On Thursday, the federal government debunked news about the shutdown of the Microsoft Africa Development Centre in Lagos State, News About Nigeria reports.
According to reports, about 200 employees risk losing their jobs following the closure of the Lagos Centre.
Following the spread of the report, there have been various reactions from Nigerians who are accusing the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of further destroying the economy through the closure of the centre.
In a post on X, the presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, also stated that Microsoft’s exit from Nigeria is deeply troubling.
According to him, the shocking development calls for urgent, comprehensive economic reforms in Nigeria.
Reacting to the news, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Temitope Ajayi, explained that the report about the shutdown of Microsoft in Nigeria was fake and unfounded.
In a post on X, Ajayi noted that Microsoft was only, “re-aligning roles” within its business and not leaving Nigeria.
He slammed Obi for commenting on the issue without proper investigation, adding that Obi is always looking for opportunities to criticise Tinubu’s government.
He said, “The story that Microsoft is shutting down its Nigeria office is not true. Africa Development Centre is just a department within Microsoft business in Nigeria. Contrary to incorrect media reports and @PeterObi’s naked dance, the Africa Development Centre is also not shutting down.
“Microsoft, like any other organisation, is only re-aligning roles within the business, and a few roles will certainly be impacted. Affected staff, which are less than 30, will be asked to apply for new roles within Microsoft – a standard practice within the organisation. Those who can’t find new roles in other departments or those who want to seek new opportunities outside the system will be asked to go. The situation at Microsoft is not anywhere near the impression of the ‘earthquake’ that Peter Obi sensationally described.”
