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From Cementing Poverty To Oiling Its Wheels ?

Published

3 years ago

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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu

Hamisu Hadejia,PhD

Endowed with vast deposits of limestones, ‘why would Nigeria be spending millions of dollars importing cement from abroad?’. This was the question that agitated the mind of Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) in the early 2000s, leading to the former president summoning the major cement importer at the time, Mr Aliko Dangote, to brainstorm on sorting out the puzzle.

A policy seeking to incentivise cement importers to start local cement manufacture, known as the backward integration policy (BIP), was consequently introduced in 2002, following the private conversations between OBJ and Dangote.

As a sectoral industrial policy, the BIP made the grant of cement import licenses conditional on cement importers demonstrating concrete commitment to set up local cement producing factories. The strategy was to phase out, before completely banning, cement importation when local factories could produce enough to replace imports—a strategy known in economics as ‘import substitution policy’.

Among other incentives, the BIP ensured the sales of foreign exchange (dollars) to cement entrepreneurs especially Dangote at the official rate. For example, in a Reuters report, Dangote was said to have secured $161 million at the official exchange rate (of between 197 to 199 NGN per 1 USD) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between March and May 2016. If Dangote were to (and he could without any accountability) re-sell this $161 million foreign exchange award in the currency black market, he would have made a profit of $100 million (£68 million) without lifting a finger. Thus, effectively, what this means is that just in a couple of months, the Nigerian government had subsidized Dangote to the tune of $100 million US dollars with taxpayers’ money, under the guise of supporting ‘strategic’ businesses.

Not only that, VAT/custom duty waivers on imported cement making equipment, credit guarantees, and a cumulative tax holidays of seven years were granted to Dangote Cement Companies (DCC).

Government’s support to infant firms, industries or entrepreneurs is not a new phenomenon in nations’ industrialization processes. Economists such as Alexandre Hamilton (1757-1804), Friedrich List (1789-1846), and contemporary ones like Ha-Joon Chang and Eric Reinert, have documented evidence confirming that these kinds of supports or state-business relations were instrumental to the industrialization of almost all industrialized nations of Europe, North America, and East Asia. However, the state-business relations in Nigeria especially in the cement industry deserves some critical reflections and re-evaluations for social welfare considerations.

THE PROS OF THE BIP

Within a little over a decade, the BIP succeeded in replacing cement imports with local production in Nigeria leading to the complete ban on importation of cement in 2012. Hence, government officials and industry players have never failed to flaunt the BIP policy as a national feat all patriotic Nigerians should celebrate. The bases for this conclusion are three: One, the policy has made Nigeria self-sufficient in cement production; two, it has created jobs opportunities; three, it saves Nigeria foreign exchange which, at the peak of import in 2008, was $304 million. While these ‘successes’ have been belaboured time and again, Nigerians have been deliberately left in the dark as to the costs of these achievements, which include, but are not limited to, the disproportionately lavish state incentives to cement investors as adumbrated above.

THE CONS OF THE BIP

The ban on cement imports and the dominance of a single player in Dangote gave rise to a monopoly, now duopoly, in the cement industry. Latching on to the opportunity, Dangote has used every trick in the book to initially eliminate competition (e.g., the case of Clestus Ibeto), charge exorbitant prices, and pay the state less than its due in taxes. Any evidence for these claims? Yes, there are plenty! For a start, it is a fact that the Nigerian cement consumers now buy a 50kg bag of cement at almost $10 (official rate). This is outrageously higher than what obtains in other markets including in many African countries, to some of which Dangote merely exports the clinkers he processes in Nigeria using Nigeria’s limestones for final processing and sales in those countries at prices lower than he sells in Nigeria! In fact, compared to its price in Nigeria, a 50kg bag of cement costs lower in China ($2.96), Malaysia ($2.3), India ($3.84), Kenya ($5.56), Zambia ($6.45), Egypt ($2.88), South Africa ($5.88), and Ghana ($7.0).

Also, some evidence suggests that the Nigerian state does not get actual value for the lavish incentives it splashes on Dangote. In the DCC’s 2016 annual report (p.139) for example, the company’s own independent auditors have pointed out that the company’s directors had made an ‘assumption’ about the pioneer statuses of different lines of productions at Ibese and Obajana factories. Without this ‘assumption’, the auditors concluded that:
“..an additional tax charge of N64.4 billion (2015: N40.0 billion) would have been incurred by the company if this assumption was not made in determining the tax liability.”

So, while the Nigerian state has subsidised Dangote generously, such efforts do not appear to have yielded benefits for both the state (which is not paid what is due to her in taxes) and Nigerian cement consumers (who buy cement at over 300% price differentials compared to other consumers elsewhere).

Moreover, with the cement manufacturing process being highly mechanised, the much-vaunted jobs created by the transformation of the industry is, in the final analysis, not worth the costs incurred from subsidization and the expensive cement prices Nigerians pay. For instance, the entire cement industry currently employs only around 30,000 workers directly, and most of these workers are truck drivers. Hence, it does not make any economic sense for Nigeria to, in a bid to keep a few thousand Nigerians in employment, sacrifice national housing needs/infrastructural development by forcing millions of Nigerians to pay extortionary cement prices. Dangote and other players in the industry cannot of course claim credit for the indirect jobs in the downstream retail segment of the industry because such jobs have been there and would still remain regardless of whether cement in produced locally or imported.

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But how has Dangote managed to ‘cement’ his cake and eat it? The answer to this crucial question lies in understanding the nature of two domains of relations, that is: The Dangote-government relations as well as his public or civil society management relations.

Dangote-state relations took off in earnest towards the end of the OBJ first term, that is around the time the BIP was introduced. In his book, ‘The Accidental Public Servant’, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, explained that Dangote came close to the OBJ government after the former president had fallen out with his powerful vice and major Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) financier at the time, Atiku Abubakar. Consequently, according to El-Rufai, “Obasanjo had to resort to raising money from other sources and that was how Aliko Dangote came into prominence in the government.”

A document from the US embassy in Nigeria leaked by Wikileaks would later reveal that “Dangote purportedly contributed 200 million naira (about $1.5 million at the time) to Obasanjo’s first term election campaign, and in 2003 at least another 1 billion naira (about USD 7.5millio) for the second term. Dangote is a known contributor to the PDP party.” The cable therefore concluded that, ‘it is no coincidence that many products on Nigeria’s import ban lists are items in which Dangote has major interests.’ Former President Yar’Adua of blessed memory saw through this kind of Dangote’s much-vaunted ‘entrepreneurial acumen’ and moved to free poor Nigerian cement consumers from the monopolistic exploitation before the cold hands of death cut him short. Ever since, the business continues with successive regimes securely holding the cement cash cow by the horns for Africa’s ‘entrepreneurial guru’ to milk in exchange for God knows what.

It is instructive to point out here that across the globe, investment in the cement industry takes between 20-30 years to deliver returns. However, in Dangote’s case, returns were delivered in less than a decade. To be clear, no one should begrudge Dangote his fundamental economic right to capital accumulation, however, such private economic right should also not be enjoyed at the social cost of denying Nigerians their fundamental right to housing through extortionary pricing of a product that their own state subsidizes, disproportionate to the social benefits for that matter.

Also, across the globe, profit margins in cement companies range between 30-40%, yet, in Nigeria it is up to 63%! This is because a couple of Nigerians gifted with ‘entrepreneurial acumen’ have the wherewithal to ‘lobby’ state officials to protect the market for them to charge whatever price they fancy. In a paper, Richard Itaman and Christina Wolf calculated that between 1999 and 2010, when cement import was severely restricted before its eventual ban, the Nigerian cement consumers, on average, lost N19.63 billion (that is, around $51.4 million in 2021 USD/Naira value) per year because of buying cement at exorbitant prices compared to the rest of the world. In fact, during the same period, Richard and Christina observed that cement prices had progressively increased by up to 300%.

In addition to ‘lobbying’ the political leadership, Dangote, as investigations by Michael Odijie and Anthony Onofua reveal, ensures the extraction of massive rents in the industry without any opposition from any quarters through his patron-clientelist relations with, and alleged infiltration of, trade/labour union and public/civil society organizations. The authors observed that Dangote generously ‘donate’ to the activities of these civil society groups with a view to ‘promoting the [BIP] policy as a major success.’. The authors stated that he installed his allies in the leadership of critical trade organizations such as the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN). Incessant ‘donations’ and yearly ‘gifts’ to such organizations as the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria and Trade Union Congress have also been attributed to silencing the voices of comrades who were hitherto vehement campaigners against extortionary cement pricing. Michael and Anthony have also observed trends in the co-optation of the media to popularise the narrative that local cement manufacturing is a collective national ‘success’.

THE WAY FORWARD

The new administration of President Bola Tinubu will do well by moving in the interest of impoverished Nigerians to address this cement issue decisively. Nigeria should not continue to protect a couple of producers at the expense of millions of Nigerian cement consumers. According to former minister of finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, ‘the Federal Government will require about $100 billion annually for the next 30 years to effectively tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.’ Also, the United Nations remarked that “Nigeria’s housing sector is in a complete crisis”. Undoubtedly, a critical part of addressing these challenges/crises is by making cement prices affordable to Nigerians. How can this be done? In my view, since the cement producers have been protected and subsidized for longer and larger than necessary, it is time for the cement market to be completely liberalized to allow for imports. This will facilitate competition which will beat prices down and ease the excruciating economic hardship of Nigerians. This is elementary economics. Even if local manufacturers who have been mollycoddled for over a decade fail to compete, so be it! The social benefits of suspending the long imports ban far outweigh the largely private benefits of sustaining it. The benefits of promoting indigenous private capital accumulation or keeping less than 30,000 largely truck-drivers’ jobs are not worth making millions of Nigerians homeless in their own fatherland. So, President Tinubu has a choice to make between appeasing a couple of capitalists/cronyists or salvaging millions of poor Nigerians who have no roof over their heads.
Dangote’s refinery: Like cement, like oil?
In celebrating the construction/commissioning of “world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery” without asking some critical questions, we, Nigerians, appear to have given in more to our sentiment than to our rationality. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who according to Dangote “moved mountains to ensure the success of [his refinery] project”, the apex bank ensured the availability of foreign exchange to Dangote to pay for equipment imported for his $19.5 billion refinery. What amounts of this scarce foreign exchange was sold to Dangote? What other monetary and fiscal incentives have been provided to the entrepreneur for the refinery project, and under what terms and conditions? Will all imports of refined oil and assorted products henceforth be banned for Dangote to enjoy another monopoly status in the oil industry, like he does in cement with all its concomitant consequences? Is the 20% Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s stakes in Dangote’s refinery a bait, decoy, or marriage of convenience to attract state patronage for profiteering business as usual?
Hamisu Hadejia (PhD)

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Opinion

Why APC H/Q Should Commend Gov Abba for Successful Congresses

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3 days ago

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March 14, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

Before the congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were conducted few weeks ago in Kano, as obtained across the nation, many people, including myself, thought, Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, could not successfully handle the situation.

Not because he had just joined the party (APC) from New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), at least from my estimation, but because he came and met a party that was in disarray, with enormous internal crisis, from left, right and centre.

As many believe that, he is new to internal party wrangling. As he came from where there was a centralized chain of command. Where loyalty has always been hundred percent. And where discipline, at least in the definition of the leader (jagora), is straight and observed.

Governor’s acceptance of the party leadership sharing formula, without any hesitation, was sighted with relief from all party camps. More so, where the governor sacrificed his upper percentage to old APC members. This is where he reversed his 60% to 40% and gave old APC 60% at his own will.

All those arrangements and show of commitment to his new party, were concluded days before Ward, Local Governments and state congresses. The assumption was, His Excellency, the governor could only be able to soundly manage his side of the party membership during the congresses. Whereas, old APC’s sharing formula amongst them would be a bit above average.

But to the chagrin of all, Governor Yusuf, managed to have successful conduct of congresses, from bottom to top in the state. In fact the way the congresses were conducted didn’t even remind all that, the governor was new entrant. The management of the congresses were largely commendable. Though, with some pockets of complaints in some places. But even at that, the governor was able to tame the frustrations and disappointments.

Unlike in many states, where their governors joined APC in recent times. In some of those states, there were close to two parallel party leaders at the state level. Their governors were not able to manage the ugly situations with vigor and determination. Kano case shows how skilful, if you like, the governor is.

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People wish that, he applies similar skills, commitment and honesty while facing 2027. What further aided the governor to attain that height, was the true and genuine support he got from almost all APC heavyweights, whom he met when he joined the party. All the camps, within the party, saw reason in supporting the governor to deliver well in the election of party leaders in the state.

So long as the governor will understand the importance and the role of each and every heavyweight within the party, then his victory and that of the party is almost guaranteed. For example, while the support of His Excellency the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, is needed, for governor’s successful tenure, the support of His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo, is also needed. Their support is extremely important for re-election bid. No two ways about this. The same or similar goes to other important personalities within the party circle.

As governor used wisdom and support from others, to conduct successful congresses, I urge him to use similar wisdom in sitting with Barau and Garo for the benefit of his administration to rule well and for his reelection bid to yield fruits. I know the governor is quite aware of the challenges ahead. So selective interaction shouldn’t be in his shopping list.

Please let’s face it. With all the so-called political rivalry between Barau and Garo, I am yet to come across a single person, who confessed that, either of the duo asked him or her to go and castigate the other. I’m yet to see a person who can confess to have collected resources from Barau to go and castigate Garo. And vice versa. Show me someone who said Garo gave him a penny to go to any public platform and castigate Barau, I will show you a liar. So what are we talking about.

I urge governor Yusuf to kindly put to reality, the current APC slogan in the state, Kano First. His patriotism, belief and commitment to Kano First Agenda, I assumed, was what took him away from his political godfather, the former governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. So please and please Your Excellency, show to all that, you clearly understand the writing on the wall. Show to all that, you are really making sound preparation for 2027.

For APC National Headquarters, please look at how our governor managed the party to conduct successful congresses. His victory here spots some clue for his preparedness towards taking the party to greater height. We from Kano, need public commendation of the governor from the national body. Please make it before National Convention. Or you can acknowledge that at the Convention ground.

Unlike many other states, where their governors cross carpeted to APC, like Delta state of governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom state of governor Umo Eno, Bayelsa state of governor Duoye Diri, Rivers state of Siminalayi Fubara, Plateau state of governor Caleb Mutfwang, Taraba state of governor Agbu Kefas, Adamawa state of governor Umaru Fintiri and Enugu state of governor Peter Mbah, Kano congresses have little crisis compared to all these states.

As a matter of fact, encouragement and appreciation, Kano state governor Yusuf, has every quality and qualifications to be publicly commended by the bigger APC from Abuja. With all the crisis within the party, long before he joined, he still made it possible to manage all cracking parts of the party. Yes there are issues here and there, yet Kano did better than other states where governors joined the party, ahead of 2027.

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 14th March, 2026

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Opinion

DSP Barau As A Global Citizen, His Recent Global Engagements

Published

4 days ago

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March 13, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

Global citizenship and His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, are more or less, like two sides of a coin. Destined to be together for the overall benefit of the society. He started from the scratch, as a political learner, who believes in genuine democratic survival and political development. Hence his promotion to become an icon in politics.

Being an ardent and true democrat, his pedigree sounds decades of hardwork, genuine commitment, rancour-free engagement and civilized cohesion with relevant stakeholders. He specializes in human management and love for human advancement.

Just recently, DSP has been visible on regional and global fora, advancing partnership, integration and self development for our region and the continent. His appearances recently, on such platforms, gave more meaning to his global citizenship position. Yes he is representing Kano North, as his primary constituency, coupled with his position as the Deputy Senate President, but his role at the regional and global arena, showcase his global capacity.

During the 2026 First Extraordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament (ECOWAS Parliament), which was backed by the 2026 Parliamentary Seminar themed “Deepening regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Opportunities and challenges for expanding intra-community trade within the ECOWAS region,” in Abuja, he got more accolades than expected. His genuine commitment to ECOWAS protocols is rare among regional leaders.

Enlisting the core idea behind the event he said, “During today’s session, we considered and adopted the draft resolutions of the parliament on the African Continental Trade Free Area (AfCFTA). We also adopted a comprehensive work plan of the parliament for the 2026 legislative year.”

In his effort in taming insecurity plaguing some parts of our country, DSP clearly understands the global connection to the menace. Hence he highlighted on peace promotion at the regional event. Apart from behind the scene efforts he makes. Both in Nigeria and beyond. During the ECOWAS programme he said, “As the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, the people’s parliament, we will continue to promote democracy, PEACE (emphasis mine), unity, and integration in our sub-region, the cardinal objectives of the parliament.”

It was evidently clear that, Distinguished Senator was among the few hands who put extra effort in taming some pockets of bandit attacks few months back in some border towns in Kano state. Who were said to be infiltrated from neighboring states.

Coincidentally, some of the attacks, though, very insignificant, occurred around his Kano North constituency. The nature of contributions of operational vehicles, and other logistics he gave to our security agencies, around that axis, aided security agents in crushing the challenge head on.

Not only in his constituency, he donated, other operational vehicles to Kano state Police Command, alongside hundreds of motorcycles for police operations across all the 44 local governments of the state. Some of his interventions are not for public consumption, because of their nature, being security related.

Coming back to his good attachment with other global bodies, as a global citizen, he participanted recently at 2026 Commonwealth Day Commemoration, themed “Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous commonwealth,” at the National Assembly, Abuja. He was there as an important guest and a critical stakeholder.

The event was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). DSP Jibrin delivered one of the most significant speeches there. In his speech he acknowledged that, “This year’s theme is both timely and inspiring. It calls on us to strengthen collaboration across borders, institutions, and generations to create a future defined not by limitations but by shared prosperity.”

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One of his major concerns as a global citizen who believes in peaceful coexistence and global partnership is his contribution towards national peace and cohesion. As well as regional cooperation and global partnership against insecurity. All these are based on the premise of his clear understanding of global concepts and meaning.

As this can vividly be understood in his remark during the Commonwealth Day, when he said, “For Nigeria and indeed Africa, the Commonwealth represents more than a historical association. It is a dynamic platform for cooperation, learning, and collective progress.” This shows how insightful and informed he is when it comes to global citizenship and clear action.

Distinguished Senator Jibrin’s understanding of the need for strengthening of institutions through proper legislation, across the board, on the global arena, he takes the same understanding and called on other global bodies to take that seriously. At the Commonwealth Day he made it categorically clear that, “As legislators, we bear a solemn responsibility to build institutions that expand opportunities for education, innovation, enterprise and leadership for our young people. When we unlock such opportunities, we unlock the true potential of our societies.”

As a matter of fact, the Deputy Senate President’s love for peace and development to reign, does not stop at the local communities, or within the shores of Nigeria, he makes it an item on his shopping list, to wherever he goes or whoever he meets. He reminded all participants at the Commonwealth Day, that, “In my additional capacity as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, I wish to emphasise that regional and global cooperation are no longer optional – they are essential. The challenges of our time-economic transformation, climate change, technological disruption, and peacebuilding-require collective solutions and shared vision.” This is leader with a vision!

Peace, peace and peace, anywhere he goes. His interventions as contributions to our security agencies, here in Kano state, are enough indices to tell you who the Senator is. When it comes to fighting insurgency and other nefarious activities.

To further appreciate the fact that, youth are an integral part in the future of our continent and other global communities, he said, in his speech, “I am particularly delighted that today’s event brings together students from schools within the Federal Capital Territory. The Commonwealth strongly believes in youth participation because the future of governance, diplomacy, and global cooperation rests squarely in their hands.”

This gives more explanation to the confidence he reposed in our younger ones. As he, at the same time, believes in their capacity, when equipped effectively and efficiently to serve their individual societies. His genuine investment in our youth, back home, on behalf of the entire state, is an excellent move against insecurity. He fights, with vigor, youth restlessness and unemployment. Shielding them from involving in nefarious activities.

The Senate President, himself, His Excellency, Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, fully believes in Senator Jibrin’s capacity and capability in governance and special interest in global community, he (Akpabio) sent DSP to represent him at an ECOWAS extraordinary session.

During the opening ceremony of 2026 First Extraordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament (ECOWAS Parliament), recently in Abuja. The session commenced with a Parliamentary seminar themed “Deepening regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Opportunities and challenges for expanding intra-community trade within the ECOWAS region.”

Senator Jibrin gave the keynote address on behalf of the Senate President. With the theme, “ECOWAS Parliament: Advancing regional integration at a defining moment.” All such engagements by the DSP, are in tandem with the philosophy behind his global citizenship status. Kano North, his primary constituency, is proud to have such an illustrious son, of great substance.

To cap it all, DSP Jibrin’s contributions towards the fight against insecurity and promotion of peaceful coexistence among citizens, are enormous. Due to the security nature of such contributions, members of the public, are only able to see things related to physical infrastructure and equipments. Other areas that are equally critical, also get the attention of the Senator. But cannot be disclosed to the public.

As global as the Senator is, his view on governance, integration and promotion of peace, is globally inclined.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 13th March, 2026

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Opinion

The Cap That Stopped a Boy’s Tears: Remembering Sadiq Modibbo

Published

6 days ago

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March 11, 2026

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By Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa

Fifteen years have passed since I last held my son, Sadiq Modibbo, in my arms. Even now, the memory of his laughter and the warmth of his tiny hand remains vivid in my mind. There was something remarkable about him, a light that shone through even in moments of fear or pain.

I remember the first time I realized how deeply he loved the simple things that connected him to me.

Whenever he cried, I would gently remove my cap, and just like that, his tears would stop. It was as if the gesture spoke to him in a language only he and I shared—a language of love, trust, and comfort.

Sadiq was often unwell, and our visits to the hospital were frequent. Yet, despite his fragile health, he carried himself with an unusual courage. The doctors, nurses, and other caregivers grew to know him well. They would smile at his little jokes, or nod knowingly when he quieted at the sight of me.

In those hospital rooms, I learned to see him not just as my son, but as a symbol of resilience. Every day, I watched him endure injections, treatments, and long hours of discomfort, yet he faced it all with a quiet strength. Even then, the cap—the small, unassuming piece of cloth—became a tool of love, a reminder that he was never alone.

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Sadiq’s love for Kwankwasiyya was another remarkable part of his personality. It was a fascination that seemed larger than his years, and it sparked countless conversations between us. I would watch him with wonder, seeing how a young boy could find joy and meaning in something so vibrant, even in the midst of illness.

I often imagined what he would be like today if he were still alive. Would he be arguing with me as passionately as ever? Would his laughter fill our home in the way it did when he was a boy? The “what ifs” are endless, but in my heart, I carry the certainty that his spirit lives on in every memory, every smile, every small gesture of love that he shared.

Birthdays were special for Sadiq. He would light up at the smallest celebration, reminding us all of the beauty in simple joys. Even as a child who faced health struggles, he found light in each day. I can still see him running toward me, his eyes shining, his cap slightly askew from excitement.

Mourning him has been a lifelong journey. The world continued around us, but I learned that grief is a quiet companion. It is in the small moments—the empty chair at the table, the quiet hospital rooms, the cap that no longer needs to be removed to stop tears—that his absence is most felt.

Yet, even in sorrow, there is comfort. I tell myself that Sadiq’s courage, his love, and his laughter have left a lasting imprint. The lessons he taught me—about patience, joy, and unconditional love—remain guiding lights in my life. Every time I see a child comforted by a parent, I am reminded of him.

Today, I remember Sadiq not with despair, but with gratitude. The cap that stopped his tears symbolizes so much more than a simple gesture; it is a testament to the bond between father and son, to the small acts of love that shape a life. May Allah grant him eternal peace, and may his memory continue to inspire those who knew him—even for just a moment.

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa is the Director General Media and Spokesperson to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

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