Washington, Nov. 5, 2025 -While the shutdown debate in Washington dominates the airwaves, its most t2gible effects are being felt far from the capital—in small towns, storefronts, and industrial parks across America. This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a sobering state by state analysis showing scope of disruption. The agency’s two flagship loan programs—the 7(a) and 504 loans—are at a complete standstill. Every day the shutdown continues, roughly 320 small businesses are unable to access more than $170 million in SBA-backed financing. Since the first day of the …
FCCPC shuts down 5 textile warehouses in Kano over unethical business practices
Abuja, Nov. 5, 2025 – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday shut down the warehouses of five textile distributors over alleged unethical business practices. The Commission disclosed this in a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, its Director of Corporate Affairs. The statement alleged that operators of the warehouses were engaging in sales of underweight and shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting consumers which breached the provisions of the FCCPA, 2018. The Commission said the operation, which was led by FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale …
CPPE describes new 15% duty on petroleum products as positive proposition
Lagos, Nov. 3, 2025 – The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has described the new 15% duty on refined petroleum products as a positive policy proposition. The think tank made the observation at the weekend in a statement signed by Muda Yusuf, its Chief Executive. It said the import duty could catalyse industrial expansion, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, and promote economic resilience if complemented with broader industrial support measures. The CPPE said the country’s overdependence on imports over the years had weakened its productive base, eroded …
Global firms slash jobs amid weak sentiment, AI push
New York, Oct. 29, 2025 – Companies around the globe have ramped up job cuts, with blue-chips from Amazon to Nestle and UPS reining in spending while consumer sentiment dims and AI-focused tech companies start to replace jobs with automation. According to a Reuters tally, American companies have announced more than 25,000 job cuts this month, not including UPS’s 48,000 figure, which dates from the beginning of 2025. In Europe, the total tops 20,000, with Nestlé accounting for the bulk after last week’s 16,000-role reduction. With economy-wide numbers on job …
FG approves N25,000 grant to outstanding small enterprises at Katsina Clinic
Abuja, Oct, 22, 2025 – The federal government has approved N250,000 unconditional grant for each of the outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exhibiting at the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Katsina State. Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced the approval of the grant on Tuesday during the inauguration of the ninth edition of the MSME Clinic, designed to support small businesses and stimulate economic activity across local communities. He said the Federal Government established the Expanded MSME Clinic to bring services closer to entrepreneurs and foster innovation, employment, and …
Dangote consolidates cement business in Africa
By Paul Ejime Lagos, Oct. 14,2025 – Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote is expanding his business empire to more African countries with the official launch on 8th October 2025 of the cement manufacturing operations in Attingué, some 30 km from Abidjan, the Ivorian capital. Already, the largest conglomerate in West Africa and one of the largest on the African continent, with operations in at least 10 countries, the Dangote group employs more than 30,000 people and is projected to generate more than US$25 billion this year. Serge Gbotta, Managing Director of Dangote Cement Côte d’Ivoire, launched the Attingué plant, which spans …
Trump’s 100% pharmaceutical tariffs won’t apply to the EU and Japan
Washington, Sept. 27, 2025 – President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports will not apply to countries with negotiated agreements with the US that contain provisions on drugs, according to a White House official, delivering promised relief to economies including the European Union and Japan. Duties on pharmaceuticals from the EU will be capped at 15% per the terms of its framework deal, the official said Friday. Japanese drugs will also be charged the rate spelled out in its pact, the official added. The US-Japan joint statement says …
Dangote-Ethiopia Deal: A New African Renaissance
By Henok Tadele Haile Addis Ababa, Sept. 1, 2025 – When Ethiopia and Nigeria shook hands in Addis Ababa last week over a 2.5 billion USD fertilizer complex deal, it was more than a business transaction. It was a declaration of intent, a bold statement that Africa is ready to rewrite its agricultural future with homegrown solutions and intra-continental cooperation at an unprecedented scale. This landmark investment, led by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Ethiopia’s reform-driven government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, positions Ethiopia not just as a consumer …
Dangote signs $2.5bn deal to build fertiliser plant in Ethiopia
Somali, Aug. 28, 2025 – Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, has sealed a $2.5bn deal to with the Ethiopian Government to build a fertiliser plant in Ethiopia. The plant is to be one of the world’s largest single-site fertiliser plant in the world. The Dangote Group signed the agreement on Thursday with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the government’s strategic investment arm. Under the agreement, Dangote Group will hold 60 per cent stake, while EIH will retain 40 per cent. EIH, in a statement on Thursday, said the plant …
China’s factory activity rebounds in June as US trade tensions ease
Beijing, June 30, 2025 – Factory activity in China edged upwards in June but stayed in contractionary territory for a third straight month, as the country battles soft demand and the effects of a trade war with the United States. China’s official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a gauge of manufacturing activity – rose to 49.7 in June from 49.5 in May and 49.0 in April, the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Monday. Scores above 50 indicate growth in manufacturing while readings under 50 suggest a contraction. The improved …