Chief Raph Nwosu, ADC founding chairman, has revealed that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso only joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition after unsuccessful efforts to reach a political understanding with those in power.

Speaking on Symfoni TV, Nwosu said Kwankwaso initially preferred negotiation with the ruling establishment through intermediaries rather than immediately joining the opposition coalition.

“All along, when the chairman and other leaders would send people to Kwankwaso, he was more interested in negotiating with those in power,” he said. “It was when that finally failed, and then his governor joined them, that he had no more option. And he came into the coalition.”

He also acknowledged the contributions of both Kwankwaso and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during their time in the party.

He noted that Obi’s presence significantly boosted visibility and attracted about 500,000 new registrations into the ADC before his departure.

He maintained that despite the exit of both figures, the party remained resilient and even stronger afterward.

According to him, membership growth continued beyond their departure, eventually surpassing one million new registrations in subsequent months.

He said this demonstrates the ADC’s capacity to absorb political shocks while still expanding its grassroots support base across the country.

He further suggested that ongoing realignments in Nigeria’s political space continue to reshape alliances ahead of future elections.

He emphasized that such movements reflect strategic positioning by key political actors seeking relevance in an evolving landscape.

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on Sunday, received a hero’s welcome in Gode, Ethiopia, on a visit tied to his group’s fertiliser plant project in the country.

He was hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and both men visited the construction site of the proposed facility.

Ethiopia signed a shareholders’ agreement with Dangote Group in August last year for the establishment of a urea plant with an annual production capacity of three million metric tonnes.

Construction was officially launched in October 2025. The joint venture is structured with Dangote holding 60 per cent and Ethiopian Investment Holdings, 40 per cent.

Dangote announced an increase in the project’s total investment from $2.5 billion to over $4 billion.

The Dangote Group statement read, “Dangote announced an increase in investment from $2.5 billion to over $4 billion, reflecting expanded scope, including a 110km pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant.”

Abiy, who accompanied Dangote on the site visit, described the project as central to Ethiopia’s development agenda..

The prime minister said in a statement, “This initiative represents far more than infrastructure. It is a strategic investment in Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation, food security, industrial growth, and economic self-reliance.”

He said the plant would deliver broad national benefits upon completion.

“Once completed, the fertiliser plant will play a vital role in strengthening local production capacity, reducing dependence on imports, supporting millions of farmers, and creating new opportunities for jobs and investment,” he said.

Abiy said he was encouraged by what he observed on the ground.

“This morning, together with Aliko Dangote, I visited the project site in Gode to assess the progress achieved so far. I am encouraged by the steady momentum across the project area.

“Construction activities are advancing as planned across multiple sections of the site, reflecting the strong commitment and collaboration driving this important national project forward,” he stated.

The Dangote Group statement added, “The project reinforces Dangote Group’s commitment to industrial development across Africa.”

Photo caption: A cross section of participants at the ongoing 2026 Niger National Trade Fair.

Nigeria’s leading industrial conglomerate, Dangote Group, has been described as Africa’s transaction force in economic Renaissance for it’s huge impact not only in the country but across the continent.

The Director General of the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Adamu Salihu, that this whole speaking ahead of Dangote Special Day at the 22nd Niger National Trade Fair in Minna, the state capital.

Mr. Salihu said the Chamber would use the event to further showcase the achievements of the Group to the people of Niger State, Nigerians and the wider African business community.

According to him, Dangote Group’s continued investments in cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, agriculture and energy have become a model of indigenous industrialisation and proof that African entrepreneurs can build globally competitive enterprises.

The NCCIMA Director General explained that the theme of this year’s fair, Public-Private Partnership as a Panacea for Nigeria’s Growth and Stability, was deliberately chosen to underscore the critical role of collaboration between government and the private sector in driving sustainable development.

He said Dangote Group’s investment profile aligns closely with the development priorities of Niger State, particularly in agriculture, where the company’s rice and sugar businesses complement the state’s vast arable land and ongoing drive to become Nigeria’s leading food production hub.

Mr. Salihu expressed optimism that the Group’s Vision 2030 strategy would help unlock large-scale investments in agriculture, mining and agro processing in Niger State, sectors in which the state enjoys both comparative and competitive advantages.

Dangote Group had unveiled its Vision 2030 roadmap, which seeks to expand African manufacturing, deepen supply chains and grow group revenue to $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Dangote Group currently operates across more than a dozen African countries, with interests spanning cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, petrochemicals, agriculture and energy.

The company says its core mission is to build local manufacturing capacity, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports across the continent.

Mr. Salihu said the Group’s backward integration strategy and local sourcing model have created wealth for Nigerians by stimulating domestic production and reducing the nation’s dependence on imports.

He described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a landmark project that has reshaped Nigeria’s energy landscape by conserving foreign exchange, eliminating fuel shortages, promoting competition and opening new opportunities for indigenous investors.

According to Mr. Salihu, the positive impact of the refinery extends to states such as Niger, where lower logistics costs and improved fuel availability are expected to support manufacturing, agriculture and commerce.

He added that Dangote Group’s commitment to local content, technology transfer and infrastructure development demonstrates how African-owned companies can drive the continent’s industrial transformation.

The NCCIMA Director General urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to emulate the boldness of Group President Aliko Dangote by investing in the country and building businesses that create long-term value.

He also called on large corporations to support nano, micro, small and medium enterprises by integrating them into their supply chains, noting that chambers of commerce can help identify credible businesses to serve as suppliers and service providers.

Mr. Salihu appealed to exhibitors, investors and the public to support the annual Niger National Trade Fair, describing it as a strategic platform for promoting investment, forging partnerships and advancing the economic aspirations of Niger State and Nigeria as a whole.

Salihu said Dangote Group’s industrial ambition is extending beyond Nigeria, noting that recent discussions on the establishment of a major refinery in East Africa further shows the company’s commitment to transforming Africa’s economy.

He said the proposal, which was unveiled by President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, would replicate the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos and serve the East African market if governments in the region provide the necessary support.

He described the move as a clear demonstration that Dangote Group is “not only industrialising Nigeria, but indeed the whole of Africa.”

According to Mr. Salihu, the planned East African refinery shows the Group’s strategic vision of building world-class industrial assets that reduce Africa’s dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs and strengthen regional value chains.

Dangote announced the proposal during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he said his company was ready to construct an identical refinery in East Africa, potentially within the next four to five years, subject to government backing.
Mr. Salihu said this continental expansion aligns with Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 and confirms the company’s determination to use African capital, expertise and technology to drive industrial development across the continent.