Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has dismissed the claims that his group of companies enjoy monopoly, insisting it is not true.

Dangote stated this on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu.

Africa’s richest man said the labelling of his group of companies as monopolistic is disheartening.

He said his group of companies had never stopped anyone from doing the same business that they are doing.

He said: “If you look at all our operations at Dangote (Group), we add value; we take local raw materials and turn them into products, and we sell.

“We have never consciously or unconsciously stopped anybody from doing the same business that we are doing.

“When we first came into cement production, it was only Lafarge that was operating here in Nigeria…Nobody ever called Lafarge a monopoly,” he said, adding that labelling his group of companies as monopolistic is disheartening.

“Monopoly is when you stop people, you block them through legal means. No, it is a level playing field whereby whatever Dangote was given in cement, for example, other people were given because some of them even got more than us,” he said.

Nigerian political economist, Pat Utomi, has debunked a statement by the presidency alleging his involvement in the planned August nationwide protest.

Recalls a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, accused supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, of organizing the ‘End Bad Government’ protest scheduled for August 1st to 10th.

According to Bayo, some X users, including one “FS Yusuf, a supporter of Peter Obi, Professor Pat Utomi, a Labour Party chieftain and another X user with the handle, Peter Obi’s First Son” are behind the planned protest.

Reacting, Utomi in a post on his official X handle, said he has nothing against the planned nationwide demonstration.

Utomi stated that his involvement in any protest would be made public and not wait to be called out by Onanuga.

He said, “Let it be clear that I have nothing against protests. It is a legitimate instrument of democracy for raising the voice of citizens.

“I have participated in many in my time. From my undergraduate days at UNN to marching with concerned professionals following the June 12 election annulment.

“So if I were part of whatever is being planned for August, I would wear it as a badge of honor and not wait to be called out by Bayo Onanuga.”

A social and political critic, Aisha Yesufu has said that Nigeria kills its own.

While appealing that the Dangote Refinery not be allowed to fail, Yesufu urged all hands to be on deck to ensure it succeeds.

Her statement comes after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the Dangote refinery has not been licensed to begin operations in the country.

Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, had made the claims during a chat with journalists at the State House, Abuja on Thursday.

Ahmed revealed that the refinery was still in the pre-commissioning stage and had not been licensed yet, noting that there were concerns about the quality of petroleum products produced by the Dangote refinery.

He had alleged that the quality of product churned out from the new refinery was inferior to imported commodities.

He said, “So, in terms of quality, currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulfur is the lowest as far as a West African requirement of 50 ppm”, he said.

However, reacting to a call by an X user @Oluseun Onigbinde for the regulator to be sanctioned for the claim against the Dangote refinery, Yesufu said Nigerians should speak up.

The social critic said that Dangote now feels what Nigerian business people with no government connections feel and go through always.

She said: “Nigeria kills its own. I truly agree with you, the refinery should not fail. All hands should be on deck to ensure it succeeds.

“Alhaji Dangote @AlikoDangote now feels what Nigerian business people with no government connections have always felt and gone through.

How dreams are stolen and destroyed. Just yesterday LandMark got its share and there was silence from the business community.

“When you speak up when others are affected, it is to ensure that a stop is put to such injustice so it never gets to you.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has backed calls for part-time legislature at both federal and state levels.

Senator Kalu, who represents APC from the Abia North senatorial district said this would help the nation cut costs and enhance the citizenry’s trust in the polity.

The former Abia Governor said this during an interview over the weekend.

On calls for a part-time legislature, Senator Kalu said, “I think it will be a very good idea if my colleagues and other members of the Houses of Assembly will agree that we can sit for three months and do constitutional amendment first.

“So we can sit four times a year and if there’s any emergency, there will be emergency sitting. We can come to do a presidential bid on that basis and go back instead of sitting on a full-time basis.

“Not only the Senate and the House of Representatives but all the legislative houses in Nigeria will be part-time.”

Senator Kalu maintained that this would be part of austerity measures to reduce the cost of governance, arguing that regional government is another viable alternative.

“If we’re going for a regional government, it also means that the ministers, the legislators, will be the same. I’ve been tinkering with the idea of how we can save money to run Nigeria because the country needs money.

“I will encourage the President, the National Assembly to make these kinds of laws. This will help him, and this will help the system, and this will help everybody,” he said.

The ex-governor explained that contrary to misconceptions among Nigerians, senators are not paid enough.

“But I want Nigerians and my colleagues to do a quick constitutional amendment so we can go and be a part-time sitting Senate and part-time sitting House of Representatives and other 36 state houses of assembly in Nigeria.

“That will bring trust and bring relief to the Nigerian people,” the ex-governor said.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has disclosed that the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration are not friendly and fueling more economic hardship.

Primate Ayodele stated that the current government would have been the best if they listened to advice but the policies formulated so far have not been helpful to the country and her citizens.

In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele said the decisions of Tinubu’s government have further destroyed the country and will likely bring more hardship and pain.

’Tinubu’s government would have been the best if they listened to advice. The government is formulating policies that have bad intentions because they are not friendly. Sending money and rice to people will further destroy the economy.

“The tax policy is not helping the country at all. There is so much wrong in the government that is yet to be explained, if care isn’t taken, this is how they will destroy the country and people will be facing more hardship and pains.’’

He advised the President to avoid being deceived by those celebrating his government because citizens are yet to experience a better economic situation where they can afford basic needs.

Ayodele said the country has resources that can help curb hardship but they are not being put to use. He urged the president to adjust his policies to become friendly.

‘’Things are not palatable; Tinubu shouldn’t be deceived by those celebrating his government. The economic policy should be adjusted and let them put things in place because people are not happy. We have resources that can help curb economic hardship but we are not using them.’’

Furthermore, Primate Ayodele mentioned that his prophecies are not to abuse the government or speak against them but to put them to work and speak truth to power.

‘’My prophecy isn’t to abuse the government or create panic but to put the government on their toes and whether they are fake or not, time will tell. The government needs to do something urgently, Tinubu should not be deceived. Economic hardship causes corruption and encourages insecurity.’’

Enugu State Governor, Governor Peter Mbah, has accused a Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, of murdering and terrorising residents of Nigeria’s South-East.

Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the IPOB, has been allegedly linked to some deadly attacks and enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders in the region.

The governor who received members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence in Enugu, accused the Biafra agitator of being a “scammer” who has been “feeding fat” on the suffering of Igbos.

“It is surprising that the Finnish government allows this man to reside peacefully in their country and then perpetrate terrorism in Nigeria,” Mbah said.

“And I think this is something your committee may have to wade into and see how this guy can be repatriated and then be brought to justice.

“Through his (Ekpa) statements and his actions, a lot of people have died and he continues in that trajectory. So, this is a tragedy that we must all work as a country to end. He doesn’t represent the Igbo interest.”

According to the governor, his administration has ended the illegal sit-at-home situation in the state and will remain determined to ensure the safety of all residents.

He also called on young people in the South-east not to yield to Mr Ekpa’s antics and vowed that the state government would not be intimidated by the agitators’ threats.

“As you may also have noticed recently, they have continued to make attempts, particularly, that megalomaniac (Ekpa), who ironically resides with his family peacefully in Finland, a country where the rule of law reigns, but he encourages anarchy here and goad some of our youths to their self-destruction.

“This is also a business for him (Ekpa), pretending to be fighting for Igbo’s interest, but does not know anything about the Igbo or have their interest at heart,” he stated.

The President of the Dangote Group has called on the House of Representatives to investigate the quality of diesel and petrol at filling stations.

Dangote made the call on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy Benjamin Kalu.

To carry out the investigation, he urged the House to set up a committee to test products at various filling stations across the country.

Decrying the damage being done to vehicles and engines by substandard products, also called on the House to investigate the quality of laboratories being used to test imported products and compare that with the one at the Dangote Refinery.

He informed the lawmakers, who had earlier toured the refinery, that he was also open to independent testing of his refinery’s products as that would only attest to their quality while exposing the problem with some of the products being sold by other players in the sector.

The management of Dangote Refinery has complained in recent months about what they say is an attempt by international oil companies (IOCs) to sabotage the refinery. It has also decried what it says is the importation of substandard products.

In turn, the refinery has been accused of essentially pushing for a monopoly.

Dangote, however, dismissed the monopoly claims insisting that the Dangote Group did not receive any special incentive when the refinery was being built.

He also said there was no effort to prevent other players from operating.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered illicit substances in Lagos.

The items – consignments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis – were concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves and ladies’, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said.

According to a Sunday statement, the hard drugs were meant to be smuggled in and out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

Babafemi said some suspects were apprehended

“A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu was on Thursday 18th July 2024 arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with men of Customs Service,” the statement read.

“A search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits including some drug paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki. A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house.

“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Friday 19th July intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan. The bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves and other food items, which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg. Further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise based in the South Asia country.

“Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday 18th July intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses. The suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE on Emirates Airline. A thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears. The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai.”

On his part, the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended anti-narcotics officers for the seizures.

He said that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated, urging them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afam Osigwe, has emerged as the president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following the 2024 NBA election held online.  

Osigwe secured the highest number of votes, with 20,395, surpassing his closest rival, Tobenna Erojikwe, who got 10,970 votes, and Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), who received 9,007 votes.

He will succeed the outgoing president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN).

See below the other positions filled by the newly elected executives of the NBA:

1st Vice-President: Sabastine Anyia defeated Bartholomew Aguegbodo

2nd Vice-President: Mrs. Bolatumi Animashaun with 26,534 votes, defeating Pius Oiwoh, who scored 11,121 votes.

3rd Vice-President: Mrs. Zainab Garba with 23,550 votes, defeating Michael Olorunmola, who received 13,897 votes.

General Secretary: Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara with 25,713 votes, defeating Abdulwasiu Alfa, who received 11,730 votes.

Assistant General Secretary: Henry Ehi with 28,552 votes, defeating Oluwaseun Aka, who received 8,317 votes.

Treasurer: Mrs. Blessing Udofa-Poromon with 17,998 votes, defeating Mbamala Chukwuemeka, who garnered 9,825 votes.

Publicity Secretary: Mrs. Bridget Edokwe with 19,542 votes, defeating Charles Ajiboye, who scored 10,989 votes.

Assistant Publicity Secretary: Miss Ebiere Ekpese with 26,955 votes, defeating Lawrence Ayewa, who scored 9,690 votes.

Welfare Secretary: Nyada Auta with 18,369 votes, defeating Oaikhena Osagie, who scored 12,855 votes.

A former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, has berated presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, for claiming that the proposed nationwide protest is aimed at destabilizing the country.

He argued that Onanuga’s statement was uncharitable and wicked.

The former minister lamented that President Bola Tinubu and his ‘locust cabal’ love only the wealth of Nigeria.

Speaking via his X handle on Saturday, Dalung insisted that the proposed protest is sacrosanct, adding that it is to demand accountability from those who are destroying Nigeria’s common heritage.

According to him, “The generation of Nigerians demanding for good governance, accountability and justice are more entitled to Nigeria than the group of scavengers occupying power.

 “Make no mistake about it, we love our country but @officialABAT and his locust cabal love only the wealth of Nigeria

“The protests are to demand for accountability from those who are destroying our common heritage. Nigerians have nowhere to go but @officialABAT has France, while others have Europe, Canada and USA.

“Therefore @aonanuga1956 calling out Nigerians as those planning to destabilize Nigeria is not only uncharitable but wicked.

“The generation of Nigerians demanding for good governance, accountability and justice are more entitled to Nigeria than the group of scavengers occupying power. Take it to the bank, the protests are sacrosanct.

“Deploying antics of divide and rule will not only fail but antiquitated. The only antidote to the protests is for @officialABAT and his cult of plunderers to surrender to the demands of the people.

“The fear of the protests degenerating into anarchy is evil imaginations of your mind calculated at abating holding the government responsible. All we are demanding is good governance, which is not too much.”