Business

Why Adeboye stepped down as head of Nigeria’s Redeemed Church

Published

8 years ago

January 10, 2017

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, stepped down as head of the church in Nigeria in line with a proposed Corporate Governance Code in Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr. Adeboye referred to the governance code as he announced his decision to give up the position on Saturday, church leaders who attended the session, said.

The code, proposed in May 2015, limits the number of years heads of corporate organisations can stay in office. It is mandatory for the private sector.

The Code of Governance for Not-for-Profit entities is “Comply or Justify non-compliance.”

It is under the Not-for-Profit category that churches like the RCCG come under.

The code was later suspended, reportedly after the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, opposed its implementation.

It was unclear whether Mr. Adeboye knew the proposal had been suspended.

While announcing the governance code in October 2016, the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, had said it would take effect from October 17, 2016.

FRC said, “In accordance with Section 50 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, 2011, which among other things requires the Directorate of Corporate Governance to develop the principles and practices of Corporate Governance applicable in Nigeria, the Council hereby releases the National Code of Corporate Governance effective 17th October 2016.”

It further said, the “Code of Governance for the Public Sector will not be applicable immediately until an executive directive is secured from the Federal Government of Nigeria. This is due to the fact that the enabling laws that set up most government establishments already carry some form of governance structure that will require an umbrella legislation to unify the different provisions of those laws to synchronise with this Code.”

Mr. Malami later wrote a strong opinion against it.

Mr. Adeboye had on Saturday surprised the top echelon of the RCCG by stepping down from direct leadership of the church in the country. He appointed Joshua Obayemi as the National Overseer of the church in Nigeria.

Mr. Obayemi, who was Special Assistant to General Overseer on Finance, was appointed at the annual Ministers Thanksgiving at Shimawa, Ogun State.

Mr. Adeboye will however remain the General Overseer of the RCCG Worldwide.

Daddy G. O.’s tactical resignation or retirement: An unpleasant development

While I agree totally with the call for Christians to go into politics én mass, I would rather call for the church first of all to go into prayers. Haven’t we seen sound Christians who went into politics and became compromised by the monstrous spirit of corruption and mammonry that has eaten dip into our political system and taken root in all the seats of power?

This ungodly law that is supposedly signed into law by the National Assembly did not start as a national issue but an expression of grief by one man who became aggrieved by his pastor and general overseer. This man is the current boss of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

This said man was a pastor with the RCCG who became envious of the success and power wielded by the General Overseer, because, he himself is a power hungry man. He became head of the FRC after repeatedly backstabbing his boss to whom he was number two with repeated petitions to the higher authorities against his boss until he had his way.

He has never had anything good to say about his G. O. He had always spoken I’ll of him to whoever cares to hear. While he was still a pastor under the RCCG, he bragged that he had not stepped his foot into the Redemption Camp in many years.

He had always complained that the G O has asked other pastors to step down after reaching 70 years and he himself has refused to do so. And had bragged on a few occasions that he would ensure the G O steps down.

Let me add that neither he the boss nor the parastatal he heads (FRCN) has the power to execute the law, but he did. Financial Reporting Council has its jurisdiction whose bounds this man has overstepped. Recently, the kangaroo Acts of the FRC he concocted alone to favour him and his draconian regime was repealed by the National Assembly or so it seems. His satanic high handedness style of governance has been a thing of concern in the parastatal.

He became so power drunk that he tried to insult the integrity of the G O four years ago when the G O asked that he comes to see him. Only then was his church file as a pastor reviewed and he got suspended from the church. He became all the more drunk with power when he got someone who introduced him to the then president. There, he found an opportunity to present this matter to the president and gave reasons why churches and mosques should start paying taxes. He convinced the president then by running down God’s servants.

He was an easy tool then because he came very handy to be used against the then Central Bank governor which led to his suspension from office. This drew him closer to the president and tactically had the president’s ear. It was at that point he made way to express his devilish desire against the church with his G O as main target.

When the church suspended him and the then president left office, he quickly joined himself to Latter Rain Church and got introduced to the pastor through a member of staff of the FRC who worships there. This he did subtly because of the closeness of the pastor to this present government so he can get introduced to the new Preside Buhari. That was done.

His staff in the office are groaning under his hard leadership and cannot speak out because he had held them bound with threats and fear. This man who today is an enemy of the church has been implicated in wizardry and witchcraft and belonging to the occult. He has some cases of abuse of office and immoral activities going on in court against him which he lost recently.

Today, he is laughing because it seems his agenda is playing out. He is boasting that it will spread to all the other long serving G.O.s This, he will achieve if the church does not arise to both pray and cease power first from the realm of the spirit.

In Acts 12:1-10, when Herod took James and killed him and no one did anything, he proceeded to take the leader of the apostles- Peter. That’s when the church woke up to prayers and intervention came in verse 5-10.

In Acts 7:1-end, Saul ensured Steven died and no one stood against him, so he proceeded to Damascus to clean up the church until the Master intervened because the church prayed.

Who said the bill can not be reversed? Why should the church be dictated to by the state when the state has no hand in leading the church? Didn’t our Lord Jesus say He will build His church and the gates of hell cannot not prevail against it? Why is hell raging now and we are complying?

Haman’s Bill in the book of Esther was countered. Joshua stopped time until he overthrew evil kings. Where is the power today in the church? We see not our signs. (Ps. 74:9)

The state cannot dictate to the church when her leaders should come in and out and who they should handover to. If we don’t fight this evil now, it will develop into something worse that will bring regrets to the church. Who knows; they could start telling the pastors what to preach and what not to preach. What pastors should wear and not wear etc.

Let’s call for a Solemn Assembly and let the priests weep between the porch and the altar until this evil quickly dies out.

Awake O Zion and trim your light. Arise O church and shine for your light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

It is a dark period for the world but the best time for the church to shine (Is.60:2)

*Resolving the Obazee sack angle…*

Many people wonder why PMB must have sacked Obazee and ordered for a replacement. Let us get the facts away from fiction.

* A lot of complaints have been tendered against Obazee from the private sector for years which got worse in the past few months.

* He had a right to carry out his assigned duties, but one of such allegations against him was that of vendetta.

* He was once sacked while reportedly working under baba Adeboye of the RCCG.

* He was instructed days ago by the minister of industry trade and investment to hold on while issues concerning him are sorted out.

* The minister is the boss and head of the FRN.

* He defied the orders of the minister to suspend the regulation, and went ahead to enforce the act. His first point of call was the RCCG, ensuring that daddy Adeboye obeys the law.

* The minister reported him to the president. His case is that of insubordination. He disobeyed and was in the process rude to a senior official.

* PMB recommended immediately that he should be sacked and replaced for defying the orders of his superior to look into the matter, deliberately further about it and clear issues bordering on revenge as regards his person.

Those are my findings regarding the sack by PMB, it truly had nothing to do with weakness or succumbing to pressure by PMB nor is it karma of the history of the Obazee guy drafting the recommendation which removed Sanusi under GEJ.

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Business

Two Years of President Tinubu: A Business Perspective By Abdul Samad Rabiu

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: A Business Perspective featuring Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON — Founder & Chairman, BUA Group

As Nigeria marks two years under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I believe it is important to reflect, not from the lens of politics, but from the perspective of business, of industry, and of the economy. I speak not only as the Chairman of BUA Group – one of Africa’s largest conglomerates, but also as someone who has lived through the complexity of Nigeria’s reforms. I have seen the cost of dysfunction, the burden of inefficiency, but more importantly, the promise of a level playing field and the dividends of decisive governance.

*FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL*

The removal of the fuel subsidy is one of the most important decisions taken by this administration. Before that, Nigeria was selling PMS at 200 or 250 Naira per litre, which was about 25 or 30 cents. I doubt there was any country in the world where fuel was being sold at that price. During my trip to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj in February this year, I checked the pump price at one of the petrol stations as we drove from Jeddah to Mecca. When I converted the price to Naira, it was almost 1,500 Naira per litre. That was Saudi Arabia.

We could simply not afford the subsidy. It was not just Nigerians who were benefiting from it. We were subsidising the entire region. I remember visiting Niger Republic a few years ago when President Bazoum honoured us. During dinner, he joked and said, “Thank you for the subsidy.” He said 100 percent of all PMS consumed in Niger was coming from Nigeria because it would cost them three times more to import. There was no incentive for them to bring in their own fuel or refine crude at their own refinery. This was the situation across the region.

Today, I understand that our fuel consumption has dropped by almost 40 to 50 percent. It is not because Nigerians are consuming less, but because neighbouring countries have stopped tapping into our subsidised fuel. The PMS is still cheaper in Nigeria, even at 800 or 900 Naira per litre, but the logistics no longer support easy access. Countries like Niger and Benin Republic still take fuel from Nigeria, but others have stopped.

The removal of subsidies was needed not only to save the economy but to ensure that Nigerians alone benefit from what is imported. Even if there must be subsidy, it should be for Nigerians only. The money saved is now being channelled to infrastructure, to better support for states, and to other developmental priorities. All the states are receiving more money now, and that has made a real difference.

I am of firm opinion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made the right decision, and he made it boldly. On the first day he took office, he did what everyone knew had to be done but no one dared to do. He acted immediately. Many criticised him, but he did the right thing, and it saved the country. Had we continued under that burden, only God knows where we would be today. I always say, Mr President is probably the only one who had the courage to take such hard and necessary decisions.

*ON THE UNIFICATION OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE REGIME*

The unification of the foreign exchange market is another critical reform. Before this, many of us in the business community spent most of our time chasing foreign exchange. I personally spent half of my time trying to get FX from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The CBN was the only source of official exchange, offering FX at around 500 Naira when the parallel market was 800 or 900. No business could survive outside the CBN structure.

Every two weeks, we would go to Abuja to seek allocations. It was exhausting and inefficient. You had to camp there for three or four days before Allocation Monday, waiting for the CBN to allocate dollars. Today, I have met the new CBN Governor, Mr Cardoso, only once in two years. The reason is simple: I do not need to go to Abuja now to get foreign exchange. The system is open. It is working.

This was also a bold move by President Tinubu. It was necessary, and he took that decision as well. We are very glad because today we can focus on our businesses. These reforms are saving the economy.

*FAIRNESS, SANITY AND STABILITY IN BUSINESS*

Under this administration, we have seen a return to fairness and stability in business. We no longer worry about arbitrary shutdowns or politically motivated disruptions. Let me give a real example. We started a new business in Port Harcourt four or five years ago under BUA Foods, operating at the Rivers Ports under a concession with the Nigerian Ports Authority. It was going very well. One day, we woke up to a letter stating that the concession had been revoked, the terminal shut down, and the lease agreement terminated. There was no prior warning, no issue, no conflict.

Later, we discovered that the Managing Director of NPA at the time decided to close the business simply because our operations were competing with those of her friend. She wanted to impress her friend. That was the only reason. Today, that kind of thing cannot happen. Nobody would dare take such an action under President Tinubu. You can wake up now without fear that your business has been shut down by an agency or politician.

That stability is critical. That Port Harcourt plant alone has seen over 500 million dollars in investment and has employed over 4,000 people. The confidence this government has brought is real, and it is helping us plan better.

I must also personally acknowledge former President Muhammadu Buhari. When our Port Harcourt plant was unfairly shut down, it was his intervention that saved it. I had the privilege of explaining the situation to him. He agreed it was wrong and acted. He said he would not permit injustice under his watch. That decision saved the business. But the reality is, I had access. What if I did not? That is the difference today. Now, nobody needs access to the President to be treated fairly. Everyone knows that if you do something wrong under President Tinubu, you may lose your job or even face prosecution and go to jail. That is why I can now spend more time focusing on the business and relaxing.

The President Tinubu reforms are creating a level playing field. Like I said previously, every business had to lobby the CBN for FX. If you did not, your business would collapse. Now, you do not need to go to Abuja. You just focus on your operations.

*INFRASTRUCTURE AS A KEY DRIVER OF DEVELOPMENT*
In infrastructure, the difference is also clear. Look at the Lagos-Calabar highway. Look at the Sokoto-Badagry road. Look at the Kwara projects we are executing under the tax credit scheme. Look at Kano-Kongolam. Look at the Okpella to Kogi State corridor. These projects are progressing because of the savings from subsidy removal and FX unification. With more revenue, Nigeria is building.

These roads and others being built are critical because logistics have become a major challenge. Transporting goods from Lagos to the North is very expensive due to bad roads. Now, the President is addressing this. With better infrastructure, logistics will improve, and businesses will grow. These reforms have enabled long-term planning and serious investment.

*BUA WILL CONTINUE TO BET ON NIGERIA*
Since President Tinubu took office, BUA Group has invested over one billion dollars in the Nigerian economy. We are expanding our food business, doubling our flour and pasta facilities in Port Harcourt and building another in Lagos. Demand is increasing. People are earning more. Confidence is returning. We have also completed the first POP plaster manufacturing plant in Nigeria which is now operating and are soon starting construction of a 30MW solar energy project in Sokoto State.

In the oil and gas sector, we are completing our LNG project in Ajaokuta, Kogi State. These investments are possible because of stability that has been brought about by President Tinubu’s reforms. We can plan now. The exchange rate has been fairly stable for almost a year. FX is accessible. Money is coming in from different sources, and investors are responding. If you want 200 million dollars a week for trade, you can get it without lobbying anyone at the Central Bank. These are the results of good policies.

*ON FOOD SECURITY*

When I met President Tinubu recently, he raised concerns about food prices. He wanted to know what BUA Foods was doing. I explained that his six-month tariff waiver had worked. It disrupted hoarding in the rice market. In Nigeria, the rice harvest is short and runs for about three months. Middlemen were buying paddy rice, hoarding it, and raising prices post-harvest. This artificial scarcity drove prices to as high as 110,000 Naira per bag. The farmers did not benefit. Farmers just wanted to sell and move on yet some people were buying from them, hoarding it, and creating a food crises in the country.

The temporary waiver allowed rice to be brought in, and milled immediately. The hoarders were cut out. Prices began to drop. It was a short-term solution, but it worked. It showed foresight. I told the President it helped and that if the situation persists, further steps can be taken. But for now, it has made a difference.

*PRESIDENT TINUBU’S NIGERIA FIRST POLICY AND BACKWARD INTEGRATION*

President Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy has aligned well with our own belief in backward integration. Our cement business is almost entirely local. We mine our own limestone. We use Nigerian gas even though it is dollar-denominated. The only foreign element is the equipment, and even that benefits from government concessions for mining equipment which everyone else in the industry benefits. If we had to import cement today, prices would be over 15,000 Naira per bag. Nigeria does not have the port infrastructure to even handle the import volume. Producing locally has saved the economy and stabilised the sector.

We are doing more, and we will continue to do more. Nigeria has everything—population, arable land, resources, water, and now, strong leadership under President Tinubu. We believe in Nigeria because the fundamentals are now strong. My advice to all is to take a Bet on Nigeria. This is the place to be.

So for me, what has this administration done right? First, it removed the fuel subsidy which was the biggest economic scam in our history. Second, it unified the foreign exchange market and third, it restored stability, fairness, and confidence in the economy. These are the foundations of growth. Nigeria is full of potential. With the right leadership, which we now have, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

_Abdul Samad Rabiu is the Founder and Chairman, BUA Group._ Watch the full, exclusive interview on youtube – https://bit.ly/pbatbua

#TinubuAtTwo #BUAGroup #PresidentBolaTinubu #AbdulSamadRabiu #BetOnNigeria

https://bit.ly/pbatbua

Business

Dangote Splashes N11bn in Gifts, Cash on Cement Distributors, Customers at Awards Nite

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Dangote Splashes N11bn in Gifts, Cash on Cement Distributors, Customers at Awards Nite

For their continued loyalty and patronage, Dangote Cement Plc has rewarded its distributors and customers with various choice gift items and cash worth N11 billion.

At the 2025 edition of its Customers Awards & Gala Nite held in Lagos, a premium celebration dedicated to recognising and rewarding its highest-performing distributors, with the theme ‘Let’s Acceler8’, the cement giant rewarded its distributors with gift items comprising several CNG trucks, containers filled with products, and cash valued at over N11 billion.

Welcoming customers of the company to the distributors’ award ceremony, Chairman of Dangote Cement / President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, commended the distributors for their unwavering commitment and resilience “in driving our business forward, even amidst economic challenges.”

He lauded “their perseverance and determination in ensuring our products remain available in the market. Thanks to your efforts, we have secured over 57 per cent of the market share, and we encourage you to continue pushing for more growth.”

Dangote noted that “this year’s theme serves as a rallying call for unity and collective growth as we strive for unmatched market leadership in 2025. This theme reflects the strength of our partnership with valued customers, which continues to drive the success of Dangote Cement.”

He also noted that “Our leadership in the building and construction sector is rooted in this mutually beneficial relationship. Also, the partnership has been instrumental in elevating us to the position of Africa’s largest cement producer.”

He said, “in appreciation of the hard work, unflinching loyalty, and commitment of our esteemed customers in the year 2024, we are rewarding you with gift items and cash valued at over N11 billion. We are also celebrating our valued corporate customers, who have consistently chosen our cement products for a wide array of construction projects.”

He assured the stakeholders of the Company’s commitment to research and continuous improvement in its production processes and the highest quality products.

In his welcome address, Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, stated, “Tonight, we celebrate the pivotal role our customers play in ensuring the widespread availability of our products across every region of Nigeria. We recognise and appreciate your remarkable efforts in driving the sales, distribution, and usage of our products throughout the year 2024.”

He said, “The outstanding performance of our company, especially in the past year, is a testament to your collective commitment and resilience. We are thankful for your continued dedication, which has made our products visible across all geopolitical regions. As vital partners in our value chain, from quarry to customer, your role is instrumental.

“To support your growth, we have distributed over 5,000 containers to various retailers. This initiative not only enhances our business value but also ensures that consumers receive products with an extended shelf life directly from the factory. In alignment with our chairman’s vision, we aim to distribute an additional 4,000 containers to our customers and retailers this year.”

Pathak added, “In line with DCP’s commitment to sustainability and the country’s clean fuel policy, we are transitioning our fleet of over 7,000 trucks from AGO to CNG by the end of 2026.

“We are making significant investments in new CNG trucks and the necessary infrastructure to support this transition. Currently, 3,100 trucks are operational, and our initiatives in alternative fuel utilisation have gained global recognition, with Dangote Cement receiving a commendable score from CDP in climate change and water security.”

He pointed out that “we are excited to reward some of our customers who have shown outstanding performance with CNG trucks to further develop their businesses. These rewards demonstrate our dedication to supporting our customers’ growth and commitment to sustainability. We are focused on strengthening the partnerships that have positioned us as the leading civil manufacturer in the nation.”

The Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries Limited, Fatima Aliko Dangote, acknowledged the significant contributions of the distributors. She emphasised the importance of their outstanding performance and achievements to the company’s sales growth and market expansion in 2024.

She noted that their efforts play a crucial role in sustaining public awareness and developing a market for Dangote’s cement products.

Aliko Dangote identified and highlighted the distributors as the backbone of the company’s growth and success, and encouraged them to aim for even higher performance levels in 2025.

The awards categories were in phases; Regional Award, Growth Award, Best Performing Customers.

Bank

Fidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Fidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support

In recognition of its exceptional contributions to innovative financial solutions for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Fidelity Bank Plc has been awarded the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank (DMB) category.

This prestigious accolade celebrates Fidelity Bank’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by MSMEs, a vital segment in Nigeria’s economic growth.

Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, commented on the award, reaffirming the bank’s dedication to empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs: “At Fidelity Bank, innovation is at the heart of our strategy to support MSMEs. This recognition underscores our commitment to developing scalable, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that create positive outcomes for our nation’s entrepreneurs. We are honored to receive the DBN award and dedicate it to our loyal customers for their continued support.”

The award was presented at the 2025 Service Ambassadors’ Awards ceremony in Lagos, themed ‘Enhancing Partnership for MSME Resilience and Growth.’ Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director of DBN, emphasized the importance of financial institutions in transforming unbankable ideas into viable businesses through advisory services.

“You, our partners, are acknowledged and celebrated for your outreach to entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to scale. We appreciate you for your role in converting unbankable ideas into bankable businesses,” Okpanachi stated.

He noted that the award aims to recognize partners who make a significant impact, focusing on storytelling and the positive changes they bring to Nigeria.

This award joins a series of landmark initiatives by Fidelity Bank aimed at supporting MSMEs. Earlier in May, the bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to facilitate the expansion of Nigerian MSMEs across Africa.

Additionally, Fidelity Bank launched the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos—a multifunctional facility equipped with training halls, meeting rooms, networking spaces, and studios for music, photography, and content production. This hub is designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building, essential elements for strengthening Nigeria’s SME ecosystem and driving economic growth.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.