Business
Dangote Faults CBN’s 26% Interest Rate
In a recent address at a summit organized by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Aliko Dangote, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, strongly criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its decision to increase the interest rate to nearly 30 percent. This decision was made during the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting in May, where the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) was raised from 24.75 percent to 26.25 percent.
Dangote expressed grave concerns about the impact of such high interest rates on businesses, stating that they hinder economic growth and job creation. He emphasized that under these conditions, no meaningful job creation can occur, and economic growth becomes severely constrained.
Furthermore, Dangote called on the Nigerian government to prioritize supporting existing businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, by creating a conducive environment for their operation. He stressed the importance of addressing challenges such as power supply and providing affordable financing to stimulate growth and development.
Highlighting the interconnectedness of manufacturing and economic prosperity, Dangote stated that a country dependent on imports remains economically vulnerable and unable to achieve sustainable development.
The MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, echoed Dangote’s sentiments by criticizing government policies and their impact on the manufacturing sector’s performance. He noted a significant number of manufacturers exiting the sector in recent years and urged a reassessment of support mechanisms to bolster manufacturing under the current administration’s agenda.
The summit, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other government officials, provided a platform for industry leaders to address crucial issues affecting the Nigerian manufacturing landscape and advocate for policy changes that could revitalize the sector.
In summary, Dangote’s remarks underscored the urgent need for a more supportive economic environment in Nigeria, particularly concerning interest rates and government policies affecting manufacturing. His stance aligns with broader industry concerns about the sector’s viability and its critical role in national economic development.
Business
Government Can’t Run Business Effectively – Dele Oye
We all know the failed history of government being involved in business. Ajaokuta… they have blown $8 billion and have not produced one steel; they blew $3 billion on refineries rehabilitation… and nothing happened. We are not having any fuel from them
Barr Dele Oye, the former president of NACCIMA, at the Vanguard Economic Discourse 2026 edition in Lagos on Wednesday, advised the federal government to limit its role to policy support and facilitation rather than involvement in commercial business activities.
Oye, now the Chairman of Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE) , cited past failures such as the Ajaokuta Steel Company and refineries rehabilitation projects.
He said: ” We all know the failed history of government being involved in business. Ajaokuta… they have blown $8 billion and have not produced one steel; they blew $3 billion on refineries rehabilitation… and nothing happened. We are not having any fuel from them.”
Oye maintained that government lacks the capacity to run businesses effectively.
” You have no track record in running any business… you cannot be government and also be private sector,” he said.
Business
John Ternus is Apple’s incoming CEO
John Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware boss, is taking over as CEO, becoming just the second leader since Steve Jobs departed in 2011, less than two months before he died from cancer.
• John Ternus / CNBC / Getty Images
Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure as Apple CEO comes to an end on Sept. 1, the company announced on Monday.
John Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware boss, is taking over as CEO, becoming just the second leader since Steve Jobs departed in 2011, less than two months before he died from cancer.
CNBC reports that as Cook exits, Apple faces numerous challenges, including an intricate supply chain that’s complicated by geopolitical tensions and soaring prices for memory due to unprecedented demand from the AI buildout.
But for Ternus, perhaps the most critical aspect of his new job will be pushing the company deeper into AI, where it’s lagged many of its megacap peers.
It said that so far, Apple’s AI strategy has involved avoiding hefty capital expenditures while Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Metacommit to hundreds of billions of dollars a year in combined capex to fund new data centers and fill them with pricey AI chips.
Business
NCC, CBN launch telecom industry portal to track fraudulent phone lines
“This means banks and other financial institutions can determine whether a line is active, swapped, disconnected, or reassigned to another subscriber.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), have launched a portal that enables financial institutions to track fraudulent and suspicious phone lines across the country.
It is called the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) portal , aimed at providing financial institutions with real-time visibility into the status of phone numbers used for transactions.
“The portal aggregates data on churned or recycled lines and numbers flagged for suspicious activities.
“This means banks and other financial institutions can determine whether a line is active, swapped, disconnected, or reassigned to another subscriber,” said the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.
Speaking during the MoU signing event, Maida said that the agreement provides a structured framework for cooperation in critical areas, including payment system integrity, fraud mitigation, digital inclusion, and consumer protection.
On his part, Governor of CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said the MoU would strengthen coordination on regulatory approvals, technical standards, and innovation initiatives, including sandbox testing.
He noted that the partnership aligns with the apex bank’s commitment to promoting a secure, resilient, and inclusive financial system.
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