Civil War Fought to Unite Nigeria, Not to Defeat Any Part, Gowon Insists
Tinubu, Jonathan, Osinbajo, Katsina, Niger govs, CDS
Olawale Ajimotokan and Linus Aleke in Abuja
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) yesterday insisted that the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970 was fought to keep the country together and not a question of defeating any part of the country.
This is just as President Bola Tinubu, represented by his wife, Senator Oluremi; former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda; his Niger State counterpart, Umaru Bago; and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday extended felicitations to the former Head of State on the momentous occasion of his 90th birthday.
Speaking at the 90th birthday thanksgiving service held in his honour at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Gowon, who was
WELCOME BACK, MR PRESIDENT…
Wale Edun; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje,
Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Minister of the
Capital
Nyesom Wike, has stated that he will continue to be a problem to the camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
welcoming President Bola Tinubu
US Offers $10m Reward for Information on Russian Election Interference
The United States State Department has offered a reward of up to $10million for information leading to any foreign person or entity engaging in election interference, it said just weeks before Americans select their next president.
An announcement from the department’s Rewards for Justice programme specifically singled out Russian media organization, Rybar LLC, which it said used social
media to “sow discord, promote social division, stoke partisan and racial discord, and encourage hate and violence in the United States.”
There was no immediate reaction from Rybar or Russian authorities.
The State Department said Rybar had established a channel on the X platform called “TexasvsUSA,” and used it ahead of the US election to exploit the issue of undocumented immigrants crossing the Texas border.
It said Rybar also used social media channels #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS to spread pro-Russian propaganda.
Rybar, it asserted, receives funding from Russian defence industrial organization, Rostec, which the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against in 2022.
“Rybar relies on the connections and funding from Rostec to bolster Russia’s military capabilities and
advance pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives,” the announcement said. It encouraged anyone with relevant knowledge - particularly regarding nine named individuals it said helped carry out Rybar’s “malign influence operations” over the US election - to contact the Rewards for Justice tipline.
Rybar operates a channel on the Telegram platform that is popular among the pro-Ukraine-war hardliners
of Russia’s “Z community” - with 1.3 million followers.
It was co-founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a one-time member of Russia’s Spetsnaz special forces and former Defense Ministry employee, who has been under European Union sanctions since June 2023.
Offering daily reports on battlefield developments in Ukraine, he has become one of the most famous and influential Russian military bloggers.
CIVIL WAR FOUGHT TO UNITE NIGERIA, NOT TO DEFEAT ANY PART, GOWON INSISTS
accompanied to the service by his wife, Victoria, said the war was fought to unite the country as one entity and ensure the re-integration of the Eastern Region with the rest of the country.
"We fought an unfortunate civil war to keep the country together and, in the end, we did it as one. Yes, it is not a question of a defeat of any part of the country, but to ensure that, yes, they are back in the country.
"And it's Nigeria that really won in the end: Nigeria was the victor and not any part of Nigeria over the other. I thank God for that. We must continue as one Nigeria and make Nigeria great," Gowon said.
The former head of state from 1966 to 1975, thanked Nigerians for celebrating the milestone with him and admitted that his achievements during the restive era were not his doing but one made possible through the support of all.
"I thank you for the support given to me, the prayers, and for the peace and stability of the country. And for the good people of Nigeria, we did our best and I can assure you as l said that the support of the people encouraged me to go ahead," Gowon said.
He also said the G-O-W-O-N acronyms in his name indeed inferred "Go On With One Nigeria as coined by the Observer newspaper published during the civil war was one of the reasons that emboldened and reinforced his determination to ensure Nigeria was kept together.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Jonathan; former Vice President, Osinbajo, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss
Mustapha.
Also speaking at the event, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who represented President Bola Tinubu thanked Gowon for his dignity and patriotism for the nation, including his infectious love for the country.
She admitted that she was a little girl of six years old when Gowon became Head of State in 1966.
She noted that the general was destined by God to be an exemplary leader of good in a world of cynicism.
"Your life of simplicity, humility, grace, dignity, and patriotism to our nation gives us hope that Nigeria is all we have," she said.
Jonathan described Gowon as a peace ambassador and someone gifted with leadership at a young age.
On his part, Osinbajo said Gowon embodied all that is expected of leadership, fear of God, humility, honesty, integrity, and respect for the people.
"And we have also seen that after leaving office in later years, he kept not just being a responsible elder statesman but was going around the country with the gospel of Jesus Christ," Osinbajo said.
The thanksgiving service was also attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
In his goodwill message, Governor Radda described Gowon as a distinguished elder statesman whose commitment to Nigeria’s unity, particularly during the challenging period of the Civil War, continues to inspire generations of Nigerians.
“The governor particularly commends General Gowon’s post-war reconciliation policy of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished,’ which he notes was instrumental in healing
the nation’s wounds and fostering the reintegration that followed the civil war,” he said.
He prayed for General Gowon’s continued good health and divine grace.
On his part, Bago congratulated Gowon, describing him as a symbol of humility, unity, and patriotism.
He recalled the remarkable leadership Gowon offered to the nation, where he initiated and implemented policies for peace-
building and unity of the country.
The governor said Gowon had written his name in gold and posterity would be kind to him. He prayed for God to keep him in good health and grant him more wisdom for the benefit of humanity.
Also, the CDS, Gen. Musa celebrated General Gowon on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), saying that as Nigeria's Head of State from 1966 to 1975, he played a key role in promoting
SUPPORT FOR TINUBU
presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obi’s spokesman, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, however, said Obi and his media team will not dignify Wike with a response.
Wike said Atiku's supporters believed he fought against his presidential ambition, stressing that he was only seeking fairness, justice, and equity.
Speaking at the event, Wike said Nigerians had rejected Atiku and mocked him for losing the 2023 presidential election.
"If you say for an election we did not contest, never participated in, that it shows Nigerians have rejected us, fine. You that contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you; so, pack up and go home.”
Wike said: "All these things you are seeing by Atiku's group, Peter Obi's group, and some PDP governors that believe that I am a problem to them. And I will continue to be a problem to them.
"In fact, the Atiku's group believes that my team and I stopped them from becoming president. We stopped injustice. What we wanted was equity, fairness, and justice," Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor also declared that he has no regret
in supporting and ensuring the emergence of Tinubu as president.
"In fact, most of you do not understand the fight that is going on. Do you think it is these people here? No.
"Let me tell you what is going on; I have no regret at all, and we have no regret at all for supporting President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have no regret about it."
He also tackled Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for allegedly casting aspersion on the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. OCJ Okocha (SAN).
The FCT minister expressed disappointment that Fubara, who was also recognised as his godson before they fell out over political disagreement, insulted the former Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, Sergeant Awuse, and Chief Ferdinand Anabraba.
Describing Awuse, Anabraba, and Okocha as "three wise men," Wike stated that the men sacrificed to ensure that Fubara was chosen and made governor of Rivers State.
The FCT minister noted that last Thursday, one of the “wise men”,
and maintaining Nigeria's peace and unity despite all the challenges of the period.
A statement by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau quoted Musa as saying that in recognition of Gowon’s numerous contributions to the country, the AFN honours his enduring legacy.
"Indeed, General Gowon's exemplary service and leadership have left an indelible mark in the
Okocha, was insulted by the governor in the state.
He said: "On Thursday, another "wise man" (referring to OCJ Okocha), was insulted. When the ‘wise man’ was called to the Bar, this man (Fubara) was not in primary school. This man (Fubara) insulted a PhD holder.
"I am happy, I am not the only one this man (Fubara) has shown ingratitude. He has shown ingratitude to the ‘wise men,” Wike said.
He added: "One of the ‘wise men’ (Awuse) was removed as the Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council when he was in a coma; when he was looking for support for help."
The minister recalled that some time ago, Fubara, had on national television, described the three aforementioned people as wise men, who stood for his emergence as governor of the state.
"The wise men are now turned upside down. Yes, he also turned them upside down. It is unfortunate in life. If you are a bad man, you are a bad man," Wike added.
FCT Minister Bitter for Losing PDP Presidential
NERC, TCN BLAME THIRD POWER GRID COLLAPSE IN ONE WEEK ON TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION IN JEBBA
private investors to ramp up electricity generation in Nigeria.
Nigeria's single electricity grid suffered another breakdown yesterday morning, the third of such collapses last week, plunging the whole nation into total darkness.
In a statement issued after the incident by its Public Affairs, General Manager, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN said that the activation system was activated, prompting the busbars to curtail the explosion, thereby preventing an outbreak of fire and further damage to adjacent equipment.
She said: “According to the report from the NCC, the bus section of a current transformer exploded at 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation, and as expected, the protection system was activated, and this promptly opened the busbars to curtail the explosion, thereby preventing an outbreak of fire and further damage to adjacent equipment.”
Describing the situation as a temporary disturbance, she said: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that the national grid experienced a temporary disturbance at about 8:15am, today, 19th October 2024.”
According to the statement, the action of the protection system led to a temporary disturbance on the grid.
TCN said: “Our engineers at Jebba have successfully carried out switching, isolating the faulty current transformer.
“They have equally reconfigured the busbar arrangement, restoring power supply to the station, and other parts of the grid.”
The TCN had on Friday announced that two towers along its 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines one and two had been vandalised, damaging parts of both transmission lines.
According to reports from the Shiroro Regional office of TCN, the 330kV transmission line one tripped first, followed shortly by the second.
In a similar development, NERC has also attributed yesterday’s collapse of the national grid to an explosion of a transformer.
According to a statement issued, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.
“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of
a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load,” NERC said.
Furthermore, NERC stated that finding a lasting solution to the frequent grid collapses remains the commission's top priority.
The commission further noted that in line with the Electricity Act of 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator (ISO) function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc was ongoing.
It expressed optimism that the establishment of an independent System Operator will promote greater discipline in grid management and encourage optimized infrastructure investments.
The regulatory authority also announced plans to conduct an investigative public hearing to identify both the immediate and underlying causes of recurring grid disturbances and widespread outages.
“In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing to identify immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages.
“The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate,” NERC stated.
The latest collapse marks the eighth grid failure in 2024, with three occurring within the past week.
Nnaji Seeks Return of Power Purchase Agreements to Boost Generation
In a related development, a former Minister of Power, Professor Nnaji, has called on the federal government to resume the signing of PPAs to ramp up electricity generation in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria currently has about 13,000-megawatt nameplate capacity but generates only about 5,000MW due to some factors that include insufficient natural gas availability for the country’s gas-fired plants, which account for 80 per cent of national grid electricity.
Nnaji told a forum of professionals involved in the electricity value chain, at a large meeting organised by the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie law firm in Lagos on Friday that without the resumption of the PPAs, “it will
In April 2024, Zvinchuk announced the opening of a “Rybar Media School” in Serbia, saying on Telegram: “We have long studied the West’s approaches to waging information warfare against us.
“Now is the moment to apply our knowledge and teach our associates the right approaches,” he said, adding that this was “just the beginning” of this propaganda strategy in Western countries.
history of Nigeria. It is on record that his vision and commitment to peace and national reconciliation since his famous speech 'no victor, no vanquish' at the end of Nigeria's civil war have contributed greatly to a stable and prosperous Nigeria. As a detribalised Nigerian and peace ambassador, it is worthy to mention that Gowon has sustained his good work to humanity through his NGO, the Yakubu Gowon Foundation,” he said.
Primary, Says Atiku
Reacting to Wike’s comments, Atiku’s spokesman, Mr. Paul Ibe said Nigerians were well acquainted with his antics, which is a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat in the 2022 presidential primary of PDP.
“Mr. Wike's comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: His priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities,” Ibe said.
Ibe said Atiku was focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians, adding that Wike was more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by Nigerians. Also reacting, Obi’s spokesman, Dr. Tanko Yunusa said Obi and the Peter Obi Media Team will not dignify Wike with a response.
“But let him know that time will tell. Time is the ultimate judge,” he added.
be very difficult for any investor to provide money for grid power generation.
He said the PPAs “provide comfort to investors,” citing the example of the 450MW Azura power plant in Edo State, which cost about $900million to build.
“Creditors were able to provide the long-term funds because of the Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) provided in 2012”, he said.
Nnaji was the power minister in 2012 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He highlighted that no new power plant had been built by any private sector investor in Nigeria since the suspension of the PPAs in 2015.
He recalled that ExxonMobil and General Electric of the United States, which has been trying to develop a thermal plant of 1,000MW in Aba in partnership with Geometric Power, have since paused action on the projects after spending hundreds of millions of dollars.
Nnaji also spoke on the “great urgency to address the paralysing supply gas crisis bedeviling the country.”
According to him, “a situation where Nigeria, the world’s 9th largest gas country, cannot provide gas for domestic consumption is not
justifiable.”
The former distinguished engineering professor in the United States observed that the challenges in the power sector “is, to a large extent, a reflection of the broader economic crisis in Nigeria”, advising the political class to embrace patriotism to solve the problems.
“When I was the Minister of Science and Technology in 1993”, he recalled, “all government officials and government establishments were using locally assembled Peugeot vehicles, which provided thousands of citizens and businesses with direct and indirect jobs.
“Government officials in the United States, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, and other places use only vehicles manufactured in their countries.
“At Geometric Power, we made it a policy to patronise only locally produced vehicles like Innoson and Peugeot, just as we use Cutix and Coleman wires and cables made in Nnewi, Anambra State, and Arepo, Ogun State, respectively,” Nnaji explained.
Also, a former engineer with Texas Power and Light, United States of America, Mr. Cliff Eneh, clarified that it would cost between $1.3 million and $1.5 million to build just a one-megawatt gas plant.
To Curb Excess Liquidity, Zenith Bank, Eight Other Banks’ Cash Reserves with CBN Rise to N15.5tn
Zenith Bank Plc and six other Nigerian banks' cash reserves surged to N15.5 trillion in the half year ended June 2024, representing a substantial increase of nearly 11.4 per cent from N13.9 trillion reported in the 2023 financial year, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sustained its aggressive monetary tightening.
The other eight banks are Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), FBN Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Fidelity Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, and Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is a specified minimum fraction of the total deposits of customers, which commercial banks have to hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with the central bank.
The jump in CRR of these seven banks comes in response to the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) efforts to contain rising inflation and curtail excessive liquidity in the financial system.
In the period under review, Zenith Bank declared N4.14 trillion mandatory reserve deposits with the central bank (about six per cent increase from N3.9trillion reported in 2023FY), while UBA announced N2.992 trillion mandatory deposit with CBN as of June 2024, a growth
of 13 per cent from N2.66trillion reported in 2023 FY.
On its part, FBN Holdings, announced N2.85 trillion mandatory reserve deposits with CBN as of June 30, 2024, about a 35 per cent increase from N2.11 trillion, while GTCO reported N1.78 trillion mandatory reserve deposits with the central bank as of June 2024, an increase of 8.3 per cent from N1.65 trillion.
GTCO in a presentation to investors and analysts said, “On the back of the increase in Naira deposits and modification to CRR determinants by Bank of Ghana (BOG), total sterilised funds (SF) grew by 8.3per cent to N1.782trillion in H1 2024 from N1.647trillion in 2023, CRR and the Statutory Liquidity Ratio balances with CBN represented 99per cent of this sum, closing at N1.732trillionn and N50.6billion, respectively.
“Consequently, CRR ratio to Naira deposits closed at 43.3 per cent in H1 2024 from 42per cent in 2023, a 1.7per cent (170bps) shy of the harmonised CRR of 45per cent advised by the CBN,” the bank said.
FCMB Group announced N974.62 billion as of June 2024, a significant increase of 25.5 per cent from the N776.5billion reported in 2023FY; Fidelity Bank reported N982.56billion mandatory deposit with CBN as of June 2024, nearly four per cent higher than the N945.04billion reported in 2023FY and Wema Bank revealed N707.47 billion restricted deposit
Gbajabiamila: Nigerians will Reap Fruits of Tinubu’s Labour Soon
The President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday, said the Nigerians should expect to reap the fruits of President Bola Tinubu’s labour over the past 17 months.
Gbajabiamila argued that a “well-rested” Tinubu is poised to get the country to a “cruising altitude.”
The Chief of Staff said this upon the president’s return to Abuja last night from a two-week working leave in the United Kingdom and France.
“He’s back to continue from where he left off in terms of putting policies in place and making sure things are done right, making sure we’re going in the right direction.
“He’s the captain of the plane, and he’s working to get to a cruising level, which is precisely where we’re going. And in a matter
of time, Nigerians will begin to see the fruits of his labour and our labour.
“Let’s all be expectant and hopeful, and we’ve been living the renewed hope, and Mr. President is back in Nigeria to continue the good work he’s doing,” he explained.
Gbajabiamila further explained that the president needed some rest from work.
“The kind of work he’s been doing in the last year and a half requires some rest, and he was gone, and he’s back now, and he’s well rested, rejuvenated
“It was even just a working holiday anyway, so he was working and resting at the same time. Now that he’s back in Nigeria, all hands are back on deck, and he’s ready to go.”
with CBN as of June 2024, about 41 per cent increase from N503.3billion reported in 2023FY.
In addition, Sterling Financial announced N578.95billion mandatory deposit with CBN as of June 2024, about 29 per cent increase from N447.7billion reported in 2023, and Stanbic IBTC alsoN493.8billion mandatory deposit with the apex bank as of June 2024, a decline of 47 per cent from N928billion reported in 2023FY.
At its most recent MPC meeting, the committee raised the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 50per cent from 32.5per cent it closed last year, a clear indication of the apex bank’s determination to mop up excess liquidity from the banking sector.
Also, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) or interest rate was raised by 850 basis points this year to 27.25 per cent from 18.75 per cent it closed in 2023, signalling a continuation of its tightening cycle.
At the last MPC meeting, the governor of CBN, Mr. Yemi Cardoso raised the CRR for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) by 500 basis points to 50 per cent from 45 per cent and Merchant Banks by 200 basis points to 16 per cent from 14 per cent.
Since taking office, Cardoso has relied heavily on the CRR to manage liquidity, drive up reserves, and temper inflationary pressures.
The CRR, which stood at 27.5 per cent in September 2022, was
first increased to 32.5per cent under the previous leadership.
However, it wasn’t until Cardoso’s first MPC meeting in February 2024 that the CRR was sharply raised to 45per cent, with further increments pushing it to 50per cent in August 2024.
In addition, the March 2024 MPC meeting saw an increase in the CRR for Merchant Banks, from 10per cent to 14per cent.
The CBN’s policies come in response to the twin challenges of the inflation rate and unstable naira at the foreign exchange market.
Nigeria’s inflation rate remains persistently high at 32.15per cent as of August 2024, driven by structural inefficiencies, global price pressures,
and volatile energy costs.
Stakeholders have voiced concerns over the impact of these aggressive CRR hikes. With the CRR now at 50per cent, banks are compelled to lock half of their customer deposits at the CBN, where they earn no interest.
Yet, they continue to pay interest on the full 100per cent of deposits they receive.
Speaking with THISDAY, the Chairman of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Boniface Okezie, said that shareholders have been calling on the CBN to pay interest to these banks' restricted deposits, stressing the negative impact on robust dividend payout.
Nigeria Has Become Burial Ground for Policies, Says Obasanjo
James Emejo in Abuja
Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo yesterday declared that Nigeria has become a burial ground for policies, which makes the nation always take two steps forward and three steps backward.
The former president insisted that Nigeria is not short on policies to achieve greatness but regretted that the country has over time become a “burial ground of policies as a result of unimplemented and unexecuted policies”.
Obasanjo said: “It is not enough for leaders to have policies or make statements. We are not short of
policies in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigeria has become a burial ground of policies that are either unimplemented or unexecuted.
“Those who make progress achieved progress, not based on wishing to make progress, but on taking actions. They do not take two steps forward and three steps backward.
“Regrettably this is what we are doing in every aspect of our national life. And as long as we are doing things this way, progress will elude us. Let us carry the ones we can carry, we cannot be a jack of all trades and master of none.”
Obasanjo was Special Guest of
Honour at the Olusegun Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, during the 8th Brig. Gen. (rtd) Micheal Agu Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards.
The annual lecture and awards were organised under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s 21 years in space 2003-2024: Achievements, challenges, and prospects.’
The former president was presented an award as Grand Commander of Nigerian Space Exploration by organisers of the event.
He said when the National Space
Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) was established by his administration, over 100 Nigerian engineers were sent to China for training in different categories and specialisations.
According to him, his administration had plans to launch its first Satellite in space by China, the second Satellite by Nigeria in collaboration with China and the third plan was to launch Nigeria Satellite in Space exclusively made by Nigeria.
He regretted that progress was not made on the plans as he heard that at some point, NASRDA could not even pay its workers.
Tinubu Celebrates Oba of Benin at 71,
8th Coronation Anniversary
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, on his 71st birthday which comes up today and which also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the King’s ascension to the throne of his ancestors.
A statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that since the coronation of the 40th Oba of Benin in 2016, his kingship had heralded a new era of peace, understanding, and civility among
the people.
“The president believes that Ewuare’s illustrious career in diplomacy has influenced his leadership style and reassured the people of his ability to lead with wisdom and grace,” the statement read in part.
Oba Ewuare served at various times as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark, the Republic of Finland, and later Italy.
President Tinubu extolled the Oba’s courage and unwavering commitment to preserving his
domain’s rich cultural heritage and tradition.
He said the King’s relentless efforts and exploration of international networks to return priceless and timeless artifacts, which carry the weight of the Benin Kingdom’s history, identity, and nationality, reflect his love for his people.
According to Tinubu, the cultural preservation work is a source of pride and connection for all who share the Benin Kingdom’s rich history.
“The president commends Ewuare II for his wise counsel to
leaders in the private and public sectors and strong advocacy for participatory democracy and development. His sustained efforts in promoting civic responsibility and participatory democracy inspire hope for a brighter future.
“President Tinubu offers his heartfelt prayers for the continued well-being of the Oba of Benin, his family, and the entire kingdom.
“May the kingdom continue to prosper under the wise and benevolent leadership of Ewuare II, and may he and his family be blessed with health and happiness,” the statement added.
Kayode Tokede
IN SEARCH OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS...
Army Allays Fears about Lagbaja’s Absence, Says
No Leadership Vacuum During COAS Leave
The Nigerian Army yesterday allayed fears on the absence of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, saying there was no leadership vacuum in its command structure as a result of the leave embarked upon by the army chief.
A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that before
Lagbaja proceeded on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.
The statement explained that the present circumstance is not peculiar to the Nigerian Army, adding that there had been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.
The army argued that the claims of a leadership vacuum in its command structure were mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service were on course.
The army statement described as laughable some of the rumours, and innuendoes about the happenings in the Nigerian Army.
“While some of these are laughable and deserve no further reference, others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank
and file, as well as the general public.
"Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
"There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
"To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured
DSS Releases Journalist Arrested over Akpabio’s Purported Impeachment Report
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a member of staff of OrderPaper, Ms Edna Ulaeto, over a report on the alleged move by the senators to impeach The Senate President,
Senator Goodwill Akpabio. Operatives from the DSS had arrested the journalist during a raid on her home.
According to a statement from OrderPaper, armed and masked DSS agents stormed Ms Ulaeto’s residence, mistreating
her before forcibly taking her to an undisclosed location.
The statement also revealed that neighbours who tried to intervene or document the incident were pushed away, with some being threatened into deleting their photos and videos.
Order Paper noted that despite its retraction and public apology, the DSS proceeded with the arrest, leaving Ms Ulaeto’s family and colleagues alarmed and distraught. However, the DSS has released Ms Ulaeto.
PDP Faults Conduct of Kaduna LG Polls as APC Sweeps All 23 Chairmanship, 255 Councillorship Seats
John Shiklam in Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared all 23 chairmanship and 255 councilorship seats in yesterday’s local government election conducted yesterday by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM).
This is as the Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Edward Masha, described the conduct of the polls as a charade and a disgrace to democracy.
Declaring the results, the chairperson of the commission, Hajara Mohammed, said the elections saw eight political parties participating, with the APC winning 23 chairmanship positions and 255 councillorship positions.
She added that the ruling APC won in Birnin-Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, Ikara, Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South LGAs.
Other local governments won by the APC, according to the Chairman, are Kagarko, Kajuru, Kaura, Kuaru, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Makarfi, Sabon Gari, Sanga, Soba, Zango-Kataf and Zaria.
"The electoral officers have
filed their reports, and at the end of the exercise, 23 won chairmanship positions and 255 won councillorship positions.
"The 23 local government returning officers and 255 wards returning officers have declared the results in their respective constituencies and submitted their results in accordance with the law along side with the presiding officers.
"By the power vested on the commission, I hereby wish to confirm the result earlier collected and returned by the returning officers.
"I am confirming these results as follows; APC won the 23 local government chairmanship positions and the 255 wards councillorship positions across the state," she said.
Speaking earlier shortly after casting his vote at LEA Kawo polling unit O47 in Kaduna North Local Government Area, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the elections across the state.
He noted that the elections have been generally free, fair, and peaceful, with only minor
issues reported in three polling units and wards.
The governor emphasised the importance of local government elections, stating that turnout across the 23 local government areas was satisfactory.
On its part, the leadership of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) Kaduna chapter described the election as largely peaceful and transparent, despite the late arrival of voting materials in some places.
Meanwhile, addressing journalists yesterday in Kaduna, Masha said the exercise was a rape of democracy.
He alleged that important election materials, especially ward and local government result sheets, were excluded from the electoral materials.
Masha said the election did not take place, accusing the ruling party of killing democracy by undermining the electoral process.
He said: "We were invited by SIECOM to receive sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, but upon inspection, we discovered that the result sheets were missing.
"This omission compromised the
integrity of the elections, and our representatives stood against the impunity.
"The APC has appointed its chairmanship candidates for the poll, knowing fully well that local government elections are the bedrock of democracy.
"We will not accept this charade. We will not accept the killing of democracy. We will challenge this process in court, and we will continue to seek justice for our people."
Speaking further, the PDP chairman said the result sheets of 2022 were released instead of new ones.
He maintained that the electoral process lacked transparency as the election materials were not distributed fairly.
Masha called on lovers of democracy and security agencies to take note of the situation, stating that democracy is gone and "we need to bring this to the public attention and demand justice."
Masha called on party members and supporters not to be discouraged, saying, "we will continue to fight for democracy and justice."
establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances," the statement explained.
The statement stated that in line with its forecast of events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure.
"Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad.
“Additionally, the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos.
"This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna. The results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management," he said.
The statement debunked the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO
promotion exercise. According to the statement, it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the Army.
The army statement further clarified that the appropriate departmental chiefs perform these functions routinely, adding that these departmental chiefs, in their unwavering commitment, are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS Command Philosophy.
The Army Headquarters, the statement said, urged the public to remain confident in the Nigerian Army and be assured that the service remained on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.
"Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt. Gen. TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.
The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP(A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS," he added.
Jigawa Governor Suspends Commissioner over Alleged Illicit Affair with Married Woman
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has suspended his Commissioner of Special Duties, Mr. Auwal Sankara, over an alleged illicit affair with a married woman in Kano.
A statement issued yesterday by the state Head of Service, Mr. Bala Ibrahim, said the governor approved the suspension with immediate effect.
Ibrahim explained that the suspension was to pave the way for a thorough investigation of the allegation and to uphold the integrity of the state administration.
He emphasised the commitment of the state to accountability and adherence to ethical standards in governance by the Namadi administration.
“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation. We
take all allegations seriously and we are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government,” it said.
It was gathered that Sankara, a member of the Jigawa State Executive Council, was allegedly arrested by Hisbah officials in Kano last Thursday, in an uncompleted building with a married woman. It was reported that the woman’s husband had earlier reported a case to the Department of State Services (DSS) that he suspected an illicit affair between his wife and the commissioner.
The Director-General of the Kano Hisba Commission, Malam Abba Sufi, according to the media reports, confirmed that Sankara was arrested by officials of the board. The DG confirmed that the suspect would be arraigned in court on Monday.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
L-R: Plateau State Governor, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area, Middle East & Africa at Ericsson, Patrick Johansson; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Country Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, Peter Olusoji Ogundele; Corporate Officer for Ericsson Group, Mikael Bäck; and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, during a meeting with top executives of Ericsson at Ericsson's Global Headquarters in Kista, Stockholm, Sweden…Friday
ENERGY STAKEHOLDERS…
Drone Launched Towards Netanyahu’s Residence in Assassination Attempt on Israel’s PM
Segun James
A drone has been launched towards Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, central Israel, his office said in a statement.
The prime minister’s spokeswoman confirmed the attack, saying Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time of the strike.
There were no casualties in the attack, the spokesman added.
Earlier, the Israeli military said three drones had been fired towards the coastal town early yesterday.
One hit a building, while the other two were intercepted, it added.
The attack comes just days after Israel killed Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, during a military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Sinwar was the architect of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, and his killing in battle was the culmination of a year-long manhunt by the IDF, but the latest strikes have provided a quick reality to check for any hopes his death could spell an end to the conflict.
In an earlier statement, Israel‘s military said a drone launched from Lebanon “hit a structure in the area of Caesarea.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its air force has killed Hezbollah’s deputy commander in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon.
According to the Israel Defence
Forces (IDF), Naser Abed al-Aziz Rashid was involved in “terrorist activities against Israeli civilians”.
In a related development, one Israeli was yesterday killed and others injured in a series of barrages from southern Lebanon, Israeli emergency services say.
The IDF said a total of 150
launches from southern Lebanon on Saturday had been detected.
One person was killed in Acre, northern Israel. Paramedics said the 50-year-old man was hit by shrapnel while sitting in his car.
Cross-border attacks have intensified in recent weeks but Israeli fatalities are rare.
A barrage aimed at the city of Haifa damaged a home in Kiryat Ata, according to emergency services.
Another person injured by shrapnel at the same location was evacuated in moderate condition to the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya.
Ten people in the area had been taken to hospital. Three people suffered shrapnel injuries, while others were suffering from shock. Following damage to an open road in Western Galilee, four people were referred to the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya, including a man who was in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries.
FG Mulls 5% Tax on Telecoms Services, Others
The federal government has proposed a five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, and betting activities as part of a new bill to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.
The bill, titled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related
Commercial Motorcyclists Kill Police Officer in Lagos
Segun James
A yet-to-be-identified Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was killed yesterday morning following an alleged attack by motorcycle operators in the Agege area of Lagos State.
Reports indicate that the police officers were dispatched to the area after receiving a distress call about an accident.
A motorcycle rider had collided with a trailer at WEMCO Junction, Mobil Road, Pen Cinema, Agege, resulting in his death on the spot.
Upon arrival, the officers were met by a large crowd of motorcycle riders who had gathered at the scene.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that tensions escalated when the crowd attempted to set the trailer on fire, while the officers were trying to evacuate the vehicle from the scene.
During the confrontation, the 46-year-old ASP sustained a fatal head injury and died on the spot. The driver of the trailer was able to flee the scene.
“While in service on 19/10/24 at about 01:40hrs a distress call was received that a motorcycle rider ran
into a trailer at WEMCO Junction, Mobil Road, Pen Cinema, Agege, and died on the spot. Based on the report, a patrol team was mobilised to the scene,” Hundeyin said.
“On arrival, the team met a large number of motorcycle riders. However, the patrol team, in the process of evacuating the truck away from the scene, came under attack by the motorcycle riders who insisted on torching the truck. As a result, one ASP ‘m’ aged 46 years was injured on the head and he died on the spot while the truck driver escaped.”
The remains of the deceased have been taken to the Mainland General Hospital morgue in Yaba for autopsy.
According to the police spokesperson, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, and a manhunt is currently underway for others who fled the scene.
“Corpse evacuated to Mainland General Hospital morgue, Yaba, for autopsy.
“Meanwhile, five suspects have been arrested, and a manhunt for other fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Further development will be communicated,” he added.
Matters,” was dated October 4, 2024, and obtained from the National Assembly.
An analysis of the proposed legislation on Friday showed that it seeks to introduce excise duties on services such as telecoms, gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting provided in Nigeria.
A section of the bill read, “The amount of an excisable transaction is the amount chargeable for the service by the service provider, both in
money or money’s worth.
“Services, including telecommunications, gaming, gambling, betting, and lotteries however described, provided in Nigeria shall be charged with duties of excise at the rates specified under the Tenth Schedule to this Act in a manner as may be prescribed by the Service.”
A breakdown of the excise duty structure in the bill indicates that telecoms services, including postpaid and
prepaid services regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), will attract a five per cent duty.
The same rate will apply to gaming, gambling, betting, and lottery services.
The bill also introduces guidelines on currency transactions, specifying that any difference between the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate and the actual transaction rate will be subject
to excise duty.
The new tax regime forms part of the government’s strategy to boost non-oil revenue amidst fiscal pressures.
With rapid growth in the telecoms and betting sectors, authorities are looking to widen the revenue base.
The bill also aims to ensure that currency exchanges align with official CBN rates, with any excess payable as excise duty under a self-assessment model.
After Two-week Working Leave, Tinubu Back in Abuja
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday evening returned to Abuja, after a two-week working vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).
The president, who arrived the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7:15pm was received on arrival by top government officials
including Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; ministers, including Wale Edun (Finance), and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning).
Others on hand to welcome President Tinubu are: Nuhu Ribadu (National Security Adviser), and Abdullahi Ganduhe (National
Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress)
The President had departed Abuja for the two-week working vacation on Wednesday, October 2, as part of his annual leave, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The release stated: "He will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration's economic reforms. "He will return to the country after the leave expires."
The president had in the course of his leave left the UK for Paris, France, for an important engagement, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari.
We Have Lost over 500 People to Incessant Herdsmen Attacks, Benue Group Cries Out
George Okoh in Makurdi
A community-based group, Forum of Tyoshim Academics (FoTA), has decried the incessant bandit attacks on the Tyoshim community of Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State even as it urged the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to protect their lives and property.
The group made the call yesterday after an attack on the Tyoshim community that led to a blood bath.
This was contained in a statement on behalf of the forum, signed by the National President, Prof. Patrick Ukase, and the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. John Anja.
According to the statement: “Today marks another day of mourning, another black day etched in the hearts of our community. The relentless wave of violence continues as suspected Fulani armed herders have, once more, unleashed terror on our people—this time along the Naka-Makurdi Road. The lives of five innocent souls, desperately taken to a clinic for treatment, have tragically slipped away, their cries unheard. Others lie in agony, fighting for their lives, yet the true number of those attacked remains unknown.
“Since 2011, the toll of this violence has been staggering. Between 2011 and 2017, 192 sons and daughters of Tyoshin were gruesomely murdered
by herders. From 2018 to 2023, the numbers escalated, with 302 more lives lost in the area. This year alone, 17 individuals have been mercilessly hacked down by these herders. These figures do not include those who have disappeared and have not been seen since 2011. In all, we have lost over 511 lives to this relentless onslaught.
“Tyoshin land is bleeding, its cries drowned in the deafening silence of indifference. Our villages, our homes, and our very existence have been under siege for too long. Nine council wards of the Gwer-West Local Government Area have already fallen into the hands of these ruthless attackers.
“Today’s tragedy is but a grim
continuation of a war that has ravaged our land, leaving us shattered and broken. Just days ago, the blood of our brothers and sisters was spilled in Camp-Nagi, Mbachohon, where three more were brutally murdered.
“Yet, in the face of this terror, the silence from those sworn to protect us is deafening. The Tyoshin people are abandoned and forsaken by the very government that should shield them. The federal government and the Benue State Government remain disturbingly quiet, their inaction a haunting reminder of how alone we truly are. Even the military presence, meant to offer protection, stands idle as the bloodbath continues.
L-R: Head, National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre, NUPRC, Mr. Victor Otobo; Director, Upstream, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Kamoru Busari; Partner, Kenna Partners, Nimma JoMadugu; and Senior Partner, Kenna Partners, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), at the Kenna Partners’ energy dialogue in Lagos…recently.
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Editor: Festus Akanbi
08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com
Transaction Trauma : How Bank Breakdowns are Disrupting Lives
The recent breakdown in Nigerian banks’ services has caused widespread disruption, leaving countless customers stranded without access to their funds. With bank apps crashing and transactions failing, many Nigerians are facing severe difficulties, from missing urgent payments to being unable to cover essential expenses, fuelling growing frustration across the country, writes Festus Akanbi
Imagine a desperate bank customer standing at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, frantically trying to withdraw money he cannot access. His phone battery is dying after hours of attempting failed transactions on the bank app.
Another account holder’s child is sick, lying helpless in the hospital, needing urgent care, but without cash in hand, even the smallest treatments are delayed. His heart races as he calls customer service, only to be put on hold, the hollow, repetitive music in his ear amplifying his despair. Every passing minute feels like an eternity, knowing his money is locked in the system while he watches his world unravel, powerless and paralysed by the failure of the banking system. That is the current level of frustration of Nigerian account holders in money deposit banks.
To say the least, currently, Nigerians are beyond frustrated with the constant failure of bank apps and their inability to make simple transactions.
It is infuriating that Nigeria, despite being a leader in digital penetration in Africa, treats something as basic as transferring money or paying bills as mind-boggling rocket science. Every day, people are stuck refreshing apps that either crash or freeze, leaving them stranded. Imagine being in an emergency or trying to make an important purchase, only for your bank app to fail you yet again!
To worsen the case, going into the banking halls has not made any significant change either, yet Nigerian banks are flaunting eye-popping profits every quarter of the year.
According to a Lagos-based school proprietress, who was caught last week in a drama over an incomplete fund transfer to a client, “The lack of improvement despite endless complaints amidst the competition for humongous profits, feels like a blatant disregard for the struggles of millions of Nigerians.”
Disruptive Systems Upgrade
It seemed that many of these banks didn’t see the need to inform their customers early enough about what would be the impact of their planned system upgrade. It was the Chairman of the Association of Corporate and Marketing Communication Professionals in Nigerian Banks (ACAMB), Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, who was quoted by TheCable as saying that the disruption occurred because some financial institutions migrated their entire system from one core banking application to another - owned by the same software company - while some switch to an entirely different technology outfit.
So, it was a complaint galore from customers of Sterling Bank in September who raised the alarm on X that they could not access the lender’s mobile banking app for transactions for two weeks. However, further inquiries showed that the problem was caused by the system upgrade by Sterling Bank, which switched from Switzerland-based Temenos T24 to SeaBaaS by Peerless, an indigenous core banking solution. For GTBank, which had been having issues with its mobile banking apps for some time, the time had come to upgrade its system as it migrated from ICS Financial Services, situated in the United Kingdom, to EdgeVerve Systems’ Finacle, based in India.
The upgrade wasn’t smooth as many Nigerians in their frustration took to various media
platforms to register their displeasure over their inability to access their funds in the bank.
THISDAY gathered that Zenith Bank’s customers were not left out in the frustration of accessing banking services, especially their bank’s mobile app. However, the bank informed its customers via text, email, and social media platforms that its app would be automatically updated to a new version on October 1.
Today, the bank insists it has resolved all issues but a handful of customers still alleged that they still have issues with the debit cards.
Almost all the banks are in this situation.
Even Access Bank had to postpone its system upgrade. Narrating his experience, a Lagosbased journalist (names withheld) gave an account of an embarrassing situation he had in a Facebook post, last week. “It happened to me in Navy Town Satelite, Lagos. After eating at a restaurant. I was about to pay and the bank decided to mess up. Inside Navy Barracks fah! It wasn’t funny at all. But thank God for a compassionate woman at the restaurant. Maybe I would have been locked up in a guardroom.”
Another respondent narrated how his debit card from another bank couldn’t work after he had purchased fuel at a filling station. He resorted to begging and eventually, another customer offered to pay on his behalf.
Fintech Companies to the Rescue
In the ensuing confusion, frustration, and disappointment from the traditional money deposit banks, analysts said the pendulum of patronage is swinging in the direction of fintech and digital banking in Nigeria.
Analysts said such operators like Opay, Moniepoint, Paga, e-Transact, Palmpay, Kuda, Eyowo, and Fair Money, among others which used to be popular among the poor segment of society, are becoming popular among the middle class of Nigerians. Operators described fintech start-ups as digital natives who disrupted legacy banking with digital functionalities,
simplicity, big data, accessibility, agility, cloud computing, contextuality, personalisation, and convenience. Companies under this category are not only improving the financial consumer experience, but are changing the way people pay, transfer money, lend, borrow, and invest. Digital banking is traditional banking dressed up in a digital wrapper.
Expressing his disappointment in the traditional banks, a school proprietor told THISDAY how his driver saved him from embarrassment last week when he couldn’t settle an obligation through bank transfer. “We needed to buy fuel on our way from a trip. The fuel had already been dispensed but my bank apps (two different banks) failed me. The fuel attendant was already hauling insults at me when my driver brought out his debit card for one of these fintech companies and paid on my behalf. To say I was embarrassed was to say the least.”
Also, a senior executive with a manufacturing firm narrated his experience in an interview with THISDAY last week. As the custodian of a fund contributed by people to bail out a distressed neighbour, the account holder literally relocated to the banking hall to determine his balance since his bank apps did not work. He was under severe pressure from neighbours who wanted to know how much had been contributed so far.
Financial service analysts said with the ease at which holders of these fintech companies do their transactions, it won’t be a surprise if many Nigerians decide to drop some of the traditional banks for the likes of Opay, Kuda, and Eyowo, saying after all, what is important is to have access to one’s account.
A Lagos-based entrepreneur, Mr. Oladosu Morakinyo, explained that most of the traditional banks do not grant loans to poor savers except big companies with fat accounts in their banks.
“Why will a salary earner continue to suf-
fer this epileptic service from big banks that are not ready to advance their loans? So, we should not be surprised at the rate ordinary people are opening accounts with these fintech companies,” he stated.
In Search of Affordable Banking Apps
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, before the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, all Nigerian banks were using foreign-based core banking application systems, which cost millions of dollars in maintenance.
Suleiman had said Sterling Bank’s migration to SeaBaaS would allow the lender to domesticate its technology cost and reduce the cost of financial inclusion.
“African banks spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on foreign core banking applications, further putting pressure on the continent’s balance of trade,” he said.
President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) and former Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, expressed frustration over the limited communication from banks regarding these disruptions. He pointed out that banks should have better-informed customers about the potential impact of these upgrades.
Ogubunka said, “The ultimate aim is to improve the system and services to customers, but whether all these upgrades should happen simultaneously is debatable, as it’s causing major disruptions. Additionally, many banks failed to give enough notice to their customers, leaving them unprepared.”
Banks are making money and for competition, they are making so much noise about their gains. One wonders why the consumer protection department of the Central Bank of Nigeria has not waded in considering the pains and frustration of bank users. Certainly, this is the time to do that.
Some angry customers in a bank branch in Lagos
Ending Incessant Collapse of National Grid
For the umpteenth time, Nigerians were plunged into darkness last week as the national electricity grid collapsed thrice in one week, leaving Nigerians to wonder when the federal government will give power infrastructure the adequate attention it deserves. Davidson Iriekpen writes
Last Tuesday, Nigeria’s electricity grid collapsed once again, throwing several cities into darkness. Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in separate statements, announced the shutdown across the country.
The development came after similar collapses on October 14 and 15 respectively, affecting the power supply within its franchise.
This year alone, the national grid has collapsed eight times, plunging millions of homes and businesses into darkness and further exposing the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
Since the resuscitation of last Tuesday’s collapse, many residents in parts of Lagos and others of the country were yet to have power restored in their neighbourhoods before another collapse happened yesterday.
The first time it happened was on February 4. It collapsed again on March 28, April 15, July 6, and August 5.
It would be recalled that the national grid collapsed 98 times under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the over N1.51 trillion intervention fund invested in the sector by the federal government since the administration came on board in 2015.
The inconvenience and economic cost of power failures inflict significant hardship on both domestic and industrial customers, with power outages costing the nation an estimated $1 billion per year.
The lack of adequate electric power supply has led to the closure of many industries that rely heavily on a consistent power supply.
Small businesses and heavy machine manufacturers are particularly affected by the abysmal performance of the electricity companies.
The citizens are also affected socially, psychologically, and physically. Overall, the power sector has contributed in no small way to the stagnation of Nigeria’s economy.
Frequent collapse of the grid raises questions about the government’s ability to address this challenge which has consistently impacted negatively on national economic development.
Although five power stations, Egbin, Delta, Olorunsogo NIPP, Geregu NIPP and Omotosho NIPP, are meant to provide spinning reserves, none of them currently have actual reserves.
The national grid reportedly has a production capacity of 12,000MW, but the GenCos have only been able to produce between 4,000MW and 5,000MW, which is insufficient to cater for the country’s over 200 million population. Experts estimate that Nigeria needs a minimum of 30,000MW to achieve sufficient power supply.
In November 2013, the federal government privatised all power generation and 11 distribution companies, with the government retaining the ownership of the transmission company. This was to improve efficiency in the sector. However, since privatisation, the grid has continued to collapse amid efforts to reposition the power sector.
According to experts, there are currently 23 grid-connected generating plants in operation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) with a total installed capacity of 11,165.4 MW and an available capacity of 7,139.6 MW. Most generation is thermal-based, with an installed capacity of 9,044 MW (81% of the total) and an available capacity of 6,079.6 MW (83% of the total). Hydro-power from three major plants accounts for 1,938.4 MW of total installed capacity (and an available capacity of 1,060 MW).
Actual electricity supply has been significantly less than load demand. For instance, in 2014 and 2016, the actual supply lagged behind the power demand by 21,639MW and 23,401MW, respectively, representing about 15% and 17% of power availability.
What is significant about the power sector narrative in Nigeria is that the power from all the 23 generating companies is transmitted by one entity: the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). There is a widespread belief that much of the problem with the Nigerian electricity conundrum has to do with distribution.
It beats the imagination of many analysts on how one company has the responsibility to transmit the power generated by 23 companies. They believe that whoever designed the system must have motives other than national development and energy self-reliance.
Nigeria is one of the most under-powered countries in the world, with actual consumption 80% below expectations based on current population and income levels. This has led Nigerians to create a unique generator economy where countless diesel and petrol generators of varying capacities account for nearly 14GW of electricity used in the country.
Compared to other African countries, South
Africa, with a population of 59.39 million, generates a staggering 58,095 MW, while Egypt, with a population of 109 million, produces over 59,000 MW. Nigeria’s power generation falls far short of its potential, hindering economic growth and development.
Since power affects every aspect of Nigerian life, from economic growth to the daily lives of citizens and business owners, the government’s commitment to addressing this issue is crucial, and it must be accompanied by concrete action and a sustained effort to bring stability to the national grid. Nigerians deserve a reliable and consistent power supply to unlock the nation’s full potential and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.
Experts have posited that to solve the power crisis in Nigeria, a holistic approach, which includes a significant investment in power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, is required. They added that the government must prioritise the rehabilitation and expansion of the power grid to ensure it can meet the growing electricity demand.
They suggested that there must be transparency in the management of funds allocated to the power sector and the need to eliminate corruption at all levels to ensure that resources are used efficiently.
Experts also advocate for Nigeria to explore alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and create a more sustainable energy mix. Encouraging private sector participation in the power sector can bring in the expertise and investment needed for its revitalization.
Pointedly, the government should provide a clear update on the status of the Siemens deal, addressing any delays or challenges, and ensuring its successful execution.
It is impossible to discuss Nigeria’s power problems without mentioning the Siemens deal, a project that held promise for improving the country’s power infrastructure. The Siemens deal, which President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed late last year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and aimed at expediting the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to improve electricity supply in Nigeria, was seen as a potential game-changer. However, questions linger about the status and progress of this initiative. Nigerians are rightfully asking what happened to this much-anticipated solution.
In June 2023, President Tinubu assented to
the electricity bill, which empowers states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. One year later, the effect of the law has not been felt in the power sector.
The current Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has set an ambitious goal of increasing the national grid’s capacity to 20,000 MW in the next three years. This is a laudable objective, given that the sector’s greatest challenges are reliability and ensuring universal access to power, especially for underserved communities. However, achieving this goal will require a comprehensive and sustained effort, as well as addressing the root causes of the power crisis.
There must be a concerted political effort directed at solving Nigeria’s power problem. Smaller, localised grids dedicated to specific areas could provide a solution. If individual states cannot generate sufficient electricity, the country’s existing geopolitical zones could be used to create transmission grids tailored to each zone. This approach could reduce reliance on a central grid that frequently collapses and causes widespread energy distress.
For now, the government’s commitment to addressing this issue is crucial, and it must be accompanied by concrete action and a sustained effort to bring stability to the national grid. Nigerians deserve a reliable and consistent power supply to unlock the nation’s full potential and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.
Responding to the incessant collapse of the grid, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, voiced a sharp criticism of the government’s failure to address the country’s persistent power crisis.
According to a statement revealed on his official X page, Obi described the grid collapse as a “national shame,” condemning the repeated disruption of electricity supply and the failure of leadership to provide sustainable solutions.
“This recurring disaster is a glaring testament to the failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels,” Obi said, reflecting the frustrations of millions of Nigerians who are accustomed to living without reliable electricity.
Obi warned that such instability has profound socio-economic consequences, hindering productivity and stifling the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of the country’s job creation efforts and GDP growth.
PersPective
What’s Happening to Excellence?
Josef Omorotionmwan
NOTHING in this world can be totally and absolutely wrong because even a dead clock is correct twice every day, and we agree too that there are spices of goodness even in things evil. This is one narrow way of appreciating, without lending total credence to, the past military administrations in Nigeria, which we might have condemned at one point or the other.
Our purpose here is not to write a testimonial for the dead, but to make at least a passing mention of the fact that they provided some solid infrastructure which successive civilian administrations were unable to maintain.
Realising the circumstances of their birth, the military juntas worked hard in the area of national unity. We are not in a hurry to forget that the binding glue they provided still subsists to this day. Here, we must remember the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Unity Schools all over the country; and above all, the Federal Government Academy, Suleija. That is the subject for today.
We remember a patriotic Nigerian, Jubril Aminu, 85, a profound Professor of Cardiology, who early enough in his life, was exposed to the good things of life in foreign lands. He prayed that if in the future, God gave him the opportunity, he would provide the same things to his people back home in Nigeria. He did and he did.
In the USA and Britain, he saw how well the Academies of Excellence for gifted children worked. These were Centre of Excellence meant to catch extraordinarily gifted children young, and help them to develop along those lines of excellence. It is from there that the advanced world harness some of their renowned scientists, investors, and profound Administrators.
The required opportunity came during the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida regime when Jubril Aminu was Minister of Education (1985-1989), and true to his promise, he immediately set in motion the mechanism for the establishment of the Federal Government Academy for Gifted Children. That was how the Federal Government Academy came into being in 1986.
The Suleija Academy is tucked away in a serene environment on the Northern flank of the town, far removed from the hurley-burley of city life. It occupies a large expanse of land intended to accommodate future expansion. Originally, the Academy was proposed to grow into a university of its own.
In the beginning, the Academy enjoyed full environmental justice. The environment was clean, with the trees and plants in the place properly manicured and maintained. You could breathe fresh air and drink clean water. There was an air of freedom everywhere.
The atmosphere in the Academy was totally reminiscent of some of the places in the most developed world. While there, it was easy to think of yourself being somewhere in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, Up State, New York.
The Academy was a piece of excellence. The students were the very best in the Common Entrance examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO). You could be the child of the President, or
the child of any Minister, but if you did not make the cut-off mark in the common entrance examination, you could not get into the Academy.
The Academy’s principals were picked from among the best in the country - they were the principals’ special grade. The teachers and administrators were from the very best in their various disciplines. All the people who worked in the Academy were comfortably accommodated within the premises. The Academy was a Centre of Excellence and everything about it was excellent. Originally, the foreign exchange earning potential of the Academy would have been enormous.
For the first time, the wealthy and the affluent in society ran into a commodity that was worth buying, but that commodity was marked “NOT FOR SALE”. They, therefore, helped to quicken the death of that commodity.
Again, once regional politics set in, the very fabric of the Academy was hopelessly weakened. This is an Academy situated in Niger State, the very heart of Northern Nigeria. But because of the very stringent admission standard, year after year, intakes into the Academy were predominantly, and sometimes entirely, from the South.
Since 2002, I have taken an active interest in the affairs of the Academy. That was the year my daughter was admitted into the Academy. That year, we observed that Edo State had 6 students on the list. Some states in the South, like Oyo and Imo, contributed between 40 and 50 students. There was virtually no one from the entire North. We heaved a sigh of relief, however, when we sighted one name in Sokoto, but on close perusal, we realized that student had a Bini name. It was clear that he was the son of a Bini man working in Sokoto. So, year after year, for the North, the local content on the admission into the Academy was near zero.
For Northerners, the desire to sniff life out of the Academy has
remained very high over the years. Meanwhile, the terrible economic and security situations in the country today are not helping matters either. Let no one seek further the explanations for why the Academy and other government institutions are on their way to death.
In the particular case of the Academy, it died long ago. It died the very day they departed from the stringent admission standard. Anyone can now walk in and have his or her ward admitted. Excellence is gone. The Academy is now virtually in a comatose state. The environment that was once very friendly has since died, and yielded way to big bushes and dangerous reptiles.
When the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, paid an unscheduled visit to the Academy recently, his verdict was sharp and unambiguous - pathetic! He rued the general rot of the entire Nigerian system. Who wants to live in an environment of that nature? Any wonder, then, that those excellent teaching and non-teaching staff the school once had have taken flight? What is now left? There is really no better way to understand the debilitating effect of insecurity in the nation today than to look at it in the confined pulldown of the Academy. We commend the members of the alumni association who now struggle to sustain the school on a respirator. But how far can that go?
When we were considering the issue, my daughter asked me a question and demanded an honest answer: If things were like this in our days, would you have sent me to that school? As requested, my
answer was honest: Considering the comatose state of the school; in view of its potential for a double enactment of the Chibok situation; and in view of the location of the school on a major corridor on the Abuja-Kaduna railroad where anything is possible, I would not send you to the school.
We cannot escape the inevitable conclusion that Nigeria does not exist in an Island of its own. It exists within the context of a global village. That makes it incumbent on us to constantly listen to what is happening elsewhere, particularly in the more advanced democracies.
In America for instance, there is truly a woman for every man; there is also a man for every woman; there is a school for everyone; but the Ivy League schools maintain standards below which they can never go. The same applies to the numerous schools for the gifted and talented people. From the myriad, we pick out just two for these discussions: St Mark’s School of Texas, which was established in 1906 and Davidson Academy Nevada, established in 2006. Whatever your situation in life, you have no business getting near the entrance gate of these schools if you possess less than 99.9 percentile Intelligence Quotient (IQ).
Here, the authorities catch the children of excellence young and guide them jealously through the journey of life. It is instructive that among these most intelligent ones, we also have those that possess the greatest potential for the greatest evil. What a curious paradox! We are reminded that, at best, there is only a very thin line between genius and madness!
Meanwhile, Nigeria is engaged in what the political scientists call the science of dabbling through.
In the final analysis, Nigeria and those other nations are all playing on the same world stage, and we are expecting to have the same level of performance.
For all we know, you can only reap whatever you sow!
Whither Nigeria?
Mamman
EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN AT 70
PAUL ODILI pays tribute to Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State
This week, precisely on October 22, 2024, former Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan will clock 70 years. Just like that. The speed of time is unbelievable. I met Uduaghan in July 2003 shortly after he assumed office as Secretary to Delta State Government under the administration of Governor James Ibori.
My first meeting with him was a youngish looking, agile, warm and friendly man, but also a man who carried himself with quiet authority. His look and appearance completely belies his age then--he had the genetic luck of not looking his real age. As I pen this piece I can’t recall exactly all that transpired but he made me comfortable in his presence and he had this humble demeanour, you felt a connection. I was to serve in his administration four years later as his communication adviser and climate change, green economy projects coordinator, amongst other assignments that came my way in the eight years of his government.
Uduaghan is a leader that has only now been recognised and appreciated in Delta State for his vision, goals, accomplishments, compassion, humanness and challenges he faced and overcame. His administration was never short of drama right from his emergence as aspirant then later as PDP governorship candidate gunning to succeed his predecessor, who incidentally is his first cousin and his governing programme—the famous three point agenda of Peace and Security, human capital and infrastructure development, which was rechristened into a much broader, ambitious goal of building a “Delta beyond Oil”.
Uduaghan was a man moved by big goals--he worked towards achieving them to the best of his ability and within the constraint he found himself. I suspect that while he felt prepared for office as governor, having served as SSG, the engine room of government and as chief advisor to the governor, he became deeply grounded in governance and hence enabled him to formulate clear ideas about what needs to be done. In his musings, you would hear him often recall with fondness his time in that office. It should not be forgotten as SSG he forged a reputation of competence and as a Can-do man. The man who solved some knotty problems of the Ibori administration when he could not be reached. In truth, such positioning did a lot to burnish his reputation as a capable man, a safe pair of hands that will take the state to another level. And he ran on that platform.
On assuming office one of the first things he did was to bring to an end or shall I say work to contain the militant insurgency that was ravaging the state and the region and to also continue to build on the peace process his predecessor had begun to return peace to the Warri area following years of internecine crisis that claimed lives, destroyed property and drove out businesses. While the peace building was ongoing the militant insurgency erupted— kidnappings and pipeline vandalism were rife as it were the targets of the disaffected youths reacting to the neglect and poverty in the oil rich region. At that time such acts were new and unknown in these parts and for a while Delta State was the epicentre of Niger Delta militants’ activities. And the state suffered as the oil production declined and the revenue to the state dropped precipitously. Uduaghan had to act if he wanted to secure the state, restore peace and order and attract investment and have the resources to rebound to enable him implement his ambitious goals.
As noted earlier his first act as governor in 2007 was to visit the militant youths in their camps in the creeks to initiate his policy of engagement, which he christened carrot and stick. It worked and led to the disarming of a significant number of the
youths who left the camp, dropped their weapons and embraced peace. It was a major accomplishment that he secured, which stabilised his administration. The peace process in Warri was intensified and not abandoned. And it was because of Uduaghan’s focused implementation of his peace agenda that made the oil city of Warri not to slide back into anarchy. Warri today is a bustling city, brimming with life, yet there was a time the city was a ghost town, people and businesses fled, you dare not move about at night. Uduaghan reversed all that. By the time he left office, Warri had become a normal city, the scares of war had been erased.
His agenda on infrastructure was outstanding in its articulation and implementation. The two growth poles of Warri and Asaba areas, recognising the two homogenising centres of development in Delta State. For instance, his administration initiated the Warri Industrial Business Park Initiative, the Koko free trade zone, the expansion of Osubi airport, the 167 km Ughell-Asaba dual carriage way, millennium schools dotting the various local government areas, the Asaba airport, the New Government House, thousands of kilometre of roads and bridges constructed and dotting the state. Delta State was significantly transformed following his reforms and programmes.
His human capital programme was also remarkable and he took particular pride in driving it, being a humanist at heart who cared about the well-being of the vulnerable in the society. He elevated and gave great attention to ending mother and infant mortality rate through the heavy intervention to ensure that women and child mortality rate is within acceptable standard. Only God knows the number of lives that were saved by this programne. The first class scholarship programme to the best and brightest from Delta State, to any school across the world, free education scholarship programme. Through this programme talented Deltans were able to attend prestigious schools they could only gave dreamed of.
His support for the entrepreneurship programme that encourages micro and small scale enterprises, were initiatives he introduced, up-scaled and, or refined.
He was a public intellectual who engaged in public discussions, confident in himself to share his ideas in newspaper articles, television appearances, and lecture circuits across the world. He has a deep love for the environment and was concerned that the climate change issue should not be overlooked as we are all affected. He joined hands with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of the state of California to form the R20 regions of climate action, which for a period placed subnational governments as centres of global climate change initiatives a movement that had over 100 sub-regional governments across the world as members. Uduaghan was the deputy chairman of this group and was leading Africa and Asia.
EFCC VS THE CONSTITUTION
Some
states are questioning the legitimacy of the EFCC as a federal law, writes TAIWO SHONIBARE
In a matter of days, exactly on October 22, the Supreme Court will commence hearing on a case filed by 16 state governments challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two other anti-graft laws. Of the 16, the Supreme Court granted leave for consolidation with respect to two states - Ogun and Nasarawa - whose cases centre mainly around the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) guidelines.
The EFCC Act has been operational since 2004, 22 years ago. The commission was established in 2003 in swift response to the pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on money laundering, which then categorically named Nigeria amongst the 23 countries that were stalling efforts by the international community in its efforts to combat money laundering, both local and trans-national.
At various forums these past two decades, some lawyers have raised eyebrow on how the EFCC Bill was passed into law, with some noting that its hurried transition from a Bill to an Act short-circuited a critical provision of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
EFCC was established by an Act of the National Assembly by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was intended to primarily focus on economic and financial crimes in both the public and private sector. The commission was then seen as a masterstroke to tame the bogey of corruption in the country then ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
The then Vice President Atiku Abubakar it was who provided the commission the funds to get off the ground and start running. He still references this gesture till this day. In plain language, EFCC was established but was not given the necessary funds to commence operations. All that is history now.
However, a good two decades after it became operational, the commission has been largely perceived as a persecution, rather than prosecutorial, agency in the hand of any ruling president.
Proponents of this school of thought point to the ranking of Nigeria in the global corruption index, pre and post EFCC establishment. Nothing really has changed. Nigeria is still highly ranked as one of the most corrupt nations of the world, currently placing a 145 out of 180 countries ranked in the latest index.
Some even argue that rather than fight and tame corruption, the EFCC has been protecting openly corrupt persons by refusing to prosecute such persons, usually politically exposed persons. They argue that EFCC only show uncommon zeal to prosecute persons who are political opponents of any incumbent president or those who hold dissenting views from those of the President. For this, they tag the EFCC a persecution agency.
But this is not the grouse of the state governments now before the Supreme Court. They are questioning the legitimacy of the EFCC as a product of a Federal law, an Act of the National Assembly, with powers over the Federating units (the states).
Already, a seven-man panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has fixed October 22 for hearing of the suit after the states were joined as co-plaintiffs, and leave granted for consolidation of the case in the suit originally filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General (AG).
The states that joined in the suit marked: SC/CV/178/2023 include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross-River, Niger. Ogun and Nasarawa are challenging the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Financial Guidelines. A holistic glance at the states (Plaintiffs) showed a wide spread in diversity, cutting across different political parties and across the six geopolitical zones. This shows that this matter is not
political, neither is it steeped in the murky pool of partisan politics. It’s strictly about legality, constitutionality and propriety of the Act setting up the commission. Their argument is that the enactment of the EFCC Act negated the powers and rights of the states as federating units within a Federation. They contend that as states, they have functional Houses of Assembly but the input of these Houses of Assembly was not sought in the course of the enactment of the EFCC Act as required by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). On this, they have approached the Supreme Court to seek clarification on why the opinion of the State Assemblies was not sought as enshrined in the Constitution. The state governments cite the case of Dr. Joseph Nwobike Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, wherein the Supreme Court held that it was a UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that the National Assembly turned into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2003, the provisions of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, were arbitrarily discounted by the Federal lawmakers.
The state governments argued that in transforming a Convention into a Nigerian law, the provisions of Section 12 must be complied with. The state governments assert that the provisions of the Constitution demand that a majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly shall agree to bring the UN Convention into Nigeria before passing the EFCC Act or any other such law. They maintain that this critical requirement that underscores the sovereignty of Nigeria as a self-governing entity was never met neither was the constitutional procedure followed.
Here is what the Constitution says. Section 12, subsection (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that “the National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part thereof with respect to matters not included in the Exclusive Legislative List for the purpose of implementing a treaty.” The UNCAC from which the EFCC was derived is a treaty which Nigeria ratified on 14 December 2004. It is from this treaty that the EFCC Act was enacted at the behest of the Executive and the National Assembly without the concordance of the State Assemblies.
Subsection three(3) of section 12 states that “a bill of the National Assembly passed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (2) of the section shall not be presented to the President for assent, and shall not be enacted, unless it is ratified by a majority of all the Houses of Assembly in the Federation.” Herein is the crux of the matter. Should the EFCC and other bills have been enacted into an Act of parliament without the concurrent ratification by a majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly? This is the knotty conundrum that the wise Justices of the Supreme Court would be adjudicating on in the coming days.
Shonibare, PhD, writes from Lagos
Odili writes from Abuja
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
ISSUES IN THE JIGAWA TANKER EXPLOSION
In an explosion reminiscent of the 1998 tragedy in Jesse, Delta State, dozens of people were killed last week in Jigawa State while scooping fuel from an overturned tanker. The tanker was travelling from neighbouring Kano State when it reportedly collided with a truck in the town of Majia. As of yesterday, no fewer than 150 people were reported dead with dozens of others still in the hospital. While we commiserate with the families of the deceased, the frequency of this tragic occurrence should compel action from the relevant authorities.
In most countries, petroleum products are transported through pipelines, and not by putting thousands of vehicles on the road every day as we do in Nigeria. In the wake of recent calamities, there were conversations about the nightmare that fuel tanker drivers have become in the country, but nothing has been done to tackle the menace. Perhaps because of the high number of fatalities from the Jigawa explosion, the conversation has resumed but if past experiences are any guide, nothing is likely to happen in what has become a vicious cycle of avoidable tragedies.
In a condolence message, Vice President Kashim Shettima said his heart aches for those who have had their families torn apart by the disaster. “As we contend with this tragedy, let us also reflect on the importance of safety measures and public awareness to prevent such incidents in the future,” said Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu who is outside the country on leave. “Every life is precious, and we must do all we can to protect our citizens.” Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged the federal government to explore the option of transporting fuel via rail across the country. “It is also pertinent to train drivers involved in the transportation of flammable products and review the protocol for the transportation of petroleum products and other inflammable products,” he admonished.
That the number of fatalities arising from petrol tanker explosions on our roads is getting increasingly high should indeed raise serious concerns. That people would be so desperate to rush to scoop fuel
after such accidents should also compel a public enlightenment campaign, especially for rural people and the poor. More than 1000 people perished in the Jesse incident while they were scooping fuel from a burst pipeline. In four separate incidents within a spate of one week in 2015, no fewer than 100 people were killed with property worth hundreds of millions of Naira destroyed. In Onitsha, Anambra State, 85 fatalities were recorded when a petrolladen tanker lost control and rammed into a public motor park. Several buildings, vehicles and property worth millions of Naira were consumed by the fire. Scores of others were left with different degrees of burns.
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In 2020, which witnessed the highest number of these accidents, there were 1,531 petrol tanker crashes resulting in 535 deaths and injuries to 1,142 people, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). That is aside the billions of Naira lost to such fire incidents while many of the survivors bear scars for the rest of their lives. In a similar incident last month in which 48 lives were lost, a fuel-laden tanker exploded along Bida-Agaie-Lapai road in Niger State. The incident occurred when a petrol tanker loaded with petrol collided with a truck loaded with travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State en route Lagos.
To identify and address the factors responsible for these incessant petroleum tanker crashes and explosions, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) recently launched a stakeholders’ initiative. Institutions involved include the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and other key players. “Issues included drivers’ mental alertness and attitude. Some trucks were fully loaded, up to 66,000 litres, far exceeding safe limits,” according to MEMAN’s Executive Secretary, Clement Isong.
We must put an end to these avoidable fuel tanker explosions that continue to take the lives of our people.
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LETTERS
A COUNTRY BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION
Nigeria is in labour at the moment. What she is heavy with is anyone’s guess, but the contractions are mounting just as the complications are rising.
According to the police, a fire outbreak at a bar and lounge along Baale Road, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State claimed the lives of four hotel staff who were burnt beyond recognition. According to the police, the distress call came in on the morning of 13th October 2024. However, when the police responded, they were greeted by the charred remains of four of the hotel staff.
The deaths that make waves in Nigeria are of the famous and fortunate. Usually, just like at birth, those who constitute the great unwashed die with a whimper — nameless, numberless and loveless, with anonymity etched into the epitaph of their time on earth. There is no doubt that for families and friends of the deceased hotel workers this is a tragedy
beyond measure. To go in this manner is surely one of life’s more callous acts.
Their painful deaths also highlight the irony of life in Nigeria. People go to look for what to eat and find death instead with danger lurking everywhere. People leave their loved ones in the morning, say goodbyes, while trying desperately to lock out the thoughts that it could be for the last time. And it typically is.
In an unsafe, unsalutary country desperately clinging on to the frayed fringes of its fragile civilization, death is never far away, even for those who think that the fact that they have not lived long enough can elide their proximity to death.
In 2018, in a moment that will go down as a jarring historical mistake, former President Muhammadu Buhari described Nigerian youths as lazy. It was anything but the truth. The truth was rather that the trope about lazy Nigerian youths was the latest straw grasped by a president swamped by the epic struggles
of his administration to keep any of his outlandish promises to Nigerians.
Unemployment remains rife in Nigeria. Families have been known to sell of their ancestral lands to send their kids to school with the hope that they will find gainful employment, only to be confronted by the spectre of unemployment.
It is unemployment that is driving many young Nigerians to the precipice, and into the death traps of predators and their hellholes.
In acts of daring desperation, many young Nigerians are being forced to take up jobs that offer zero security and safety, only holding up the fig leaves of meager salaries devalued by soaring inflation. These they do because they have no choice.
Because they can sense their desperation and are acutely aware of the paucity of their options, many slave-drivers, posing as employers, are quick to set up sweat shops,
and even quicker to advertise openings. What the desperate jobseekers don’t immediately see are the open highways to hell. In a country where the law protects only the rich, reserving its strongest reassurances for when the rich eat the poor, there are many who find themselves exposed as they dare to refuse to starve. Many of them find slow and painful deaths. Nigeria cannot aspire to be a developed country until it begins to take issues of public safety seriously. How many public buildings are fitted with safety equipment like fire extinguishers? How many of these private employers are forced to take measures to preclude occupational hazards for those who work for them? How strong is the enforcement of occupational safety laws in Nigeria? The answers to these questions are out in the open.
Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
As part of its tradition, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), a non-profit organisation that collaborates with governments and indigenous businesses to drive growth in Africa’s energy sector, recently unveiled its 2024 list of 25 Rising Stars. These women, drawn from various parts of the continent, represent a dynamic generation that is reshaping the industry, contributing to innovation and expansion across diverse roles, from advisory to drilling. Among this elite group are four Nigerian women whose contributions are creating lasting impact in the sector. Below are their profiles.
Ozioma Agu:
A Partner at Stren & Blan Partners, Ozioma Agu is a graduate of law from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
In her interview with AEC, Agu revealed that while she was initially drawn to corporate law, it was a course on Energy and Natural Resources that ignited her true passion. She began her career as a transactional lawyer, advising on major energy deals at prominent Nigerian law firms such as Aluko & Oyebode, Detail Commercial Solicitors, and Bloomfield LP. Her expertise spans secured and unsecured cross-border lending, project finance, syndicated lending, and standalone debt, among others.
At Stren & Blan Partners, she leads the Energy, Finance and Infrastructure practice where she has advised on market-defining energy deals. As a panellist at the 17th GermanAfrican Energy Forum in Hamburg, Germany, she shared her insights on Nigeria’s energy transition, emphasizing the need for innovative financing solutions and the strategic use of the country’s natural gas reserves.
According to her, financing mechanisms must be specifically tailored to the unique challenges and realities of transitioning economies like Nigeria.
Reflecting on her journey as a woman in the energy industry, Agu discussed the personal challenges she has faced in overcoming stereotypes and biases.
“There were times when my ambitions and leadership capabilities were met with scepticism. Instead of allowing these perceptions to discourage me, I channelled that energy into proving my competence and dedication through results.”
To maintain her professional edge and keep negativity at bay, Agu focuses on continuous learning, and staying informed about industry trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements.
Among her numerous milestones in the energy sector are her advisory roles in the Mobil and Shell divestments, which required navigating Nigeria’s evolving regulatory frameworks, including the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Her work involved conducting comprehensive due diligence and offering practical transaction structuring advice. One of her most fulfilling projects, she shared, was leading the team that drafted the legislative framework for the establishment of the State Electricity Market in Anambra, following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023.
Looking to the future, Agu envisions a global energy sector that promotes natural gas and hydrogen as vital components of the energy mix for emerging markets like Nigeria. She sees a strong role for compressed natural gas (CNG) in transportation and industry and believes Nigeria has a significant opportunity to harness its abundant solar energy.
“I hope to see the government implement clearer regulatory frameworks and incentives to attract investment in these renewable projects, making it easier for both local and international investors to participate… Global challenges like climate change require collaborative efforts, and I envision my role as an advocate for policies that promote cross-border investments in renewable energy infrastructure.”
Emokiniovo DafeAkpedeye:
Emokiniovo Dafe-Akpedeye is a dualqualified lawyer in Nigeria and England and Wales, with transactional experience in the oil and gas industry. She is the Managing Partner at Compos Mentis Legal Practitioners, a certified law firm in Nigeria, where she
Young Female Trailblazers in Nigerian Energy Sector
Recently, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) recognised 25 under-40 women as Rising Stars in the energy sector, spotlighting young talents who are transforming a traditionally male-dominated field. Among them are several Nigerian women who are making remarkable strides. Vanessa Obioha profiles these trailblazers and their outstanding achievements
specialises in complex oil and gas disputes. A leading dispute resolution expert, Dafe-Akpedeye has represented major clients like Shell Petroleum and currently serves as the company secretary for the Ebendo Host Community Trust Board. In this role, she is implementing digital solutions to streamline board operations.
Her extensive transactional experience includes drafting commercial agreements and liaising with government regulatory agencies such as the Department of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and holds a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.
Dafe-Akpedeye’s journey in the energy sector began in the oil and gas department of a prominent Nigerian law firm.
“One of my proudest moments as a young lawyer was being in a team that advised a top tier indigenous oil and gas company on its acquisition of a 22% working interest and operating ship right in an oil mining lease. The issues surrounding this acquisition eventually led to a dispute and I was integral to the team that drafted and appeared in
Nigeria. She has mastered balancing work and life, while navigating the challenges of the energy sector. A passionate mentor, she also organises an eponymous essay competition in the legal field.
Looking ahead, Dafe-Akpedeye sees a future shaped by renewable energy.
“The rise of the use of renewables especially in the energy sector may see a resurgence in regulations to manage issues in that space. In several African countries, many domestic consumers of energy are installing solar panels, inverters and batteries. In the coming years, disputes are sure to arise regarding installations, product liability, et al. My role will be to advise the parties – renewable energy companies and consumers – on their rights and obligations, as well as assist in handling any disputes that may arise in such transactions, by applying my expertise in mediation, arbitration and litigation.”
Fatimat Adenike Olanrewaju
Fatimat Adenike Olanrewaju, a Chemical Engineering graduate, is a General Field Engineer at SLB, specialising in wellhead installations and emissions reduction. In addition to her technical role, she leads community service initiatives through SLB’s SEED program, where she advocates for gender diversity and mentors young professionals.
Olanrewaju began her career in the energy industry as an intern at Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, where she gained hands-on experience in production and operations. She would later join DeltaAfrik Engineering as an Associate Process Engineer, focusing on process simulation software to analyse surface oil production. Over the years, she has grown into her current role as a General Field Engineer, successfully delivering projects and wells for national and multinational oil companies while maintaining stringent safety standards.
“I am proud of consistently delivering on projects and pioneering several initiatives in all these roles,” she tells AEC.
For Olanrewaju, the energy sector presents endless growth opportunities.
“One key strategy that helped me particularly was to take ownership of my career by being proactive in developing my technical skills and leadership abilities. It is important for young women to believe in their expertise and growth as the energy sector is often male-dominated, which can present unique gender-related challenges. With the right mindset, one can achieve much more than initially thought possible.”
Olanrewaju envisions a future where renewable energy plays a larger role in global energy production while incorporating advanced technologies like AI and automation.
“I see myself contributing to this by leveraging my field expertise to support the industry’s push towards sustainability and efficiency, which can be implemented through new technologies in wellhead operations or transitioning into roles focused on clean energy solutions.”
Ifeoma Adeoye:
court over the ownership dispute,” she shared with AEC.
As a managing partner in Compos Mentis, Dafe-Akpedeye leads her team in representing international energy companies in complex disputes involving local communities and government agencies.
“One of my most important wins was against the House of Representatives, successfully protecting my client against the legislature’s undue incursion into its rights to award and terminate contracts,” she recalled.
Regarding challenges in the industry, she noted that constant changes in laws and regulations can be overwhelming.
“For instance, in Nigeria, since the introduction of the Petroleum Industry Act and changes in the names and constitution of the regulators, the industry has been inundated by a barrage of laws and regulations,” she explained.
In addition to her legal career, DafeAkpedeye manages three businesses across
A serial entrepreneur, Ifeoma Adeoye is the CEO of IMSE Energy Resources Limited, a leading oil services company specialising in engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) solutions. Under her leadership, the company has also pioneered innovative crude evacuation technology. A graduate of Economics from the University of Manchester, Adeoye has always been drawn to the energy sector. However, she acknowledges that one of her biggest challenges has been “finding my way and place as a woman in the industry while holding on to my core values and proving my competence in service delivery.”
Also a motivational speaker, Adeoye advises young females aspiring to work in the energy sector to be “patient with themselves and the journey and to prioritise competence over superficiality. It is your competence that would give you longevity and success in the industry.”
Looking ahead, Adeoye envisions a future where cross-border transactions in the energy industry become more seamless.
“Energy is a global concept and advancements in the industry come from the interactions of like-minded professionals – across borders and the entire value chain of the industry. I am building a world-class energy institution, IMSE Energy, that I know would outlive me and make a positive contribution to the creation of sustainable, clean and efficient energy solutions for the benefit of the entire world.”
Beyond IMSE Energy, Adeoye is also the founder of Business Nest Investments and BNI Insurance Brokers Limited, which focus on empowering and protecting people and businesses through microfinance and insurance.
Adeoye
Agu
Dafe-Akpedeye
Olanrewaju
Stories by Vanessa Obioha
After captivating audiences worldwide with its intense kitchen battles and appealing cast of chefs, Netflix’s Korean cooking sensation Culinary Class Wars is set to return for a highly anticipated second season. Following rave reviews for its gripping format, Netflix has given the green light to continue the culinary drama.
Described as entertaining, cutthroat, and ambitious, Culinary Class Wars debuted on the streaming platform in September, bringing a unique twist to the cooking competition genre. One hundred chefs were divided into two classes: Black and White Spoons. The White Spoons represent experienced and celebrity chefs, while the Black Spoons are skilled up-and-comers — chefs and restaurateurs who were only identified by their monikers throughout the show. This setup allowed for a diverse cast of characters to take centre stage in the first episode.
Viewers were introduced to intriguing personalities like Triple Star, who dreams of winning a Michelin three-star rating, Napoli Matfia, who is skilled in Italian cooking, and Cooking Maniac, who simply can’t stop cooking. Other standout contestants included Comic Book Chef, whose dishes are inspired by comic books, and Genius Restaurateur, whose restaurants are always packed. Eccentric chefs like Chirpy, who wore a bird mask, Hidden Gem, with his elaborate hat, and King Bibim, known for his expertise in the popular Korean dish Bibimbap, added flair to the show.
For the 80 Black Spoons, the competition was a fierce battle for survival as they vied for a seat at the table. The first round saw them competing for a spot in the top 20, where they would face off against the more established White Spoons.
The judges, famous Korean restaurateur Paik Jong-won and chef Ahn Sung-Jae, who runs the country’s only Michelin three-star restaurant, Mosu Seoul, didn’t hesitate to make swift eliminations. Each dish was tasted, judged, and the fate of the chefs was determined on the spot, heightening the tension.
Subsequent episodes featured both individual and team challenges, showcasing not only the flames and flavours of the kitchen but also the business acumen required in the culinary world.
Written by Mo Eun-sol from Studio Slam and produced by Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, Culinary Class Wars brought all the drama expected from a cooking competition but with even more heat. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger, and the carefully crafted characters keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Not all judging duties, however, were left to Paik and Ahn. Outsiders were invited to partake in the culinary battles. Some of these guest judges were familiar faces, while others were hidden.
Netflix Renews Hit Korean Cooking Show ‘Culinary Class Wars’ for a Sizzling Second Season
This added another layer of unpredictability.
While most cooking show productions tend to be modest, Culinary Class Wars goes beyond with challenges staged on large, theatrical sets. This gives the show a cinematic feel that often brings to mind the gripping tension of ‘Squid Game,’ another internationally acclaimed Korean series. Like ‘Squid Game,’ Culinary Class Wars keeps viewers on edge with high-stakes competitions, where both skill and strategy are put to the test.
The cooking show also made history, becoming the first Korean unscripted series to top Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list for three consecutive weeks.
“We’re delighted to announce the production of Culinary Class Wars Season 2, driven by the incredible fan response both in Korea and around the world,” said Yoo Ki-hwan, the director of content at Netflix Korea. “Bringing a show of this scale to life requires immense effort, and we’re deeply grateful for the love and enthusiasm we’ve received so far. As we continue to expand our unscripted offerings, we look forward to bringing even more distinctive and exciting shows to our audience in the near future.”
With Napoli Matfia crowned as the winner of the first season, taking home the prize money of 300 million won (approximately $225,000), viewers are anticipating a second season that would probably feature more culinary battles and larger-than-life personalities in the kitchen.
‘Jazzhole, a revered cultural institution in Lagos with over 30 years of history, was recently recognised by Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM for its immense contributions to preserving Nigerian music and its role in connecting local talent to the global cultural scene.
As one of the five global winners of the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative, Jazzhole received £10,000 in funding and support from both Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM.
The collaboration enabled the production and digitisation of two compilation LPs featuring previously unreleased recordings by prolific indigenous artists, covering iconic genres like Afro-Funk, Afrobeat, Palm Wine, JuJu, and Highlife.
“We are immensely grateful to Monkey
AMAA 2024: Over 60 African
Film Stars to Grace Gala Night
Femi Adebayo, Lydia Forson, Osita Iheme to attend
As the countdown to the 20th anniversary of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) begins, organisers have announced the African film stars who will be gracing the gala night. They include Nigeria’s Femi Adebayo, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Osita Iheme, Ghana’s Jackie Appiah, Kenya’s Kenneth Ambani, and Burkina Faso’s Charles Koutou.
This was recently confirmed by Mr. Raymond AnyiamOsigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of AMAA, and communicated by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Tony Anih, after a recent meeting of the board of the Africa Film Academy, owners of AMAA.
According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the outcome of the board meeting revealed that over 60 African film stars will attend the event as well as a long list of activities lined up for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the continental awards ceremony.
“The 20th edition of the AMAA is a big deal and the board of AFA, owners of the continental film awards have concluded to roll out drums and make this edition memorable to all African filmmakers, creatives, nominees, and everyone who had ever been on the AMAA stage.
“We are not just going to be rolling out in a big way, we
are intentional about making the 20th edition one of the best AMAAs that Africans will celebrate the gathering of over 60 African film practitioners and creatives. This has always been what our late sister and founder, Peace Maria Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe had been planning and wished for before her death and we will actualize the dream to the glory of God, the legacy of PMO and lofty strides of the African film sector,” Mr Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe said Confirmed attendees so far include Lydia Forson, Chinedu Ikedieze, Micheal Majid, Adjetey Anna, Morris Sam, and Zuby Micheals.
Other activities lined up for the 20th edition include the launch of the AMAA coffee book on Friday, October 25 at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, GRA, Lagos. This will be followed by a two-day AMAA Africa fashion show and trade exhibition between October 31 and November 1, 2024, at the Amore Gardens, Lekki, Phase I, Lagos.
The AMAA Africa Night of Legends takes over on Friday, November 1 at the Amore Gardens, after which the gala night cum awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos.
Shoulder for their incredible support through the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative,” said Olakunle Tejuoso, founder of Jazzhole.
“This partnership has allowed us to breathe new life into rare and unreleased recordings that showcase Nigeria’s rich musical history, preserving the essence of African music for future generations and sharing this cultural treasure with the world.”
Held at Waterside, Lekki, the event was also a celebration of the broader global grassroots music culture that Studio Monkey Shoulder champions. Attendees included finalists from the Studio Monkey Shoulder competition as well as personalities in the Nigerian culture scene, including VJ Adams, Ike Onyema, Bizzle Osikoya, Joey Akan, Lord Sky, Chigozie Obi, Yetunde Kuti, Crowd Kontroller, Dope Caesar, and more.
The team at worldwide FM
Netflix Culinary Class wars
Lydia Forson to grace AMAA 2024
Famed for his unique fashion show, Fashion Art Fusion, which features visual art, performance poetry and music on the runway, Austin Aimankhu, the CEO of the men’s fashion brand Luzol, is on a mission to put the rich Nigerian textile tradition on the global map, Vanessa Obioha writes
edited by: VAN e SSA o BI o HA/vanessa.obioha@thisdaylive.com.
We are Calling for a National Policy on Nigerian Textile Tradition
Austin Aimankhu stands out for two defining features: his distinct appearance and his choice of attire. His signature afro, streaked with grey, is like a miniature Soyinka haircut. His wardrobe is equally notable, as Aimankhu is usually dressed in attires made of a variety of Nigerian fabrics- adire, aso-oke, or ange.
Aimankhu is a man driven by a passion for showcasing Nigeria’s traditional fabrics on the global stage. As CEO of Luzol, a men’s fashion brand, and founder of Fashion Art Fusion—a unique show blending fashion, visual art, poetry, and music—Aimankhu has made it his life’s goal to celebrate and elevate the nation’s textile heritage.
Originally trained as a lawyer, Aimankhu’s transition to fashion was inspired by a desire to bring Nigerian fabrics to the forefront of contemporary design. After apprenticing with renowned designer KeseJabari, he further honed his skills at Yaba College of Technology and Lagos Business School, acquiring the technical and business acumen necessary to build his fashion empire.
His mission took on new life with the launch of the Wear Nigeria campaign in 2016, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and Culture. The initial plan that year for FAF was to have a three-day event that would feature an exhibition of Nigerian fabrics and a fashion show. Despite the challenges posed by an economic recession that year, Aimankhu pushed forward, organising exhibitions and fashion shows to promote local fabrics like adire, aso-oke, and akwete. The campaign remained a central theme of subsequent editions of ‘Fashion Art Fusion.’
Eight years on, Aimankhu’s commitment is stronger than ever. His passion was palpable on a recent Tuesday afternoon.
“A lot of Nigerians don’t even know their traditional textile,” he noted, citing examples like the akwete fabric, native to the Igbo people.
“People tend to say the Nigerian textile industry is dead, yeah, the print is dead because that was an industry that was considered the biggest employer of labour about 40 years ago.”
Despite the grim outlook, Aimankhu sees hope in the thriving artisanal fabric sector.
“There’s an aspect of the textile industry that is not dead, that is vibrant and that’s our local textiles. It has employed, and is still employing quite a huge number of people in our countryside. Every region in this country produces its own unique textile. We have the akwete in the South-east, igbulu in Esan land in Edo. We have the popular aso-oke and ange from the north, but it’s a tradition that is dying.”
To preserve this rich tradition, Aimankhu is advocating for a national policy that would protect and promote indigenous fabrics.
“We are calling for a national policy to intervene in this aspect because the Nigerian textile industry employs not only the youths but also women who are mainly the weavers. However, because the production is very intensive, it is not encouraging for younger ones to come into the industry. This area is so critical that it needs serious policy intervention for profit and investment of the private sector.”
To achieve this, Aimankhu called for a scientific approach to supporting the industry, including detailed mapping of
producers and their needs.
“We need to map. We need to have a database that has all this information about these people. Who are the people producing these fabrics? What do they really need? How can we intervene? How can we help them to scale?
“We believe that if the right policies are put in place, if these people have the right support system, they will be empowered.”
A longtime advocate for cultural initiatives, Aimankhu has participated in efforts to encourage wearing Nigerian-made textiles. He recalled his participation at the 2016 Culture Summit in Abuja, where, as a delegate, he advocated for a dress policy that would encourage Nigerians to wear Nigerian fabric.
“Of course, the government cannot tell the private sector what to wear, but the plan was to encourage civil servants to at least wear Nigerian textiles twice a week.”
It is against this backdrop that Aimankhu is launching a standalone Wear Nigeria project in November 2024, under the theme ‘Textile as a Tool for Empowerment and Sustainability.’
The three-day event, which will run from November 8 to 10, will include a symposium, an exhibition, and a fashion show, all aimed at raising awareness of the importance of Nigerian fabrics.
The symposium will kick off on November 8 at Alliance Francaise in Ikoyi, Lagos, and will feature discussions on empowering local textile producers,
“The whole essence of the symposium is to create a platform where we can judge the significance of these textiles; how we can help its production and demand and empower people who are practitioners in that sector,” he explained adding that representatives from the Lagos
State Government and the federal government and other notable players in the sector will be featured.
The ‘Wear Nigeria’ exhibition will kick off immediately after the symposium and will run till the following day, November 9 at the same venue.
“The exhibition will showcase different things that can be done with Nigerian textiles. Participants from different parts of the country will display their unique Nigerian textile.”
On November 10, the fashion show will take centre stage at the Oriental
20 talented fashion designers who will showcase stunning creations made from locally sourced fabrics on the runway.
Aimankhu’s vision for the runway show extends beyond fashion to the integration of technology and innovation in textile production. “Some of these fabrics are only used occasionally but if we can promote these fabrics for daily use on the runway, patronage will increase, producers will earn more, and the industry will grow.”
As his tradition, the runway show will not be limited to fashion but will include poetry, dance and spoken words.
Although Aimankhu has the backing of the Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy and the Lagos State Government, he has equally found a worthy partner in Soji Odedina, the Group Managing Director of First Katalyst Marketing, whose vision aligns with his.
“We are sitting on a product that can change the fortune of Nigeria and Nigerians,” said Odedina. “The Nigerian Orientation Agency wants to build a Nigerian identity, but how else can we build that if not through our creative cultures such as food, music, film and fashion? If we want this economy to recover, these are the ways to go.”
Odedina also warned that if we don’t protect our local fabrics, there is a high tendency for the Chinese to take over the production of these fabrics in the next three years.
For Aimankhu, there is no better time to have a national policy on Nigerian textile tradition than now.
“There is a unique opportunity presented by the availability of highquality local fabrics, hand woven and hand processed, which are aesthetically distinctive and need the support of enabling regulatory framework and policies as well as investment to upgrade artisanal production capacity so that craft producers can produce in greater quantities and more reliable quality. A vibrant, reliable cost-effective textile production will make affordable Nigerian-made textiles which will thus stimulate economic growth, provide decent employment opportunities, sustainable fashion, youth employment and gender equality,” he concluded.
Aimankhu
HighLife
Iyiola Omisore to the Rescue
Kamorudeen Adabanija, a loyalist of former governor Rauf Aregbesola, was recently arrested for defaming Minister Gboyega Oyetola. His Facebook post alleged that Oyetola used bags of rice from President Bola Tinubu as souvenirs for his birthday. This accusation led to his arrest and sparked outrage among some members of the Osun State political scene.
Upon his release, Adabanija reflected on his time in custody and the people he once attacked. He publicly expressed newfound admiration for Senator Iyiola Omisore, whom he had previously defamed. In his words, he never truly understood Omisore’s tolerance until he faced legal consequences himself.
Before this, Adabanija had repeatedly labelled Omisore a murderer, referencing old allegations from which Omisore had been acquitted. He admitted to tagging Omisore on social media with defamatory accusations multiple times. After his arrest, however, his perspective changed dramatically.
In an unexpected twist, Adabanija apologised to Omisore, stating that no amount of insult or defamation could justify his previous behaviour. He acknowledged Omisore’s political tolerance and grace in not retaliating against the insults. This transformation of opinion left many surprised, seeing the very man who once hurled insults now praising his former target.
Omisore, a former deputy governor and senator, is known for his resilience and political maturity. His silence amid these insults had always puzzled many in political circles. The recent apology from Adabanija only confirmed Omisore’s reputation for patience in the face of slander.
Adabanija’s testimony has ignited discussions across the state. While some support his public repentance, others question the sudden change of heart, especially given the severity of his earlier allegations. Still, many see this as a powerful example of Omisore’s ability to rise above personal attacks.
with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com
...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous
Can PDP Present a United Front… As Governors Fail to Resolve Crisis
As the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, party members and observers are asking, “Is this a party of interests or what?” At the centre of this ongoing conflict are two factional chairmen, each laying claim to the leadership. What began as internal disagreements has now escalated into a full-blown clash, with both sides refusing to yield.
According to some experts, the origins of the PDP’s current troubles can be traced back to 2022. Internal rifts started appearing after the suspension of key party officials by the National Working Committee (NWC). The polarisation worsened more recently when factional leaders Yayari Mohammed and Umar Damagum emerged, with each faction claiming to have the legal authority to lead.
The first act took the form of the Damagum-led faction announcing the suspension of two high-ranking officials. In response, Mohammed’s faction announced their own suspensions, including Damagum himself. And even though the Federal High
Olusegun Runsewe has become a symbol of Nigeria’s art and culture. His commitment to putting Nigeria on the world map is undeniable. From his time as Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), he revitalised Nigeria’s cultural
Court in Abuja stepped in, ruling in favour of Damagum as the legitimate acting national chairman, tensions have remained high.
PDP governors have even attempted to mediate. But so far, their efforts have yielded little success. A meeting recently held by the PDP Governors Forum was inconclusive. It seems as if the absence of unity among the governors themselves has only exacerbated the situation.
is found soon, the implications could be disastrous for the PDP. Without a clear leader, the party could become progressively weaker ahead of future elections. More factions may even emerge to battle for control, which would undoubtedly leave the party more fractured and vulnerable.
At the moment, it is believed that the next critical moment for the party will come at the scheduled NEC meeting on October 24, 2024. Here, the party is expected to decide whether to elect a new national chairman or form a caretaker committee.
With these ongoing events, can PDP still
present a united front? Is this just a power struggle, as some insiders suggest, or is it a sign of deeper issues within the party’s structure? Only time will tell if the PDP can emerge from this crisis intact.
How Olusegun Runsewe Put Nigeria’s Art and Culture on World Map
presence both locally and internationally. Even though he no longer holds this position, his contributions continue to shape the nation’s cultural landscape.
While he was NCAC DG, Runsewe’s achievements were not just about titles and positions. He genuinely believed in using culture as a unifying force for Nigeria’s diverse population. After the country’s years of division and hardship, his efforts through the arts provided a way to heal.
Under his leadership, Nigeria’s participation in global events grew exponentially. He positioned the country as a key player in tourism and culture, making sure that Nigeria was not just a footnote but a focal point in international discussions. Exhibitions in Spain, Germany, and London were just
a few examples where he ensured Nigeria’s presence.
One of Runsewe’s lasting legacies is the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST). Before he took over, the event had lost its appeal and purpose. Yet, under his guidance, the festival is now a major event in Nigeria, eagerly awaited each year, and a symbol of national unity and pride.
In Abuja, Runsewe’s efforts went beyond festivals. He fought tirelessly to recover and renovate the Abuja Cultural Market, a space that had fallen into disrepair. Thanks to his persistence, the market became a destination for tourists and a platform for showcasing Nigeria’s culture, benefiting not just the arts sector but the nation as a whole.
Good News as Belemaoil Resumes Oil Production at OML 55
Three years ago, Belemaoil found itself in deep waters when oil theft brought operations at OML 55 to a complete halt. The shutdown caused by the extensive damage to their delivery line was a heavy blow. However, after years of struggle, Belemaoil has finally resumed production, bringing a glimmer of hope to the company and its stakeholders.
This revival is a significant milestone for Belemaoil. They produce around 14,000 barrels of oil daily, along with over 70 million standard cubic feet of gas. With a new floating oil storage vessel in place, the company is now fully operational again at OML 55.
Despite Belemaoil’s evident progress, the scars of the past are still visible. The road to recovery has been rough, but the determination of the founder and board of directors is clear.
A few days ago, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, celebrated his 50th birthday. The grand event drew attention far and wide, and well-wishers from across Nigeria and beyond gathered to honour this beloved monarch.
Oba Ogunwusi ascended the throne in 2015, determined to not only inherit the ancient responsibilities of his forefathers but also carry the weight with dignity. In this, he has ticked the boxes. From spiritual leadership to the preservation of culture, Oba Ogunwusi has remained a steady hand for the Yoruba people. In many ways, the Ooni has exceeded expectations. Not only has he brought innovation and development to Ile-Ife; but under the king’s reign, the town has experienced an architectural transformation, elevating it as a
Belemaoil acquired OML 55 from Chevron in 2015, and the recent turnaround in operations has reignited hopes of long-term success. But the oil industry remains a jungle where the tall trees are constantly shaken by the winds of trouble. As some experts have pointed out, Belemaoil isn’t completely out of the woods. A court order has recently painted the company in a darker light. Apparently, they are embroiled in a legal battle over a $21 million debt related to services rendered. The judgement, though appealed, shows that even as one problem ends, another often begins. Currently, Belemaoil is appealing the decision, hoping to clear its name. Nevertheless, “The tree that bears fruit will always attract stones,” as the saying goes. So, Belemaoil, though thriving now, still has battles to fight.
The World Celebrates of Oba
Adeyeye
Ogunwusi at 50
tourist destination while preserving its rich heritage.
Oba Ogunwusi’s influence has not been confined to the palace; his impact on the community is seen in the empowerment initiatives for youth and women. This impact reflects his deep concern for the future of his people.
Bearing the burden of kingship is never easy, but Oba Ogunwusi has done so with grace. He has reconciled long-standing rivalries among Yoruba kings, notably building bridges with the Alaafin of Oyo. This act alone demonstrated his commitment to unity and peace, earning him respect not just within the Yoruba kingdom but across Nigeria.
It is said that a king’s strength is in his wisdom, and Oba Ogunwusi has proven this time and again. But much can also be said about his philanthropic work, which just goes to exemplify his character.
Danjuma
omisore
runsewe
Jack-rich Tein Jr
oba ogunwusi
Sanwo-Olu’s Visionary Leadership Shines with the Launch of Lagos Red Line Rail Services
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has once again proven his commitment to transforming Lagos. With the flag-off of the Lagos Red Line Rail Services, a new era of public transportation has begun. This 27-kilometre rail service is a game-changer, poised to ease traffic woes and reduce travel time across key areas in Lagos.
The Red Line Rail Service is expected to serve 500,000 passengers daily, connecting vital hubs from Agbado to Oyingbo. This project showcases Sanwo-Olu’s forward-thinking approach to infrastructure. As Lagos grapples with a growing population, the Red Line offers an effective solution to daily transport challenges.
Sanwo-Olu’s leadership has not only been about transportation. From healthcare to sports, his initiatives consistently aim to improve
Seyi Tinubu: Family, Friends and Associates
Even now, Seyi Tinubu’s birthday is still being celebrated with joy across Nigeria. Known for his leadership and generosity, Seyi, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has earned respect far beyond his family ties. Many now see him as a figure of hope, especially among the youth population, who call him “The Prince of Villa” and “Oju Èko.”
Celebrities like Eniola Badmus have joined in showering praises on him. They describe Seyi as a visionary leader, dedicated to uplifting Nigeria’s young generation. His consistent philanthropy has specially made him beloved among many, as his actions speak louder than words.
Seyi’s recent birthday was marked with close family and friends in an intimate gathering. His wife Layal shared touching moments from the celebration, showcasing the warmth and love surrounding him.
Beyond celebrations, Seyi has been active in humanitarian efforts, even in maternal and child health. His donation of a drug bank to
Nigerian Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, will visit Russia from November 9 to 10 to participate in the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum’s first ministerial conference. This visit builds on a long-standing relationship between Russia and Nigeria, one that many hope will bear fruit.
the lives of Lagosians. Programmes like the Lagos Active Challenge promote health and wellness and show his holistic approach to governance. Clearly, Sanwo-Olu’s actions are not just reactive but proactive, as they go on to address both current issues and long-term needs.
His commitment to public services can also be seen in areas like insurance and pensions. His administration’s support for the insurance industry highlights his dedication to securing the future of Lagos residents.
Such accomplishments set Sanwo-Olu apart from his peers. While other states struggle with basic services, Lagos under his leadership continues to soar. It is no wonder he is receiving recognition, including the highest honours at major industry events.
Nigeria’s First Son’s Birthday
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is one example of his commitment to public welfare. This initiative, among many, shows just how committed an ordinary person like him is to improving healthcare for Nigeria’s less privileged.
Seyi’s influence extends beyond philanthropy, which he has shown in actively responding to crises. His donation of N500 million to flood victims in Maiduguri has not been forgotten and has become the hallmark showing his readiness to help those in need. Such acts of kindness have endeared him to many, and people now associate his name with positive change.
Despite his efforts, Seyi has faced criticism, particularly on social media. When he called for patience in the face of Nigeria’s economic challenges, some were skeptical. However, many believe his intentions are genuine and grounded in his desire to see Nigeria succeed in the long run.
Seyi’s reputation continues to grow stronger.
With each passing year, he seems to embrace the responsibility of being Nigeria’s First Son with dignity and purpose. His actions may not please everyone, but they certainly leave a lasting impact on many.
Tuggar Returns to Russia: Nigeria’s Prospects at the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum
This is not Tuggar’s first time engaging with Russia. He previously visited Moscow for talks in March, where discussions focused on strengthening ties in areas like trade and infrastructure. Tuggar’s seasoned diplomacy at that time impressed many at home and offered hope for further concrete achievements. His return suggests a commitment to deepening this relationship.
Nigeria’s presence at the forum demonstrates its growing importance in Russia’s African strategy. It is clear that Russia has long viewed Nigeria as a priority partner on the continent. But, cordial relations aside, the two countries have yet to fully realise the potential of their partnership. Tuggar’s diplomacy might finally unlock long-delayed opportunities.
Tuggar has shown his ability to represent Nigeria’s interests in the past, notably during his tenure as Ambassador to Germany. His
Against All Odds, Dangote Refinery Pressing Forward
Against all odds, the Dangote Refinery project is pressing forward. Set to produce 20,000 barrels per day by the end of 2024, the refinery’s success could transform Nigeria’s energy landscape. After years of frustration, people are wondering if things will finally change for good.
Fuel shortages have plagued Nigeria for years, with long queues at petrol stations and frequent price fluctuations becoming a norm. Many Nigerians struggle daily to keep their businesses running as fuel prices rise. So, despite the optimism surrounding Dangote’s refinery, fears of continued scarcity linger among citizens.
While the refinery has faced crude supply challenges, recent developments suggest a shift. The Nigerian government, through the Federal Executive Council, has now ensured that local refineries can access crude oil in naira, rather than dollars. This change could ease the refinery’s supply issues, bringing stability to production in the coming months.
But the situation remains uncertain, especially since the NNPC ended its
exclusive supply agreement with the Dangote Refinery and ushered in new market dynamics. Some believe competition could drive down prices, while others worry about the refinery’s reliance on imported crude oil, which is priced in dollars. Essentially, every step forward seems matched by a new hurdle.
Despite these challenges, the refinery has shown resilience. It has been receiving its crude allocation, but tensions with international oil companies continue. As Nigeria’s number one refinery, experts believe that it holds the potential to ease the fuel crisis. However, even the most optimistic among these recognize that it needs stable supply channels to fulfil its promise.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s fuel crisis may be at a turning point, but the path remains uncertain. There are glimmers of hope as the refinery gears up for full production. Time is moving fast, and so is the heartbeat of the nation. But Nigerians are on their toes to see if this project will finally bring the relief they’ve longed for.
Gbenga Ashafa’s
Massive Love for Lagosians
Gbenga Ashafa’s love for Lagosians runs deep. Notwithstanding the fact that he is no longer holding a formal political position, he continues to engage with his constituents. His dedication to the people is unwavering. What better evidence is there of his love than that he remains a visible and active figure, and is always ensuring the welfare of Lagosians?
negotiation skills helped repatriate priceless Benin artefacts to Nigeria. Such accomplishments demonstrate his capability to deliver tangible results, raising hopes that his Russia visit will yield similar successes.
Expectations are high that this conference could bring fresh momentum to the NigeriaRussia relationship. Tuggar’s reputation as a diplomat who acts with both caution and resolve reassures many that the outcomes will be significant. Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, has much to gain if the relationship is further solidified.
The proverb, “He who brings back a lost cow is often celebrated,” well reflects the optimism surrounding Tuggar’s visit. While past efforts may not have delivered the most excellent results, this time, there is hope that the minister’s expertise will turn goodwill into tangible progress for Nigeria and Russia.
While serving as a senator, Ashafa earned a reputation for his compassion and commitment. His tenure was marked by projects that improved the lives of ordinary citizens. Many in Lagos East remember his contributions fondly, as his efforts in housing and transportation left a lasting impact. Even now, he supports community initiatives.
His exit from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has not slowed him down. Though he is no longer its Managing Director, Ashafa has always seen public service as a lifelong commitment, one not bound by titles or positions. Thus, the people of Lagos remain his priority.
Ashafa’s involvement in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is another testament to his dedication. He clearly believes in improving Nigeria and is actively contributing to this vision, much like the president. Here, they share something unbreakable.
Ashafa’s love for Lagos is especially clear in how he continues to give back. Even in challenging times, Ashafa remains steadfast, growing larger and larger in the eyes of his constituents. Presently, he is a symbol of resilience and compassion, with his actions proving that service to the people doesn’t end with a political career.
Without question, Ashafa embodies the saying “A river that forgets its source will dry up.” The man has not forgotten his roots, and Lagosians respect him for it. His tireless work reminds them that they can still count on him, regardless of his position.
Ashafa
Dangote
Tuggar
Sanwo-Olu
Allen o nyema: peace No l onger at e ase
This one is no longer Air Peace o. The air is troubled. During the past week, reports filled the airwaves on the expanded indictment of my hardworking brother and his finance person on charges of money laundering and obstruction of justice. They have swiftly refuted it, maintained their innocence and have told us that their lawyers are fighting it and that they are very sure that they will come out innocent. Whoever his communication experts are, they have run out of ideas. I swear, has the team not heard of going below the radar for now? Another amusing fact is that some people are now adding ethnic sentiments to it. I have heard comments such as because he is Igbo and also “fighting oyibo on the London route na him make dem one finish our brother.” Mbok, I cannot even put mouth on onyema
this. The sad thing is that one of the proponents of the ethnic sentiment is a PhD holder and a well-travelled individual. By the time he finished speaking, I had cholera. I kid you not. I rushed to the toilet to stool. Kai, ma basi, what an eruditely stupid submission. My brother Allen, my advice is for you to mortgage at least four of your planes and get the very best legal support in the world – I suggest the firm that represented OJ Simpson and even though the man don die, he still get staff because they know how to handle a very bad case. Explore diplomatic channels at the highest level and also engage influential international lobbyists because if your “Igbo” brothers distract you, we may be spending some time with P.Diddy. Mbok, fight this with sense. We are praying for you. Thank you.
GoDSwIll AkpAbIo: bewAre of IDeS of MArcH
Julius Ceaser was warned to beware the Ides of March, for my brother, na ides of all the months in the year. We have seen reports suggesting a posible movement against him by his colleagues. Though he has come out to refute it in a statement and has restated his committment to the Senate and to Nigeria, it is not yet over.
As my former school principal, Mr. DB Ajayi, use to say, a sinner runneth when no man pursueth. Akpabio is deeply unpopular but at the same time fun to have as Senate President.
Me as a person, I love the gaffes associated with him which makes me laugh and which I consider a small distraction from the vagaries of life in today’s Nigeria. His unpopularity I must say on the other hand stems from his almost insensitive outlook towards the plight of the average Nigerian and his inability to provide a strong bulwark against a ‘runaway’ executive arm of government. So do you think, I support the removal of Akpabio as Senate President? The answer is No ooo. For the simple reason that if you
take a cursory look at that hall, you will understand my position. There is no other uncommon senator in that hall.. One who will understabd the strategic importance of eating while we are protesting.
How many of them can fill a stadium endorsing him ‘life’ senator and in attendance the sitting governor from another party? Mbok, they should leave our Akpabio for us o. He is the only one from Akwa Ibom that we have o.
MArTINS oTSe: VerY DArk probleM
For me, this was a very dark person. You got hold of a private conversation, forgetting the illegality of recording someone without his consent, and released it with full commentary, and some yeye lawyers were telling me that it is not defamation.
Me that the closest I have gone near Law school is standing by the bus stop opposite the place on Victoria Island, siddon here in Shomolu knows that it was defamation with capital letters. I did not do this much when Chief Afe Babalola slammed me with a letter of criminal defamation. I rushed to Ekiti, carried all the big juju men I know from Ekiti to go
and prostate, and even offered to have a haircut.
They even gave you time to apologise and retract and you were still playing to the gallery, only to go to the National Assembly after the deadline had been over to apologise. Mbok, they have slammed you with a judgment and I am here laughing.
Another source of worry that I am having here is the kind of lawyers that we are churning out these days. Some of these lawyers no really get sense o. Come and see the way they were even arguing with me all over the place when it was very clear that this very dark person was in the wrong.
Now judgment has come and the young man is left alone to his fate. I really hope his many followers will not desert him now especially as it is looking like there is monetary liability attached to the judgment.
A very dark place to be. Na wa.
THe fAlANAS, pleASe leAVe bobrISkY AloNe
The Falanas are beginning to look like one major reality show. The elder patriarch with a strong and rich pedigree in advocacy, human rights and power play;
the handsome and very successful son who is a celebrity rapper and part-time social crusader, and the beautiful daughter who I am just seeing and falling in love with. Mbok, the lady is beautiful. I didn’t know that she even existed let alone her flawless beauty and elocution, and then the Mummy who is also a SAN but has remained quiet in all of this drama.
The way they are going, MultiChoice will start to consider using them to replace their weak Big Brother Naija show.
My major push to the Falanas is to kindly leave Bobrisky out of this round. The guy/babe has suffered enough, you can see that his/her makeup is falling off from worry.
The man was “jejely” giving his friend private “fabu” in my estimation. People say all sorts privately to either cajole them into bed or make them vote for them in the Edo election or make them support Wike over Fubara. Maybe that was what Bob was doing to his friend in a very private conversation and enemies within leaked the thing to basket mouth who rushed to publish without reaching out to you for your position, without reaching out to Bob for confirmation, without
otse Akpabio falana
ekong
any investigation – basic tenets of journalism - now you are chasing the “fabulist.”
If it is that one, by the time you check my own private conversations on this matter,na firing squad you will order for me. So, my great friends, the Falanas, Bob is not your man, he has kuku said it was not him on the recording and that you should go and meet the man who released it to tell you who was on that thing. How can he apologise for something he claims not to know? In fact, he can even say he was at the salon washing his hair at the time of the recording.
Let us face this very dark fiend because he brought it to the public.
Nigerians had better reward me with an honorary Law degree with the way I am going o. It looks like I have more sense than some lawyers. I have more sense than Samson, the lawyer from Mushin who called me one Saturday and spoke to me for over one hour on the matter and by the time he finished, if I had seen the Oga of Law School, I for slap am for allowing such a person to pass through his school.
Troo ST e ko N g: T HAT wAS A kIDNA p
As I watched the videos coming out of the Libyan situation with our football team, the only thing that came to my mind was that this was a hostage situation. I don’t know why people are not saying it for what it was- a true hostage situation.
Or how do you explain dropping us in a nondescript airport, no food or water, no communication with officials, refusal to allow them to go near the exit door, verbal abuse as reported - my people, the only thing missing na request for ransom money. Maybe they have seen how broke we are and must have felt that these ones cannot pay o. But they failed to realise that we have Seyi. Seyi Tinubu would have paid anything to get our boys out. For me, I think Nigeria should make a formal report to the International Court of Justice at the Hague for kidnap, assault and trauma. This one is no longer football; this one was terrorism by other means.
Saying that they too went through the same ordeal and didn’t complain is crap. What they went through in Nigeria was caused by them.
Nigeria should go for their expulsion and if there is any other punishment higher than that, we push for it. This was criminal. Thank you.
INDermIT gIll, IT’S NoT YoUr FAUlT
This World Bank person, carrying his shaggy beard and looking very unkempt, opened his mouth to say that we must stay the course for another 15 years in this hardship. Mbok, this his lecture, he should have come to give it in Shomolu and after, we ask him to walk to his car alone and through the crowd then he will know just how Nigerians feel about his talk and his “paddy” government.
So, in one year, fuel has moved from where it was to where it is
now, a crate of eggs has moved from where it was to where it is now, per hour hotel rooms have moved from where it was to where it is now and this one is saying 15 years by which time we would have all turned into the ghosts who danced for Michael Jackson in his Thriller video. These are the kinds of people who are advising this government, making them impervious to the cries and sufferings of the people. People are dying and yet the screws keep tightening and this “mulla” is saying that we should endure not for 15 months but 15 years.
Mbok, what kind of “mumu” talk
is that na. Is he saying there can be no alternative? Didn’t Obasanjo ask Babangida for a human face to his SAP? It appears this person and his friends in government have no real humanity, otherwise, this will not be happening, I tell you. Fifteen years ko, 15 years ni. Mshewwww. IT wASN’T lUckY AIYeDATIwA
I should not be laughing but could not help it when I saw reports that suggested that it was the Ondo State Governor who was in the clip. I had watched the clip and saw something else- the wickedness of a woman. The Baba was walking away and the woman suddenly
HerberT wI gwe:
l e Ave H I m b e p le AS e
My attention was drawn to one lazy man’s post on social media during the week. Wearing a red cap and looking like “Zoro,” the sword man, he alleged all sorts of things including the “forgetting of Herbert’s legacy in the fifteen achievements of Access Bank since his demise.”
Immediately I saw it, I rushed to the comment section to have a feel of what Nigerians thought about this and very unusually over 80% of comments were against him and rightly so.
People just wake up in the morning and because the cost of eggs is now very prohibitive and out of hunger, just pull things from the sky to cause confusion and anarchy just for the fun of it.
The man said he was Herbert’s private media person, whatever that means abeg.
As we were struggling with that one, the next thing was news circulating that Pastor Wigwe, Herbert’s 90-year-old father was taking his legacy custodians to court asking for 20% of his assets.
I have also seen a report allegedly issued by the old man falsifying the other report and asking to be
left alone.
I think very strongly that the family and those very close to them be left alone to handle this massive loss which I think they are still struggling with.
Imagine losing a man, his wife and his son in one day – an ironical and perfect culling – and a few months later, redcapped zombies are all over the media trying to stir needless controversy. Who the hell are you to want to fight for his legacy even if the legacy is under threat? On what grounds are you standing and on what information are you riding on? Funny.
My talks within the core critical circle of Herbert’s family and associates show that nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, I reported here last week that his daughter, Tochi, had just been appointed to the board of the HOW Foundation, so what are we talking about?
Please let Herbert’s genuine friends be left alone to cry our cry ooo. This is still very very very painful. Let us cry our tears.
grabbed the man’s shirt and started screaming that he had beaten her. You see what men suffer at the hands of these kinds of women. If there was no video footage, that is how we would have lost another man.
But the Ondo opposition people saw something else in the footagean opportunity for mischief. They said, oh that was Lucky feeling very unlucky in a tryst, turning Ondo State Government officials into plastic surgeons.
Come and see how they took the two faces and dissected them –Lucky has no gap teeth, the man has. Lucky has high cheekbones; the man has low cheekbones. The man skin dry, Lucky own wet. The man beard is slim, Lucky own wide. Long and short, it wasn’t him. Na wa.
rUFAI oSeNI: A THorN IN wHIcH FleSH?
This one will be thinking he is a thorn in the flesh. He will be sitting down in the studio and be postulating like say na him get Nigeria. Ohhh Tinubu’s eyes are too large, Wike looks scrawny, ElRufai cannot speak English; he will be shouting on the set and mumu people will be hailing him.
Rufai used to be my friend but now I don’t like him again, he is now very slim. What you people do not know is that Rufai used to be very big- as in fat. His potbelly was out of this world and now that he has lost weight he will be yabbing everybody. I think that Rufai is not any thorn in anybody’s flesh, I can tell you that. He is but a pimple that thinks he is a full-grown boil and it is as a result of this that I challenge him to a debate on any issue of his choice to naked him once and for all. See, it is not even me that will debate him, it is that tall Mulatto spokesman, the one that just resigned abi sacked, that is the one that will give him fire for fire. My dislike for Rufai and what he stands for is so palpable that this December, at the Muson I will reveal all of his secrets so that his enemies can come and catch him. Should I release one now? Oya take this – Rufai does not take an evening bath, he goes to sleep sweaty and in the nude. There you go, that is just one and I have over 100. This December, I will strip Rufai naked and the whole world will see what he truly is – a very short dark man. Kai.
SUNDAY IgboHo: ToUrIST IN TrANSIT
What was that? Going to seek whatever at No 10 Downing Street? I don’t believe that that was the real Downing Street o. My friend, Yemi Edun, has that same door and fence in his office in that same London. Yes, I have been there before and I also took pictures and if nobody tells you, you will think it is the real Number 10.
So that is what I am telling myself or how else can you explain such an “idiotic” move of going to submit whatever to the British Government? I don’t understand. Is the British Government INEC or what?
My people, let us just assume that it was Yemi Edun’s office he went to and not the real Number 10 so we fit rest. Thank you.
Bola Shagaya Delights at 65
Bola Shagaya! What does that name mean to you? The name means different things to those who know the accomplished businesswoman well. Shagaya is known as one of the women in this part of the continent who has made the womenfolk proud.
The Kwara State-born businesswoman is known for her unwavering dedication, indefatigable spirit and impressive track record. She has continuously demonstrated her ability to work wonders in Nigeria’s business circle, treading where other investors are afraid to try.
With her remarkable achievements, the billionaire serial entrepreneur has become the envy of many and a symbol of accomplishment. Standing head and shoulders above her contemporaries, this formidable and dynamic woman is brimming with ingenuity and creativity, with her hands in many pies, including oil, real estate, banking and
communications.
On Friday, October 10, 2024, the world literally stood still when the exemplary entrepreneur clocked 65. The business tycoon was celebrated by all and sundry who showered encomium on her, including President Bola Tinubu.
As gathered, in a letter signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the founder and CEO of Bolmus Group International was hailed for her contribution to the nation’s economic growth, particularly through her diverse business investments in industries such as oil, real estate, banking, and communications and also for her philanthropic endeavours that have touched the lives of many Nigerians.
President Tinubu extended his heartfelt wishes for the continued health and happiness of the trailblazing entrepreneur.
With her poise and resilience, Hafsat Balewa, Chairman of Nigeria’s Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, embodies the spirit of empowerment, inspiring those around her through her commitment to uplifting communities and promoting economic growth.
Those familiar with her can attest to her signifcant impact. She spearheaded groundbreaking innovations and reinvented the sector, pushing it to unparalleled heights.
Society Watch gathered that she has once again exhibited her remarkable infuence and leadership on a global stage.
Recently, she made waves at the 10th Annual World Congress of the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) in Dubai, an event held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Her presence at this prestigious gathering was not just a personal triumph; it symbolised the growing signifcance of African nations in the global free zone sector.
Her contributions emphasised the vital role that African free zones play in the global trade landscape. She articulated the transformative potential of these zones in shaping the future of international commerce. Her insights resonated with delegates from around the world, reinforcing the idea that Africa is not only a participant in the global economy but a key player poised for growth and innovation.
The congress celebrated a decade of achievements in the free zone sector, showcasing success stories and strategic initiatives that have driven economic transformation across various regions. Her engagement underscored the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in advancing the collective goals of free zones globally.
As she shone brightly in Dubai, this reaffrmed her commitment to fostering partnerships and promoting sustainable development for African free zones to be recognised as essential drivers of economic progress, capable of attracting investment and facilitating trade on an international scale.
Kunle Soname’s Inspiring Entrepreneurial Skills
Kunle Soname, businessman and Chairman of ValueJet, has oftentimes proved to many that he is just not one of your runoff-the-mills businessmen. It is generally agreed that his business acumen is worthy of study by other entrepreneurs and aspiring businessmen.
Even many others have described the astute businessman as a soldier and a champion. But for those who know him well, he is simply a strategist and serial winner.
His many stories of happy endings have confounded many, leaving even the naysayers to acknowledge the abundance of God’s grace and wisdom in him. His feats as a hugely successful player in the dangerous and turbulent Nigeria’s business sector are acknowledged, while his audacity to face challenges has made him a role model for young aspiring businessmen trying to climb the rope of success.
When he veered into aviation in 2018, no
Ajisafe Fayose Launches Philanthropic Endeavour
Otunba Ajisafe Fayose is set to transform Afao Ekiti into a hub of hope and generosity on November 3, 2024, at the official launch of his philanthropic endeavour, the Otunba Emmanuel Ajisafe Fayose Foundation.
The highly anticipated event promises to be a game-changer for the underprivileged in the region, offering free food, cash incentives, and scholarships for students from secondary school to university. It was gathered that residents of Afao, Are, Iworoko, Orun, and Igbemo Ekiti are gearing up for a day of celebration, with royal fathers, community leaders, and local stakeholders expected to join in the festivities. Fayose’s mission is clear: to provide much-needed support to those facing economic hardships and to empower the people of Ekiti.
According to a source, Otunba Fayose has planned to replicate these charitable activities across all three geopolitical zones of the state,
ensuring that no one is left behind.
The agenda for the day is packed with generosity; free food and drink, a feast for the community to enjoy, ensuring no one remains hungry. He also plans cash incentives, direct financial support aimed at alleviating immediate struggles, and educational scholarships for a transformative opportunity for students, with sponsorships extending from secondary school to the university level. The event is being hailed as a beacon of hope amid the ongoing challenges faced by many in the region.
As excitement builds, residents are eager to partake in what is shaping up to be a historic occasion. With the involvement of local clergymen, business figures, and an array of community representatives, this initiative not only aims to distribute aid but also to strengthen communal bonds and inspire a collective effort towards a brighter future.
one doubted his ability to make success with whatever he laid his hands on. The reason is not far-fetched – they are aware that anything he touches turns to gold.
The Valuejet he launched two years ago has risen to become one of the best in the sector, putting Nigeria’s name on the global map in the aviation sector.
In a world often defned by challenges and setbacks, the entrepreneurial spirit shines as a beacon of hope. It’s the unwavering determination, the relentless pursuit of innovation, and the indomitable belief in one’s vision that drives individuals to overcome obstacles and create lasting impact.
The Ogun State-born magnate exemplifes this spirit. He has faced adversity head-on, transforming setbacks into stepping stones. From humble beginnings to developing a thriving enterprise, his journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the human spirit.
Bella Adenuga-Disu: E merging Powerful Force in Women’s E mpowerment
As a respected leader and role model, Bella Adenuga-Disu, daughter of renowned Nigerian businessman, Mike Adenuga Jrn, continues to pave the way for aspiring female leaders across Nigeria and beyond.
She is emerging as a powerful force in women’s empowerment and leadership. Carrying forward her father’s legacy of excellence and innovation, she has embraced the values of entrepreneurship and social responsibility, positioning herself as a prominent fgure in the corporate world.
As a leader at Globacom Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications companies, Adenugu-Disu has made signifcant contributions to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women. Her commitment to mentorship and community-building is evident in her initiatives aimed at empowering female employees, reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit that defines her family.
recent
As revealed, she emphasised that this is merely the beginning, with even greater initiatives on the horizon. She hinted that her greatest joy lies in witnessing our workforce grow stronger and better as they cultivate this community together. The summit served as a celebration of growth and connection, with attendees noting the collaborative spirit that defined the gathering. “Thank you again for having me! It was an incredible event, and I’m proud to have been part of the first She Glows Summit,” one speaker reflected. The atmosphere at the summit was charged with positivity and support, encapsulated in the sentiment that it was “the definition of women lifting women at work.”
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she is deeply engaged in communitybuilding efforts, promoting collaboration and growth among her peers.
Shagaya
Soname
Balewa
Fayose
Adenuga-Disu
The
She Glows Summit, a landmark event hosted by Adenuga-Disu, left a lasting impression on attendees and highlighted her unwavering support for women in the workplace.
ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW
A publicAtion
A Coveted Prize for Resilience
This year’s Nigeria Literature Prize awards ceremony was a celebration of milestones, marking 20 years of literary excellence and Nigeria LNG’s 35 years of incorporation and 25 years of operations. okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports
Twenty years on, the Nigeria Literature Prize plods on remarkably towards the future. Or, at least, that was the theme of the prize's grand awards night on October 11 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos seems to hint at. The glitzy event, according to Nigeria LNG’s managing director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, also marked 35 years of incorporation and 25 years of exceptional operations. “The Prize for Literature is focused on the children’s literature genre this year,” he noted. “The authors have written stories that symbolise children as the future, while stirring our thoughts on the rights and well-being of children.”
Of course, that the $100,000 prize was eventually awarded to Olubunmi Familoni, who alongside Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor and Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike made the final shortlist, is now public knowledge. Recall that Familoni won the prize’s this year’s edition, which focused on children’s literature, for his entry The Road Does Not End, a work about which the prize’s Advisory Board chairperson, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said was selected after a rigorous evaluation process from three outstanding finalists. Familoni’s work stood out among the finalists for its compelling narrative and cultural impact.
The university don, who herself belongs to the covetted pantheon of the prestigious literary prize’s laureates, lauded the NLNG, who instituted the prize exactly 20 years ago, for its unwavering support of Nigerian literature, adding, “NLNG has not only maintained The Nigeria Prize for Literature but has also consistently promoted literary writing, criticism, and reading nationwide. Their sponsorship of both the Literature and Literary Criticism prizes is vital in providing Nigerian writers with platforms to display their talents.”
Regarding the prize, which cycles annually through prose, poetry, drama, and children’s literature, Professor AdimoraEzeigbo reaffirmed the already familiar facts. And that is the fact that the judging panel meticulously evaluated entries
based on established criteria. From 11 longlisted entries, the panel selected three exceptional finalists.
On the winning entry, Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo said it deserved the prize “for its thematic depth, lyrical quality, and social relevance” and remarked that the book, which she further extolled for its ability to engage both children and adults with its powerful narrative and strong moral message, was a powerful portrayal of the daily struggles and resilience of vulnerable youths in Nigeria. “The winning novel tells the compelling story of street life in Lagos, focusing on children who must fend for themselves. Familoni’s gripping narrative highlights their daily struggles and resilience, bringing attention to the societal issues faced by vulnerable youths in Nigeria,” she told the audience. “The author brings to light the harsh realities of life for many young people, highlighting critical societal issues that often go unnoticed. Through the story, readers are drawn into the characters’ perseverance and
hope, despite the challenges they face.”
Familoni’s emergence from the Nigerian literary scene’s seething talent cauldron wasn’t a happenstance. Last year, when the prize focused on drama, he was longlisted. Strong indications suggest he had prior to that time flourished, often under the radar. For years, he produced plays, screenplays, short fiction, and essays exploring human experience’s depths. He has thus established himself as a credible voice, capturing life’s complexities, illuminating hidden corners, and painting vivid portraits of a dynamic world.
As the accolades piled up—a resounding endorsement of his proficiency—the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) had twice recognised him with its cherished prizes: the 2015 Prize for Short Stories for Smithereens of Death, a collection that slices through the veneer of society, and the 2020 Prize for Children’s Literature for I’ll Call My Brother For You, a story that follows the life of nine-year-old Abayomi as he struggles with the challenges of being an only child. Then, his debut play, Every Single Day, had caught the discerning eye of the British Council, earning a coveted
spot in the Lagos Theatre Festival. Critics inevitably took notice, oftentimes lavishing him with praise that rippled across the literary circles. Moreover, his writings have been featured in esteemed publications, including Jalada Africa, Ake Review, Bakwa Magazine, Afridiaspora Anthology, Agbowo, and Kikwetu Literary Journal. These are good reasons why his victory in this year’s edition of the prestigious prize further solidifies his literary stature, joining the ranks of esteemed past winners, including the late iconic poet Gabriel Okara, Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, Professor Ahmed Yerima, Mabel Segun, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Kaine Agary, Adeleke Adeyemi, Esiaba Irobi, Chika Unigwe, Tade Ipadeola, Sam Ukala, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Ikeogu Oke, Soji Cole, Jude Idada, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, Romeo Oriogun, and Obari Gomba.
Despite its storied past, the literary prize—unarguably one of the world’s most esteemed—has largely overcome its controversies, thanks to the organisers’ deliberate fence-mending efforts. Since its 2004 launch, the prize has navigated a turbulent phase of needless controversies, initially sparking outrage by excluding foreign-based Nigerian writers and consequently earning the disparaging label “ghetto prize.” Although this decision was later rescinded, criticisms lingered. Notably, this had to do with the prize's occasional non-award—a total of three instances—remained contentious. Interestingly, drama stands out as the only genre that has consistently produced winners in its quadrennial cycle and has not once returned a ‘no-winner’ verdict, unlike the other rotating genres.
Notwithstanding its past controversies, the prize has cemented its place in Nigeria’s literary calendar, standing tall alongside the Nigeria Prize for Science and the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. Two decades on, its allure remains steadfast, a reflection of its relevance and the organisers’ unwavering commitment. As the spotlight shifts to prose fiction next year, the stage is set for a fiercely competitive contest.
uwaezuoke/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com
This year's winner of The Nigeria Prize Literature, Olubunmi Familoni
The awards ceremony's emcees, Kunle Remi and Temi Badru
A cross-section of the audience at the event
Sculptors Rallied for Another Elixir
Stories by Yinka Olatunbosun
With masks off, post-pandemic offered a lot of hope and birthed a plethora of ideas, one of which was to synergise the creative energy of artists in a biannual show called Elixir III. Hewn from the rock-solid association formed six years ago, the show has been a refuge of sorts from the storm of the global health crisis that changed our lives. It is against this backdrop that the Sculptors’ Association of Nigeria, ScAN, staged a third edition of the exhibition titled Elixir III: A Testament of Character, Growth, Continuity, and Consistency. The show, which ran from October 6 to 11 at the National Museum, Lagos, had no fewer than 40 participating artists. Though a young association, ScAN has presented itself as a formidable group, enthused with the tenets of art practice, organisation, and promotion. This makes the group a central player in the aesthetic economy of the Nigerian art space. Indeed, Elixir III, in seeking to capture a wide spectrum of discourses, has expanded the demography of its
VISUAL ARTS
exhibiting sculptors. The inclusion of young graduates is a testament to the growth of inclusivity in the visual arts scene.
Professor Nelson Edewor, the President of ScAN, in his remarks said, “ScAN’s third outing with the theme speaks volumes in responding to the insidious self-inflicted ailing social condition aided by the twain of corruption and bad leadership in Nigeria. The indices of the dire and deteriorating social structure are further inundated by insecurity, economic deterioration, heightened ethnic imbalances leading to cessation agitations from different quarters of the country, perceived electoral theft, and uncontrolled inflation leading to hunger with attendant riots and protests.” The Sculptors’ Association of Nigeria draws its membership from the academia and professional studio artists in Nigeria parading in this show the works of Prof. Nelson Edewor, Dr. Sola Kukoyi, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, and Dr. Adeola Balogun. Dr. Ken Njoku, Dr. Taiwo Sullyman, Akeem Muriana. Ato Arinze, Anthonia Okogwu, Kenny Badaru, Obadan Chris
and a host of other great artists. “Elixir III does not claim finality but adds their voices and visions to new issues in the field and our environment,” says the curator, Moses Ohiomokhare. “They
have responded to social stimuli and aesthetic demands, giving their works visibility and authorship. They have applied an enormous variety of media to evoke our emotional responses. We see in this exhibition forms in metal, clay, stone, fibre, wood, plaster, glass, rubber, and random found objects. They have also employed a wide range of techniques to support their artistic identity.” Since inception, the association has hosted three national exhibitions in a row, two international sculpture conferences, a national clay sculpture workshop, active participation in annual International Sculpture Day (ISD) celebrations, collaboration with other art organisations in exhibitions, amongst other activities. Dr. Adeola Balogun, whose steel-made work titled “Entrapment/Displacement” caught the eye at the preview inside the Museum Hall, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, explained the rationale behind the piece. “In view of COVID, we got addicted to living in our cocoon. The electronic scraps repurposed into a stainless ball are a symbol of our isolation. This work speaks to the advent of AI and social media—the advantages and disadvantages—as well as how we use modern technology. Most of us cannot do without our phones. Most of us are enslaved by it.”
Incubating Social Innovation
Amajor milestone was reached recently as Ashoka Africa’s Changemaker TeacherActivation programme (CTEACH) celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of 52 teachers.
The event, which took place in Lagos, also saw the induction of 100 new teachers into the programme’s second cohort. The launch of the Changemaking Storybook was one of the highlights of the event. the book is a collection of stories on great changemakers who have led young and practised early changemaking.
It features inspiring stories of Ashoka Young Changemakers likeAyomideAkran, founder of Pink Diva Organisation, who advocates for menstrual hygiene, and David Onilude, founder of TechNow Global, who equips young people with digital skills. “Through my initiative, we’re eradicating marginalisation in underserved communities and building a foundation for future leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” David Onilude remarked.
There was also the premiere of the CTEACH documentary, a visual account of the journey of teachers and students transforming education through social innovation. The film highlights projects focused on key issues such as environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, driven by young students. Indeed, the documentary captures the transformative journeys of the changemakers and demonstrates the power and potential of changemaking. CTEACH, launched in September 2023, was created to integrate change-making education
BOOKS
into government schools across Lagos State.
The programme encourages teachers to turn classrooms into spaces where students can tackle real-world issues and lead social change. Graduating teachers have formed “Changemaking Squads” in their schools, helping students develop innovative solutions to societal problems.
The graduation ceremony had in attendance top figures in the sector, including the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan, and Comrade Akintoye Hassan, Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. During the ceremony, Angelou Ezeilo, Co-President of Ashoka Africa, highlighted the importance of programs like CTEACH.
She described the CTEACH changemaker teacher activation programme as one of the initiatives Ashoka is deploying to improve change-making skills in young teachers in public schools. “By 2050, Africa’s young people will make up a significant portion of the global workforce,” she declared after the movie screening. “We are not just preparing students for jobs; we are nurturing changemakers who will drive progress and challenge the status quo.” Josephine Nzerem, Regional Director of Ashoka Anglophone West Africa, emphasised the program’s success: “CTEACH is not just about teaching; it’s about activating teachers to become changemakers themselves, spreading these skills
in their classrooms and communities.”
Several awards were presented to recognise outstanding contributions. Ipakodo Junior Grammar School won the “Most Innovative Changemaker Squad of the Year” award, while Ogunwiede Eunice received the “Inclusive Hero Award” for her empathetic teaching. Other awards included “Sustainability Champion of the Year" to Eva Adelaja Girls Junior Secondary School, “Most Empathic Teacher” to Adeniyi Okikijesu,
and “Outstanding Changemaker Teacher of the Year” to Samuel Oladehinde. CTEACH is part of Ashoka, the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs.
Ashoka has a presence in over 95 countries, supporting over 4,000 Fellows and fostering changemaking across the globe. The programme aims to ensure that every classroom becomes a hub for social innovation, empowering students to lead the future.
Between Paintings and Spirituality
For emerging artist PaulAyihawu, art is a vehicle for expressing his faith and exploring memories. While he didn’t start off his education in arts, he made a detour at the completion of his secondary school education by enrolling in an apprenticeship program with Awesu Gafar. Before then, he had always been fascinated by portraits. After making several impressive yet amateurish attempts at painting using nylons and poster colours, he concluded that he needed some guidance. “I was trained on sand portraits,” he recounted during a telephone interview recently.
He reflected on his three and a half years of apprenticeship program with Gafar Awesu, who introduced him to sand portraits. “This was what I did before I went to Lagos State Polytechnic, where I studied. There was a time I used bottle wraps to do paintings because I couldn’t afford acrylic.”
He stumbled on charcoal and became very skilled
in using it as a medium for his creative output.
“Overtime, I started using charcoal, especially for skin tones, and I used acrylic for backgrounds.”
In time, he also met with Mr. MuyiwaAkinwolere, who taught him more about contemporary art.
“What I previously knew was from the perspective of making commissioned works for people. But Mr. Akinwolere let me know that art is not just about making portraiture alone. You have to tell stories.
That’s where I started developing my narratives.”
In this series called ‘Born Again,’ he presents a collection of paintings inspired by the Christian faith, representations of black figures, as well as aspects of his childhood memories.
“It was until 2020 after my residency in Ghana that I started to focus on what my art would be in the long term,” he continued. “I want to tell a
story that will transcend the chains of time. The first thing that came to mind was the representation of my faith in my works—weaponising my work to fight the battle of faith.“ My works are inspired by the scriptures and translated into paintings with the hope that people will see it and connect to the deeper sense of it. After I started experimenting from this perspective, things began to come to me. One of the ideas includes the representation of the spiritual man in the principal painting. How will I paint so that you see the spiritual rather than the aesthetic essence of the painting?”
To find an answer to this question, he embarked on personal research. “It’s a continuous conversation. I will try to start that Born Again series. I used to keep a photo book of my friends before they got married and at the early stage of their marriage. Funny enough, it was at that moment of their lives that they were all giving their lives to Christ. My grandfather was a herbalist. But my dad gave his life to Christ.”
One of the works at the exhibition
Ashoka Africa’s CTEACH Cohort 1 graduates
VISUAL ARTS
One of the artist's paintings
IN THE ARENA
Reckless Proliferation of Public Universities
Davidson Iriekpen argues that the latest move by the National Assembly to create a new university despite the under-funding of existing institutions, is a reflection of federal government’s misplaced priorities
the House of Representatives recently stirred the hornet’s nest when it passed the first reading of a bill to establish the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages in Aba, Abia State.
The bill sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and eight others, aims to promote the learning of Nigerian languages. According to Section II, Part I of the bill, the university will “encourage the advancement of learning and provide opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race, creed, sex, or political beliefs, to acquire higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures.”
The bill also seeks to develop academic and professional programmes that lead to diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate research, focusing on practical skills in Nigerian languages and cultures to foster national development.
Once established, the university would act as a catalyst for effectively utilising Nigeria’s natural, economic, and human resources through postgraduate training, research, and innovation. It also aims to collaborate with other national institutions involved in the training and development of Nigerian languages and cultures, while promoting a comprehensive training and research activities, including outreach and continuing education.
The university would no doubt add to the existing number of universities in the country at a time when key stakeholders in the education sector, including the Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU) are condemning the proliferation of tertiary institutions in the country due to their neglect and gross under-funding.
According to a list released by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria currently has a total of 262 universities with 52 federal universities (including defence and police academies), 63 state-run universities and 147 private universities. According to estimates, over 90 per cent of the country’s students are in the public universities.
For the government, politics and the sense of entitlement by political office holders influence the choice of location of these universities and explain the rush to establish them.
On the part of the private investor, the motive is profit.
Despite the huge shortfall in budgetary allocations and in actual funding for education at both state and federal levels in Nigeria, the proliferation of public universities has continued. This has been identified as a setback for the development of the tertiary education sector.
While these universities have suffered years of neglect due to inadequate funding, the federal government has also failed to honour its agreement with ASUU.
The situation is evidenced in dilapidated infrastructure, poorly equipped laboratories, understaffing, poor pay and poor emoluments of staff and faculty.
Constantly, the federal and state governments have complained that they are broke and cannot fulfill the FG/ASUU agreement to revitalise tertiary education.
This is why the idea of building one university from scratch at a time when the country is struggling with a weak economy is nothing but a purely misplaced priority.
Sadly, between 1999, when Nigeria reverted to democracy, and June 2022, the universities were shut for 1,404 days owing to the strike following the union’s demand for improved funding.
Despite these challenges, the government has continued to create universities to satisfy federal lawmakers and other government functionaries who want public universities in their constituencies.
One of the major arguments by the government to justify the proliferation is the need to give ac-
cess to university education to young Nigerians as nearly over two million candidates write the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually. This argument doesn’t hold water in view of the numbers released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). In 2019, JAMB stated that 612,557 candidates secured “admission and about 510,957 admission spaces were unused by tertiary institutions (polytechnics and monotechnics inclusive).” This does not indicate space problems for admission seekers but suggests far more salient issues.
Instead of the federal and state governments and the parliaments to adopt a more rational, scientific, and development-oriented approach to higher education, it is mostly considering primordial motives. According to those who spoke with THISDAY, pushing for the establishment of new institutions at a period when the existing ones are grossly under-funded shows lack of seriousness and rigour in law-making.
While students in private institutions enjoy an unbroken academic calendar and quality teaching, the story in federal and state institutions is pathetic. Besides, there is a chronic shortage of teaching staff in federal and state universities. Between 2010 and 2014, the then President,
p OLITICAL NOT e S
Goodluck Jonathan, established over 12 new federal universities. His justification was that all states should have universities but that was ridiculous, given that the take-off grant for each institution was a paltry N2 billion.
Under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, more public universities sprang up, including those for the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force. These days, universities are cited in all Nigerian communities that produced the heads of the organisations that own public universities.
In the First Republic, the heads of the regional governments prudently established universities far away from their communities in Ile-Ife, Zaria and Nsukka.
They understood that universities operate on global ideals and standards. This is not the case today where politicians see the idea of establishing the institutions as part of politics and constituency projects.
Although the United Kingdom has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $2.82 trillion (compared to Nigeria’s $466.88 billion), its universities increased by only one, from 141 in 2017 to 142 in 2018, according to government data. In the decade to 2018, the increment was 23. This is a reasonable, sound regulatory system to curb proliferation and sustain quality.
Consequently, Nigerian universities rank abysmally low internationally. In the latest Webometrics ranking, no Nigerian university made the first 1,000 globally. The best, the University of Ibadan, ranks 1,231; Covenant University 1,370; Obafemi Awolowo University 1,477; and the University of Nigeria 1,622.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, had condemned the mass establishment of universities in the country, describing the development as ‘reckless and excessive.’ He lamented that university education was suffering due to total neglect by the government.
Osodeke noted that the federal and state governments were establishing more universities without making adequate provision for their funding, adding that many of the new institutions were only established for political reasons. He regretted that the ugly trend has put much stress on the intervention funds of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), alleging that some of the new universities are being established with money diverted from TETFund. He expressed concern that public universities are being underfunded by the federal and state governments, leaving the student population and Nigerian education sector to suffer.
Controversy over Soludo’s Law on LG Funds
The financial autonomy recently granted to localgovernmentsbytheSupremeCourtisfacing a fresh obstacle in Anambra State as Governor Charles Soludo last week signed into law a new bill to compel local governments in the state to remit a portion of their federal allocations into a consolidated account to be controlled by the state government.
TheSupremeCourthadonJuly11,2024,held thatlocalgovernmentsacrossthecountryshould, henceforth,receivetheirallocationsdirectlyfrom theAccountant-GeneraloftheFederation.Itruled thatitisillegalandunconstitutionalforgovernors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local governments in their states.
However, in the new law titled: ‘Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024,’ Section
13(1) provides that the state shall maintain a “State JointLocalGovernmentAccount,”intowhichallfederal allocations to local governments in Anambra State must be deposited.
Section 14(3) of the bill stipulates that each local government in the state must remit a statedetermined percentage to the consolidated account within two working days of receiving their allocations from the Federation Account.
Section 14(4) maintains that if the state receives thelocalgovernmentallocationontheirbehalf,itmust deduct the specified percentage before disbursing the remaining funds to the local governments.
The Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, Law Mefor, defended the bill, saying that the state government acted under Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers the state
assembly to make laws regulating the local government.
The commissioner argued that the section of the constitution empowers the state government to “oversee” the affairs of the local governments both in administration and finance.
He said the state government aimed to “safeguard” the finances of the local governments and “direct” council chairpersonstotheirresponsibilities,especiallyforprojects oftencarriedoutincollaborationwiththestategovernment.
The commissioner criticised those opposing the bill, saying that they would have turned around to blame the stategovernmentwhenthelocalgovernmentadministrators abandon their statutory responsibilities like payment of pensions.
Soludo’s critics have however argued that the new law is not only a big affront and disregard but a disobedience of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court.
Soludo
Akpabio
BRIEFING NOTES
Is Abure Coasting to Victory?
A recent judgement of the Federal High Court declaring as valid the Labour Party’s National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, which produced the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and Abure’s subsequent recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission in line with the court judgment, may be the beginning of his triumph over the critical stakeholders in the party, ejiofor Alike reports
The leadership crisis that plagued the Labour Party (LP) took a new twist recently when a Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgment, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the embattled National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure as the authentic chairman of the party, which the electoral body promptly obeyed.
Abure ran into trouble with INEC when the electoral body refused to recognise the party’s National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 27, 2024 where the embattled national chairman was said to have won a reelection for a fresh tenure.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Steve Adehi, had written to the electoral umpire requesting for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the commission’s report on the convention but the commission denied monitoring the convention.
The critical stakeholders of the party believed the commission’s response was a de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Also, in a counter affidavit in one of the court cases involving LP, INEC had declared that the tenure of the Abure-led executives had expired since June 2024.
INEC had subsequently refused to issue LP the Notice of the Refresher Training for Upload of Political Party Agents unto INEC’s Portal for Ondo State Governorship Election Scheduled to hold on November 16, 2024.
But Abure fought back, and in a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1271/2024, his leadership dragged the commission to court.
Meanwhile, having earlier lost the confidence of most of the critical stakeholders of the party, coupled with INEC’s non-recognition of his leadership, Abure was subsequently sacked by the expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the LP summoned by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State in Umuahia, on September 4, 2024.
A 29-member caretaker committee was also set up to replace the Abure-led NWC and organise the party’s congresses and national convention within 180 days.
The presidential candidate of the party in 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi and Otti, had in a letter dated September 6, 2024, notified the chairman of the electoral body of the setting up of a 29-member caretaker committee by the party’s expanded stakeholders.
They cited the “de-recognition of the Abure-led NWC by INEC effective June 2024,” as one of the reasons for the sack of the party’s leadership
and the setting up of the committee headed by a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman.
With Obi and Otti seeking INEC’s recognition of the party’s caretaker committee, all eyes were on INEC to recognise the party’s authentic leadership.
But in a dramatic twist, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in the Abuja, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1271/2024, recently ordered INEC to accord the LP under Abure’s leadership all the rights and privileges of a political party duly registered in Nigeria.
In the suit, the plaintiff had among others, sought: “An order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party under Abure’s leadership, all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria as well as a cost of N5 million.”
In the affidavit filed in support of the suit, Abure, who personally deposed to the affidavit, stated that: “In line with the plaintiff’s 2019 constitution and
extant electoral laws, the plaintiff’s national convention was convened on March 27, 2024 at Nnewi, Anambra State and I was lawfully and duly elected to the office of the national chairman at the said national convention of the plaintiff.”
Delivering the judgement, Nwite held that “the plaintiff has proved his case” and subsequently granted all the reliefs sought, except the prayer for cost.
While appreciating the judiciary, particularly Justice Nwite, for his courage and integrity in delivering a judgement that upheld justice and allegedly resisted external pressures, Abure, in statement, also appreciated “Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, who had earlier validated the Labour Party’s convention held in Nnewi,” saying his judgement became the foundation for other rulings.
“Additionally, Justice C. K. Nwankwo of the Abia High Court also deserves recognition for resisting pressure and avoiding granting kangaroo interim and interlocutory orders against me and the party,” Abure said.
Abure added: “Now that the court has spoken, I offer my forgiveness to those who attempted
to undermine our party, engaged in character assassination and blackmail especially of my person.”
He urged LP members involved in these actions to come forward with a repentant heart, and reconcile themselves with the party.
“Only then can we truly move forward, heal our party, and work for the common good of Nigeria,” Abure added.
Abure also called on Obi to help unite the party.
But in a three-paragraph statement written by Usman after a meeting with Obi, Otti and the caretaker committee secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, she stated that they had resolved to appeal the judgement, adding that the case actually preceded the formation of the caretaker committee.
However, in what was seen as a major setback to Obi, Otti and other critical stakeholders of the party, INEC last week recognised Abure’s leadership in line with the court judgment.
In a letter addressed to Abure and the National Secretary of LP, Alhaji Umar Farpuk Ibrahim, the Secretary of the INEC, Mrs. Rose Oriaran- Anthony, invited them to the fourth consultative meeting with the political parties, held last Thursday in Abuja.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the National Secretary of the LP, Ibrahim, said though the party was unjustly excluded from previous engagements, he was satisfied that it had obeyed the court order by recognizing LP as one of the 18 registered political parties.
“With the issue of leadership now completely resolved, I urge every member of the party to rally round the Abure leadership. What transpired is only a family affair and we will as a family work towards restoring confidence to the party and every aggrieved or misled member of the party.
“Labour Party will come back stronger but we need everyone to join in the process of rebuilding the party. It is a ‘no victor no vanquished’ situation. We are all winners. The party is however supreme and every member must work towards achieving set targets of the party,” Ibrahim said.
Without prejudice to the pending appeal, the court judgment and INEC’s action may be the beginning of Abure’s triumph over the major stakeholders in the party, given the avalanche of previous court cases, which ended in his favour.
However, without genuine reconciliations and concessions on his part, Abure may triumphantly end up as a general without troops as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Obi, Otti and most of the critical stakeholders have lost confidence in his leadership.
Notes for file Testing Mamman’s Age policy in Court
A commendable suit by a 15-year-old student against the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB and NUC over an outdated and long-abandoned policy being implemented by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, which seeks to deny young Nigerians below the age of 18 years admission into the universities and create out-of-school children, has surfaced at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The student, Master Chinaemere Opara, in Senior Secondary School (SSS), filed the suit through his father and a lawyer, Mr. Maxwell Opara. Mamman had in July stated that beginning from 2025, candidates under 18 years of age would not be allowed to sit for the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The announcement, however, sparked opposition from education stakeholders, including Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), and some parents.
Some parents and teachers who alleged that the policy was designed to create out-of-school children in a particular section of the country, had called on President Bola Tinubu to call the minister to order before he destroys education in a certain part of the country.
However, in his six reliefs, Opara is seeking a declaration that the government’s minimum age for admission policy to restrict the age of Nigerian citizens for admission into universities in the country is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
He said it amounted to a gross violation of his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, 2011 (as amended) and Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 10,
13(2), 17 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.
Opara, therefore, sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, from attempting to disturb, breach or interfere with his rights.
The applicant stated that he knows as of fact that in Nigeria, there is no specific age limit for gaining admission into universities apart from the requirements that candidates meet certain academic qualifications, such as having a minimum number of credits in relevant subjects and passing the UTME.
A few years ago, a Federal High Court gave a sound judgment abolishing the quota system barrier put in place by the federal government to deny many students admissions into Unity Schools on the grounds that it was discriminatory.
Mamman
Abure
obi
Okiro: Nigeria Should Adopt Canadian Policing Model
A former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, in this interview with Chuks Okocha, advocated the adoption of the Canadian policing model where there will be zonal police formation instead of state police
there has been a clamour for the creation of state Police. Do you support that call?
Police are supposed to be a federal institution. nigeria has a federal structure and nigeria Police are supposed to be neutral. nigeria police are supposed to cater for everybody. In a state police, there will be clashes among the different states of the federation. It was because of this that Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd) formed the unitary police and people rejoiced that regional police was abrogated, giving way to a more united, more national police force. For me I think that state police cannot work now.
Your position is in line with the position of all the former Inspector Generals of Police. None has supported the idea of state police. Why?
I don’t know why they also took the same position but what I know is that all of us, the former IGs, wore the shoe and we know where it was pinching us. All of them who spoke against state police did so from their own experience. we know that state police are not the answer to our problems, it will rather add to our problems.
But is there no way that we can fix the problems of politicians hijacking the system?
I tried to look at a model that will encompass the issue to state police and federal police which I called regional police. I did a study of the Canadian model and it is the type of model we need right now in nigeria. the problem with the nigerian police right now is that it is a federal institution, funded and equipped by the federal government. the federal government has many contending issues in the budget; it has so many other problems to tackle and police happen to be just one of them. there is a pressure on the federal government to give the police its due among other requests and demands and even at that, the police are not well funded. Officers don’t have good welfare; officers are not well paid; they are not well trained. these are the things that make an organisation very effective. If any of these three is lacking, then the organisation may not perform optimally.
Having been an IG myself, I know the problems and I felt that for the nigerian Police Force to be effective, we must remove some of these problems from the federal government and divest it to the states.
I proposed a letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan when I was the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on what I called ‘Geo-political Police’. I felt that instead of having state police, we should have geo-political police. what I am proposing is that the police are a federal institution and should remain so; the constitution should not be amended; rather we will now have geo-political police and each of the regions will be headed by a DIG. note that the police force will be a unitary force, employed by the federal government, equipped by the federal government but deployed to the zones. For instance, in the South-South, you can post someone from Edo to Delta, from Delta to Rivers or Rivers to Bayelsa within the zone. they understand the language and culture of the people and even the geography of the place. that makes it easier for the policeman to operate effectively.
What we have now is a federal structure where you can post a constable from Kano to Bayelsa. He does not understand the language and he is going to arrest somebody; how can he do it?
But if you post somebody from Bayelsa to Rivers to go and arrest somebody, he knows the culture; he knows the language; he can swim. this is the beauty of having a people within a geo-political zone. Secondly, the police are staff of the federal government and are being paid by the federal government. But the equipment which is a big challenge now should be provided by the state governments - governors have the money. As you can see in the news, you will see some governors buying equipment for the police, which the federal government cannot do but the governors can do.
the problem of the police is a problem of command. These DIGs you are advocating should head the geo-political police, where will they take command from?
In my proposal, I made it clear that if a DIG is going to take over the ‘geo-political zones’, there will be a little deviation because the DIGs will be posted to the zones but not necessarily the zone of their origin. A DIG from north-west can be posted to the north-east or north- central. You can pull a DIG from north-west to South-west.
But all the junior officers up to the rank of CSP should rotate within their zones. when they get to the rank of AC, then they can be posted out to Area Commands not necessarily within their zone. the IG will be at the Force Headquarters while the most senior DIG will be 2i/c. In case the IG is away, the DIG will deputize for the IG. All the sections now headed by the DIGs will now be headed by AIGs. the implication is that we will have more AIGs now than before. You
Okiro
don’t need to amend the constitution to implement this because we still have one nigeria Police Force. this is just for operational effectiveness of the nigeria Police Force. In the operations of the DIGs and AIGs, you don’t need an amendment of the constitution to do it.the IG just needs to tell the president and it is done; you don’t need to amend the constitution to get it done, you don’t need to pass a bill, you don’t need to debate it.
The fear is that the IG will still control the DIGs. Is there any model where the command and control structure will be isolated from the control of the IG? The Constitution calls the governors the Chief Security Officer in the state but in actual fact, they don’t have powers. They cannot command the police on security matters unless they get authorisation from the IG. Why?
One of the demerits of the argument for state police is that if you allow the governors to control the police just as they control the political structure, some governors who do not like opposition, will use the police to push them away.
the fact that the state Commissioner of Police does not owe 100 per cent allegiance to the governor makes it possible to have peace, justice and equity in the state. If the governors have all the powers, then political opposition will not be there. In this model, the DIG is in-charge of the six zones; so the governor cannot overrule the DIG. the DIG in as much as he has to take instructions from the IG, also has some responsibilities to perform. He cannot go outside the constitution. So, the governors in their zones can decide on what to do in their zones but no particular governor can force his way to control the commissioner of police in the state. the Commissioners of Police could be rotated within the zone but no particular governor will have the authority to remove him. there will be checks and balances. If you allow the governors to control the state, control everybody, control everything, then there will be problems. with this arrangement, the geo-political commanders, the DIG will still be taking instructions from the IG.
Recently, we saw a situation in Rivers State where the IG instructed the police on what to do and the governor said that he did not need the services of the police. Under this arrangement, how can this type of situation be avoided?
this is exactly what we are talking about. You can imagine what could have happened if the governor had powers to remove the Commissioner of Police. If the governor had the powers, what happened in Rivers State could have been worse.
that is the essence of democracy, different from autocracy and despotism where one man comes and what he says becomes law. If there is a situation where anything the governor says, the CP will accept then there will be anarchy in the country.
Every crime they say is local. We have seen situations where several state governors donate millions of equipment to the police. If they can make such humongous donations to the police, why can’t they control the police because he who plays the piper they say, dictates the tone?
Yes, the governor buys the equipment for the police but he does not pay them; they are paid by the federal government. the policemen are paid by the federal government but equipped by the state. Both authorities have powers over the Police and Police have allegiance to both powers. But if the governor comes with an order for CP to execute, which is against the constitution, he will be told politely that what is saying is unconstitutional and cannot be executed. If the governor complains that a Police Commissioner is not dancing to his tune, then the DIG may remove him and bring another Police Commissioner but not that he will be sacked.
The governor has powers to sack his commissioners but does not have powers to sack his Commissioner of Police. So, who do you think the CP will owe his loyalty, the IG or the governor?
One thing that you must realise is that police officers are nigerian but employed by the federal government to protect life and property, defend the constitution and enforce laws. If the governor tells you to do something that is unconstitutional and you as Commissioner of Police refuses to do it, he can’t sack you as he sacks his commissioners or dissolves cabinet. But if the governor says that he does not like a particular commissioner, you can remove him and bring another person. If the commissioner of police is at the beck and call of the governor, then there will be anarchy in this country.
The IG will be too powerful if regional police are created. Why can’t we remove some of the powers of the IG and give it to the DIG? In the nigeria Police Force, the DIG cannot be independent of the IG. If the DIGs do not take instructions from the IG, it means that they are on their own. Everything must come from the IG because it is still the same unitary Police Force. So, the DIG will take instructions from the IG but when it comes to finance, the Police budget will be divided into seven parts. Six parts will go to the geo-political zones and one part will be managed by the IG to take care of administrative functionalities and other areas like Force CID, Marine, Air wing etc.
Do you think this proposal will be accepted by the federal government? the police invited me, invited the police IG, Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Federal government, Minister of Police Affairs, Minister of Defence, appraising the paper, it was debated; it was discussed but the IG said no. It was later that I found out that his anger was that his budget will now be divided into seven and he will only be handling one part of the budget out of the seven. six parts will go to the six geo-political zones and one part to the IG. that was how the proposal was abandoned. It almost scaled through.
the six geopolitical zones will be getting budgets to run the police and the governors will also equip their police. Although there are some governors that might not be buoyant enough to equip the police and the IG will supplement.
But in the state police, I see a lacuna somewhere. there are some governors that owe their civil servants; that owe their nurses and doctors. You can’t try it with the police. You can’t owe the police for one month; they won’t come to work. So, you can imagine a situation where police do not come to work because you owe them salary. But the federal government has money to pay the police and states will do other things for the police.
The fear of Nigerians is that the IG is appointed by the president. During the period of politics and campaign, the president uses the IG to do things that are unconstitutional. Can an IG disobey the president?
In one of my memos when I was the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, I proposed that the IG should come with the government and go with the government. But some people disputed it. they said that the IG being a civil servant is amenable to the civil service rules and should leave office after 35 years of service or 60 years of age.
If an IG is appointed, he should not be removed except by a two-third of the Senate. that will make him more independent, more national in his thinking. the IG is the most endangered species in nigeria. You can just wake up in the morning and hear that an IG has been removed. It cannot happen if the IG has a definite term of office. It is also to the advantage of the police.
If an IG starts a programme and after two years he is removed, a new IG will come and abandon that project, abolish it and start something new; he will do it half way and another one will come. So, there is instability in the programme and welfare of the Police.
Protocol and Etiquette in International Relations: NASS Versus the CJN in the Order of Precedence in Nigeria
Protocol and etiquette is at the epicentre of diplomacy in theory and praxis for reasons that are not farfetched: they deal with rules and regulations of behaviour. Diplomacy, either as an art or science, is generally rule-based even if it is, more often than not, breached. Protocol Officers have their functions regulated. In any given official event, protocol officers must follow the relevant order of precedence at the event. Consequently, masters of ceremonies must be conversant with the courtesy titles and relevant patterns of address.
In the same vein, foreign guests can be visiting a country, in which case the visit may be private, official, or officious in character. It might also be a working or state visit. The different categories of visit have their protocolar rules of reception that must be appropriately adhered to. More interestingly, there are not only an order for convoys on state occasions and flag etiquette, but also order of national honours and hierarchy of appointments and functionality. In other words, the business of diplomacy is increasingly being professionalised and thus requiring all those people seeking jobs with international organisations to be well trained in it.
In the strong belief that Nigeria’s royal fathers have a lot to do in the quest to maintain peace and security in their communities, the Achievers University in Owo has introduced Traditional African Protocol in the curricula of its Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma in Diplomatic Studies and Practice scheduled to begin in the 2024-2025 session. Traditional protocol and etiquette is more inspiring and ought to constitute the other sides of the international protocol and etiquette coin in the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, which protocol is more appropriate or take precedence during public ceremonies: traditional or international practice? Should a Local Government Chairman be superior to a traditional ruler in his domain? The order of precedence needs re-articulation in Nigeria.
Order of Precedence in Nigeria
Order of precedence is an important element of diplomatic protocol and etiquette which deal with rules and customs governing official and officious interactions between and among nation states through their diplomatic agents with the ultimate objective of promoting mutual recognition and respect, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation. Order of precedence essentially deals with hierarchy or ranking of individuals, groups and organisations. They are generally provided for in agreements, especially in the event of disputes. For example, an agreement can stipulate that a dispute shall be referred to a Court of Arbitration in a particular country, meaning that, that court takes precedence over other courts in the signatory States.
At the level of nation-states, every state has its own order of precedence. Consequently, a given individual may have a ranking that is higher or lower in comparison to what obtains in other countries. Again, difference in ranking may be due to name designations. In Nigeria, there are Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. While a Minister of Foreign Affairs has responsibility to oversee a country’s foreign affairs in its entirety, a Minister of State has responsibility for specific foreign policy areas. Even though the ‘Ministers of State for’ claim equality with the ‘Ministers of,’ and have successfully struggled to be allowed to participate in Cabinet meetings, only the Minister of Foreign Affairs is internationally recognised to represent and act on behalf of Nigeria, unless the Minister of State is specifically assigned to so act.
Grosso modo, the order of precedence is nothing more than a list of official functionaries, dignitaries and officials publicly recognised during ceremonies. The order does not have any legal binding but can be seriously infuriating and damage official ties when someone is not duly recognised as it should be or when one is wrongly presented to the audience. In fact, several diplomatic rows have been generated in international relations as a result of not following the right order of precedence. It is against this background that the recognition of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) and recognition of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas as Commander of the Federal Republic generated controversy in the National Assembly (NASS).
One problematic that arises at the level of the controversy is the non-distinction between ‘Order as an honour’ and ‘Order as ranking or hierarchy.’ Order as an honour in Nigeria may imply the seniority of the House Speaker, meaning that the Speaker cannot but take precedence over the CJN. Put differently, the highest level of national honours in Nigeria is the GCFR (Grand Commander in the Order of the Federal Republic). This is followed by the GCON (Grand Commander in the Order of the Niger). GCFR and GCON are normally reserved for the President and Vice-President of Nigeria.
To a great extent, being president and vice-president, and in that capacity as Grand Commander, can rightly justify the reservation of the GCFR and GCON for them. The early recipients of the GCFR included Queen Elisabeth, Dr, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Nigerian president we never had, and General Yakubu Gowon. While the automatic conferment of the honour of GCFR and GCON to the first two citizens of the country may not be subject to query, especially because of its colonial origin, the mania of conferment of the GCON to other Nigerians, at times of nobility, is embarrassing. Some recipients duly merit the honour. Some recipients do not merit the award. Honouring corrupt people taints the National Honour and necessarily creates a new class of honour: Grand Commander in the Order of Corruption (GCOC). This should not be so. National Honour must be earned and not simply by election into public office.
Unlike professional and academic honours that are grosso modo awarded on strict merit, national honours have been much politically bastardised that few people have respect for it now. In fact, recall the case of a Local Government chairman, who reportedly did not pass the West African School Certificate Examination, but was elected and still had the effrontery to tell academic professors to seek election if they want to be earning about N120,000 being paid to the Local Chairman by then, as opposed to the N80,000 being paid to professors. In other words, by election, a School Certificate holder is superior to an academic professor. The other problems to address include whether protocolar ranking should or should not be done on the basis of professional feats. The award of GCON to the CJN is not stricto sensu because of the occupation of the Office of the CJN but particularly in acknowledgment of the cumulative years of her judicial services to the nation. A Senate President or House Speaker is constitutionally given the honour by mere occupation of the offices and not necessarily because of their years of service in that capacity. The honourable and distinguished members of the NASS in Nigeria appear to be operating like a monarchy within a presidential democracy. This should not be so. GCON can be given to the House Speaker as a constitutional right but not because the same was given to the CJN who by dint of national contributions merit the honour.
The Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) is the third highest level of national honour, and therefore the third in line of succession to the Nigerian presidency. In terms of presidential succession, the definienda is institutional or constitutional ranking. By further implication in the order of precedence, the House Speaker cannot but take precedence over the CJN. If we admit here that the House Speaker is senior in ranking to the CJN, can it be rightly argued that the House Speaker is the equal of the Senate President? Is it because the honour of GCON is conferred on the Senate President that it must also be conferred on the House Speaker? Why must a political appointee be honoured be mere fact of occupation of an office? Why is national honour conferred at the time of commencement of duty and not towards or after tenure in office when performance would have been well known? Can it be rightly argued that, because Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and Distinguished Senators are elected directly and indirectly that they are all equal in status? These questions are necessary because of the mania of the controversy.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) announced the award of the second highest national honour, GCON, to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the third highest national honour not only to the deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, but also to the CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun during his 64th Independence Anniversary Speech to the nation. The following day, Wednesday, October 2, Honourable Phillip Agbese of the All Progressives Congress (APC, Benue), moved a motion of urgent importance on the need to elevate the national honour of CFR given to the House Speaker to GCON. The House of Representatives passed the motion on equality with the Senate. The motion was a complaint against PBAT for awarding the CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, a higher national honour, GCON, but gave the CFR, the third highest national honour to the House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
Deductively observed, three reasons might have informed the motion and its quick passage by the House of Representatives. First, the Speaker is higher in constitutional ranking than the CJN in State Protocol. Secondly, during the Ninth Assembly, attempt was made to award the honour of CFR to the then 14th House Speaker, Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila (2019-2023). It was first resisted but was later addressed diplomatically but not permanently. It was only acquiesced to. Thirdly, it was considered that, if the Senate President could be given GCON, why should the Speaker of the House of Representatives not be given the same since they are at par? But are they really at par? As reportedly put by the House of Representatives, the honourable members ‘are not subservient to any arm of government. We are not in competition with anybody, but we want to be given our right place.’ In this regard, what really is the right place for the House Speaker?
From the constitutional point of view, what qualifies the President of Nigeria or the Vice-President of Nigeria to be awarded GCFR or GCON if it is not by the ordinary factor of their election into the Office of the President and Office of the Vice-President? To what extent should the occupation of an office be more important than the experiential contributions to nation-building in the determination of ranking of public officers? Additionally, why should an elected person into a public office, for three or four years, be superior to public officers with greater knowledge and experience acquired over decades of contributions to national development?
Precedence in Diplomatic Practice
The current order of precedence in England and Wales can be categorised into three main parts: sovereign, religious, and political. In these cases, separate orders exist for men and women. In the peerage system (body of peers or titled nobility in the United Kingdom), a Peer can have many titles of nobility, as well as belong to different ranks and peerages. However, a Peer derives his precedence from his highest-ranking title. In the same vein, peeresses have their precedence the same way and hold their highest-ranking title in their own right or by marriage. Britain has five ranks of nobility, which in ranking order, are as follows: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. As noted in http:// www.britannica.com>topic ‘until 1999, peers were entitled to sit in the House of Lords and exempted from jury duty. Titles may be hereditary or granted for life.’
And true enough, at the crescendo of the order of precedence in the sovereign category, is the Sovereign, regardless of gender and members of his or her family. After the Sovereign, come the sons, the grandsons, the brothers, the uncles, the nephews, the grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes and grandsons of former sovereign who are not dukes, in that descending order of importance.
The next level of order is that of the archbishops, high officers of state and others. The most senior is the Archbishop of Canterbury followed, in order of declining seniority, by the Lord High Steward who is appointed during ceremonial coronation), the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, the Archbishop of York, the Prime Minister, The Lord High Treasurer, The Lord President of the Council, the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, the President of the Supreme Court, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
Tinubu
WHY ECONOMIC REFORM IS HARD TO SELL
that Dangote Refinery, being home-based, would soon start selling petrol for N200, but that was not to be. After all, the refinery also has to buy crude at the market price (whether in naira or dollars) — like any other refinery — before it can produce petrol. We have now entered an era where petrol, like diesel, will be priced like any other commodity as it is done in most countries around the world. The new order, unfortunately, means more pains for Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the removal of FX subsidy has brought hardship — in fact, it is the root of the biggest sufferings Nigerians have had to bear, including the hike in fuel prices and electricity tariffs. FX is the baseline for virtually everything in Nigeria, directly and indirectly. The official exchange rate was around N460/$ when Tinubu became president. It is now about N1,600/$. In the parallel market, it was N750/$ and now N1,700. We held on to the artificial/official peg for so long that the gap kept widening. Only those with “long legs” could buy FX at the official rate. The most pronounced consequences were the diversion of FX into parallel market and the backlog of unmet demands.
By allowing the naira to depreciate, Tinubu can claim to have achieved a few things. One, the incentive for arbitrage — buying at official rate and selling in the parallel market — has reduced. Some of our celebrated billionaires were milking the country dry through arbitrage: getting FX from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at N460/$ via fake transactions and
KILLING EFCC
There is a big campaign to castrate the EFCC by limiting its powers to only federal officials. Sixteen states are at the Supreme Court seeking a definitive pronouncement on the powers of the EFCC. I am not a lawyer (at least, not yet), but my sense is that the EFCC deals with financial crimes that go through the banking system. Item No. 6 on the exclusive legislative list in the 1999 Constitution places “banks and banking” under federal jurisdiction. Therefore, the best way governors can plunder our resources and escape the EFCC is to avoid passing their loot through the financial system. Alternatively, they can get the lawmakers to delete Item 6 from the exclusive list. Simple.
roundtripping to sell at N750/$ in the parallel market. The margin was mad. The margin is thin now, making arbitrage less attractive. Two, Tinubu can also say that our dollar reserves are growing again, partly because FX inflow is now going through official sources. Now we are settling our FX obligations faster, compared to the past.
But the downside is devastating. We import most of the essential things we consume in Nigeria, including fuels, clothing, medication and intermediate goods. Any slight upward adjustment in the exchange rate will cause a ripple effect on general prices. In fact, it was when the exchange rate went gaga that it finally dawned on me that it is far more impactful on the poor than the price of petrol. Actually, the fuel prices are largely dependent on the exchange rate. In turn, the cost of transportation is determined by fuel prices. And the pricing of foodstuff, particularly in the southern part of Nigeria, is largely affected by transportation cost. It is like everything happened to us at once.
Tinubu also partially removed electricity subsidy. According to reports, the subsidy bill was estimated at N2 trillion for 2024. But through the creation of the “Band A” nomenclature and the shifting of most of the subsidy burden there, Tinubu cut the bill by half. The general economic argument is that where there is no subsidy, there is no subsidy scam. Agreed. But the impact has been equally devastating. By the time the tripled tariff landed on businesses and schools (tertiary
institutions in particular), it was all tears. In sum, the removal of the three subsidies — despite all the highlighted benefits — has taken the cost of living skywards and eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians.
Where do I stand? To be sure, I am not against reform. The economic hardship is global. Our economy was racing towards the abyss. We were spending most of our revenue on servicing debts, printing money to pay salaries and failing to meet our FX obligations. We were living on borrowed time. We were getting to a stage when our letters of credit would no longer be honoured — meaning we would not be able to import basic stuffs again. It has happened before: in 1983, the Shehu Shagari administration had to set up a task force to import rice. In 1984, we were queueing to buy “essential commodities” as they were not available in the open market because of FX scarcity.
In one word, we did not have many options when Tinubu came on board. In fact, the reform should have started as far back as 2014. We did not want Nigerians to suffer, so we delayed and dilly-dallied. We started borrowing and also rationing FX to paper over the cracks. Some of the measures actually held down consumer prices for a while and I was partially in support because I believe reform has to be paced. But when the problems became overwhelming, we delayed action on many fronts. It is like a man with kidney failure dilly-dallying on dialysis until he now has to do a transplant. Nigeria
And Four Other Things…
TANKER TRAGEDY
Over 100 people were burnt to death in an explosion in Majia, Jigawa state, on Tuesday night when a petrol-laden tanker had an accident. Most of the victims were reportedly scooping petrol when the explosion occurred. It happens all the time. The most memorable for me was the 1998 Jesse pipeline disaster in Delta state — over 1,000 were burnt to death. There have been similar incidents in Cross River and Lagos states. We all know the dangers, but when you are so poor, your sense of adventure can be reckless. You are only thinking of the gain of “free petrol” if you succeed in scooping it. We obviously need to take tanker safety seriously and citizen education even more seriously. Horrific.
Ahead of the now-postponed Afcon qualifier in Libya, the Super Eagles of Nigeria were treated shabbily by their petulantly hostile hosts. Their flight was diverted to a distant airport — where they were held hostage without water, food or internet access for 15 hours. However, the Libyans said we meted out a similar treatment to them a few days earlier when they played in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. In other words, this was their revenge. In football, retaliation is a straight red card. It contradicts their claim that the flight was not diverted deliberately. Nigeria has denied the allegations. Why didn’t the Libyans report the Uyo “maltreatment” to CAF? That would have been far more civil. Self-help.
COLD DATA AND HARSH REALITY
strong advocate for reforms in Nigeria. I have written a number of times about how some of these institutions and countries are not doing enough to provide adequate support to Nigeria after the country took on board most of the difficult reforms that they routinely recommend. These institutions and countries need to put their money where their mouth is. What Nigeria needs now, more than anything else, is massive forex supply that the smaller and regular inflows from trade and investment can build on and sustain to ensure a fair value for the Naira and to provide relief to Nigerians across the board. We will also return to this shortly.
The World Bank might not have all the money, but it is a good institution to have in your corner. So, it goes a long way if the Bank is expressing so much confidence in and speaking up for ongoing reforms in Nigeria. But I have a few points of departure.
The first is about how you measure success. To be sure, the macro-level data shared by the World Bank is important. They show that difficult reforms can yield results, and that in this instance, the government is getting a better handle of its finances. But the statistics on external reserves, fiscal deficit, forex rate unification etc., means absolutely nothing to those who have had to endure the doubling, tripling and even quintupling of prices of basic items in the last year or so, and who have no idea of how soon this hardship will moderate or end. So, telling them the reform is yielding fruits with some cold data is asking them to deny the evidence of their eyes and the harsh reality of their lived experience. And urging their government to press on, without making adjustments, is likely to come off as insensitive. It should be understandable that the mass of Nigerians struggling to pay for food and medication will not measure success of reforms with some cold data on reserves and revenues.
World Bank will make this claim in its NDU: “With so many constituencies having benefited from the previous approach, especially the elite, there has been intense political pressure to regress to the previous policies, despite their unsustainable cost and the fact that they unfairly benefited mainly a lucky few at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.”
This is a reductionist and an unhelpful view. Reform design and implementation are a human enterprise. They can’t be perfect. Mistakes will be made. Some assumptions will not be met. Adjustments will be necessary in some instances. And truth be told, some fundamental mistakes have been made in implementing the twin reforms, especially in terms of strategic planning, sequencing and approach, provisioning for the vulnerable and picking up speed in making reliefs available to the needy.
I have said this repeatedly: it is possible to do the right thing in the wrong way or in the wrong order. Yes, there are those opposed to the reforms from the beginning and till now. There are also those who are against the reforms for ideological and political reasons. But there are also those who want the reforms to be more thoughtfully designed and better implemented. Lumping everyone together or dismissing those who want improvement to the reforms is not very useful, and not the kind of tendency the World Bank should be encouraging.
The proposals about creating jobs, improving infrastructure and trade etc will provide a structural foundation for sustainable growth but they will not provide immediate relief to the growing number of Nigerians whose standard of living is being shredded daily by soaring costs of food and other essential items. With food inflation at 37.77% (Sokoto State is 50.47%), we should all be worried stiff. Meanwhile, suspension of taxes on some food items was announced with fanfare in July but discussion is still ongoing on implementation. That tells you all you need to know about the seriousness the government attaches to some issues.
My last point is about the song and dance being made of the unification of the exchange rate and how that ties to the central challenge of the moment. In his NESG speech, Dr Gill said that when the forex reform started in June 2023, the official exchange rate was N465/$1 while the parallel market rate was N700/$1, a spread of N235 on each dollar. Sixteen months into the forex reform, the rates have unified at around N1600/$1. Is that not an incredible feat? We have achieved unification, but at what cost?
is now undergoing a transplant because of its failure to do the painful but necessary dialysis for years.
Having said that, however, I still do not have nice words for the Tinubu administration. For one, it is clear that the reform was poorly conceived and harshly implemented. You can devalue the naira, yes, but no country floats its currency recklessly as we did. It was a kamikaze. Above all, the measures to cushion the pains are mostly audio. Ages ago, the Tinubu administration announced a planned suspension of tariffs on food items. Maybe it will start implementation this morning. You can see the unseriousness. No sense of urgency. Yet, the government was eager to award the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar road contract — of all the problems in Nigeria. Construction started instantly. Priorities. That, in a nutshell, is why reform is difficult to sell to Nigerians. The people are wondering: are we all in this thing together? There is nothing to show that the message of sacrifice is for all. Leadership is best delivered by example. It is more urgent to buy a presidential jet than to reduce tariffs on food items and medication that will benefit millions of Nigerians. How many people really benefit from all these palliatives? All said, it would be more disastrous to reverse the reform. The task is how to keep it on track and minimise the pains. I have said this again and again: Nigerians are not impossible to lead. They want to see that their leaders really and truly care — not just in words but also in deed.
NO COMMENT
The consultative assembly of the Southeast Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) says residents in the geo-political zone will go on an “indefinite strike” from November 1 over a plan to move customers to Band A where electricity tariffs are the highest. Before you laugh, they have a point: faulty infrastructure is yet to be fixed and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has not complied with an order by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to refund N11.86 billion to consumers overbilled between January and September 2023. But what will a strike look like if EEDC does not stop supply? Switch off the lights? Resort to using diesel generators? Wonderful.
of adequate forex supply. The argument is not about retaining the forex subsidy but about how to devalue based on your context as a country. Also, a free float is not the only way to have a market-determined, competitive exchange rate.
The World Bank, the CBN and even the Finance Ministry wax poetic about how the current ‘competitive’ value of the Naira should incentivise exports. But we all need to bear in mind that there will always be a time-lag for significant uptick in the quantity and quality of exports. Also, the benefits of increase in the Naira value of exports will not be as widespread as the immediate pains of an undervalued currency in a country that still imports a lot of final and intermediate goods. Clearly, the government is banking more revenue from exchange gains (which is now a major and regular FAAC item). Ordinarily, increased government revenues should translate to improved spending on the priorities of the people, but we know how that goes. Government’s spending priorities in the last 17 months tell us all we need to know.
My second issue is with the assumption that everyone criticising the reforms wants reversal or is a member of the elite that benefited from the old order. It is quite unfortunate that the
My third issue is that most of the options laid out by the Bank and the government will not address the immediate pain points of most Nigerians. Cash transfer is necessary, but how far can N75,000 shared in three tranches go for the poorest households (even when disbursed on time, which is not the case here)? Free or subsidised bags of rice and other grains can be helpful but how many people will such reach and for how long? More than doubling the minimum wage is a great idea, but this applies to largely the few who work in the formal sector or 7.3% of those in our labour force. Meanwhile, the hardship brought by the reform is widespread.
Both the World Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are crowing about how this major achievement that has eliminated arbitrage, has led to increase in dollar-denominated government revenues, and in investment flows, remittances and external reserves, and made Nigerian exports more competitive. Missing here is a thought for the Nigerians who do not earn dollars, who clearly constitute more than 90% of our population and are impacted in different ways by the massive loss in the value of the national currency.
But by all accounts, Naira has moved from being overvalued to being undervalued. Figure 1.8 in the NDU euphemistically says the real exchange rate has staged a large adjustment. Some REER calculation puts Naira at its lowest real value since 1999. This large adjustment arose from the disorderly devaluation of the Naira through a free float without a guarantee
We cannot normalise dollar at N1600 or afford further undervaluation under the convenient excuse that it is market determined especially when there is a consensus that the currency is undervalued. Ensuring that the Naira finds its fair value should be the priority of the government today because the price of most things, including that of locally refined petrol, is linked to the value of the Naira. Getting Naira to its fair value, and not those tokenistic handouts or those medium-term prescriptions, is what will provide immediate relief across the board.
It is also what will provide the best insurance for the difficult reforms and against social upheaval. Of course, we need to stay the course, as policy reversal has a heavy cost. But we also need to be practical and know that the human capacity to bear pain is not infinite. Reformers must constantly pay attention to the pulse of the operating environment, and make tactical adjustments where necessary. TENSION BETWEEN
LAWLESS LIBYA
ENGAGEMENTS
Tinubu: Hints of a Failing Mission
The current mood of the nation is defined by a question mark. Most people are not quite sure where the Tinubu presidency is leading us. You hear it in the market place, at airport lounges, on the streets and in boardrooms. At first there was an optimism founded on the newness of the tenure. After all an election had taken place and expectations were high that the new thing would yield new beginnings and imbue new hope. The new administration even borrowed a name and a slogan from the prevailing air. Tinubu and his acolytes called their agenda: “Renewed Hope”!
These days, the name tag is won mostly by minions on the corridors of Aso Villa and straggling jobless party men and women who cannot find a better job out there. Everywhere else, the mood is bleak. The cult of optimists is dwindling. Those who feel that the Tinubu presidency will yield some smiles are getting fewer or going into hiding. Regime economists are falling back to the conditionalities economists usually attach to: “all things being equal”, knowing that in the real world of economic utopia, all things can never be equal.
Only some global economists lead the chorus of optimists about Nigeria’s prospects. The World Bank knows that election cycles and four year terms define our policy environment. They are saying Nigerian’s current reforms will yield positive results if sustained for long enough. In fact, the Bank has determined that Nigeria needs to sustain the Tinubu reforms for upwards of fifteen years to see results! No one knows where Tinubu would be in fifteen years time.
We only know that even with the best of electoral fortunes, there would be no Tinubu administration in fifteen years. And for certain, whatever administrations succeed Tinubu would look back at the man and his baggage as bad history or just not want to touch him with a long pole.
Nigerian political animals that support Tinubu nonetheless are less definitive than the World Bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria. Of course the apostolic certainty of the Central Bank is founded on matters of job security and tenure assurance. So no one should blame the CBN for being the most optimistic apostles of Tinubu’s reforms.
Nigerian political believers in the Tinubu reform are being politically correct. Their nuances are diverse. Tinubu needs time to deliver. Less than two years is nothing in the life of an administration. There is still time. The man needs more time to deliver. Give the man a break....
Tinubu’s foreign affairs minister, Mr. Tuggar has appealed for patience from Nigerians, insisting that Tinubu would deliver. He falls back to the usual lazy self assurance that Nigeria is after all not alone in passing through hard times in today’s world. He even attributes current hardships to past policy missteps ranging from the 2008 global financial crisis and Nigeria’s failure to invest in more refineries to the 2020 Covid-19 emergency.
Vice President Shettima has been understandably vociferous in defending his administration’s policies and of course urging hope in the prospects of current policies. Mr. Shettima insists he is aware of the hardship all over the country but says that there are no alternatives to the draconian policies if the nation must return to the ‘path of growth’. He does not of course go beyond platitudes to identify the indices of the growth that his administration’s policies are aiming at returning us to.
Closer home, the sound bytes are a bit more realistic. Mrs. Remi Tinubu is First Lady and a politician. She is nearest the temple. She has protested aloud that the problems of our current hardship were not caused by her husband. The problems have always been there. Her husband only came
to help alleviate a bad situation. And he is doing it as a patriotic duty, not for financial returns. She has repeatedly reminded us all that her family has always been a wealthy family, not needing to fiddle with the national till.
There has been a more overtly political appeal for understanding on the Tinubu plight and the clear and present possibility that it could fail. My very good and respected friend, former Ogun state governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, is not a frivolous man. He is a serious political voice whose views weigh heavily in the nation and in the South-west in particular. Chief Osoba recently vowed that South-west politicians will defend and protect the Tinubu presidency through two four-year terms as a Yoruba son.
For , Tinubu is first and foremost a Yoruba president deployed to serve Nigeria. Osoba is not so concerned about Tinubu’s competence, effectiveness or policy relevance. For him, the equation is simple. Tinubu is a Yoruba son at the helm of national power. He must be supported to succeed. He has to be a successful Yoruba president even if he turns out a woeful national leader. This is perhaps the closest we get to a tacit admission and hint that the Tinubu presidency might fail as a national institution.
Other South West leaders like Obasanjo and Bode George have found alternative dialects for communicating the looming Tinubu disaster. Obasanjo has opted for silence and generalizations and a bit of symbolism. Earlier, he had donned the Tinubu trade mark cap and innocuously visited Tinubu under the First Lady’s escort. Thereafter, he went silent on criticism of Tinubu’s policies. Mr. Bode George
is in a class of his own. At some point, he was an arch PDP stalwart. At other times, he was full of bile for Tinubu and the APC. At other times, he harbours some hope in Tinubu and his presidency.
What runs through all these conflicting hints of trouble at the altar of the Tinubu presidency is a worrisome admission that the optimism that greeted the onset of the administration may be heading to a bad place. The two cardinal policies of the administration – fuel subsidy removal and currency liberalization -have literally overturned the fragile economy. Inflation is through the roof. Living costs are insane. In less than 18 months, what used to look like the semblance of a middle class has been wiped off. An atmosphere of insecurity that first fed on hardship and poverty has been aggravated by worsening hardship. Hunger has joined general poverty to expand the confines of hell.
Let us not make any mistakes about where this administration has landed us. It has set precedents in our national economic history. We have the highest rate of inflation at over 33%. We have the worst exchange rate in history at over N1,700 to a dollar. We now rank as one of the worst performing currencies in the world. We have the highest percentage of poor population in excess of 78 million. We now have the highest electricity tariff in our history. Our streets and highways are at their most frightful in history as we inhabit one of the half dozen most dangerous countries in the world.
The clear question that haunts the nation is a simple one: Can the policy thrust of the Tinubu presidency produce a positive reversal of its corrosive effects? In other words, can we witness a reversal of the bad exchange rate? Will we return to an era of more affordable gasoline at the pumps? Will food affordability replace the present virtual famine? Will things get better or worse still?
There is an even larger question: has this administration’s tinkering with policy and
a rudderless governance style plunged the nation into an even deeper ditch than it was in May, 2023? And why?
Judgments and verdicts on the Tinubu presidency are wrong headed in my view. We cannot judge what we do not know or cannot characterize. No one has as yet told us what this presidency was all about in the first place. What were the policy objectives of the administration? What kind of society did the new administration aim at? What vision has fuelled Tinubu’s long term political hunger and aspiration?
It is important to raise these basic questions in order to understand what vision Tinubu shared with his team at inception and on the basis of which he can possibly evaluate their performance. In terms of style, values, goals, performance targets and national character, what kind of nation did Tinubu aim at? The remarkable leader is that one who wakes up his nation and takes it along an unfamiliar road to that place where they have never been before but have been longing to go. Even in modern democracies with well established presidential or parliamentary traditions, successive leaders come to power with the aim of re-creating the nation along definable lines.
Is Tinubu a visionary leader? In other words, has his political career been in pursuit of a vision of Nigeria that is yet unachieved? Is Tinubu a restorative leader? In other words, does he aim at recreating a glorious chapter of the Nigerian past and make it his? Is he, for instance, obsessed with the idea of nationalizing the Awo legacy and making it a Nigerian template? Is Tinubu a transformational leader? In other words, has he set out to transform Nigeria from static primordiality into bubbling modernity? Does he aim to change our ways and bring the nation up to the modern ways of nations of our age, and resource status?
A traveller who does not know where he set out to go cannot be accused of getting to nowhere!
Tinubu
W’Bank to FG: Reduce Cost of Collection by MDAs, Govt Enterprises
•UrgesFGtoliftharmfulimportbans,aligntariffswithECOWAS
The World Bank has advised the federal government to reduce the huge cost of collecting federation revenues by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs).
The Bretton Woods institution’s admonition, which was aimed
at ensuring economic stability, was contained in the bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update October 2024, titled, “Staying the Course: Progress Amid Pressing Challenges.”
The NDU report on Nigeria, made a number of recommendations for Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability in the face of the ongoing reforms, including a reduction in
Lagos Governor Seeks NCAA Guidance, Approval for New Airport
Chinedu Eze
The Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have held a meeting to discuss the proposed state airport in Ibeju-Lekki, a crucial component of the state’s broader transport master plan.
A statement by NCAA disclosed that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the meeting was to engage with regulatory authorities to seek clarification and approval before moving forward with the project.
The governor shared the state’s vision for the proposed airport, highlighting its significance in
addressing the challenges posed by having only one airport serving Lagos.
The idea of an additional airport was first considered in 2008, and a feasibility study conducted between 2008 and 2010 concluded that the project was viable. However, progress was delayed due to unforeseen setbacks.
Sanwo-Olu reflected on significant developments in the eastern part of Lagos, where several industries have been established, and mentioned that discussions had taken place with the former Minister of Aviation, who had approved the establishment of an aerodrome in Ibeju-Lekki.
To Enrich Nigeria’s Jurisprudence, Idigbe Urges SANs to Consider Serving as Judges
which was too close to the then retirement age of 65 years.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Anthony Idigbe, has urged Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to consider serving as judges, stressing that it will help transform Nigeria’s jurisprudence.
Idigbe stated this at the pre-SAN confernment dinner organised by a law firm, Pinheiro LP. Idigbe suggested that those who have achieved the rank of SAN could consider other opportunities the rank provides, including serving as judges.
He said: “From my experience, I suggest you do it early, say three or four years after elevation.
“I recall Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) encouraging me to apply for an appointment as a Supreme Court judge and telling me about 13 years ago that he would have done the same, but for his age,
“Many of us are passionate about mixing the backgrounds of those in the policy court.
“Unfortunately, I must share the same sentiment as Chief Olanipekun with you today: I’m getting dangerously close to my potential exit even if I get the opportunity,” he added.
Addressing the new SANs, Idigbe said: “You are young and can enter the judicial space now and impact the jurisprudence.
“I suggest that some of you explore becoming judges at the entry-level of the High Court - say three to four years from now.
“Once SANs begin to be appointed at that level, it would soon become the norm, and the season of appointment of only failed practitioners to the junior bench will be a thing of the past,” he added.
the cost of collection of MDAs/ GOEs.
Cost of collection is the commission received by MDAs and GOEs for collecting revenues on behalf of the Federation.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) receives seven per cent of customs levies and duties as cost of collection; the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) gets four per cent of non-oil taxes, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), receives four per cent of royalties, signature bonuses, fines and other oil and gas revenues.
Cost of collection is usually deducted at the monthly meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) before federally-collected revenues are disbursed among the three tiers of government and other statutory beneficiaries.
An analysis by THISDAY revealed that between January and September 2024 (a period of nine months), over N332.113 billion was paid to the MDAs as cost of collection, while FAAC shared about N10.97 trillion to the federal, states and local governments.
A few days ago, FAAC
disbursed a total of N1.298 trillion to the federal, state, local governments and other statutory recipients from a gross revenue of N2.298 trillion for the month of September, and cost of collection alone gulped N80.993 billion.
The World Bank’s call for a reduction in cost of collection to the MDAs/GOEs is coming after the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms recently tinkered with the idea of reducing the number of agencies collecting revenues for the Federation to one, and
slashing the cost of collection to one per cent or less. Meanwhile, the NDU report also urged the federal government to reform the ValueAdded Tax (VAT) regimeandrationalisetaxexpenditures. It equally called for improved tax administration through the adoption of an e-invoicing system and strengthening tax audits. The report noted that structural reforms were needed to unleash inclusive growth, urging Nigeria to lift harmful import bans and align tariffs to those of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Stakeholders Stress Importance of Increased FDIs in Energy Sector
Energy stakeholders have unanimously agreed that enhanced investments are crucial to the growth of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the Kenna Partners Energy Dialogue with the theme: ‘Divestments, Re-Investments, Deep-Offshore Development and the Future of Oil and Gas in Nigeria,’ which featured key industry players and government officials, the stakeholders discussed the challenges confronting the
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to be wary of the recent advice of the World Bank (WB) in which prescribed the reduction in government’s support for social services in Nigeria.
Recall that the Senior Vice President of the World Bank
sector and how to chart the path forward.
The Director of Upstream at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Kamoru Busari, representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the ministry was aware of the funding challenges confronting the global energy sector, thereby working to create an enabling environment
Group, Mr. Indermit Gill, had while speaking at a programme in Abuja, said the results of the current economic policies of the government, including the removal of subsidy and devaluation of the naira would be seen in 10 to 15 years.
However, the factional National Publicity of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, urged the federal government to be wary of the advice.
It said: “Firstly, the current
to attract investment.
“When we observed the global energy transition and defunding of oil and gas projects, we started a dialogue with other oil-producing African countries to start our bank to fund our projects to not be frustrated into following the Western transition plan.
This led to the creation of the $ 5 billion USD African Energy Bank by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation, which is now hosted by Nigeria,” Busari stated. The Head of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre, Mr. Victor Otobo, representing the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, reiterated the commission’s commitment to creating an enabling regulatory environment that fosters divestment and re-investment in the industry.
administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would have run its terms before the 10 to 15 years the presumed dividends of the World Bank prescriptions will manifest.
“Meaning that this administration may then only be remembered for the sacrifices made by the people and the attendant sufferings while another administration would take the credit for the dividends – if at all.
“So, rather than continuing with
Lagos Cosmopolitan Women’s Club Unites with NCF, LASG
Sunday Ehigiator
The Cosmopolitan Women Club (CWC) joined the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Lagos State Ministry of Environment yesterday for the first time on a 4.5km ‘Save the Earth, Save the Future’ awareness walk in Lagos State.
The walk, which is in its 18th edition, was themed, ‘Land
Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience’, to increase awareness and advocacy for a better and healthier environment where every Nigerian can prosper while living in harmony with nature.
Participants numbering over 500, gathered at the Onikan stadium as early as 7 am on Saturday, where they walked through JK Randle Road, through TBS - Broad Street (inner Marina), to Ganiyu Smith
the Bank’s policies, resort should be made to policies that boost local businesses and encourage local initiatives thus reducing dependence on imported goods,” he said.
He recalled that most of the countries that heeded prescriptions or conditions that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) always gave ended up in worse situations.
for ‘Save the Earth’ Walk
Road by Freedom Park to Igbosere Road taking a right turn down to Lawson Street junction, back to King George, before returning to Onikan Stadium.
Speaking to THISDAY after the exercise, the President, of Cosmopolitan Women Club (CWC) Lagos, who also doubles as the Chairman of, the Business Development Committee of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dame Mame Fatayi-Williams,
noted that the organisation was in support of Governor Babajide Sawo-Olu’s ban on single-use plastic in Lagos state. According to her, “There are a lot of issues with coastal erosion at the moment, especially in the Lekki area, where we have our NCF building itself. There is a lot of flooding and the lagoon is growing. Hence, we believe that if we do not create this awareness in time as NCF, it will be a problem.
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Wale Igbintade
L-R: Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna; Justices of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Justice Ntong Ntong, Justice Onyekachi Otisi; Senior lawyers, Mr. Uche Sunday Awa (SAN); and Chief Okey Amechi (SAN), at the new Legal Year of the Abia State Judiciary in Umuahia…recently
“We remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.” – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar chiding the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s for comments that he will continue to be a problem to him.
SIMO N KOLAWOLE
simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961
Why Economic Reform is Hard to Sell
Breaking News: The World Bank has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policy, suggesting that Nigeria must maintain its current reforms for the next 10 to 15 years in order to be able to transform its economy. Dr. Indermit Gill, the chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank Group, said and I quote: “If these reforms are sustained, Nigeria will transform its economy and become an engine of growth in sub-Saharan Africa. It is very difficult to implement such reforms, but the rewards are massive.” He was speaking in Abuja at the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit with the theme: “Collaborative Action for Growth, Competitiveness, and Stability.”
Me: Thank you very much, Dr. Gill, but how many Nigerians will still be alive in the long run at this rate? With the massively falling naira, growing foodflation, explosive fuel costs, and shocking electricity tariffs, how many Nigerians will make it to the Promised Land? Nigerians have been experiencing the pains of various economic reforms for decades but it has been eons since they have had to endure this rate of price increases all coming within one year. As they are struggling to process one development, another one comes. They are asking: when will there be a respite? Petrol price alone has jumped from roughly N185/litre to around N1,000. This
was previously unthinkable.
When President Olusegun Obasanjo was about to be inaugurated in 1999, Channels TV did a vox-pop of people on the streets, asking them their expectations of the new government. “I want Obasanjo to bring the economy down,”
WAZIRI ADIO
POSTSCRIPT
one market woman yelled into the microphone. Don’t laugh. As far as she was concerned, the “economy” means prices of goods and services. You know everything about the macro-economic and micro-economic theories, GDP, M1, M2, M3, balance of payments, capital flows and fiscal consolidation — but the market woman knows something about the price of garri theory. No matter the imperative of reform, therefore, there is a human element that cannot be ignored. Economic reforms are mostly presented as a technical activity. You want to attract foreign investments? Remove the artificial peg of the naira, lift barriers to free trade and don’t place a lid on capital repatriation. You want more funds for education, healthcare and to build critical infrastructure? Get rid of subsidies. You want more revenue? Increase your tax/GDP ratio — your rates are too low and enforcement too weak. You want to curb inflation? Reduce money supply by raising interest rates. On paper, these policies are no-brainers. There is just one problem: at the receiving end are human beings — and the poorest of them are always disproportionately affected.
Across the country today, Nigerians are groaning over the impact of the reform being embarked upon by Tinubu, who has been nicknamed “T-Pain”. The reform has seen to the total or partial removal of three subsidies: petrol, FX and electricity. The “technical” results are what
the World Bank is celebrating: debt service as percentage of revenue is falling, meaning there will be more money to fund the budget; FX reserves are growing, meaning we can now meet our international trading obligations better than before; and federation account is getting fatter partly because of the removal of the implicit FX subsidy. But here is the ultimate test: what is the “is equal to” on the price of garri?
On the upside, the removal of petrol subsidy will end the scam that has been enriching a few. We were to spend about N5.4 trillion on subsidy in 2024, having already doled out N4.2 trillion from January to July. No such claims can be made again and there should, thus, be more money going into the treasury. On the downside, though, petrol price has been rising and making life miserable for Nigerians. It is complicated by the fact that we are not used to buying petrol at a market-determined price, so it is a culture shock. When prices were increased in the past, they usually stayed on the same spot for years no matter the ex-depot cost. This brought some stability to consumer prices.
Until recently, we were importing petrol at N1,200/litre and selling at N600. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd started owing suppliers and was, in no time, struggling to keep importing. Word went round
Tension between Cold Data and Harsh Reality
Last week, the World Bank made three key and coordinated interventions about the economic reforms of the current administration. On Monday, the Bank’s chief economist and senior vice-president for development economics, Dr Indermit Gill, gave a special remark at the annual summit of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); on Wednesday, the same Dr Gill had an opinion piece in the highly-regarded Financial Times; and on Thursday, the World Bank Group launched its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU).
Well-synchronised, the three interventions echoed the same message: that the Tinubu economic reforms are necessary, that the reforms are beginning to yield positive results, but the reforms need to be sustained and supported to deliver the desired gains. The World Bank came across as offering a ringing and an unqualified endorsement of not just the reforms but also of the way they are being executed. Without a doubt, the Tinubu administration would crave and celebrate such a rosy affirmation. But most Nigerians, going through the worst cost-of-living crisis in recent memory, would have none of it.
I listened to the various speakers at the launch of the NDU (and it was a relief that Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi State was invited to provide some ground-level, even if somewhat political, reality check). Also, I have read the speech and the Op-Ed by Dr Gill and gone through the NDU report. I think World Bank’s position is more nuanced than it is coming across in the press and on social media.
However, the World Bank cannot be absolved of the charge of underplaying the mistakes in reform implementation, of over-simplifying the expanding opposition to the reforms and of minimising the danger of not acting quickly and concretely to reduce the concentrated pain spreading across the land. It can be argued that some of these things are not for the World Bank to say. But there is always a risk in not applying necessary caveats and in not reading the room well at a time when most citizens are struggling to make ends meet and there seems to be no reasonable timeframe for the stress to moderate.
In the three interventions, the Bank made a compelling case for the removal of petrol and foreign exchange subsidies. In 2022, the Bank stated, Nigeria lost $15 billion or 5% of GDP to explicit and implicit (and regressive)
subsidies on petrol and forex and unwittingly imposed a tax on non-oil exports. This created a fiscal mess and dampened economic growth, and the country was just inches away from a cliff.
The two signature reforms of the Tinubu administration, the Bank submitted, have stemmed the bleeding and some vital signs of recovery are becoming noticeable. The positive signs include the following: fiscal deficit shrank from 6.2% of GDP in H1-2023 to 4.4% of GDP in H1-2024; federation revenues increased from 5.5% of GDP in H1-2023 to 8.7% of GDP in H1-2024; gross foreign reserves rose from $32.9 billion at the end of 2023 to $38.5 billion in early October 2024; arbitrage-inducing premium on multiple foreign exchange rates has been eliminated by ‘market determined’ unification of rates and forex turnover has doubled; debt service as a portion of revenue is projected to fall to 60% by end of 2024 compared to 100% in 2022 etc., etc.
All this is well and good, and Nigeria could use such cheery assessment. We will revert shortly on how much value an average Nigerian puts in such macro-level datapoints. Crucially, the Bank acknowledged the disruption and hardship brought by the reforms, especially in terms of higher energy costs and prices of
other goods and services, and the implication for driving more Nigerians into poverty. In the three interventions, the overarching message from the World Bank is that the country should not abandon the reforms. “Nigeria will need to stay the course for at least 10 to 15 years to transform its economy and become an engine of growth in SubSaharan Africa,” said Dr Gill at the NESG summit. “This is the lesson from the past 40 years, as well as from the experience of countries as diverse as India, Poland, South Korea and Norway. Nigeria’s reforms from 2003 through 2007 were exactly what was needed—but they were not sustained.”
The Bank came up with a list of things that should be done to deepen the reforms and as part of staying the course. The prescriptions revolve around creating meaningful jobs for Nigerians, with special emphasis on women and youth. The suggestions are in four broad areas: reducing trade barriers; improving infrastructure; improving business environment; and increasing support to households and businesses.
I welcome the World Bank for being a
Continued on page 61
Atiku to Wike
Tinubu