In the Holy Scriptures, Samuel, the revered prophet and leader, stood before the people of Israel and issued a bold challenge. He invited them to bring forth any evidence of his wrongdoing. “Here I am,” he said. “Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed?” (1 Samuel 12:3). It was an extraordinary act of courage and integrity, a leader holding himself accountable to the very people he led, daring them to find fault in his governance. Unsurprisingly, the people responded: “You have not defrauded or oppressed us.”

Fast forward to contemporary Nigeria, a country with a rich history of leadership, but one also plagued by the recurring issue of corruption. Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, recently made a similar declaration to Samuel’s. He proclaimed to Nigerians that throughout his tenure as governor, he had never stolen public funds. El-Rufai, in the same spirit of boldness, invited scrutiny, challenging anyone with evidence to come forward. It was a rare but commendable act in Nigerian politics, a leader opening himself to public judgment with a clean conscience. But can we say the same for other former governors, presidents, and public officials?

Nigeria, often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” is a country blessed with immense resources. Its people, resilient and industrious, have continued to thrive despite the frequent political mismanagement that has characterized the nation’s leadership. Time and again, the media is flooded with reports of former governors, ministers, presidents, and even lawmakers implicated in corrupt practices. These range from the looting of state coffers to gross mismanagement of funds meant for the development of public infrastructure.

The consequences of such corrupt leadership are all too clear. Nigeria’s roads are deplorable, healthcare is in shambles, the education sector is underfunded, and unemployment continues to skyrocket. Meanwhile, these leaders, past and present, often live in lavish luxury, far removed from the suffering of the common man.

Yet, even in the face of these damning realities, very few Nigerian leaders have come forward with the kind of transparency Samuel demonstrated, or the forthrightness shown by El-Rufai. This raises a critical question: Can any of Nigeria’s past governors or presidents stand before the people, as Samuel did, and say, “I have not stolen. I have not oppressed”? Can they invite scrutiny and confidently state that their hands are clean?

The issue of corruption in Nigeria is not new. From the oil boom of the 1970s to the present day, corruption has been a persistent challenge. Countless investigative reports have revealed the looting of public funds by government officials, many of whom are former governors or presidents. Several of these leaders, after leaving office, have faced investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), with varying degrees of success in holding them accountable.

But despite the many cases of alleged corruption, only a handful of former leaders have ever voluntarily subjected themselves to the kind of public accountability we saw with Samuel and, more recently, El-Rufai. Most prefer to hide behind the veil of political immunity or manipulate the system to avoid prosecution.

El-Rufai’s challenge to the Nigerian public is a rare example. He invited anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to step forward, confident that his governance record would stand the test. This challenge should be extended to all former governors and presidents. It is time for them to face the people and account for their time in office. After all, they were elected or appointed to serve, not to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.

Imagine the profound impact it would have on the nation’s moral fabric if every former governor, president, or public official were required to publicly declare their assets and account for the decisions they made while in office. Imagine the change in public perception if leaders openly invited investigations into their financial dealings, as a demonstration of their integrity and commitment to transparency. It would signify a new era in Nigerian politics, one where integrity and accountability become the norm rather than the exception.

Unfortunately, the silence of many former leaders continues to cast a long shadow over Nigerian politics. While Samuel could proudly challenge his people to prove he had stolen from them, the vast majority of Nigerian leaders cannot do the same. The allegations of corruption, whether founded or unfounded, persist because these leaders have never cleared the air. They remain silent, refusing to open their records for public scrutiny, leaving room for speculation and distrust.

This silence is not without consequence. The enduring lack of accountability erodes public trust in governance, making it difficult for even genuinely honest leaders to gain the confidence of the people. As a result, the Nigerian populace has become increasingly disillusioned, often viewing politicians as self-serving individuals who prioritize personal wealth over public welfare.

The silence also encourages the younger generation of politicians to adopt similar behaviors, knowing that they, too, can enrich themselves without facing significant consequences. This creates a vicious cycle in which corruption becomes entrenched, and the political class continues to operate with impunity.

Nigerians deserve better. They deserve leaders who are willing to be held accountable, who understand that public service is not a path to personal enrichment but a sacred duty to the people. It is time for all former governors and presidents to take a page from Samuel’s book, and from El-Rufai’s, by stepping forward to declare their innocence or face the consequences of their silence.

Accountability should not be a foreign concept in Nigerian politics. It is a fundamental requirement of leadership. If a leader cannot account for their actions while in office, how can they claim to have served the people faithfully? How can they lay any legitimate claim to the title of “leader”?

To effect real change in Nigeria, there must be a collective effort to instill transparency and accountability into the political culture. This will require not only the willingness of leaders to submit themselves to public scrutiny but also the establishment of institutions that can effectively carry out such oversight.

The role of civil society organizations, investigative journalists, and anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC cannot be overstated. These groups must be empowered to hold all former and current leaders accountable, ensuring that no one is above the law. Equally, the Nigerian public must continue to demand transparency from their leaders, refusing to accept anything less than full accountability.

The challenge has been laid before all former governors and presidents in Nigeria: come forward, as Samuel did, and declare before the people that you never stole, that you governed with integrity, and that your hands are clean. If you cannot, then perhaps it is time to reflect on the cost of your silence and the damage it continues to inflict on the nation.

Nigeria needs leaders who can confidently stand before the people and say, “I have not defrauded or oppressed you.” Anything less is an insult to the very notion of leadership. It is time for a new era of accountability, one where leaders prove their worth not by their wealth, but by their integrity.

The National Examinations Council, NECO, has said candidates would pay a N50,000 fee to reprint their certificates.

Disclosing this in Minna, Niger State, the Registrar of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, said the fee is subject to periodic review.

In a statement he signed, Wushishi said: “The N50,000 fee for certificate reprints is subject to periodic review.”

NECO said requests for reprints “will only be accepted within one year of the original certificate issuance”.

“After this period, the council will no longer entertain such requests,” he added.

The Council also set a one-month deadline for candidates to submit requests for the correction of results.

[DailyPost]

“The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.” – President Tinubu in his 64th independence anniversary speech yesterday, October 1, 2024.

I listened to the 22-minutes’ national broadcast of President Bola Tinubu yesterday. While it had some soundbites and generally updated the citizenry on the state of play about our country, it fell short of the expectations of many compatriots. Before I address the missing gaps, here are some of the highlights of the president’s second independence day speech since inauguration on May 29, 2023.

On the security front, the president said his administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. He said the target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, he claimed his government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.  While this feat is commendable, it is important to deal with the push factor which is making more Nigerians to take to crimes and criminality as means of survival. Unless this is addressed, the ground will continue to be fertile for sustainable recruitments of new felons and bandits.

The president said as a way of responding to recent natural disasters, at the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, a Disaster Relief Fund was approved to mobilise private and public sector funds to help the country respond faster to emergencies.   Furthermore, he has ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters. On the economic front, the president said reforms have attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion since he came to power.

He said the FEC approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.  The need for genuine ease of doing business cannot be overemphasized.

Tinubu said his administration is resolute in its determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments. On this count, we have seen a raft of local government elections being held across states where local governments are hitherto being administered by caretaker committees. However, the quality of these elections leaves much to be desired as the ruling parties in the states where the polls are conducted end up winning all the available councillorship and chairmanship seats. These elections are more or less shambolic as opposition political parties are muscled out of the contest or State Independent Electoral Commissions conducting the elections simply announce preferred candidates of the governor.

On food production and security, the president lauded Governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced his agricultural production programme and urged other states to join the FG in investing in mechanised farming. He said the FG is playing its part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. “Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.”

The president did not say how much of the 10 million hectares of land he promised to cultivate in his August 4, 2024 speech has been cultivated and how much quantum of increase have been recorded in food production. He also should know that despite his directive since August 4 that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, to help drive down the prices; costs of food, drugs and medical products remain astronomic.

The president glibly said his energy transition programme is on course and that he is expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The question is, how many of the 3,000 CNG busses he promised since last year July 31 has been delivered?  When are we likely going to start seeing these busses plying our roads? What about the lingering turn around maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery? When will it start production? What about the pricing of PMS with Dangote refinery? Will there ever be price stability of our petroleum products?

The president said recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to Nigerian youths without making them its architects he is organising a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people. “The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.”

This is commendable provided it will not go the way of 2014 national conference organised by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in which over N12bn was purportedly spent to convoke a national dialogue with the outcome jettisoned. I sincerely hope this is not another jamboree. The president spoke about other youth-centric programmes such as the 3 million Technical Talents programme of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.  He also spoke about Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.  No mention of the amount already disbursed or number of beneficiary thus far. There is a planned launch of the Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme which is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis.

The critical missing gaps in the president’s speech include lack of information on the number of people who have been gainfully employed by his government in its 16 months’ administration. No mention was made of number of people who have been lifted out of poverty. How many people have benefitted from its presidential initiatives on support to nano, small and medium enterprises remain unknown? No mention was made about anti-corruption initiatives; blockade of revenue leakages including stoppage of oil theft. The resident was also silent on reduction in the cost of governance and the proposed cabinet reshuffle. Lastly, the president kept mum on when Nigerian will hold the postponed National Population and Housing Census.

AS the country marks its 64th independence anniversary today, I revisited some of the articles I wrote over the last 15 years to commemorate our years of independence. I began to wonder whether there is really any point writing anything new.

In fact, if you bring any article written about the Nigerian condition five or ten years ago and edit the dates and the gladiators, it would still seem to be relevant. This raises a fundamental question of whether our writings really make any difference:  Is there really anyone out there who is in a position to change things, who bothers to read these articles? And if such people exist, do they care? 

The dominant impression the power wielders at all levels of governance give, is that it is their “turn”, and since most seem not even to believe in the country, shorn of all pretences, they are telling their critics, or those proffering unsolicited advice, to “go hug a transformer”, or “go to court” if they do not like their style of governance or their explanations for why things are the way they are.

Depending on who you are, their estimation of the followership you command and your ethnic, party or religious affiliations, you could also be accused of “bad belle” because you or the candidate you supported lost the last election. You will sure be on the radar of the EFCC or other security agencies who will one day invite you for questioning on suspicions of ‘terrorism financing’.

The combination of all these seem to have pushed most Nigerian into a state of ennui – bored and tired of everything.  They appear tired of their leaders and distrustful of those angling to replace them. They scoff at suggestions for making things right and tell you that our problem is not the absence of good laws, but implementing them. I suspect that many of those joining the ‘japa’ syndrome(including people who are doing reasonably well here), do so not necessarily because they feel they will have a better life where they are emigrating to, but because they want to escape from it all for the sake of their sanity and humanity. Nigeria is fast approximating the Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ in which life is short, nasty and brutish. Hope – that critical ingredient that gives meaning to life- seems to be evaporating quickly for most Nigerians.

The above brings back the question of what really is the problem with Nigeria? And what is the way out. Since I have posed these questions severally during each of our independence anniversaries the past 15 years or so, I will, on this occasion revisit my views on the trouble with Nigeria, and the way out, using my article on the country’s 63rd anniversary as the baseline:

The idea that there is nothing else to celebrate other than our managing to be together for these past 63 years, is to take pessimism too far. Certainly, we have made some progress on all fronts – from the revolution in telecoms to a Nigerian firm (Dangote) achieving the status of a multinational corporation, to the emergence of an indigenous motor manufacturing company (Innoson Motors), to the country having a Nobel Laureate in Literature and to the global mainstreaming of the accomplishments of our entertainment artists in music and films. On nationhood, the rate of inter-ethnic marriages and friendships has continued to grow.

I now believe that though there are several Nigerians and corporations that have distinguished themselves – in businesses, entertainment and sports –  these do not automatically translate to national achievements because, as the saying goes, the whole is always greater than the sum of its constituent parts, not the other way around. I may therefore have been too hard on those who argued that there was nothing to celebrate about during our anniversary last year.

Nigeria is like a national football club made up of highly talented players but who cannot translate their individual skills into an effective goal-scoring national team.  Even the progress we have made in inter-ethnic marriages which I highlighted as one of our bright spots during the 63rd anniversary, has now come under strain. Since the 2023 elections, in some parts of the South-West, being married to an Igbo, is now promoted by some as a disqualification for public office.  The impact of this ‘new normal’ on building inter-ethnic bonds through marriages is yet to fully crystallise through the system.

In fact, the idea that the separate nationalities that were agglomerated into one entity in 1914 could have done better if they had continued on their individual paths to development is purely academic. The truth, however, is that if these nationalities were as powerful and successful as we often make them to be, they would not have been easily conquered and pacified by a few White men, as was the case in most pre-colonial entities that fused to become Nigeria. Besides, that a nation has a homogeneity of culture and language is no guarantee that it will build a successful nation-state, as the case of Somalia illustrates.

I still believe strongly in my position on this. I also believe this is probably one of the reasons most Nigerians from different ethnic and religious affiliation are still hoping that the country will work. There is a big distrust of leaders at various levels of governance, there is scepticism that opposition leaders will make any difference if given the opportunity, and there is a lack of confidence that the system dynamics in the country will allow such opposition leaders to come to power in the first place – even if people vote overwhelmingly for them. There are also doubts about the leaders of the various separatist movements – a wariness that they have the capacity to achieve their avowed goal of separation, suspicions that they might be using their agitations for fame and lucre, and lack of conviction that even if they manage to succeed in their agitations, life under their governance will be better than what currently prevails. 

In fact, the whole notion that “if we go our separate ways” some parts of the country would become El dorado while others would become desolate lands, have been demystified under the Buhari and Tinubu presidencies. Until he became President in 2015, Buhari’s supporters passionately promoted him as an ascetic and incorruptible man who had the magic wand, or whose ‘body language’ alone would solve all of the country’s problems. However, by the time he exhausted his eight years in office, almost all indicators of human development in the country – including some progress made in nation-building, have nosedived south.

Instead of a political ‘messiah’, he became seen by the generality of Nigerians as the poster boy of incompetence and clannishness. His famed ‘body language’ appeared to have worked only on some of the public functionaries under him who competed to disproportionately site federal projects in his home town of Daura. This, however, did not save even his home state of Katsina from the fate several other states in the country suffered and still suffer– excruciating poverty and frightening insecurity. 

When Tinubu was campaigning for office, in contrast to Buhari, no one marketed him as ‘Mr. Integrity’.  Here his promoters, while not conceding the scandals and allegations linked to him, argued that since we have tried a man deified as a saint (Buhari) and it did not work, it might be time to try a man perceived differently.

He was promoted as a talent-spotter, creator of modern Lagos and ocean tamer, who, when he was the Governor of Lagos State, demonstrated his cosmopolitanism by having Nigerians from different ethnicities and religions in his cabinet. He was also marketed as an extremely wealthy man who knew the ways of the crooked and how to tame them.   However, less than two years in office, the Tinubu government is making Buhari look good on all fronts.  Welcome to the season of ennui.

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) got its fair share of the wave of federal appointments as Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, last Friday, announced the appointment of seven Executive Directors. The announcement led me down the path of nostalgia, a wishful past when NTA was the king of broadcasting and could do only the right things.

The appointees according to Onanuga’s statement include: Ayo Adewuyi, Executive Director, News (actually reappointed), Ibrahim Aliyu, Special Duties, Malam Muhamed Fatuhu Mustapha, Administration and Training, and Mrs Apinke Effiong (Finance).

Others are Mrs Tari Taylaur, Programme, Mr Sadique Musa Omeiza Engineering, and Mrs Oluwakemi Fashina, Marketing. Quite a couple of them came with interesting annotations. Effiong is described as an expert in financial marketing with treasury, management accounting and reporting skills; Taylaur as an audio/visual creator, producer and showrunner; and Fashina was hailed as an integrated marketing communications professional and chartered marketer.

My first observation here is that there seems to be some level of diversity or democratisation of the appointments as against the practice of the past where certain positions and offices at NTA were seemingly reserved for some people. The Executive Directors are expected to contribute their wealth of experience and support the Director General in the person of Mr Salihu Abdul Hamid Dembos in order to give NTA a new direction and some level of creative vitality. NTA needs some fillip at the moment and the writer is only praying that the new appointees are able to offer just that.

Established in April 1976 by Decree 24, which has since become an Act of Parliament, and charged with the responsibility for the provision of television broadcasting in Nigeria and other related matters thereto, NTA has seen some glorious days as the sole government station building facilities across the states of the federation.

Taking maximum advantage of its network strength and putting the abundant talents to great use, NTA promoted flagship programmes from different parts of the country – Masquerade from NTA, Enugu, Hotel de Jordan from NTA, Benin, Cockcrow at Dawn from NTA, Jos, Village Headmaster from Lagos, and much later Mirror in the Sun, Checkmate and Ripples, among others. It was a great time on television. You have to wait religiously for the network news for you to get the major news of the day or, if you work in a newspaper, you must monitor the network news for news break by 9pm.

Something happened in 1992 which NTA was too arrogant to spot. The broadcast sector was deregulated by Decree 38, now an Act of Parliament, National Broadcasting Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, to give opportunity to private business promoters to test the perilous waters of broadcasting.

NTA held the development in scorn, even more the regulator, NBC, and those jostling to come into the sector. That marked the birth of Raypower and AIT, Channels Television, Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM, MITV, TVC and much later, Arise TV, in no particular order. The rest, they say, is history, a cliche I don’t particularly like because it gives proof of a people not ready to learn the lessons of history.

The burgeoning content creating sector, now Nollywood, discriminated against by the NTA, quickly shifted camps to the new broadcast operators and a new industry was born, very robust and rambunctious. The new broadcasters invested in new technologies and more modern broadcast practices. NTA was receding into the past and becoming a dodo. It failed to recognise competition when it came and now the government broadcast behemoth has been fighting ever since to cope with that competition. Allegiance has since shifted and so are the TV viewing eyes!

This material is not an elegy for NTA but a call to the new Executive Directors to take a dispassionate look at history and see how they can dig the station out of a self-created hole and begin to reposition it. It’s like waking the Titanic, but can they? It is the responsibility of the President to appoint but the onus rests upon the appointees to perform.

But for the NTA to witness a rebirth, it has to identify its place in history and strip itself of a debilitating arrogance. Is NTA a Public Broadcaster or a Government Broadcaster?

The Nigeria Broadcasting Code recognises three tiers of broadcasting, categorised as follows: Public Service Broadcasting (PSB), Private/Commercial Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting.

Those who are versed in this matter told this writer that the NTA is more of a government broadcaster because it is funded by the government which also makes strategic appointments as was done last week. From inception, the appointments have little to do with professionalism but more with political patronage subsidised by intolerable degree of subservience.

After all, appointments are made by the President through the recommendations of the Minister, who is also empowered by the NTA Act to give directives of general order to the NTA and officials must obey. It can be any order depending upon the mood of the Minister or even his wife!

Under this kind of practice, good journalism suffers, creativity and poetic licence are jeopardised, and accountability enjoys no relevance. No system suffers the aforementioned consequential defects and enjoys rectitude or experience needed growth. NTA enjoys no good standing between the two.

This writer is of the opinion that what the regulator would have recommended for NTA is to operate as a Public Service Broadcaster (PSB). The PSB, the Code states, is broadcasting that is funded and controlled by the public, free from political and commercial interference. The regulator would have wished for NTA to follow best global practices, like the BBC and VOA.

There are examples, which is why I don’t think we have to reinvent the wheel in this part of the world. For instance, the BBC is primarily funded by licence fee and supplemented by incomes from its commercial subsidiaries. The station does not allow advertising because it is not a commercial operator. A standard TV licence currently stands at £169.50, and gives access to a number of TV channels, radio, blogs and other devices.

The monthly fee for 2021/22 was £13.25, and this is how it was spent: Television – £7.29, Radio – £2.09, Online – £1.27, BBC World Service – £1.30, Other Services and Production Costs – £.72, and Licence fee collection and Pension deficit cost – £0.58. It’s all about transparency and for every stakeholder to know that not a single pound sterling is accidented in the process.

The Voice of America (VOA), on the other hand, is funded by the US Agency of Global Media after approval by the Congress. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in 48 languages and broadcasting is targeted primarily at non-American outside of the United States. By November 2022, VOA reached 326m weekly across all platforms. That is their policy. But the source of funds is sure and guaranteed and is used for the purpose budgeted for.

He also suggested that the status of NTA must be made clear. It cannot be a government broadcaster and be canvassing for commercials with commercial operators at the same time. Such practice makes the playing field uneven. The station must be refocused and has to be in full compliance with the regulatory provisions of the NBC.

What are the new Executive Directors bringing to the table? Is it just the same hackneyed story of “we are the biggest network in Africa?” Talk is cheap, my friend, and such belief cannot be evacuated from the platform of pipe-dreams.

I don’t know what feeds my belief that the new appointees can do well. But first they must redefine the status of NTA and try to professionalise its operations. The station must have to embrace robust journalism practices and be able to present balanced views to its audience. I do not know whether NTA tracks its viewership but I am pressed to suggest here that the station is watched only by their sponsors and people without alternatives. The new Executive Directors must do something. I am sure they will earn some garlands at some point.

Trust is an essential quality. It is a valuable non-commodity asset. It is the diviner of promise and fulfilment. A government that succeeds is one which holds sufficient public trust and exerts itself considerably to keep it by delivering on its promises.

Introducing the consumer credit scheme was one of the foremost pledges of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaigns. The President had said: ‘’Corruption will be addressed when an individual does not need to have cash readily available to buy a vehicle, for instance, if there is a credit facility to finance it. Credit financing, in turn, will stimulate productivity and demand. We can, and we will. We will change the inefficiencies. We will drive Nigeria’s potential to delivery.’’

Within a few months after assuming office, President Tinubu went to work in fidelity to his promise. In April 2024, the President approved the take-off of the Consumer Credit Scheme with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) as the institutional apparatus.

Today, the gestation of hope has reached parturition. CREDICORP has begun disbursement. And Nigerians from across diverse backgrounds and sectors, especially those in the essential service sector, are the latest beneficiaries. So far, the agency has disbursed over N3.5 billion with teachers, medical doctors, security officers, administrators, and workers in specialised services as the first beneficiaries.

The reason for this is obvious. This segment of workers forms the core of the nation’s workforce and provides essential services. But the credit blanket will spread further to cover the majority of Nigerians in subsequent phases as the scheme was conceived by President Tinubu for all Nigerians.

According to data by CREDICORP, credit was provided for a slew of needs, such as the procurement of petrol alternatives (solar panels, CNG conversion, tricycles), home improvements, school fees and medical needs, as well as the purchase of household items.  

The CREDICORP data also shows that over N1.5 billion has been disbursed to federal and state workers in the education sector; administrators in federal and state MDAs over N755 million; medical doctors in federal and state services over N600 million; police/paramilitary officers (police, civil defence, customs, immigration, and correctional service) over N367 million, and Nigerians in specialised services (judiciary, EFCC, ICPC, traffic authorities, environment) over N273 million.

Additionally, in the education sector, over 4,700 Nigerians are beneficiaries; in administration over 2,800; in health over 1,300; police/paramilitary over 1,260, and specialised services, over 750. More Nigerians are being enlisted as beneficiaries of this epochal scheme.

President Tinubu’s vision is to spread prosperity, create a robust credit system, strengthen the financial architecture, and empower Nigerians sustainably while removing the incentive for corruption.

In full apprehension of the concerns of citizens, the President Tinubu administration has sustained its interventions in critical sectors and directly in providing relief to vulnerable Nigerians. It is ratcheting up effort on social investment programmes to lift the most vulnerable population out of poverty. So far, additional payment has been made to about one million verified recipients under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme.

President Tinubu has remained true to his pledges. He pledged to introduce the student loan scheme to remove financial impediments to higher education for Nigerians. Today, this pledge is an actuality.

The President affirmed public good and trust as his motivation when he met with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani at the Presidential Villa, on September 20.

 He said: ''I did not come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me."

President Tinubu is working for Nigerians.

Fredrick Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to seek a true independent Nation free from state Capture and end the unprecedented hardship and suffering.
"On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering.
Writing his Independent Day message on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State Governor said, "Anniversary celebrations, whether of an individual or country, provide opportunities to Reflect on memories, Celebrate accomplishments, look to the future, and offer gratitude.
"This is exactly what we are doing today as our dear nation marks its independence anniversary, 64 years since our country, Nigeria, took charge of its destiny and began its journey to development as an independent nation.

'It's a Day to appreciate God for lavishly endowing us with everything natural, human, and material to be a great nation.

"For me however, this day should be a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have continued to contribute to the retrogression and very visible failure we are all witnessing.

"An unexamined life, they say, is not worth living. We must, therefore, examine our lives in the light of our journey as a nation within these last 6 decades.

"Have we pulled our people out of poverty or have we thrown more people into poverty? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child, or have we raised an army of over 18 million out-of-school children roaming the streets? Have we built a productive economy, or have we built a nation with now the worst debt profile in our nation's history?

"On every measure of development, from the critical areas to every aspect, we are performing badly. From ranking poorly on safety and peacefulness to being one of the most terrorized countries in the world. From being ranked among the most highly corrupt countries in the world to being placed among the nations with gross disobedience to the rule of law. Our nation has continued its dangerous dance on the edge of a precipice.

"When compared with some countries who gained independence around the same time as ours, before and after us, Nigeria stands out as a failed nation that must be urgently rescued from further decadence.

"On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering. We must build a nation independent from tribal disunity and religious disharmony. We must build a New and Productive Nigeria that cares for the well-being of the people. That is the Independence we will celebrate as a nation, and it is POssible."

Signed
Ibrahim Umar
POMR SPOKESMAN
October 1st, 2024

Nigeria is experiencing a renewed wave of independence from colonial influences, this time achieving it through energy independence via the domestic refining of its rich crude oil resources. This transformation is being spearheaded by indigenous investors who own refineries, representing a significant step away from neo-colonialism and imperialism.
The reason local refining of petrol by Indigenous investors is being used as the linchpin of Nigeria's economic independence after political independence was secured in 1960 is due to the central and all-encompassing role that petrol plays in the life of Nigerians. That is evidenced by the negative effect of the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol pump price some seventeen months ago at the inception of the incumbent administration and how a critical mass of Nigerians was thrown into severe economic hardships and misery. All because petrol drives transportation which is pivotal to the socio-economic activities of all Nigerians.

Key players in securing this second independence the petroleum energy sufficiency include the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, which has a capacity of 650,000 liters per day, as well as five modular refineries: Aradel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, producing 11,000 barrels per day (bpd); Waltersmith in Imo State, with a capacity of 5,000 bpd; Edo Refinery and Duport in Edo State, producing approximately 6,000 bpd and 2,500 bpd, respectively; and OPAC in Warri, Delta State, which has a capacity of 10,000 bpd.

Importantly, all five operational refineries plan to significantly expand their capacities, signaling that Nigeria is on the verge of moving from a state of scarcity to one of surplus in petroleum products, all things being equal.

It is crucial to recognize that past government policies, such as putting some economic activities in the Exclusive and Concurrent Lists of government which precludes the private sector from engaging in certain economic activities ,some of which the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) enacted in 2021 has begun to reform are culprits. That is derived from the fact that they are some of the factors that have hindered the modular refineries from producing petrol despite some being operational for over two decades. For example, Aradel has been in operation since 2010 but has not produced petrol due to regulated pump prices and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation's (NNPC) preference for subsidizing petrol imports rather than local refineries.

Consequently, local refineries have focused on producing other petroleum products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), naphtha, and black oil etc for over thirty years. It is absurd that local producers were denied subsidies on petrol pump prices despite their capacity to generate numerous direct and indirect jobs. As such, the lack of encouragement for petrol production is preposterous. It demonstrates the high level of lack of patriotism by those assigned the responsibility to serve our country at high level.

Subsidizing the refining of petrol at modular refineries would have enhanced our country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), instead of exporting capital and jobs to foreign countries that supply petroleum products to Nigeria. This export of highly needed hard currencies has exacerbated pressure on the naira and contributed to exchange rate instability.

Unlike the regulated prices of petrol, the prices of other petroleum products have historically been determined by market dynamics. With the reforms introduced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the elimination of petrol subsidies, Nigeria appears poised to attain more autonomy via genuine energy independence. This process began with Dangote Refinery starting local petrol production at the beginning of September of this year.

The encouraging news is that Nigeria is set to take a significant step towards economic independence and energy security on the 1st day of October, when Dangote Refinery will begin receiving crude oil supplies paid for in naira, enabling the refinery to sell to local distributors in the same currency.

Coincidentally, October 1st marks the anniversary of Nigeria's political independence from colonial rule 64 years ago.

Although four state-owned refineries were established between 1965 and the 1980s, they have not produced refined petroleum products for about 28 years. These refineries fell into disrepair due to mismanagement by bureaucrats who prioritized personal gain over public service, embezzling funds intended for essential maintenance that never resuscitated the facilities. Their negligence has certainly resulted in a breach of the public trust placed in them as public servants.

To provide some historical context, Nigeria discovered crude oil in Oloibiri, located in present-day Bayelsa in the oil-rich Niger Delta, in 1956. Seven years later, the country built its first crude oil refinery in Port Harcourt, with a capacity of 60,000 liters per day. This was followed by a second refinery in Port Harcourt, a third in Warri, and a fourth in Kaduna, bringing the total number of state-owned refineries to four, with a combined capacity of 445,000 liters per day.

As we know, after a period of operation during which Nigeria enjoyed a degree of energy independence, the four refineries became non-functional about 28 years ago. This decline occurred despite numerous turn-around maintenance contracts awarded by successive governments, amounting to trillions of naira, aimed at restoring their functionality.

It is evident that the substantial investments made to revitalize these refineries have not yielded any positive outcomes, with numerous start dates announced over the years that never materialized. The facilities remain in a state of disrepair, raising questions about how they could still be inactive despite the significant funds spent on their rehabilitation. This situation suggests either a high-level conspiracy to undermine Nigeria by those tasked with refurbishing the refineries—who may be aligned with the interests of those profiting from continued imports of petrol into Nigeria —or that the facilities are in such poor condition that efforts to revive them by NNPCL are futile.

Continuing with the historical context, it’s important to note that Nigeria gained political independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. However, the country remained economically dependent on European nations due to the presence of various foreign companies operating in Nigeria, which were linked to their parent companies abroad where policy decisions were made. This was especially true for British firms, given that Britain was Nigeria’s colonial ruler, with these subsidiaries essentially acting as extensions of their parent companies in London.

In addition, firms from France, Germany, and Portugal swiftly established their presence in Nigeria, with their subsidiaries managed from Paris, Berlin, and Lisbon, where strategic decisions were formulated and relayed for execution. Given that Britain initially engaged with Nigeria as a trading partner before merging the northern and southern protectorates into a single colony known as Nigeria in 1914, it’s understandable that the grip on trade persisted even after Nigeria’s political independence in 1960. While Nigeria achieved political sovereignty, it did not attain economic freedom.

Consequently, the Nigerian oil industry and the broader economy, with only a handful of indigenous investors, have been stifled by what can be described as the "rentier economy syndrome."

It is such a source of curiosity to me that some Nigerians continue to push a political agenda by falsely claiming that foreign firms are exiting Nigeria in droves while it is the reality that British companies continue to dominate Nigeria’s economy. Not just in manufacturing but also in professional services, including:

1. PwC Nigeria (Audit, Tax, Consulting)
2. KPMG Nigeria (Audit, Tax, Advisory)
3. Ernst & Young Nigeria (Audit, Tax, Consulting)
4. Deloitte Nigeria (Audit, Tax, Consulting)
5. Linklaters Nigeria (Law Firm)

In the financial services sector, major players include:

A. Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria
B. Barclays Bank Nigeria (now Absa Nigeria)
C. HSBC Nigeria
D. Ecobank Nigeria (partially owned by the UK’s Ecobank Transnational)
E. ARM Investment Managers (part of the UK’s ARM Holdings)

The technology services sector also features companies such as IBM Nigeria, HP Nigeria, Oracle Nigeria, Microsoft Nigeria, and UK-based tech firms like Andela, Interswitch, and Flutterwave, all of which maintain operations in Nigeria.

The logistics and supply chain sector also features a considerable number of companies originating from the UK, including DHL Nigeria, UPS Nigeria, FedEx Nigeria, and Maersk Nigeria, which is part of the UK-based A.P. Moller-Maersk. Bollore Logistics Nigeria is another firm that has maintained its operations in the country.

Similarly, the education and training sector includes the British Council Nigeria, IDP Education Nigeria (which provides study abroad services), Study Group Nigeria (education consulting), Pearson Nigeria (education services), and Cambridge Assessment Nigeria, all of which are actively involved in the market. Additionally, CharterHouse, a British boarding school, is establishing a campus in Lekki, Lagos.

The healthcare sector presents a different scenario. While some British firms like GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria, AstraZeneca Nigeria, and Sanofi Nigeria may have ceased their manufacturing operations due to challenges in importing raw materials, they remain active in the Nigerian market. UK-based healthcare providers such as Medical Tours International and Health Tours Nigeria continue their presence as well.

Contrary to the claims made by the naysayers attempting to tarnish the country’s reputation through misinformation, there has not been a complete withdrawal of foreign firms from Nigeria. Instead, the healthcare companies mentioned have merely adapted their business models, relocating their manufacturing operations due to difficulties in accessing foreign exchange for raw material imports. The same applies to a couple of American firms that also shut down their manufacturing operations in Nigeria.
Nonetheless, what l found out is that they are still engaged in the Nigerian market and may resume manufacturing once the exchange rate stabilizes.

This stabilization is anticipated as foreign exchange receipts increase due to a rise in crude oil production, and as the demand for foreign currency—which has contributed to its scarcity—diminishes. Furthermore, starting in October, petrol marketers will no longer face the challenge of purchasing refined petrol with hard currency, as they have pledged to source products from Dangote Refinery and other local refineries, including the five modular refineries now authorized to produce and sell petrol under a willing buyer, willing seller arrangement.

Given that the headline inflation rate has decreased consistently over the past couple of months—from 33.40% in July to 32.15% in August—thanks to measures implemented by economic management authorities, there is optimism that some manufacturing companies that previously exited may return.

This hope is reinforced by the fact that a nation with a population exceeding 200 million is too significant for any consumer goods manufacturer to overlook. The positive outlook is further supported by the current flow of petrol from Dangote Refineries, which is expected to alleviate pressure on the naira, allowing it to stabilize, as petroleum product imports account for up to 40% of Nigeria's import bill, according to Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN.

With local production and distribution, the excessive pressure on the naira is expected to diminish as the country achieves energy security and is no longer forced to rely on imported petroleum products. This shift is anticipated to contribute to further economic improvements, providing relief and growth that will help alleviate the hardships currently faced by many Nigerians.

Moreover, according to data from NNPC Ltd., Nigeria's crude oil production—the nation's main source of foreign exchange—has recently increased to approximately 1.7 million barrels per day. This is a rise from about 1.2 million barrels per day at the beginning of the current administration roughly seventeen months ago. As a result of this situation, foreign exchange inflows into the economy, which had previously been minimal, are anticipated to improve significantly.

Evidence of the longstanding relationship between the UK and Nigeria, rooted in their colonial past which makes them seem co-joined in the hip, despite the ongoing reforms can be seen in the presence of numerous energy and consulting firms that continue to operate in the sector. In light of the above reality, notable UK-based oil and gas service companies, such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes, along with consulting firms like Accenture, McKinsey, and BCG, all maintain energy practices in Nigeria. In the real estate sector, UK firms like Knight Frank, Savills, and CBRE remain active players in the Nigerian market.

The media and advertising industries also feature a robust presence, with entities such as BBC World Service Nigeria, CNN International Nigeria(regional headquarter in london), and UK-based advertising firms like WPP, Omnicom, and Publicis Groupe all operating in Nigeria and collaborating with local companies.

Given the substantial number of UK firms still operating in Nigeria, it raises questions about the outcry regarding foreign firms leaving the country, which seems to stem more from political fearmongering by those who lost in the 2023 presidential elections and their supporters on social media.

The complexities surrounding the pricing and distribution of petrol produced in Nigeria, following the commencement of operations at Dangote Refinery about a month ago, have shifted public sentiment from celebration to disappointment. Many Nigerians are grappling with the realization that refining crude oil locally does not necessarily lead to lower pump prices compared to imported petrol. Although pump prices may not decrease in the short term, the involvement of Nigerian indigenous investors in crude oil refining has its benefits.

In addition to the jobs created by Dangote and other privately owned refineries, the shutdown of several European refineries that previously exported refined petroleum products to Africa, including Nigeria, indicates a positive shift in local employment. This significant development, marked by the participation of indigenous investors in crude oil refining, is expected to alleviate pressure on the naira and strengthen its exchange rate as the demand for foreign exchange to import refined products declines. According to sources from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), refined petroleum imports and gas constituted about 40% of the nation’s import bill before the emergence of Dangote Refinery.

However, the ongoing crisis regarding the pricing and distribution of refined petroleum products in Nigeria has also highlighted the rentier nature of the country’s economy, a characteristic that traces back to the initial arrival of Europeans and their establishment of ties with Africa.

To provide historical context, it's important to remember that Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to establish contact with Africa, including Nigeria before others arrived. This occurred during the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries when Portugal became the first nation to dock in the ancient Benin Kingdom. Their primary motives for engaging with West Africa were exploration and trade. Historical records indicate that Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (1394-1460) sponsored voyages to explore the western coast of Africa in search of trade opportunities.

As part of their exploration efforts, Portugal set up trade posts along the West African coast, including sites like Elmina in present-day Ghana (established in 1482) and Badagry in Nigeria, which became a point for the slave trade. Other European powers, including Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, and France, followed suit in their attempts to explore and colonize Africa.

Initially, these invaders sought friendship with African leaders rather than conflict to facilitate trade, which was their primary goal. They presented gifts to win the favor of local kings and, once they gained their trust, turned some into agents for supplying various goods, including cash crops, minerals, and enslaved people.

Interestingly, as some of these companies with roots in advanced economies withdraw from Nigeria, indigenous investors and firms like Dangote Industries, Globacom, Airpeace, and Innoson Motors are stepping in to fill the gap. Despite this positive development, some Nigerians mistakenly criticize their country and the current government for the departure of some foreign firms, which are essentially and more often than not instruments of imperialism. To be clear, while one is not averse to foreign investments in our economy because they are critical to the success of any economy as they serve as catalysts for expansion, local entrepreneurs need to be in control of some critical areas of the economy that are strategic to the security of the country.

But the misguided critiques often making false claims about exodus of foreign firms are motivated by news headlines influenced by Western bias, as Western media largely controls global information order and shapes public opinion. This narrative of the West controlling world information order is being challenged by platforms such as Nduka Obaigbena’s Arise TV, John Momoh’s Channels TV, the late Raymond Dokpesi’s Africa Independent Television (AIT), and James Ibori’s News Central Television (NC), which are expanding their influence via their growing footprints like in Africa and globally. They aspire to be in pole position like the BBC from the UK which promotes a European perspective, while CNN presents a North American viewpoint.

Just as the aforementioned media outlets have long been representing their regions, Al Jazeera from the Arab world has been similarly asserting the influence of the Arab world on Africa in the past decade, and CCTV from China is beginning to establish a presence in Nigeria through partnerships with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) with which the Chinese hopes to also assert her influence over Nigeria.

Without the aforementioned indigenous media platforms, Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, would have continued to struggle to have a voice on the global stage, hence the continent is often regarded as marginalized and lacking a promising future. However, this scenario is set to improve as Nigeria actively seeks a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a goal promoted during the recently concluded 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

For those who criticize President Bola Tinubu’s administration for alleged mismanagement of the economy and attribute the departure of a coupe of European and American companies to it, it’s important to reconsider this perspective. The exit of these firms may not be negative, especially if local investors are taking their place. This shift could be indicative of an emerging African renaissance.

This renaissance is reflected in the increased trade initiatives among African nations, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which aims to enhance trade between countries on the continent. Based in Ghana, AfCFTA seeks to eliminate significant trade barriers, such as stringent immigration regulations that historically made it easier for citizens of European, American, Asian, and Arab nations to enter countries like South Africa for instance while Nigerians faced excessive scrutiny when applying for visas.

In light of this context,for the sake of emphasis it is worth repeating that it is regrettable that some Nigerians are erroneously claiming that the recent departure of a few foreign firms signifies Nigeria’s economic decline. In reality, their exit represents the ongoing recalibration of our economy, driven by the reform policies of the current administration.

To understand this better, we can look at the historical context of European arrival in Africa and their transition from trade partners to colonial rulers, a dynamic that persisted until the United Nations passed a resolution in 1960 calling for the independence of European colonies. For instance, Nigeria, as a former British colony, is home to Crown Agents, the trading arm of the British monarchy.

While Crown Agents no longer engage in the slave trade—once a major source of wealth for the British monarchy—it is known that the monarchy possesses substantial real estate holdings in central London and throughout the UK, some of which were likely acquired using profits from the slave trade.

A significant portion of the British monarchy's wealth is indeed linked to the proceeds from the slave trade, but other sources of wealth include the extraction of resources from colonized nations, such as gold, other solid minerals/precious stones, and oil and gas. This explains the estimated wealth of the British monarchy, which is around £40 billion (approximately USD 52 billion).

Given this context, it raises the question: what lessons have Nigerians learned from the foreign firms that have been operating here since the 1950s? In the pharmaceutical sector, for instance, indigenous companies like Emzor Pharmaceuticals are successfully competing with foreign firms, leading to the exit of some of these foreign competitors. Allow me to once again reiterate that while this is a positive development, some misinformed Nigerians are mistakenly portraying it as evidence of a toxic business environment resulting from ongoing socioeconomic reforms in the country.

Let’s consider Guinness and Nigerian Breweries as examples. Their operations in Nigeria remain subsidiaries of European parent companies based in Scotland and the Netherlands, and no local investor is competing in this sector. Although there have been efforts by indigenous investors, such as the Ibrus in Delta State, who introduced the Skoll beer brand through the brewery located in Ughelli in the 1980s. This venture ultimately failed after a few years. Similarly, Jos Breweries produced the Trophy brand, along with a few others in the southwest and southeast, but they also did not survive, even with technical partnerships with European or other foreign brewers.

In contrast, South Africa boasts its indigenous beer brand, Lion Lager, which was first brewed in the 1920s. SABMiller, founded in South Africa in 1895, operates a brewery in Onitsha in partnership with Anambra State, though it is now owned by Belgium-based AB InBev.

The disappointing state of the beer brewing industry in Nigeria stands in stark contrast to the developments in crude oil and petrol refining that began in the late 1950s. For instance, Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum Company, co-owned by British and Dutch investors, has been operating in Nigeria since 1936. Shortly before, crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, in the Niger Delta region in 1956 according OPEC records. Shell is now retreating by moving offshore after selling its onshore assets to local firms. Following the movement giants like Shell into the deepsea, locals like Midwest Oil and Gas, Transcorp Energy, and Next Oil etc are now engaged in exploration onshore.

In addition to indigenous oil and gas exploration companies that have been competing with foreign firms in oil extraction for roughly the past two decades—following the government's decision to uncap the so-called marginal oil fields, which refers to wells too small for large foreign firms—there are also modular refineries that have been addressing the gap left by the failure of the four refineries established by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under NNPC Ltd, which had a combined capacity of 445,000 liters per day.

The prevalence of International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the oil and gas sector is largely due to flawed government’s policies,predating PIA reforms which effectively sidelines local investors from the industry.

This concerning situation, stemming from the flawed structure primarily serves neo-colonial interests and their local allies, who have established a system that had weakened indigenous Nigerian investors. Regrettably, some Nigerians involved in this setup are self-serving civil servants who prioritize personal gain through kickbacks over the nation's welfare, which should be their primary concern. This behavior mirrors the term “useful idiots,” originally coined by former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin during the Cold War to describe Western proponents of communism. In the context of Nigeria today, it accurately describes those who may unintentionally support neo-colonial or imperial agendas.

Against this backdrop, the inauguration of the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery as a domestic oil refining company is viewed as a form of second independence for Nigeria. It enables citizens to access refined petroleum products without the need for imports, a reliance that has lasted for the past three decades. The importance of this development is therefore underscored by the scheduled start of crude oil supply to the Dangote Refinery from NNPC Ltd on October 1st, coinciding with Nigeria’s political independence from Britain in 1960.

Moreover, with Dangote Refinery providing an opportunity for energy independence, major petroleum marketers have opted to procure their products exclusively from the refinery and the soon to be commissioned modular refineries instead of relying on imports. This shift could help ease the pressure on the naira, considering that 40% of Nigeria’s import bill is devoted to petrol, oil, and gas. Consequently, the country may be on the brink of an economic revival.

In summary, on this momentous occasion marking Nigeria’s 64th independence from British political control, we also acknowledge a "Second Independence" from economic reliance through the development of indigenous refineries like Dangote Refinery, along with five modular refineries currently in operation and several more in various stages of establishment. This transition is further supported by local firms stepping in to occupy the space left by foreign companies resistant to ongoing reforms.
On the new fervor of renaissance sweeping across Africa and Nigeria in particular,l have discussed in other interventions in this column how Alhaji Aliko Dangote is about to help Nigeria achieve energy independence and by extension economic renaissance in the way that the likes of Chief Mike Adenuga about 20 years ago pioneered the independence of Nigeria in the telecommunications sector with Globacom; Mr. Allen Onyema has accomplished filling the gap in the aviation sector with Airpeace and what Mr. Innocent Chukwuma is currently doing in the motor vehicles manufacturing sector with Innosson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM.
Thus, as a country Nigeria is exhibiting remarkable autonomy by having indigenous investors show a significant presence in the oil/gas, telecommunications, airlines, and automotive, landscapes of our country.
So, by and large, the nation at its 64th independence is weaning itself of too much dependence on foreign-made goods and services through the efforts of the aforementioned entrepreneurs and their brands.
As Nigeria’s past colonizer, the role of Uk for instance should be the mentoring and nurturing of Nigeria’s political leaders and businesses.
Arising from the above fact, if Nigerian entrepreneurs are taking the driver’s seat of strategic businesses that will help guarantee the sovereignty of Nigeria through the entrepreneurial skills of Dangote, Adenuga, Onyema, and Chukwuma amongst others, it is a welcome and worthy development which our political leaders should encourage as our beloved country clocks 64.

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

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard.

As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.

Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.

The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.

While it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together.

Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide. Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.

Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.

Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians.

While we celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future.

My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture.

On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.

Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble. At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.

Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters.

The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.

Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year.

Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.

The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy.

The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our foreign exchange market. We inherited a reserve of over $33 billion 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7 billion. We have cleared the ways and means debt of over N30 trillion. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent. Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37 billion. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.

We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms. To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.

As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.

The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.

My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.

I commend the Governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.

Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.

Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace.

As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanize their creative energy towards a better future. We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognizing that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population. It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.

Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world. We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams. In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.

As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.

The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) .

Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us. The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.

I urge you to believe in our nation’s promise. The road ahead may be challenging, but we will forge a path toward a brighter future with your support. Together, we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its citizens, a nation that resonates with pride, dignity, and shared success.

As agents of change, we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future by ourselves, for ourselves and for future generations.

Please join our administration in this journey towards a brighter future. Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen can access opportunities and every child can grow up with hope and promise.

May God continue to bless our nation and keep members of our armed forces safe.

Happy Independence anniversary, my fellow Nigerians!

-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu