Business

FG urges Kano Govt to Revive Industrial Estates

Published

9 years ago

May 23, 2017

By Joseph INOKOTONG
Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma told the Kano State Government on Tuesday that Nigerians would like to see the state return to its former status as a major industrial and commercial hub in the country.
The Minister who was speaking at the Second Kano Economic and Investment Summit, in Kano City, noted that under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje the State has continued to pursue economic policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people, with particular emphasis on education and infrastructural development across the state.
But he emphasized Federal Government’s desire to see a quick restoration of the boom days that characterised Sharada, Bompai and other industrial estates in Kano.
“There is no doubt that Kano leather craftsmen are some of the best in the world. We must provide the enabling environment for the leather industry to grow and become a mark of quality recognised worldwide”, he added.
In furtherance of the desire, the Minister said funds have been provided in the 2017 Federal Budget to provide infrastructure for the revival of the Free Trade Zone in Kano to stimulate industrial activity. He added that funding has equally been provided for the revival of the Export Expansion Grant by way of tax relief, as a further incentive to exporters.
Senator Udoma said economic growth in Kano means economic growth in Nigeria, because the Nigerian economic performance is simply the sum total of the economic performance of all the States; and as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, he feels happy when States organise Economic and Investment Summits to bring together relevant stakeholders to deliberate on measures required to stimulate investments.
A statement signed Akpandem James, Special Adviser to the Minister, Media said acknowledging Kano as a bellwether state in Nigeria, because of its leading industrial and commercial status, the Minister said the effect of what happens in Kano goes beyond the borders of the state and affects how Nigeria is perceived locally and internationally. “This may explain why the World Bank has selected Kano, as one of the two States in Nigeria, whose performance indices are used in assessing Nigeria in their annual Ease of Doing Business rankings.” Lagos, the commercial capital of the country, is the other State.
Describing the theme of the Summit, “Transforming the Economy of Kano: Turning Challenges into Opportunities”, as very apt, the Minister said it aligns with Federal Government’s effort in trying to turn the great difficulties and challenges it met on assumption of office into an opportunity for growth.
“On our part, as the Federal Government, we have been working very closely with the State Governments, particularly through the monthly meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC), to ensure complete alignment in our economic programmes. And of course, as you all know the ERGP was developed with the extensive consultations of the States. This is one Federal Government that believes that we must work very closely with the States”, he pointed out.
The Minister recalled that one of the first steps the Administration took after coming into office was to assist State Governments with some bailout funds. “Some States had some of their bank loans restructured into 20 year FGN bonds; others benefitted from a salary bailout intervention facility, as well as a budget support facility. In this way, the Federal Government tried to bring relief to States to help them cope with the challenging situation.”
To encourage the States to improve the management of their lean finances, Senator Udoma said the Federal Government entered into a 22 point Fiscal Sustainability Plan with the aim of encouraging States to improve their internally generated revenue (IGR’s) and reduce their reliance on the depleting monthly allocations from the Federation Account.
By unfolding the ERGP, he said the Federal Government is determined to fundamentally turn the nation’s current economic challenges into an opportunity, to change the way the economy has been operating. The Plan sets out how government intends to do this in partnership with the States as it acknowledges that the key to transforming the economy of the country, including the States, is to increase the level of investments in a dramatic and sustained way.
“Our aim, simply put, is to turn Nigeria from a nation of consumers and importers to a self- reliant nation of producers. In this way, we will create jobs for our people, rather than importing everything that we need. We want every Nigerian when he wakes up in the morning to ask himself, or herself, how can I add value to the rich resources the Good Lord has given us, as a country.
“We want every able-bodied Nigerian to be gainfully employed creating value for the nation in agriculture, in manufacturing, in construction, in services, in information technology (I.T), etc. As a Government, our commitment is to ensure that we secure public safety and improve the quality of public services to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive,” he stressed.
He commended the Kano State government for the steps taken so far, pointing out that in a recent report, a NEC Monitoring Committee chaired by the Minister of State, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, commended Kano State, which apart from agriculture, was noted for investment in infrastructure; particularly the Madobi Underpass which, reportedly, was designed, constructed, and supervised exclusively by local engineers.
While being optimistic of the outcome of the Summit and expressing confidence in the Ganduje Administration’s ability to turn the current economic challenges into an opportunity for growth and prosperity, the Minister assured the State of Federal Government’s support.
Former Minister of National Planning and Chairman of the Summit Planning Committee, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, lamented the reluctance of Northern governors to constitute the region into a viable economic zone in spite of available enabling resources.
He said it was not too late to do so as other regions of the country are consolidating on the efforts they started some years ago.
Dr Usman was however optimistic that the Kano Economic and Investment Summit will ginger up activities in the State and Region with the right political will.
At the opening of the two-day Summit were the governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Minister of Internal Affairs, Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazzau; Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar lll; Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi; captains of industry, technocrats and businessmen, among others.

Business

Umahi Inspects Lekki Corridor’s 7th Axial Road Project, Expresses Confidence in CHEC

Published

2 weeks ago

January 11, 2026

Our Reporter

Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi over the weekend inspected the progress of the 7th Axial Road project in the Lekki Corridor of Lagos.

The project, located behind the Dangote Refinery, is a crucial cargo handling route for the Lekki Deepwater Port and connects the Lekki Corridor with the Sagamu route.

The Minister expressed confidence in China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the project’s contractor, citing its successful delivery of the Lekki Deepwater Port and high-quality progress on the Makurdi-Enugu road reconstruction and expansion project. Umahi instructed that the roadbed filling work for Project LOT1 be completed by the end of April and directed the project team to accelerate resource input and tangible works to meet the deadline.

The 7th Axial Highway is expected to synergize with key infrastructure projects like the Coastal Road, Dangote Road, and Lekki Port, creating a comprehensive transportation hub model and boosting Nigeria’s port economy and industrial corridor. Umahi emphasized the need for environmental protection agencies to ensure efficient construction and steady progress while maintaining ecological safety.

A representative of CHEC who spoke during the inspection stated that the company would maintain a high level of resource input, implement the Minister’s directives, and coordinate safety, quality, and environmental protection to ensure the project’s timely and high-quality completion in other to unluck its port relief and regional economic benefits.

Business

Nestoil: Lagos CP dragged to court for contempt, risks imprisonment

Published

2 months ago

December 3, 2025

milcah

This is certainly not a good time for the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moshood Jimoh as he has been dragged to court for commiting contempt by defying a clear court order that he and his men must not go near the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD.

The fresh suit by Drawcok Estates LTD followed Monday’s deployment of over fifty armed police officers by Mr. Moshood Jimoh to seal off the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD despite an order by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia.

Also, despite a directive by the federal government that police escorts be withdrawn from VIPs, Mr. Moshood Jimoh illegally allocated several police officers to be guarding Mr. Sulu Gambari, the self-acclaimed Receiver Manager which was appointed by a former judge that was handling the case, Justice Isaac Dipeolu.

Recall that Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi vacated all the orders made by Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu who wrongly appointed the Receiver Manager.

Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the action of the Lagos Police Commissioner, Drawcok Estates LTD yesterday filed a case of contempt against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh Moshood (Contemnor) before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025, the applicant wants Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh to be found guilty of contempt of court and also be committed to prison unless he obeys the directives contained in Justice Ofili Ajumogobia’s Order of November 24, 2025.

Recall that Justice Ofili Ajumogobia had on November 24, 2025 ordered that the building in question belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD, adding that no police officer must be seen carrying out orders of the Lagos State Police Commissioner around the premises.

The Orders made by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia on November 24, 2025 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025 were that:

The applicant has a right to own and possess her properties as mentioned in the addresses above as guaranteed by the 34 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights..

That the sealing-off and occupation of the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above by the Respondents constitute an infringement on the right of the applicant to own property, as guaranteed by Sections 43 and 44 of the he Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

That the Respondents, whether by themselves , their agents, agencies and servants, acting for it through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to vacate the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above, and deliver possession over to the applicant forthwith.

That the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies, and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to provide security for the applicant to take back possession of her properties on the addresses mentioned above.

That the Respondents is restrain, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, from harassing the applicant and refusing her access to her properties on the addresses mentioned above.

Nigerian Concord Newspapers reporters that visited the business premises yesterday reported that pollice officers have been denying workers of several companies access to their offices located within the Nestoil building in Lagos on the order of Moshood Jimoh, despite a subsisting court order directing that they be allowed into the premises.

The affected workers had resumed duties following a court order delivered by Hon. Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja on November 24, which directed that they be granted access to their offices.

Business

Dangote Refinery Boosts Fuel Exports as Gulf Refineries Shut Down

Published

5 months ago

September 2, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up fuel exports to international markets amid widespread refinery shutdowns in the Middle East, industry sources confirmed.

A senior official at the $20bn Lagos-based plant told The PUNCH that the facility exported significant volumes of petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and aviation fuel (Jet A1) to foreign buyers in August, following earlier shipments in June and July.

The surge comes as Saudi Aramco and other regional producers face heavy maintenance schedules, tightening fuel supply. Aramco has already shut down two plants and plans further closures, including its 460,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail for a 60-day turnaround in November–December. Kuwait and India are also scaling back capacity for maintenance and seasonal demand.

According to Argus Media, these shutdowns are pushing Gulf nations to import record volumes of gasoline, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE sharply increasing purchases from Europe and other markets in recent months.

While some reports pointed to operational constraints at Dangote’s 650,000 b/d facility, the company dismissed such claims, insisting production is on track to reach 700,000 b/d by December. Earlier this year, Aliko Dangote announced the refinery had sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco and recently achieved exports of about 1 million tonnes of petrol between June and July.

“With Gulf refiners offline, Nigeria has now emerged as a net exporter of refined products,” Dangote said.

Analysts suggest the extended refinery outages in the Middle East will further strengthen demand for Dangote’s output, positioning the Nigerian plant as a key supplier in regional fuel markets.

Would you like me to tighten this further into a 5–6 paragraph wire-style news brief, or keep it as a detailed feature-style report with more context on Gulf refinery shutdowns?