One year after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, suspended the collection of a $300 helicopter landing fee, the Ministry has once again reintroduced the fee.

LEADERSHIP reports that Keyamo after widespread criticism by aviation stakeholders on the legality of the payment to a private firm, NAEBI Dynamic Concept, suspended the levy.

He, however, said that further actions on the matter would be taken after a review committee submits its report for scrutiny.

The Minister, while suspending the levy,  hinted that the committee held a meeting with the executives of the AON on the issue, which prompted the suspension of the levy.

He said, “Following a meeting with the AON executive on the issue bordering on helicopter landing levies collection at aerodromes, helipads, airstrips and others, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has temporarily suspended the enforcement granted Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd, by the Federal Government, as consultants to collect such levies.

“The suspension is with effect from 30th May, 2024. This, the minister said, is a result of clamour for review by some stakeholders in the industry.

“Accordingly, Keyamo has constituted a Committee with members drawn up from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its relevant Agencies, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd who are charged to look into the issues raised by concerned Stakeholders and submit a Report on or before end of June 2024.”

However, in a new twist, the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), announced the reintroduction of the helicopter landing levy and payment to the same Private Firm, NAEBI Dynamic Concept.

NAMA, in a circular signed by the general manager, Air Traffic Control Operations, Akut D.S.,  directed NAEBI Dynamic Concept to commence immediate collection of the levy.

The circular titled, “Authority to Collect Helicopter Landing Levy by Messrs NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd” was dated May 15, 2025, and directed to the General Manager, Commercial, NAEBI Dynamic Concept.

The circular said that the company was empowered to collect landing levies for air navigation services related to helicopter operations by oil companies’ operations at airfields, platforms, terminals and rigs.

Also, the company is empowered, according to the circular, to collect the levies from heliports, helipads, airstrips and aerodromes in line with its contract.

The circular declared that by this signal, the company would invoice the respective companies, directing that there should be strict compliance.

It could be recalled that NAMA had last November said that it would recommence the collection of the controversial $300 landing levies from helicopter operators.

However, stakeholders have once again queried the collection of the fee and choice of the company, wondering about the structure NAEBI put in place to deserve such payment from helicopter companies.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an aviation expert queried whether a private firm would collect revenue on behalf of the federal government.

He, however, warned that the newly introduced levy would also disrupt oil production in the country if not properly handled.

“Most of these charterers are International Oil Companies (IOCs), and definitely, it will increase their cost of operation. Also, I know that operators will resist it because the levy is a scam,” the aviation analyst said.

[Leadership]

Ahead of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s second anniversary on May 29th, 2025, economists and financial analysts have rated the ‘Renewed Hope’ government low in improved cost of living for the majority of Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, and the CEO of SD & D Capital Management, Gbolade Idakolo, disclosed this to DAILY POST in separate interviews on Monday.

Recall that on Tinubu’s inauguration day, he announced fuel subsidy removal and naira floating. The immediate effect jerked up the price of fuel from N198 to N540 per litre.

Thereafter, petrol is now sold between N875 and N920 per litre depending on the location in Nigeria.

Also, the naira depreciated to N1,579.40 per dollar on Monday, from N460.702 in the same period two years ago.

The ripple effects of Tinubu’s reforms were the surge in inflation, with hikes in prices of transportation, food, and the cost of goods and services, inflicting hardship on millions of Nigerians.

This comes as purchasing power for the majority of Nigerians has also been eroded due to high inflation, which climbed to 23.71 percent in April 2025 from 22.22 percent in the same period in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Although Tinubu’s government approved a N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024 as a solution to the cost of living crisis, the inflation spike eroded the impact of the wage increase.

Similarly, inflation watered-down Federation allocation revenue increases to the three tiers of government in the last two years.

Amid the challenges, economists said that Tinubu’s government had achieved some progress in the aspect of stabilising the economy in the past two years.

On his part, Yusuf said Tinubu’s administration has used the last two years to fix economic fundamentals and stabilise the economy.

“There is no doubt that the GDP numbers have dropped drastically in dollar terms. What is important is to also put distance in context.

“It’s not so much because the GDP had intrinsically contracted that much. What has happened is that because we are estimating the GDP in dollars and because we have seen a sharp depreciation in the exchange rates, that is what has led to the collapse or contraction of the GDP so drastically.

“Imagine computing GDP at $4.50 to the dollar in $4.20 to $3. 2 estimating GDP at $1,500 for $1,006. So the bigger issue here is the exchange rate.

“It’s also that the economy has contracted that much. I think we need to understand that distinction. I’m not saying that the economy has no hard challenges.

“The economy has challenges. But the fact that the GDP had contracted by almost 50% or more, it’s not a reflection of how the economic outputs had contracted. Certainly not.

“This is much more about the exchange rates. That is what it is. And I’m sure that by the time we have the rebasing of the GDP, we’ll be talking of a different figure.

“So in order to make a realistic assessment, we need to wait for the rebased GDP. Let’s see what it will come up with. That is what I know that we are looking at.

“Go and look at our purchasing power parity GDP. It’s about $1.5 trillion as I speak to you. Go and check the numbers, purchasing power parity GDP.

“It’s over a trillion dollars. And then the bigger issue for me in this economy is the second issue, which you raised. It’s about the cost of living.

“That is, for me, the bigger issue of how the cost of living has been so badly impacted by the reforms. Because the reform has triggered very serious inflationary pressure. And inflationary pressure typically erodes purchasing power.

“It erodes real income. That is why we have so much poverty. And again, we have seen a lot of elevated levels of income inequality.

“So these are the things that we need to calibrate our fiscal and monetary policies and possibly even trade policies to address. That, for me, is a bigger issue than the issue of the GDP. We need to calibrate all the calibrators of fiscal policy.

“So our general economic policy is to improve the standard of living, to reduce the cost of living, and to improve the access of the majority of the citizens to basic needs.

“Basic needs, affordability of basic items like food, like pharmaceutical products, like transportation. You know, education and housing—those are the basic needs.

“And that is what the next phase of economic reform or economic management is focusing on. The first few years were essentially about trying to stabilise the economy. Because the economy was practically on the brink.

“You know, at the time, I’m not holding a brief for the administration. But we need to situate this within the legacy issues that the administration itself inherited in terms of the macroeconomic condition.

“That is what it is. I must admit that the cost of living has gone completely out of hand.

“And something has to be done within the context of policy.

“Now that we are beginning to see some improvement in the macroeconomic environment, the stability in the macroeconomic environment, and the slight deceleration of inflation, substance needs to be taken out to deal with the issue of the cost of living. I think that fore, that is what is paramount at this time.

“It is perhaps fair to say that the first two years have been targeted at fixing the economic fundamentals and stabilising the economy.

“Because we had a situation at the inception of the administration where we had a dysfunctional FX regime and scandalous management of fuel subsidy and the downstream sector. These two were the undoing of the economy before the administration.

“The challenge of stabilisation has taken the attention of the administration in this period, which should say other programmes should not have taken place.

“Some of these have begun to take shape, and some have been beginning to yield outcomes. It is important to say that despite how imperative the reforms are, they inflicted significant pain on the citizens, adversely impacted businesses, and affected profit margins; the cost of production escalated, many businesses were thrown into lost positions and some businesses, especially the large ones, exited the country.

“Some businesses collapse as a result of the shock of the reforms. So, the cost of the reforms has been phenomenal. At the individual level, it has a devastating effect on the well-being of the people.

“We had an aggravated situation of poverty as a result of spiking inflation. But the good news is that some progress has been made in terms of stabilising the economy following the reforms.

“Major stability in FX markets over the last ten months- there has been minimum volatility, which has boosted investors’ confidence.

“Improvement in fiscal sustainability as the finances of the government have improved significantly, although the spike in inflation has diminished the value of those increases, but nonetheless, the fiscal position of the government at all levels has improved.

“The government at all levels has more to spend, but whether the money is trickling down to the vulnerable segment of the society, is a different matter.

“Some progress with the refineries, Port Harcourt and Warri, although they are epileptic. The Dangote Refinery commenced production. There are efforts to support domestic refinery by this government.

“Businesses are returning to profitability after losses in the first year of this administration. Returns on investment in the non-oil sector.

“Under the administration there is an improvement in net external reserves, which, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria, is now $23 billion. It is a confidence-boosting development.

“It is important to stress that the social cost of the reforms has been phenomenal. Inflation triggered a significant poverty crisis.

“Insecurity in the country has not abated, especially in the last six months.

“Going forward, the government has the responsibility to ensure much more impactful measures to address the phenomenon of the cost of living for the ordinary people.

“The deployment of policy and recalibration for fiscal, monetary, and trade policies to the democratisation of the policies.

“The development must trickle down. A change of strategy in dealing with security.

“We have to deal with the prohibitive interest rate of 27.50 percent to address the challenges of market failure,” he told DAILY POST.

In his review, Idakolo said the Tinubu administration was on the right track despite unpopular decisions in the past two years.

According to him, despite the drop in cost of living, the continued implementation of Tinubu’s reforms can trigger economic prosperity in the coming years.

“The administration of President Tinubu started on a very challenging note with the removal of the fuel subsidy and exchange rate deregulation.

“However, over the past two years, he has been able to stabilise the economy through well-thought-out policies through the MDAs, especially the CBN, which has strengthened the naira and increased the foreign reserves, with diaspora remittance increasing over the past 12 months.

“These measures had also impacted positively on our GDP per capita income, which has grown by over 100%, from $200 billion to over $450 billion.

“The subsidy removal and exchange rate deregulation increased government revenues, and the share of FAAC for the three tiers of government aimed at improving infrastructural developments from the federal to the state level.

“The federal government also successfully negotiated a minimum wage increase with organised labour. The federal government under President Tinubu has reorganised the petroleum sector with improvement in fuel supply and stable fuel prices.

“The administration has completed the establishment of six regional development commissions with their establishment act passed by the National Assembly.

“The government also embarked on massive infrastructural development in several areas and road infrastructure with legacy projects like the Lagos-Calabar coastal road to connect nine southern states, which will definitely improve commerce in the southern corridor.

“The Naira crude sales to refineries in Nigeria, with Dangote refinery leading the charge, is also a major achievement, and the recent policy banning importation of goods that can be produced in Nigeria will further strengthen the manufacturing sector.

“There are several other policies undergoing implementation that will start yielding results in the next few months.

“The administration has also shown fiscal prudence by completing the payment of the IMF Covid loan received during the last administration, which has further reduced Nigeria’s foreign debt and also significantly reduced debt servicing costs.

“The living standard of Nigerians in the past two years has seriously declined due to the policies of this administration, which has seen the people struggling with lower purchasing power than two years ago.

“However, continuing with the approach of the previous administration would have led to total chaos.

“The Tinubu administration is on the right track despite some unpopular decisions and missteps,” he told DAILY POST.

[DailyPost]

Lagos State Government last year penalised 580 nightclubs and restaurants for breaching indoor smoking regulations, as part of its drive to promote public health and enforce safety standards.

Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Mr. Lanre Mojola, disclosed this during the 2025 Ministerial News Briefing held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

He said LSSC, the only safety commission in Nigeria, visited 2,024 public places last year, out of which 580 establishments were sanctioned for indoor smoking infractions.

Mojola said while certain facilities such as nightclubs might permit smoking, it must be restricted to designated areas.

He said indiscriminate smoking in public spaces such as buses remained illegal and urged residents to report such acts.

“Public smoking is not allowed, and there’s a bill already in place to prohibit it. People are permitted to smoke only in designated areas within certain venues. If you see people smoking in buses or enclosed spaces, report them. This is a serious public health matter,” Mojola added.

He noted that LSSC launched an anti-indoor smoking campaign in 2024 to sensitise the public on the risks of second-hand smoking, which, he said, could lead to cancer and other serious health conditions.

Addressing questions on the use of consultants by the commission, Mojola said they were engaged to support the agency’s work due to limited staffing.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, outlined the key achievements of LSSC in the past year.

He announced the completion of Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan (2021–2026), developed in collaboration with government agencies, professional bodies and private stakeholders.

He said the commission finalised the drafting of a safety roadmap for 2023 to 2026, alongside a comprehensive review of over 40 safety documents guiding socio-economic sectors, including construction, manufacturing, event centres, markets, oil and gas, and waterways.

[TheNation]

When General Sani Abacha deceptively seized power in 1993 from the interim government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, one thing he pretended about was returning power to the people. First was that he pretended that he had a plan to hand over to Chief MKO Abiola, who was believed to have won the annulled June 12, 1993 election. Later, he pretended that he had a plan to hand over power to politicians through an election.After several years of suppressing and silencing opponents, Abacha eventually announced that he would hand over power to a democratically elected government on October 1, 1998. Politicians began to form political parties with the hopes of taking over from Abacha. Abacha approved five of them. He even conducted elections for the local government areas and the states’ legislature in 1997. In April 1998, he conducted the federal legislative elections. What remained was the gubernatorial and presidential elections, scheduled for August 1, 1998.

But the dark-goggled general had other plans. In 1997, a strange group by the name Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha had been formed. The group was led by a 26-year-old American returnee called Daniel Kanu. The group was campaigning for Abacha to drop his military uniform and become a civilian president. The group was spending a humongous amount of money, which was evident as its organisers could not afford it.

YEAA started the publicity for what it called the Two-Million-Man March, scheduled to be held in Abuja from March 3 to 4, which was meant to show that Nigerian youths were passionately asking Abacha to hand over to himself. Mr Olisa Agbakoba, under the aegis of the United Action for Democracy, countered it with what his group tagged the Five-Million-Man March to reject Abacha. Expectedly, while Kanu’s rally went without hitches, with security providing protection, Agbakoba’s rally was disrupted by security operatives. They gave Agbakoba a black eye, which he generously displayed to the media. Some newspapers gave his picture front-page coverage. That sent a clear message that Abacha was behind YEAA, while the masses wanted the military to relinquish power.

On the political turf, something curious was unfolding. Some of those who had shown interest in running for president began to withdraw from the race. One by one, the five parties began to announce Abacha as their sole candidate, even though Abacha was not their member. It was obvious that an unseen hand was exerting some pressure. Bombs were also going off in different homes and offices, especially those who were critical of Abacha. Some people were shot dead or killed by bombs. Some were lucky to survive. Some were arrested and charged with treason. Some died in detention. Some were hanged. Some, like Senator Bola Tinubu, fled Nigeria.

The nation was in shock and helplessness. The helplessness came from the realisation that it was just a matter of time before Abacha would become the civilian leader. Some prominent Nigerians called G34, under the leadership of Dr Alex Ekwueme, wrote a letter to Abacha explaining why it was not proper for him to succeed himself. But the message fell on deaf ears.
On June 8, 1998, Abacha died. Death was the only power that could stop Abacha from putting the whole of Nigeria in his pocket and becoming the president.

Today, ironically, even though Tinubu was a victim of Abacha’s highhandedness, it is surprising that he has allowed himself to be associated with the reenactment of the Abacha style that is going on. One can see a clear attempt to get all opposition members into the APC.
The icing on the cake was last week’s action of both the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas. They moved a motion that the whole of Nigeria should adopt Tinubu as the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

This happened at the APC Summit in Abuja on May 22. At the summit, the Senate President said inter alia:
“The leadership of the House of Representatives should join me. I want all the members of the National Assembly of the APC extraction to stand up wherever they are. I want distinguished senators to stand up wherever they are. And you will re-echo what I’m going to say. Those who love you will also join. I want to move, and let it be moved, that not only will President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be the sole candidate for the presidency in 2027, but he will also be the sole candidate for the whole Nigerian population. Because all other political parties have been turned into shreds. Nigerians are saying that because you have done a difficult job well, it is time for us to reward you by sending you back to the Presidency for a second term in office. I move, therefore, as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that Mr President return, one, as a candidate of the APC unopposed, and secondly, as the next president for a second term, come 2027. I so move.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives seconded the motion, dragging in all members of the National Assembly as well as the members of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states of Nigeria. He said: “I stand on behalf of the entire 109 senators, 360 members, and all the 36 speakers and their members to second this very important motion moved by the Senate President.”

It was most embarrassing to watch these two symbols of democracy engage in such an act. As the leaders of the National Assembly, the Senate President and Speaker represent the legislative arm of government. Anytime the three arms of government are listed, the legislature comes first, followed by the executive and then the judiciary. The reason is that the lawmakers represent the Constitution, which is the document that gives the nation legitimacy and authority to function. That is why when the President visits the National Assembly, he bows to the Senate President, even though the office of the President is above any other office. But he is not bowing to the person who occupies the office of the Senate President. Rather, he is bowing to the supremacy of the Constitution, which the legislature represents.

Legislators are elected from different constituencies across the country to ensure that the President or party in power does not just execute personal desires. The legislators act as a check to the President to ensure that the Constitution is respected and adhered to. In dictatorships, there is usually no legislature. The executive arm and the judicial arm can exist. That shows that the legislative arm of government is the one that best represents democracy.

To then see the embodiments of the legislative arm leading the charge in replicating what happened under the dictatorship of Abacha, where Abacha used inducement, threats and blackmail to force all the parties to endorse him as the sole candidate in the 1998 election was a slap on democracy. A one-party system is antithetical to democracy. The Constitution recognises the opposition and provides for the opposition party as well as the opposition leader or minority leader in the legislature.

After 26 years of unbroken–the longest Nigeria has ever witnessed–Nigerians expect to see clear signs of growth and progress in the democracy they practise. By now, Nigerian democracy should have evolved to a level of maturity. However, the democracy Nigerians practised in 1999 is far better than what is happening today. That is not a sign of progress.

Within one year in office and three years to the next election, this administration has been so concerned about the 2027 election that little attention has been paid to governance. The progress that has been made against the insurgency has been rolled back. For example, last month, Governor Zulum of Borno lamented: “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities, almost on a daily basis without confrontation, signalled that Borno State is losing ground.”

Like James Freeman Clarke said, “A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.” Our leaders should choose whether to remain politicians or to upgrade to statesmen.

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of Nigerian children, declaring them as the “pride and future of our great nation” in an address to mark the 2025 International Children’s Day.

Speaking on Tuesday, the President, in a statement he personally signed, highlighted the urgent need for collective action to tackle bullying, violence, and neglect affecting millions of children across the country.

With up to 65 per cent of school-age children in Nigeria reportedly experiencing some form of bullying, Tinubu unveiled a series of bold initiatives to strengthen child protection frameworks, promote safe learning environments, and ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind.

In his message which aligned with this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” the President called on families, schools, communities, and the government to work together in building a safer, more nurturing Nigeria for the next generation.

Here is the full text:

PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2025 NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY, TUESDAY, 27TH MAY 2025

1. My Dear Children, the pride and future of our great nation, I join you to celebrate the 2025 National Children’s Day with immense pride and profound joy. On this special day, let me reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

2. Across every school, community, and home in Nigeria today, you are the most precious part of our national fabric, the heartbeat of our nation’s future, and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership. I therefore reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams.

3. This year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building. A culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.

4. Globally, more than 1 in 3 children experience bullying regularly. In Nigeria, studies estimate that up to 65% of school-age children have experienced some form of physical, psychological, or social aggression. This is unacceptable. A child who learns in fear cannot learn well. A child who grows in fear cannot grow right.

5. My fellow Nigerians and our dear children, we prioritise child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda. This includes the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which I recently launched. The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination.

6. We are further taking decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children. As a government, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. We are also leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse.

7. I am pleased to note that 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, thus reflecting our collective resolve to protect and provide for the welfare of children. However, laws alone will not be sufficient to protect our children. We require a holistic approach where parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership.

8. We are investing in other focused national systems for child protection, such as the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), which is being scaled up to track and respond to cases in real-time. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms, training frontline responders, and leading nationwide awareness campaigns to end harmful traditional practices.

9. Additionally, and in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to implementing proactive measures to strengthen existing efforts to support families and communities, including developing a robust institutional framework focused exclusively on Child Protection and Development. This will ensure greater accountability in safeguarding the rights and well-being of every Nigerian child.

10. We have introduced a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and developed Guidelines for School Administrators, among several other measures. We embed social-emotional learning and child safeguarding into teacher training. Through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, we create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background.

11. In the care economy, we are expanding access to primary healthcare and upscaling dedicated Mother and Child Hospitals and healthcare systems across all six geopolitical zones, offering integrated maternal and child services. We are working collaboratively with subnational governments to ensure the establishment of similar facilities across the States.

12. We believe every child has the right to grow up in a loving and protective environment. To ensure that children who are unable to remain in their biological homes are given the care and protection they deserve, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has developed the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children. These guidelines would complement the recently launched National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) and strengthen our child protection systems.

13. Through the Nutrition 774 programme and our School Feeding Scheme, we work assiduously to improve child health and cognitive development. The Nutrition 774 project aims to ensure no child in Nigeria goes hungry. Through this project, we are reaching every community, guaranteeing that children receive the necessary nutrition to thrive in their academic pursuits, creative endeavours, and overall health. A well-nourished child is well-equipped and ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

14. To institutionalise our commitment, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has recently established a dedicated Department of Nutrition to strengthen policy coherence, programme delivery, and coordination around child and maternal nutrition.

15. We are investing in social protection tools such as the Universal Child Grant and finalising a national Child Wellbeing Index to measure progress, track gaps, and hold ourselves accountable.

16. Our children’s safety cannot be solely anchored on government policies but on community vigilance. This is why I am launching a nationwide “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign today, encouraging every Nigerian to become a child protection champion.

17. To our beloved children: you matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter. No one has the right to hurt, silence, or diminish you. If you are bullied or harmed, speak up—you will be heard and protected.

18. I call on all partners, stakeholders, and duty-bearers to sustain and deepen our collective efforts. We must embed child rights in all our budgets, plans, and policies.

19. I commend states taking bold steps for our children’s welfare and urge those yet to act: now is the time. Our children are not just statistics—they are the heart of our nation.

20. Let today mark a renewed movement to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in dignity, peace, and love.

21. Congratulations to all our children. May your laughter echo across this land as a symbol of Renewed Hope and a prosperous future.

Long live Nigerian children.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In promulgating decree 24 on May 5, 1999 as the 1999 Constitution, the then Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, made an addendum to the decree. The addendum was not part of the decree, it was just an explanation on the Constitution. General Abubakar declared in the addendum: “Whereas the Federal Military Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in compliance with the Transition to Civil Rule (Political Programme) Decree 1998 has, through the Independent National Electoral Commission, conducted elections to the office of President and Vice-President, Governors and Deputy-Governors, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, the National Assembly, the Houses of Assembly and the local government councils; 

“And whereas the Federal Military Government in furtherance of its commitment to hand over to a democratically elected civilian administration on 29th May 1999. inaugurated on 11th November 1998, the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee charged with responsibility to, among other things, pilot the debate on the new Constitution for Nigeria, co-ordinate and collate views and recommendations canvassed by individuals and groups for a new Constitution for Nigeria; 

“And whereas the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee benefitted from the receipt of large volumes of memoranda from Nigerians at home and abroad and oral presentations at the public hearings at the debate centres throughout the country and the conclusions arrived thereat and also at various seminars, workshops and conferences organised and was convinced that the general consensus of opinion of Nigerians is the desire to retain the provisions of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with some amendments; 

“And whereas the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee has presented the report of its deliberations to the Provisional Ruling Council;

And whereas the Provisional Ruling Council has approved the report subject to such amendments as are deemed necessary in the public interest and for the purpose of promoting the security, welfare and good governance and fostering the unity and progress of the people of Nigeria with a view to achieving its objective of handing over an enduring Constitution to the people of Nigeria; 

And whereas, it is necessary in accordance with the programme on transition to civil rule for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 after necessary amendments and approval by the Provisional Ruling Council to be promulgated into a new Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to give the same force of law with effect from 29th May 1999: NOW THEREFORE, THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT hereby decrees as follows:- (1) There shall be for Nigeria a Constitution which shall be as set out in the Schedule to this Decree. (2) The Constitution set out in the Schedule to this Decree shall come into force on 29th May 1999. (3) Whenever it may hereafter be necessary for the Constitution to be printed it shall be lawful for the Federal Government Printer to omit all parts of this Decree apart from the Schedule and the Constitution as so printed shall have the force of law notwithstanding the omission, 2. This Decree may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree 1999”.

You are free to form an opinion on the addendum. One thing is however clear, by the time we held the gubernatorial elections in the country on February 20, 1999 and the Presidential election on February 29, 1999, the new Constitution was not ready. By 1999, the 1979 Constitution suspended by Brigadier General Sani Abacha’s announcement on December 31, 1983, was still suspended. 

Likewise, the 1988 Constitution prepared by the Constituent Assembly headed by Justice Anthony Aniagolu(1922-2011) was not available. 

To be concluded 

•Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

The sports betting market in Africa has witnessed explosive growth in recent years and 2025 is no exception. While some still view it as just another form of gambling, the reality is that sports betting has matured into a dynamic industry.

According to Business Insider, over 440 million people across six African countries are actively involved in sports betting as of early 2025.

In this listicle, TheCable takes a closer look at the six countries leading Africa’s betting revolution, based on estimated numbers of bettors derived from participation rates and population data.

Nigeria

Estimated Bettors: 168.7 million |Population: 237.5 million | Participation Rate: 71 percent

In Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to walk down a street without seeing a betting shop. With a population of over 200 million, the country has an estimated 168.7 million sports bettors and a 71 percent participation rate.

South Africa

Estimated Bettors: 58.3 million | Population: 64.7 million | Participation Rate: 90 percent

South Africa has the highest betting participation rate on the continent at 90 percent, a figure Business Insider links to effective regulation and cultural acceptance.

Kenya

Estimated Bettors: 45.5 million | Population: 57.5 million | Participation Rate: 79 percent

Kenya is another vibrant sports betting market in Africa. With a population of around 57.5 million, Kenya records about 45.5 million estimated bettors. It has a 79 percent participation rate.

Uganda

Estimated Bettors: 44.7 million | Population: 51.4 million | Participation Rate: 87 percent

Uganda may not be the largest country on the list, but it certainly bets big. Out of a population of approximately 51.4 million, about 44.7 million Ugandans are estimated to be active in sports betting, giving it one of the highest participation rates at 87 percent.

Tanzania

Estimated Bettors: 39.5 million | Population: 70.5 million | Participation Rate: 56 percent

In Tanzania, betting is on the rise. Although, participation rate lags behind the top four, the market is expanding fast, especially among young urban dwellers.

Ghana

Estimated Bettors: 19.6 million | Population: 35.1 million | Participation Rate: 56 percent

Ghana rounds out the top six with nearly 20 million estimated sports bettors. The market is not as large, but interest is rising fast. The country has a participation rate of 56 percent.

Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele (CFR), Nsukka, Harvard and Stanford University-trained economist turned banker, who served as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 4 June 2014 until he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu, on 9 June 2023, will probably go down in history as the most criminally minded and the worst Nigerian CBN governor.

Undoubtedly, Emefiele was a master of his game. A PDP sympathiser brought in to supplant Sanusi Lamido, believed to be sympathetic to APC on account of his relentless criticism of massive corruption going on in Jonathan’s administration, effortlessly manipulated an untrusting Buhari who just watched him as he broke all rules, including attempting to succeed his principal even as a sitting CBN governor.

As a leader with the mindset of a feudal lord, Emefiele gave Buhari all feudal lords’ want – unalloyed loyalty.  Buhari overlooked Emefiele’s criminal tendencies, which were apparent from his handling of $2.1b released to the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), which was shared as election largesse to reappoint him for a second term.

But how was Emefiele able to cover up his criminal enterprise for eight years, whether in terms of foreign exchange manipulation, where his friends who did not bid secured allocation freely deployed for round tripping, printing of over N30 trillion through ways and means, half of which was suspected to have been stolen, and various multibillion CBN intervention programmes that produced only fake rice pyramids?

Emefiele had a useful ally in a section of the media that opted to trade its constitutional role of holding other institutions of state accountable and serving as agents of socialisation, for crusading for crooks, a very rewarding endeavour when they are executed on behalf of influential bank owners who converted depositors funds to private use, governors who desperately need the judiciary to retain their opponents’ stolen mandates, and, of course, those who stole the country blind by confiscating national patrimony in the name of privatisation and monetisation self- serving policies.

Emefiele was a toast of ARISE TV and her Thisday platform, especially since his reappointment for a second term by President Buhari. They had waged war after war against anyone who dared to raise questions about Emefiele’s character, including the House of Representatives and its speaker, vice president Osinbajo, candidate Tinubu in the 2023 election and some APC governors that went to court to compel Emefiele to obey the Supreme Court judgment.

It is on record that Emefiele held the nation hostage during his politically motivated currency re-colouring exercise, as angry and hungry Nigerians, denied access to their money, laid siege to banks and ATM centres. The House of Representatives tried to persuade an unfeeling and arrogant Emefiele to consider the suffering of Nigerians.

Thisday immediately embarked on a crusade on behalf of Emefiele, with a front-page January 28, 2023 story titled “In battle against independent monetary policy, House threatens Emefiele.” The crusaders dismissed the House invitation of the CBN governor to appear before its banking committee over the lingering currency crisis, in line with its statutory oversight function, as a plot to “erode” CBN’s independence.

After his repeated failure to  honour House committee summons,  the then House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had threatened to invoke relevant sections of the law to effect Emefiele’s arrest by the police for undermining the efforts of the House to carry out its oversight functions. Thisday and its self-proclaiming patriots accused the speaker of pursuing personal interest, claiming the invitation was “against the provisions of the law.”

Vice President Osinbajo was not spared by ARISE, self –proclaimed patriots. When, in November 2021, he criticised the Central Bank governor for what he called an “artificially low” exchange rate, claiming he was convinced that the demand management strategy adopted by the CBN needed a rethink, it was from far-away Paris, during Nigeria International Partnership Forum, that Nigerians were told, through ARISE Correspondent, Adefemi Akinsanya, that the Vice President missed the point. He debunked the VP’s accusations of poor collaboration between Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary authorities. Emefiele also spoke of pumping close to N3trillion loans to manufacturers at a single digit rate and more monies to Buhari’s policy of creating 100 million jobs in four years.

Candidate Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election was similarly viciously attacked by ARISE’ self-proclaimed patriots in the service of Emefiele. He had publicly criticised the government claiming the CBN policy was targeted at him to scuttle his presidential campaign. His APC supporters threw their weight behind his remarks.  ARISE, of course, took sides with Emefiele, and the president, who they claimed were acting in the public interest. They spoke of a bullion van found in his house during the 2019 election in which he was not a participant.

For ARISE, Emefiele could do no wrong. In February 2023, Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court, complaining of the time frame for the exchange of the re-designed naira. According to them, “the majority of their state indigenes have been unable to exchange or deposit their old naira notes as there are no banks in the rural areas where the majority of the population of the states reside.” What they got from Emefiele was his insistence that the February 10 deadline remained unchanged.

But the battle cry from ARISE that claimed, without proof, that the governors were driven by a desire to buy votes was “fact check me, it is all about the governors’ shenanigans.” They even went farcical, questioning the right of the governors to appeal to the Supreme Court when they did not go to court over the abduction of Shaibu five years earlier

In May 2022, Emefiele expressed his desire to succeed President Buhari by filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order directing INEC and the Office of the Attorney General not to stop him from contesting the presidency. While Nigerians demanded the removal of the CBN governor and accused him of violating multiple provisions of the Central Bank Act, Emefiele’s media enablers found nothing.

After being dressed in borrowed robes for eight years, what Nigerians can deduce from various recent judicial pronouncements is that Emefiele engaged in corrupt practices.

For instance, Justice Bogoro, in his judgement, held that the following funds and properties are proceeds of unlawful activities, which are bound to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria: $4.7m, N830m, and multiple properties linked to Emefiele by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The funds, forfeited to the Federal Government, were held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank accounts managed by individuals and entities including Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Services Limited, Exact Quote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

The properties affected include 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space on Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1 on Esa Street, Imoore Land, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos; and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, located in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

Others are a plot at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppell Texas Drive, Coppell, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Similarly, on 22 June 2024, in another related case, a Federal High Court granted the final forfeiture of properties worth over N12.18 billion to the Federal Government. EFCC Chairman Olukoyede described the seizure and forfeiture as “one of the most significant in the nation’s history.”

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, also struck out an application filed Godwin Emefiele, seeking to reclaim the 753 duplexes and apartments located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9, Lokogoma District, Abuja, and measuring 150,462.84 square metres, which had already been forfeited to the government.

Now who is going to save us as the new normal today is for corrupt people to go to court to defend the disproportional share of our resources they illegally cornered while those crusading for them daily assault our sensibilities mouthing patriotism, even when it is not lost on us that “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.”

Have Parents and Government fulfilled their Responsibility to the Nigerian Child? 

Happy Children’s Day to all who, according to Section 277 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003 (CRA), are children, that is, those who are below the age of 18. Section 1 of the CRA provides inter alia, that the best interest of the child shall be primary consideration, while Section 3 thereof reinforces the applicability of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), that is, Fundamental Rights, to children (also see Section 6-17 of the CRA). 

I have seen different themes for 2025 Children’s Day such as, “Look Up”. Another theme, “Children: Our Future and Our Responsibility”, is apt for this discussion. How well have Parents and Government lived up to their responsibilities to the children of Nigeria, and protected their fundamental rights? Not that well, I would say. See NDPHC Ltd v Michael (2024) LPELR-79937(SC) per Tijjani Abubakar, JSC on the importance of fundamental rights. Even though Nigeria is one of the 196 countries that has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Adopted by the UN in 1989, came into force in 1990 and ratified by Nigeria in 1991, it appears that the CRA may be yet another law enacted by Nigeria, to give the impression that the country is in tune with international best practices; but, in reality, the CRA isn’t properly implemented, as the welfare of the Nigerian child doesn’t appear to be a priority.  

From the Beginning 

From birth, the life of majority of Nigerian children is hard. A few days ago, I asked Tunde to visit a Government Hospital in Lagos, to do some findings. Tunde found 15 babies (13 female 2 male), some, newborn, some, a few months old, one who had even been found abandoned on the street possibly by her mother; babies who couldn’t be discharged from the hospital after being born or falling sick, because their parents couldn’t afford to pay their hospital bills - one bill was as low as N25,000. The first failure of the Nigerian system. Children from poor families are unable to be born comfortably, or get medical treatment. I do agree that Family Planning should be taught much more aggressively, so that people learn that it’s wrong to keep having children that they cannot cater for; and part of the responsibility of creating such awareness amongst Nigerians, is something that should be borne by the people’s elected representatives; however, they have failed abysmally in this regard, and we seem to be having a population explosion instead.  

Education 

Then, despite the educational objectives set out in Section 18 of the Constitution (also see Section 15 of the CRA), Nigeria has possibly the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. As a result of insecurity and the targeting of school children for kidnapping by terrorists and criminals, starting with the Chibok Girls in 2014 (11 years later, over 100 of them remain unaccounted for, while Dapchi girl, Leah Sharibu hasn’t been found seven years on), some Parents have opted to keep their children at home for safety reasons. Many Parents also, instead of sending their children to school, prefer for them to engage in child labour to boost the family’s income - the children are made to work on farms, and hawk all sorts of goods on the streets of different Nigerian cities instead. Others are drafted into different households all over the country, to work as house helps (see Sections 12 & 28 of the CRA on a child’s right to leisure and prohibition from exploitative labour). Let us not forget children that are sexually abused and raped by family members and neighbours, and in the households where they are sent to do forced labour, or even by those on the streets where they hawk their wares, thereby inflicting physical and psychological damage on them for life. Already, the future of such children may be doomed to suffering, poverty and even crime. I find Section 28(1)(d) of the CRA a bit odd, as it provides that a child shall not be employed as domestic labour outside their own home or family environment. Does that mean that it is lawful for a child to be used as a domestic worker in their own homes, the way the ‘wicked step mothers’ use their step children, beating and starving them for good measure? 

On the side of Government, the different levels of Government have failed to meet the educational objectives. The standard of education in most Government Schools is low, while the condition of their facilities is extremely poor. I remember the scandal when Senator Adams Oshiomhole was Governor of Edo State, where he fished out a Primary School Principal who couldn’t read the affidavit attached to her credentials! Another one, who was unable to speak proper English, spoke in pidgin English, answering “Na me” when a student was asked who their teacher was! Pray tell, what would such people be able to teach children, in terms of formal education, not having any themselves?! This is so unfair to the Nigerian child, who is only able to be educated via the public educational system. 

While I was a Secondary School Student at Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, a Federal Government School, one daughter of a Head of State was my senior by a year, while a daughter of another Head of State was my junior by a couple of years. Today, one of the allegations levelled against former Governor of Kogi State is that he used State money to fund his children’s education at a private school, American International, Abuja, allegedly paying their fees in advance, until they all complete their education there. He didn’t send his children to Government schools, knowing that they are poorly funded and ill-equipped. But, Yahaya Bello isn’t alone in this - many top Government officials even send their children abroad to study, with funds they loot from the Nigerian treasury, while majority of the Nigerian children do not get the type of education that is required, due to all round paucity of funds. 

Contrast this state of affairs to a country like Finland, where the public education system is believed to be one of the best in the world, so much so that they do not really have private schools there. There is equal opportunity for all, regardless of wealth and social status. The children of the rich, top government officials and the poor, all attend public schools that deliver best quality education. And, when they get to the tertiary level, those who attend Nigerian Public Universities sometimes stay there much longer than they should, because of the incessant strikes of the Academic Staff Union. Certainly, Government has not fulfilled Section 18(1) of the Constitution, which mandates equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels for all. In Nigeria, the ‘privileged’ children who are obviously in the minority, have the best opportunities, because they are able to pay.

Discrimination Against the Girl Child in Particular

The female child is worse off than her male counterparts, as she’s discriminated upon from childhood to adulthood. First, in some Nigerian cultures, the girl child’s right to dignity, humane treatment and protection, freedom from torture is ignored, as they are still made to undergo FGM (female genital mutilation). See Section 34(1)(a)-(c) of the Constitution & Sections 11, 16-17 of the CRA. Some little girls are cut (circumcised) even before the age of 5, or before they reach the age of 14. FGM is a criminal offence, punishable with up to 4 years imprisonment - see Section 6 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015. Aside from community health education on the dangers of FGM, those who perpetrate this heinous act against girl children, should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This will send a resounding message to all and sundry, that these outdated repugnant practices will no longer be tolerated by the society.

The girl child is also married off, many a time to older men from when they are as young as age 12. See Section 21-23 of the CRA which prohibits child marriage and betrothal, and prescribes a punishment of up to 5 years imprisonment for doing same (a felony offence). Also see Section 42(1)(a) of the Constitution which prohibits discrimination. As a result of their being physically underdeveloped, having not reached puberty, some girls end up as Vesicovaginal Fistula Patients (VVF) (urinary incontinence caused by an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina), after being made to have sex and get pregnant before their reproductive organs are fully developed. Because of the smell of the leaking urine, these girls are then usually evicted from their homes by their husbands and ostracised by society, due to no fault of theirs.   

A couple of States, Zamfara and Kano, are yet to domesticate the CRA. Zamfara is no surprise, because when the CRA was enacted in 2003, the then Governor, Ahmed Yerima himself, was alleged to prefer marrying underaged girls! Strangely, even though Section 29(4)(a) of the Constitution, in reference to naturalisation and renunciation of citizenship, sets full age at 18 and above, Section 29(4)(b) thereof unfortunately, makes a proviso that an underaged married girl is deemed to be of full age by virtue of her marriage. This is nonsense. How can you ‘deem’ a 12 year old to be 18, because they are married? This is a blatant lie. See the case of Orji v Dorji Textile Mills (Nig) Ltd & Ors (2009) LPELR-2766(SC) per Niki Tobi, JSC where the Supreme Court held inter alia that to deem “….means to treat a thing as being something that it is not, or as possessing certain qualities that it does not possess. It is a formal word, often used to create legal fictions”. Be that as it may, the boy child doesn’t suffer this kind of discrimination, as I have never heard of 12 year old boys, being forced to marry 35 or 40 year old women, like little girls are constrained to do! 

The discrimination against the girl child usually follows her into adulthood, and that’s why there are hardly any women in the Legislature, most of them in Ministerial positions are Junior Ministers, and there is still the ongoing affirmative action agitation for 35% of positions to be filled by women in all institutions.

‘Runs’

The failure of successive governments, coupled with corruption and other factors, has pauperised Nigerians. Many young-adult females are the ones who now take care of their families instead of the parents, and they also fund the education of their younger siblings by doing ‘runs’, aka prostitution. Over a decade ago, I went to do some charity work at the General Hospital, Broad Street. I met this 23 year old female Youth Corper. She had come for her monthly check up and medication, as she was HIV+. I discovered that, as a result of her family responsibilities and the desire to be a University graduate to ensure a brighter future, she did runs as her source of income for funding. She ended up with her degree, and HIV in the bargain! 

Conclusion 

It is obvious that the lot of majority of Nigerian children, leaves a lot to be desired. What do they have to celebrate today? Sadly, not much. Their fundamental rights have been breached, and constantly continue to be trampled upon in more ways than one, and their future, compromised. The Government and many Parents, have failed the children, so much so that some are already hardened criminals. It is also not unusual for law enforcement, to place underaged children in Police cells and adult correctional facilities. A case in view is that of the children, in which 38 out of 75 were alleged to be underage, who were charged with terrorism offences and trying to overthrow the Government, following their alleged role in the #EndBadGovernance Protest last year. 

However, from education to morals, nothing appears to be on course for the children, particularly the children of the ‘masses’. With technology, the world has become a global village. While many children who have had the benefit of a private education in Nigeria are able to hold their own anywhere they go, how does an average Nigerian child who cannot afford to enjoy the benefits of a private education, and is stuck with Teachers who cannot read or speak English, compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world like Finland? The rising scourge of drug addiction in the ranks of the youths, is also a cause for concern. 

Nigeria needs to take the welfare of children more seriously, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.