Business
Dangote Halts Steel Investments to Avoid Monopoly Accusations
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, has announced that his company will be halting its investments in Nigeria’s steel industry. This decision comes in response to concerns about potential monopoly practices.
Dangote revealed this shift during a recent press conference, amidst ongoing disputes with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The NMDPRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, had previously raised concerns about Nigeria’s reliance on the Dangote Refinery for petroleum products, suggesting that it posed a monopoly risk. Ahmed also criticized the quality of petroleum products from both the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.
In light of these issues, Dangote explained that the board of his company has chosen to withdraw from the steel sector to avoid further accusations of monopolistic behavior, similar to those currently directed at their operations in the petroleum industry. He noted that by stepping back from the steel business, the company hopes to prevent the same criticisms and encourage competition.
“Own board has decided that we shouldn’t do the steel because if we do the steel business, we will be called all sorts of names like monopoly. And then also, imports will be encouraged. So we don’t want to go into that.
“Let other Nigerians go and do it. We are not the only Nigerians here. There are some Nigerians with more cash than us. They should bring that money from Dubai and other parts of the world and invest in our fatherland,” he said
Dangote further emphasized that there are other wealthy Nigerians who could invest in the steel industry. He suggested that those with substantial resources, potentially even from abroad, should step in and invest in Nigeria’s steel sector.
Hamster Kombat has introduced a new anti-cheating strategy to ensure fair play and protect dedicated players. The initiative targets those attempting to manipulate the game for extra benefits, issuing a “cheating is bad” warning that could affect their positions for the airdrop distribution on September 26. The team emphasized the importance of rewarding honest players and creating a secure environment.
As Season 1 of the Telegram-based Web3 game ends on September 20, Hamster Kombat will take a snapshot of the game’s activities to determine airdrop eligibility. The game, which has over 300 million users, is focused on maintaining fairness ahead of its upcoming Season 2 launch.
Binance announced the upcoming launch of “Moonbix,” a play-to-earn (P2E) game on Telegram’s Mini App. In this game, players explore galaxies, collect items, and earn crypto rewards. Although the game leaked early, Binance is fine-tuning it for an official release and warned users to stay cautious of impersonation scams.
Telegram Mini Apps, introduced in 2023, have seen massive engagement, with popular apps like Hamster Kombat driving crypto adoption. Telegram’s integration with The Open Network (TON) has further contributed to this growth.
The Federal Government generated around $1.2 billion from telecom license fees during the early stages of mobile technology in Nigeria, with major operators like MTN, Globacom, Econet (now Airtel), and Etisalat (now 9mobile) contributing to the sum.
These fees were instrumental in laying the foundation for the country’s telecom industry, which officially began in 2000.
The sector has since become a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo highlighted this achievement during a book launch held in Lagos on Tuesday.
He reflected on how the licensing of these operators marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s technological and economic development, allowing the country to leap into the era of mobile communication.
Obasanjo acknowledged the critical role these funds played in shaping the telecom industry, which has become one of the most significant sectors in the nation’s economy today.
The successful auction of these telecom licenses provided the capital necessary to build the infrastructure and networks that have connected millions of Nigerians, driving economic activity and fostering innovation across various industries.
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