By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Renowned economist, banker and 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has declared his intention to contest for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, positioning himself as a steady hand to lead Nigeria out of its current challenges.
Speaking on Arise Television with Charles Aniagu, Hayatu-Deen said the moment calls for leadership that understands the pains Nigerians are feeling daily and has the experience to fix it.
He pointed to the rising cost of living, noting that “food prices keep going up, petrol prices keep rising, and for many Nigerians, just getting through the day has become a struggle.”
He also raised concerns about worsening insecurity, stating that the country now spends more on ransoms than on properly equipping its security forces, while the Naira continues to weaken against other African currencies.
His words, “This is not the Nigeria we deserve. It is time to change course, and that is why I am stepping forward to seek the ADC presidential ticket.”
Hayatu-Deen criticised what he described as a disconnect between the government and ordinary Nigerians, saying that while families and businesses are under pressure, those in power have failed to respond with urgency.
“For too long, this government has looked away while Nigerians bear the burden of bad policies and rising insecurity,” he said. “We cannot continue like this”, he said.
Hayatu-Deen pledged to present a practical and credible alternative, focused on stabilising the economy, restoring security, and rebuilding trust in public institutions.
“Nigeria needs a calm and steady leader, someone who understands how to fix systems, create jobs, and secure lives and livelihoods. That is the leadership I offer,” he said.
Drawing on over four decades of experience, Hayatu-Deen highlighted his track record of turning around struggling organisations, leading economic reforms that created jobs, attracting investment, and supporting education initiatives, particularly for children affected by insecurity.
He also delivered a direct message to members of the ADC, stressing that unity within the party would be critical to winning in 2027.
According to him, “Our strength lies in our unity. Nigerians are looking for a credible alternative, and the ADC must rise to that moment.
“Together, we can offer a real path forward, one that secures our country, grows our economy, and restores hope to our people”, he said.
Hayatu-Deen concluded with a call for collective action: “Join me. Let us build a Nigeria that works again, for everyone.”
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen is an internationally recognised economist, banker, and industrial turnaround specialist with over four decades of leadership across Nigeria’s public and private sectors. In recognition of his service to the nation, he was conferred with the national honour of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000.
He has earned bipartisan trust across successive administrations, having chaired the Transition Committee on the Economy for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, and served on key national bodies including the Presidential Advisory Council, the National Council on Privatisation, and the National Council of Vision 2010.
As Managing Director/CEO and later Chairman of FSB International Bank Plc from 1990 to 2004, Hayatu-Deen led one of Nigeria’s most successful financial sector transformations, turning a distressed government savings institution into a fully operational commercial bank. The bank’s eventual acquisition by Fidelity Bank Plc contributed to the emergence of one of Nigeria’s top-tier financial institutions.
Earlier in his career, he served as Group Managing Director of the New Nigeria Development Corporation (1983–1988), then the country’s largest diversified industrial holding company, overseeing 145 companies across 19 northern states, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, and securing a $35 million foreign credit line from the European Investment Bank.
Through the Alpine Group, which he founded in 2005, he delivered the landmark Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, a $110 million development that became the first ultra-modern shopping mall in northern Nigeria and one of the largest in West Africa, housing over 50 retail outlets including major international brands.
Hayatu-Deen also served two successful terms as Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group from 2003 to 2007, helping to shape public-private economic dialogue during a critical period of national reform.
A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University with a degree in Economics, he has also completed executive education at leading global institutions including Harvard Business School, London Business School, and INSEAD.
He currently chairs the Renaissance Development Forum, which supports initiatives addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis and post-insurgency reconstruction in Borno State through the Borno Development Foundation.
He also serves in leadership and advisory roles across several prominent organisations, including the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian-German Business Council, Institute of Directors, Nigerian Industries Transparency Initiative, World Economic Forum, Corporate Council on Africa, Africa Business Round Table, and the West Africa Business Association.
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