Ogun State witnessed yet another epoch-making event last Friday, with the flag-off of the Gateway Inland Dry Port construction located at Kajola in Ewekoro Local Government Area. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, performed the ground-breaking ceremony amidst public excitement. Like no other before it, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun glowed with an aura of inner fulfilment seeing his dream come true.

Having a dry port in the state to support and drive its sustainable industrial growth is one of the overarching objectives of his administration. Therefore, achieving the feat, without a doubt, is another significant milestone in his aggressive pursuit of infrastructural transformation as a catalyst for domestic and direct foreign investment inflow into the state.
And, of course, the importance of a dry port for sustainable industrial growth in a state like Ogun, with its peculiar advantage of proximity to Lagos State hosting the largest seaport in West Africa cannot be overemphasized. In transportation and logistics jargon, an Inland dry port is an intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport, operating as a centre for transporting sea cargo to inland destination.

In other words, an inland port is a physical site located away from traditional land, air, and coastal borders with the vision to facilitate and process international trade through strategic investment in multi-modal transportation assets and by promoting value-added services as goods move through the supply chain
In addition to its role in cargo trans-shipment, dry ports may also include facilities for the storage and consolidation of goods, cargo carriers, and customs clearance services. An inland port is an inland site linked to a seaport. As this kind of port does not require a waterway, the key features include the transfer of containers between different modes of transportation (intermodal transfer) and the processing of international trade.

The creation of a dry port is to relieve competition for storage and customs space at the seaport. When completed, the Gateway Dry Inland Port will help to facilitate the flow of cargo between ships and major land transportation networks, creating a more central distribution point. The port will also improve the movement of imports and exports, moving the time-consuming sorting and processing of containers inland, away from congested seaports in Lagos.

So, rather than goods being loaded and unloaded in the already congested Lagos Seaport, shipping containers can be transferred by road vehicle to the dry port. Container handling space can be reduced by transferring functions to an inland port away from the Sea port and coast. For example, the functions of receiving, processing through customs, inspecting, sorting, and consolidating containers going to the overseas port can be transferred to this Inland Port to reduce congestion.The presence of dry port in Ogun will attract new cargo flows and boost the economic effect of increasing the volume of transit cargo transportation, while also reducing the idle time of wagons waiting for reloading and the turnaround time of an empty container.

More specifically, when it becomes operational, the Port is expected to reduce congestion in the existing Lagos Seaports and transform the country into a trans-shipment hub. Over the years, Lagos has witnessed rising transport demand and road traffic jams which have led to increasing congestion and delays at the Ports. Successful completion of the project will not only reduce congestion at the Seaport but also increase cross-border trade between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

It will also enhance distribution by setting up a link between the inland and sea port, resulting in a lower unit cost than sending containers individually by road. The containers are collected from their origins or distributed to their ultimate destinations by road with the transfer happening at the inland site.
The multiplier effects of all of these combined will generate huge employment opportunities for the teeming youths.

By projection, the project is expected to create an estimated 20,000 new jobs directly and indirectly. This will in turn create a new vista of economic growth for the state and the nation as a whole.

Oyetola, speaking on the momentous occasion at Kajola, gave this assurance, adding that “it will attract investments that will spur regional development, benefiting Ogun State and beyond. This project is not merely about building infrastructure but about laying the foundation for a key logistics hub that will facilitate the movement of goods across Nigeria, creating over 5,000 direct jobs, 15,000 indirect jobs, and stimulating local businesses,” he said.

Giving further insight into the project, he said the port would be built to international standards and equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance, and cargo movement to ensure efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness.

“No doubt, this project aligns seamlessly with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as we are committed to creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, economic growth, and infrastructural development. This initiative will undoubtedly help Ogun State become a more attractive destination for businesses and investors, reinforcing our collective aspiration for a prosperous Nigeria.

“During a recent visit to a logistics hub in Lagos, I observed firsthand the challenges businesses face due to congestion at our traditional seaports, which result in longer transport times and increased costs. This experience highlights the urgent need for developing inland ports like the Gateway Inland Dry Port.

“Inland Dry Ports provide faster and more efficient alternatives for moving goods, ultimately benefiting our economy and reducing the burden on our coastal seaports,” Oyetola emphasised.

He explained that the development of inland dry ports was a critical component of the broader strategy to position Nigeria as a leading player in the Blue Economy, stating “that as the nation continues to diversify its economy, it is essential to create infrastructure that serves as key nodes in the supply chain, thereby reducing reliance on traditional seaports.”

The Minister expressed optimism that the Dry Port would enhance the efficiency of the logistics network and contribute to the decongestion of Apapa, and Tin Can Ports, both in Lagos, thus improving Nigeria’s trade competitiveness on the global stage.
Accordingly, he directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure that the Port is developed as a state-of-the-art facility integrating advanced technology, leveraging ICT for seamless operations, and developing robust infrastructure that supports modern port processes.

“It is imperative that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council works closely with the Ogun State Government and the concessionaire to build a maritime ecosystem that is not only competitive but also a leader in innovation and technological advancement. Sustainability must be at the core of all our infrastructure projects.

“This Inland Dry Port is expected to significantly contribute to achieving that goal by enhancing the efficiency of our logistics network, reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with road transportation, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices in line with global standards,” he stated.

The host Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who had long envisioned the creation of a dry port to boost the state’s economy, re-echoed Oyetola’s optimism, saying the Port would help in opening up and engendering more development in the State by serving as a transport and logistics hub for the nation.

He outlined the immense benefits of the project thus: “Having identified the ideal location convenient to our Gateway Dry Port inland container terminal, this facility is a key enabler of industrial activity and manufacturing in Ogun State. It will, on completion, increase the ranking of our State on the ease of doing business index.

“Because of the rail line right here, containers destined for Ogun can be ferried to Kajola and, on arrival, loaded onto the train and transported to Shederu, Kajola. Our manufacturers will be able to bring in their raw materials without having to go through the hassle of going to Lagos Tin Can or Apapa Ports to clear and transport while dealing with the attendant demurrage costs that add to their overall cost of production.
“This Port will reduce vehicular trailer traffic on our roads, thus reducing the wear and tear and early maintenance on roads leading in and out of Lagos.
“With the Gateway Inland Dry Port, we are solidifying our position as the foremost logistics and industrial hub in the country, bringing unparalleled advantages to businesses operating here.

Abiodun said the groundbreaking event was not merely the foundation of a dry port, but the beginning of a new era of economic growth, job creation, and increased prosperity, emphasizing that the project was a testament to the shared vision of prosperity and industrialization that would transform the State into a leading logistics and commercial centre both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, said the groundbreaking was another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to grow the economy and spread development to every part of the State.

The Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland who is also the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, used the occasion to appeal for the reconstruction of the Sagamu interchange-Papalanto-Ilaro road to derive full benefits of the project. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the siting of the port in the State, noting that his Renewed Hope agenda was already taking shape.

*Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital

The World Bank’s Senior Vice President by the name of Indermit Gill, who is originally Indian, incited mass panic in Nigeria on October 14 when he said Nigeria would need to sustain its current soul-sucking, agonizingly punishing, and self-destructive “reforms” for “at least another 10 to 15 years to transform its economy.”

Gill’s speech at the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja—which read partly like the smug, cloying, self-congratulatory bluster President Bola Tinubu would write and partly like the intentionally obfuscating gobbledygook of dubious experts who want to conceal the truth from the uninitiated—elicited verbal and nonverbal expressions of fervent disapproval from the well-fed elites of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning (who planned the event) when he said Nigeria must continue this path of national self-incineration “at least another 10 to 15 years.”

Gill was compelled to wonder aloud if the murmurs his callous exhortation triggered were a signal of disagreement or agreement from his audience. The camera zoomed in on people nodding discontentment or using their fingers to gesture disapproval. If he is smart, he would know the answer to his question.

But the soulless, blood-sucking economic vampire was unmoved. He insisted that enduring “terrible hardship across the breadth of Nigerian society” (his words) as a consequence of the gutting of petrol subsidies is the only way to “become the engine of growth in sub-Saharan Africa.” “It is very difficult to do these things,” he said, “but the rewards are massive.” What massive rewards can come out of policies that take both lives and means of livelihood?

The phrase “at least” suggests that 10 to 15 years of piecemeal national mass immolation is the irreducible minimum required to achieve prosperity. That is, 10 to 15 years is the smallest possible national self-annihilation Nigeria has to endure to “transform its economy.” Since the least possible effort can’t always guarantee success, it means it would take more than 15 years (possibly 50 years— or even eternity) to achieve prosperity through national mass annihilation.

Well, since President Tinubu can’t rule longer than seven more years (assuming he wins a second term in 2027), the World Bank has effectively prepared the perfect, ready-made alibi to explain away the irrecoverable harm its loathsome and baleful prescriptions will visit on Nigeria in the next few years.

Tinubu’s successor, whoever that may be, would be insane to continue with this mass obliteration of the populace they call “reforms.”

 If he or she has brain cells in his or her skull and reverses this ruinous course, the World Bank would say, “Well, we told you that you needed to incinerate yourselves for at least 15 more years before you can have a chance at living. Since you brought yourselves back to life after only eight years of being in the burner, you are not sufficiently cooked, and we are not responsible for the burns and devastation that eight years of incineration brought to you. You see, you can only live if you burn yourselves alive, which you refused to do.”

This caricature might come across as grotesque and transgressive of the bounds of reasonableness, but it faithfully captures the logic of World Bank economic prescriptions for developing countries: you need to die before you can live.

If not, how could anyone celebrate the democratization of privation? “The price of [petrol] has quintupled since the subsidy cuts, imposing terrible hardships across the breadth of Nigerian society,” Gill said with a triumphant tone.

Well, one of the unspoken, unacknowledged but nonetheless far-reaching consequences of the quintupling of petrol prices is the slow but sure death of what remained of Nigeria’s education. Because of the dire existential precarity that the unaccustomed and ceaseless hikes in petrol prices have caused, many children are dropping out of school like leaves abandoning a tree before the storm hits.

A National Assembly member told me a few days ago that a prominent emir in Northwest Nigeria confided in him that he was alarmed by the sheer number of young people who are dropping out of school (at all levels of education) in his traditional sphere of authority because parents can’t afford to feed, and they consider paying the school fees of their children a burden they can’t shoulder.

This tragedy, this conscienceless assassination of the future of our youth in the service of the World Bank, isn’t limited to the North. 

Two weeks ago, a close relative of mine who lives in the Southwest requested my assistance to pay the school fees of five children who were roaming the streets because they had been sent home from school for failure to pay their school fees. Their father disappeared without a trace before he couldn’t cope. Their mother, a petty trader, manages to feed the children once in a day on a good day. But they used to get by before Tinubu’s “economic reforms” upended their lives.

We in the North are in a worse state because we are already behind the rest of the country in educational attainment. Now we are sliding even further as the sting of Tinubu’s World Bank-instigated “reforms” disrupts lives.

When a “reform” rolls back gains in school enrollment and effectively jeopardizes the future of the youth and of the country, you have to wonder why you need to implement it for at least 10 to 15 years to “grow.” It’s like pulling bricks from the foundation of a house in the name of building a taller roof. What good can possibly come out of that?

What sort of “reform” contracts the economy, diminishes the productive sector, reduces the purchasing power of the people, reverses growth in education, and even kills people’s will to live?

Tinubu has repeatedly assured Nigerians that the dark tunnel of his “reforms” will produce light during his presidency and that Nigerians only have to endure a temporary penance. But the World Bank, his puppeteer, has undercut his message. It says it will take at least 10 to 15 years of maintaining these “reforms,” which extend beyond the time he is constitutionally allowed to rule, to see any benefits.

 In other words, Nigerians are condemned to unmitigated anguish and deprivation for a deferred benefit that will never come since Tinubu won’t be around for the next 10 to 15 years, and his “reforms” would probably ensure that Nigerians don’t elect another neoliberal World Bank/IMF flunkey who will tout mass starvation of the citizenry as praiseworthy “reform.”

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: history offers too many cautionary tales of developing nations that have followed this very same script, only to find themselves worse off. Argentina in the early 2000s, for instance, stood on the precipice of ruin after blindly swallowing the IMF’s bitter medicine. With a wild, neoliberal, anarchist wacko of a president called Javier Milei, Argentina is back in the pit of World Bank/IMF hell.

 Ecuador, too, suffered a devastating financial crisis when it adopted policies that hollowed out its middle class.

 The World Bank and its cadre of international experts rarely account for the peculiarities of each nation’s economic and social dynamics. What they offer is a one-size-fits-all solution that has often wreaked havoc on the most vulnerable.

Nigeria is being told to trust this path, but development doesn’t emerge from policies that wipe out the middle class, impoverish the population, and render a nation’s currency barely worth the paper it’s printed on.

True development is rooted in fostering economic diversity, building local industry, and safeguarding the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. It’s about listening to the rhythm of the local economy and respecting its complexity, not bulldozing over it with a neoliberal agenda crafted in the halls of Washington.

No doubt, Nigeria’s economy has long needed repair. But it is one thing to call for reform and another to advocate for policies that feel like economic warfare on your own people. Tinubu may believe that this is a necessary sacrifice, but the logic of endless suffering in the name of eventual relief is deeply flawed. Countries do not develop by punishing their citizens into submission.

We must ask ourselves: how much longer can Nigeria afford to endure policies that erode its very foundation? For a nation whose citizens have weathered so many storms, the path forward must be built not on external dictates but on an understanding of Nigeria's unique strengths and vulnerabilities. And while the World Bank preaches patience from afar, Nigerians know better than most that promises of future prosperity mean little when the present is unbearable.

A leader worth following is one who understands this. A leader who places the needs of the people above the dictates of international financial institutions. Nigeria cannot afford to pay this price much longer, and Bola Tinubu's legacy may well rest on whether he is willing to listen to the cries of his people—or whether he will remain a distant echo of the world’s technocrats.

Being patriotic or loyal to Nigeria is a commitment all unwavering and obedient Nigerians must abide by. Promoting and defending Nigeria’s name/integrity in whatever capacity – politics, education, sports, entertainment or any profession – is a task that must be done by all Nigerians.

Prior to this present age, Nigerians complied with the rules and regulations scrupulously and thoroughly until now when today’s generation, widely known as Gen Z, care less about Nigeria or whatever associates with the country.

In times past, patriotic Nigerians knew, without being told or commanded, that it was their obligation to stand at attention – irrespective of where they found themselves – whenever the national anthem was being sung. Public property and national monuments were guarded and protected by Nigerians against vandalism. War against indiscipline was jointly fought by almost all Nigerians years back. Majority of Nigerians, apart from the few, were sincere in paying taxes for the development of the country was their concern. But it’s unfortunate that the faithfulness to Nigeria is hardly found among the youths In this day and age.

Why do this day’s youths think it unnecessary to put their lives on the line to defend their county unlike those in the past who did not only defend the country, but also stuck their neck out to lay their lives for Nigeria? The reason is not far-fetched. The inhuman treatments most of those who, in bygone days, had served Nigeria diligently get at their old age, during the time that their energies have already been exhausted, may be one of the reasons today’s youths place their personal interests above country’s agenda.

In fairness to many Nigerians who have lost interest in upholding Nigeria’s honour and glory, it’s unlikely to have dedicated nationals in a society where merit is scarcely rewarded. It’s few and far between to have devoted countrymen in a society where reality show on television – the show scholars tag as a ‘display of immortality’ – is more rewarding than defending Nigeria’s unity. How do we expect to have dedicated Nigerians in a country where the winners – most of who could barely recite national anthem – of reality show were the ones rewarded with millions of naira and brand new SUV cars while those who had served the country with their sweat and blood were abandoned and live in abject poverty, most especially in their old age?

The case of Peter Fregene, a former Green Eagles goalkeeper, who passed away few days ago, is a perfect example of the unkind and inhuman treatments some dedicated Nigerians get from the country of their birth after long years of service to the same country. Undoubtedly, nobody expected a man of Fregene’s calibre to be in the unfavourable condition the ex-Green Eagles star found himself at the last stage of his life but unluckily, this is what many experience almost every day.

Death is, of course, inevitable and it visits anyone anytime irrespective of one’s age. But one thing no one prays to happen to him is to go through pain before death knocks on the door. It’s disheartening to witness the way the ex-goalkeeper, Fregene, underwent agony while he was confined to bed before he gave up the ghost. Though help eventually came after many supplications, it was too late to rescue him. Had there been quick intervention, perhaps Fregene would have lived.

Peter Fregene is gone and there is nothing anyone can do to bring him back to life. But I believe there are lots the government can do to guard against similar occurrences in the future if the country still expects patriotism and loyalty from Nigerians.

Instead of waiting to seek financial assistance for our athletes, educationists, artistes and others, the government can set up a simple welfare scheme for active and retired shining examples to take good care of them during the time that they need the country most. With that, today’s youths will be encouraged to use their talents for the upliftment of Nigeria when they’re sure the country will not abandon them in time of need.

The former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, has called on the Federal Government to resume the signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private sector investors to ramp up Nigeria’s electricity generation.

Nigeria currently has about 13,000-megawatt nameplate capacity but generates only about 5,000MW due to a number of factors, including insufficient natural gas availability for the country’s gas-fired plants, which account for 80% of national grid electricity.

Nnaji, who is the founder and chairman of Geometric Power, Nigeria’s foremost integrated electricity group, told a forum of professionals involved in the electricity value chain, including bankers and lawyers, at a large meeting organised by the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie law firm in Lagos today that without the resumption of the PPAs, “it will be very difficult for any investor to provide money for grid power generation”.

He said that the PPAs “provide comfort to investors”, citing the example of the 450MW Azura power plant in Edo State which cost about $900m to build.

“Creditors”, he noted, “were able to provide the long-term funds because of the partial risk guarantee (PRG) provided in 2012” when he was the power minister under President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Nnaji, no new plants have been built by the private sector since the suspension of the PPA in 2015.

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.

It costs between $1.3m and $1.5m to build just a one-megawatt gas plant, according to Cliff Eneh, a former engineer with Texas Power and Light in the United States who is now an energy consultant in Lagos.

“The Federal Government and various state governments”, said Eneh, also a former manager with the defunct National Electric Power of Nigeria (PHCN), “don't have enough resources to close the well over 50,000MW gap in the country”.

Egypt and South Africa, which are among Africa’s largest economies, generate 58,000MW each, but South Africa has since 2007 been experiencing load shedding because of inadequate power availability.

“This shows that 58,000MW can’t be enough for us”, Eneh asserted, supporting Nnaji’s call for the reinstatement of PPAs.

Nnaji also told the gathering about the “great urgency to address the paralysing supply gas crisis bedevilling the country.

 “A situation where Nigeria, the world’s 9th largest gas country, can’t provide gas for domestic consumption”, he continued, “isn't justifiable”.

He revealed that his 188MW Geometric Power Plant, commissioned last February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, has “been grappling with gas scarcity, sometimes staying weeks without supplies”, despite building a 27-kilometre gas pipeline from the plant’s location in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba to Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

The former distinguished engineering professor in the United States observed that the challenges in the power sector “are, 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 patronize 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”.

Participants in the forum on Nigeria's electricity value chain included Dafe Akpeneye, a commissioner with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Kola Adesina, the chief executive of Sahara Energy; and Nicholas Okafor, head of the energy team at the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie law firm.

President Bola Tinubu congratulates the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on his 71st birthday on 20 October, which also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the King’s ascension to the throne of his ancestors. 

He notes that since the coronation of the 40th Oba of Benin in 2016, his kingship has 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.  

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 extols the Oba’s courage and unwavering commitment to preserving his domain's rich cultural heritage and tradition.

He says the King’s relentless efforts and exploration of international networks to return priceless and timeless artefacts, which carry the weight of the Benin Kingdom's history, identity, and nationality, reflect his love for his people.  

The President says this 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.  

Bayo Onanuga 

Special Adviser to the President  

(Information & Strategy)  

The remains of that great daughter of Igbara-Oke Kingdom, ACP Ayodele Fadairo (Nee Salotun), were buried today (18/10/24) in Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.

ACP Fadairo, popularly known to her many fans as Aunty Ayo L’alagbon, retired from the Nigeria Police Force more than a decade ago.

Her tomb is now adjacent to the the premises of the 

Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.

That command is simply known as Alagbon. 

Aunty Ayo served meritoriously there in the course of her distinguished career in the Force.

Legendary highlife muscian, Orlando Owoh, sang about his experience at Alagbon and his encounter with Aunty Ayo among other police officers. It was Orlando who actually registered the sobriquet “Aunty Ayo L’alagbon” in popular consciousness. Orlando paid compliments to Aunty Ayo in the music for her professionalism and humanity as a police officer.   

It was learnt that the organisers of her admirably curated funeral deliberately chose the spot, separated only by a fence from the Alagbon police station, as the resting place of Aunty Ayo.

The well-attended funeral service conducted at the cemetery was preceded earlier in the week by a Service of Songs and a Christian Wake.  

During the Wake yesterday there were testimonies to Aunty Ayo’s remarkable life of impact, selflessness and generosity of spirit.

A colourful reception was later held for guests in Ikeja.

Different groups, donned in the _aso-ebi_ uniform presented guests with lavish souvenirs and food packs. 

Many serving and retired police officers were at Aunty Ayo’s grave side to pay their last respects just as many members her church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM) and others were also there to say farewell to the lady and officer.    

Aunty Ayo was also a noble alumna of the Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke (AGSI). Among the old students of the great school at the occasion were a former president of the AGSI Alumni Association, Chief Wale Taiwo, SAN, and a former national officer of the body, Mr. Dele Oyedokun.

The Igbara-Oke Community in Lagos was, of course, well represented by its members including former Chairman of Igbara-Develoment Council (IDC), Siji Ijogun, and the Chairman of Igbara-Oke Citizens in Lagos, Barrister Toyin Bankole.

Not a few observers of the funeral activities said Aunty Ayo’s was a lesson in living a good life.

There is no belabouring the matter that sorrow not only stalks the land, it is ravaging it. So thick is it you can almost touch its emanations that fill the atmosphere. But for its wide-spread nature, you could almost want to hold it in its intangible folds and condensation and throw it up. As a result there are lamentations from want; there are lamentations over escalation in prices of essentials, principal among which are foodstuffs and energy, that is the pump prices of Petroleum Motor Spirit more generally referred to as petrol or fuel. The one of gasoline is practically on the lips of everybody. It is elating and hope-laden that the authorities are acutely aware of this. One point I quickly wish to make is that since fuel prices have been identified as the trigger of the inflationary waves, more oil should be supplied to Dangote Refinery and at a more reduced price until the four public refineries are fixed and proper competition ensues. Reduced price from the oil source is bound to translate into reduced cost price and selling price.

It is not just bread and butter that man is grappling with in these times. There is the issue of understanding the elements as well. There is already an alert from the National Emergency Management Agency that 362 communities are under the threat of flooding. This was the same way 31 communities were tipped off last year. They were told heavy rains were on the way that would lead to heavy flooding and they should begin to take precautionary measures. National Flood Early  Warning Systems Centre, an arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment, had said all through this week, running from Monday till today, Friday, there would be heavy rains that would give rise to serious flooding which would sweep through the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and 22 states. Indeed, the cities and towns that would be hit in the listed states were mentioned. According to the Early Warning Systems Centre, ‘’Also, due to the rise in the water levels of Rivers Donga, Benue and Ogun, communities on the flood plains of these rivers, as well as other flood plains, are advised to evacuate.” Last month, several parts of the North, were ravaged by floods, hard hit in particular was Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Two weeks ago, water for households was rationed at intervals of two days to enable the government effect repairs on damaged facilities and in the words of the Ministry of Water Resources to fix “the broken –down water facilities and networks as a result of the flood that affected Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and its environs…” For the period the rationing covered, water was predictably gold!

These have become perennial problems and we human beings, relying solely on machine forecast have closed ourselves to the prompting and advice of the elemental beings, who are conscious beings and who have responsibility to protect or warn other creatures on the consequences of their own actions in bringing about heavy rains to cleanse the earth surface. The alluvial deposit from floods enhances the fertility of soils especially in areas moisture level is low. Floods raise water levels under the ground and fill water subterranean water reservoirs. Those who preoccupy themselves with these phenomena say cold spells, for example, promote oxygen supply in the lakes, in their deep water layers, and thereby raise the quality of plant and animal lives in the depth of the lakes. Thunderstorms and lightning ensure balance in electrical discharges between the tropical region and the temperate region.  Oceans would be hindered in providing the basis for development and preservation of plant life if there were no floods and hurricanes. 

What I am getting at is that these occurrences are not intended to harm but to work as agents of periodic re-creation and enhancement of life. And in the wisdom of the Most High, as Terence McKenna once said, “Nature is not mute; it is man who is deaf!” Women who have been endowed to be in the fore-front to pick promptings from Nature Beings are busy pursuing executive exertions and public acknowledgement– to be presidents or governors, renowned pilots, gold-medalist footballers, Crane drivers and weight-lifters and thereby suppress their womanliness in which lies their connection with the power of the Light and men clap for them! Any wonder the world is upside down and there is sorrow everywhere. Man is at a cross-roads. And all our religions have offered mankind for ages is a caricature of an all-loving, all-forgiving and indulgent Creator of all the worlds, not One Who demands unremittingly compliance with His immutable Laws which bear His Holy Will in which alone lies genuine happiness. 

The question we may then wish to ask ourselves is: How is it that animals, reptiles and birds are hardly hit by what we call natural disasters? It is mainly those that are in tethers or the zoos that often get caught in the storms; they are the ones often affected, some even killed. Animals, birds and reptiles pick the promptings of the elemental beings and heed their warnings and guidance. Those even in cages make frantic but futile efforts to get free and run!

The USA TODAY online published on Tuesday the report of what it described as whole families, swept away by floods. It is captioned: Entire Families Swept Away with the rider, ‘A piece of all of us’: The children lost to Hurricane Helene’s Floodwaters. The experiences are captured in part as follows: “A single pink rose blossomed on a scraggly bush next to where the front wall of the Drye family home stood until 16 days ago, the plant’s greenery a welcomed brightness amid the mud-coated land.

“Two thorny offshoots, each holding a single unopposed bud, clung defiantly to the bush. Despite floodwaters rising 27 feet above the road the plant persevered, its leaves now soaking up the bright Asheville sun. A smattering of plants and at least one tree also remained standing when the waters receded after Tropical Storm Helene.

“But it was the trio of roses that Megan Drye took solace in on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October. She believes they are a sign from her parents and young son, who perished when the family’s home collapsed into the Swannanoa River on September 27. Megan 39, was the sole survivor of the flood, which killed seven-year-old Micah Drye and Nora and Michael Drye, both 73.

“Micah was just one of the children lost in the storm. Nine-year-old Felix Wisely and his seven-year-old brother, Lucas, also died. At least one other student from Buncombe County Schools is confirmed dead, and roughly 20 remained unaccounted for Monday. Superintendent Rob Jackson said the district is ‘continuing to search’ for them.

“As the nation’s attention turned to Florida and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton, North Carolina is still reeling from Helene, mourning those confirmed dead and holding vigil for those still missing. In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, at least 72 have died, the largest share of Western North Carolina’s 124 confirmed deaths so far, according to USA TODAY Network analysis. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue crews continue recovery efforts. 

“Micah was a piece of all of us,” she told the Asheville Citizen Times, part of USA TODAY Network. “He was silent –he was actually quite shy until he opened up just like Mom, and then he was your best friend. ‘And he was affectionate, just like my dad and me. He got a little piece of everyone.’

“When floodwaters forced her family to the roof, Megan texted her sisters who live out of state and told them they had escaped to the highest spot in their home. Though cell service was already knocked out, Megan’s phone upgrade the week before allowed her to message by satellite. Her sisters Jess Drye Turner quickly took to Facebook to post about the increasingly frightening situation. ‘They are watching 18 wheelers and cars floating by,’ she wrote as flooding ravaged the region. ‘This is definitely a moment faith is all you have. God knows the outcome already.’

“She soon added a photo Megan had snapped of her white sneakers on the roof, water nearly reaching the eaves and two hours later, she added a second photo. It drew thousands of reactions. Drye Turner’s next update wasn’t for almost 11 hours. Her parents and nephew had drowned, she wrote. Megan also was plunged into the river when the home collapsed, though she was rescued after becoming wedged between storage containers. Drye Turner and her sister didn’t know where Megan was taken. As she prepared to leave Texas and head to western North Carolina, she turned again to Facebook. Could anyone help them find Megan?”

Accounts such as these in the foregoing culled from USA TODAY online edition can’t but be heart-rending and sobering. In the light of the explanation of why we cannot but have flooding for the good of the soil, lakes and oceans, is it all flooding that we can say are beneficial? There are many natural disasters that, true to the words, are disastrous. Such cannot be ascribed to the activities of the Nature Beings that work in perfection and who manifest the benevolence of the Almighty Creator.  A great many instances of devastations arise from carelessness by we human beings, disregard for natural order and ignorance. To start with, man is no longer in harmony with nature. Whether it is government, private enterprises, there is absence of plants, trees that would serve as wind breakers, shrubs and grasses to rapidly absorb rain water. 

Clusters of skyscrapers going to 25 floors or even 50 seeking to touch the clouds, do not allow the soil to breathe. They also constitute excessive weight on the area where they are erected. But these are regarded by the modern man as engineering and architectural feat. With them there is oxygen supply deficiency for the less plant life, the less the supply of oxygen and rarified air. As I did state recently, plants absorb carbon dioxide and through the process of photosynthesis convert this into oxygen. Indeed, in the process we know as photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight is used to drive reactions between carbon dioxide around us and water to form carbohydrates. The complex chemical substances called carbohydrates are put in plant storage organs as in yams, cassava, potatoes—all roots, and grains such as in rice, maize, wheat and so on. When we eat them the chemical energy in them is turned into a form we need for breathing, motion, thinking, speaking and writing, for all human activities. Where there is reduction in plants, activities of Nature Beings are correspondingly reduced. Without the activities of the elemental beings life on earth for any living being, man and animals as well as birds, would have been impossible. It was not for nothing that the Whiteman built Ikoyi as a model town – all buildings erected in leafy surroundings. Our elite rushed there only for many of them to reduce a serene, beautiful town to their level!

Where there is a jungle of concrete there will be flooding. First, there is absence of plants and grasses to absorb the water. The ground compacted with heavy equipment loses the capacity to absorb water. Concrete makes it impossible for water to permeate. The water simply flows away. A collection of such becomes floods menacing the neighbourhood and the city as a whole.

Other mistakes that trigger floods are blocked drainage and natural water pathways through buildings. Buildings and commercial activities are also found in flood or landslide-prone areas. Christopher Vasey who has written extensively on “questions relating to our world view”, says “Everything in nature is interconnected; every injury in one part affects other parts, which again has a knock-on effect. Seemingly small mistakes can ultimately trigger great catastrophes.” 

However, we cannot always talk about sorrow. We must learn to plant joy and brighten up. We must understand the chemistry of sorrow and the waves of joy and happiness for they have spiritual content even in their intangibility. 

(FULL DICOURSE NEXT WEEK).

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N1.298 trillion to the Federal Government, state governments, and Local Government Councils (LGCs) for the month of September.

This was revealed in a communiqué issued after FAAC’s October meeting, which took place on Thursday in Abuja.

Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), shared the communiqué with the press.

The document stated that the N1.298 trillion distributed revenue consisted of N124.716 billion in statutory revenue and N543.518 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.

Additionally, the breakdown included N18.445 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), N462.191 billion from Exchange Difference revenue, and an augmentation of N150 billion.

It also noted that the total available revenue for September was N2.258 trillion.

It stated, “Total deduction for the cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion.”  

The statement further explained that gross statutory revenue in September 2024 stood at N1.043 trillion, a decline of N177.426 billion from the N1.221 trillion collected in August.

In terms of VAT, gross revenue of N583.675 billion was generated in September, which represented a slight increase of N10.334 billion over the N573.341 billion recorded in August.

“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.” 

LGA allocation  

• The LGCs were allocated N329.864 billion, while N90.415 billion (representing 13% of mineral revenue) was distributed to the oil-producing states as derivation revenue.
• Regarding the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N43.037 billion, state governments were allocated N21.829 billion, and LGCs received N16.829 billion.
• An additional N43.021 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was distributed to the oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” the statement added. 

Oil and gas revenues: The communiqué also noted that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL, and CET Levies saw significant increases, while VAT and Import Duty recorded marginal growth.

However, the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), and other revenues witnessed notable declines.

[Nairametrics]

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of late President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, describing him as a “colossus of many parts”.

In a heartfelt tribute on Friday, Tinubu said Iwuanyanwu, who passed away on July 25, 2024, was renowned for his contributions to sports, business, politics, and philanthropy, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s development.

In his message, President Tinubu highlighted Chief Iwuanyanwu’s pioneering role in Nigerian sports, particularly as the founder of Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which achieved significant success under his leadership.

Tinubu praised the late statesman’s dedication to excellence, which saw his club win several national and international championships.

Beyond sports, Chief Iwuanyanwu served Nigeria in numerous official capacities, including as the founding chairman of the Raw Materials and Research Development Council (RMRDC) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

He also chaired the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) board, the Nigerian National Lottery, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

Describing him as “courageous, defiant of injustice, and uncompromising,” Tinubu lauded Iwuanyanwu’s contributions to business and philanthropy.

He noted that the elder statesman believed deeply in Nigeria’s potential, with investments spanning multiple sectors.

Tinubu also acknowledged his philanthropic efforts, which included scholarships for indigent students, the construction of schools and hospitals, and support for numerous charitable causes.

The President expressed his condolences to the Iwuanyanwu family, the government and people of Imo State, and the wider Igbo community as preparations begin for the late statesman’s burial.

Tinubu remarked that Iwuanyanwu’s legacy of service and leadership would be fondly remembered, and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

Iwuanyanwu, who was 81 years old, is remembered as a towering figure whose influence extended across various sectors of Nigerian life. His death, President Tinubu said, is a “massive loss to the nation.”

[Leadership]

A driver of the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transport, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, standing trial over the alleged murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, has opened his defence in the state high court at Tafawa Balewa Square annex.

The defendant, who was led in his testimony by his counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, told Justice Sherifat Shonaike that he didn’t rape or kill Miss Ayanwola, as accused.

He said it was three male passengers, who boarded his bus after official hours, that raped her and threw her off the vehicle.

Omininikoron was arraigned in March 2022 on four counts bordering on alleged rape, conspiracy and murder of the 22-year-old lady on February 26, 2022, on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

He was said to have conspired with others now at large and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the fashion designer after which they murdered her.

But while giving his testimony, he told the court that he illegally picked up Bamise at the Chevron bus stop on a return trip to Oshodi after he had off-loaded passengers on the Oshodi-Ajah route at around 8pm that day.

“I resumed at our Oshodi office that day on the afternoon shift. I loaded my bus with passengers going to Ajah. On getting to Ajah, I offloaded the passengers and took a return trip with another set of passengers to Oshodi, offloaded them and then loaded another round to Ajah. It was around 8pm, by then, I am not permitted to load any more passengers to Oshodi. But we normally pick passengers after 8pm and tell them the cowry machine is not working, so that they can pay the bus fare in cash and we will keep the money for ourselves.

“Our salary is not enough, they promised us N120,000 monthly, but we are paid N71,000. Whenever we load passengers after official hours, we usually have them sit at the back and dim the bright lights in the bus so that the surveillance cameras on our routes cannot spot them.”

He added that shortly after Bamise boarded his bus, he picked up three more passengers—all males—at Agungi bus stop.

The driver said around Osbourne under bridge, one of the men walked up to him at the driver’s seat and pointed a gun at him, ordering him to cooperate with them. He said he had never seen them before and could only recognise the man who pointed a gun at him.

“The driver’s seat usually has a glass around the driver, like a room to one’s self, but the bus I drove that day had no door. I was heading towards Third Mainland Bridge but they ordered me to drive to Carter bridge.

“The three men dragged her down, she was shouting for help and they raped her. They pushed her off the bus and alighted afterwards while I continued on my trip. On getting to Oshodi, I parked the bus and went home. That day was a Saturday, I was off duty the next day.

“On Monday, I was going to work when my MD called me to see my depot manager (Mr Ola) at Oshodi. When I got there, I was told not to drive any bus but to wait. While waiting, a colleague asked me why I picked up a passenger illegally, as she has now gone missing. When I heard that, I was afraid and fled because I know my employers will not take it easy with me. My MD used to say that he will spend N1 million to deal with anyone who stole N100 from him. Picking passengers illegally amounts to stealing from the company.”

The defendant told the court further that he fled to Ososa in Ogun State to stay with his friend (Hope), adding that he was arrested there by DSS officials arrested.

When he was asked if he was aware the deceased was sending voice notes to her friend that night expressing her misgivings about the other passengers on the bus, he said he didn’t know.

During police interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, the defendant alleged that he was tortured by the officers and that they refused to give him water when he told them he was thirsty.

He added that he couldn’t write his statements because he was weak from the beatings he received.

The defendant also denied sexually assaulting two other women (names withheld) on his bus at different intervals before the alleged incident with Bamise and that he wasn’t questioned about the women.

He however said he dated one of them, but broke up with her because she was always asking him for money.

While adjourning at the request of his counsel for further examination-in-chief of the defendant till Monday, October 21, Justice Sonaike strongly expressed displeasure at the slow pace of the case.

The court said the frequent adjournment in the trial had been at the instance of the defence counsel and that the last hearing was on February 15, 2024.

The Director of Public Prosecutions at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Babajide Martins, in his response to Omotubora’s request for adjournment, said he had received a query by the Attorney General of the state over the case, as the Prosecution had closed its case since November 2023.