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The innovation, which was announced by the former minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was packaged without the input of relevant agencies and stakeholders. Aregbesola made the announcement at the conferral ceremony for 385 foreigners.

However, there has been apprehension and confusion since the introduction as stakeholders are querying the hurried nature of the new policy. These worries revolve around the execution, and the intention of this policy. A source close to the new administration disclosed that the policy is being reviewed.

Currently, there are reports of unscrupulous ISIS characters using the back door routes with ECOWAS passports from countries such as Guinea Bissau thronging through West Africa. Who can key into this Brown Card.

It would be recalled that towards the twilight of the previous administration, many policies and bills were signed which are expected to benefit Nigerians in the long run. However, this is one of those policies that is being revisited by the new administration to ensure that the interest of Nigeria, overrides the interest of a few.

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At the well-attended event, which drew stakeholders across the industrial sector who had earlier submitted a record 151 entries for awards in 26 categories, cement manufacturing giant Dangote Cement Plc won an award for ‘The Best Company in Reporting & Transparency’.

Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), which participated in the SERAS for the first time in 2020, won the award of ‘Best Company in Food Security’, while Dangote Salt Plc also known as NASCON Plc won an award for the ‘Best Company in Gender Equality / Women Empowerment’, on a night which saw the Dangote Industries Limited cart away four prestigious awards.

The awards won underline the Dangote Group’s corporate culture, which seeks to promote and embed sustainability across its various Business Units and pan-African operations, through alternative fuel usage, energy management systems, circular economy, waste management processes, women and youth empowerment, and social interaction with various host communities wherever the conglomerate operates.

In another milestone showcased in the SERAS Awards event programme, Dangote Group and its philanthropic arm, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) were recognised among those participants who have featured at SERAS over the last 15 years, alongside other companies like Guinness Plc, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mobil, Airtel, Lafarge, Access Bank Plc, Glo Telecommunications, Zenith Bank Plc, Unilever, Nestle, Channels Television e.t.c.

Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, reacting to the company’s remarkable performance at this year’s SERAS said: “DIL’s approach is focused on mainstreaming sustainable practices across the operations of the organisation. This underlines the importance that we attach to our people, communities and other key stakeholders.”

The SERAS is Africa’s leading Sustainability and CSR Award. Since inception in 2007, and up till 2019, the award has attracted over 1,242 from over 300 organisations. In the 2020 edition, 98 institutions participated from 7 African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. This year, 93 organisations sent in entries from across Africa.

In her address to welcome participants at the 2022 SERAS, Executive Director, TruCSR/The SERAS CSR Awards Africa, Mary Ephraim noted that, “CSR and sustainability have gone through their evolution. From philanthropy (the era of being back) to CSR (the era of giving back) to sustainability (the era of going back) and now to circularity (the era of bringing back).

“The conversation before now had been about how we could leave a befitting world for our children to inherit. But at the moment, it is how we as parents can live so that our offspring get the opportunity to survive. This is why we chose the theme – Climate, Circularity and the Future of Sustainability: Bridging the SDGs Gap through Impact Investing”, she added.

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Reports from Itsekiri oil-bearing and impacted communities within the Chevron operating areas in Warri North, Warri South and Warri southwest are gearing for civil action against the multinational, Chevron Nigeria limited over perceived tricks and dilly-dallying tactics of the latter towards the award of contracts for the 2021/2022 circle projects of the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (I.R.D.C). The communities are accusing Chevron of deliberately frustrating the contract award processes for the 2021/2022 circle projects which began in the middle of 2021. The reason that Chevron’s tactics are calculated to ensure they continue to hold on to the communities’ funds in their possession while using them for their own business while the communities languish in perpetual wait.

The matter came to a head-on Thursday the 30^th of June 2020 when a scheduled board meeting of the IRDC, Chevron refused to approve all the projects presented after a pain-taking analysis and selection of bids. This angered the communities’ representatives in IRDC and hence have resorted to self-help by activating all their cells including the youth, community women and trust bodies ahead of a rescheduled board meeting of IRDC slated for Tuesday the 5^th of July, 2022. In the words of a community leader in the Olero operation field who prefers anonymity “if by Tuesday the 5th of July, 2022, Chevron refuse to answer us, we shall embark on a complete shut down of all their operations from Ugborodo to Omadino, to Olero, and to Dibi fields”

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The opening of the school in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Company management reasoned, would also make the drivers become better road users.

The Academy, which was officially commissioned by Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, was characterized as historic and unique. 

The new Academy for truck drivers, according to the Corps Marshal, is a significant step forward that will benefit not only the Dangote Group but Nigeria as a whole. 

The country’s top road safety official hailed Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, for taking “a big step” towards reducing truck accidents. 

He said: “This is what we’ve been waiting for. You made it. I have observed that Dangote has done a lot to address truck crashes and I must commend them for this.”  

He extolled the conglomerate for leading other companies on this path, saying the new school will play a key part in the country’s efforts to make roads safer. 

He said he had suggested such a school long ago, adding that he is happy that the school has come to fruition.  

In his remarks, the National Director, Logistics of the Dangote Cement (Transport section) Mr. Juan Carlos Rincon, said the new school is an expression of the determination of the company to bring to halt the incidences of auto crash in the country.  

Speaking also Executive Secretary National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Professor Idris Bugaje who was represented by Engr S.M. Yusuf, said the NBTE will partner with the Dangote Cement Plc for a successful accreditation and takeoff of the new school.  

In his remarks, the Bajana of Obajana HRH Oba Idowu Isenibi said he was optimistic that the school will help address auto crashes in the country, even as he described the President of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote as a “rescuer and God sent to their communities that should be emulated by other investors in the country.  

Speaking in the same vein, the Olu of Akpata Oba Frederick Balogun urged other investors to emulate the company.  

Both the Dangote Cement Transport and the FRSC signed a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) on how to cooperate to ensure that the school is a success.  

In the same vein, Dangote Cement organized thorough block molding training for block makers in both Kano and Katstina states respectively. This, according to the company is to ensure that the blocks moulded for building constructions are strong, reliable, and durable, noting that some block makers do not really know how to make strong and reliable blocks.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Johnson Olaniyi, said the workshop would give the block molders and allied product manufacturers the opportunity to once again build capacity and adhere to global best practices.   

Mr. Olaniyi said the Dangote Cement Plc is desirous of reversing the trend of collapse building through the capacity building of block manufacturers.     

Meanwhile, government representatives, quality regulators, cement dealers, block makers, and end-users have come to an accord that Africa’s cement giant produces the best quality of cement on the continent. 

The stakeholders who attended the meeting also said the ongoing nationwide workshop and sensitization of block manufacturers will help check the menace of collapsed buildings in the country.   

Speaking at the workshop in Kano, representatives of the Kano State Government Alhaji Muhammad Garba Kwall said that Dangote Cement Plc is not only the biggest company but produces the best quality in Africa.  

He described the company as socially responsible and that’s why it is giving back to society through the sensitization workshop and creating various platforms for educating end users to mitigate the incessant incidences of collapse building in the country.   

Speaking, Regional Director, Kano Directorate, Standard Organization of Nigeria(SON), Mr. Albert Wilberforce urged block molders to patronize the quality cement produced by the Dangote Cement Plc, adding that the SON was partnering with the company and ensuring that only quality cement are produced by the company.   

 In the same vein, The Kano State Coordinator (II) of SON Engr Hauwa M. Husseini urged the block moulders to comply with standard practice in order to prevent the menace of collapse buildings in the country.   

Speaking also, Regional Sales Director for Northwest  Aliyu Dan Aliyu urged participants to be ambassadors by telling their customers about the quality of the cement.  

He said: A customer who wants to build a house, doesn’t know the quality or type of cement to use. It is the responsibility of the builder to advise him on the desired cement to use for quality building. 

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Unanimously, the shareholders approved N20 per share for the year ended December 31, 2021 as against the N16 paid in the preceding year. This represents a 25 per cent increase in dividend compared to the 2020 dividend of N16.00 per share, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to maximising shareholder value. 

The shareholders gave their approval at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. They commended the management for the impressive performance recorded in the year under review. They also applauded the company for its efforts in reducing unclaimed dividend of the company.

Dangote Cement in the year under review achieved its highest profit before tax in its history at N538.4 billion. Also, the Company recorded Group volumes of 29.3Mta, up 13.8 per cent. Exceptional EBITDA of N684.6 billion was achieved, up by 43.2 per cent owing to strong cost control measures. 

Chairman of the company, Aliko Dangote, said that “Over the last decade, Dangote Cement has recorded exponential growth across all areas.”

According to him, Group volumes are now at almost 30Mta, our capacity has tripled to 51.6Mta and we export cement from five countries across Africa. 

“As the volatile global environment propels us into a new era of uncertainties, we are fortunate that the last two years have taught us resilience, adaptability and grit. These values are what we need to face unpredictable times in the future.

“Dangote Cement remains the leading cement company in Africa, well-positioned for a positive and sustainable future. We are resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our stakeholders.”

Dangote said in January 2022, the Company completed the second tranche of its buy-back programme as Dangote Cement has now repurchased 0.98 per cent of its outstanding shares, saying this share buy-back programme reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to creating value and identifying opportunities to return cash to shareholders.

He also noted that “We began operations in our new 3Mta Okpella plant in Edo state in 2021, where we are successfully ramping up production and have contributed to creating a new industrial hub. 

“We are actively deploying our alternative fuel strategy across all countries of operations, to optimise energy efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and ultimately reduce CO2 emission. Whilst we focused our efforts on meeting the robust demand of our local market in Nigeria, at the expense of our export markets, we still made significant progress in our cement and clinker exports.

“In 2021, we exported seven ships of clinker out of Nigeria and exported cement from five of our operations. Our vision is for West and Central Africa to be cement and clinker self-sufficient, while making the regional and continental free trade agreements a reality.”

He added that along with the Company’s focus on strategy, it made progress on the effectiveness and diversity of its Board with the appointment of Ms. Halima Aliko-Dangote to the Board as a Non-Executive Director effective 26th February 2022, bringing female Board representation to 27 per cent, from 20 per cent in 2020 in addition to the six different nationalities and five independent non-executive directors on our Board.

He emphasised “We continue our sustainability and governance efforts with our 7 Sustainability Pillars – ‘The Dangote Way’. The 7 Pillars: cultural, economic, institutional, financial, environmental, operational and social, provide the appropriate framework in which we have embedded our corporate values and strategic objectives.”

He said “Our strategy in 2021 focused on energy transition, which is a crucial enabler of sustainable development and climate resilience on the continent. We have increased our focus on alternative fuels in our energy mix. We are actively investing in installing mechanical multi-fuel systems that can process diverse types of wastes.”

Outlook for Dangote Cement in 2022, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos said “Our goal to be the partner of choice for those transforming Africa while creating sustainable value for our stakeholders remains firm and clear. 

“Despite operating in a challenging and fast-moving environment, Dangote Cement consistently delivers superior profitability to the shareholders. The robust demand experienced across the continent despite the COVID-19 related challenges, confirm the powerful potential of these markets.”

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Dangote won awards in 8 different categories, on Wednesday at the venue of the award presentation organised by a renowned organisation Brand Africa in Lagos. The other awards include: Most Admired Nigerian Brand, West Africa’s Most Admired Brand that symbolises African Pride; West Africa’s Most Admired African Brand, and Most Admired Nigerian Brand in Africa, among others. 

Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng, stated that Dangote has remained a stalwart global African brand and symbolises African pride. He added that Dangote has also moved up a rank in the Top 100 most admired brands and retains its #1 Made-in-Nigeria brand rank.  

Ikalafeng, giving an insight into the process of selecting the winners, said the rankings are based on a pan-African survey covering over 25 countries, which collectively account for an estimated over 85% of Africa’s population and 85% of the continent’s GDP. 

According to him, “the research is conducted by GeoPoll, the world’s leading mobile surveying platform, with strategic analyses, insights and ranking conducted by Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company and Brand Leadership Group, Africa’s foremost branding, strategic communications and intellectual property advisory firm.” 

In a recent issue of the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings, Dangote and MTN retained their statuses as the most admired African brands recalled spontaneously and when prompted, respectively.

Group Chief Commercial Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Rabiu Umar, who received the awards, commended Brand Africa for the initiative of building and promoting African brands. He expressed appreciation to the organisers and urged them not to relent in their efforts to see that brands from Africa compete favorably with foreign ones.

Umar said that Dangote has risen a notch higher as a global brand with the export of Dangote Fertiliser to many countries of the world. “People now identify with the brand and in all the countries where we operate, Dangote Cement has become a reference point,” he added.  

Umar said, “To the management of DIL, the ranking was not unexpected, because the company has a long-standing reputation for quality, relevance, compliance and social stewardship. Our mission and vision engage and inspire us, and by extension connects us to both our internal and external stakeholders. 

“We fervently believe that only Africans can develop Africa, and this gives us stronger sense of relevance in all the countries where we have our operations. We are touching lives by providing their basic needs and empowering Africans more than ever before, creating jobs, reducing capital flight, and helping government to conserve foreign exchange drain by supporting different industrial and infrastructural projects of African governments.” 

Established in 2011, the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings are the most authoritative survey and analysis on brands and underlying businesses in Africa, based on a study by Geopoll across 29 countries spanning all the five economic regions.  

An analysis of the data over the past 10 years, has established that on average, slightly over 20% of the brands admired by Africans are made in Africa.

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According to the data at the FMDQ Security Exchange where forex is traded officially, dollar to naira exchange rate stood at N413.19/$1 today.

How much is dollar to naira at the black market today?

Going by sources at the Bureau De Change (BDC) in Lagos, dollar to naira opened at N540 in the black market in the state.

It is however pertinent to note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognise the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in forex to approach their respective banks.

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The interview which held in the early hours of the day, had the president discussed issues affecting the country.

Below are some important quotes from the interview which aired on Arise TV:

1. “If you allow hunger, the government is going to be in trouble and we don’t want to be in trouble. We are already in enough trouble.”

2. “These positions have to be earned. There are people who have been there for 10 to 15 years.”

3. “That IPOB is just like a dot in a circle. Even if they want to exit, they’ll have no access to anywhere.”

4. “You know these people more than I do, and you are democratically elected to protect your people. Don’t sit idly expecting me to do everything, take action.”

5. “There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are Fulanis in Niger Republic just as there are Yorubas in Benin. You can’t absolutely cut them off.”

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Speaking with journalists from his New York residence, the music star fondly called the Prince of Njaba, explained that his musical focus is Afrocentrism.

“My music is Afrocentrism.. I’ve always wanted to use my music as a medium to promote the African heritage and tell its stories. My style is a combination of Afrobeats and calypso together. So, I’m trying to create my own genre, a combination of Afrobeats, highlife and calypso… you will see African narrative in my videos as well. It has always been my brand and focus,” Jaajo explained.

Speaking on his newly-released track, Joro Joro, the a multi-talented artiste who hailed from from Njaba, Imo State in Nigeria, said the song brings into fore the happy lifestyle of Africans.

“I recorded the song during last year’s December festivity when I was in Nigeria. It was the Christmas period and the focus of the song was more like ‘let’s have fun’…the festive period inspired me to record the song and that was how it came about,” he added.

Watch Joro Joro below:

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