Business

DG VON Attacks Atiku’s Economic Blueprint, Atiku Reacts

The development is coming five days after Atiku vowed to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing economy by launching a $10 billion Economic Stimulus Fund within his first 100 days in office once elected.

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2022

Seyi Babalola

The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, has taken a swipe at the proposed economic plan of the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, stressing it would further bring hardship on the masses in Nigeria.

Okechukwu, who is also a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC said Atiku was subtly striving to reintroduce an economic blueprint that is reminiscent of the unforgettable ‘Structural Adjustment Programme’ that brought about austerity measures in the country.

It would be recalled that SAP was a set of economic reforms introduced in Nigeria by then-military President Ibrahim Babangida to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1986.

The development is coming five days after Atiku vowed to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing economy by launching a $10 billion Economic Stimulus Fund within his first 100 days in office once elected.

The former vice president made the statement at the “Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Presidential Economic Agenda Forum for the PDP” in Lagos.

At the event, the PDP presidential flagbearer, who laid out his economic plan to salvage the country’s economic fortunes, said he would rather privatise Nigeria’s dilapidated refineries rather than spend $1.55 billion on their revitalisation.

Reacting, Okechukwu noted that he found it odd for a man who could not unite his party to be talking about measures he believed can revamp the economic fortunes of the country.

The VON managing director made the clarification is a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

He said, “I watched with rapt attention, but in deep regrets that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Economic Plan is more or less like the nebulous economic policy of Structural Adjustment Programme’s Pocketbook of 1986.

“The former Vice President harped profoundly on privatisation of State Owned Enterprises as the fulcrum of his economic revitalization programme, akin to SAP proponents of yore.

“Whereas, one is not against private sector partnership; however what we have in surplus are rent-seekers and scanty industrialists. Therefore, I am not surprised that a man who breached PDP’s constitution and by extension failed to unite his party did not bother to do the needful assessment which posits that 80 per cent of State Owned Enterprises privatised under his chairmanship of National Council of Privatisation and indeed the 16 years of PDP leadership went into comatose.”

Okechukwu further explained that when it came to power in 1999, the PDP with Atiku as Chairman of National Council on Privatisation dusted up the SAP pocketbook and stripped our national assets including profitable companies like NICON Insurance, NICON Hilton Hotel, Niger Dock and unprofitable companies like Distribution Electricity Distribution Companies.

“For instance, Niger Dock a profitable pre-privatisation company has 6,000 staff under Nnamdi Ozobia, today it has gone under with less than 600 staff and the N1.72 billion proceeds allegedly missing.

“Secondly, NICON one of Africa’s leading Insurers originally owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria was privatised in December, 2005. With an asset base of N46.9bn gathered over a 52-year period of operation, 30 branches and six regional offices, it is therefore modest to classify NICON as a colossus in the insurance industry, but has regrettably gone under AMCON life support management.

“I make bold to say that what Atiku is proposing is by no means different from SAP policy thrust neither is his proposal on NNPC Ltd better than the giant steps that President Muhammadu Buhari has taken towards commercialism of NNPC.

“If you ask me, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar should first unite his party, and drop Senator Iyorchia Ayu who incidentally has crowned him Nigeria’s Odinga,” he said.

Defending his boss, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, noted that much as he wouldn’t like to join issues with Okechukwu, he wanted Nigerians to understand that Atiku’s proposed policies are well thought-out.

According to him, Nigeria needs fixing at a critical period when the masses are already losing hope.

“Where are we in Nigeria today? Total energy crisis, no money and even the FG is broke. We are owing globally with interests and still borrowing money. Atiku’s blueprint is an opportunity.

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Business

LAFARGE AFRICA ACHIEVES RECORD SALES OF 697BN; OPERATING PROFIT At 192bN, UP BY 89%; PAT UP BY 96% TO CLOSE AT 100BN

Published

2 weeks ago

February 28, 2025

Seyi Babalola

( Net Sales: FY 2024 up 72% YoY benefiting from improved volume; Q4 2024 up 86% vs PY

( Operating Profit: FY 2024 up 89% YoY; Q4 2024 up 103% vs PY
( Operating Margin: FY 2024 28%, up from 25% PY; Q4 2024 31%, up from 28% PY
( Profit After Tax: FY 2024 up 96% YoY, driven by Topline growth; Q4 2024 up 263% vs PY
( Continued focus on Increased product range, Sustainability and Health & Safety

Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company and manufacturers of a range of cement brands has released its audited financial statement, recording a revenue of N696.76Billion for the 2024 financial year. The growth in revenue represents an increase of 72% from N405.50 billion that was recorded in the corresponding period in 2023. A breakdown analysis of the audited result also revealed that operating profit for the company in the financial year ended 2024 grew from N102.02billion in the corresponding period in 2023 to N193.01billion, representing an 89% significant rise.

According to the result released by NGX, the earning per share for the company for the 2024 financial year rose by 96%, moving from 3.17 to 6.22. A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi noted that despite inflationary pressure on purchasing power which has affected the business, the Nigerian Infrastructure and construction sector has witnessed tremendous growth.

Alade-Akinyemi described the company’s outstanding financial performance as a testament to its strong market positioning, strategic initiatives drive on Volume growth, decarbonizing its environment though emission reduction and converting waste into energy.

We also leveraged on innovation and operational efficiency to deliver strong products and solutions into the building market, drive cost improvement, creating a great environment for our people to thrive and delivering value to our stakeholders.

He explained that despite a challenging business environment, the company remained resilient,
leveraging innovation and green growth in line with its sustainability ambitions, while also delivering value to its stakeholders.

”Lafarge Africa Plc remains committed to strengthening its leadership position in offering environmental friendly building solutions, while driving long-term profitability,” he said.

“We maintain our positive outlook for 2025, with market recovery expected to continue at similar growth with 2024. We will continue to maximize volume opportunities across our markets and actively manage our costs. We remain committed to our sustainability ambitions and strategy of ‘Accelerating Green Growth’ through innovative building solutions and delivery of stakeholder value,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to its esteemed customers, employees and all other stakeholders for their commitment, despite the macroeconomic headwinds being experienced in the industry.

-END-

About Lafarge Africa Plc
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building solutions company is a member of Holcim Limited, a world leader in building solutions accelerating our world’s green transformation. Listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, Lafarge Africa is actively participating in the urbanization and economic growth of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.

Lafarge Africa has the widest footprint in Nigeria with cement operations in the South West (Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State), North East (Ashaka, in Gombe State), South East (Mfamosing, Cross Rivers State) with Ready-Mix operations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Lafarge Africa has a current installed cement production capacity of 10.5Mtpa.

Lafarge Africa leverages on its innovative expertise to provide value-added products and services solutions in the building and construction industry in Nigeria. Additional information is available on the web site at www.lafarge.com.ng

About Holcim
Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions with net sales of CHF 27.0 billion in 2023. Our 63,448 employees are driven by our purpose to build progress for people and the planet across our regions to improve living standards for all. We partner with our customers to offer the broadest range of advanced solutions, from sustainable building materials ECOPact and ECOPlanet, to our circular technology ECOCycle®, all the way to Elevate’s advanced roofing and insulation systems.

Business

Maintain status quo on subscription prices – FCCPC tells MultiChoice

Published

2 weeks ago

February 28, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, on Thursday directed MultiChoice Nigeria to maintain its current subscription prices pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

It should be recalled that the Pay-TV operator had announced a 21 per cent increase in subscription fees for its DStv and GOtv packages, effective from 1st March 2025.

However, on Tuesday, FCCPC vowed to investigate the price hike, summoning the company’s leadership to explain the circumstances behind the proposed increase.

MultiChoice Nigeria subsequently requested an extension of the date for its appearance before the commission.

In response, FCCPC, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said that while the request had been granted, “the company is now required to attend the rescheduled investigative hearing on 6th March 2025, along with all relevant officers and a comprehensive response.”

“Pursuant to this, MultiChoice is expressly instructed to maintain the existing price structure as of 27th February 2025, pending the Commission’s review and final determination on the matter.

“Maintaining the status quo on pricing is essential to prevent any potential consumer harm during this period,” the statement added.

Business

Dangote slashes petrol price to N860 per litre in Lagos

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

Seyi Babalola

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a drop in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), often known as petrol, by N65.00, from N890 to N825 per litre, effective February 27th, 2025.

Under the new system, purchasers in Lagos will pay N860 per liter at MRS stations.

The price adjustment, according to Dangote was designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in anticipation of the upcoming Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.

This marks the second price reduction of PMS in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60.00 earlier in the month.

Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.

With the latest reduction, the management of the refinery said Nigerians will be able to purchase the Dangote petrol at the following prices in all our partners’ retail outlets.

“For MRS Holdings stations, it will sell for N860 per litre in Lagos, N870 per litre in the South-West, N880 per litre in the North, and N890 per litre in the South-South and South-East respectively.”

“The same product will also be available at the following prices in AP (Ardova Petroleum) and Heyden stations: N865 per litre in Lagos, N875 per litre in the South-West, N885 per litre in the North, and N895 per litre in the South-South and South-East.”

The company assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

It called on marketers to support this initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of this effort.