to prevent them from reckless driving. We equally have a process to give recognition and award to those who exhibit conduct and good behaviour among their peers,” he added.

    Taking the drivers through some requirements for safe driving, a Road Safety Expert, Mr. Oje Ebhota, explained that the choice of the topic for his paper centred on safe driving habits for accident-free journeys.

    Mr. Ebhota listed acts such as aggressiveness, impatience driving, using a phone while driving, taking an alcoholic drink, and disobedience to traffic signs as negatives against the tenet of safe driving.

    He advised the assembled drivers to be conscious of dangerous overtaking and to drive within the 60km per hour limit so that they do not veer off the road and cause accidents that could negatively affect other road users.

    According to him, “let me tell you all, drivers are the ambassadors of Dangote Group. Aside being ambassadors, you are also stakeholders that should be careful and consider other road users as important while on the road.”

  • Dangote Cement sets to commission 3Mta grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire

    Dangote Cement sets to commission 3Mta grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire

    Management of Dangote Cement has announced that it will commission the 3Mta grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire by the third quarter of this year, which is expected to strengthen the company’s position in Africa and contribute significantly to its exports.

    Chief Executive of Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, in a note to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said the company is encouraged by the growth in its export business. He said: “Export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2%, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon. This demonstrates the growing importance of our pan-African footprint and our ongoing commitment to regional trade and self-sufficiency.”

    Arvind Pathak also revealed that the company’s strategic priorities focus on long-term value creation. He said Dangote Cement has made significant progress in further strengthening its cost architecture. “…During the period, we began the phased delivery of 1,600 additional CNG-powered trucks, which will significantly reduce our logistics costs and enhance environmental efficiency.”

    Commenting on the financials for the second quarter, which he said was built on the company’s strength, resilience, and adaptability amidst improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, he said the company’s focus on operational efficiency and cost containment is delivering tangible results. According to him: “Group EBITDA rose by an impressive 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, while Group profit surged by 174.1%. This remarkable performance is a testament to our disciplined execution, strong cost leadership, and the strategic investments we have made over the years.”

    Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with 52.0Mta capacity across Africa. A fully integrated quarry-to-customer producer that have a production capacity of 35.25Mta in Nigeria. Its Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines; while its Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta. In the same vein, its Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta, and its Okpella plant in Edo state has 3Mta. Through its recent investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement and has transformed the nation into an exporter of cement and clinker, serving neighbouring countries.

    In addition, the company has operations in Cameroon (1.5Mta clinker grinding), Congo (1.5Mta), Ghana (2.0Mta clinker grinding and import), Ethiopia (2.5Mta), Senegal (1.5Mta), Sierra Leone (0.5Mta import), South Africa (2.8Mta), Tanzania (3.0Mta), Zambia (1.5Mta).

  • Feature- Roads to Rebirth: How Governor Ododo is Leveraging Multilateral Partnership to Transform Road Infrastructure in Kogi State

    Feature- Roads to Rebirth: How Governor Ododo is Leveraging Multilateral Partnership to Transform Road Infrastructure in Kogi State

    BY Ismaila Isah

    In a bold move to bridge gaps in Kogi State’s road infrastructure and position it as a model of sustainable development, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has embarked on an ambitious strategy of leveraging multilateral partnerships to revitalize rural access, enhance connectivity, reverse environmental degradation and boost agricultural productivity anchored on local content.

    While the state government is currently working on over 400 kilometers of township roads including roads in Omala, Idah, Bassa in Kogi East, Mopamuro, Egbe, Ijumu in Kogi West and in Okene, Okehi and Adavi in Kogi Central, there are currently over 200 kilometres of rural roads connecting about 50 communities across most of the agricultural belts in several local government areas in the state largely enabled by multilateral partnerships and strategic interventions.

    Central to this vision innovative multilateral partnerships is the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) with its unprecedented erosion control projects at Etahi in Okene, Olubiojo in Ankpa, and Omigbo in Kabba, representing Kogi Central, East, and Western Senatorial zones respectively worth 29.9 Billion Naira. Equally pivotal is the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), which has already initiated construction of over 200 kilometres of rural access roads across the state.

    These initiatives, implemented in collaboration with multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Federal Government of Nigeria, among other donor agencies, are closely aligned with Governor Ododo’s campaign promises anchored on a commitment of not only transforming Kogi’s physical landscape but at the same time breathing new life into its economy by boosting agricultural output and creating jobs.

    RAAMP, an initiative by the World Bank, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has emerged as a cornerstone of the administration’s strategy to link rural and agricultural production communities with markets and essential services. In October 2024, Governor Ododo flagged off the construction of 65 kilometres of rural access roads connecting major agro-producing communities in Lokoja, Adavi and Okehi local government areas.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Apata, near Obajana, Governor Ododo emphasized that: “These rural roads are not just transport links, they are lifelines that connect our traders, farmers, and communities, fostering economic growth and food security.
    By improving access, we are empowering farmers to compete in regional and national markets, thereby boosting incomes and reducing poverty.”

    The Governor maintained that strategic connections to be enhanced by the project marked the beginning of a broader rural road network aimed at enhancing connectivity, lowering transportation costs for farmers, and improving access to markets.

    True to the Governor’s manifesto, which pledged to explore innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships for roads and other public infrastructure, the RAAMP initiative is a textbook example, blending international donor support with state-driven priorities to address critical infrastructure gaps in the state.

    While RAAMP tackles the rural connectivity challenge, ACReSAL focuses on another pressing concern: environmental degradation and the threat it poses to agricultural sustainability and peoples’ wellbeing. In Etahi, Olubiojo, and Omigbo, years of unchecked seasonal erosion have carved deep gullies, devastating farmlands, and displacing communities. In response, the ongoing ACReSAL environmental remediation projects funded by its partners like the World Bank and implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment aim to restore these landscapes through bioengineering and climate-resilient techniques.

    Governor Ododo harped on the significance of these projects when he noted: “We are not only building roads and bridges; we are building trust, inclusion, and ownership by ensuring our people benefit directly from the process.”

    He further stated that the projects are not merely technical interventions but people-centered solutions designed for long-term impacts, as he stressed during the recent project inspection tour in Kogi Central, emphasizing that the administration has evolved a statewide scope of interventions.

    “What we are doing in Kogi Central is also taking place in Kogi East and Kogi West. Our project monitoring teams are also conducting inspections in other parts of the state. We will continue to monitor, evaluate, and complete projects that matter to the people,” he said.

    A testament to all-inclusiveness in the development of road infrastructure in the state is visible in the several rural road projects by RAAMP including the 24.1KM Ilai-Ifeolukotun road in Yagba East local government; 19.55KM Aku-Uro-Obajana road, 6.59KM Osara-Atami road, 6.83KM Elubi-Etiaja-Ajakwu- Ulaja road in Dekina local government area, 4.13KM Odidoko-Ugbamaka-Ubojo-Oloyo-Emakpe road in Olamaboro local government area, 16.03KM Eganyi-FFN road in Ajaokuta local government area, 1.33KM EMMCO-Umuaga road in Okene local government area, 2.41KM Aku-UrukuOdoba road in Adavi local government area and the 18.95KM Ibado Akpacha-Ojiaji-Ogudu road in Omala local government area.

    These projects are serving as engines of economic empowerment, inclusion, and promoting local content in project delivery.
    Current data reveals that over 5,000 skilled and semi-skilled youths are employed across the state, from road construction sites in Obajana, Omala, and Aku to erosion control sites in Ankpa, Okene, and Kabba-Bunu

    As Benjamin Oguche, a mason working on one of the ACReSAL project sites in Ankpa, shared:
    “I am working on the gully erosion control sites. They (the construction firm) taught us how to lay asphalt and use machinery. Now I can get similar jobs anywhere in the country.”

    The ripple effects are already apparent. In Etahi, ongoing construction of roads coupled with erosion control have revitalized community life almost overnight. In Olubiojo and Omigbo, ACReSAL’s land restoration, now over 65% complete, has restored access to fertile lands previously lost to erosion, enabling a return to farming and food production.

    As these projects progress across the state, they herald a new era for Kogi. Upon completion, RAAMP’s road networks will connect rural dwellers to schools, healthcare centres, and markets, while ACReSAL’s restoration efforts, supported by over three billion Naira in community revolving loans as well as plans to plant trees for reforestation on 10,000 hectares of land in the state, will safeguard Kogi’s agricultural productivity, the environment and the wellbeing of the people.

    Overall, Governor Ododo’s administration is proving that strategic multilateral partnerships can turn campaign promises into tangible progress. By aligning international and national interventions with a clear, community-focused development agenda, he is not just bridging infrastructure gaps, he is building a new Kogi State where collective commitment to sustainability and shared prosperity become a reality for all.

    Ismaila Isah is the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Kogi State

  • Top finalists emerge in 2024 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition

    Top finalists emerge in 2024 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition

    The top finalists have emerged for the 2024 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition organised by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. The final 11 top candidates finalists emerged tops out of the 136 teachers who made it to the second phase grading by the panel of judges following the first grading of 1300 teachers that were successful out of the 1477 total number entries received for the competition.

    The list of the top finalists includes Aniefiok Iniobong Udoh of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono, Akwa Ibom State, Nwosu Chinenye Augustina of Anthony Obaze Memorial Community Secondary School, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra, Ojo Olumuyiwa Olumide of Apex Group of School, Ibillo, Akoko Edo, Edo State, Ojo Olufunke Adewunmi of Praise Worthy Secondary School, Ikota Ekiti, Eki State, Akinyele Samuel of Kingdom Seed International School, Lokoja, Kogi State.  

    Other finalists include Abidoye Aderonke Ibiyemi of Kosofe Senior College, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Lagos State, Esomnofu Chidiebube Ifechukwu of Crown Grace School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Kehinde Oladapo  Olukayode of Molusi College, Oke Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Isaac Michael Ayodele of CAC Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State, Famuyide Florence Bola of Olatunde Comprehensive High School, Owena- Ijesa, Osun State and Abiodun Regina Nwagbo of Mother’s Joy College, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Speaking on the emergence of the top finalists, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan, applauded the panel of judges for the rigorous work they had done during the selection process

    Morgan also lauded the level of scrutiny deployed by the jurors during the different phases of grading, which clearly demonstrated the competition’s transparency and fairness. She urged the finalists to continue to put their best foot forward in their quest to become the eventual winner.

    Now in its 10th edition, the winner of the 2024 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition will be determined after the esteemed panel of judges rigorously interviews and evaluates the finalists.  

    The grand finale of the event billed to hold on Friday, October 11, 2024, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will witness the announcement and recognition of the winner by the Special Guest of Honour, the Honourable Minster of State for Education, Hon. Dr. Yussuf Sununu and Chief Host, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu.

    Since inception, more than two hundred teachers have been recognized and rewarded with mouthwatering prizes.

  • Feature: #MakeNigeriaBetter- Kogi State

    Feature: #MakeNigeriaBetter- Kogi State

    by Ayo Akinfe

    As part of our Make Nigeria Better series, let us look at the economic potential of Kogi State and see how it could become one of Nigeria’s cash cows

    [1] Kogi is one of the least developed states in Nigeria in terms of infrastructure. It lacks basic roads, rural areas are inaccessible during the rainy season and it struggles to attract private sector employers

    [2] Despite being home to the historic confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue, Kogi State is shamelessly more or less wholly dependent on federal allocation handouts for its survival

    [3] If you gave Kogi state to a visionary like Obafemi Awolowo to run, he would easily come up with a budget to match the federal government’s one of $30bn

    [4] Let me remind you all that in 1959, the federal government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa unveiled a budget of £50m but the Western Region government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo came up with a budget of £55m. Why was this possible? Because the Western Region had several revenue earners like WNTV, Liberty Stadium, Airport Hotel Ikeja, Cocoa House, etc that brought in cash for the government

    [5] I am sure Kogians weep when they see how the unique status of their state is wasted. Being at the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue, Kogi State should be the hydro-electric capital of West Africa, the region’s biggest tourist attraction and the gateway between northern and southern Nigeria with the best road network on the entire African continent

    [6] Anyone from Lokoja who has visited Niagra Falls in Ontario, Canada, must surely be ashamed of their state. It has a similar topography but alas, Niagra Falls attracts $2.4bn in annual tourist revenue, has 2,800
    tourism businesses and the sector employs 40,000 people who cater for 13m visitors a year

    [7] As if that is not enough, the Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station generates 2,675MW of power annually. Can someone please explain to me why Kogi State that is home to both Idah and Lokoja does not generate 5,000MW of power a year? Shame on you Kogians for not exercising initiative

    [8] You Kogians are sitting on your backsides waiting in vain for the federal government to spoon feed you. For me, that is just people running away from their responsibilities

    [9] When I look at Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Idah, I see cities that can easily generate $5bn each. Kogi State should easily raise $25bn a year in internally generated revenue if it was populated by industrious people but alas, we are simply not productive enough

    [10] I take it all of you are aware of the limestone reserves in Obajana in Kogi State that attracted Dangote Industries. Why has Obajana not been turned into this major industrial hub with manufacturing facilities, factories, industrial estates, etc? All of Nigeria’a cement processing equipment should be manufactured in Kogi State

  • Feature: Ten Nigerian States that must Generate more Revenue than Crude Oil

    by Ayo Akinfe

    I would like to see President Tinubu summon all Nigeria’a governors to Aso Rock and tell them that he plans to create 42 states in 2024, and the following ten states must generate more revenue than crude oil.

    [1] Lagos State: Our commercial capital currently accounts for about one quarter of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) and one third of non-oil GDP. However, we need to built on it and turn it into an international financial centre that matches London which generates $650bn a year or New York which generates $1.4trn a year.

    [2] Mambilla State: To be carved out our of current Taraba State, what I have in mind is a state made of about 30,000 square kilometres, of which about 20,000 square kilometres of the area is a nature reserve. Mambilla State must become the world’s largest wildfire sanctuary with the largest number of lions, impala, buffalo, lions, hyenas, giraffe, buffalo, zebras, crocodiles, leopards, cheetahs, etc anywhere on earth. South Africa’s Kruge National part is 19,485 square kilometres so we must match that in Mambilla State, making it the world’s leading tourist attraction. It will be a state for animals rather than humans.

    [3] Anambra State: This has got to be the epicentre of Nigerian manufacturing, with Nnewi operating as our Detroit. I want to see every automobile manufacturer in the world open a manufacturing plant in Nnewi

    [4] Orashi State: This be carved out of current Rivers State. Nigeria has 853km of Atlantic coastline yet does not have a marine economy. Totally unacceptable state of affairs and symbolises our lack of seriousness as a nation. Given that our coastline is also in the middle of the earth, we should be a shipping nation with one of the world’s largest merchant shipping industries. Orashi State will be populated by the Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State. As we all know, Ndigbo are the most industrious people in Nigeria and I intend milking that to the maximum. At the moment, Igboid people like the Ikwerre, Etche, Ubani, etc make up the majority of the people of Rivers State. I want them to turn the state into one massive ship yard where we build cargo ships, petroleum tankers, containers, speedboats, etc. Orders must come in from over the world

    [5] Niger State: By far Nigeria’s largest state by landmass, this will be the epicentre of our plans to make animal husbandry a major money spinner. Made up of 76,363 square kilometres, I want Niger State to dedicate at least 20,000 square kilometres to what will be the world’s largest cattle ranch. Attached to it will be a massive dairy plant, an animal feed compounding facility and the world’s largest leather goods manufacturing plant. Cities like Minna, Bida, Zungeru, Mokwa, Kontagora, etc will all be major manufacturing hubs for cattle by-products

    [6] Borno State: Leon Trotsky once said: “Even in ruins there is architecture.” One good thing that has come out of the Boko Haram crisis is that half of the Borno State population is now on the capital Maiduguri. This means that massive swathes of the 70,898 square kilometres that make up Borno State are unoccupied farmland. This state is this ripe for commercial farming on a massive scale. I want to see huge plantations that go on for miles, devoid of human habitation where we grow crops like groundnuts, cassava, maize, rice millet sorghum, yam, mangoes, etc on a massive scale. I then want to see the urban centres like Maiduguri, Dikwa and Biu become home to massive food processing plants

    [7] Ondo State: This state is unique in two ways as it has the largest tropical rain forest area in Nigeria, so it is no surprise that it is the largest producer of tropical crops like cocoa and kolanuts. I want to see Ondo State turned into the confectionery capital of the world, attracting the likes of Nestle, Mars, Cadbury, etc. Ondo State is also the gateway between east and west Nigeria, so I would like to see it built into a commercial bridge. The city of Ore along the Sagami-Benin Expressway should be a major hub with warehouses, silos, trailer parks, etc, halving the journey between the southwest and southeast

    [8] Cross River State: Another unique state because it is the gateway to east and central Africa. For me, Calabar should become Africa’s aviation hub linking West Africa with the rest of the continent. I want to see West Africa’s first aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) facility opened at Calabar Airport wooing every single airline in the world. This is soon to be followed by the opening of aircraft manufacturing facilities in the city. The Cross River State governor has an obligation to bring the likes of Boeing and Embraer to Calabar

    [9] Kogi State: I am perplexed as to how a state can be the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue and not be a major tourist attraction. Apart from being home to a facility of the stature of Niagara Falls, Kogi State should also be able to generate enough hydro-electric power to electrify the whole of Nigeria. I want to see Kogi State build a dam similar in size to China’s Three Gorges Dam at Lokoja and match its capacity of generating 22,500MW of electricity

    [10] Imo State: Virtually every chemist in Nigeria is manned by a man from Orlu. This their love for the pharmaceutical trade must be tapped into. We need to not only attract every drug company in the world to come and open manufacturing plants in Orlu but we need to open the largest tropical medicine research centre and hospital on Owerri. We have already missed a trick with Covid-19. We should have insisted that the likes of Pfizer and AstraZeneca all open vaccine plants in Orlu

  • McEnies Bags 6-Month Communications Deal With FCDO, UK Meteorological Office In Nigeria To Alleviate Flooding

    McEnies Bags 6-Month Communications Deal With FCDO, UK Meteorological Office In Nigeria To Alleviate Flooding

    McEnies Global Communications has won a contract with UK Meteorological Office to develop improved communications practices on weather information and work out meaningful communication strategies to mitigate against perennial flooding in Nigeria.

    The project which is being sponsored by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will bring together several relevant government agencies, like the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA),  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

    The team will come together to co-develop improved communications products and protocols to reach the most vulnerable flood prone States and communities like Bayelsa, Lagos, Kebbi, Oyo, Kogi etc, to allow them make life-changing decisions.

    The project is expected to last for 6 months and it will cover all the 36 states of Nigeria including FCT, Abuja.

    During this period McEnies Global Communications is expected to professionally liaise with Nigeria’s local media across all channels, under a painstaking high-level engagement with government delegates and agencies that are crucial for the success of the well-intentioned project.

    This upwardly mobile wholly owned Nigerian company, McEnies Global Communications that is known with vast expertise in strategic, integrated marketing services and digital marketing secured this deal with FCDO and UK Met Office in September, 2023 a confirmation from the company has revealed.

    Met Office, is the United Kingdom’s national weather service and an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It’s also known for making meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climate change.

    Speaking about its latest feat in blue cheap clientele expansion, the CEO of McEnies Global comms, Omolaraeni Olaosebikan said the latest milestone would enable the firm to continue to create a cohesive creative communications solution and further strengthen the agency’s ability to offer clients in Nigeria and outside Nigeria value for their money with premium and enduring satisfaction.

    She added that sealing a deal with UK FCDO and UK Met Office is a confirmation of her company’s commitment to enhance its communication services offering for clients across the globe.

    “Nigeria is one of the biggest economies in sub-Saharan Africa and creates opportunities for an innovative communications firm such as McEnies Global Communications.

    “We will not rest on our oars in making use of our global network advantages, coupled with our local professional services experience, to provide strategic communications support to all our clients and of course our fresh contractual agreement with FCDO and UK Met Office to work out communication protocol that can help to mitigate against perennial flooding in Nigeria, and as well create a new conversation and right message with preferred language among vulnerable segments of the society will no doubt project us to the world as a competent and reliable outfit whose integrity, moral rectitude and Jack for excellence can never be compromised.

    “This meritorious rise for us as a brand at McEnies Global Communications by dint of hardwood validates our strength in doing what we know how to do best and we are also committed to expand frontiers of integrated marketing communication, unlock more opportunities, break barriers and deepen customers’ satisfaction whilst also putting into cognizance industry standards and codes of ethics in tandem with global best practices.” She said.

  • Feature: Nigerian Governors Forum should support the search for Chinese solutions to the country’s woes

    Feature: Nigerian Governors Forum should support the search for Chinese solutions to the country’s woes

    By Ayo Akinfe

    After 100 days and no coherent economic policy from the Tinubu administration, maybe it is to time for us to turn our attention to the Nigerian Governors Forum as we search for a Chinese solution to our woes

    [1] I am sure that like me, the rest of you do not know where the Tinubu administration stands on economic policy. Is it a Keynesian interventionist government or one that believes in laissez-faire free market economics?

    [2] If I were an investor looking at the Nigerian market, I would like to know policy direction before committing myself. How I wish I was in India to hear how Wale Edun would respond to all these questions

    [3] While we are waiting from answers from Abuja, maybe focusing on the states might be the way forward. To be fair, our federating units did strive to be economically independent during the First Republic. It was Major General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi’s Unification Decree 34 of 1966 that stripped the federating units of their authority and vested almighty powers in the federal government

    [4] Since then, we have just dug ourselves deeper into this oil dependency hole. Just to give you an example. In 1959, the federal prime minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa unveiled a budget of £50m but Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the Western Region unveiled a budget of £55m. Can you imagine a Nigerian state governor coming up with a budget greater than the federal government today?

    [5] Well, as fanciful as this might sound, it is something that should happen. If say Bayelsa State has a thriving shipbuilding, boatmaking, submarine construction and maritime industry, it would generate a lot more than the paltry $28bn that is the federal government’s 2020 budget projection

    [6] Likewise, if Kogi State had leveraged its unique position as the location of the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue and established thriving tourist, power generation, maritime transport, manufacturing, etc industries based on it having Ajaokuta within its domain, it would generate more money than oil brings in

    [7] As we all know, airports like Heathrow, Cairo, Dubai, Amsterdam and Addis Ababa have built themselves into economic powerhouses using their locations as regional hubs. Calabar is the gateway to central, east and southern Africa and were successive Cross River State governments alive to this, by now, the Calabar Airport would have been a regional aviation hub and a massive cash cow, generating something like $10bn a year

    [8] I can go on and on. If we take each of Nigeria’s 36 states, you will find that every one is sitting on a hidden gold mine that just needs to be tapped into. However, the oil doom destroyed our ability to think, dulled our capacity to be innovative, ruined our initiative and demolished the building blocks laid by people like Obafemi Awolowo

    [9] I am certain that we will bounce back from this stronger. You just need to see how much China has generated from the kung fu industry since 1931 to appreciate the fact that necessity is the mother of invention. In 1931, the Japanese invaded China, capturing Manchuria, imposing a ruthless colonial oppressive regime on them. This imperial control prevented the Chinese from carrying any weapons, so to defend themselves, local people had to learn martial arts. Just look at how much Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan alone generated for the sector between them since then

    [10] China has never looked back since the Japanese invasion. It was used as the catalyst for industrial growth. Fighting back against Japan ultimately led to the 1949 revolution and since then, China has just been on the up and up. I see the collapse in global oil prices as Nigeria’s Manchuria Moment. May petroleum never ever sell for more than $10 a barrel again. This will force us to come up with our own kung fu economic initiatives

  • Feature: What State Governors can do without the Federal Government

    Feature: What State Governors can do without the Federal Government

    By Ayo Akinfe

    As we ponder how to end this dependency on the Federal Government, here are 10 things Nigerian state governors could do today without having to involve President Tinubu

    [1] Kogi state can attract the likes of Siemens to build a 10,000MW hydro-electric power plant at Idah

    [2] Kogi State can build a Niagara Falls-type tourist attraction at the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja

    [3] Taraba State can open the world’s largest nature reserve in Gembu

    [4] Niger State can open the world’s largest cattle ranch in Mokwa

    [5] Akwa Ibom State can attract investors to build Africa’s largest sea port at Ikot Abasi

    [6] Ondo State can woo investors to build a railway line to Apapa and Port Harcourt so its cocoa can get to port

    [7] Rivers State can attract shipbuilders to open a shipyard at Degema

    [8] Kwara State can woo the likes of Tate & Lyle to open the world’s largest sugar refinery at Jebba

    [9] Anambra State can build a railway crossing linking Nzam with Illah in Delta State

    [10] Zamfara State can open the world’s largest solar farm

    Are our governors not just hiding behind this excuse of over-centralisation? There is no law in Nigeria that prevents them from wooing investors and developing their states independent of the federal government.

    Lagos State government has proven that you can get things done on your own if you want to. We have seen it with Eko Atlantic City, Lekki, Badagry and the Lagos light railway project.

  • Feature: Ideas that can make Tinubu dazzle and astonish

    Feature: Ideas that can make Tinubu dazzle and astonish

    by Ayo Akinfe

    In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte became France’s first consul and declared: “A newborn government must dazzle and astonish.” Here are ten things Bola Tinubu can announce within the next week to dazzle and astonish

    [1] We will establish a special anti-kidnapping squad of the Nigeria Police Force headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police with a mandate to eliminate what has become a banditry pandemic of late

    [2] We will build the world’s largest hydro-electric power plant at Lokoja, Kogi State with a capacity to generate 15,000MW of electricity

    [3] A 10th mechanised division of the Nigerian Army will be established in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. It will be a specialist anti-terrorist division

    [4] As from July 1 2023, the federal government will no longer subsidise religious pilgrimages

    [5] As from October 1 2023, open grazing of cattle will be illegal across Nigeria. All cattle must be moved to secure ranches by this date or they will be seized

    [6] Domestic airlines led by Air Peace have been invited to take a 30% in the new proposed national carrier Air Nigeria. Foreign airlines will have a 20%, Ethiopian Airways will have a 20% stake and the Federal Government will have a 20% stake.

    [8] On October 1 2027, Nigeria will abolish its current federal allocation formula. Between now and then, there will be a gradual move towards resource control

    [9] The Federal Government will be accepting bids for the NNPC. It remains an albatross around our collective necks as it bleeds Nigeria dry with its petrol subsidies, so we will sell it to those who can make it work and maybe get its refineries functioning again

    [10] We shall be sending a bill to the National Assembly linking the salaries of senators, House of Rep members and governors to grades in the civil service

  • Dangote, Sinoma Sign Agreement On new 6Mta Cement Plant In Itori, Ogun State

    Dangote, Sinoma Sign Agreement On new 6Mta Cement Plant In Itori, Ogun State

    Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has signed an agreement with China Sinoma International Engineering to build a six million tons per annum cement plant in Itori, Ogun State. The agreement was signed by the Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote alongside the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, DIL, Devakumar Edwin, while China Sinoma Engineering was represented by its Group President, Yin Zhisong, and the company’s Chairman, Liu Renyue. 

    Dangote speaking at the signing ceremony, said that new integrated cement plant at completion will strengthen the local production capacity of Dangote Cement, bringing its local capacity to 41.25 million tons per annum and total African capacity to 57.6 million tons per annum. He said the Itori Cement Plant will also increase Nigeria’s capacity to export cement, thereby enabling more diversification and foreign exchange inflows for the economy.  

    According to Dangote, the project is further expected to develop the domestic economy through creation of thousands of indirect and direct jobs and drive economic development in the Itori axis. Ancillary businesses, he stated will be drawn to the axis, who will be seeking to take advantage of the location of the cement plant to provide goods and services to staff, contractors and other stakeholders.  

    He added that constructing the new cement plant is in line with Dangote Group’s vision of producing locally goods that were formally imported despite the abundance of raw materials for local production of such goods. 

    He described Sinoma as a strategic partner who has been instrumental to the success of key projects in Dangote Group. He said, “We are comfortable working with your company. You have handled some of our key projects and I am positive that this project will be completed as scheduled. 

    Group President of China Sinoma Engineering, Yin Zhisong, expressed satisfaction with the commitment and determination of the Dangote Group in building cement plants across Africa. He said: “It is an honour for us to build another cement plant for Dangote Group. We are proud and happy to be on this journey with the company again. 

    When operational, the plant is expected to have two Lines x 6,000 TPD Clinker Production with an installed daily total capacity of 12,000 TPD of Clinker production. It is expected to be completed within 27 months with best-in-class equipment in the cement industry, sourced from Europe’s major equipment suppliers. 

    The plant will have its own captive power plant to generate electric power for use by cement kilns and other production processes. 

    The Itori Cement Plant will be Dangote Cement’s fourth cement plant constructed as a green field project in Nigeria, the rest are Obajana, Ibese and Okpella Plants.  

    Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with 51.6Mta production capacity across Africa with Nigeria accounting for 35.25Mta.   

    Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines; Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta; Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta; and  Okpella plant in Edo state has 3Mta.  

  • Q3: Dangote increases cement sales by 6.2% to 20.8mt as it embraces alternative fuel to cut cost

    Q3: Dangote increases cement sales by 6.2% to 20.8mt as it embraces alternative fuel to cut cost

    For the third quarter of 2022, the Management of Dangote Cement has recorded an increase in the overall volume of cement sales by 6.2 percent to 20.8metric tons. This was achieved despite the elevated inflation that is due to a very volatile global environment.

    To further increase the supply of cement across its operational base, the company has also commissioned its power plant at Okpella and is progressing well to deploy grinding plants in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

    Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, who disclosed this while presenting the third quarter results to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, over the weekend, further explained that “To mitigate the impact of the significant increase in energy and AGO costs, we are strengthening our efforts to ramp up the usage of alternative fuels. So far this year, we have co-processed 101,553 tonnes of waste representing a 77% increase over 9M 2021. We are on track to commission our Alternative Fuel feed system at Obajana lines I and V, and Ibese line II in November. In addition, we are ramping up our investment in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), to reduce our AGO usage”

    To that end, he explained that the company recorded an increase in revenue of ₦1,177.3B, up 15.2% compared to last year, and Group EBITDA of ₦515.9B, up 0.2% with an EBITDA margin of 43.8%”

    Dangote Cement, it would be recalled is Africa’s leading cement producer with nearly 51.6Mta capacity across Africa. A fully integrated quarry-to-customer producer, it has a production capacity of 35.25Mta in its home market, Nigeria. 

    Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines while the Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta.  The Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta while the Okpella plant in Edo state has 3Mta. 

    Through recent investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement and has transformed the nation into an exporter of cement serving neighbouring countries.   

  • Shareholders associations knock Kogi Govt, say action on Dangote Cement, dangerous for investment

    Shareholders associations knock Kogi Govt, say action on Dangote Cement, dangerous for investment

    Group of Shareholders Associations in Nigeria have urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene and prevail on the government of Kogi State to stop further harassment of investors in Kogi State.

    They described as barbaric the use of thugs to embarrass investors, such as meted out on Dangote cement and other companies located in Kogi State, noting that such unsavoury development will strongly discourage both local and foreign investments into the country.

    It would be recalled that the Government of Kogi State last week, at the instance of the state governor, Yahaya Bello, invaded Dangote Cement, Obajana plant with over 500 armed members of the state’s security outfit, the Vigilantes, shot 27 staff and wounded several others.

    President of the Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Shareholders, Dr. Umar Faruk, while speaking on the development criticised the State Government for being so insensitive to its populace, thousands of whom are depending on the Dangote Obajana plant for their means of livelihood. He said it is unfortunate that someone who has championed investment, worth billions of Naira into a state in Nigeria, is being treated this way.

    He called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, caution the Governor of Kogi State to be more civilized and professional in its dealing with Investors in the State. According to him: “Why should the governor of a state in Nigeria, mobilized vigilantes to seal a publicly quoted company? The same Governor did exactly the same thing to First Bank, making the bank close some of its branches in the state. Is that not executive rascality, using the state assembly to commit such an atrocious act?

    “Federal Government should swing into action by protecting investors, else, the efforts being made to attract both foreign and local investors will come to naught. I hope the state realizes that Dangote Cement has foreign shareholders. What impression do you want these people to have of our government? I also urge the Federal Government to fish out those thugs, used by the State, for prosecution, so as to serve as a deterrent to others…This action will lead to loss of revenue, even for the Government, in terms of taxes, and erode the shareholder’s value.”

    In the same vein, founder of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) and President of Boys Brigade Nigeria (BBN), Sir Sunny Nwosu said a reasonable state government would have gone to court against any publicly quoted company rather than resort to a barbaric and ruthless method of chasing workers with guns and cutlass in the civilized age.

    “What the Kogi State Government did, honestly was very bad and disappointing. How can a state use vigilante with guns and cutlasses against a company that is feeding thousands of its people? A reasonable government should have gone to Court and not taken laws into its hands.

    “This action is bad and will smear the image of both the Federal and State government. It will also affect the ranking of ease of doing business in Nigeria. Kogi is blessed with so many natural resources, but with the attitude of this government, I doubt if any reasonable investor, either local or foreign, will want to do anything with the state anymore”

    The President, Pragmatic Shareholders Association, Mrs. Bisi Bakare said: “As an investor, we are not happy about the way things are going. If the State has problems with Dangote Cement on tax issues or any issue at all, there are a far better-civilized ways of handling it than sealing a factory that is contributing more than 30 percent of the cement Nigerians are consuming.

    “The governor should realize that his position is transient and that the people of his state, whom he has deprived their means of livelihood will always remember him for bad! Can you imagine the number of people that will be out of jobs and the huge revenue loss to the government, the company, and us, the shareholders? The state, to me, has done a very grave mistake and the earlier the company is re-opened the better.”

    Recalled that the Organised Private Sector (OPS) operators under the aegis of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have lent its voice to the ongoing spat between Dangote Cement and Kogi state government which culminated into the closure of the Obajana plant of the Cement company. 

    NACCIMA expressed regret that the issues between the company and the state over tax disputes ought not to have led to sealing of the company but should have been resolved in a conciliatory and amicable atmosphere.

    The body, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Olusola Obadimu, and issued in Lagos, said the state government should have trodden a path of caution and called for the immediate reopening of the factory for normal production activities to resume. 

    Obadimu stated that NACCIMA’s position was based on some key considerations bordering on the impact of the factory’s closure on the economy and thousands of people whose means of livelihood depend on the production activities of the factory. 

    “It is vital to note that it is a huge production plant that supplies key domestic input (cement) into the economy and employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, directly and indirectly. This is aside from its substantial budget for corporate social responsibility outside of taxes. 

    “Shutting off the factory does not necessarily help the controversial issue of compliance on tax remittable to Kogi state government. Rather a continuous operation of the plant would more likely facilitate a faster resolution of the dispute,” he said. 

    The NACCIMA boss then urged that the factory be reopened as quickly as possible to enable it to continue its operation and fulfil its necessary responsibilities, not just on tax obligations, but also keep the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in its direct and indirect employment dutifully engaged; while sustaining its crucial services not just to the people and government of Kogi State but Nigeria in general.