By Akinwale Kasali
Nigerian Entrepreneur and investment Banker, Atedo Peterside, has dropped a bombshell. He is accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of favouritism in the administration’s business and financial policy. He alleged sentimental attachment, skewed to favour some, at the expense of others.
Peterside joined the league of other Nigerians who are kicking against the Federal Government’s decision to grant only Dangote cement access to export and import items across the borders that have been closed for about a year now.
The Federal government closed borders with neighboring countries including Benin Republic and Niger Republic to curb smuggling and boost local production.
It would be reclled that Bloomberg reports that the Buhari administration has given its authorization for Africa’s biggest producer to export cement to Niger Republic and Togo in the third quarter for the first time in ten months.
Reacting to the development via his Twitter handle, Peterside said such a move is why some Nigerians argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favor of a handful of well-connected persons.
”Allowing legitimate exporters & importers to move their goods across the border should be a no-brainer. Why refuse everybody else & allow only one company (Dangote)? This is why some of us argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favour of a handful of well-connected persons”.
The issue addressed by Peterside has been at the front burner of discourse, with economic, business and political observers demanding to know the rationale behind the decision of the Federal Government policies, allegedly, favouring Aliko Dangote and the likes at the expense of others.
However, Dangote cement may not be only company enjoying that privilege. Allegation is that BUA cement enjoys same privilege from the Federal Government.
