Connect with us

News

Grenada PM says Dangote Refinery will save Africa from being a Dumping Ground

Published

on

DSC4451: L-R: President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote and Prime Minister, Grenada and Chairman CARICOM, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, during the Prime Minister’s visit to Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, on Friday October 10, 2024.

The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing needed by developing countries for their industrial growth.

He noted that it is through this type of investment that Africa and the developing countries can reverse the cycle of exporting raw materials while importing finished products from developed countries.

This is as Dangote hinted at potential partnerships with the Caribbean community in the production of cement and fertilisers as well as petroleum products.

Mitchell, who is the chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) – a political and economic union of 15 member states and five associated members throughout the Americas, The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, disclosed this on Thursday during his tour of the Dangote Petroleum refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

Mitchell said the investment is a tribute to the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his vision not just for Nigeria but Africa as a whole.

“This investment is a tribute to Dangote and his remarkable vision. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, symbolising what the developing world needs: significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Mr. Dangote’s vision, not just for his company, but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“Dangote exemplifies what an African leader should be. We need not just political leaders, but business leaders who are willing to invest in Africa, particularly in manufacturing and industrialisation. We must ensure that we don’t continue to export our raw materials to the developed world, where they can be turned into sophisticated products and sent back to us. We need to reverse that cycle; it is the only way to grow the wealth of Africa and the developing world. Additionally, we need to support this with training and invest in job opportunities,” he said.

Advert

Applauding the sophistication and automation at the refinery, the Prime Minister expressed optimism for Nigeria’s future, especially given the number of young Nigerians trained and working at both the refinery and fertiliser plants. The $20 billion refinery, the largest private investment in Africa, stands out for its team of young professionals, predominantly aged between 26 and 28, most of whom hold advanced degrees and were educated in Nigeria.

“It has been a wonderful experience to witness the shared skills, depth of sophistication, and automation here. Seeing so many bright young Nigerians, particularly in the laboratories, is truly inspiring. I believe this bodes well for the future development of Nigeria,” he added.

Mitchell stated that the Caribbean Community would be exploring partnership opportunities with the Dangote Group to enhance its economy.

“One of the reasons I am here is to pursue synergies and partnerships between the diaspora and Africa, particularly in areas such as the refinery, cement, and fertiliser. We believe there are fantastic opportunities to develop partnerships between the Caribbean and Africa,” he added.

On his part, Dangote described the visit as symbolic, noting that many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover crude oil and are exploring opportunities to build their own refineries. This would help them address the challenge of exporting crude while importing refined petroleum products at high costs.

“The visit shows that many countries are proud of what we have been able to achieve because a lot of countries have been unable to deliver their refineries. It shows their pride in seeing a Black person like them at the Caribbean, although I am from Nigeria, succeed. For them, this is a dream, especially as many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover oil but still depend largely on exporting crude while importing petroleum products, which is costlier than in America. Their dream is to set up a refinery—perhaps not of this size—but one that would cater to their people,” he said.

Africa’s wealthiest man emphasized that the company is looking for partnerships in the Caribbean not only in petroleum products but also in cement and fertilizer production. He mentioned ongoing discussions about importing crude from these countries while supplying them with refined products.

“There are numerous partnerships in place. He is not only the Prime Minister of Grenada but also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We are exploring collaboration in areas such as cement and petroleum, including the possibility of buying crude from them while selling some of our petroleum products to them. We already export to the U.S., Mexico, and other regions, so there is significant collaboration we are looking to develop between us and them,” he added.

The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote Oil Refinery—the largest single-train refinery in the world—is designed to process a wide variety of crude oils, including those from Africa, the Middle East, and US Light Tight Oil. It conforms to Euro V specifications and is built to meet stringent standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European emission norms, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA). The refinery has the capacity to satisfy 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel, with additional surplus available for export.

News

Unregistered POS Operators Risk Ban as CAC Issues Registration Ultimatum

Published

on

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has mandated all Point-of-Sale (PoS) operators nationwide to register with the Commission by 1 January 2026, announcing that any unregistered operator will be prohibited from conducting business after that date.

In a public notice issued on Saturday, the CAC cited a significant increase in the number of unregistered PoS businesses across the country.

The Commission emphasized that operating an unregistered PoS enterprise is a violation of both the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Agent Banking Regulations.

Advert

The CAC also faulted some fintech firms for onboarding unregistered agents, describing the practice as reckless and harmful to the stability of Nigeria’s financial system.

It warned that the trend exposes millions of Nigerians, including small business owners and rural users, to economic and investment risks.

“Fintechs enabling illegal operations will be placed on the watchlist and reported to the CBN. All operators are advised to regularise immediately. Compliance is mandatory

“Beginning from 1st January 2026, no PoS operator will be allowed to conduct business in Nigeria without completing full registration,” the CAC said

Nigerian Tracker News gathered that this is not the first time the call regarding enforced regulatory monitoring of the PoS has been made.

There have been several calls on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take urgent steps toward curbing worsening cases of fraud affecting PoS businesses across the nation.

Continue Reading

News

Governor Yusuf Congratulated Rear Admiral Chindo Yahya Usman, 4 Other Kano Indigenes

Published

on

Rear Admiral Chindo Usman Yahaya being decorated with his new rank of rear admiral by the chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas being assisted by Rear Admiral Chindo's Wife

 

 

Kano State Government Congratulates Senior Military Officers of Kano Origin on their Promotion.

This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the State Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Waiya explained that the governor was delighted to celebrate the achievements of Kano indigenes who have risen to senior ranks in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Among them is Rear Admiral Chindo Usman Yahaya, who was elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral. According to Waiya, Governor Yusuf described Yahaya’s promotion as a reflection of his professionalism and commitment to national service.

Rear Admiral Chindo Yahya Usman middle after his decoration

Rear Admiral Chindo Yahya Usman middle after his decoration

The Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, joyfully congratulates the distinguished sons of Kano State who have been recently elevated to the prestigious ranks of Major General, Rear Admiral, and Air Vice Marshal in the Nigerian Armed Forces. Waiya emphasized that the governor sees these promotions as a source of pride for the state.

Advert

The State Government welcomes the promotions as well-deserved recognitions of the officers’ professionalism, dedication, and patriotic service to Nigeria. Waiya noted that Governor Yusuf expressed profound happiness that Kano continues to produce individuals who excel at the highest levels of national security leadership.

The newly promoted officers include:

Nigerian Army:
– Major General Sadisu Yahaya Yakasai
– Major General Sani Sulaiman
– Major General Samaila Musa Uba

Nigerian Navy:
– Rear Admiral Chindo Usman Yahaya

Nigerian Air Force:
– Air Vice Marshal Mukhtar Umar

As we celebrate and commend the officers for bringing honour to Kano State, we encourage them to continue to uphold the values of ethical standards, integrity, courage, and loyalty as they assume greater responsibilities. Waiya quoted Governor Yusuf as urging the officers to serve as role models and inspiration for younger generations aspiring to pursue a career in the military service.

His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, prays for their continuous success and guidance from the Almighty as they carry out their duties in safeguarding the nation. Waiya concluded that the governor remains confident in their ability to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

 

Continue Reading

News

Jega Advocates Merit-Based Leadership in Nigerian Universities

Published

on

Professor Attahiru Jega
Professor Attahiru Jega former chairman INEC

 

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and renowned academic, Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, has called on the Federal Government to entrench merit, competence, and integrity as the guiding principles in the appointment of leadership across Nigerian universities.

He warned that the increasing politicisation of such appointments poses a serious threat to academic standards, institutional autonomy, and the future of higher education in the country.

Professor Jega made this call on Thursday while delivering the 3rd Abdullahi Mahadi Annual Memorial Lecture at Gombe state University, Gombe State. The lecture, titled “Challenges and Prospects of Improving University Governance in Nigeria,” examined the structural, administrative, and policy-related obstacles confronting university governance in Nigeria.

The distinguished Professor of Political Science and a one time Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, described universities as specialised intellectual institutions that require visionary, experienced, and academically grounded leadership to fulfil their mandates of teaching, research, and community service.

“A university is not a political platform. It is a centre for knowledge creation and human capital development. It cannot achieve its core objectives when leadership appointments are driven by political considerations rather than academic merit,” he stated.

Advert

Professor Jega expressed deep concern over persistent political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors, governing council members, and other principal officers. He observed that this trend has weakened governance structures, encouraged poor administrative decisions, undermined staff morale, and contributed significantly to the gradual decline in the quality of higher education in the country.

He stressed the urgent need for transparent, competitive, and merit-driven selection processes, anchored on clear criteria, academic record, leadership experience, and professional credibility. According to him, insulating universities from undue political influence is essential for restoring confidence in the system and positioning Nigerian universities to compete favourably at the global level.

Professor Jega further warned that failure to reform university governance would continue to erode the capacity of tertiary institutions to produce graduates who are innovative, globally competitive, and capable of driving sustainable national development.

The memorial lecture was delivered in honour of the late Professor Abdullahi Mahadi, a pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Gombe State University, whose contributions to scholarship, leadership, and the growth of the institution were widely acknowledged during the event.

Speaking earlier as Chairman of the Occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, Professor Umaru Pate, commended Gombe State University for sustaining the Abdullahi Mahadi Annual Memorial Lecture, describing it as a worthy tribute to the late pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Professor Pate expressed appreciation to the GSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aliyu Yauta, and the university management for sustaining the initiative, noting that maintaining such academic traditions in Nigerian universities is often challenging.

He also described the Guest Lecturer, Professor Jega, as eminently qualified to speak on the theme, noting his deep experience in university governance and his long-standing professional relationship with the late Professor Abdullahi Mahadi.

Reflecting on Mahadi’s life, Professor Pate said the late scholar left behind an enduring legacy of service, scholarship, and institutional development at Gombe State University and beyond.

The lecture attracted a wide audience of academics, policymakers, students, and education stakeholders, including the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau. Participants described the event as timely and impactful in shaping the future of university governance in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Trending