Business
‘President Muhammadu Buhari; A year in office a global decadence to Nigeria’ – Hon. Ifemosu
2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, won the Presidential election after a keen contest with the then incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, most Nigerians were happy thinking that the “messiah” that will take Nigerians from the woods to the “Promised Land” had come.
Many, also jubilated with the firm belief that the ‘’change’’ which he and his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, promised Nigerians was certainly going to transform Nigeria.
But with just about a year of his administration in office, PMB is still apportioning blames rather than proffering solutions.
Rather than shop for those that will help him fix the nation’s bleeding economy, President Buhari is busy globetrotting; spending the little resources that Nigeria is left with abroad and returning back home with little or no results for his missions abroad.
Below are some of the highlighted reason why PMB has actually failed Nigeria:
*During the 2015 presidential electioneering campaigns, PMB, promised to make the Naira equivalent to the United States of America Dollar.
With this pronouncement, most of us where happy since our economy is an import dependent one.
As at May 29, 2015, when he assumed office, the value of the Naira to the Dollar, in the black market was N195.00 against its current rate of N400.00.
As a result of this, cost of almost every commodity in the market has skyrocketed.
About Few months ago, his government announced that 500,000 unemployed graduates were to be employed as teachers.
Again, this was welcomed with much applause.
But just recently, the PMB led government announced that these teachers would be trained under its social welfare scheme to serve as voluntary teachers; what a deceit.
I termed this as Unpreparedness for leadership.
To prove PMB’s unpreparedness for leadership, in April 2015, after the Presidential election, he mentioned to Nigerians that he was not sure that former President Goodluck Jonathan will concede defeat.
To further buttress this position, it took President Buhari about seven months to appoint his ‘’saints’’ Ministers.
Ministers without any allegation of fraud.
To make matters worse, it took Buhari nine months to discover that the recently sacked 26 Agency heads were working for the PDP, as announced by the APC Chairman, Chief John Odijie-Oyegun.
*Budget Padding
Again, to show how unserious he runs the business of Nigeria, it took the President too long to get the 2016 budget passed.
His “Zero-based” budget of 6 trillion for the “change” agenda, presented with so much fanfare, expected to perform wonders for Nigerians, has been rejected by the National Assembly because of massive blunders discovered in the document after it was initially declared missing.
What does PMB and his APC Led government take Nigerians for? According to the late reggae icon, Bob Marley, you can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all the time.
With reference to the controversial budget, full of concocted huge sums of Naira, with so many so-called errors attributed to the Presidency, how can a government that means well for its citizens plan a higher budget for its Ministry of Information against a lesser one for the Ministry of Agriculture in a country plagued by poverty, hunger and starvation? Or is this deliberate in other to equip the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, for what he knows how to do best; propaganda.
How did N5 million proposed for buying computers for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Film and Video Censors Board mysteriously became N398 million? What error accounts for the N3.8 billion allocated for capital projects at the State House Clinic meant for the president, vice-president and their families alone; compared to the N2.6 billion allocated for all the 17 government teaching hospitals nationwide.
Based on the foregoing, is the budget truly a reflection of how PMB loves Nigerians and the Nigeria he once cried for? Is it also a true reflection of the “change” he promised? What brands of tyres, batteries, fuses, c-caution signs, fire extinguishers and towing ropes will amount to more than quarter of a billion Naira of tax payers’ money, considering the fact that this budget is just for one year and that some of the listed items come with brand new cars.
How can a President who claims to be fighting corruption present such a budget?
Exposing Nigeria to external aggression
President Buhari goofed seriously when he made the Dasukigate investigation public.
Even in the advanced world, matters of national security are handled secretly on-the-need-to-know bases.
But in PMB’s case, he preferred to make a big show with it thereby exposing the nation’s vulnerability and susceptibility to external military aggression and possible invasion by any country; no matter how small that may want to display its military might and superiority.
PMB, in doing this, forgot he took an oath to protect Nigerians.
*Lack of tolerance for the opposition.
PMB’s intolerance for the opposition remains unparalleled.
He has not congratulated any governor in the opposition political parties who emerged victorious in any election, since he assumed office as President.
This may also be the reason his anti corruption fight is perceived to be a vendetta mission, an attempt to reduce the opposition to nothing.
This writer is not against the anti corruption stance of Mr. President but his approach is seriously assuming a dangerous dimension; Nigerians are watching.
PMB’s corruption war seems to be targeted and limited to the Jonathan’s administration.
Is PMB telling Nigerians that previous administrations were corruption free? Or is it because Dr. Jonathan did not in the military? What are the reasons for limiting this fight to Jonathan’s administration and the PDP alone? What about the men in his cabinet, whose names are associated with so many alleged corruption issues? Is PMB surrounded by saints, is he saying that all present and former governors of the APC are corruption free or they never corruptly enriched themselves? In about three months , his administration will be one year.
Nigeria needs a president that can move her forward not one that has taken her 30 years backwards.
What about his party leaders who have been alleged to have converted state government properties into their personal properties? Why has PMB refused to tell Nigerians the source of funding for his electioneering campaigns and how those who funded it with billions of Naira acquired such stupendous wealth? What about the numerous under aged Nigerians that voted for him in the northern part of the country which may have contributed to his emergence as president; has he made any categorical statement to condemn this act? How can a President, who was corruptly voted into power fight corruption? How can a President whose election campaigns were corruptly funded by corrupt persons who allegedly corruptly enriched themselves fight corruption?
Nigeria’s business is a serious one; not meant for people who lack vision to move the nation forward.
Nigerians are tired of his anti corruption mission which is not even yielding fruits.
His anti corruption fight is seriously hemorrhaging the nation’s economy.
*Fuel hike/Scarcity.
It took PMB to aggravate the suffering of Nigerians by increasing the price in PMS, it will be recalled that the minister of petroleum (state) kachikwu stated it categorically that fuel Scarcity will end by may, not knowing there is a plan B to subsidized and increase fuel Scarcity, it is a known fact that earlier in 2015, PMB stated that there is nothing like Fuel subsidy, only to come in 2016 to subsidized it at a higher price.
Nigerians are hungry.
And rather than spend the past eleven and half months since he assumed office to fight hunger, starvation, poor health care delivery systems, and shelter for the homeless, PMB has been busy junketing the entire globe and painting Nigerians black as corrupt people.
Is it his war against corruption that has refused to yield results as buttressed by a recent statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu, that “senior lawyers are frustrating the war against corruption? Is it his victory over Boko Haram which he claimed can no longer carry out any conventional attack yet they bombed Maiduguri, Borno State capital, killing and injuring scores? The same Boko haram bombed an IDP camp too killing and injuring scores of harmless women and children he swore to protect.
And just recently, the same group of terrorists razed Mala Keri in Konduga Local Gorvernment Area of Borno State.
Is it the “padded zero-based” budget of “change” corruptly designed to enrich some pockets which they also claimed some rats smuggled some items into it, as reported by the BBC or the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which he recently pronounced was a creation of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration? Would it be only the Dasukigate? Of what immediate benefit is Dasukigate to Nigerians compared with the sorry state of the Naira or faulty policies like the one which has caused even students inability to pay their school fees abroad?
President Muhammadu lacks clues on how to move Nigeria forward. He also lacks the capacity to be Nigeria’s president.
This is because he equally lacks ideas on how to diversify the economy of this great nation blessed with abundant natural and human resources.
His team also lacks cutting edge ideas that will take Nigeria out of the woods.
They have nothing new to offer as his “miracle making” and “saints” ministers are of the old school or old brigade with little or no achievements to show in their past leadership roles except for Babatunde Raji Fashola the minister of darkness who could only increase the electricity tariff and stop importation of Generators.
Nigeria, a country with about 220 million people does not need a president that lacks a 22nd century vision.
We need one with solutions to her challenges.
The kind of president that can set the propellers and the turbines of Nigeria’s economy running rather than bringing it to a total halt; a president that can place the most populous black nation in the world, in its rightful place, in the committee of nations.
Ifemosu Michael Adewale.
An activist, Founder Youth in Good Governance initiative (YIGGI).
Business
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Rises to Become Africa’s Second Richest Man
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Rises to Become Africa’s Second Richest Man
LAGOS – In a notable reshuffle of Africa’s wealth hierarchy, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, has climbed to the position of the continent’s second richest individual. The development highlights the accelerating growth of his industrial empire and the increasing global relevance of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
Recent valuations show the billionaire businessman overtaking long-standing contenders to secure the number two spot, behind only Aliko Dangote. His rise has been driven largely by the strong market performance of his publicly listed firms, BUA Cement Plc and BUA Foods Plc, both of which have recorded significant gains on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
Rabiu’s ascent reflects years of strategic expansion and vertical integration. BUA Cement, Nigeria’s second-largest cement producer, has scaled up operations with new production lines to meet rising infrastructure demand. At the same time, BUA Foods has strengthened its leadership in key segments such as sugar, flour, and pasta, reinforcing its role in regional food supply.
Analysts note that his focus on essential goods has provided stability, helping his businesses maintain steady revenues despite broader economic fluctuations. By prioritizing domestic production, BUA Group has also reduced exposure to external shocks.
Philanthropy and Development Impact
Beyond business, Rabiu has earned global recognition for his philanthropic efforts through the ASR Africa Initiative, a $100 million annual intervention fund supporting education, healthcare, and social development across Africa.
His rise in the rankings is widely viewed as evidence of the power of African-driven industrialization—not only in building wealth but also in delivering meaningful social impact. As Africa’s economic landscape evolves, the shifting billionaire rankings underscore the growing influence of Nigeria’s private sector in shaping the continent’s future.
Bank
ZENITH BANK EXPANDS FRONTIERS WITH CÔTE D’IVOIRE SUBSIDIARY, DEEPENS FRANCOPHONE WEST AFRICA PUSH
ZENITH BANK EXPANDS FRONTIERS WITH CÔTE D’IVOIRE SUBSIDIARY, DEEPENS FRANCOPHONE WEST AFRICA PUSH
Zenith Bank Plc has taken a major step in its Pan-African growth journey with the official launch of its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary, reinforcing its strategic ambition to dominate key markets across the continent.
The grand opening ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, is expected to draw top-tier government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, alongside leading business executives and members of the diplomatic corps—underscoring the growing economic ties and investment flows between Anglophone and Francophone Africa.
Licensed in December 2025 by Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Finance and Budget and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, the new subsidiary will operate from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan—one of the region’s most important financial hubs.
The move signals a calculated expansion into Francophone West Africa and positions Zenith Bank as a key financial bridge within the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The subsidiary is designed to drive cross-border trade, offering corporate banking, trade finance, offshore banking, and structured financial solutions tailored to businesses operating across Africa and beyond.
Speaking on the milestone, Group Managing Director/CEO Adaora Umeoji said the expansion aligns with the founding vision of Chairman Jim Ovia to build a globally competitive African bank.
“The launch of Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire is a bold step in realising that vision. It opens a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa and reinforces our commitment to facilitating trade, investment, and enterprise growth across the continent,” she stated.
The subsidiary will be led by Managing Director/CEO Cédric Tano, who brings over two decades of industry experience. He noted that the bank is entering the Ivorian market at a time of strong economic momentum and increasing regional integration.
“Our goal is to position Zenith Bank as a customer-centric institution that blends global best practices with deep local expertise, while supporting businesses with innovative financing and enabling seamless cross-border transactions,” Tano said.
Beyond Côte d’Ivoire, Zenith Bank is accelerating its expansion into Central Africa, with plans underway to enter the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, using Cameroon as a strategic gateway.
With an established presence in multiple markets—including Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and China—the bank continues to strengthen its role as a conduit linking African economies to global capital and trade networks.
Founded in 1990, Zenith Bank has evolved into one of Africa’s most formidable financial institutions, maintaining the highest Tier-1 capital position in Nigeria’s banking industry for 16 consecutive years. Built on its core pillars of People, Technology, and Service, the bank has consistently delivered strong financial performance and earned widespread local and international recognition.
Business
ADVAN Wins Global Honour at WFA Awards for “Project Freedom” Initiative
ADVAN Earns Global Recognition As WFA President’s Award Winner For “Project Freedom”
The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has been recognised on the global stage as a recipient of the prestigious WFA President’s Award, presented by the World Federation of Advertisers during its Global Marketer Week in Stockholm. The recognition places ADVAN among a select group of leading industry associations worldwide acknowledged for driving meaningful impact in marketing and society.
The WFA President’s Awards, established in 2010, celebrate national industry associations whose initiatives advance the marketer’s agenda and contribute to positive change. This year’s honours were awarded following a rigorous selection process involving 38 submissions from associations across the WFA’s global network, with winners chosen for their measurable impact and potential for replication across markets.
ADVAN’s recognition comes through its advocacy initiative, Project Freedom, a bold and strategic effort focused on addressing the challenges of stifling, non–data-driven regulations affecting businesses in Nigeria and across Africa. The initiative underscores the importance of evidence-based policymaking while championing the constitutional right to freedom of commerce.
Through Project Freedom, ADVAN has taken a proactive leadership role in engaging key stakeholders and shaping conversations around fair, balanced, and transparent regulation. The initiative reflects a shift toward constructive dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that regulatory frameworks support innovation, protect consumer interests, and enable sustainable business growth.
By earning this global recognition, ADVAN reinforces the growing influence of African marketing institutions in shaping international discourse. Its work highlights how local advocacy, when rooted in data and guided by clear principles, can deliver impact not just within national borders but across the global marketing ecosystem.
The award also affirms ADVAN’s commitment to strengthening self-regulation within the industry, fostering accountability, and promoting standards that align with global best practices while remaining relevant to local realities.
As the marketing landscape continues to evolve, ADVAN’s recognition by the World Federation of Advertisers signals a strong endorsement of its leadership and vision. It positions the association as a key voice in advancing responsible marketing, advocating for enabling policies, and ensuring that businesses can operate in an environment that supports both innovation and economic freedom.
-
news5 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
celebrity radar - gossips3 months agoDr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
-
celebrity radar - gossips5 months agoProphet Kingsley Aitafo Releases 2026 Prophecy: ‘Nigeria Will Rise, but the World Must Prepare for Turbulence’
-
Business5 months agoBUA Rewards 510 Employees with ₦30bn in Historic Night of Excellence









You must be logged in to post a comment Login
You must log in to post a comment.