I Am Richer Than Dangote - Nigerian Senator says

Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC Zamfara
Central) has made a declaration about being
richer than Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko
Dangote.
Senator Kabir Garba Marafa
While speaking in an exclusive interview with
DailyTrust, the Senator representing Zamfara
Central under the platform of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Kabiru Garba Marafa, revealed
that he is extremely rich because to him, richness
is in the mind.
The Northern lawmaker said; “As far as I’m
concerned, I’m richer than Aliko Dangote because
the little I have is enough for me. I have never
put myself in a very tight situation.
"This is my sixth year as a senator and I’m still
living in a rented house. I don’t have a house in
Abuja but I believe when the time comes I’ll have
it.”
Marafa, in the interview said he operates on a
principle of 60 kobo and 40 kobo, and promised
the people that voted for him that he would not
steal the money meant for them.
“People voted me into this office. So, I should not
just come here to serve myself and my children.
"What I promised people was that I’m not going
to be perfect but on every naira I get, I’m going to
spend 60 kobo on them and the remaining 40
kobo on myself. This is the principle that I
operate. “

Customs impounds Dangote truck with smuggled products

A truck belonging to Dangote Group was among vehicles intercepted with illegal goods as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday declared staggering seizures between June 13 and July 10, this year. Th e truck with registration number DAL 543 ZX was caught with 1,200 cartons of uncleared frozen poultry products valued at N5,400,000. Also the seizure had N1,080,000 and N6,0480,000 as Duty and Duty Paid Values respectively. Th e disclosure was made by the Controller Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos led by Controller, Mohammed Uba Garba. Garba stated that between the period under review, the Unit recovered N229,954,448 cumulative duty payment and demand notices on general goods from importers that attempted to shortchanged the federal government.

Th e controller who reiterated the commitment of NCS to continue frustrating smuggling in all nooks and crannies of the nation said no culprit would go unpunished. He said a total of 15 suspects were arrested with the seizures. “Within this period, 40 diff erent seizures were recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, medicaments, used tyres and various general merchandise. “Th e fi ght against smuggling can be only be won if all hands are on deck.

Th e commitment, doggedness, resilience and diligence of men of FOU A for foiling the antics of the smugglers using diff erent methods for concealment cannot be over emphasised” he said. Th e customs boss pleaded for cooperation of Nigerians with the offi cers of NCS said it would be disastrous if the intercepted 1,442 unapproved cartoons of drugs (Tramadol 225/120mg) in container number MSKU 98895 IX 40 feet and MAN Diesel truck with registration number RRU 513 XA along Apapa-Oshodi and Ijebu-Ode Express Way had not been seized. Receiving, the seized drugs on behalf of National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration (NAFDAC), its Director of Investigation, Mr Kingsley Ejiofor praised the FOU Command for the seizures. According to him, the NCS was living up to its billings. He promised that NAFDAC would carry out extensive research on the drugs, he declared unfi t for consumption because relevant approvals were not sought by the importers

Dangote donates N50 million to Ife crisis victims

Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies, has donated N50 million to victims of the communal crisis that hit Ile-Ife, Osun State, on March 8.

Dangote made the donation on Monday, at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The fracas, between the Yoruba and Hausa residents of the city, claimed many lives.

A panel of inquiry set up by the Osun State Government, which began sitting on April 19, received 406 memoranda. Most memoranda contained demands for compensations.

While many claimed that their shops were looted, others claimed that their houses were burnt, and appealed to the government to assist them.

Dangote, who was represented by Mrs Suera Yusuf, Managing Director of Dangote Foundation, said that the N50 million would be shared among 220 victims.

“Each of the 220 victims will receive a cheque commensurate with the losses suffered,” Yusuf said.

She expressed the Foundation’s readiness to assist victims of violence so as to ameliorate their sufferings but cautioned youths against being used to perpetrate such violence.

The Managing Director called for unity between the Yoruba ad Hausa residents of Ife, saying that peace and unity would attract development and posterity to the city.

Ogunwusi, in his remarks, thanked Dangote for the gesture which he described as “encouraging”.

He called for more cooperation between traditional rulers and the private sector, saying that such partnership would benefit the country.

The traditional ruler cautioned youths against resorting to violence over the slightest excuse, pointing out that development was impossible without peace.

He challenged wealthy Nigerians to give something back to the society by emulating Dangote’s humanitarian gestures.

Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, hailed the Ooni for his leadership role during the crisis, saying that his neutrality helped to douse tension and fear.

“From the north, we were convinced not to issue any public statement after Ooni explained the steps he had taken; he indeed deserves our praise,” he said.

Lamido cautioned Nigerians against hate speech, suggesting that dialogue be used to resolve every disagreement.

Chairman of Ife Progressive Union, Prof. Muib Opeloye, commended the monarchs for facilitating the donation, and described the incident as “unfortunate”.

Forbes names Dangote 2nd most powerful man in Africa

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has been named the second most powerful man in Africa, coming behind Egyptian President, Abdel el-Sisi.

Dangote, who is the President of Dangote Group, was also named in the list of top 100 most powerful people in the world.

Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin was named as the most powerful man on earth, followed by American President-elect, Donald Trump and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, as the 2nd and 3rd most powerful persons in the world, respectively.

Dangote came 2nd in Africa and was named the 68th most powerful man on earth.

Forbes in the latest edition of its 74 World Most Powerful People ranking list, indicated that the 64-year-old Putin was the most powerful in the world, ahead of Trump who was second on the list.

Former U.S. President, Barack Obama was placed 48th on the list.

Leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis was in fifth place, while world’s richest man, Bill Gates, comes in the seventh; Chinese President Xi Jinping came before the Pope in number four, while the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, was the 10th most powerful person in the world.

Forbes reported that there are nearly 7.4 billion people on planet earth but the listed men and women are the most powerful that make the world turn.