Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.

The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.

They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.

He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.

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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.

He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.

Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.

In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.

He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.

Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.

Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.

President Bola Tinubu has assured journalists that they have nothing to fear from his administration for criticising or attacking him, reaffirming his commitment to press freedom.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the centenary celebration of the Daily Times and the unveiling of the Nigerian Grand Book and Times Heroes Awards.

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The President, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the media remained essential to Nigeria’s development, accountability and preservation of the country’s history.

He said his administration was committed to the constitutional freedom of the press, stressing that journalists should be able to scrutinise government without fear of retaliation.

The President stated that under his administration, Nigerians could criticise or attack him without expecting government officials to retaliate against them.

Tinubu also used the occasion to emphasise the importance of preserving Nigeria’s history.

He said the Nigerian Grand Book would enable Nigerians to document the country’s story from their own perspective and preserve important institutional memories for future generations.

According to him, understanding the nation’s past would help Nigerians learn from previous successes and failures while building a stronger future.

Adesina Urges Nigerians to Build on Existing Foundations

Delivering the keynote address, former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said nation-building was a continuous process that required contributions from successive generations.

Adesina noted that no country could be built by one individual or a single administration, stressing the importance of leadership that leaves stronger foundations for those who come after.

He also called for unity of purpose among Nigerians, saying the country’s diversity should be harnessed toward building a prosperous future.

Daily Times Honours Nigerians

The centenary celebration also featured the Times Heroes Awards, with prominent Nigerians receiving recognition for their contributions to society.

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, received the Community Impact Award, while Adesina received the Global Impact Award.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, was honoured with the Media Icon of the Decade Award.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, received the Minister of the Decade Award, while APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, was named Politician of the Year.

Several state governors and lawmakers were also recognised at the event.

The celebration marked 100 years of the Daily Times and highlighted the newspaper’s longstanding role in Nigeria’s media history and national development.

The Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline is ready for first gas, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline has reached 95 percent completion.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) disclosed this in its July 2026 monthly report, adding that pre-commissioning activities at the OB3 River Niger Crossing had been completed in August in preparation for first gas.

In the NNPC Ltd report, OB3 was put at 100 percent, and AKK at 95 percent complete. “OB3 River Niger Crossing: Pipeline pre-commissioning activities completed in readiness for First Gas in August 2026,” the report stated.

On the AKK project, the national oil company said construction and installation works had reached an advanced stage, with the pipeline expected to deliver early gas to Abuja in 2026.

“AKK (Early Gas): Construction and installation works are at an advanced stage to deliver early gas to Abuja in 2026,” NNPC Ltd stated.

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The two projects form part of NNPC Ltd’s gas infrastructure development programme aimed at expanding gas transportation infrastructure.

The OB3 pipeline is designed to connect gas supplies across the eastern and western parts of the country, while the AKK pipeline is being developed to transport gas to Abuja and onwards to northern parts of Nigeria.

However, the July report did not provide further details on the expected capacity or commissioning date of the AKK pipeline beyond stating that early gas would be delivered to Abuja in 2026.

Earlier in April, the NNPC Ltd announced that it had completed the long-anticipated River Niger crossing of the OB3 gas pipeline, unlocking a critical segment of the country’s gas transmission network and paving the way for increased supply to power plants and industries.

The feat, delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, involved drilling approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, a method deployed in complex engineering terrains.

Announcing the development in a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, Andy Odeh, the company said the milestone effectively activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The pipeline is to significantly strengthen energy availability, enhance supply reliability, and accelerate national economic development.

The company noted that the completion would, in the near term, unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with positive implications for electricity generation, manufacturing, and exports.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, noted that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network.

“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” he said.

Ojulari also linked the project to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets, including plans to increase crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.

Started in 2016, the $700m OB3 pipeline has missed several completion deadlines before this latest announcement.