HOW ATIKU START EM BUSINESS WITH LOAN OF N31,000 BECAME A BUSINESS TYCOON

Atiku start out for the real estate business during em early days as a Customs Officer.


 For 1974 he apply for and receive 31,000 naira loan to build em first house for Yola, which he put up for rent. From proceeds of the rent he purchase another plot, kon build a second house. He continue this way, building a sizeable portfolio of property for Yola.

For 1981 he move into agriculture, acquiring 2,500 hectares of land near Yola to start a maize and cotton farm. The business fall on hard times and close for 1986.
 "My first foray into agriculture, in the 1980s, ended in failure," he write for April 2014.

He then venture into trading, buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar.
His most important business move come while he be Customs Officer for the Apapa Ports. Gabrielle Volpi, an Italian businessman for Nigeria, invite him to set up Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), a logistics company operating within the Ports. NICOTES go on to provide immense wealth to Atiku.

Conflict of interest accusations don since trail him on account of em involvement for business while a civil servant, wey exercise supervisory authority.

On em part, Atiku defende the decision, saying em involvement dey limited to the ownership of shares (which government rules permitted), and say he no dey involve for the day-to-day running of the business. NICOTES would later be rebrande as INTELS.

Atiku's business empire also include a beverage manufacturing plant for Yola, as well as an animal feed factory.