So I woke up thinking about The Digital Juju vs. “National Cake” Chopping and in my mind I whispered—Ah, the question hangs in the air like the thick Lagos humidity, heavy with possibility and the faint, familiar scent of… something questionable. Can Artificial Intelligence, this shiny new oyinbo magic, truly sniff out the cunning “choppers” of Nigeria’s “national cake”? Can algorithms pierce the veil of Panama Papers, phantom contracts, and sudden unexplained wealth that rivals Mansa Musa’s caravan? Well, my friend, grab your akara and if there’s pap, let’s reason together – it’s a story laced with hope, sharp wit, and some hard garri truths.

First, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room, or rather, the fleet of bulletproof SUVs parked outside the National Assembly: Nigerian political corruption is a sophisticated beast. It’s not just crude stuffing of naira into Ghana-must-go bags anymore (though that still happens, abi?). It’s layered like a well-made jollof rice – offshore accounts, inflated contracts awarded to fronts (“my boy is doing very well”), complex money laundering schemes dancing through multiple banks, and the sheer audacity of lifestyles that scream “How?” louder than a Pentecostal pastor on Sunday. Detecting this requires more than just eagle eyes; it needs the processing power of a thousand EFCC agents hopped on strong coffee.

Enter AI: The Digital Bloodhound with potential, I imagine this powerful tool. A Pattern Recognition Powerhouse. AI can devour mountains of data – procurement records, budget allocations, asset declarations (however…creative they might be), bank transactions, property registries, even news reports and social media chatter. It can spot anomalies invisible to humans: a senator suddenly sponsoring 50 bills after a major contract award in their constituency; a governor whose declared assets remain static while his wife’s boutique chain magically expands into Dubai; a ministry consistently spending 300% over market value for “consultancy fees” on road projects that look like buba after the rain.

Network Mapping Ninja: Corruption rarely works alone. AI can map intricate networks – linking politicians to contractors, shell companies, family members suddenly flush, and even seemingly unrelated businesses. It can expose the “godfatherism” infrastructure digitally, showing how funds flow like illicit palm wine through hidden pipes. Its Predictive Prowess by analyzing historical data, can potentially flag high-risk behaviours or contracts before the deal is sealed. Think of it as an early warning system: “Alert! This contract award process smells like a week-old ponmo left in the sun!”

It can automate the tedious, sifting through thousands of pages of documents? AI can do it in seconds, freeing up human investigators for the complex interrogation and strategic work. No more “the file is missing” excuses that hold more water than a basket.

This sounds like juju, abi? Hold your asho-oke…

Before we crown AI the anti-corruption Messiah, let’s inject some sharp Nigerian reality – the “buts” are as plentiful as potholes on the Benin-Ore road:

Garbage In, Garbage Out” (The Nigerian Edition). AI is only as good as the data it’s fed. Where will this data come from? Reliable, digitized, and accessible public records? Kai!Our data ecosystem is often fragmented, incomplete, deliberately obscured, or simply non-existent. Asset declarations? Many treat them like wedding lists – aspirational fiction. Procurement data? Often buried deeper than crude oil. If the data is “touched” or missing, even the smartest AI becomes like a blind man searching for a black goat in the dark.

The “Man Know Man” Firewall, Nigerian corruption is deeply human, built on complex webs of loyalty, ethnicity, fear, and patronage (“stomach infrastructure” is realpolitik). AI might spot the financial anomaly, but can it understand why a particular contractor must get the job? Can it penetrate the unspoken agreements, the threats, the egunje (bribes) disguised as “community development levies”? The human element – the connections – is a formidable encryption.

The “Oga at the Top” Problem, so controls the AI? Who sets its parameters? Who acts on its findings? If the agency deploying it is itself compromised, or answers to politicians who benefit from the status quo, the AI becomes a very expensive paperweight, or worse, a tool for selective witch-hunts against opponents. Imagine an AI programmed to conveniently overlook certain “big men” while flagging only the small fries. Power, in Nigeria, often seeks to protect itself.

The “Smart Criminals” Factor because our politicians are nothing if not adaptable. If AI flags sudden wealth, they’ll find slower, more complex laundering routes. If it monitors contracts, they’ll create more sophisticated shell companies, perhaps registered in jurisdictions where data is opaque. They’ll hire their own tech experts to find loopholes. It becomes an arms race – silicon versus slippery ingenuity.

The “Wetin Consign Me?” Syndrome is real because ultimately, AI provides evidence or suspicion. It doesn’t make arrests or secure convictions. That requires a robust, independent, and fearless judiciary, law enforcement agencies with integrity, and a political will that’s currently scarcer than stable electricity. No AI can convict a powerful politician shielded by impunity and a broken system.

So, can AI help? Yes, absolutely. It has the potential to be a game-changer, a powerful magnifying glass on the intricate workings of illicit wealth. But it is not a magic wand. It’s a tool, and like any tool, its effectiveness depends entirely on the hands that wield it and the environment it operates in.

Tech is a tool, not a cure, don’t be fooled by Silicon Valley hype. AI won’t solve corruption because corruption isn’t just a technical problem; it’s a deep-seated societal, political, and moral crisis. We must fix the foundations – transparency, accountability, strong institutions, ethical leadership – for AI to have fertile ground to work. As the saying goes, “You don’t use a golden cup to drink dirty water.” Clean the system first.

Data is the New Oil (and needs refining): Nigeria must prioritize creating comprehensive, open, and digitized public data systems. Mandatory, verifiable asset declarations. Transparent, accessible procurement portals. Centralized beneficial ownership registers. Without this fuel, the AI engine sputters and dies. Transparency is the ultimate disinfectant, and data is its carrier.

The Human Element is Irreplaceable: AI can flag anomalies, but humans must investigate motives, navigate complex social terrain, build cases, and demand justice. We need courageous journalists, whistleblowers, activists, judges, and citizens who care. AI empowers them; it doesn’t replace them. “Computers” can show the numbers, but only humans can feel the outrage and demand change.

Vigilance is Eternal: The corrupt will adapt. Any anti-corruption system, AI-powered or not, must be dynamic, constantly updated, fiercely protected from political interference, and backed by unwavering public pressure. Complacency is their greatest ally.

The wit is in the skepticism: A healthy dose of Nigerian skepticism is crucial. Don’t just believe the hype about “AI will save us.” Ask the hard questions: Who owns it? Who feeds it? Who acts on its findings? Trust, but verify – with the sharp eyes of someone who knows a 419 proposal when they see one.

Can AI help detect corrupt Nigerian politicians? Yes, it can. It can shine a powerful, unforgiving light into dark corners. It can process what would take humans lifetimes. It can be a formidable digital bloodhound. But will it lead to fewer corrupt politicians? That depends entirely on us.

AI is a potential catalyst, not the reaction itself. It offers a powerful new weapon, but the war against corruption will still be won or lost on the battlegrounds of political will, institutional integrity, judicial courage, and an empowered citizenry unwilling to tolerate the looting any longer. We must build the systems, demand transparency, and foster the culture where AI’s findings aren’t buried or ignored, but acted upon with the full force of the law.

So, let’s embrace the potential of this digital juju, but keep our feet firmly planted in Nigerian reality. Feed the AI clean data, shield it from “Oga at the Top” syndrome, back its findings with fearless human action, and maybe, just maybe, we can make the “chopping” of our commonwealth far harder, riskier, and ultimately, less profitable. The journey is long, and the road is rough, but as we say, “Slow and steady, no dey carry go quick quick, na im dey win race.” Perhaps AI can help us pick up the pace. The ball, as always, is in our court. Let’s play wisely, so that—Nigeria will win.

Prince Charles Dickson PhD

Team Lead

In a state known for political stability, Akwa Ibom is now grappling with a fresh wave of betrayal, not just of political godfathers or party structures, but of the very electorate who entrusted their hopes to the ballot box. Governor Umo Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) marks more than a shift in party loyalty, it is a loud indictment of how self-interest has hijacked Nigeria’s democracy.

This political earthquake occurred two years into Eno’s first term, but its tremors are being felt across the entire democratic structure of the state. Backed by thunderous opposition from the people during a town hall meeting in Ikot Abasi, Governor Eno pressed forward with his declaration to “move” Akwa Ibom politically to the APC. When he asked, “Are you going with us?” the crowd’s resounding “No!” should have stopped him in his tracks. But it did not. That resistance was a referendum on his decision, a signal that the people do not support the move. Yet, true to Nigeria’s prevailing brand of politics, the will of the people was ignored.

The fallout from this defection is not just political, it is personal and moral. The man who handpicked Eno to succeed him, former Governor Udom Emmanuel, publicly condemned the defection, describing it as a betrayal, not just of him, but of the entire Akwa Ibom electorate. In a statement issued on Saturday, June 7, 2025, Emmanuel did not mince words:

“I’m deeply surprised by this development. This is a time when Nigerians are facing severe challenges, hardship, insecurity, and a high cost of living. One would expect any well-meaning leader to distance themselves from the party responsible for these problems. Instead, we see the governor throwing his weight behind the same party.”

Here is a man who mentored and positioned Eno for leadership within the PDP, only to be rewarded with a dagger in the back. But beyond personal betrayal lies a deeper concern: the subversion of democratic ideals and the abuse of electoral trust.

Let us cut through the fog of political spin. Governor Eno is not defecting to the APC because of ideological realignment or a desire to serve the people better. He is doing it out of desperation for political survival, a gambit to secure support from the federal government as he eyes a second term in 2027. As Emmanuel rightly said, “We all know the Governor is desperate. He is fighting tooth and nail to secure a second term.”

Two weeks before officially announcing his defection, Governor Eno reportedly issued an ultimatum to his cabinet members: join me in the APC or resign. Three commissioners resigned. Fifteen members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly reportedly refused to defect. That kind of coercion is not just unethical, it is undemocratic. Loyalty in a democracy must be earned, not extorted.

When leaders start threatening their subordinates to follow them across party lines, it becomes clear: this is no longer about governance, it is about political control.

Let us not forget the most important stakeholders in any democratic system, the people. The electorate voted Umo Eno into office under the PDP platform. They believed in the policies, the manifesto, and the promise that party represented. They did not vote for a last-minute backdoor merger with the APC.

Defecting from the party midterm, without any referendum, consultation, or grassroots consensus, is nothing short of stealing the people’s mandate. The idea that one man, irrespective of his office, can override the collective will of millions without consequence, reveals just how broken our system is.

When a governor makes a seismic political move without public consultation, when the crowd screams “No!” and he still presses on, what we have is autocracy in democratic clothing.

The Nigerian constitution, as it stands, is too lenient on executive defections. While lawmakers risk losing their seats for crossing the floor without a crisis in their party, governors face no such checks. This loophole allows governors like Eno to ride roughshod over voters’ wishes with zero repercussions. It is a legal imbalance that needs urgent correction.

There must be legal provisions requiring elected executives to seek public approval, perhaps through referendum, before defecting from one political party to another. Anything short of that is nothing but political robbery.

Thankfully, not everyone is for sale. The commissioners who resigned rather than switch allegiance, and the 15 lawmakers who stood their ground, have shown that integrity still has a pulse in Nigerian politics. Udom Emmanuel was right to congratulate them: “It shows that we still have people of integrity who put the people first.”

These individuals are setting the kind of precedent Nigeria desperately needs, a political culture where loyalty to principles, not perks, guides action. It is their resistance, along with the vocal rejection from the people that offers a glimmer of hope in this unfolding betrayal.

If Akwa Ibom’s citizens do not respond to this betrayal with political consequences, they send a dangerous signal that leaders can do as they please once elected. The people must rise, organize, and resist this hijack of their democratic right. Civil society must speak out. The media must probe deeper. And the judiciary must be bold in interpreting the law for the people’s benefit, not the politicians’.

In the 2027 elections, if Governor Eno indeed seeks reelection under the APC, the voters must remember this moment, not just for the betrayal it represents, but for what it says about the future of democracy in the state.

Governor Eno’s defection is a mirror reflecting the state of Nigeria’s political system: self-serving, elite-driven, and dangerously detached from the people it claims to serve. Whether you call it betrayal, opportunism, or a survival strategy, it boils down to one truth, defection without the people’s consent is undemocratic.

This is not just about party politics. It’s about a system where leaders prioritize power over principle and survival over service. Unless this trend is reversed through legislative reform, civic resistance, and political awareness, Nigeria’s democracy will remain under siege, not from foreign invaders, but from its own elected leaders.

The tragedy of Akwa Ibom is not just that a governor defected. It is that he did so with impunity, and expected everyone else to simply clap.

The Kano State Government has demanded financial compensation from the Federal Government over the cancellation of the annual Durbar celebrations for two consecutive years in Kano Emirate, citing heavy economic losses.

The State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tajo Uthman, made the demand on Sunday during the traditional Sallah homage paid by the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to the Government House.

Speaking during the event, Uthman said the suspension of the Durbar festival had deprived the state of significant revenue that is usually generated from tourism and associated economic activities.

“Kano State has suffered huge financial losses due to the cancellation of the Durbar. It is more than just a cultural event—it is an economic driver,” Uthman stated. “it is high time we begin demanding reparation from the federal government for the losses incurred over the past two years”

LEADERSHIP reports that the annual Durbar, a colourful display of horsemanship, traditionally draws thousands of spectators, including tourists from within and outside Nigeria. The event is a major source of revenue for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, artisans, and traders.

Uthman stressed that even the smallest transactions during the festival season, such as shoe polishing and street food sales, play an essential role in boosting the local economy.

“When these tourists come, they stay in hotels, enjoy local dishes, watch the Durbar, and when their shoes get dusty, they pay someone to clean them. Some even buy snacks like Gurasa,” he explained. “These seemingly minor activities inject money into the economy. Now that the Durbar has been cancelled two years in a row, all of that revenue is gone.”

The commissioner added that the state had included revenue from the Durbar festivities in its annual budget, and the cancellation had created a financial gap that needed to be addressed.

“We included these revenues in our annual budget. Now that we’ve lost them, we’ll need the Federal Government to step in and cover the gap,” he added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Kano State Police Command had placed a total ban on Durbar in the State since 2014 over the Kano emirship tussle between Emir Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, in order to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

[Leadership]

Each of the 3,200 pilgrims from Sokoto state have received 1000 Saudi Riyals which is equivalent to N450,000 as Sallah gift from Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

The governor made the announcement on Saturday during a visit to the Sokoto contingent in Minna, where he congratulated them on the successful completion of the Hajj exercise.

Aliyu said the gesture was aimed at supporting the pilgrims financially as they prepare for their return journey to Nigeria.

He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the state’s pilgrims, noting that none were found violating Saudi Arabian laws during their stay in the holy land.

“I want to thank you most profoundly for being good ambassadors of our dear state in this holy land. I am indeed very proud of you,” the governor said.

“I equally appreciate your maturity and high sense of responsibility while undertaking the Hajj rituals.”

He reassured the pilgrims of his administration’s continued commitment to their welfare and that of all residents of Sokoto State.

Governor Aliyu also commended the State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Ummarun Kwabo, for his tireless efforts to ensure the success of this year’s Hajj. He further appreciated the officials of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for their dedication in organizing a successful pilgrimage.

He urged the pilgrims to intensify prayers for Nigeria, especially for divine intervention in addressing the country’s numerous challenges, with emphasis on insecurity.

“No matter the effort we are putting into addressing insecurity, prayer remains the best weapon to end the insecurity that has been crippling our development,” he added.

The governor also used the visit to condole with pilgrims from Gudu and Shagari Local Government Areas over the demise of Hajiya Hadiza and Bala Jangebe, who passed away during the pilgrimage. He prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the departed souls and comfort for their grieving families.

Earlier, the State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Ummarun Kwabo, thanked the governor for his support, which he said significantly contributed to the success of this year’s Hajj operations. He noted that all the committees set up for the pilgrimage have been working diligently to ensure a smooth and successful exercise.

[DailyTrust]

The lead pastor of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze has shared the driving force behind his passion for evangelism, saying his ministry is out of genuine calling rather than a professional pursuit.

He made this known while speaking in a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo.

The prominent cleric noted that contrary to what many might think, he is not a pastor for personal or financial gains.

He said “I’m not a professional pastor, the day I become a professional pastor let God kill me.“

“The day it ceases to be about God and be about Jerry let God close down everything.”

He expressed humility about his unexpected rise to prominence.

The firebrand man of God claimed he never planned to get to the point where he is now, noting that true success lies in staying focused on God’s purpose rather than personal recognition.

He said in the interview, “I didn’t plan to be here, this is not something you plan that at some point youre going to be big and the world will hear of you.

“I know what my assignment is, I know what God has called me to do and it has consumed me.”

Jerry Eze also noted in his interview that he is motivated by the smiles and testimonies from his congregation.

He said,“I don’t care what anybody thinks or feels but the encouragement is when I see those smiles and hear those testimonies.”

[DailyPost]

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has has disclosed that Inmates in the country now have their National Identity Numbers, (NIN) captured in the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, database due to on-going registration.

The Service said 74 percent of the inmates, representing 59,786 of the 80,879 inmates have been captured in the database of NIMC.

The Public Relations Officer of the Correctional Service, Deputy Comptroller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, said this was made possible by the collaboration between NIMC and the Service.

Abubakar dismissed reports that the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise was yet to commence in all custodial centres across the country.

” This report is misleading, inaccurate, and does not reflect the current state of affairs within our custodial facilities,” Abubakar said in a statement.

He noted that the NIN registration of inmates in custodial centres was not only ongoing but has recorded significant progress.

He said:” A majority of inmates across various custodial centres nationwide have already been successfully enrolled into the National Identity Database through the collaborative efforts of the Service and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“Available data show that as at 7thJune, 2025, out of the total of 80, 879 inmates’ population, 59,786 inmates approximately 74% have been captured into the NIMC platform.

“The registration of the remaining inmates is actively in progress, and mechanisms have been put in place to ensure its seamless completion. 

“The claim that the registration has “yet to commence” in custodial centres is factually incorrect and fails to acknowledge the substantial work already done.

” The Service remains committed to the full integration of inmates into national data systems, including the NIN, as part of broader efforts to promote rehabilitation, reintegration, and the digital inclusion of all persons in custody.

“The Service therefore urges members of the media to verify information with relevant authorities before publication, in order to avoid spreading misinformation that may mislead the public and undermine ongoing institutional efforts”

[TheNation]

President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the national assembly on June 12 to commemorate Democracy Day.

A statement issued by Akin Rotimi on Sunday said the event was conveyed to the lawmakers via an internal memorandum issued by Yahaya Danzaria, clerk of the house of representatives.

Rotimi said the president will confer national honours on selected legislators during the event.

“The special joint sitting is scheduled to hold at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 AM, with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at 12:00 noon,” the statement reads.

“The theme for this year’s celebration is:
“26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”

“President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a presidential address to the joint sitting.

“The programme will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the national assembly and the conferment of national honours on select legislators by Mr. President.

“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“It underscores the pivotal role of the national assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”

From 1999, when civil rule returned, the country celebrated Democracy Day on May 29, until it was changed in 2018.

In June 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new date for the celebration of Nigeria’s democracy.

The decision was to posthumously honour MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

[TheCable]

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has offered Donald Trump the chance to live in his house in a bid to help the United States president understand the war in Ukraine.

Trump had vowed to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine “in 24 hours” if he were elected president.

But there has been no end to Russia’s invasion since Trump returned to the White House in 2024.

Ukrainian boxer Usyk, who has been a tireless campaigner for peace in his homeland, believes Trump needs to have a clearer view of the dire situation if he is to find a solution to the crisis.

The 38-year-old has urged the president to join him at his house in Ukraine to see for himself the damage done by the war.

“I advise American President Donald Trump to come to Ukraine and live in my house for one week,” Usyk told BBC Sport on Sunday.

“Only one week. I will give him my house. Live please in Ukraine and watch what is going on every night.

“Every night, there are bombs and flights above my house. Bombs, rockets. Every night. It’s enough.”

Trump clashed with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky during a contentious summit meeting in the Oval Office in February.

Trump warned Zelensky to show more gratitude for America’s help in peace talks before telling him to leave the White House.

Asked if Trump could be convinced to change his opinion, Usyk said: “I don’t know. Maybe he’ll understand, maybe he won’t.”

Usyk, who has won all 23 of his professional bouts, is currently in a training camp to prepare for a rematch with IBF champion Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley.

But the WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion said the war is never far from his mind.

“I worry about what happens in my country. It’s very bad because Ukrainian people have died,” he said.

“It’s not just military people, children, women, grandmothers and grandfathers, too.”

AFP

The Federal Roads Main tenance Agency (FERMA), Nigeria’s first institutional mechanism for monitoring and maintaining all federal roads in the country has been in operation for at least two decades since it was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. Its establishment was no doubt as expedient then as it is to day as an intervention to perhaps the most common challenge to the nation’s development framework. 

Although the number of Nigerian roads that has ever had any type of construction is quite scanty, poor maintenance is probably a bigger problem because each time a road has a hitch, it increases the number of bad roads along with their adverse effects on the people and the economy. 

Between 2003 and 2015, FERMA functioned in a manner that its name became known across the nation. At the approach of any major festivity, the government would issue a directive to FERMA to ease all major roads for travellers going to unite with their families in their country homes. As the popularity of the organization grew, young unemployed Nigerians evolved their own branch of FERMA patching potholes and helping to make passage easy. They were quickly classified as local ‘ferma’ and are still operating till today as some of them do get some gratification from road users. But the real FERMA itself is no longer able to function as it used to be or even as visibly as its unofficial local affiliates. Why?

It is honestly simplistic to imagine that the decline in the activities of FERMA is attributable to the posture of its knowledgeable technical operatives. What Nigerians know about road works is about one Minister of Works always inspecting works and briefing the media on government’s preparedness to provide good roads. In reality however, what Nigerians desire is good roads put together by a team of diligent workers and not necessarily a strong works leader even though it is difficult not to acknowledge the strength of character of Dave Umahi, the current Minister of Works. Indeed, he is not just a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers; his carriage easily portrays engineering expertise. However, what Nigeria needs today is not strong men, but strong institutions that would survive over time.

Nigeria needs a Ministry of Works, whose Minister is at the head of policy making along with a strong management team superintending over a viable work force. With or without the Minister or any other particular official, the institution ought to function effectively from generation to generation. Nigeria cannot get close to any developed nation if it continues with its strong-man posture. Whether it is Umahi in Works, Keyamo in Aviation, Tunji Ojo in Interior, Alausa in Education, Pate in health, Idris in Information etc, a system works best with units whose mandates are related to the professed expertiseof its work force in which functions are not personalized and in which there is established uniformity in operating procedures routed in a unity of direction that is properly oiled by institutional memory.

Today, our people have a perception that our road contractsare usually never well-thought out. Just a job for some expatriates with no details such as maintenance. Quite often, nothing is said about culverts, sidewalks, drainages etc. If contracts pass through the appropriate processes, such omissions can be minimized. Besides, announcing huge contracts for road construction every week does not produce good roads; yet, we continue to do that without end while expecting different results. Many years back, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, who had served as Minister of Works was forced to reveal why our road projects don’t end. According to Ogunlewe who should know, road contracts are politicised as we dissipate scare resources while purporting to approve many new roads that don’t get built.

Each time a contractor is mobilized to return to phase 2 of a road project, the original phase 1 supposedly completed earlier would have gone into disuse. Here, it is wasteful to enumerate factors responsible for why our roads go bad so quickly. The obvious reason of concern today is that Nigeria lacks maintenance culture. This is not only about roads but about all facets of life in the country. For example, Nigeria has always been a one-stadium nation because as soon as a new one is built, the existing ones are abandoned.Many years ago, we all knew of the famous Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. It coexisted with a few others in the days of strong regionsbut they all gave way to the magnificent National Stadium Surulere, Lagos built in 1972.

At the time, it was a national monument with an Olympic-size swimming arena and a multipurpose arena used for football, rugby, athletics, boxing etc.It was the nation’s main sporting facility used for the 1973 African Games (AAG), the 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as well as one of the venues of the 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup and later the 2000 AFCON, co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. The Abuja National Stadium now renamed MKO Abiola Stadium which was built in 2003 is likely to face the same fate due to lack of maintenance of facilities in the location.For the same reason, no one talks anymore about the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Bearing in mind that Nigeria no longer has resources to erect huge structures, one would have expected those in power to have since developed the idea of never allowing what exists to die. But instead, we have continued to follow the old idiom of‘penny wise, pound foolish’ – an approach which explains why Nigeria’s huge structures; be they buildings or roads are destroyed because of failure to spend a small amount to maintain them.If those who set up FERMA had this in mind, it would appear that we are sliding backwards because not much has been done to ensure that such a maintenance tool is empowered to rescue us from bad roads that can be maintained rather than waiting to raise enough funds to rebuild and upgrade. 

In July 2024, FERMA’s Managing Director Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi told the media that the Agency was set to commence ‘operation free our roads’ initiative nationwide. Those of us who had followed the performance of the Agency in the past looked forward to interventionist projects such as patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections, bridge/culverts construction and general maintenance.Their effort didn’t yield much. On closer inquiries, we now know that the invaluable work of the Agency is yet to be prioritized. Only last week, federal legislators at an investigative hearing were told that government needs approximately N880 billion each year to maintain the federal road network nationwide. 

The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goroyo who disclosed the figure at the hearing highlighted the persistent shortfall in FERMA’s budgetary allocations forcing the agency to adopt reactive rather than preventive maintenance strategies.Goroyo emphasized that with only N168.9bn budgeted for 2025 there would be lack of adequate funding which would in turn result in deteriorating road conditions, increased repair costs, and disruptions to commuters and businesses. The impact of poor roads on an overstretched economy such as we have now cannot be overstressed. It is therefore time to call on well-meaning patriots to appeal to our leaders to recognize that projects such as ‘free our roads’ are more useful to our people than some of the contrived items in our budgets.

Budget padding everywhere is condemnable but its Nigerian focus is grossly irritating. Why are the extra provisions not deployed to matters of general public interest like roads maintenance? To make matters worse, legislators who should have insisted on ensuring that law is enforced are now the ones shedding crocodile tears over the non-implementation of votes for roads maintenance.Last week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, openly decried the non-implementation and non-remittance of five per cent of the petrol pump price to the FERMA.Abbas who stated the parliament’s position noted that certain relevant authorities were still flouting the law, despite the efforts of the lawmakers.

It will be recalled that Section 14(1)(h) of the FERMA Amendment Act 2007,provides for five per cent of the pump price of petrol and diesel to be allocated to FERMA and the state maintenance agencies.Who are the relevant defaulting authorities that the Speaker is referring to? One is tempted to imagine that the failure to name names suggests that those involved are untouchables, otherwiseby now there would have been noisy threats of summons and warrants of arrests! We can only appeal here to all that empowering FERMA would benefit us all.

The Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has broken his silence over a viral video falsely claiming he brandished a firearm, describing the incident as hurtful and maliciously driven by “clickbaiters just looking for money.”

Speaking during his sermon on Sunday, which was streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel and monitored by Vanguard, Adefarasin said he was deeply shaken by the accusation and the reaction that followed.

“Several persons called me. I was shocked. I was hurt. I’m human,” he said. “What we have had to witness was clickbaiters just looking for money. I probably wasn’t even their target; their target was to make more money.”

He categorically denied owning or using a firearm: “I was falsely accused of pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance. I do not have a pistol license. I do not carry a firearm. And I pointed no firearm at anybody.”

Adefarasin explained that the alleged incident occurred on a Saturday while he was observing the Sabbath. “It happened on Saturday when I observed Sabbath. I believe in the principle of Sabbath,” he said.

He further stated that his ministry would not lend weight to misinformation and online attacks. “It’s our policy not to dignify hate speech and false accusations. We believe God is bigger than that.”

Quoting scripture, he added: “We believe in what He said in Romans 12:19 — ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

Reflecting on the emotional toll, Adefarasin said, “God is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and He’s able to first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, He works it for good.”

He concluded, “On that note, I will lay that matter to rest.”

[Vanguard]