ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Nigeria Rescues Its Defiant Neighbor as Fuel Crisis Spirals Out of Control

Abuja/Niamey – March 15, 2025 – In a stunning turn of events, Niger Republic has turned to its long-estranged neighbor, Nigeria, for help after being crippled by a catastrophic fuel shortage. Despite months of diplomatic tensions, hostile rhetoric, and even allegations of sabotage, Niger’s military junta has been forced to swallow its pride and beg Nigeria for emergency fuel supplies to prevent total economic collapse.

Sources reveal that a high-powered delegation from the junta rushed to Abuja in a desperate plea for assistance. The outcome? A staggering 300 truckloads of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) approved for immediate delivery—a move insiders say Nigeria is leveraging as a “strategic bargaining tool” in negotiations to pull Niger back into the ECOWAS fold.

Niger’s Fuel Nightmare: Prices Soar to Unthinkable Heights

With its economy in free fall, Niger’s fuel crisis has reached nightmarish levels. Reports indicate that petrol prices have skyrocketed to an eye-watering N8,750 per liter in some areas—forcing citizens into dire straits. Border towns, once lifelines for smuggled Nigerian fuel, have been left paralyzed.

A Nigerian transborder businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, described the situation as “beyond critical,” revealing that in the border town of Konni, fuel sells for 1,200 CFA (N2,500 per liter), while in Agadez, prices soar to 3,000 CFA (N7,500 per liter). The situation is even grimmer in Arilit, near Algeria, where a single liter costs an unbelievable 3,500 CFA (N8,750).

How Niger’s Junta Backfired on China—And Paid the Price

Niger’s woes, experts say, are self-inflicted. The junta’s reckless confrontation with Chinese oil giants has backfired disastrously. After securing a $400 million advance from the China National Petroleum Corporation, Niger found itself unable to repay. But instead of negotiating, the junta took a hardline approach, slapping an outrageous $80 billion tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company), despite owing $250 billion to Chinese oil firms.

China’s response was swift and brutal. It shut down operations, expelled Nigerien officials, and froze accounts, effectively collapsing Niger’s petroleum sector overnight. The Soraz refinery—a lifeline for fuel supplies—ground to a halt, plunging the country into chaos.

Yet, despite the junta’s blunders, Niger remains too proud to admit its dependency on Nigeria. Reports indicate that Niger’s state-controlled media has deliberately avoided acknowledging Nigeria’s critical intervention, instead painting the fuel supply as an internal success.

Nigeria: The Unexpected Savior?

Despite Niger’s earlier accusations that Nigeria was plotting against it, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has chosen to rise above past animosities and extend an olive branch. The silent fuel deal, orchestrated behind closed doors, is more than just humanitarian aid—it’s a masterstroke in diplomatic strategy.

A senior Nigerian government official revealed: “We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use this as leverage to bring them back into ECOWAS. The truth is, they simply do not have the resources to sustain themselves without us.”

Nigeria’s Oil Industry: Strong Enough to Bail Out Niger?

Oil marketers and industry experts confirm that Nigeria has the capacity to shoulder Niger’s crisis without disrupting its own economy. With the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and additional imports, Nigeria remains a dominant force in West African energy.

Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, confirmed that the country has ample resources: “If we have a diplomatic reason for this, it is completely doable.”

Will This Lifeline Bring Niger Back to ECOWAS?

While Niger’s military rulers have yet to acknowledge Nigeria’s help, the reality remains—without Nigeria, Niger’s survival is at stake. This fuel crisis has exposed the junta’s vulnerability, forcing it to rely on the very country it once accused of betrayal.

As Nigeria continues its strategic maneuvering, one question lingers: Will Niger finally come back to the ECOWAS fold, or will it gamble on further isolation?