In a blow to Nigeria’s tech sector, Microsoft is reportedly considering shutting down its African Development Centre located in Lagos, potentially affecting around 200 jobs.

The move, if finalised, could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s tech landscape, impacting both job prospects and innovation within the sector.

Reports emerged suggesting that Microsoft notified employees of the closure plans on Monday, leaving many in uncertainty about their future.

While affected staff are said to receive salary payments until June and maintain health insurance coverage, the closure’s motives remain unclear.

Although Microsoft’s Lagos office neither confirmed nor denied the closure when approached, industry insiders speculate that Nigeria’s challenging economic climate may have influenced the decision.

Notably, the closure appears to affect only the ADC’s operations in West Africa, with its East Africa facility in Nairobi, Kenya, remaining unaffected.

Microsoft launched its African Development Centers initiative in 2019, with facilities in Lagos and Nairobi, aiming to foster tech talent and innovation on the continent.

Upon its launch in 2022, the Nigeria centre employed over 120 engineers, with plans to expand to 500 by 2023, showcasing Africa’s abundance of tech talent, according to Gafar Lawal, Managing Director of Microsoft ADC West Africa.

The Lagos Centre was established to develop technology solutions addressing challenges both locally and globally, providing engineers with opportunities to contribute meaningful work from their home countries while being part of a global engineering network.

The House of Representatives Joint Committee has issued a stern ultimatum to major cement industry players, including Dangote Cement, BUA, and IBETO, demanding their presence within 14 days to address soaring cement prices.

This ultimatum comes in response to their failure to attend a crucial investigative hearing on the matter on Tuesday.

The House’s Joint Committee, responsible for probing the sudden spike in cement prices, has summoned Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, to appear on Tuesday, May 21, following his absence from the initial hearing.

Meanwhile, major industry players, including Dangote, BUA, and IBETO, are ordered to appear before the committee on Monday, May 20, 2024, to address concerns about the price surge.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, Rep. Jonathan Gaza Gefwi, who also heads the Committee on Solid Minerals, criticized the companies for disregarding the invitation, stating that their actions demonstrate insensitivity to the challenges faced by Nigerians.

Rep. Gefwi emphasized in his opening statement that a comparative analysis of cement prices in countries such as Kenya, India, and Zambia in 2021 revealed that Nigeria had the highest cement prices when considering the official exchange rates of each nation.

He said, “Nigeria’s price of cement doubles that of India at a difference of 69%, similarily the price is 29% higher than that in Kenya and 39% higher in Zambia. Hence the need for us to come together and find out why. In order to bring succour to our citizens while protecting investors alike.

“Our concern is for all legitimate businesses especially cement production companies in Nigeria to thrive and deliver their objective and services to the people in such a manner that can foster development”.

The chairman of the Joint Committee stressed the significance of the public hearing and debunked the notion propagated by some companies involved in the investigation that parliamentary committees lack the authority to summon private entities.

He clarified, “There is no court order presented to restrain the committee from fulfilling its duties under section 88(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.”

He emphasized that parliamentary committees routinely conduct public hearings to gather evidence from the public, guiding their decisions on matters directly impacting citizens, such as the current inquiry.

He added “However, an entity recognised as private under the Law, does not oust in entirety the Powers of the Committee to investigate its affairs especially when the attainment of the objectives of said entity heavily relies on the Resources of the populace.

“Let me also reiterate the objectives of the Legislative Powers and Privilges Act sections 4,5,6 and 7 on the Powers of committees to invite, investigate and summon any person for the purpose of extracting evidence on any matter, whether its public or private. Most especially when the matter affects the citizens and the people for which they represent”

Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Rep. Ahmed Munir, expressed concern that the failure of any invited entity to attend the joint committee session would strengthen suspicions that the surge in cement prices was a deliberate move to burden Nigerians unnecessarily and hinder government efforts to alleviate the housing shortage in the nation.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been in strong conversations with his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sannwo-Olu over the alleged deportation of Osun indigenes from Lagos.

A statement from the government of Osun State highlighted that Sahara Reporters had on Saturday published a story about several luxury buses dropping hundreds of youth at Ilesa after allegedly rounding them up in several parts of Lagos State.

According to the statement, “The report was confirmed by an investigation team set up to confirm the veracity of the story by the Osun State Government.”

This, it was gathered has prompted strong conversations between the governors of the two states, which led to the Sanwo-Olu assuring that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

On the authenticity of the report, Osun State, declared, “The state team reported that eye witness accounts confirmed the dropping of the youths in several luxurious buses by a team suspected to be from Lagos State.

“The state’s report showed that the youths were systematically dropped at Ilesa-Akure Express junction, Breweries; Ilesa – Ibodi – Iginla to Ife Express junction; Osun Ankara Express junction; Imelu Express junction; and Iperindo Express junction.”

It was gathered that Gov Adeleke expressed shock at the development, urging Governor Sanwoolu to look into the matter and put an end to it if the report is true.

Gov Adeleke said, “I spoke with my brother, Governor Sanwo-Olu on the matter. He too was surprised and he denied ever authorizing any such action.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu has promised immediate investigation to unravel the facts of the situation. The Lagos team will update us as quickly as possible.

“I am subsequently directing our security agencies in Osun to mount surveillance in and around Ilesa to track the deported youths and their destinations.

“I will update our people on this development. I urge residents to be calm while the security agencies carry out surveillance.”