Kadauri in Zamfara State thrives on gold mining, offering tales of instant wealth alongside stories of danger, poverty, and environmental destruction. The town captures the double-edged reality of Nigeria’s artisanal mining boom. The town, located along the Gusau–Talata Mafara–Sokoto road, is now a hive of activity. Young men and women toil in makeshift pits, extracting and transporting ore in the hope of striking gold. Mining has become the backbone of the community’s economy. Big rewards, bigger risks The lure of instant wealth keeps the trade alive. “Last week, some young people made as much as 70 million and even 200…
Author: Editor
The fight over control of Nigeria’s downstream oil market took a new turn at the weekend as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of misleading Nigerians and destabilizing the market. This was contained in a statement released on Saturday by DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, titled “Clarifying the Role of Market Players in Nigeria’s Downstream Petroleum Sector.” DAPPMAN said claims that Dangote Refinery’s repeated fuel price cuts were patriotic acts ignored their real timing and impact on the market. According to the association, the refinery often slashes prices when other…
A global healthcare company, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines (J\&J), is preparing to close its operations in Nigeria. The decision highlights the growing challenges facing multinational companies in Africa’s largest economy. Sources told the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) that the exit is linked to Nigeria’s tough economic climate. The country has been struggling with high inflation, shortage of foreign exchange, rising production costs, and unstable government policies. The source, who did not want to be named, said J\&J has been a major supplier of important medicines and health products in Nigeria. But the difficult business environment…
Dangote Industries Limited has announced that it will sponsor the 2025 Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF), which opens on September 25. In a statement, the company said it is proud to partner with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), organizers of the fair. It described the event as an opportunity to connect with key stakeholders and strengthen trade and investments across Africa. The company’s Corporate Communications department said the fair will also allow Dangote to showcase its wide range of products and highlight its contributions to Nigeria’s sustainable development. The statement, signed by company spokesman Anthony Chiejina, noted…
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, has hailed rising investments in Nigeria’s building materials sector, describing them as a major boost to the federal government’s manufacturing hubs initiative across the six geo-political zones. Speaking after inspecting industrial complexes in Lagos and Ogun over the weekend, Ata said the growth of the sector shows investors are responding positively to the government’s call. “Large-scale industrial complexes like Hwani will generate revenue, create jobs, and reduce youth restiveness,” he noted. He added that the industry’s modern machinery and mass production capacity would strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda in…
Two men have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction on Friday night in Yaba, Lagos. The Acting Head of the Lagos Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike, confirmed the development in an interview on Saturday. According to her, two bodies have so far been recovered, while four others were rescued alive and are currently receiving medical treatment. ALSO READ Many trapped in Lagos building collapses She explained that the building, located at No. 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, caved in around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, trapping several people…
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has praised President Bola Tinubu for openly supporting the creation of state police, describing it as a bold step to reshape Nigeria’s security system. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said the President’s position aligns with his long-standing belief in decentralized policing. The group recalled that the first major attempt to establish state police in recent years was in 2018, when the then Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, sponsored a bill. Even though Ekweremadu chaired the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee at the time, the…
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has been praised for his outstanding efforts in restoring peace and security across the state, especially in Southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari, areas once troubled by violent conflicts that claimed many lives. The commendation came from the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House. Professor Ahmed applauded the Governor’s peacebuilding drive, describing it as practical, effective, and aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence among the state’s diverse communities. He noted that the improved security has created a safe environment for…
Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal says he’s committed to unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027. But in Sokoto, the very state that birthed his career, his record is riddled with broken promises, abandoned programs, and borrowed political structures. If you can’t hold your home-front, how do you claim the nation? When Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal declared that he was “committed to sending Tinubu out of office in 2027,” the statement rang bold. But boldness without a base is empty rhetoric. And in Sokoto—the very soil where his political career took root—Tambuwal is standing on shaky ground. A man made by Wamakko…
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has encouraged Nigerian youths to take part in the Federal Government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP). The goal of the programme is to reduce youth unemployment and help young people who feel left out of the economy. Olawande was represented by Dr. Warrens Augusta, the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry, during the YEIDEP Stakeholders’ Forum held recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. At the event, which was sponsored by Alpha Morgan Bank, the Minister said YEIDEP shows the Federal Government’s strong commitment to fighting unemployment, poverty, and youth…