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Dangote industrialising Africa, says NCCIMA DG
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Director General of the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Adamu Salihu, has described the Dangote Group as a transformative force in Africa’s economic renaissance, saying the conglomerate is “not only industrialising Nigeria, but indeed the whole of Africa.”
Speaking ahead of the Dangote Special Day at the 22nd Niger National Trade Fair in Minna, Mr. Salihu said the Chamber would use the event to further showcase the achievements of the Group to the people of Niger State, Nigerians and the wider African business community.
According to him, Dangote Group’s continued investments in cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, agriculture and energy have become a model of indigenous industrialisation and proof that African entrepreneurs can build globally competitive enterprises.
The NCCIMA Director General explained that the theme of this year’s fair, Public-Private Partnership as a Panacea for Nigeria’s Growth and Stability, was deliberately chosen to underscore the critical role of collaboration between government and the private sector in driving sustainable development.
He said Dangote Group’s investment profile aligns closely with the development priorities of Niger State, particularly in agriculture, where the company’s rice and sugar businesses complement the state’s vast arable land and ongoing drive to become Nigeria’s leading food production hub.
Mr. Salihu expressed optimism that the Group’s Vision 2030 strategy would help unlock large-scale investments in agriculture, mining and agro processing in Niger State, sectors in which the state enjoys both comparative and competitive advantages.
Dangote Group currently operates across more than a dozen African countries, with interests spanning cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, petrochemicals, agriculture and energy.
The company says its core mission is to build local manufacturing capacity, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports across the continent.
Mr. Salihu said the Group’s backward integration strategy and local sourcing model have created wealth for Nigerians by stimulating domestic production and reducing the nation’s dependence on imports.
He described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a landmark project that has reshaped Nigeria’s energy landscape by conserving foreign exchange, eliminating fuel shortages, promoting competition and opening new opportunities for indigenous investors.
According to Mr. Salihu, the positive impact of the refinery extends to states such as Niger, where lower logistics costs and improved fuel availability are expected to support manufacturing, agriculture and commerce.
He added that Dangote Group’s commitment to local content, technology transfer and infrastructure development demonstrates how African-owned companies can drive the continent’s industrial transformation.
The NCCIMA Director General urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to emulate the boldness of Group President Aliko Dangote by investing in the country and building businesses that create long-term value.
He also called on large corporations to support nano, micro, small and medium enterprises by integrating them into their supply chains, noting that chambers of commerce can help identify credible businesses to serve as suppliers and service providers.
Mr. Salihu appealed to exhibitors, investors and the public to support the annual Niger National Trade Fair, describing it as a strategic platform for promoting investment, forging partnerships and advancing the economic aspirations of Niger State and Nigeria as a whole.
Mr. Salihu said Dangote Group’s industrial ambition is extending beyond Nigeria, noting that recent discussions on the establishment of a major refinery in East Africa further shows the company’s commitment to transforming Africa’s economy.
Mr. Salihu said the proposal, which was unveiled by President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, would replicate the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos and serve the East African market if governments in the region provide the necessary support.
He described the move as a clear demonstration that Dangote Group is “not only industrialising Nigeria, but indeed the whole of Africa.”
According to Mr. Salihu, the planned East African refinery shows the Group’s strategic vision of building world-class industrial assets that reduce Africa’s dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs and strengthen regional value chains.
Dangote announced the proposal during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he said his company was ready to construct an identical refinery in East Africa, potentially within the next four to five years, subject to government backing.
Mr. Salihu said this continental expansion aligns with Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 and confirms the company’s determination to use African capital, expertise and technology to drive industrial development across the continent.
Suspect returned to Kano to face investigation, prosecution
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader and sponsor, Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 27-year-old suspect, from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, is accused of sponsoring violent gang clashes that have claimed lives and heightened insecurity in parts of the state.
The task force disclosed this in a statement, saying the suspect was arrested following intelligence-led operations after allegedly fleeing Kano as security operations against gang violence intensified.
According to the statement, operatives tracked him to Port Harcourt and arrested him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe. He has since been returned to Kano.
The task force alleged that Malam Keya played a leading role in orchestrating and financing hoodlums involved in violent attacks in Dala and other affected communities.
The areas reportedly affected by the gang violence include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kukar Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.
Confirming the arrest, the task force chairman, Barr Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to pursue suspected sponsors of violence beyond Kano State.
“Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them. This arrest is only the beginning. We will not rest until peace is fully restored,” he said.
The task force said the suspect remained in custody for further investigation and would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation.
It added that its operations would continue in accordance with the law, with all suspects entitled to due process.
The agency also pledged to sustain efforts to dismantle criminal gangs, identify their alleged sponsors and disrupt drug supply networks linked to criminal activities.
It urged residents, community and religious leaders, parents and youths to support security efforts by reporting suspicious persons and activities, monitoring their neighbourhoods and discouraging young people from being recruited into criminal gangs.
The task force described public cooperation as essential to restoring peace and security across the state.
It also acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers state police commands and other law enforcement agencies in the operation.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KASSTOWA) has strengthened security at Joda Waterworks to prevent vandalism, theft and unauthorised access to the facility.
KANO FOCUS reports that the agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, following an assessment visit to the waterworks by its interim managing director to evaluate the security situation.
According to the statement, additional security personnel have been deployed to protect the facility and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
The agency said the measure was part of efforts to safeguard critical water infrastructure and protect public assets from potential threats.
It added that the intervention aligned with the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to protecting government facilities and ensuring the delivery of essential services, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Water Resources.
KASSTOWA also emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration in strengthening infrastructure protection.
The agency called on community leaders, traditional institutions, youth organisations and residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and cooperate with security personnel deployed to the facility.
It stressed that protecting water infrastructure was a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of government agencies and host communities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnapping plot in Gezawa Local Government Area and arrested two 20-year-old suspects over threats to abduct a village head.
KANO FOCUS reports that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Naziru Garba and Bashir Alhasan, were arrested following intelligence-led operations by police operatives attached to the Gezawa Divisional Police Headquarters.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on October 26, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. by the village head of Bangare, Mallam Idris, who told the police that he had received a threatening phone call from an unidentified person on October 24 at about 9:33 p.m.
The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap him.
Following the report, police operatives launched a follow-up operation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime,” the statement said, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Gezawa Division for their swift and professional response.
Bakori reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities and said the operation aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which prioritises intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, professionalism and proactive crime prevention.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station.
The command also provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting security concerns: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926.
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