Over 50 persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion along Dikko-Maje road, opposite Badeggi fuelling station, in Suleja LGA of Niger State, on Saturday.

Mr Kumar Tsukwam, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Commander in Niger State, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Minna.

He said a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident and people gathered, scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.

Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames just as those who went to rescue them were also affected.

He said more than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.

He, however, assured that personnel of the FRSC and other sister agencies were at the scene, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped.

Similarly, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, said the explosion occurred at about 9:00 am on Saturday.

According to him, the incident happened when a tanker loaded with premium motor spirit, PMS, crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.

In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to effect the transfer, triggering an explosion that claimed over 50 lives.

He said NSEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Suleja LGA Emergency Committee, and volunteers, are currently carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations.

According to Baba-Arah, the injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment, while efforts are being made to recover the corpses of the deceased.

[DailyPost]

The Federal Capital Territory has become a battleground for real estate developers and high-profile landowners after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, revoked land allocations in the Maitama II area of Abuja, affecting 568 prominent individuals.

Amid the controversy, developers are scrambling to either pay up or protect their investments.

On January 15, 2025, the deadline to settle outstanding Certificate of Ownership fees for plots in Maitama II passed, and those who failed to comply had their land rights revoked under the Land Use Act of 1978.

Affected figures include the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Also affected are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; a former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; the Senate Minority Leader, Mr Abba Moro; and the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Samuel Anyanwu, among others.

In response to the revocations, many developers are grappling with the reality of having their plans disrupted.

An Abuja-based real estate developer, Ameh Daniel said property owners and politically exposed persons in the FCT were rushing to develop their property while also voicing growing frustration among developers in the region.

He citied significant challenges arising from recent land revocations and government’s demands for rapid payment of debts.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH on Friday, Daniel noted that many developers were shifting away from large-scale projects, preferring to invest in smaller plots ranging from two to four hectares instead of massive land tracts.

“Many developers today aim to avoid large-scale projects, typically opting for land sizes of two to four hectares instead of massive plots. This allows them to work within their budgets while still investing in profitable developments,” he stated.

Daniel highlighted a looming crisis in the industry, pointing to the recent property revocations by the minister that had interrupted numerous projects.

“Recent property revocations in Abuja are causing significant concern in the real estate sector. While property owners are now rushing to develop their property; developers are frustrated by these actions, as they disrupt existing plans and investments. Some developers are being relocated to new areas, which often leads to conflicts,” he added.

A major pain point for developers, according to Daniel, is the difficulty in securing the Certificates of Occupancy.

According to him, the process is slow and often clashes with the accelerated timelines set by the government for construction.

“This challenge arises from the time frames involved in property development. Developers are under pressure from the government to accelerate their construction plans, which complicates the timely processing of C-of-Os,” he said.

Daniel also criticised the government’s recent directive requiring developers to settle debts within just two weeks.

He argued that the short time frame did not align with the cash flow dynamics of the real estate business.

“It’s affecting sales, as potential buyers are becoming hesitant. There is growing concern about the stability of their investments. People are asking: ‘What if my property is revoked too?’ This uncertainty is causing a decline in confidence within the market,” he said.

Real-life cases of revocation, particularly in the Idu Train Station area, have further complicated the situation.

Daniel recalled one instance where a developer was forced to refund a client after their property was seized for reallocation.

“There have been reports of massive land revocations, particularly in areas like the Idu Train Station, where property was seized to be reallocated to people of their caucus,” he said.

Daniel added that the current environment had placed developers in a difficult position.

According to him, with strict deadlines and the threat of land revocations hanging over them, many are finding it hard to trust the system.

The challenge is not limited to developers.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that individual property owners were also affected.

The Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Dr Samson Opaluwah, highlighted the broader implications of the government’s actions.

“We’ve received numerous complaints from property owners about the financial strain these short deadlines are imposing,” Opaluwah said.

“Many people have neglected these payments for years, and now, they’re expected to pay large sums in just two weeks. This is placing an impossible burden on them,” he added.

Opaluwah appealed directly to the FCT Authority, urging for more time to settle outstanding payments.

“We understand the government’s position on enforcing land-use regulations, but we believe a more flexible payment schedule would alleviate the pressure many developers and property owners are facing. A grace period for them to spread out payments over time is critical,” he said.

A call for flexibility

The real estate community remains divided over the government’s strategy, with some seeing it as an essential move towards accountability, while others warn that the two-week notice is insufficient.

Opaluwah said the ongoing situation called for a broader dialogue between the authorities and stakeholders in the real estate sector.

“We urge the FCTA to consider an extension and allow for more flexible payment terms. It’s not just about enforcing laws; it’s about ensuring the long-term stability and growth of the real estate sector, which is vital for the nation’s economy,” Opaluwah added.

The Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, highlighted growing public recognition of the government’s ability to fulfill its promises.

“People are starting to see that when the government says it will do something, it can actually do it. Before, the general mindset was that the government often doesn’t follow through on its promises, and that once a new administration comes in, things would revert to the old ways. But now, people are noticing that when this government makes a commitment, it delivers almost immediately,” he said.

Olayinka emphasised that this shift in perception reflects the government’s consistent follow-through on its policies and actions.

“It’s clear that the people are now beginning to trust the government’s ability to implement its plans. This is a significant change in how they view governmental actions,” he said.

Additionally, Olayinka pointed out the leadership style of the minister, noting his impartial approach to governance.

“People are also recognising that the minister does not let personal feelings, whether towards friends, allies, or even political opponents, interfere with his decisions. His focus is solely on ensuring that everyone adheres to the rules,” he added.

According to the minister’s aide, this strict adherence to rules is a cornerstone of the Wike’s leadership.

“What matters most is that we all follow the rules, regardless of political affiliation. That’s the key to effective governance.”

Lawmaker pleads for time

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Oluwole Oke, has called on Wike to grant time extension to allottees of the 568 plots of land revoked by the FCTA to settle their Certificate of Occupancy.

Oke, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, made the plea in an interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja.

Oke, who represents Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Osun State, urged the minister to extend time of payment for the C-of-O, noting that there was nothing on the ground in terms of amenities where the plots were located.

He said, “It’s an appeal to the honourable minister to please give us an extension of time because there is no infrastructure in these areas. That was why most people didn’t pay and most of these allocations were done in appreciation of service rendered to the nation.

“So, it’s an appeal we need to make to the minister because the law allows him to do what he did.”

Says private sector shrinking
•Lists massive running costs, deficit financing, loans, wobbling Naira as high hurdles
•‘You cannot tax a dead company’

•Narrates how Nigeria lost top GDP ranking in 10 years to adverse domestic policies

In its New Year message, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) said the 2024 economic performance was unsatisfactory for the private sector, calling for economic reforms to address imbalances threatening the private sector in the country.

The body explained that all data, metrics and statistics had confirmed that the private sector bore fully the negative burdens of the nation’s current economic reforms, facing very harsh conditions including high inflation, increased borrowing costs, and currency devaluation.

It emphasized the urgent need for reforms to avert further economic strain on the private sector as the New Year begins, noting that Nigeria is a country with huge potential, innovative private sector minds, capital and opportunities, and deserves a listening economic team and team players who must recognize the private sector as stakeholders. ”We should agree that the 2024 economic performance was unsatisfactory for the private sector. All data, metrics and consequent statistics confirm that the Nigerian private sector has borne fully, the negative burdens of the current economic reforms”, NACCIMA stated.

”While in contrast, the public sector continues to thrive and expand, all economic benefits of the recent economic reforms have been translated to the public sector through high capital transfers and revenues. “The private sector faced higher inflation, higher cost of borrowing/repayment for existing loans, the 2.4 billion USD CBN unpaid forwards, currency devaluation and higher costs in all sectors of the economy.

”This continued imbalance caused by increased public sector expenditure has destroyed value in the private sector due to excessive fiscal deficits which are financed through government borrowing at very high unsustainable interest rates. We are therefore making recommendations and suggestions that may be considered in the short to medium term.

”Fiscal deficits arise when public sector expenditure exceeds public sector income. The funding of these fiscal deficits through borrowing results in high interest rates and high inflation. ”The solution to high interest rates and high inflation is for the public sector to spend less and to start becoming an efficient productive unit.

”We also need to debunk the myth of the government earning more revenue under the pretext of improved productivity. For the avoidance of doubt, payment of customs duties and taxation are not due to improved government productivity. ”These revenues are purely private sector revenues which constitute a transfer of wealth and capital from the productive private sector to an ever expanding unproductive public sector.

The public sector does not own factories nor does it produce any goods and services sold to the customers. Rather it extracts value from the citizens through regulatory fiat. Awarding contracts is not the same as enhancing production.

“For 2025, the expenditure framework is skewed towards huge capital transfers to certain sectors which will not add value to the national wealth. The payment of high interest rates to local and overseas creditors regardless of asset class is close to financial “hara-kiri”. Financial assets (loans) should be created and counterbalanced by equivalent investment in productive assets which are expected to repay the loans.

”If these assets are offloaded to the capital markets, it will be possible to transfer many unproductive public sector loans off balance sheet thereby unburdening the government from excessive borrowing. Please note we do not advocate transferring public monopoly to private monopoly or creation of private uncompetitive markets.

”Government should learn from past experience and avoid engaging in new ventures that will create further bad loans, liquidity, lower interest rates and regulation of public sector borrowing by the Central Bank.

”Aggressive repayment of domestic loans using the excess revenues will result in lower interest rate payments which will lead to more cash flow for FAAC and lower borrowing requirements. Early repayment or transfer of government loan assets will improve Liquidity and result in cheaper single digit loans to the Private Sector. ”Generally, public sector loans must be secured with real assets or must be within the tenure of the government. Longer term loans must be investments in real assets and not on the government balance sheet. This shift would promote private sector growth and ensure that capital is allocated efficiently. ”The successful Eurobond offer was received with mixed feelings.

“We congratulate the financial team on a successful outing. However, the nature of over subscription confirms the coupon offered was beyond market offers. “Perhaps we need to consider a hybrid offer which allows a Dutch auction that mops up the best offers at each coupon level. The successful bidders made instant profits overnight on the offer”. It added that government should be looking to reduce financing cost on an aggressive basis where possible”.

While the improved liquidity gives the government access to international financial markets, NACCIMA stressed that they do not guarantee long-term economic stability.

“Relying heavily on foreign borrowing may expose the country to external shocks and currency fluctuations”, the body added. On foreign reserves, support for local industries and the private sector, NACCIMA advised, “Introduction of public sector expenditure guidance at all government levels for purchase of locally produced goods and services will reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand by government agencies and their contractors.

“Investment in public infrastructure should result in utilisation of more locally sourced inputs, higher investment on local infrastructure and improving local productive capacity. Areas like transportation, power, and technology are key for both manufacturing and services.

”Nigeria needs a coordinated approach to delivering the latest technologies and digital infrastructure to facilitate delivery of social services, public health, educational and digital infrastructure.

“Government should introduce reforms and policies to facilitate, attract and retain private sector investment in digital education and modern skills acquisition, technical skills education for our teaming youth.

“Many employers are unable to find adequate skilled workers in many industries. ”The Industrial Park and Skills centre at the Abuja Free Trade Zone at Idu, FCT and many more around the country should be encouraged and supported by all tiers of government in Nigeria and the Organised Private Sector in Nigeria to produce a different positive outcome for Nigeria.

”By public sector philosophy, all government expenditure is necessary. The government should undertake a rigorous review of its current size and expenditure to identify and eliminate wasteful spending. Efficient allocation of existing resources can help reduce excessive borrowing.

”Other countries like Argentina have made political choices to eliminate recurrent budget deficits. The Nigerian budget for elected and unelected politicians can be adjusted. The size and number of government funded agencies can be reduced and taxes should be further reduced which will attract greater private sector investment. ”The government should create an environment where the private sector can take the lead in economic ventures.

“This includes deregulation in most areas, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and enhancing ease of doing business in Nigeria. (Regulatory Agencies like Standards Organisation, NAFDAC etc can be reformed to adopt internationally acceptable standards for Nigeria.)” In this interview first aired on Arise News, NACCIMA President, Mr. Dele Oye, elaborates on the New Year message and stressed the urgent need for the Tinubu government to engage the private sector in the implementation of its reform agenda as, according to him, the private sector has the formula to make Nigeria’s economy the best in Africa again as it did in 2014. Excerpts:

What is your view on the NACCIMA perspective that corporate taxes should be reduced?

The issue is not that we have a bad bill; what is important is that we normally have inflation when government has spent its revenue, and the tendency is for the government to try to borrow or to increase taxes to fill that gap. If you do that, you only make Nigeria poorer. If you look at our current GDP, in 2014, we were at 568, and we are going down every year. So you cannot use the same treatment for a sickness that had never worked before. Look at the real terms of the 2024 Budget, we are declining. Look at this year’s budget, it is far lower.

Also look at our standing in the African GDP; we are at about No. 5 going to 6. All these are due to the domestic policies that had been laid. So what we are saying is that the private sector is shrinking, while the public sector is expanding. So, government must listen more to the business because it is the business that would generate the income that would be used to pay back these loans. The loans are not sustainable, but if we start cutting down costs on the government side, it will be quite difficult to grow from them. So the government must listen more to the private sector.

We are not unaware of the effort the government has made in giving us two Ministers recently in the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment. We are grateful, and we are fully engaging with them. But what is important is that the government must also get its other MDAs, like the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance, to key in and work with the private sector because we are the ones to pay the loans back from our production. The government does not produce any goods or services. Awarding contracts is not an economic activity. What pays this bill is the effort of the private sector. Look at the current budget and show me anything that is different from 2024. The people telling the President that he’s doing very well should show us.

All the indices show there’s a decline. So it is not to tax us more or to reduce tax; in fact, to increase our competitiveness, you must find a way to reduce tax. Anytime we are making laws in Nigeria, look at what our neighbours are offering. We have to be competitive, as we cannot tax ourselves out of this problem; we have to increase the capacity of the private sector. We are not asking for handouts or money from the government. We have a formula that would bring down the interest rate so that people can borrow at a sustainable level. The President himself gave us an 8-point agenda that he would give us single-digit loans.

What are some of the major things NACIMA is looking out for as major reforms?

We highlighted 12 recommendations in our New Year message. In addition, the government must take the issue of the Naira (very seriously). It is the biggest driver of inflation. Nobody will invest in a climate where its currency melts every day. Throughout 2024, we kept shouting; we engaged privately before we went to the public space. The government needs to find a way to cut down its running costs, reduce deficit financing, and pay back the loans they owe. They should stop borrowing. The President should not allow himself to be deceived again.

But if we start the way the budget is structured, we are going to end up smaller next year. So it is better if we work together. Nigeria has one of the best private entrepreneurs that have the capacity to turn around the economy. If the government is truly willing to drive this economy, he must use the capacity of the private sector. If you look at some of the areas where things are working, the government is not yet there. Look at the creative industry; look at the small POS business too. But when the government entered, you can see what has happened.

How can the private sector organise itself for the new reality?

Well, we are not advocating for a reversal of the government reforms. All we are saying is that the way they are currently implemented would not lead us anywhere. This government has been here for almost two years. If it was working, we were not supposed to inherit these reforms. It is supposed to happen during the life span of the four years of this government.

If it is not working, the economy is shrinking; it is time for the government to change the procedure instead of trying to use the imperial way that most of the agencies have used when dealing with us. The government must listen to us and use our ideas for policies.

The reason why the Naira is falling is because the government is running a deficit budget. With a 13 trillion deficit, what do you expect? If you cut the government expenses down, the Naira will start appreciating. Until the government cuts its expenses, we are going to continue to borrow in an unsustainable way.

The government must work with us. In 2014 we became the best in Africa. Those sectors that brought about the rebase in our economy are all suffering today. MTN has lost over N100 billion in currency depreciation, and you and I know it’s an industry that requires continued investment for them to continue to be competitive because of the technology involved. We must find a way to give them their sense of security back by building an environment where they can work and make more money.

You cannot tax a dead company. You must find a way to listen to us. The problem is at home. It is not about traveling abroad, seeking foreign direct investment. They should tell us how much has come in those several trips. It is not the business of the government to be in business. Government should be a facilitator.

Are you accusing the government of hypocrisy, or does the partnership they talked about not exist?
I started first by thanking Mr. President because there’s a tendency to change strategy because for the first time we have two Ministers. We had a four-hour strategy meeting with the Minister of Trade and Investment. There’s likely to be a change. If the government does not domicile it in the private sector, cut its excesses, we are going to have the same result. Anybody telling the President we are moving up is lying to the President. We need better engagement.

The fight between CBN and Bureau de Change must stop because we are the losers. We must find a way to use everyone’s talent and make Nigeria work. I want us to go back to 2014 when we were the best in Africa; this is all I am asking for. We are ready. We have the formula to work with the government on some of these things. If the government succeeds, we make money.

If the government fails, our members lose. So it is in my interest for the government to succeed. So let’s move this issue from the blackboard to a drawing board where all of us can contribute.

[Vanguard]

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on tax policy and fiscal reforms, says the tax reform bills will be passed into law in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.

Oyedele spoke on Saturday at The Platform, an event organised by The Covenant Nation to facilitate national development.

According to Oyedele, the implementation of the tax reform bills will commence in July.

“I need to talk about the tax reforms. Part of the expectation is we expect the tax reforms to be approved, particularly the tax reform bills in 2025,” Oyedele said.

“Our expectation is before the end of Q1 and therefore we can give notice to taxpayers to prepare themselves with capacity and begin to implement around 1st of July.”

On October 13, 2024, President Bola Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

The proposed legislations are the Nigeria tax bill, tax administration bill, and joint revenue board establishment bill.

Tinubu is also seeking to repeal the law establishing the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and replace it with the Nigeria Revenue Service.

The tax bills have received the backing of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF).

NGF also proposed a new “equitable” sharing formula for VAT.

The development was an outcome of a meeting between the NGF and the presidential tax reform committee, convened on January 16, to deliberate on critical national issues, including the reform of Nigeria’s fiscal policies and tax system.

[TheCable]

How can I forget? On April 22, 1990, Major Gideon Orkar announced the overthrow of Gen Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime which he described in choice words as “dictatorial, corrupt, drug-baronish, deceitful”. In those days, every coup speech was welcomed with enthusiasm. Every new administration was seen as the dawn of a golden era. Orkar made promises many southern activists and opinion leaders love till this day, calling the coup “a well-conceived and executed revolution for the marginalised, oppressed and enslaved peoples of the Middle Belt and the South with a view to freeing ourselves and children yet unborn from eternal slavery and colonisation by a clique”.

Orkar announced “on behalf of the patriotic and well-meaning peoples of the Middle Belt and the Southern parts of this country” that the new regime, named “National Ruling Council”,  would lay a strong “egalitarian foundation” for “the real democratic take-off”. To achieve this, he said five states had been “temporarily” excised from Nigeria: Sokoto (today’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara), Kano (Kano and Jigawa), Bauchi (Bauchi and Gombe), Borno (Borno and Yobe) and Katsina “to end the northern feudalistic and aristocratic quest for domination”. He said all their citizens were suspended from private and public offices and they should return to their states “within one week from today”.

At Dele Giwa Square, University of Lagos, hundreds of students gathered after the coup announcement. My friend and I went there to see the drama playing out as tension gripped the nation. A student appeared on the podium with a new map of Nigeria. Kwara had been chopped off! My friend and I were from Kwara (before I was transferred to Kogi state in 1991). My friend whispered to me in Yoruba: “Simon, jek’a ma lo o. Won ni aki ns’ara won!” (“Simon, let’s start going. They say we are not part of them!”) Even Benue, Orkar’s own state, had been wiped off the map by the exuberant cartographer. The map had only southern states. The coup, in any case, was foiled.

That friend of mine is Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, now the director-general of National Orientation Agency (NOA), a government body charged with fostering unity and national development through citizen enlightenment and engagement. Issa-Onilu and I had met at the Kwara Poly in 1987 where we studied for two years for A Levels, but we were mostly football-discussing pals, nothing more. We shared two subjects — economics and government — and attended some classes together. But when I got into the University of Lagos in 1989, we ran into each other — the “you again?” moment. It turned out we were going to study the same course. Our friendship was instantly reignited.

We were similar but different — and this has nothing to do with tongue or religion. He always wanted to serve in government and was also interested in prompting national values, patriotism, national unity and such like. I was also a preacher of patriotism and national unity, but, unlike him, I was not interested in being part of government or politics. All I ever wanted was to be a journalist. And for life. I remembered when I filled my JAMB form, mass communication was my first, second and third choices. Issa-Onilu and I also differed on our views about Babangida: he believed there was something good about his policies and his message of patriotism. For me, Babangida was bad news.

I initially loved Babangida when he became military president in 1985. I even sketched a portrait of him which was published by the Nigerian Herald on March 1, 1986. But as soon as he introduced SAP and the prices of essential commodities went haywire, I began to dislike him. I admit that my knowledge of economic policy was very limited then, but I believed his policies were too harsh and that he set out to punish the poor. I remember composing a song (I used to think I could sing in those days) with these lines: “Dem give us SFEM/Dem give us SAP/Dem drain our blood/We’re still alive/ Dem give us SFEM/Dem give us SAP/Dem drain our blood/We’ll still survive”. I was not a fan of SAP.

Despite our opposing positions on Babangida and politics, Issa-Onilu and I loved Nigeria. I find it surreal that not only has he ended up in politics, he has also been saddled with the responsibility of promoting patriotism and national values. I do not envy him. How do you preach national unity in a country bitterly divided along ethno-religious and regional lines which the Orkar coup speech amplified and which continue to define us as a people? How do you preach national values in a country ravaged by official corruption, low public morale and discontent? How do you preach moral values in a country where wealth without work has been so normalised? That is quite an assignment!

Recently, I wrote an article, ‘Let’s be Kind to Nigeria, Please!’ — basically pleading that we should not take joy in talking down on our country and amplifying only bad news about us while neglecting the good things also happening around us. I said we can dislike the president but still love our country. After reading it, Issa-Onilu called me up and shared his takes with me. We ended up having a long chat. He then told me about the National Values Charter (NVC) that the NOA has developed “to help redirect all Nigerians, irrespective of class, ethnicity, and religion, to the ideals and values for which we were traditionally known and that were used to build our various societies and their institutions”.

He said the “7 for 7” NVC is divided into two: the Nigerian Promise and the Citizen’s Commitment to the Nigerian State. The Nigerian Promise is the seven core promises of Nigeria (represented by elected leaders) to the citizens. He said the Nigerian state owes Nigerians seven promises: equality, meaning all privileges, opportunities and rights apply to all without exemption; democracy, or democratisation of governance dividends to all; entrepreneurship and employment, by promoting innovation and creativity to create jobs; peace and security, to keep everyone safe; inclusivity, for all classes of Nigerians; freedom and justice for all; and promoting meritocracy above “connections”.

On the other hand, he said, Nigerians owe their country seven things: discipline, by obeying the rules, etc; duty of care by looking out for one another and participating in their community; tolerance and respect, through harmonious co-existence; leadership by example in our little corners; transparency and accountability in our dealings; environmental awareness by living, thinking and acting sustainably; and resilience, cultivated through pride and perseverance as individuals and as communities through the thick and thin. The citizenship code is quite a lot to take in, sure. He summed it up by saying the proper definition of citizenship is to be found in those seven core values.

NOA has already taken the campaign to schools, starting with a debate on university campuses with special focus on the balance between government promises and citizens’ responsibilities in nation-building. It came with cash prices and training opportunities. The initiative seeks to create a generation of value-conscious leaders who will promote national unity and strengthen our collective identity. There are plans to incorporate citizenship studies into the curriculum and launch citizens’ brigades in elementary schools, which I think is the right target if we want to produce new Nigerians. It will be too challenging trying to re-orientate Nigerians who harbour 1914, 1960 or 1966 mindsets.

For me, I believe we can build a new Nigeria. However, I believe we cannot build a new Nigeria without new Nigerians. We need a new generation of thinkers and opinion leaders who will see beyond their primordial cocoons, who will create a big picture. National integration and cohesion can help drive peace and progress, as we have seen in many parts of the world — including Rwanda that went through a genocide 30 years ago — but there are many Nigerians who dearly believe the way forward is ethnic chauvinism and balkanisation. It is the same toxic mindset that got us into this bind in the first place. I know these people have their reasons, but extremism does not solve problems.

By the way, I have my own misgivings about Nigeria. I have issues with certain practices, certain structures, certain notions. But, as I have been arguing on this page for 22 years, our fundamental problems go beyond the popular diagnosis of “1914”. How many African countries that were not “amalgamated” are better off? Moreso, every country is an artificial creation. Some chose to work with their realities and became success stories. If they can, we too can. We are victims of political mismanagement and the relentless manipulation of primitive sentiments for political gain. My critics think I say these things to portray myself as a patriot. No. I say them because I believe them.

I know that ordinary Nigerians suffer from the same afflictions of misgovernance: poverty and disease. The system is heavily rigged against them. They feed on crumbs, no matter their region or religion. As Lagbaja sang, “Me and you no be enemy/We suppose to be family/Na wetin you dey find I dey find.” The NVC makes sense to me because it is not just about the responsibilities of the citizens to Nigeria but also the duties of the leadership to the citizens. Will Nigerians embrace it? Will it get the buy-in of the critical political authorities? Most importantly, if Nigeria fails to deliver on the obligations, what can we do? Issa-Onilu and his NOA team have an unenviable task in their hands.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

ONE LOVE

Governor Alex Otti of Abia state just gladdened my heart: he appointed Mr Benjamin Ojeikere from Edo state as the head of civil service. This high-level appointment of a non-indigene encourages me yet again to keep dreaming that national integration is possible. I am a pro-integration Nigerian. I am anti-balkanisation. Therefore, when things like this happen, I am encouraged to keep pursuing my mantra: that Nigerians do not hate one another as it appears. It is politics that divides us. To be sure, these cross-border appointments have been happening for years but they are in fits and starts and not widespread enough. I look forward to the day it will become a norm, not an exception. Progress.

MIDDLE ROAD

After much spat, the states have reached a common ground on the new sharing formula for VAT which had stalled the passage of the tax reform bills. The current VAT vertical formula allocates 15 percent to federal government, 50 percent to states, and 35 percent to LGAs. States share their slice on a horizontal ratio of 50:30:20 — equality, population, derivation. The new vertical proposal was 10 percent to federal government, 55 percent to states and 35 percent for LGAs. States were to use a horizontal ratio of 20:20:60 — equality, population, derivation — for their own share. A resolution has been reached to use 50:20:30. We can now kill the tension and move forward. Compromise.

GOOD RIDDANCE

Hon. Mudashiru Obasa was surprisingly removed as the speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly on Monday and replaced with Hon Mojisola Meranda, who is now the first female speaker in the state. Obasa impeached? Who saw that coming? I don’t know him and I have never interacted with him but, somehow, I have never been his fan. My attitude to him was worsened by his response to allegations that he awarded contracts running into hundreds of millions to a “female friend”. His response was “nina lowo” — meaning “money is meant to be spent”. I was so enraged. Lagos does not joke with collecting our taxes and its principal officials still talk down on us like this? Arrogant.

NO COMMENT

Senator Ali Ndume is one of the most outspoken senators and has been very critical of the policies of President Tinubu. He was very vocal over the tax reform bills, which he says would marginalise the north. These bills are at the heart of a major policy thrust of the Tinubu administration and the president wanted to push them through despite strong opposition. Ndume, also a member of the president’s party, was recently spotted at Jummah prayers shaking hands with Tinubu and grinning from ear to ear. He later said Tinubu is his mentor and that he only criticises his policies, not his personality — meaning he was shouting at someone he could have whispered to. Wonderful.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Adewale Adeniyi, the 14th Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on his 59th birthday, January 19, 2025.

The President commends Adeniyi for his pivotal role since taking leadership of the Customs Service in June 2023. Under his guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalisation and automation of its operations, a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers' morale, enhancing high performance.

His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy.

President Tinubu applauds the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief. These strategies encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect.

The President recognises the Comptroller-General's other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General's Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency's operations.

President Tinubu affirms that Adeniyi's extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service.

The President offers prayers for divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength for Comptroller-General Adeniyi as he serves the nation.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)

The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to some fake news on social media about an arbitration proceeding in Paris to which the Nigerian Government is a party.

The private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, is entirely confidential until the international arbitrators decide.

While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or to refrain from testifying against Nigeria.

All the eminent Nigerians involved in Nigeria’s defence are doing so willingly and out of sheer patriotism and conviction.

President Tinubu and the entire country are grateful to them.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)

My chambers makes this intervention  in the public domain as Solicitors to Diezani Alison-Madueke ( DAM ),the former Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (HMPR). As her Solicitors, we are fully versed in and conversant with her present ordeal and the entire facts surrounding her matters both here in Nigeria and abroad. So, we write from the vantage position of one that is aware of the cocktail of lies that have been spurned around her cases in the last ten years. Many of the narratives are outrightly false; some others sheer outlandish speculations; and most, simply bizzare stories cooked up by her traducers to extract a Shylock's pound of flesh from her for reasons she does not know and cannot even fathom. This intervention therefore seeks to correct this skewed narrative and set the records straight for purposes of history. Many Nigerians often talk about wanting ‘technocrats’ to be involved in governance. They desire that people with character and integrity should join politics. We agree with them. However and regrettably too, now and again and many a time, the same people not only allow, but  but actually join the bandwagon to mob-lynch those who chose to serve the nation. And we often do this insidiously, covertly and overtly, even when there is no concrete or even any iota of proof that such public officers ever abused their offices or stole from public coffers. It is therefore surprising and of great concern to us, to see the level of sustained vilification of an innocent Nigerian citizen who has not yet been tried and found guilty of any offence known to law by any court of law whether in Nigeria or abroad. The person at the receiving end is Citizen Diezani Alison-Madueke (“DAM”).

2. THE GALACTICA YACHT AND THE FALSE NARRATIVE

We note with concern the recent deliberate attempt to link her with what has been described as a civil forfeiture of a yacht Galactica, the sale of which was said to have yielded $52.8m to the US government; which sum has since been repatriated to Nigeria. This is a clear example of the mischievous and cruel sport of tarnishing the image of the lady through a bouquet of consistent, persistent and unrelenting cocktail of falsehoods and misinformation. The purveyors of this line of misinformation term it “name-and-shame”. To sell the storyline, the architects ensured they attached Diezani’s name to a recovered yacht which is not in any way linked to her. They now falsely termed it “Diezani loot”. Nothing of the sort ever happened. She was never involved in the purchase, use and sale of the said yacht. The yacht Galactica, from information readily available in the public domain and in open sources, was purchased by Mr Kola Aluko who had used the vessel until he agreed to its forfeiture to the United States of America. The yacht Galactica was neither owned nor ever used by our client. DAM has in fact never set her eyes on the yacht. Kola Aluko is an experienced businessman who had been in business well before DAM came into office as HMPR. The only tenuous basis for deliberately linking DAM to the said yacht is the false narrative that the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) which were entered into between Kola Aluko & Jide Omokore’s Atlantic Energy companies and NNPC, were allegedly corruptly awarded to the said companies by DAM. DAM was not the GMD of the NNPC as so did not and could not have awarded the said contracts.

3. THE GALACTICA YACHT SPIN AND THE ALLEGED CORRUPT AWARD OF THE CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN DEBUNKED BY A COMPETENT COURT OF LAW IN NIGERIA.

The fallacy of DAM’s involvement in an alleged corrupt contract which gave birth to proceeds with which the Galactica was supposedly purchased has long been debunked and laid to rest by a Nigerian competent court of law in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016: Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Olajide Omokore & Others.In that case, the Federal High Court, coram Hon.Justice Nnamdi Dimgba (now of the Court of Appeal), held that the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) between NNPC and the Atlantic Companies were validly entered into between the said companies and the NNPC.  Furthermore, the said companies and their chairman were discharged and acquitted of any offence howsoever in relation to allegedly obtaining the contract or monies realized from it through false representations. They were also exonerated and freed of the offence of money laundering in relation to the said contracts with which they were also charged.The judgement in the case clearly established that the said contracts were properly awarded by NNPC and that the said award followed due process.

To characterize such a forfeiture of a yacht allegedly bought with proceeds of the valid contracts as being linked to DAM simply on account of the legitimate SAAs, which have since been adjudged and held by the court to have been validly entered into between the NNPC and the said companies, is completely preposterous, if not outrightly bizzare.

4. DAM WAS NEVER A PARTY TO THE SAAs

Even at that, DAM was never a party to the contract process or contract negotiations, or contract selection for the award of the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) between the NNPC and Atlantic Energy Ltd. That contract process, like all others before and after it, was handled solely by the NNPC which followed its usual contract award due process to the letter. It did not involve DAM in any way or manner.

There was therefore nothing untoward, opaque or illegal whatsoever and howsoever about the SAA award process. As a matter of fact, the terms of the Atlantic Energy SAAs were made even more stringent for the Atlantic companies and constituted a much better deal for Nigeria than the SSAs which were entered into a few years earlier between the NNPC and the ENI-AGIP Multinational.

5. DAM MERELY ACTED AND DISCHARGED HER DUTIES WITHIN HER STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES

It was our client’s statutory duty as the HMPR at the final stage of any contract process, to make final signatory and approval on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR). However, NNPC would, as always, have first vetted and carried out all due diligence which include necessary operational and contractual checks and procedures. That would not have involved and did not infact did not involve DAM as the HMPR.

In line with due process and as statutorily required, DAM merely appended her signature to the final approval request letter which was forwarded to the office of the HMPR by the GMD, NNPC. As due process had already been observed and followed, the SAAs were signed off by her as required of her by law. DAM in the usual course of her duties did exactly the same thing every month for each of the hundreds of contracts that she had to sign-off on without any preferential treatment. And that is because it was an integral part of her statutory responsibilities as HMPR. DAM thus merely followed due process to the letter. She never engaged in the operational process of negotiating those contracts as this process was entirely and without exception, within the remit of the NNPC which was an independent entity from her office as HMPR.

6. DAM WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NON-PAYMENT OF CASH CALLS

Let us be very clear about this: the issues of non-payment of the cash-calls that subsequently arose in the Atlantic Energy SAAs had nothing whatsoever to do with the initial contract award which followed due process and was properly made. Those issues arose as a direct result of the manner of operational implementation and supervision and had nothing whatsoever to do with DAM. She was never involved in any way or manner. As a matter of fact in April 2014, as soon as she was brought to her attention by an external multinational head that there were some issues regarding the Atlantic Energy SAAs, she immediately took strong and direct action by promptly alerting Mr. President, the Permanent Secretary (PS), of MPR and the GMD-NNPC, in writing, and directed that an immediate two-week investigation be carried out. Following the resulting investigative report, DAM again directed in writing to the PS, MPR and the GMD-NNPC, with Mr. President’s knowledge and approval, that a process for the recovery of the unpaid cash-call be immediately put in place.

7. DAM NEVER SOLD OFF OIL BLOCKS CONTAINED IN THE SAAs

It must therefore be emphasized that although a portion of the media severally unfairly vilified and accused DAM of purportedly selling off the oil blocks contained in the SAAs to Atlantic Energy, she never gave such a directive or approval.

8. EARLIER WILD ALLEGATIONS AND THE PET PHRASE, “DIEZANI-LOOT”

This is not the first time this genre of outlandish allegations have been levelled against DAM. Sometime ago, she was widely but falsely accused of owning a diamond-studded bikini underwear allegedly valued at $12,000,000!. Incredible!! The allegation was so unnatural, wild and baseless that the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was compelled to publicly deny and denounce the vile allegation as being not only false, but preposterous. Similarly, when certain people were accused of bribing INEC officials, the bribe sums  were unjustifiably linked to DAM and labelled, as is always mischievously done, ‘Diezani-loot’. Yet, all that she did was to merely coordinate the raising of campaign funds for the then ruling political party that controlled the government she served under at that material time. She readily handed over the raised funds to the party which then determined how the said funds were disbursed without involving her. She was not in any way a beneficiary of the funds realized.

9. DAM WAS NAMED IN A CRIMINAL CHARGE WITHOUT ANY LINKAGE WHATSOEVER

DAM was gleefully named many times on the face of a charge filed against Atlantic Energy in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016: Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Olajide Omokore & Others. In the said charge preferred by the EFCC in respect of an alleged bribing of some INEC officials, DAM was never made a party or Defendant to the said charge such as to enable her defend herself. Yet they mentioned her name severally. She was forced to apply to be joined as a Defendant to the said counts in the charge to enable her clear her name. Surprisingly and curiously, the application for joinder was strangely and fiercely opposed by the same EFCC that filed the charge, leading to the striking out of her name from the said charge sheet.

10. HOW THE WORD “ DIEZANI LOOT” EXCITES MANY, EVEN THOUGH PATENTLY FALSE

In spite of these clear verifiable facts which are available in the public domain, DAM has continued to be the subject of dersion and grave unproven allegations that are demonstrably false and patently ill-motivated. This traducing notwithstanding, the harrowing experience of cancer-related health challenges she has been going through in the last ten years of her life would not allow her a breathing space. It appears that nothing excites the purveyors and peddlers of these orchestrated misinformation and falsehood more than spinning and heaping all forms of false allegations on her, no matter how palpably false, baseless, disingenuous and unbelievable. It satiates their over- bloated egos to tar her with the paintbrush of shame.

11. DAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN UPRIGHT IN THE DISCHARGE OF HER DUTIES

DAM worked conscientiously and discharged her duties diligently to the best of her ability in service to her fatherland. She remains the only Petroleum Minister to have left behind, a staggering sum of over

$4Billion in the NLNG Account representing Gas Sector Investment Funds. She did this to steady the incoming administration of former president, Muhammadu Buhari, at the end of her tenure in May, 2015. She did this in the hope of ensuring continuity in the development of the critical Gas sector). This sum which was saved for the development of the important Gas Sector was summarily spent and disbursed immediately by the Buhari administration upon assumption of office. No one appears interested in this foresight or patriotic inclination.

12. THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE POSITION OF HMPR

It should be appreciated by all that DAM'S position as the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources was an extremely sensitive one that required careful navigation. This is a position which had before then and till now been mostly reserved for and been occupied  by the ruling Presidents of Nigeria in their personal capacities. This position came not only with its burdens, but also with special legitimate privileges which have since formed the linchpin and cornerstone of the underlying sundry accusations levied against her, but without any proof of having committed any offence known to law.

13. DAM HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR 10 YEARS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION

For the avoidance of doubt, DAM remains the only former minister who has been kept under full focus and investigation in the United Kingdom by the UK authorities, in collaboration with the Nigerian authorities, since 2nd October, 2015. This is almost 10 years ago; and just barely one week after she completed and survived a grueling 8- month serial chemotherapy treatments for Triple Negative breast cancer. During this agonizing time, she went into a coma, escaping death by the whiskers.  It could only have been God at work that is alive today!

14. CONFIRMATION BY THE PAST EFCC CHAIRMAN THAT DAM IS INNOCENT OF THESE VILE ALLEGATIONS

It is of interest to note that on two separate occasions, the immediate past Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, confirmed to DAM’s other lawyers that no funds from the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria have been found ever stolen by her; and that no such funds had ever been traced to her.

15. DAM’S TRAVAILS ARE DRIVEN BY WILD SPECULATIONS AND PUBLIC LYNCHING MINDSET

DAM’s travails over these years have been founded solely on baseless and unfounded speculations and allegations which wrongly alleged that she obtained unlawful gifts and favours from operators within the petroleum industry. She had never been accosted or charged with stealing or pilfering government money. These matters of obtaining unlawful gifts and favours are now subject of proceedings against DAM in the United Kingdom.

16. DAM HAS BEEN DEPENDING ONLY ON GOODWILL FOR HER SURVIVAL

It is only recently that DAM was actually charged to court in the UK on the 2nd of October, 2023. She had prior to that date  been held in the UK for a prolonged period of over eight years whilst the UK’s authorities conducted their investigation on her. As she had no work papers, she was not permitted to work to fend for herself. She has not even been permitted to leave the UK since the 2nd of October, 2015, till date. Thus, for nearly ten years, DAM has had to depend for her survival, solely and entirely on the goodwill of a few friends and family members to survive.

17. SALIENT FACTS TO NOTE ABOUT DAM BUT WHICH HER TRADUCERS WILL WANT BURIED

The following facts are worth noting about DAM for the sake of history and posterity:

1. DAM was the most senior black woman ever in the African Oil and Gas Public Sector (between 2010 & 2015).
2. DAM was the first female Executive Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria, in its entire history in Nigeria; a position she did not lobby for. She was identified, recognised and appointed, through her sheer dint of hard work and sense of professionalism by the relevant Global Heads of Shell in the Hague, Netherlands,
3. DAM has so far been the first and only female Petroleum Minister in Nigeria’s history. She never lobbied for this position. She was actually initially nominated without her knowledge.
4. DAM has been the first and only female President of OPEC in the organization’s entire history since its founding in 1960. She also did not lobby for this lofty position.
5. DAM was nominated for and served in various federal ministerial positions under two separate Presidents; positions she never sought nor lobbied for.

OUR PLEA TO ALL

We plead, as her lawyers, with all and sundry that she ge accorded fair hearing and that the process of these UK court proceedings be allowed to take their natural course to avoid prejudice to her in the ongoing subjudice UK proceedings against  her. Those purveyors and peddlers who habitually spin these outrightly false, unfounded, defamatory, unintelligent and indefensible narratives to denigrate and humiliate her should please find better use of their time and leave DAM alone. Let the law take its natural course without interference. We humbly pray.

Renowned Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw recently posed a thought-provoking question on her X (formerly Twitter) page: “No native doctor is among the first 200,000 richest men in the world, yet people going to them to be rich. Why.....?????” This statement, though laced with humor, draws attention to a cultural paradox that warrants deeper reflection. Why do individuals place their faith in practices that seemingly fail to produce tangible wealth for the very custodians of such rituals? Kate’s observation invites us to question not only the efficacy of traditional beliefs but also the broader societal mindset that perpetuates them.

In a world where economic hardship is pervasive, especially in African region, many people are desperate for solutions to escape poverty. For centuries, native doctors have been regarded as custodians of power, possessing mystical abilities to influence fortunes. The promise of instant wealth, good fortune, and success is a tempting proposition for those struggling to make ends meet.

However, Kate Henshaw’s question brings a glaring inconsistency to light. If these native doctors genuinely possess the ability to make people wealthy, why are they themselves not among the wealthiest individuals in the world? It is a sobering reminder that the allure of shortcuts to prosperity often blinds people to the obvious flaws in such beliefs.

In fact, many cultures, particularly in Africa, are steeped in traditional beliefs that glorify the power of spiritual intervention. Native doctors, witch doctors, and other spiritual practitioners are seen as intermediaries between humans and supernatural forces. They promise to remove obstacles, secure contracts, or even curse competitors. But these claims often fail to stand up to scrutiny in the modern era, where wealth generation is tied to innovation, hard work, and strategic planning rather than rituals or sacrifices.

In contrast, the world’s richest individuals, from Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, have achieved their wealth through industries like technology, retail, and investments. These are domains where success is built on tangible contributions and measurable results, not mystical rituals. This stark difference highlights the limitations of relying on unverified spiritual practices as a pathway to success.

To understand why people still flock to native doctors despite their apparent inability to enrich themselves, we must delve into the psychology of belief. Many individuals seek solace in spiritual practices because they provide hope and a sense of control in an unpredictable world. The rituals performed by native doctors are often elaborate and symbolic, offering participants a placebo effect that boosts their confidence and motivation.

Additionally, societal pressures play a significant role. In many African communities, success is not just a personal goal but a collective expectation. The stigma of failure drives some individuals to explore any avenue that promises results, including consulting native doctors. When these attempts fail, the blame is often shifted to external factors such as insufficient offerings or the presence of stronger opposing forces, perpetuating the cycle of belief.

Another dimension of this issue is the economic exploitation inherent in these practices. Native doctors often charge exorbitant fees for their services, exploiting the desperation of their clients. In some cases, individuals are encouraged to sacrifice valuable assets or take on debt to fulfill the requirements of rituals. Far from alleviating poverty, these practices often exacerbate financial struggles.

This exploitation is particularly troubling when juxtaposed with the wealth of the world’s richest individuals. While billionaires invest in businesses, research, and philanthropy to grow their wealth, native doctors rely on a system that drains resources from their clients without offering any tangible returns. Kate Henshaw’s observation underscores the futility of such endeavors and the need for a shift in perspective.

One way to address this cultural paradox is through education and awareness. By promoting financial literacy and emphasizing the value of hard work, innovation, and strategic thinking, societies can empower individuals to pursue sustainable paths to wealth. Education can also help dispel myths and misconceptions about the efficacy of traditional practices, encouraging people to adopt more evidence-based approaches to problem-solving.

Furthermore, governments and non-governmental organizations can play a role in providing opportunities for economic empowerment. Programs that offer skills training, access to credit, and support for small businesses can help reduce the dependency on spiritual interventions as a means to achieve success.

Kate Henshaw’s post is not just a witty remark but a call for reflection. It challenges us to examine the beliefs and practices that shape our lives and question their impact on our progress. While it is important to respect cultural traditions, it is equally crucial to recognize when those traditions hinder rather than help.

The irony of native doctors not being among the world’s richest individuals should serve as a wake-up call. It highlights the need to prioritize tangible efforts over spiritual shortcuts in the quest for wealth. As Kate’s post suggests, the path to prosperity lies not in rituals but in embracing the principles that have proven effective in the modern world.

Kate Henshaw’s statement is a timely reminder of the importance of critical thinking in navigating life’s challenges. By questioning the reliance on native doctors for wealth, she opens the door to a broader conversation about the values and practices that shape our societies. It is a call to action for individuals to invest in themselves, seek knowledge, and pursue sustainable means of achieving their goals.

Ultimately, the responsibility lies with each of us to break free from the cycle of superstition and embrace a future built on hard work, innovation, and resilience. As Kate’s post aptly implies, the richest individuals in the world did not get there through rituals but through their ability to create value. It is time we learned from their example and charted a new course for our lives.