The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has challenged the northern elite to fix the economic, political and security crisis in the region as a way of fixing the country’s problems.

Onaiyekan spoke yesterday in Abuja when the League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit.

The cardinal, who commended LND for championing a northern renaissance, challenged them to inquire why there was too much poverty and insecurity in the northern states, when compared to the south of Nigeria.

He stated, Let’s face it, if the north does not move well, Nigeria cannot move well. It’s the same discourse. If Nigeria does move well, Africa cannot move well.” 

According to him, “I think we must face the reality that the way northern Nigeria is today is not what we can be proud of. All the various indices of good governance and standard of living, we have a very poor record. If Nigeria is poor, the epicentre of the poor is the north. 

“And when there is a league of northern democrats, who are interested in addressing the issues and finding out, why is it that things are not moving as they should, I think things will move because a league of elite northern democrats should be able to engage those who call themselves political leaders, especially as some of you have had good experience in government.

“So, you can tell them, listen, look around you, are you proud of what you see? Out-of-school children all over the place, and it is not an excuse to say we are poor because if we continue about being poor, the issue will remain. 

“We are in a federal government and federal resources are being distributed, so what has happened.” 

Onaiyekan added, “There is no room for one section of the country to be lagging behind. What it does mean is that the entire nation should be interested in what you people are doing. If for no other reason but for what they normally call enlightened self-interest.”

He stressed the need for all regions of the country to move together, adding that his doors are open to leaders from other parts of the country who share the same interest of ensuring good governance. 

The cardinal said the country needed many leagues of democrats to improve the quality of governance.

He stated, “Your initiatives of coming together to form the league of northern democrats for the purpose of trying to reinvent the north is a welcome development. I support what you are doing.

“Go further, ask questions, because when you reinvent the north, you are on the sure positive way to reinvent Nigeria. When you reinvent Nigeria, Africa would reinvent itself. We are the largest black nation in world.” 

Onayekan called for harmonious relationship between Christians and Muslims in the north. He said a peaceful relationship between Christians and Muslims was another sure way to build a stable and united northern Nigeria.

The Catholic cardinal went down memory lane to discuss how the Nigerian inter-religious council was formed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said though the expected goal of complete religious harmony was yet to be desired, with time Nigeria would realise the goal. 

Earlier, Shekarau told Onaiyekan that the visit was to acquaint him with the group’s plans to reinvent the north from poverty and the challenge of insecurity by engaging leaders from the region.

Shekarau, who was a two-time governor of Kano State, told the Catholic cardinal that his group was not partisan, but was worried about the level of poverty and insecurity in the northern states.

The former governor stated, “We are an apolitical group, who are worried with the level of economic, security developments in the 19 northern states. We have members from all political parties. Our mission and goals are to reinvent the north from its present economic situation.”

[ThisDay]

Responding to the widespread demands for a cabinet reshuffle, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made changes on October 23, replacing five cabinet members with seven new ones. Additionally, the president merged certain ministries, such as Sports and Culture, and streamlined leadership in regional development bodies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He also introduced five new regional development agencies, ensuring representation across all geographic zones of the country, bringing the total to six.
For better coordination, President Tinubu consolidated these regional agencies under a single ministry, transforming the former Niger Delta Ministry into a supervisory body for all six agencies.

Many Nigerians recognize that the most pressing obstacle to economic growth is the country’s inability to generate enough revenue to cover its increasing expenses. This challenge is worsened by the costs associated with running a large presidential system of government and declining revenues, particularly from oil—Nigeria’s main income source. Crude oil production has been hampered by delays in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which took nearly 20 years to become law under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Compounding the problem, significant amounts of oil have been stolen by organized groups, as noted by Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Oil. Elumelu reported that a substantial portion of the oil produced by his company and transported through the Forcados pipeline was siphoned off by these syndicates. To address this, a task force was established to combat oil theft.

These efforts are beginning to show positive results, with production rising to between 1.5-1.6 million barrels per day. To further boost income generation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), led by Engineer Gbenga Kolawole, has set a goal to increase production by one million barrels within 12-24 months. Achieving this would push Nigeria’s daily production to 2.6 million barrels by 2025—a level not seen in about 20 years.

This context is crucial for understanding that the current administration has pinpointed the main issue impacting Nigeria’s economy: low revenue generation and productivity, despite untapped potential within the workforce. To address these challenges, the government is working to boost oil production, curb theft, and remove barriers to private sector involvement in previously restricted sectors, making it easier for investors to participate.

Moreover, the government is taking targeted actions to assist the poor, such as reducing income inequality through progressive taxation. This approach includes differentiated electricity tariffs, where wealthier citizens pay higher rates (Band A), while lower-income groups benefit from reduced rates in Bands B, C, D, and E.

By implementing this tiered electricity pricing, the wealthy effectively subsidize energy costs for poorer households. Additionally, starting in January, the government plans to adjust taxes so that wealthier individuals bear a greater share of the burden, alleviating pressure on poorer citizens who have suffered from past economic policies.
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, head of the tax reform committee appointed by President Tinubu, recently announced at a forum in Abuja that a 25% tax on high-income earners will take effect in January next year. Additionally, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, had also started implementing taxes on private jet owners who previously avoided such payments—not necessarily due to deliberate evasion, but potentially due to oversight by the relevant regulatory agency.

These actions indicate that the current administration aims to improve conditions for low-income citizens without fully adopting a socialist approach.
These tax reforms are among the initiatives intended to reduce the burden on many Nigerians. Other efforts include conditional cash transfers to vulnerable groups and significant investment in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which offers a more affordable alternative to petrol and aims to cut transportation costs—a major concern for many Nigerians as transportation is a pivotal factor driving the cost of living crisis.

Beyond these policies designed to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which led to the naira’s devaluation under President Tinubu’s reforms, the country’s foreign reserves have increased to about $38 billion, thanks to efforts by the finance team, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The heads of the two economic management organs of goverment Wale Edun and Yemi Cardoso have also reported positive developments in some of economic fundamentals of our country such as the percentage of income dedicated to debt management dropping from 92% to 68% and positive Foreign Direct Investment, FDI inflow into the economy.

Despite these highlighted improvements and efforts to create a safety net to cushion the impact of reforms on the poor, the nation faces widespread socioeconomic challenges, leaving many Nigerians struggling. However, it’s important not to succumb to a victim mindset in these difficult times. As humans, survival often comes from being cautious of the unknown, but psychology suggests that thriving requires a shift to a determined, “no retreat, no surrender” attitude to adapt to tough circumstances.

For too long, many Nigerians have seen themselves as victims of harsh government policies without acknowledging their own role in the current situation. While the economic difficulties affecting a large portion of the population have roots in the actions of corrupt officials and politicians, they are often facilitated by citizens who sell their votes during elections, making many complicit in the cycle of corruption that has hindered progress in the country.

This complicity makes all Nigerians, in a way, participants in the consequences of corruption, which is widely recognized as a major barrier to the country’s development. The challenge is one of shared responsibility of all citizens, as corruption pervades government institutions, political offices, and electoral processes.

This issue of wrong headed policies hobbling productivity and promoting consumption as well as unbriddled graft in the public sector have significantly stalled progress throughout Nigeria’s 64 years of independence, and the current administration is attempting to address it through significant reforms. While a direct confrontation with corruption may not be the immediate priority of incumbent administration due to the need to priotise and focus on key areas, such as reducing financial leakages, increasing revenue through higher oil production, job creation to lower unemployment (currently at 33%), and curbing inflation (now at 32.7%), the fight against corruption can become a priority once these initial goals are met.

By and large , while the country continues to face considerable challenges, in many ways, all Nigerians are implicated in the systemic dysfunction that has marked the nation’s history since independence and we must resolve to collectively move our country forward by making the sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.
Let me explain why it’s essential for us to step out of our comfort zones and confront the turbulent times brought on by ongoing reforms necessary to build the momentum needed to overcome current challenges. No one enjoys undergoing surgery, but sometimes it’s the only way to cure a serious health issue, leaving one with no choice but to accept it in hopes of regaining health after the removal of a tumor or cancer.

This analogy mirrors the situation many Nigerians face today. It’s a hard reality for many to accept, but life is becoming increasingly difficult and we must seek to rise above the fray. While there is hope for improvement, the widespread complaints about the current hardships are alarming. Many Nigerians are anxious about the long and challenging road ahead before they can transition from hardship to prosperity. This concern was echoed and further accentuated by Indermit Gill, a Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, during the recent Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s 30th anniversary in Abuja from October 16-18.

Gill’s prediction that it will take Nigeria 10-15 years to achieve economic relief may dampen the spirits of those of us who believe that after two years of reforms, the economy will start to improve. Our optimism is based on the expectation that significant benefits will emerge after 24 months of transformative reforms.
However, the World Bank’s lengthy forecast of 10-15 years for economic momentum can be disheartening for those of us who see light at the end of the tunnel. Consequently, we encourage our fellow citizens to be patient and resilient, as the groundwork for a better life has already been established and is beginning to show promise based on the new economic indices-increased oil production, reduction in percentage of income applied in debt service from 92% to 68% and ramped FDI inflow.

It’s important to note that the 10-15 year timeline for these reforms to bear fruit as postulated by the World bank official is a general estimate used by development experts and economists. This period could be shorter, as evidenced by how the introduction of GSM services by early providers like Econet (now Airtel) and MTN in Nigeria exceeded expectations due to unique factors in our economy.

Additionally, we should remember that during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts, including Melinda Gates from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, predicted widespread fatalities in Africa, including Nigeria. Fortunately, the actual death toll in Africa was much lower than in technologically advanced countries like the USA, which suffered over a million deaths.

Furthermore, it’s worth recalling that an American think tank, led by former Nigerian envoy Ambassador John Campbell, had forecast that Nigeria would disintegrate by 2015. Although Campbell later clarified he did not make such a definitive prediction, Nigeria has surpassed that timeline and remains united.
To summarize, the extensive socioeconomic reforms implemented by the current administration since May 29, 2023—about 18 months ago—are aimed at resetting our nation. This effort is crucial because we have been on the wrong path since the military coup of 1966, just three years after becoming a republic in 1963 and six years post-independence from British colonial rule, which began in 1885 following the Berlin Conference that partitioned

In my opinion, the presidency shouldn’t be overly concerned about President Tinubu being nicknamed “T-Pain” by Nigerians feeling frustrated by the hardships. As humans, we naturally respond to pain and pleasure, so those suffering from the impacts of the president’s stringent reform policies have every right to express their feelings in whatever manner they choose.

If calling the president “T-Pain” provides some comfort to those affected by the reforms, even if it seems a bit harsh or playful, then that’s acceptable. Psychologists might suggest that this nickname could serve as a coping mechanism for Nigerians facing tough times. Perhaps, if President Tinubu successfully navigates the current economic turmoil, he could eventually earn the title of “Miracle Worker” from those who once referred to him as “T-Pain.”
Given this context, criticizing leaders is part of the political landscape and can serve as comic relief in an otherwise grim situation, even if the humor has a darker edge. Wasn’t it the same Tinubu, during his 2022/2023 presidential campaign, who was mocked for allegedly speaking nonsense, like “bala bulu”? Did he attempt to halt the spread of such disinformation?

For many Nigerians, it has been an eye-opening experience to realize that the opposition’s claims about Tinubu’s slurred speech as a sign of a serious health issue were unfounded. After winning the election in May of last year, he suddenly became articulate. It was as if a magic wand had been waved to eliminate the health issues his opponents claimed he had.
It is now evident that the allegations of Tinubu’s incoherence during the campaign were fabricated and part of the political gamesmanship of that time. I believe that just as he overcame those pre-election attacks, he will also succeed in improving the economy and, consequently, the living standards of ordinary Nigerians in the near future, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Moreover, President Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023), was also labeled ‘Baba Go Slow.’ Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015), who Buhari succeeded, was called ‘clueless,’ and his wife, Patience, was mockingly referred to as ‘hippopotamus.’ Similarly, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993) was nicknamed ‘Maradona’ after the famous Argentinian footballer known for his exceptional dribbling.

It’s worth noting that the practice of assigning negative labels to leaders by their constituents is not unique to Nigeria. Similar instances have occurred in the United Kingdom, where the late Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) was given the title ‘Iron Lady’ due to her lengthy battle with powerful labor unions that dominated the workforce in the UK before her time at No. 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British prime minister.

In the USA, former President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) had the moniker ‘Nuke Head’ attached to his name because of his perceived penchant for starting wars during his tenure.
In light of the above, nicknaming political leaders by those they lead is not an anathema but a universal phenomenon, as outlined above. Therefore, the Nigerian presidency cannot stop or ban by fiat those who are expressing their angst or resentment towards President Tinubu and referring to him as T-Pain, as my good friend Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, is reportedly trying to do.

After all, President Tinubu is also popularly called ‘the Jagaban,’ and I believe he is unperturbed by the nickname—whether it portrays him in a positive or negative light.
Back in the days when then-Information and National Orientation Minister, the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, did not find it acceptable that our youths had rebranded Nigeria in their own lingo with the moniker ‘Naija’ and she banned it and tried to stymie it, she failed to succeed. As it turned out, her disapproval of the use of the term ‘Naija’ by our youths as an alternative to the name Nigeria was an exercise in futility because the nomenclature—‘Naija’—is apparently here to stay, as evidenced by its continued use against the dictate of the then-minister’s fiat or diktat.

One cannot help but recognize the resilience of Nigerians and their ability to navigate tough times, as evidenced by the numerous video skits and comedies dominating TikTok and other social media platforms.
The referenced comics that are making light of the otherwise very rough times that a critical mass of Nigerians are going through are, believe it or not, helping to diffuse the palpable tension in the polity. The rib-cracking jokes and comedies are too numerous to catalog in this piece. But one can bet that hardly anyone engaging with social media has not come across content parodying the dire straits in which Nigerians find themselves as they navigate the new environment created by the reform measures of President Tinubu’s administration, which are expected to ultimately help reset Nigeria.

Although the reforms are taking their toll on Nigerians today, Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda’s goal is clearly to be the harbinger of prosperity for our compatriots and posterity. As optimists, we pray that this mission is realized sooner rather than later. Already, inflation is ebbing, and our national debts are being paid off. Hopefully, bank interest rates will drop when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) decides to ease the tight monetary control measures it introduced to rein in inflation following the convergence of the two foreign exchange windows inherited from its predecessor resulting a massive devaluation which has made the economy flush with naira.

Sometimes, the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us. Social scientists refer to this as Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), which is a positive transformation that can occur after experiencing adversity, trauma, or challenges. This manifests in the form of increased resilience, coping skills, and purpose, such that losing a job sparks entrepreneurship and success by adopting an attitude of resilience, as enunciated by Friedrich Nietzsche: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” and “Fall seven times and stand up eight,” which is a Japanese proverb.

The quotes above underscore and illustrate that adversity is not a dead end but a detour, because challenges can foster growth, wisdom, and strength—every experience, good or bad, shapes us. As we all get tossed up and down by the turbulent waves of hardship that have been occasioned by the incumbent administration’s socio-economic reform measures, we must develop coping mechanisms that will enable us to thrive in the face of adversity. It is worth remembering that, as human beings who must learn to respond to change, whether good or bad, our primary focus should not be on the hardship we are currently experiencing, but on how we respond to it and grow from it.

President Tinubu has assured us that he is diligently working to alleviate these difficulties through various relief measures aimed at easing the impact of his bold but difficult policy changes.
Of course, no person is without flaws, and President Tinubu, like all humans—especially those in politics—has his imperfections. However, his commitment to steering Nigeria out of its current economic struggles is evident. His success, however, depends on the support of the citizens, who must stand by him as patriots.

Therefore, I urge everyone to exercise greater patience, as the president is indeed responding to the concerns and struggles of the long suffering masses. He has been making adjustments, such as replacing underperforming ministers, setting clear performance benchmarks, and reducing government expenses by reducing number of people on entourage of officials and foreign trips to only critically important ones , as well as limiting official cars and security details—steps that many of us have long advocated for. Even then, like the proverbial Oliver twist some Nigerians are still asking for more by demanding for radical changes in the cabinet and drastic cut in cost of governance from President Tinubu who has continuosly averred that he is not soliciting the sympathy of Nigerians because he asked for the job, but appealing for the patience and support of the critical mass of down cast Nigerians to deliver on his mandate, which is a fair requirement and l urge us all to oblige him.

Magnus Onyibe, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, alumnus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA, and a former commissioner in the Delta State government, sent this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.
To continue with this conversation and more, please visit www.magnum.ng.

The 23-year-old stated that contrary to what people think, her mother and every member of her family were against her marriage to the politician.

She disclosed this during her a live on Instagram.

The mother of two disclosed that she met her husband during an outing with one of her ex-boyfriends.

She said, “I went to visit my boyfriend and I was so angry about why we had to go sightseeing, but when we got there I met a cute man.

“The moral of the story is that your boyfriend should not stop you from seeing your husband.

“When I started with my husband I forgot I was to have boyfriends; of course, I had like 20. When people think I don’t have a choice, I’m like what?

“People were saying mummy forced me not knowing that she was against the marriage, my full family said no.”

Nwoko married Regina Daniels in May 2019 in Aniocha Local Government Area, Delta State despite the huge gap in age.

Explaining why he married the 23-year-old actress, the 63-year-old politician said he tied the knot because Regina Daniels was from his place.

“For her particularly, I married her because she is from my place. I wanted to marry a wife from my place, and I was looking for the right person. By the time I met her, I knew she must be the one,” Nwoko had said.

[NaijaNews]

Governors of the 19 northern states met in Kaduna yesterday, alongside top traditional rulers from the region, where they discussed various issues and challenges affecting the region, and resolved, among others, to reject the Nigeria Tax Reform Bill sent to the National Assembly recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Monday’s meeting was part of the Northern States Governors’ Forum’s initiative to engage key stakeholders over pressing matters, including insecurity, poverty, the education crisis and other socio-economic challenges affecting the region.

Governors in attendance included: Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Dauda Lawal Dare (Zamfara), Abdullahi A. Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa). Deputy governors from other Northern states were also in attendance.

The meeting, which held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, also had in attendance notable traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al- Amin El-Kanemi; Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli; Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje; Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu; Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, among others.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, was also present at the event.

‘Tax reform not favourable to North’

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the group decried the contents of the recent Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly, saying they were against the interests of the North and other sub-nationals, especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Derivation-based Model.

President Bola Tinubu had on the 3rd of this month transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.

Tinubu, who was on vacation in London by then, sent the bills via a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen. The letter was read on the floor of the House during plenary that day.

The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.

The others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

Tinubu said the bills were designed to support his administration’s objectives and strengthen fiscal institutions in the country.

“The proposed tax bills present substantial benefits that align with my government’s objectives and fiscal reform on the economic growth by enhancing taxpayer compliance, strengthening our fiscal institutions and fostering a more effective and transparent fiscal regime,” he said.

The president further stated that he was confident that if the bills were passed, they would encourage and stimulate the economy.

Explaining their decision to reject the Tax Reforms Bill yesterday, however, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, while reading the communique of the forum’s meeting said: “This is because companies remit VAT using location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed. In view of the foregoing, the forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Northern Governors’ Forum is not averse to any policies or programmes that will ensure the growth and development of the country. However, the forum calls for equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised”, the group said.

‘We’re worried’

The forum’s chairman, while reading the communique, also said that the economic hardship currently faced by Nigerians is more pronounced in the Northern region than the Southern region due to what he called “disparities in economic inequality.”

Speaking further, he said: “On the present economic hardship affecting the country, the forum is appealing to all citizens to remain calm, as the states and federal government are working hard to implement measures that will cushion effects of the hardship”.

The governor noted that the #EndBadGovernance protests which took place in August, served as a wake-up call for all northern leaders.

According to him, youth restiveness is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and a lack of economic opportunities.

He said it was essential for leaders to adopt measures to alleviate the suffering being experienced through targeted social welfare programmes, support for small and medium enterprises, and policies that would attract investments to their states.

“Our young people are calling out for change, and it is our responsibility to listen and act. We must scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, and job creation. Let us focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.

“The economic hardship faced by many Nigerians today is undeniable, and considering the North-South disparity in economic inequality, it is even more pronounced in northern Nigeria. This calls for urgent intervention,” he said.

The chairman further added that they must work with the federal government to ensure that fiscal policies are sensitive to the realities of the day.

“As we speak today, most of our Northern states are in darkness due to the vandalisation of electricity transmission infrastructure. This, not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience.

Daily Trust reports that most parts of the northern region have been in darkness for almost 10 days due to a fault on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a development that has further worsened the hardship being experienced in the region.

“Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potentials, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth,” he said.

The governor also commiserated with victims of terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities in the North, including the victims of the Maiduguri flood and the recent tanker explosion in Jigawa State.

He said they would continue to work with the federal government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected.

In the communique, the group further said: “Particularly, we commend the untiring commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff, General C. G. Musa, whose professionalism and innovative approach has made difference in security architecture of the country at large”.

The group also resolved to provide adequate support to farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems.

“Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialisation and job creation across the region. “That can be achieved through re-industrialisation of the North, especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries”, it said.

The group further called for roles for traditional rulers, saying, “Forum advocates for increased roles for the traditional institutions to maximise cooperation with security agencies in the fight against kidnap for ransom, banditry, cattle rustling, communal clashes, farmers/herder clashes and other forms of criminality.

“Forum acknowledges the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders.

“Forum emphasised that traditional institutions are critical in the quest for lasting peace and security in the region”.

The group also commended President Tinubu for the reform initiative in the livestock sub-sector and agreed to provide the necessary political will and commitment to ensure its success.

Our interventions would be felt – Uba Sani

In his remarks, the host for the event and Kaduna State Governor, Sani, said the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council would make their marks as effective platforms for addressing the security and developmental challenges confronting the North.

He emphasised the need for the leaders to work together to realise their vision of a secure, peaceful and prosperous North.

He further used the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for reinvigorating the war against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the region.

He said the establishment of a joint military command and launch of Operation Fansan Yamma are clear demonstrations of the federal government’s commitment to tackle the multidimensional challenges of insecurity confronting the region.

Almajiri, out-of-school children, major problems– Sultan

Also speaking at the event, the Sultan said the issues of almajirai and out-of-school children remain serious challenges confronting the northern Nigeria.

He urged the governors to include these issues in their discussions, emphasising the need to address them urgently.

The Sultan added that as leaders, they would support the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Commission.

“The issue of out-of-school children and Almajiri is a core problem for all of us. When you go around the states, towns, cities, and villages, what you see is very unpleasant.

“We have so many children—hundreds, if not thousands, or millions—roaming about. This commission must be supported by all of us so that it succeeds. I am sure if it succeeds, we will all say yes, we are on the way to the world of freedom. Once you educate somebody, you have given him the freedom to be himself, to work for himself, and to work for humanity.

“We are ready to work with you, and you can reach out to us anytime. I have a strong belief that this set of Northern governors will turn the tables and make the North a better and safer place.

“Please, listen to us when we say certain things; we are not criticising you. We are stating things as they are, as we hear from our people. All you need to do is listen patiently because a leader must be patient with the people he is leading.

“You cannot know it all. You don’t know it all and will never know it all. When you bring good people close to you, and they advise you and you act on it, you will take the glory, and people will say this governor is excellent, not knowing there are people working for him 24/7. So, let’s work together because there is a new sense of direction and commitment with the present governors,” he said.

ACF speaks

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), while reacting to the governors’ position, said this is not time for party politics and party loyalty.

Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba encouraged the governors to get more involved in grassroots affairs, especially things to do with the socio-economic conditions of the people.

While commending the governors for their position, he said it is an indication that some people are aware of what the North is going through.

“The call by the governors and traditional rulers is very much in order because one of the things that have been happening is that most elected public officials have been mute about the suffering of the people in the North.

“The position of the governors is actually commendable. We called for more active involvement of the governors towards addressing problems in the North,” he said.

[DailyTrust]

The Federal Government has confirmed the arrest of three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians suspected of illegal mining in Nasarawa State.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the disclosure in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Monday in Abuja.

Alake said that the suspects were arrested at an illegal mining site located at Rafin-Gabas, Agwada, in Kokona Local Government Area.

He stated that the ministry’s mining marshals, established to secure mining sites across the nation, made the arrest in a recent operation following credible intelligence.

“The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorisation. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead, and tin.

“The arrested suspects confessed to having been on illicit activities at the site spanning five cadastral units since December 15, 2021.

“The company defied all lawful advice to regularise their activities and continued syphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the Federal Government,” he said.

According to the minister, more than 200 illegal miners have been arrested so far, and about 140 are undergoing prosecution across the country.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reforming the mining sector, emphasising that the mining marshals would remain steadfast in ensuring a secure and safe environment for legitimate investors.

[DailyPost]

An Ikeja Special Offences Court has heard how former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele instructed his erstwhile despatch rider, Monday Osasuwa, not to formally acknowledge millions of dollars collected on his behalf from various sources.

Osasuwa, who is the first prosecution witness (PW1) in a case the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against Emefiele, said this yesterday during re-examination by counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), before Justice Rahman Oshodi.

The witness told the court that he had no record of all the money he collected and handed over to the former CBN governor.

The court had recalled Osasuwa, following the granting of an application Ojo filed over the case.

The lawyer asked Osasuwa if he produced any documents to the EFCC showing Emefiele’s instructions, and the witness said: “He advised me not to write anything down for all the money I brought to him. I did not produce any document because my boss told me not to keep any records. I only obeyed my boss.

“Whenever my boss was not around, he instructed me to give it to the second defendant (Henry Omoile).”

On April 12, Osasuwa had testified that Emefiele, on different occasions, used him to collect funds from different sources as the ex-CBN governor’s despatch rider.

The witness said after he became a CBN staff member, he collected over $3 million in tranches on behalf of Emefiele.

When Ojo asked the witness who his direct boss was at the CBN, Osasuwa said: “I did not have one direct boss. In my office, we have the Secretary to the former CBN Governor Emefelie.”

When the lawyer further asked Osasuwa if in his appointment letter as a senior supervisor, it was stated that he was to run personal errands for Emefiele, the witness replied: “If my boss gives me instructions, I can’t refuse.” 

He told the court that based on the errands he ran for Emefelie, the EFCC said he was charged with money laundering.

“I have been carrying some dollars for him; so, the EFCC tagged it money laundering. It was based on the messages my boss sent me.”

Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

The EFCC had, on April 8, arraigned the ex-CBN governor on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.

Omoile was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of gifts by agents.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Emefiele was admitted to N50 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Ministerial nominees have begun the documentation process ahead of their screening and confirmation by the Senate, set to commence today (Tuesday).

This was announced on Monday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado.

Lado said, “Nominees were already submitting relevant documents as the first in the series of procedures for the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees.

“The nominees are expected to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in compliance with Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).”

The Senate received President Bola Tinubu’s formal request for the screening and confirmation of seven ministerial nominees last Thursday.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which was read at the start of plenary on Thursday.

The nominees listed in the President’s letter are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Idi Muktar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State, Housing, and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State, Education.

In his letter, President Tinubu requested swift consideration of the nominees by the Senate.

Akpabio subsequently referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for prompt deliberation.

This development followed the President’s recent reshuffle of his cabinet.

In the process, five ministers were relieved of their positions. They were Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs); Lola Ade-John (Tourism); Prof Tahir Mamman (Education); Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development) and Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth).

[Punch]

‘He is a fool who trusts to luck; one should play a safe game.” — Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 62.

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” — Alexander Pope, 1688-1744, VBQ 

Sometimes a national matter likely to affect the fortunes of millions of Nigerians comes up requiring the insight of sages from time immemorial. Fools have always been separated by sharp operators since cowry shells, gold and silver were the legal tenders. There will always be fools and clever men to fleece them.

Paradoxically, the best time to defraud people in any country is always during serious economic downturn such as we are experiencing right now. That is when those promising miracle financial solutions have the opportunity of making them poorer while fattening their own pockets. The primary duty of media people remains the same — to protect the people by informing them, educating them and presenting the basis for them to make intelligent decisions instead of falling prey to economic predators. Because banking is central to the economy, it is naturally the first point of departure today. We end with the sector which is driving everybody round the bend right now — refineries. Sandwiched between them is my former home — breweries.

Banking — All that glitter is not gold

“World Bank warns about Non-Performing Loans in Nigerian Banks; Reaching 5.10 per cent – above prudential limit.” — Report, October 22, 2024.

The report went on to say that: “The banking system’s capital buffer zone has been eroded due to high inflation, significant depreciation of the Naira and the increase in the NPL ratio.” That is bad news; and it is closer to the truth about the situation with Nigerian banks than all the false advertisements about 100, 200 per cent increase in profits. Because banks are now in the capital market raising funds in order to meet the capital requirements established by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, there is an urgent need for them to “show” significant improvement in profits in 2024 and 2025 in order to lure the unwary into the net.

We have had such swindles before; as recently as 2005 in fact, when in order to meet the baseline N25 billion capital required by the CBN, all the banks issued IPOs promising three things: higher profits in the future, share appreciation and high dividends in exchange for over-priced shares. Today, AMCON is still battling with N5trillion toxic loans dropped on the CBN by the consolidated banks. What’s wrong with that? Well, everything.

The same surviving banks, which left the public with their mess to carry are now back in the market demonstrating one most vital sign of distress as in 2008-9; when they announced huge profits while piling up Non-Performing Loans, NPL. The directors bear different names; but, it is clear that most of those now in charge are clones of the former looters of the 2008-9 period. One of the earliest banks, in particular, should be avoided. Control has shifted to those who openly confessed to share manipulation years ago. I fear for those buying its shares!!!

Otherwise, why have the banks not revealed the NPL crisis which will get worse as bank interest rates continue to climb and revenue declines for others?

The deception about the capital base is an open conspiracy exposed by the World Bank. In May 2023, when the CBN insisted on keeping the official exchange rate at N420/US$, the black market rate was already near N700/US$.

Today, despite the CBN’s efforts to unify the rates, the official rate is N1600/US$ and the parallel market rate is N1720/US$. So, a bank whose share capital in 2023 was N10 trillion or $23.8 billion; now is worth only $6.250 billion.

That is without factoring in inflation as the World Bank has mentioned. In short, what the banks are publishing amounts to illusions of progress and nothing more.

Breweries 

suffering from lasting hangover

“In all things, one must consider the end.” — Jean De La Fontaine, 1621-1695, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, P 47 available online.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, nobody would have believed that cigarette smoking in public would be outlawed or that the manufacture of the product would be in absolute decline. Today, most young kids under the age of ten would not know what is done with the object if they stumble on it. Breweries are racing to catch up with cigarettes in the industrial graveyard. It is painful to me as the Marketing Manager of three breweries and a Consultant to a fourth in the 1980s. Naughty by nature, the sales/marketing staff of a brewery are the only members of staff of any company who are provided with all the beer and stout they can drink, free; and still get well paid at the end of the month.

As manager, and the one allocating beer to customers from five-star hotels to Army, Air force and Navy Officers’ Messes nationwide to local hotels and beer parlours, everywhere beer is consumed was an extension of my office. On several occasions, I would finish an appointment with the Manager of Hamdallah Hotel in Kaduna, and five minutes after be at a drinking outlet at the motor park. I was at home everywhere; and I was a spy 24/7. I got close to my customers in order to know as much as possible about the consumers. Invariably, I would return home or to my hotel if on tour to jot down observations. Home and hotel were interchangeable to me because I spent 70 per cent of my time on the road — particularly weekends when beer consumption was highest. Tuesday and Wednesday were my off-days. There was a strategic reason for that.

The preamble is to warn potential investors in brewery shares to be careful. To be candid, for breweries in Nigeria today, the party is over for reasons too long to squeeze into one third of a column. Get in touch if you want to find out more.

Don’t blame God or bad luck; blame yourself if you lose your shirt.

Rrefineries are coming; run away

“If you shut up the truth and bury it underground; it will but grow and gather to itself such explosive power that, the dav it bursts through. it will blow up everything in its way.” — Emile Zola, 1840-1902. VBQ.p 255.

For decades, Nigerians had been convinced that the price of petrol, N185/litre on May 29, 2023 would drop once the nation’s four refineries start producing fuel once again. That assumption rested on three fallacies. One, Nigeria has no refineries. We keep maintaining, at great cost, scraps called refineries. Two, even if resuscitated, they would never produce 18 million litres of fuel — which is their maximum capacity. Being old and small, compared to global refineries, they lack the economy of scale which will drive down the cost of production. Three, the Kaduna refinery is the wrong refinery, in the wrong place and for non-economic reasons. Altogether, the four will never deliver enough fuel, consistently and at the right price, without subsidies to meet all our requirements. So, beware; if the Federal Government decides to sell them, as they must. Don’t waste your money on them. Give the money to a university instead.

Private refineries are just a little better in terms of investment. Collectively, they are coming on stream at a time when petrol is going the way of cigarettes. In less than ten years, anybody driving a petrol/diesel vehicle in the US, Europe, China and most of Asia will be arrested. The world is racing to hydrogen, ammonia, ethanol, methanol and even water. Investing in petrol/diesel refineries amounts to throwing your hard-earned money into the river. Give them to a school.

The pressure on the naira in the foriegn exchange market, and the removal of fuel subsidy have taken a toll on earlier projections on what the Federal Government would require to complete inherited ongoing road projects nationwide.

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who disclosed this at a briefing yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu’s administration would now require over N19 trillion to get the job done.

The new cost represents an increase of N3trillion over the N16trillion projected for the projects as at August, 2024.

Umahi had at a briefing on August 23rd said: “The funding gap to complete all the inherited projects is about N13 trillion as of May 2023; that will be more than N16 trillion when all projects are reviewed in line with current market realities. This is due to the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira.”

However, while addressing the media yesterday, the minister explained that these issues had continued to have an impact on the ministry’s activities, with respect to project delivery.

Umahi said: “The President inherited a total of 2,604 projects as at May 29, 2023. The total cost was N13trillion, that was what the President inherited. And a debt to contractors of N1.6 trillion.

“When you look at the variations by reason of the floating of the naira, you will find that if you review all these projects, you get over N19trillion, the total ongoing projects. “

The minister further explained that the President decided to keep all the projects alive, with the hope to get funding from internal and external sources, including loans, because of his concern for the well being of Nigerians.

According to him, the president has given priority attention to the ministry of works, knowing fully that roads and bridges have the potential of unleashing unprecedented economic benefits for citizens.

He also explained that the ministry would not hesitate to revoke the Abuja-Kano road contract awarded to Messers Julius Berger should it fail to mobilize to site at the expiration of the 7-day ultimatum given to it. The ultimatum expires tomorrow

According to him, negotiation between the ministry and the contractor went on for the better part of 17 months and government decided there must be an end to it.

[Vanguard]

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has blamed the finance ministry for the ongoing strike that has disrupted the resumption of academic activities on campuses.

On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries.

The federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, had withheld the salaries of university staff who participated in an eight-month strike in 2022.

In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months of the withheld salaries of public university teaching staff.

Left out, non-teaching staff unions including SSANU and NASU accused the government of unfair treatment and discrimination.

In July, SSANU and NASU (Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) planned a pre-strike protest to evoke a federal response on unpaid salaries.

The unions have since been at loggerheads with the federal government, initiating talks with the education and labour ministries.

A joint committee of both unions said it has issued multiple notices to seek redress on the matter but payment has yet to be made.

Muhammed Ibrahim, the president of SSANU, spoke during a Channels TV programme on Monday night.

He said the presidency has approved for the non-teaching staff to be paid but the matter is being stalled at the finance ministry.

“To be fair, the former minister of education Tahir Mamman and his colleague the minister of state did their best. This issue is being stalled at the finance ministry. The NLC president called the finance minister who kept assuring us payments would be made,” he said.

“This never happened. The NASU-SSANU joint action committee made efforts to see the minister of finance but we weren’t successful.

“Since July, we’ve been giving notices and changing dates based on assurances. What is happening is at the finance minister’s doorstep.”

Ibrahim said non-teaching staff have been struggling to sustain themselves under the heat of Nigeria’s unfavourable economic realities.

“Our universities are in a dire state,” he added.

“To have a productive economy and an enlightened population, universities must be funded properly. Teaching and learning must be seamless to avoid issues.

“The non-teaching staff comprising mainly of SSANU, NASU, and NAAT by extension have been shortchanged several times by operators of government.”

A strike by non-teaching staff, who oversee admissions, examinations, maintenance, security, and other administrative operations in federal universities, typically disrupts academic activities.

[TheCable]