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Ogbomoso Focus Tv Ogbomoso Focus Tv is an oline tv platform created for promoting Ogbomoso's art andculture, voicing out our heritage.

03/02/2025
03/02/2025

Arrival of SOUN OF OGBOMOSO LAND.
OBA GHANDI AFOLABI OLAOYE (ORUMOGEGE III) TO GOMBE STATE.
3rd February, 2025

Congratulations to Sons and Daughters of Ogbomoso in Gombe State.

Arrival of SOUN OF OGBOMOSO LAND.OBA GHANDI AFOLABI OLAOYE (ORUMOGEGE III) TO GOMBE STATE.3rd February, 2025Congratulati...
03/02/2025

Arrival of SOUN OF OGBOMOSO LAND.
OBA GHANDI AFOLABI OLAOYE (ORUMOGEGE III) TO GOMBE STATE.
3rd February, 2025

Congratulations to Sons and Daughters of Ogbomoso in Gombe State.

BREAKING: The Ogun State Government on Monday suspended the Olorile of Orile-Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, for six month...
03/02/2025

BREAKING: The Ogun State Government on Monday suspended the Olorile of Orile-Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, for six months over his alleged misconduct, following a viral video showing him assaulting a man.

The government described his actions as inappropriate for a traditional ruler.

Presidency to Atiku, El-Rufai, Obi, others: we’ll meet in 2027...No alternative to APC, says Masari...Why opposition lea...
03/02/2025

Presidency to Atiku, El-Rufai, Obi, others: we’ll meet in 2027
...No alternative to APC, says Masari
...Why opposition leaders can’t be president, by Lukman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready for any challenge from opposition leaders during the 2027 general election, the Presidency said yesterday.

It faulted comments by the political opponents against the administration, describing them as “distracting” and “Machiavellian.”

The Presidency advised the leading opposition figures and other critics – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi – to wait till the next poll before they flex muscles.

According to the Presidency, the activities of the opposition leaders are premature.

“This is 2025, not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election,” Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, said.

Also peeping into the future, former House of Representatives Speaker and ex-governor of Katsina State, Bello Masari, said there was no alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Salihu Lukman, said some of the opposition figures lacked the quality of leadership, urging them to drop their presidential ambitions.

He said: “Based on their records, they exhibit intolerant dispositions and poor relationships on account of which they have mismanaged their transitions and are today hardly in control of political structures in their states.”

At a two-day democracy conference in Abuja, Atiku, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Obi, and former Katsina State Governor El-Rufai fired salvos at the Federal Government, saying that it was not living to expectation.

Atiku alleged that the ruling party had doled out N50 million as a bribe to each of the opposition parties to disorganise and silence their leadership.

El-Rufai, a chieftain of APC, alleged a lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the ruling party.

“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he said.

Amaechi called for “brutal force” to take from President Tinubu in 2027, adding that if he had been president, he would have run the country differently.

Taking an exception to the comments, Dare, in a post on his verified X handle, urged Nigerians to scrutinise the antecedents of these politicians.

He described the attacks on the Tinubu Administration as predictable attempts to stir controversy while the President was away in Tanzania addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges.

“While the President was seeking solutions to Nigeria’s energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some ‘wannabes’ were heating up the polity,” Dare added.

The Special Adviser described the recent Abuja gathering as an effort to spread ill will, noting that some participants resorted to undemocratic rhetoric.

“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill will.

“Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to,” Dare stressed.

He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the antecedents of these “political gladiators” and choose between “political hecklers and real progressives.”

Dare emphasised that President Tinubu remains focused on his mandate to improve the lives of Nigerians and build a resilient economy, despite the distractions.

“The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy,” he said.

Dare assured Nigerians that President Tinubu, an “avowed democrat,” remains “undistracted and unperturbed” by the opposition’s tactics.

Masari: No credible alternative to APC

Masari said that there was no credible alternative to the APC administration.

He spoke in Kafur, Kafur Local Government Area, during the flag-off of the campaign for the Katsina State local government elections scheduled for February 15.

He said: “The news making rounds in the social media that some politicians are teaming up for merger is nothing but regrouping of those who lost political favours in the APC, in terms of appointments or patronage.

“Their attempt to form an alliance will not divert the attention of APC from conceiving and implementing programmes that could assuage the pains of the common man.”

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Alleged N50mn bribery: PRP challenges Atiku to provide proof
You have lost direction, stop blaming Tinubu for your woes, LP tells PDP, Atiku
Masari urged Nigerians to exercise more patience with the APC administration, adding that the harsh economic hardship is a global phenomenon.

He added: “I am in APC today, tomorrow and always because I am not in the party for any political position or appointment.”

The former governor urged APC loyalists to propagate the good works and ideals of the party, pleading with them to take any shortcoming as a human error.

Read Also: You’ve lost direction, stop blaming Tinubu for your woes, LP tells PDP, Atiku
The Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir-Masari, urged APC members to close ranks and work assiduously to ensure the success of the party at all times.

He said the president had awarded a contract for the reconstruction and upgrading of the Zaria/Malumfashi/Funtua/Yashe Roads, in a bid to facilitate socio-economic activities.

The presidential aide also said the president had approved the establishment of a Federal College of Agricultural at Nabanje, Masari.

He added: “I can assure you that more developmental projects will be awarded to the people of the area in due course.”

‘Amaechi’s remarks inflammatory’

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) chided Amaechi for making inflammatory remarks about the Tinubu administration.

It hailed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who warned the former Rivers governor against rhetorics.

AYCF President-General, Yerima Shettima, said Amaechi incited violence to destabilise the country.

Shettima said Matawalle had sent a clear message that such behaviour would not be tolerated and that those who engage in it would face consequences.

He said leaders at all levels should take a firm stand against any form of speech that could lead to violence or civil unrest.

Shettima said Amaechi’s comment constituted a threat to national security, adding that his action undermined the democratic process.

Lukman: Atiku, Obi should drop ambitions

Lukman advised Atiku, Obi, Senator Kwankwaso and El-Rufai to drop their presidential ambitions and provide leadership for the proposed opposition political party.

Lukman, former APC National Vice Chairman (Northcentral), said in a statement: “Based on laypersons legal knowledge, many of these politicians would be adjudged to being accessories, whether before or after, to our current political travesty.

“Some of them, on account of their influential roles in past administrations and the failures of those administrations should be humble enough to take a backseat to build a strong coalition to strengthen Nigerian politics.

“Instead, it is more like a case of unrepentant show of shame.”

Lukman lamented that the mindset of most opposition leaders is more inclined towards blocking political competition in the country.

He stressed: “The truth is that any political leader who is prioritising the debate about power shift over and above building a strong political party, which can set the rules and enforce it, may only be hiding behind such arguments to impose himself/herself and perhaps invariably continue the political practice of emperors and dictators.”

Atiku kicks

YESTERDAY’S reaction to opposition leaders’ criticisms of the Federal Government by the Presidency is an attack on democracy, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Media Adviser Paul Ibe, has said.

The one-time vice president, former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Nasir El-Rufai have been under attack for condemning the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

In a statement, Ibe claimed that Dare’s statement showed “the Tinubu administration plans to take the next election in the country as ‘a combat and a fight”.

He said the Tinubu government should unite and heal the nation and desist from making careless remarks about other countries.

The statement reads: “It therefore, becomes pertinent to tell the Tinubu administration that last week’s gathering of political leaders across the country is aimed at fostering the ethos of democracy in Nigeria, making sure that elections in Nigeria are credible, and that democracy is the vehicle for progress and social justice in the country.

“We find it curious that the Tinubu government would react to these noble ideals as ‘Machiavellian inclinations.

Tinubu not worried by gathering of opposition — Presidency..warns of US, Canada tariff war on NigeriaThe presidency has ...
03/02/2025

Tinubu not worried by gathering of opposition — Presidency
..warns of US, Canada tariff war on Nigeria

The presidency has dismissed the recent gathering of opposition figures and dissenting voices within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that the President remains “undistracted and unperturbed” despite emerging political tensions.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) early on Sunday, Dare reacted to what he described as a politically motivated assembly of Tinubu’s opponents, including some former allies within the APC, who criticized the President’s leadership amid growing economic and political challenges in Nigeria.

“While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was away in faraway Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, his political opponents, detractors, opposition elements, and pseudo-friends unfolded their Machiavellian inclinations,” Dare wrote, referring to the President’s recent official trip focused on addressing Nigeria’s energy issues.

The gathering, which featured prominent opposition figures and APC members now at odds with Tinubu’s administration, was described by Dare as a meeting fueled by “ill-will,” with participants “heating up the polity” and promoting undemocratic sentiments.

ALSO READ: We ‘sacrificed’ Tinubu for Yoruba presidency, he didn’t want it — Akande

“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill-will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to,” he stated, adding that some individuals “went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions.”

Despite what he called the “early combat” initiated by Tinubu’s critics, Dare emphasized that the President remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.

“The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins. Until then, President Tinubu, an avowed democrat, remains undistracted and unperturbed. The fight is ahead. Not now,” he declared.

According to Dare, Tinubu’s sole priority at this time is addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic challenges and improving the lives of its citizens.

“The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy,” he noted.

In a direct message to those eyeing the 2027 elections, Dare advised political aspirants to wait for the appropriate time to test their popularity at the polls, stressing that President Tinubu remains committed to leadership, not electioneering.

“This is 2025. Not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election. President Tinubu is fully focused on providing the leadership that will transform our country,” Dare concluded.

The political landscape has grown increasingly tense in recent weeks, with rising dissent within the APC and growing criticism from opposition parties over the administration’s handling of the economy, security, and governance.

Apart from former vice President Atiku Abubakar, a PDP chieftain, former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), were some prominent Nigerians who criticised President Tinubu at a National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, in Abuja.

In a separate post, Dare put Nigerians on notice on the implications of the ongoing tariff war between the United States of America and Canada.

He warned that that the fallout will reverberate around the world.

“Nigeria must pay close attention to the Tariff War between USA and Canada and of course a number of North Atlantic Countries. There will be fall outs that will reverberate around the world.

“The WTO will be instrumental in helping to manage the impacts of this seeming new world order.

There is a lesson in all to these for us as a country. We are witnessing a new movement: America First. Canada First. It’s time for Nigeria First! Let’s put Nigeria first -no matter,” the Presidential spokesperson wrote.

NLC nationwide strike against telcos tariff hike an error – StakeholdersTelecom industry unions and various stakeholders...
03/02/2025

NLC nationwide strike against telcos tariff hike an error – Stakeholders

Telecom industry unions and various stakeholders have criticised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for its planned nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, against the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs.

They argue that the protest is misguided and announced without consulting key players in the telecom sector.

Following extensive discussions with stakeholders, the NCC approved a tariff adjustment of up to 50%, which was significantly lower than the 100% increase proposed by telecom operators.

The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) expressed disapproval of the NLC’s decision, stating that the labour union did not consult telecom sector unions before calling for the strike.

In a letter to the NLC leadership, PTECSSAN’s General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, emphasised that the tariff hike was implemented in good faith to prevent the sector from collapsing.

Despite these concerns, the NLC, in a communiqué issued after its National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, demanded an immediate reversal of the 50% hike.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, who signed the communiqué, condemned the NCC’s decision, calling it an excessive burden on citizens.

Tariff adjustment background

The last telecom tariff increase approved by the NCC was in 2013 when Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 8.5%.

Today, inflation has surged to 34.8%, a nearly 300% increase, prompting calls for tariff adjustments to reflect economic realities.

A senior executive at a major telecom company, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that pricing decisions should be based on a cost-based study.

According to him, the last such study was conducted in 2013, setting a price floor of N6.40 per minute and a price cap of N50.

However, he said most operators currently charge between N21 and N22 per minute, well below the maximum threshold.

Public backlash against NLC’S protest call

The planned strike has been widely criticised, with many people arguing that the economic situation makes it unsustainable to maintain old telecom rates.

Udofia Unyime said: “This strike is unnecessary. NLC should focus on more pressing issues. Telecom operators now spend over N2.5 million per month to maintain a single network mast due to rising diesel costs. Yet, for over 15 years, call rates have remained unchanged, even though maintenance costs have increased significantly.”

Similarly, Chijioke Nnebe questioned the NLC’s priorities, saying: “Labour ignored hikes in fuel, electricity, and other government-controlled prices, but now wants to protest a justified increase in telecom tariffs? This is misplaced activism.”

Legal practitioner Ayoola David added that sustaining the telecom industry should be a priority, as it plays a crucial role in economic growth.

“The last tariff hike was over a decade ago. These companies are incurring heavy losses. We need them to make major investments, pay taxes, and expand services, but that won’t happen if they can’t cover their costs,” he argued.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) Director General, Dr Chinyere Almona, emphasised the need for telecom operators to remain competitive, stating that the sector’s high operating costs make profitability difficult.

A Daily Trust analysis found that telecom operators’ costs have surged by over 300% due to macroeconomic challenges and foreign exchange fluctuations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, diesel prices alone rose by 64.57% year-on-year as of August 2024.

A senior NCC official defended the tariff hike, emphasising the regulator’s role in balancing consumer protection with industry sustainability.

“Our mandate includes ensuring telecom investments remain attractive while also safeguarding consumers. If inflation and rising costs make the sector unsustainable, how do we attract new investments? We must protect both consumers and operators to ensure long-term stability,” the official stated.

Trump Trade War: Nigeria, Others Risk Imported InflationThe tariff and imminent trade war orchestrated by US President D...
03/02/2025

Trump Trade War: Nigeria, Others Risk Imported Inflation

The tariff and imminent trade war orchestrated by US President Donald Trump against Canada, China and Mexico may heighten imported inflation for Nigeria and some African countries.

Economic and financial experts say Trump’s action could also cause a fall in the price of crude oil.

Trump had on Saturday signed an executive order, imposing new tariffs, including a 25 percent duty on all imports from Mexico and most products from Canada, along with a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China.

According to the Trump administration, the tariffs are aimed at curbing the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants into the US. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the sweeping tariffs he imposed on Mexico, Canada and China may cause “some pain” for Americans.

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In swift response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced retaliatory tariffs, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced “far-reaching” levies targeting American goods.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government said it would be filing a formal complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the U.S. over President Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on imports.

“The unilateral tariff hikes by the US seriously violate World Trade Organisation rules,” the ministry said.

While experts see opportunities for countries with manufacturing capabilities to explore the trade war to their advantage, they doubted the capacity of Nigeria to exploit opportunities from the trade war, since the country is not a producing economy but import-dependent.

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In a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP yesterday, the chief executive of Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said the tariff slammed on countries such as Canada, China and Mexico may lead to heightened imported inflation for Nigeria.

According to him, despite the tariff being a bilateral issue, it will disrupt global trade which will have implications for the global economy in the long run because of the size of the economies involved.

For Nigeria, he noted that the tariff will spark inflation in the U.S., affecting the price of imported goods from the country into Nigeria.

“Secondly, if there is inflation in the U.S. which is more likely to happen, the U.S. Fed is likely to raise interest rates, and when they do this, Nigeria will have issues with foreign portfolio investments (FPIs).

“So there is the issue of the inflationary effect transmitted to us by way of effect on our FPIs. There is also the issue of inflationary effect arising from our import from the U.S. which we do not have much alternative for,” he said.

Yusuf pointed out that the trade war may depress the global economy, and lead to the development of new trade partnership, adding that manufacturing countries that are not slammed with the tariffs would be better for it.

Professor Michael Obadan, a former Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member noted that Nigeria’s level of exports had become quite inconsequential that the country may not be able to tap into the opportunities present in the trade war. Expressing pessimism about Nigeria’s readiness to exploit any opportunity, he said, “One will expect that if America is reducing its volume of trade with the countries affected in the tariff war, it may want to import from other countries that have not been imposed with such tariffs.

“If Nigeria were a manufacturing country and we had the capacity to manufacture and the goods are similar to the ones tariffed, it would have been an opportunity for Nigeria to increase its volume of exports and earn more foreign exchange.”

He noted that Nigeria’s economic environment was hostile to manufacturing because of the reform policies implemented in the last few years.

“Many manufacturing companies have departed the country, particularly the foreign ones, and those in the country are just struggling to produce. They are producing goods at very, very high costs because the operating environment is very hostile, and such goods are not competitive, even within the country, not to talk of abroad.

“Nigeria is not in a good position to take advantage of any trade opportunity that might be tariff war initiated by America. Nigeria is a bad shape at the moment in the area of production, particularly production of manufactured goods and agricultural goods. Trade war involves manufactured goods, mostly, maybe some extent, agricultural goods,” he said.

For his part, the chief executive of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, sees the potential threat of disruption by President Donald Trump as empty and only temporary at best.

He noted that the world had changed and countries were better prepared to absorb the shocks of tariffs and other trade restrictions.

According to him, the USA is just a country of 350 million people against the likes of China and India, and other countries that constitute the BRICS nations.

He also said the USA did not belong to any economic bloc, yet Trump was threatening countries that belong to BRICS, made up of billions in population, noting that if these countries were to retaliate, it would be the American economy that would suffer the most.

“If you restrict their sales to your country they will end up restricting your own sales to more than two billion people. Who is going to lose more? When it comes to trade war, I think America is more vulnerable than Trump is imagining.

“I see what Trump is doing as empty threat; after about three months from now, the reality will begin to dawn on him,” he said.

A frontrunner for the prime ministerial position in Canada, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in an interview with the CNN’s Global Public Square presenter, Fareed Zakaria, yesterday stated that by slamming trade restrictions on Canada, the USA was shooting itself in the leg as it depends on Canada for a huge chunk of its trade.

A development economist at Adeleke University, Professor Tayo Bello, believes the ongoing trade tensions should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to intensify its backward integration efforts.

“Trump is enforcing backward integration in America to protect jobs and industries. Nigeria should be doing the same. We have abundant agricultural land, yet we are net importers of food. We have vast crude oil reserves, yet we import refined petroleum products. The government must prioritise self-reliance and local production,” he said.

But chief executive of AntHill Concepts Ltd, Dr. Emeka Okengwu, insists that Nigeria must take advantage of this shift.

“Nobody holds absolute economic power anymore. Even though the U.S. is a dominant force, other economies are adjusting. The BRICS nations, for example, are strengthening their economic ties, and they are already some of the biggest buyers of Nigeria’s crude oil. We should leverage these relationships and move from just exporting raw materials to adding value through local refining and industrial processing,” he said.

A financial economist at Auchi Polytechnic, Zakari Mohammed, sees both risks and opportunities in Trump’s policies.

“A weaker naira could make Nigerian exports more competitive in international markets, but it also makes imports more expensive, increasing inflation. The key for Nigeria is to reduce its import dependency and build a self-sufficient economy. If we fail to do so, global economic disruptions like this will always leave us vulnerable,” he said.

On his part, chief executive of Cowry Assets Management Company, Mr Johnson Chukwu, noted that the tariffs would lead to an increase in the cost of goods and services, because countries are going to build barriers.

“The principle of competitive advantage will be jettisoned and this means everybody will try to produce everything, even when the costs of producing those things in their localities are higher.

“Donald Trump is pushing for improved oil production in the U.S. and he has also said he is going to disrupt the OPEC+ Alliance, and get Saudi Arabia to produce more. When that happens, we should expect crude prices to drop. And because Nigeria doesn’t have capacity to compensate for the drop in terms of increased production, our foreign exchange will slow down.

“Ordinarily, if you can compensate for a drop in price by increasing volume, you will not so much feel the impact but we are not in that position. So what that means is that Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflow will be negatively impacted.”

The director-general of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Sola Obadimu said Nigeria needs to develop its trade policy that will favour and protect the nation as other nations are doing.

“Those in charge of our trade policy should bring out policy that will protect us,” he said.

The vice president of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said by the trade war and violent threats of acquisition of independent countries, the United States of America is dislocating the world’s socio-economic order.

“The tariffs war may eventually provoke global hyperinflation and perhaps lead to recession,” he stated.

Adonri further noted that there is the possibility of a precipitous fall in the price of crude oil amidst this battle, which may batter the Nigerian economy.

“The U.S. is pursuing a covert isolationist policy aimed at revitalising their domestic production capacity.

“The impact of the policy on Nigeria can be very devastating if it adversely affects diaspora remittances and crude oil price. The situation is deteriorating very fast and if Nigeria does not react proactively by domesticating the economy like the U.S. is doing, the consequences may be very dire.”



Opportunities for Nigeria and Other Exporting Nations



While the trade war between the U.S. and its partners presents economic challenges, analysts believe it could create new export opportunities for countries like Nigeria



Speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday, economic sector analyst, Stephen Kanabe said as U.S. tariffs will make goods from China, Mexico, and Canada more expensive, Nigeria can position itself as an alternative supplier, especially in sectors like oil, agricultural products, and manufactured goods.



Companies looking to avoid tariffs may shift production to Nigeria or source raw materials from Nigerian industries, boosting local manufacturing and job creation.



“With disrupted trade flows, Nigerian products (such as crude oil, agricultural exports, and textiles) may become more attractive to U.S. buyers seeking cost-effective alternatives to goods from China, Mexico, and Canada,” he stated.



However, a former member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Professor Michael Obadan, said Nigeria’s level of exports had become quite inconsequential that the country may not be able to tap into the opportunities present in the trade war.



Expressing pessimism on Nigeria’s readiness to exploit any opportunity, he said, “One will expect that if America is reducing its volume of trade with the countries affected in the tariff war, it may want to import from other countries that have not been imposed with such tariffs.



“If Nigeria is a manufacturing country and we have the capacity to manufacture and the goods are similar to the ones tariffed, it would have been an opportunity for Nigeria to increase its volume of exports and earn more foreign exchange.



“Nigeria’s economic environment is hostile to manufacturing because of the reform policies implemented in the last few years. Many manufacturing companies have departed the country, particularly the foreign ones, and those in the country are just struggling to produce. They are producing goods at very, very high cost because the operating environment is very hostile, and such goods are not competitive, even within the country, not to talk of abroad.



“Nigeria is not in a good position to take advantage of any trade opportunity that might be tariff war initiated by America. Nigeria is in a bad shape at the moment in the area of production, particularly production of manufactured goods and agricultural goods. The Trade War involves manufactured goods, mostly, maybe to some extent, agricultural goods.”



Economic analyst Jimoh Solomon Sule suggests that the situation could lead to increased export demand for non-U.S. suppliers, and trade diversion as companies seek alternative sourcing options. Apart from that, he said more foreign direct investment (FDI) will go to countries with strong manufacturing bases.



“Nigeria’s competitiveness could improve as disruptions in global trade force buyers to look for alternative suppliers,” Sule explained.



Crude oil, one of Nigeria’s primary exports, could become a viable alternative for U.S. importers seeking to offset changes in their trade relationships.



Trump Receives Flak



A barrage of condemnations has rained down on United States President Donald Trump following his decision to impose stiff tariffs on imports from neighbouring countries, Mexico and Canada, as well as its largest supplier of goods, China.



According to analysts, Trump’s new tariffs could drive up the prices of everyday goods, from cars and sneakers to tequila and avocados.



Trade between North America and the U.S. hit $1.8 trillion in 2023—far surpassing the $643 billion with China. Trump’s new decision imposes a 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports and 25 percent on those from Mexico and Canada, with a lower 10 percent rate on Canadian energy.



The U.S. imports billions in cars and parts from Canada and Mexico, with vehicles crossing borders multiple times during production. Experts warn a 25 percent tariff could add $3,000 to car prices.



Also, Canada, America’s largest crude oil supplier, ships billions in oil that U.S. refineries rely on. Tariffs could push gas prices up by 30-70 cents per gallon.



The U.S. imports billions in tequila, mezcal, and Canadian whisky. Retaliatory tariffs could further hurt the spirits industry, which already faces a 50% EU tariff on American whiskey. The U.S. buys $85 billion in farm goods from Canada and Mexico, including most imported fruits and vegetables. A 25% tariff would mean pricier groceries, including “guacamole tariffs” just before the Super Bowl.



Past tariff wars led to retaliatory measures on U.S. crops like soybeans and corn, forcing the government to compensate farmers. While Trump delivered aid before, many farmers prefer open markets over government checks.

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