Business
Seized presidential jets: “I will assist FG in finding diplomatic solution” – Senator Gbenga Daniel
Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has reacted to the ongoing legal impasse between Nigeria and a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, saying he will assist in finding diplomatic solution.
Last week, FG faced the embarrassment of seizure of three presidential jets over the legal judgement which the Chinese firm obtained in its favour in a Paris Court, France.
Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone was built by the FG/Ogun State and to be administratively managed by the Chinese firm, but which the contract was terminated after few years of “honeymoon relationship.”
In a statement which was issued by the Media Office of Otumba Gbenga Daniel on Saturday and made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, the former governor calls for caution in discussing the matter in the media, given that the matter is in various Courts so as not to jeopardise the chances of Nigeria.
The statement read: “Rather than engaging on media comments, the most reasonable course of action that The Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel would rather engage in is helping Nigeria, through the President and Commander-in-Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue at hand with available records that could assist the Federal Government in pursuing its course at the arbitration and before the courts.
“He cannot do this on the pages of the newspapers and on other media which may also compromise the strength of Nigeria’s arguments in the courts.
“Since the report of the Arbitration and legal matters between a Chinese Firm and the Federal Government of Nigeria/Ogun State Government on the termination of Management contract at the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, the Media Office of His Excellency, The Senator Otunba Engr Gbenga Daniel, FNSE, FAEng has been inundated with calls requesting for Otunba Daniel’s reaction on the matter.
“We need to establish clearly that Otunba Gbenga Daniel, or his administration is not in discussion on the matter before the courts and arbitration, neither were the terms or proprietary of the Agreement for the establishment of the FTZ, rather it is the termination of a Management Contract. The judgements in all the courts are very clear on this.
“It is also important to note that this is a very sensitive matter involving our collective National Assets and Commonwealth which every patriotic Nigerian should feel concerned about.
“And as a Patriotic elderstatesman who has had the privilege of serving Ogun State as the Governor through which he was able to bring about several developmental projects including the establishment of the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone and others, and through which he has impacted on the lives of many citizens, also as a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is this patriotic path he chooses to thread.
“We need to also appreciate that this matter is before various courts in several countries and it is subjudice for anyone to speak on them.
“However, let us emphasize once again that the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone project still exists and several Nigerians are working there as we write, just as there are several companies still doing their legitimate businesses. It is from this perspective of development that the efforts of Otunba Gbenga Daniel should be well appreciated.
“At the time of his handover in 2011, about 56 companies were at various stages of operations, construction and showing interests in the Free Trade Zone and through which various life impacting developments (including but not limited to the construction of roads, schools for the local community, scholarship and sponsorship of many Nigerians for academic pursuit have taken place in the Igbesa area, which was an otherwise rural community before the establishment of the Free Trade Zone.
“There are so many incorrect reports and misrepresentation of facts on timelines of activities relating to the establishment and Operations of the Free Trade Zone in circulation especially on the social media, and we plead that the media should partner with the Nigerian government in finding a very productive solution to this matter in Nigeria’s interest. It is not time to play politics with the assets and integrity of our dear country.
“We sincerely appreciate all efforts at reaching out for Otunba Daniel’s side of the story as we also seek the understanding of all those who called to appreciate his sturdy silence to be able to assist the President on the way out of this testy time and situation.”
The National Progressives Hub (NPH), a support group for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has trained over 50 women entrepreneurs running Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their financial inclusion and business growth.
The women, selected from NPH and other support groups, participated in the training held in the Asokoro area of Abuja on Tuesday.
The National Coordinator of NPH, Hon. Bukie Okangbe, stated that the event was part of activities to celebrate the 2025 International Women’s Day.
“It is a business clinic. We brought in experts and trainers to conduct the training, including facilitators from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). This initiative is designed for APC women and every party member to celebrate Women’s Month. We also want women to be aware of government policies,” she emphasized.
Kingsley Ndimele, a Business Consultant and Financial Economist, noted that while businesses in Nigeria are performing fairly well, there is significant room for improvement, particularly in addressing policy gaps, access to information, and knowledge acquisition.
“I am here to train small business owners on how to grow and scale their enterprises. Although businesses in Nigeria are making progress, challenges persist due to policies, government intervention, and the business owners themselves.
“The average Nigerian entrepreneur has the potential to perform better if key issues such as policy framework, infrastructure, and knowledge gaps are addressed. Growing a business requires a certain level of knowledge capacity. If you lack that capacity, no matter how much funding you receive, you may not succeed,” he explained.
He also highlighted the issue of funding as a shared responsibility between the government and entrepreneurs.
“The Nigerian government has been supporting MSMEs through funding and capacity-building initiatives. However, the question remains: Are Nigerian entrepreneurs ready to maximize these opportunities? Do they meet the eligibility criteria?” he asked.
A representative of the Director-General of SMEDAN, Peter Adeshina, stated that the training aimed to educate small business owners on structuring their enterprises to access available opportunities.
“SMEs are critical to economic prosperity and growth, and our role is to support them. A business clinic is like a medical clinic—when you visit, you receive treatment, feel revitalized, and can then expand and succeed.
“Our objective here is to provide guidance on structuring businesses for growth. Currently, finance in Nigeria is costly due to high interest rates. However, there are measures SMEs can take to secure affordable loans and grants.
“For instance, formalizing a business—something as simple as registering it—can determine whether one can access opportunities or not. Business owners should also open dedicated business accounts to establish a credit history, making them more trustworthy to investors,” he advised.
He also expressed optimism that the training would enhance SMEs’ operations.
“At the end of this event, we expect SMEs to function more effectively. With the information provided, they will be able to restructure their businesses, abandon ineffective practices, and embrace growth.
“Accessing SMEDAN opportunities requires registration with the agency. Fortunately, SMEDAN has state offices nationwide where business owners can seek support. We anticipate that, after this exercise, more entrepreneurs will be better positioned for success,” he added.
Also, the Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Adeshile Deji, encouraged the trainees to engage in continuous capacity-building programs from relevant agencies to enhance their skills and business operations.
Over 1,500 residents have benefited from a Fidelity Food Bank outreach in Kabuga community, Dala Local Government Area of Kano state.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, executed in partnership with Misnoory Foundation, saw staff of the bank distribute essential food items to support people during the holy month of Ramadan.
Commenting on the distribution event, Divisional Head, Brands and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized the bank’s dedication to supporting its host communities through impactful projects.
“Social responsibility is at the heart of who we are as a bank. Our Fidelity Food Bank initiative is one of the way we drive social welfare in our host communities. The initiative was launched to support the vulnerable and alleviate the impact of hunger in the society as part of our contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
“Consequently, we have distributed more than 150,000 food packs at outreach events like this across the country since April 2023 when we launched the initiative. Our outreach in Kabuga is designed to support women, widows, children and the community with food items for the Ramadan season.”
On her part, the Founder, Misnoory Foundation, Maryam Isa Inuwa stated that, “The commitment of the foundation towards poverty alleviation and various humanitarian support to society’s most vulnerable members perfectly aligns with the Fidelity Bank initiative.
“Fidelity Bank is one of the major sponsors of our humanitarian outreaches to the needy in the society. The foundation is delighted to count on the bank as a long-standing partner.
“We seek to touch the lives of many people in need through our various humanitarian efforts across different communities and today, it is the turn of Kabuga community to benefit from the Fidelity Food Bank program”.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards.
It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
Tier-one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has once again highlighted the importance of promoting non-oil exports as it recently hosted the 18th edition of its dedicated capacity development training tagged Export Management Programme (EMP 18). The programme, which was held recently in Lagos provided a platform for entrepreneurs interested in exploring global trade opportunities to scale and acquire relevant expertise.
Hosted in partnership with the Lagos Business School (LBS), the 5-day intensive program focused on equipping entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to explore international market opportunities and strengthen their capacity to thrive in the export sector.
“At Fidelity Bank, our strategy to enhance non-oil exports is guided by the significant opportunities it offers to our customers and the national economy. This is why we offer a comprehensive suite of financial, advisory, and market-access solutions for businesses aiming to engage in international trade.
“Our market-access initiative, EMP, launched in 2016, has trained over 1,600 entrepreneurs. Today, we completed the 18th cohort with high-caliber participants and a 150% oversubscription. This indicates a promising future for Nigeria’s non-oil exports,” explained Isaiah Ndukwe, Divisional Head of Export and Agriculture at Fidelity Bank Plc.
Facilitated by key industry experts in the exports space, EMP 18 took participants through several sessions focused on critical areas in global trade such as Export Finance Instruments, Export Documentation, Accessibility of Export Markets, amongst others.
A key feature of the training was a facility tour of one of Nigeria’s busiest Export Processing Terminals (EPT) located in Ikorodu, Lagos state. The full-day visit, which was anchored by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), gave participants a first-hand feel of the necessary procedure and requirements for securing regulatory approval for exporting from Nigeria.
One of the program participants, Patrick Ulayi Awu-Patricks, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alliance & Frontier Limited, commended Fidelity Bank for its leadership in deploying capacity-building initiatives in the non-oil exports sector. In a discussion with journalists, he stated that EMP 18 provided invaluable exposure to the opportunities in the export business noting that, “There are lots of non-oil exports opportunities and entrepreneurs must be able to identify and capitalize on these to be able to play effectively in the international trade space. This course has given me insights into the power of data which is essential for strategic decision-making.”
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
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