In a significant gathering at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today. The meeting saw the presence of prominent figures including Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The NEC meeting, which is held monthly, serves as a platform for the coordination of economic planning efforts and programs across various levels of government. This session was particularly notable due to the attendance of Dangote and Gates, who are influential figures in global business and philanthropy.

Governors from several states, including Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, were also present. The meeting aimed to review the nation’s economic policies and address pressing issues such as the recent fuel price increase.

Bill Gates’ presence underscores his foundation’s ongoing commitment to Africa’s development, while Aliko Dangote’s participation follows the recent announcement of petrol production commencement at the Dangote refinery. The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is expected to supply 25 million liters of petrol daily starting this month.

The NEC meeting is a crucial forum for discussing and shaping Nigeria’s economic future, and today’s session highlighted the collaborative efforts of government officials and private sector leaders in addressing the nation’s economic challenges.