SOFO – News And Events As It Happen

Category: News

  • H-Medix vs Max Health Abuja’s Pharmacy Monopoly Battle Draws FCCPC Into Legal Spotlight

    H-Medix vs Max Health Abuja’s Pharmacy Monopoly Battle Draws FCCPC Into Legal Spotlight

    A major legal drama is unfolding in Abuja as H-Medix Pharmacy, Max Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) become entangled in a high-stakes court case over alleged monopoly, unfair competition, and regulatory bias in Nigeria’s retail pharmacy industry, SOFO.ng can confirm.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 12, 2026, for hearing all filings related to the multi-million naira lawsuit initiated by Max Health Limited, a growing pharmacy chain challenging what it calls “unfair market dominance” by H-Medix.

    The Case at a Glance

    Max Health is seeking a court injunction to stop the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) from approving new H-Medix outlets in Abuja. The company alleges that H-Medix’s rapid expansion—now exceeding 11 mega outlets—has disrupted the local pharmaceutical market and stifled smaller competitors.

    According to court filings, Max Health argues that H-Medix’s unique business model, which combines pharmacy, supermarket, bakery, and household goods under one roof, gives it an unfair commercial advantage, attracting massive customer traffic and pushing independent pharmacies to the brink.

    The suit lists several key defendants, including:

    • Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)
    • Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN)
    • Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)
    • Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
    • H-Medix Pharmacy Limited

    H-Medix Responds: “We Operate Within the Law”

    Represented by Fredrick Itula (SAN), H-Medix has denied all allegations of monopolistic conduct. The pharmacy chain insists it operates legally within regulatory boundaries and currently employs over 100 licensed pharmacists across its Abuja locations.

    In its counterclaim, H-Medix describes Max Health’s suit as “an attempt to weaponize regulation for market advantage.” The company has filed a ₦150 million countersuit against Max Health, seeking damages and a public apology in three national newspapers for what it calls a deliberate attempt to tarnish its brand reputation.

    FCCPC’s Position: Investigation Still Ongoing

    Responding to the lawsuit, the FCCPC acknowledged receiving Max Health’s complaint but clarified that the matter remains under preliminary investigation.

    The Commission emphasized that it cannot stop any business expansion unless there’s clear evidence of competition law violations under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

    It also questioned Max Health’s legal standing, arguing that not all market grievances meet the threshold for anti-competition claims.

    Presiding judge Justice Obiora Egwatu ordered the FCCPC to serve all defence documents to the relevant parties before the next hearing. The court will reconvene on January 12, 2026, to address all pending filings and motions.

    The outcome of this case could set a legal precedent in how Nigeria interprets competition, dominance, and consumer fairness — particularly within the pharmacy and retail health sector, which has grown more consolidated over the past decade.

    Why This Case Matters

    This legal battle is more than a corporate feud — it’s a test of Nigeria’s regulatory maturity in balancing free-market enterprise with consumer protection.

    As pharmacy chains like H-Medix and Max Health race to dominate urban markets, regulators face growing pressure to define what counts as “fair competition” in a liberalizing economy.

    If the court rules in favor of Max Health, it could slow down the expansion of integrated pharmacy-supermarket models in Nigeria. But if H-Medix prevails, it could open the door for more multi-service retail pharmacies nationwide.

  • FG Considers Sale of State-Owned Refineries to Attract Investors, Challenge Dangote’s Market Dominance

    Abuja, Nigeria — November 5, 2025 | SOFO.ng News Desk

    Nigeria’s Federal Government is weighing a major policy shift that could reshape the country’s oil and gas industry — the sale or partial privatization of its state-owned refineries — as part of efforts to attract private investors and create competition in a market increasingly dominated by the Dangote Refinery.

    Officials familiar with the ongoing discussions say the move aims to reposition the nation’s refining assets in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna as viable investment opportunities, while easing the government’s financial burden from years of costly but underperforming rehabilitation projects.

    Privatization on the Table

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) recently hinted that divesting government stakes in these refineries is under consideration, given the persistent challenges in restoring them to optimal performance.

    Despite billions spent on repairs and turnaround maintenance, the facilities have remained largely idle, forcing Nigeria to depend heavily on fuel imports — a situation the government now seeks to correct through private-sector-led participation.

    Labour unions, including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have echoed similar calls, urging the Federal Government to sell majority stakes to credible investors who can inject capital, technology, and efficiency into the refining sector.

    A Subtle Challenge to Dangote’s Dominance

    The government’s move is seen by industry observers as a strategic counterbalance to Dangote Group’s growing market influence, following the launch of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which now dominates Nigeria’s refining landscape with a processing capacity of over 650,000 barrels per day.

    While the Dangote Refinery promises to meet domestic fuel demand and drive exports, stakeholders fear it could also create a monopoly effect — concentrating too much power in one private entity’s hands.

    “The government wants a diversified downstream sector,” said an Abuja-based energy analyst. “Selling the old refineries to credible investors could inject new competition and stabilize pricing long-term.”

    Investment and Real Estate Implications

    Beyond energy supply, the potential sale of these refineries opens a new chapter for industrial land and infrastructure investment. Each of the facilities — particularly those in Warri and Port Harcourt — sits on massive tracts of strategically located land, offering potential for logistics hubs, tank farms, modular refineries, and industrial estate redevelopment.

    Experts believe that once privatized, these assets could attract billions in foreign direct investment (FDI) and spur regional real estate growth, particularly in host communities that have long suffered from unemployment and poor infrastructure.

    Balancing Efficiency and Public Interest

    However, critics caution against hasty sales, warning that privatization without transparency could lead to asset stripping or new forms of monopoly.

    Energy policy expert Dr. Tunde Akinola urged the government to design a “competitive but transparent bidding process” to ensure that only investors with technical and financial capacity acquire the assets.

    “The focus shouldn’t just be to sell,” Akinola said. “It should be to reform — to bring efficiency, jobs, and fair pricing. Otherwise, we may simply replace one monopoly with another.”

    What Happens Next

    The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is expected to submit a policy recommendation to the Federal Executive Council before the end of Q1 2026, outlining the framework for refinery divestment, including investor selection criteria and timelines.

    If approved, the sale could mark Nigeria’s most significant energy sector reform since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021.

    As the government seeks to balance economic liberalization with public interest, the outcome of this decision could redefine not only Nigeria’s refining future — but also its broader industrial and real estate landscape.

    FG considers selling state-owned refineries to attract private investors and challenge Dangote’s dominance in Nigeria’s energy market.

  • Makinde: From National Symbol to Continental Trailblazer

    When leaders of Africa’s sub-national governments gathered in Abuja for the second African Sub-sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Conference on September 30, 2022, one message echoed through the hall: Africa’s sub-nationals must rise and own the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

    The event, hosted by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), brought together all 36 Nigerian governors and senior officials from regions, provinces, and states across the continent. Its goal was clear — to ensure that AfCFTA’s benefits reached every African community.

    Presiding over the opening session, former President Muhammadu Buhari described sub-national participation as vital for Africa to “carve its niche in the global value chain from the constituent units up.” He noted that collaboration among local governments could accelerate inclusive growth for the continent’s 1.4 billion people.

    In his remarks, then Afreximbank President, Professor Benedict Oramah, emphasized that while trade policies are often national, their implementation is inherently local. “Regional and local governments must be involved if the AfCFTA is to deliver its full potential,” he said.

    That call was made three years ago. Yet, of the 591 sub-national governments across Africa, only one—Oyo State, Nigeria—has successfully launched its own AfCFTA Implementation Strategy. And at the centre of that achievement is Governor Seyi Makinde, whose foresight continues to shape not only his state’s destiny but also Africa’s trade future.

    A Vision Rooted in Global Ambition

    For Makinde, economic growth cannot thrive on local consumption alone. His belief in export-led industrialization has guided Oyo’s development model—an approach that drives innovation, attracts investment, and opens up global markets for local entrepreneurs.

    At the 2024 Oyo State International Trade Fair, EXPOYO 2024, he reaffirmed this vision:

    “We must shift from import substitution to export orientation. Our goal is to produce here and sell to the world. That’s how we’ll earn foreign exchange and build an economy that works for everyone.”

    His words resonated with the essence of AfCFTA — a single continental market linking 1.4 billion Africans with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. Makinde understood early that Oyo’s farmers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs could only unlock that opportunity through a localized implementation of the AfCFTA framework.

    📸 #SOFO Photospeak: Governor Seyi Makinde with H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, during his visit to the AfCFTA Headquarters in Accra, Ghana, to submit Oyo State’s post-launch engagement report.

    Turning Vision into Strategy

    Shortly after beginning his second term, Governor Makinde appointed Ms. Neo Theodore Tlhaselo, an international trade expert and CEO of Conversation with Africa, as Special Adviser on International Trade and AfCFTA. Her mandate: to design and domesticate Oyo’s AfCFTA Implementation Strategy.

    By December 2024, Oyo State hosted a consultative forum at the University of Ibadan, where Makinde outlined seven strategic sectors the state would leverage under AfCFTA — including agribusiness, agro-processing, logistics, SME development, tourism, and infrastructure.

    “Since 2019, agribusiness has been a key driver of our economy,” the governor said. “With crops like cocoa, cassava, maize, and cashew, we have the capacity to become a major exporter within Africa.”

    From Ibadan to Accra — Oyo Takes the Lead

    In early 2025, Makinde visited the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, making Oyo the first sub-national leader ever hosted by the body. His proactive engagement paid off. By June, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene reciprocated with a visit to Oyo State to explore partnerships and opportunities.

    That collaboration culminated on September 12, 2025, when Mene officially launched the Oyo State Sub-national AfCFTA Implementation Strategy in Ibadan — a first for any sub-national government in Africa.

    “AfCFTA is not a distant dream but a present-day opportunity,” Mene said during the launch. “Governor Makinde’s leadership proves that African states can take ownership of continental prosperity from the ground up.”

    Oyo State completed its post-launch engagement in October 2025, formally submitting documentation to be listed as an official party to the AfCFTA agreement.

    Trailblazing Across Sectors

    Makinde’s leadership has repeatedly rewritten the rulebook for governance in Nigeria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while most states enforced total lockdowns, he opted for a data-driven, balanced approach — keeping markets and farms open while enforcing health protocols. Though criticized at first, his strategy later became a national model.

    He was also the first Nigerian governor to institutionalize agribusiness as a government policy, establishing the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and building the Fasola Agro-Industrial Hub, now designated by the African Development Bank as Nigeria’s first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.

    Today, Fasola hosts multinational firms and has attracted visits from officials of over 16 Nigerian states and five African nations — including Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who came to study the model for his country’s Feed Salone Initiative.

    Reforming Health, Education, and Markets

    In February 2025, Oyo State broke new ground again by launching a health insurance scheme for 10,000 public school pupils — the first of its kind among Nigerian sub-nationals. The initiative ensures that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality healthcare.

    Oyo also became the first African sub-national admitted into the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM), a global body promoting food system innovation and sustainability. To follow up, the state signed an agreement with Semmaris, operators of the Rungis International Market in France, to develop a modern agri-food market in Ijaiye, Ibadan.

    “This market will be world-class — reducing post-harvest losses, empowering farmers, and connecting Oyo to continental supply chains,” Makinde said.

    From Pace Setter to Pan-African Model

    Over the years, Makinde has earned a reputation as Nigeria’s “Pace Setter Governor.” But with Oyo’s admission into AfCFTA and WUWM, he has extended that legacy beyond Nigeria’s borders — positioning the state as a continental model for innovation, inclusion, and forward-thinking governance.

    Makinde’s leadership is no longer just national. It’s continental — a testament to how vision, courage, and collaboration can turn one state’s ambition into Africa’s shared future.

  • “Nigeria Will Host Commonwealth Games One Day” – Tinubu Assures

    “Nigeria Will Host Commonwealth Games One Day” – Tinubu Assures

    Nigeria President, Bola Tinubu has described the country’s bid to host 2030 Commonwealth Games as a “dream” that must become reality.

    In a post on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu noted that no African nation has ever hosted the Games.

    He said: “It is time for Africa. After 100 years of the Commonwealth Games, they have never been hosted on African soil.

    “By bringing the Commonwealth Centenary Games to Nigeria in 2030, you will send a powerful message that every region of the Commonwealth matters, and that Africa is not only part of the story, but central to its future.

    ” Nigeria is the gateway. Africa is the stage. The Commonwealth is the family. Let us make history together in 2030. Let us complete the circle of Commonwealth unity. The dream must be realized. The time is now.”

    He said bringing the 2030 edition to Nigeria would send a powerful message that Africa is vital to the future of the Commonwealth.

    Nigeria is scheduled to present its final bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games before the event’s evaluation committee on Wednesday.

    The Nigerian delegation is led by Shehu Dikko, President of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), alongside the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade.

    In support of Nigeria’s bid to host the event, President Tinubu declared, “It’s time for Africa,” and urged the Commonwealth to “complete the circle of unity.”

    The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, primarily featuring countries that are former territories of the United Kingdom.