Business and Economy

Indignity of Labour: The Bitter Tales Inside Nigeria Flour Mills’ Sugar Eestate

Published

6 years ago

May 13, 2020

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By NGIJ team of Oluwasegun Abifarin and Olawale Abideen

The smoke of accusation and counter accusation has continued to rise over the indignity of labour and bitter working condition by workers of Sunti Golden Sugar Estates Limited, a subsidiary of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc.

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Located on the banks of River Niger, in Mokwa, Niger state, Sunti Golden Sugar Estates Limited features 17, 000 hectares of irrigable farmland and a Sugar mill that process 4,500 metric tons of sugarcane per day. At full capacity, the estate is expected to produce 1 Million tons of Sugarcane which roughly translates into 100,000 metric tons of sugar yearly.

When Flour Mills of Nigeria took up loans amounting to about 60 Billion Naira facilitated by the Nigerian Government to acquire and complete the Sunti Farms in order to establish a sugarcane farm and set up a factory, the workers and host communities thought their sweet and happy moment had arrived.

And on 15th March, 2018, when the company was officially launched amidst pomp and pageantry, expectations and hopes were raised as there were promises of better living for host communities, their youths and the workers.

This eventually turned to a forlorn dream going by the layers of worker/labour indignity going on in the company.

One star case till date is the story of Mr. Amusa Monsuru Adewale who joined Nigeria Flour Mills on the 9th of April, 2014 as a Draftsman. The Human Resource Manager, Mr. Chatjock Chom on the basis of the strong recommendation from Adewale’s boss, Mr. John Beverley, confirmed his appointment as an Architect and also as a senior staff with job class 8 reward level 10.

In the course of Adewale’s employment, the company seconded him to Sunti Golden Sugar Estates Ltd where he has been working directly under the supervision of Engr. Akeem Kolawole Gbadamosi.

But on the 15th day of September, 2016 Mr. Adewale had an industrial accident on site which affected his left eye. Despite the accident, he continued to work diligently in the company, but on the 7th day of November, 2016 his was diagnose with severe keratitis on the left eye and he was placed on drugs. After some months, the Doctor recommended a Cornea transplant surgery for a clearer vision.

On the 3rd of June 2018, he received the bill for the surgery which he submitted to the Human Resource department. Prior to the submission of the bill, Adewale alleged that his boss, Gbadamosi had threatened on different occasions, to sack him “without any reason.” And upon submission of the bill, Adewale said he received two queries within one week.

After answering the query, Gbadamosi recommended to the Human Resource department for him to be sacked, but the recommendation was declined and instead a 5 day suspension was given to Adewale on the 2nd of July 2018.

After his resumption on the 9th of July, Gadamosi demoted him to the position of a store keeper .And by a letter dated 9th of April, 2019, Adewale was sacked, citing medical grounds as the reason.

Adewale’s Counsel, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN however disputed this, saying his client is medically fit to undertake his responsibilities and that no medical examination was conducted to support the company’s claim.

In a bid to resolve the matter amicably, Flour Mills invited Adewale and his lawyers to a meeting in Apapa, Lagos on 21st June, 2019 by 10:00a.m, whereat it was agreed to convey the resolution to the management of the company and get back to Adewale’s team to know the next alternative to explore. Till date, nothing has happened.

Another sordid case is that of Adeleke Wuraola, a Procurement Manager Sunti Golden Estate. As one of the oldest employees in the company, he was reputed to be very intelligent and good at his job, but he allegedly had issues with the wife of the General Manger.

It was gathered that for years, they plotted his removal until he fell into the trap of one Magdalene, a female staff allegedly brought by the GM and his wife to do the hatchet job. “Magdalene does not have the intelligence and confidence to come up with this grandiose scheme. She is being pushed and encouraged by someone in management,” Adeleke said.

For now the GM is said to have brought a family friend who is out of job from South Africa to replace Adeleke.

The case of Dr. Akande Yusuf who manages the Sunti Clinic is another sore point. Yusuf, had reported verbal assault and several episodes of interference in patient management as well as the open confrontation on the professionalism of the medical team at the clinic by the General Manager’s wife.

Specifically Yusuf recalled that on January 30th, 2019, the wife of the General Manager came to the clinic, assembled all the clinic staffs and dressed him down that he is “useless, unprofessional, and that she is ashamed of me.”

The medical doctor added that GM wife added that “she is the one paying my salary and that she can fire me if she wants; and when the GM’s wife is talking, I should not say anything ever again that I am disrespectful for thinking I can say something; that we are all fucking idiots.”

In his letter to the HR Manager, dated February 14, 2019, Yusuf lamented that “I have been brooding over these utterances in the last two weeks against the background of prior confrontational threats and intimidation from the GM and his wife on 18th of October 2018 in which case a lot of hurtful words and insults were hauled at me.

“Permit me to sincerely note that the derogatory remarks, verbal abuse, offensive words, threats, emotional and psychological subjugation from both the General Manager and his wife are having their toll on me and by extension, the other medical staffs. Our morale are down.”

On the frosty relationship between the company and the host community, Samuel Iboroma, FMN Corporate Communication Manager had maintained that Sugar Golden Sugar Estates has enjoyed very cordial relations with its host communities.

He also sent a letter of appreciation sent by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar acknowledging the receipt of four thousand cartons of chicken indomine noodles donated to the community by FMN recently.

But a recent letter by the host community addressed to the Chairman of FMN points to another direction. They complained that the Sunti GM “has been showing so much disrespect to the community leaders and the citizen together with the Community Liaison Officer, Mr. Samuel.”

According to them, “the community no longer has source of income for our livelihood because of the activities of the Company and the autocratic nature of the GM has also led to the termination of the appointment of many skilled, and experienced personnel from the company.”

Sources informed us that communities such as Kusogi, Jaagi, Batagi, Kupanti, etc suffered most from the activities of Sunti Golden Estate.

On the allegation of poor working condition, Iboroma argued that the “assertions all wrong,” adding that “like most of our investments in the food value chain, we are creating jobs and empowering our communities through active collaboration.”

But some of the workers who spoke to our correspondent in the estate last week countered Iboroma’s assertion arguing that “slavery continues here.” They pointed to the meagre salary and the un-abating casualization of workers as a major twin evil. “A graduate earns N30, 000 here, an amount too little for the so called expatriates to spend at a shopping,” one of the workers told us last week.

Attempts to get the company’s reaction to the latest allegations were futile last week. There was no reply to mails and messages sent to Iboroma’s through phone, wattsapp and emails address.

Instead, Sources at Sunti hinted early this week that the company is planning to bring some selected journalists to the Estate to ”come and see things for themselves.”

“It is expected that journalists will be around within this week, and they have been improving on things they believe could implicate them. Presently, they have been going about begging workers not to speak ill of the company,” a worker told our correspondent last week.

Strangely, some of the journalists have also been calling our correspondent to back off from the story, pleading that “Flour Mills is their client.”

Business and Economy

Inaugural Africa-Alamenin Forum: Nigeria Urges Africa to Put Trade at Centre of Diplomacy

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2026

Abdulrahman Obaje

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Nigeria has called on African nations to place trade and economic cooperation at the centre of Pan-African diplomacy, saying partnerships will only endure when anchored on shared economic interests. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Friday, 2nd October, 2026, at the Ministerial Roundtable on “Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Centre of Pan-African Diplomacy” at the inaugural Africa-Alamein Business Forum (Go63) in New Alamein City, Egypt.

“For too long, we treated trade and diplomacy as separate tracks. Our partnerships endure only when they rest on shared economic interests,” he said, noting that Africa remains the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Enikanolaiye cited Nigeria’s reforms since 2023 — fuel subsidy removal, FX unification and fiscal strengthening — yielding 4.43% growth in Q2 2026, inflation down to 15.39% in August, reserves at $54.86bn as of 24th September, and MPR cut to 23%. He added that the National Single Window went live on 27th March 2026 and the Nigeria Tax Act consolidating over 60 levies took effect on 1st January 2026.

On AfCFTA, he described it as Africa’s most important trade instrument, with 50 ratifications and 39 countries now on the Guided Trade Initiative. Nigeria has validated its Implementation Strategy, gazetted its tariff concessions, submitted services commitments and ratified the Digital Trade Protocol in November 2025. A new air cargo corridor with Uganda Airlines and UNDP has cut freight costs by 50-75%.

He stressed that trade needs finance, welcoming Afreximbank and PAPSS, and disclosed that CBN directed banks to adopt PAPSS from April 2025 for local-currency settlement.

The Minister proposed five actions: make trade facilitation a standing diplomatic item; tackle non-tariff barriers; widen trade finance for SMEs, women and youth; invest in transport/energy corridors and regional value chains; and speak with one voice in external trade negotiations.

On Nigeria-Egypt ties, he said trade at $223m in 2025 is below potential and called for implementation of the July 2025 Nigeria-Egypt Business Forum and the proposed Joint Investment Council.

Earlier, Egyptian Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly opened the Forum, describing it as a sustainable platform for dialogue among governments, private sector and financial institutions. Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, H.E. Mohamed Farid, also called for cooperation to build an integrated African automotive industry.

The Go63 Forum, organized by Egypt, Afreximbank and AUDA-NEPAD, runs till 4th October and is a permanent biennial platform to convert integration goals into investments.
Ends.

Business and Economy

President Tinubu Said The $12m Entrepreneurship Centre In Abuja Will…

Published

2 weeks ago

September 24, 2026

Abdulrahman Obaje

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcoming the construction of the $12 million Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship, said the project will strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem and help more businesses grow, while more jobs would be created with expanded economic activity. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The statement further revealed President Tinubu saying the Centre would help in establishing, strengthening and growing businesses.

The Centre, funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is being developed at the SMEDAN Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, in partnership with the Federal Government through SMEDAN and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“Small businesses are an important part of our economy. They employ people, support families and create activity in communities across the country,” the President said.

“Many entrepreneurs already have the ideas and the determination to succeed. What they often need is better access to facilities, technology, training and the support that can help their businesses grow. This Centre will provide more of that support and strengthen the ecosystem around them.”

The Centre will support the wider MSME and entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing facilities, technology, training and enterprise support for aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses, with an initial target of 500 entrepreneurs, 400 start-ups and 1,500 MSMEs.

About $5.9 million will go into construction, while $6.1 million will fund equipment and programmes for entrepreneurs and businesses.

According to the statement, ACE will provide workspaces, digital facilities, training, incubation and enterprise support for entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.

It will serve businesses in Abuja and surrounding cities, including Kaduna, Jos, Keffi, Lafia, Minna, Makurdi and Lokoja, while contributing to a stronger entrepreneurship and MSME ecosystem across Northern Nigeria.

President Tinubu said the Federal Government would continue to expand conditions that allow small businesses to grow and compete.

“We want more Nigerians to be able to start businesses, grow them and employ others. We also want existing small businesses to have better access to the tools and support they need to become stronger and more productive. That is important for jobs, incomes and the wider economy,” he said.

The President said the project complements the administration’s wider investments in digital skills, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and support for MSMEs.

The Centre has also been designed to accommodate women and persons with disabilities. It will include accessible facilities and crèche services for women with young children.

While construction is ongoing, SMEDAN, KOICA and UNDP will work with universities, incubators, financial institutions, private-sector organisations and entrepreneur networks to build a wider support system around the Centre and identify businesses that can benefit from its programmes.

President Tinubu thanked the Government of the Republic of Korea for the $12 million investment and commended KOICA, UNDP and SMEDAN for bringing the project to the construction stage.

He said Nigeria would continue to welcome investments and partnerships that strengthen local businesses, deepen enterprise development and create more jobs.

Business and Economy

Dangote IPO Not a Magic Wand to wealth

Published

2 weeks ago

September 23, 2026

Abdulrahman Obaje

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The high expectation for immediate profit as being expressed especially by new investors who participated in the Dangote IPO from their investment may land them in disappointment, after all.

This much has been highlighted by BusinessDay’s analysis of Ifeoluwa Balogun, as a case study, whether real or an imaginary figure, captures the excitement around Dangote Refinery’s public offer.

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For instance, Balogun optimistically says:

“I bought Dangote shares that are worth N42,000. I am expecting to cash out big time to buy something valuable, at least a piece of land in Imowe-Ibafo, Ogun State.”

To have hope is good. But to be definite about what you are not in control of may trigger unpleasant consequences. For example, the Baloguns may not know that Dangote’s: “N2.15 trillion IPO is creating access to ownership, not a shortcut to wealth. With 4.1 billion shares offered at N525 each and a minimum subscription of just 10 shares, the offer is bringing equity ownership within reach of ordinary Nigerians. What happens to their money after the subscription, however, will depend on the refinery’s future earnings, cash generation and share-price performance,” it has pointed out.

This case study goes further with the analysis: “For Balogun, N42,000 buys 80 shares before applicable charges. If the shares eventually reach N1,050, his holding would be worth N84,000. If they reach N5,250, it would be worth N420,000. Neither outcome has a timetable, and neither price is guaranteed.”

That distinction is becoming important as the Dangote IPO draws first-time investors into Nigeria’s stock market.

The offer is scheduled to close on October 13, having been opened to the public on September with the minimum subscription set at N5,250.

Sure, investors are buying a stake in a business that has recently demonstrated substantial earning power. Dangote Refinery reported $13.91 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, alongside $2.60 billion in EBITDA and $1.82 billion in net profit, according to BusinessDay. The result marked a sharp turnaround from the loss recorded in 2025.

“Those numbers explain the enthusiasm around the offer. But an equity investor is buying future earnings, not simply the latest six months of profit.” In addition, it’s important to note that:

“The refinery operates in a volatile global business. Its earnings are exposed to crude-oil costs, refined-product prices, refining margins, foreign exchange, demand and international energy-market conditions. A strong first half does not guarantee that future periods will produce the same results.”

The company’s future expansion also matters. Dangote says the refinery has crude-distillation capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and plans to expand that to 1.4 million barrels per day. Basically, ” The wider complex includes petrochemicals, storage, marine infrastructure and logistics.

“For shareholders, therefore, the investment case extends well beyond the IPO. The value of their shares will depend on whether the company can sustain production, expand profitably, manage its financial obligations, generate cash and return value to shareholders. That makes the distance between owning shares and becoming wealthy important.”

If Balogun’s 80 shares rise from N525 to N1,000, his holding would be worth N80,000. But that increase remains a market gain until he sells. If the market price falls below N525, the value of his investment falls instead. The investor therefore has to live with the market’s timing.

Someone who expects the shares to finance a land purchase within a particular period could be forced to sell earlier than planned, potentially at a price below expectation. The market does not adjust its timing to an investor’s financial needs.

It’s in view of these fluctuating realities that the regulator, “The Securities and Exchange Commission has urged prospective investors to read the approved prospectus and understand the terms and risks before subscribing. It has also warned against people or platforms promising guaranteed allocations or returns.”

The significance of the IPO is therefore broader than whether Dangote shares rise after listing. It is introducing more Nigerians to ownership of productive assets at a time when household incomes remain under pressure. But ownership comes with uncertainty: the investor participates in both the gains and the risks of the business.

The punchy end of the discourse is even more important: “For Balogun, the more useful question is not how quickly N42,000 can become enough to buy land. It is whether he can afford to hold the investment long enough for the underlying business to create value. The Dangote IPO can put ownership within reach of ordinary Nigerians. It cannot put a guaranteed fortune within reach overnight.”