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Abubakar Adam’s Quest for a Better Life: A Journey Marred by Hardship and Betrayal

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2 years ago

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Abubakar Adam

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Abubakar Adam, a 25-year-old car washer from Kano in northwestern Nigeria, shared his harrowing tale of a four-month journey in pursuit of a brighter future through Italy via Algeria. However, his aspirations were met with unexpected challenges, leading to an abrupt end to his journey due to stigmatization encountered in Niger.

In an exclusive interview with NIGERIAN TRACKER, Adam recounted his ordeal, shedding light on the trials faced by migrants seeking economic opportunities abroad.

Adam, driven by a desire to alleviate the financial strain on his aging and less privileged parents, made the decision to embark on the journey after learning of people venturing to Algeria for employment prospects.

The journey is challenging,” Adam admitted, reflecting on the unforeseen difficulties encountered along the way.

Departing from Nigeria, Adam and his companions ventured to Zinder, Niger Republic , with hopes of finding employment opportunities perceived to be more favorable than those in their home country.

However, their journey was fraught with obstacles from the outset, as they encountered bureaucratic hurdles at the Nigeria-Niger border, where entry required the purchase of entry cards.

Facing extortion and hostility from Niger  immigration officials, Adam and his companions were left stranded at Zinder station, uncertain of their next steps.

Despite encountering setbacks and betrayals from alleged sponsors, Adam remained determined to press on with his journey, driven by the hope of a better future for himself and his family.

Their resilience, however, was met with further challenges as they faced rejection and mistreatment at the hands of immigration officials in Niger.

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Forced to endure physical discomfort and humiliation, they resorted to desperate measures, including bribery, to secure passage.

Upon reaching Agadas, their intended destination, Adam and his companions found themselves disillusioned and betrayed by false promises made by their alleged sponsors.

Despite their efforts to find employment and support themselves financially, they were met with disappointment and hardship, ultimately leading to their decision to return home to Kano.

He continued as follows

“One day, we had to return due to our parents’ condition. Our sister’s husband claimed he would secure the funds to take us to Algeria. The 350 thousand Naira was sent to him, as he was in Algeria. My mother sold her goat for 20 thousand Naira and gave it to me, just as my friend’s mother did for him.

We were taken to Mataimai, close to Kwangwalam in Niger. We spent three days there. Her husband called our parents, stating he would host us at Agadas bus station and take us to Algeria within three days. He did this to encourage our parents to send him money.

During our three days in Mataimai, she arranged for a car belonging to her husband’s friend. We embarked on a journey at Bakin Burji in Zinder. Upon alighting from the vehicle without a card, the Niger immigration directed us to enter a room. They threatened to report us back to Nigeria, citing political conflicts between the leaders.

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We replied to them that the fight is not between us, the masses, but between the political leaders of Niger and Nigeria. One of the immigration officers threatened to beat us.

We begged them to allow us to pass. They said they would never do so unless we found something to settle them. We searched for a “jaka,” which costs 5 sepa, equivalent to 10 thousand Nigerian money.

They did not even look at us when we begged them. The Niger immigration officers refused to listen to us. We then rented a “Jaka Ashirin,” equivalent to 40 thousand Nigerian currency, from our sister because her husband assured us that upon landing, we would find a job.

We later handed over 20 thousand Naira to the Niger immigration officers, equivalent to Nigerian currency. They were supposed to provide us with a gate pass that would allow us to pass through everywhere. Instead, they started beating us and instructed us to enter our car.

Upon entering the car, other passengers warned us that as Nigerians, we needed to be very careful because we were becoming unpopular in the Niger Republic. Most of the passengers, who were Nigeriens, advised our driver to board us onto a sheep and animal lorry since the Niger immigration officers refused to provide them with the card. They feared we would face the same mistreatment as we experienced at the previous gate.

We later boarded a trailer carrying sheep and rams, continuing our journey on it from Zinder to Agadas. We spent a whole day traveling.

At every gate where there was immigration, we had to lie down and allow the sheep and rams to step on us. Sometimes, the animals excreted over our bodies. We endured this for four days without praying or taking a bath for two weeks. Wherever we went, we had to beg for food to eat.

When we finally arrived at Agadas, we had 50 sepas. We bought a local food made from millet for 50 sepa, and we ate it.

When we landed at Agadas, we learned that our sister’s husband had lied to us. He didn’t know anybody in Agadas; we only met one of his sisters there. We were hosted in one shop, and every day we went out looking for menial jobs without earning a single Kobo.

We continued phoning our sister’s husband, who had taken our 350 thousand Naira in anticipation of sending us some amount, but he refused.

Our aunt sold all her possessions and sent the proceeds to my brother, who went to Mali because he was tired of what was happening. He planned to start digging for gold there.

When he went to Mali, he started smuggling, and sometimes they were pursued and shot at, so they stopped. Meanwhile, he left us in Agadas. Later, he went to Jado, and we are totally disconnected from him; up to now, we don’t know where he is.

The guy whose shop we were staying in Agadas is tired of us; we have exhausted all his food stocks.

We looked for unskilled labor jobs, and in one month, we earned 40 thousand Naira.

We advised ourselves to return home to Kano, Nigeria because our parents didn’t know about our condition.

We decided to return home to Kano without informing our alleged sponsor. We boarded a car, made our way back to Zinder, and faced no challenges on the journey back. From Zinder, we arrived at Kofar Ruwa Bus station in Kano, concluding our four-month journey without reaching Algeria or Italy.

When we returned, our mother started crying when she saw the three of us. She asked about our brother who went to Mali, and when we said we couldn’t find him, she began to cry.

Up until now, the whereabouts of our brothers are unknown. As I am speaking to you, said Abubakar, who came back to Nigeria last February 2024.”

Reflecting on his experience, Adam issued a cautionary message to fellow youths contemplating migration, urging them to exercise caution and pursue opportunities with diligence.

As the issue of labour migration continues to be a pressing concern in Nigeria, Adam’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the perils and challenges faced by those seeking better opportunities abroad. Despite the hardships endured, Adam remains hopeful for a brighter future, advocating for informed decision-making and perseverance in the pursuit of one’s dreams.

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Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt

Published

2 days ago

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September 26, 2026

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‎By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
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‎The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
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‎The DMO published the latest public debt portfolio report on Friday.
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‎The figure represents a 9.4 percent or N14.39 trillion increase from the N152.4 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025.
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‎It also represents an increase of N7.44 trillion or 4.7 percent compared with the N159.35 trillion recorded at the end of the first quarter (Q1) of 2026.
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‎According to the latest report, the debt stock comprises N91.59 trillion in domestic debt, which accounts for 54.91 percent of the total debt stock, and N75.2 trillion in external debt, representing 45.09 percent.
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‎The debt office said domestic debt increased by N11.04 trillion (13.7 percent) from N80.55 trillion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The office said external debt also rose by N3.35 trillion (4.7 percent) from N71.85 trillion in the same period.
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‎According to the DMO, the federal government accounted for N152.77 trillion of the total debt stock, comprising N86.99 trillion in domestic debt and N65.77 trillion in external debt.
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‎On the other hand, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for the remaining N14.01 trillion — N4.59 trillion in domestic debt and N9.42 trillion in external debt.
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‎In dollar terms, the agency said Nigeria’s total public debt stood at $120.93 billion as of June 30, 2026 — up from $99.66 billion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The DMO said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official exchange rate of N1,379 per dollar as of June 30 was used to convert the external debt to naira.
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NNPC Ltd Welcomes $800m Ima Gas Final Investment Decision

Published

3 days ago

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September 25, 2026

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has welcomed the $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ima Gas Project, describing it as a landmark development that affirms the growing viability of Nigeria’s upstream gas sector.

The project, located offshore in OMLs 112 and 117 and developed by AMNI International in partnership with TotalEnergies, will produce about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at peak. The output will supply critical feedgas to Nigeria LNG Limited in support of its Train 7 expansion, which will increase capacity at the Bonny Island plant from 22 million tons per annum to 30 Mtpa.

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The FID was enabled by the Presidential Directives of 2024, which provided fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, streamlined contracting and lowered development costs. Ima is the fourth major gas project to reach FID under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after Iseni, Ubeta and HI.

Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari described it as “a decisive vote of confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector and in the bold reforms” that have created competitive terms and a predictable investment environment.

NNPC Ltd. also commends the collaboration between AMNI, TotalEnergies and the Nigerian financial sector, saying the model of indigenous operator, international partner and domestic capital is a template for future developments.

In a statement signed by Andy Odeh Chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd. reaffirms its commitment to work with government, regulators and industry partners to sustain investment momentum and deploy Nigeria’s gas resources for industrialisation, job creation and long-term prosperity.

 

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At MAN AGM In Kano, Manufacturers Throng Dangote Pavilion Over ‘Peoples IPO’

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3 days ago

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September 25, 2026

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From Left: Alh Sabo Wada of the Kano Fire Service; Dangote Group Representative Abdulrazak Sambajo, Mr. Isah Musa of the VIO Office Kano, Mr Kassim Ibrahim Zonal Director, NAFDAC; Jonh Samuel Zonal Technical of the Dangote Cement Plc, Halima Muhammad, Dangote Feertiliser Limited and Ebaje Noah Dangoye of NASCON (Dangote Salt & Seasoning) at the 54th KANO-Jigawa MAN AGM Wednesday.

 

 

 

Manufacturers under the aegis of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) thronged the Dangote Group’s pavilion at the exhibition to seek information and clarification on the ongoing Public Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP).

The three-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Kano-Jigawa Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the 54th in the series, ended on Thursday, with the Dangote Group’s representative hosting participants and engaging manufacturers who expressed keen interest in the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Refinery.

The Dangote Refinery Peoples’ IPO offers Nigerians and other eligible investors an opportunity to buy shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, thereby becoming part-owners of one of Africa’s largest industrial projects and participating in its future growth.

The Dangote Refinery IPO runs from 14 September to 13 October 2026.

Dangote Industries Limited is one of the sponsors of the 54th MAN AGM.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sharada/Challawa Branch, Alhaji Nura S. Madugu, highlighted the mounting burden of multiple taxes, levies and charges on manufacturers, warning that the situation is increasing the cost of doing business and undermining the competitiveness of local industries.

Madugu urged the Kano State and Federal Governments to ease the tax burden on manufacturers and accelerate efforts to harmonise taxes and levies imposed on businesses.

He particularly decried the practice of double and multiple taxation, which he said continued to place additional financial pressure on manufacturers already grappling with high energy costs, inadequate infrastructure, expensive financing, insecurity, foreign exchange challenges and unfair competition from imported goods.

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“We are especially concerned about instances of double and even multiple taxation, where the three tiers of government impose what is essentially the same levy under different names and different guises. This practice places our products at a serious disadvantage in their constant competition with imported goods, a disadvantage made worse by the high cost of alternative power supply and the volatility of the foreign exchange rate.

Madugu reminded the meeting of MAN’s enormous contribution to the society and provide employment to thousands of Nigerians, as well as participating actively in tax revenue generation for the country.

“We provide employment to thousands of Nigerians. We participate actively in tax revenue generation for the states and the federation through the deduction of Value Added Tax on our products, the remittance of Pay-As-You-Earn on behalf of our staff, and the payment of Withholding Tax, Education Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, Company Income Tax, and a whole host of other levies too numerous to mention individually. Beyond taxation, we also discharge our Corporate Social Responsibility diligently to the communities in which we operate.

“Even though what we receive in return remains modest, we continue, in strength and in good faith, to serve this nation and to hold up its economy. We do this because we believe in Nigeria and in Kano State. But it must be said plainly,” Madugu added.

In his remarks also, MAN Chairman, Bompai/Jigawa Branch, Mohammed Bello I. Umar, appreciated the association’s members for their resilience, commitment and continued investment in the Nigerian economy despite the difficult operating environment.

He pointed out that the meeting provides the members of the association with an opportunity to reflect on its activities, review the challenges confronting their businesses, acknowledge the progress they have made, and chart a stronger course for the future of manufacturing in the country.

However, he said, the members must acknowledge that manufacturing remains under serious pressure.

He highlighted that the high cost of energy, multiple taxes and levies, inadequate infrastructure, high financing costs, insecurity, foreign exchange challenges and unfair competition from imported goods continue to affect our competitiveness.

“One issue that requires our collective attention is the importation of contraband and substandard goods. These products undermine local manufacturers who invest heavily

“Reliable and affordable electricity remains one of the most important requirements for industrial development.

He however welcomed the ongoing electricity reforms and efforts by the Kano State Government and the State House of Assembly towards establishing a more effective electricity framework for the State.

He called for the swift implementation of reforms that will create a more reliable, competitive and affordable electricity market for industries.

He noted that manufacturers continue to provide employment, generate wealth, support local communities and contribute significantly to government revenue in production, employ Nigerians and comply with government regulations.

“We must therefore stand together and call for stronger enforcement at our borders and markets.

He urged the relevant government agencies to intensify the fight against smuggling, counterfeiting and the importation of goods that compete unfairly with locally

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