NASCON Allied Industries Plc, also known as Dangote Salt, has rewarded 50 outstanding customers with Trucks and cash gifts worth billions of naira, for their loyalty and commitment in selling of its various products.

The lucky Distributors and customers were honoured at the seasoning giant’s 2025 Customers Dinner and Awards Night attended by Africa’s foremost industrialist and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and Vice President, Olakunle Alake.

NASCON Allied Industries Plc, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, is a Nigerian company and manufacturer of Refined Salt and Dangote Classic Seasonings.

Speaking at the event, Thursday in Abuja, The group President, Mr. Aliko Dangote said the Customer Awards Night publicly acknowledges the company’s core value of Customer Service and aligns with its vision of being a world-class consumer goods company.
The President also commended the company’s Board chairman, management and staff for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and consistent contributions to the organization’s growth and sustained market leadership.

He noted that their commitment to excellence, operational efficiency, and strong work ethic has continued to strengthen the company’s reputation and drive its long-term success.

He said: “Recognizing customers is not just good relationship management – it is good business. It sends a clear message to our people that customer service is truly one of our core values. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in brand equity, supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and digital capabilities. But these investments only create value when they are aligned with customer realities. Your continued engagement and feedback remain critical.”
In his speech, Board Chairman of NASCON Allied Industries Plc and Dangote Group’s Vice President, Olakunle Alake said: “As a quoted company, we are accountable to shareholders, regulators and the investing public. But the confidence of thmarketmarket is ultimately rooted in the market performance, and market performance depends on customers who believe in our brands. “

The Board Chairman said from the Board’s perspective, “customer service is not just a core value, it is a strategic asset.”

Mr. Alake described the Awards as a celebration of partnership, adding that success cannot be built in isolation.

The newly appointed Group Executive Director of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, Fatima Aliko Dangote, expressed her appreciation to customers for their enduring loyalty and continued trust in the brand.

She said this steadfast support has been a cornerstone of the company’s growth and success.

She said: “Each of you has demonstrated outstanding commitment to our brands, whether through sustained volume growth, market expansion, execution excellence, or long-standing loyalty. Your success is inseparable from our own.”

Speaking at the event, Mariya Aliko Dangote, recently appointed Group Executive Director, Commercial (Cement and Foods) at Dangote Industries Limited, noted that each of the award recipients has demonstrated exceptional loyalty and outstanding commitment to the company’s brands.

“I recently assumed the responsibility of our foods business in the capacity of Group Executive Director, Commercial operations, and one truth is already clear to me: our success is built with you and with your unwavering support,” she said.

She said true success is built from the market and feedback from customers.

The Managing Director of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Aderemi Saka, stated that the central message of the awards night was to celebrate and appreciate the company’s customers, noting that the organization’s success is closely tied to the growth and prosperity of its customers.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Ali Balarabe, commended the Board, management, and staff of the company for their exceptional service and dedication.

Mr. Balarabe, who was rewarded with a 20-tonnage truck and cash credit expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that it reflects the company’s commitment to excellence.

Balarabe further pledged to sustain his loyalty and continued support, promising to remain a steadfast and devoted customer in the years ahead.

Other customers who received truckload awards and cash credits include Alhaji Ibrahim Achida, Muabsa Integrated Services, Fanisau Enterprises, Idris Saleh Nigeria Limited, Sani Adamu Trader, and GIA Global Concept, among others.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Assembly has announced that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will reconvene plenary sessions on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, in a statement urging lawmakers to adjust their schedules to ensure full attendance, as critical decisions are expected during the sessions.

“I am directed to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the Senate and House of Representatives shall reconvene Plenary session at 11:00am on Tuesday, 17th February 2026 respectively,” the statement read.

“Consequently, all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are kindly requested to take note and reschedule their engagements accordingly to enable them attend the session, as very crucial decisions shall be taken by each Chamber during the session.”

The National Assembly did not disclose the specific matters to be deliberated upon.

Lawmakers had earlier suspended plenary to allow more time for the defence of the 2026 budget proposals by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

However, indications emerged over the weekend that the House of Representatives may convene for an emergency sitting to consider matters arising from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. This follows the recent release of the 2027 general election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The decision to reconvene was reportedly conveyed to lawmakers in an internal memorandum issued by the Office of the Speaker, according to a statement released on Friday night by the House spokesman, Mr. Akin Rotimi.

The INEC timetable has sparked debate over certain dates that are expected to clash with the Ramadan period, which is projected to fall between February 7 and 8, 2027. Several Nigerians, including senators, have raised concerns about the potential conflict, arguing that the fasting period could hinder electoral activities.

Tuesday’s session is therefore expected to consider possible adjustments to the electoral timetable to ensure that the Ramadan period does not interfere with scheduled election activities.

By Farooq Kperogi

Now that Abdullahi Ganduje has issued a (tepid) denial of Nasir El-Rufai’s televised allegation of his complicity in Abubakar “Dadiyata” Idris’ unexplained disappearance, I have a few thoughts to share.

Dadiyata and I followed each other on Twitter when I was active there, so I have a fair sense of what he tweeted about. El-Rufai correctly described Dadiyata as a Kwankwasiyya devotee. But Dadiyata was openly critical not just of Ganduje but of several APC figures, including Buhari and El-Rufai. Sadly, his Twitter handle has now been disabled, perhaps because of extended inactivity.

When Dadiyata was active on Twitter, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubakar were in the PDP, and Kwankwaso’s supporters were strongly associated with Atiku’s presidential bid.

While Ganduje may indeed have had strong political incentives to view Dadiyata as a threat in view of the intense rivalry between Ganduje and Kwankwaso, El-Rufai’s suggestion that Dadiyata was not a fierce critic of his does not square with the public record.

From my recollections, Dadiyata’s Twitter commentary frequently targeted El-Rufai, as many people have already pointed out.

It is also difficult to ignore that Bashir El-Rufai, El-Rufai’s son, had, in a December 2019 tweet, mocked both Dadiyata’s disappearance and the social media campaign for his safe return, saying, “Dangerous lies in the public space have consequences.”

That’s no proof that El-Rufai was guilty of disappearing Dadiyata, but given El-Rufai’s close relationship with his children, Bashir’s tweet is at least circumstantial evidence of El-Rufai’s knowledge of and unease with Dadiyata’s biting commentaries (disguised as “dangerous lies in the public space”) and his interest in making him pay for it (“consequences”).

From my perspective, both El-Rufai and Ganduje have a probable political and emotional investment in squelching and disappearing Dadiyata, and I won’t be shocked if it later emerges that they collaborated to achieve this and that El-Rufai is squealing now only because he is still smarting from his painful exit from the inner circle of power, is now politically at odds with Ganduje, and thinks there will be no consequence for his disclosure.

I searched credible public records for a list of critics El-Rufai caused to be arrested, detained, prosecuted, or tortured when he was governor. Although many people mention “more than 20,” I was able to verify 15.

The U.S. State Department’s 2019 Human Rights Report, for example, said nine community elders in Southern Kaduna were detained “by order of Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai” in retaliation for criticizing him.

In 2016, a journalist by the name of Jacob Onjewu Dickson was arrested and charged for reporting that El-Rufai was pelted with stones. In the same year, Dr. John Danfulani, a lecturer, was arrested and prosecuted for his criticism of El-Rufai.

Other critics El-Rufai arrested and harassed are Audu Maikori (music executive, 2017); Luka Binniyat (journalist, 2017); Stephen Kefas (journalist/activist, 2019); and Bello Yabo (Islamic scholar, 2020).

The 15 is not, by any means, a ceiling. It is merely the lowest defensible count from cases I can verify. But I am certain there are more.

As for Ganduje, I have found at least five identifiable people who were arrested, detained, remanded, or taken to court for criticizing him.

They are Mu’azu Magaji, former Kano commissioner and critic; Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda, politician and critic; Mubarak Muhammad and Nazifi Isa Muhammad, TikTok satirists; and Jaafar Jaafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian.

While most governors in Nigeria are morbidly intolerant of even the mildest criticism, El-Rufai enjoys notoriety as perhaps the most thin-skinned and intolerant governor since 1999.

Given their records of intolerance to criticism, the best I can surmise is that El-Rufai and Ganduje found common cause in silencing Dadiyata since he was severely critical of both of them.

Now, since El-Rufai appears to have information about Dadiyata’s disappearance, even going so far as to mention an unnamed police officer who reputedly told someone that Dadiyata’s arrest was ordered from Kano, we have, for the first time ever, a solid, potentially helpful investigatory lead.

Law enforcement authorities should, without delay, invite El-Rufai to disclose the identity of the police officer under conditions that allow independent verification. Ganduje’s disclaimer is not enough. He should also be questioned.

The disappearance of a citizen over expressed opinions is too grave to be reduced to political theater or media spectacle. I hope this provides an opportunity for Dadiyata’s family to get closure on this sordid episode.