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APC’s Tripartite Against External Aggression : Still on Garo, Dan Agundi and Doguwa

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By Abba Anwar

Show of fearlessness, strategic coordination and enlightened engagement are some of the fundamental indicators of organized effort. Periscoping this from political standpoint, measures commitment, sincerity of purpose and responsibilities.

I know my readers will believe with me when I said, when it comes to engaging youth in Kano’s All Progressives Congress (APC) for strategic party positioning, genuine commitment without any recourse to material benefit, true survival of the party against all odds and aiding youth visibility from within, the trio of His Excellency, Murtala Sule Garo, Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Honourable Baffa Babba Dan Agundi are forces to be reckon with.

The model I proposed earlier, calling on our leaders to fuse together these fearless political strategists under one umbrella for protecting the party, APC, in Kano against external aggression, is still relevant and timely. Not because they are the only people to do the job. Not at all. But they are among the frontliners who can do it better.

For sustaining the efforts of our youth, within the rank of the party and outside, the control, close monitoring and unwavering support for meaningful direction of Garo-Dan Agundi – Doguwa Tripartite Initiative is unarguably needed.

While party leaders are managing the affairs of the party, in their own right, all youth groups and platforms need to be under close monitoring and scrutiny from Garo-Dan Agundi – Doguwa framework and any other arrangement party leadership deems fit.

But this intervention should be limited or applicable to only association linking themselves with the party’s name, APC. Because when party’s name is attached to a group, whenever that group engages in anything, good or otherwise, the credit or blame will always go to the party live and direct. As an organized party, APC, with Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, at the helm of affairs, anything attached to the party should be monitored, assessed and evaluated on frequent basis.

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As the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of speech and association, one can float an association of like minds and invite membership of his choice. And at the same time, run such association in his own terms and condition. Nobody can deny you that. So long as legal procedures are followed.

But if party’s name is added or build in association’s name, party has to have a hand in either the running of the association or in controlling, to certain extent, the association or both. This is because, party’s dignity, performance, direction and relevance, can sometimes be measured through the activities of such associations.

This is necessary, because, some of such youth platforms lack focused leadership, always swimming in ineptitude, excessive lust for power, inefficient coordination of purpose, divisive tendencies and unorganised modus operandi.

I am not, in any way, advocating for taking over of the leadership of youth groups by Garo-Dan Agundi – Doguwa arrangement. But I am rather advancing argument for checks and balances in the system and procedural setting.

Garo, Dan Agundi and Doguwa, without any fear of mincing words, fully understand clear strategies on how to protect the party from external aggression, if you like. They understand both sides of the coin. When it comes to protective tendencies.

Sometimes you find out that, some of these youth platforms, are more of liabilities than assets to the party. Hence, the emergence and deepening of distasteful relationship between different rival groups or platforms, without considering collective interest.

It is in such situation that you begin to wonder, why is it that, when people mess up, they don’t mess up at their own peril. But they mess up at the expense of the party.

Absence of checks and balances for streamlining the efforts and intervention of such groups spells doom. Nobody is saying we are not appreciating how vibrant the party is becoming with the visibility of activities here and there. All I am saying is let there be order, respect for one another, sincerity of purpose and purity of the process.

Fusing Garo, Dan Agundi and Doguwa together for this purpose, means a lot in bringing together youth and youth – related associations to truly work for the party with the much needed loyalty, unity of purpose, focus and proper coordination of all youth groups within the fold of the APC. All in the spirit of cohesion, survival, progress and development of the party. For deepening internal democracy and governance in general.

Anwar, was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

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Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt

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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

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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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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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