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Atiku Fires Back at the Presidency: “767 Factories Shut, 335 Others in Distress Under Tinubu”

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3 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Tinubu administration of presiding over an increasingly hostile business environment, alleging that 767 factories had shut down while another 335 were operating under severe distress.

Mr Atiku said the closures and difficulties facing manufacturers contradicted the Federal Government’s claims that its economic reforms were restoring growth and improving the business environment.

The former vice-president, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, stated this in a response to the Presidency’s defence of President Bola Tinubu’s economic record.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Mr Atiku said the government’s claims of economic prosperity existed largely in official statements and had not been reflected in the experiences of businesses and ordinary Nigerians.

He said the administration was celebrating Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth and other macroeconomic indicators while manufacturers, small businesses and households faced rising operating costs and declining purchasing power.

“The Presidency proudly announced that Nigeria’s GDP has increased significantly since the exchange-rate adjustment. We ask a simple question: Has the purchasing power of the average Nigerian increased?” Mr Atiku said.

“Are manufacturers paying less for energy? Have small businesses become more profitable? The answer, tragically, is no.”

He said the closure of hundreds of factories and the distress faced by many others reflected the pressure created by high energy costs, multiple taxes, expensive logistics, rising electricity tariffs and weak consumer demand.

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Mr Atiku argued that government policies could not be described as successful if they increased public revenue while reducing the productive capacity of the economy.

“Government cannot tax its way into prosperity while simultaneously shrinking the productive capacity of the economy,” he said.

“Manufacturers are battling record energy costs. Small businesses face multiple taxes, rising electricity tariffs, escalating logistics expenses and declining consumer demand.”

The former vice-president said tax reforms should be designed to encourage production, create jobs and expand the tax base rather than place additional pressure on struggling businesses.

“A tax reform that expands government revenue while ordinary citizens become poorer cannot honestly be described as progressive,” he said.

He added that successful tax systems were built on productivity and economic growth, not by extracting more revenue from businesses and households already facing financial pressure.

Mr Atiku also questioned the government’s borrowing policy, saying the debate should not focus solely on Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio but on the economic value generated by borrowed funds.

“No serious economist argues that borrowing is inherently wrong. Nations borrow. The real question is this: what has Nigeria obtained in return for the unprecedented debts accumulated under this administration?” he asked.

He said Nigerians had a right to demand evidence that borrowed funds were being used to improve infrastructure, create jobs, strengthen public services and raise living standards.

Mr Atiku noted that businesses continued to spend heavily on alternative sources of electricity, while high logistics costs and poor infrastructure remained major obstacles to production.

“After record borrowing and record budgets, businesses are still forced to spend enormous sums generating their own electricity,” he said.

“Logistics costs remain among the highest in Africa. Manufacturers continue to struggle under crushing operating costs, while many roads remain in deplorable condition.”

The former vice-president said infrastructure should be assessed by its economic impact rather than the number of projects announced or commissioned by the government.

“Every administration announces projects. Nigerians are interested in completed projects that reduce the cost of doing business, improve mobility, guarantee stable electricity and stimulate economic growth,” he said.

Mr Atiku also challenged the Presidency’s explanation concerning crude-backed financing arrangements, arguing that the government had admitted that future oil earnings had been committed in ways that limited the country’s ability to benefit from favourable crude oil prices.

He said Nigerians deserved full disclosure on the terms of such arrangements, including the volume of crude committed, repayment conditions, funds received and projects financed.

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Dangote Cement Gboko Commits Millions in Scholarship Scheme

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2 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to tertiary and secondary school students from its six host communities in Benue State.

The company also presented starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish their own businesses, apply the skills acquired during the training and become financially reliant.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its community development interventions, calling on other private sector players to adopt similar initiatives to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.

Dr. Alake, who was represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Benue State, Engr. Achi Gregory, urged the company to sustain its commitment to implementing community development programmes agreed upon with its host communities.

Speaking at the official presentation ceremony, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the implementation of the Community Development Agreement underscores Dangote Cement’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources to promote entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods in its host communities.

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Mr. Olayiwola, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance of the Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment programmes came against the backdrop of several other programmes recently executed by the company, which include farmers and women empowerment programmes.

The Acting Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Gboko, Engr. Arbind Singh, said: “This annual scholarship scheme for indigent students of the host communities is an indication of our company’s commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).”

Engr Singh, who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Production, Engr Tabershima Soom, said: “The Gboko Plant has already launched 150 Women Empowerment Programme and 50 Farmerss Empowerment Programme where women were provided with cash to support their businesses, and farmers were supported with farm inputs.”

The beneficiary communities for these programs are: Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue State Attorney-General, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Barr. Dooshima Orosaga, commended Dangote Cement Plc for its compliance with the Community Development Agreement (CDA), urging the beneficiaries and host communities to maximise the benefits of the company’s interventions.

Chairman of the Gboko Local Government, Hon Yina Elias said the government will continue to provide the support needed for the company to succeed, adding that the Dangote Cement Plc is an exemplary company in Corporate Social Responsibilities programmes.

In his remarks, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, commended Dangote Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant for its contributions to the community, assuring the company of the community’s continued support.

He said the community valued its mutually beneficial relationship with the company and would continue to serve as its ambassadors.

A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr Ignatius Aondohemba, expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc for the support, pledging to put the skills and resources provided to good use and build a business that would enable him to become an employer of labour.

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Mass Exodus Looms in Kano APC as More Chieftains Consider Exit — Mansur Ahmed

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12 hours ago

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October 22, 2026

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A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Mansur Ahmed, has predicted a possible mass exodus of prominent politicians and party stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State amid persistent internal disagreements.

Ahmed made the prediction while addressing journalists following his resignation from the APC, according to a statement signed by Usman Bello on his behalf.

The former APC member described the recent resignation of party chieftain Alhaji Aminu Dabo as an indication of a deeper crisis within the party, suggesting that more prominent members could leave in the coming days.

Ahmed alleged that the Kano APC was experiencing persistent internal disputes that had continued to undermine unity among its members, with little indication that the disagreements would be resolved soon.

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He further disclosed that several political leaders and stakeholders across Kano State were holding consultations over their future in the party and were considering formally resigning.

According to Ahmed, the consultations involved prominent political figures and their allies who were weighing their options before deciding on their next political destination.

Reflecting on his political career, Ahmed described himself as a former PDP governorship aspirant who also served as Deputy Coordinator of the 2015 presidential campaign in Kano.

He said he and his associates were currently consulting with political allies to determine the next direction of their political engagement following his departure from the APC.

The statement did not identify the other party leaders allegedly preparing to resign or disclose when they might announce their decisions.

It also did not indicate whether Ahmed and the politicians consulting with him had reached any agreement to join another political party.

Ahmed’s prediction comes amid continuing political realignments in Kano State as political actors assess their options ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

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Kano Donates Equipment to NDLEA

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12 hours ago

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October 22, 2026

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The Kano State Government has donated working tools to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The items were presented on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by the Chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Speaking at the presentation, Magaji said the donation reflected the government’s determination to tackle drug-related offences, which he identified as a major contributor to social vices in society.

He lamented that substance abuse had reached a frightening dimension, requiring concerted action by the government, security agencies and other stakeholders.
According to him, Governor Yusuf’s administration is committed to providing the necessary support to agencies responsible for combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking, using all available means to address the growing challenge.

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Magaji stressed that effective coordination among relevant institutions was essential to curbing the menace and protecting the future of young people in the state.

Receiving the items, CN Dahiru Yahaya Lawan, Kano Strategic Commander of the NDLEA, expressed gratitude to the governor and the state government, describing the intervention as timely.

He said the equipment would enhance the command’s operational capacity and strengthen its efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Lawan assured the government that the items would be judiciously utilised to achieve their intended purpose.
He emphasised that the fight against drugs was a collective responsibility, calling on residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to support law enforcement agencies in tackling the problem.

The donation underscores the state government’s drive to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and provide operational support for the fight against drug-related offences, with the ultimate goal of creating a safer, drug-free society.

 

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