The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • itel P55 unveiled in partnership with Airtel

    itel P55 unveiled in partnership with Airtel

    Leading smartphone brand, itel has joined forces with Airtel, the foremost telecommunications service provider, to introduce the itel P55 5G smartphone into the Nigerian market.

    The launch event, which held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, opens a world of possibilities for customers seeking an affordable device with a reliable and speedy internet connection that 5G provides. 

    This exciting development means that itel users can now enjoy ultra-fast internet speeds and smooth connectivity, whether streaming their favorite shows, playing online games, or staying connected with friends and family through various social media platforms. The lighting speeds will ensure an enhanced online experience for users of the new itel P55 5G smartphone.

    The itel P55 5G, adorned with a 6.6-inch HD+ display, supports dual nano SIMs and boasts a refreshing 90Hz display. Fueled by an octa-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and expandable 128GB storage (up to 256GB via microSD card), this smartphone runs on Android 13 and offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, and USB Type-C.

    Designed with affordability in mind, the itel P55 5G empowers users to seamlessly embrace the 5G network without straining their budgets, aligning perfectly with Airtel’s vision to revolutionize communication in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Oke Umurhohwo, Marketing Manager, itel West Africa 1, said “We’re excited to partner with Airtel to provide Nigerians with a high-quality 5G device at a reasonable price point. Through this collaboration, more people will be able to experience the transformative power of 5G technology.”

    “This partnership highlights both our commitments to digital inclusion and providing the latest mobile innovations to Nigerians,” said Umurhohwo. “With Airtel 5G, the P55 5G will let users do everything they love online quickly and smoothly.”

    Director, Marketing, Airtel Nigeria, Ismail Adeshina, said, “Partnering with itel to launch the affordable P55 5G moves us much closer to delivering the benefits 5G to more Nigerians. Our belief at Airtel is that high-speed internet access will drive socio-economic growth across the country, and itel P55 5G will allow many more Nigerians to experience the power of 5G in their lives and businesses.

    Umurhohwo added that customers who buy the P55 5G through EasyBuy installment payments will receive a generous 10GB of free Airtel high-speed data upon activation. Those purchasing the 5G-enabled device outright at retail stores can get an additional 5GB of data for just NGN 1,000.

    The itel P55 5G smartphone is now available for purchase in phone retail stores nationwide.

  • ACF removes its chairman, Aduku, appoints Osman

    ACF removes its chairman, Aduku, appoints Osman

    Less than a year into his initial four-year term as the duly elected chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Arc. Gabriel Aduku was ousted on Tuesday, December 12, by the forum’s leadership. 

    He was promptly replaced by Mamman Mike Osman (SAN).

    The new leadership of the ACF was announced to the press via a communique signed by the Forum’s national publicity secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, but no reason was given for the removal of Aduku.

    Meanwhile, when asked for the reason behind Arc Aduku’s sudden removal as the ACF chairman, the national publicity secretary said: “No ACF chairman was “elected” as such. A set of persons were selected and presented but were never inaugurated.”

    Confirming the legitimacy of the new leadership as contained in the communique, Prof. Muhammad-Baba said: “The list was reviewed by ACF’s Leadership Selection Committee; it is the final list that was now presented, approved by the joint Assembly & inaugurated. 

    “Whosoever that wasn’t inaugurated today simply didn’t make it in the final list as presented by the Leadership Selection Committee. 

    The communique read: “A joint meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) met at Kaduna on Tuesday, 12th December, 2023, to discuss matters of interest to the organisation.

    “Foremost before the meeting the endorsement of new leadership for ACF, which was approved and inaugurated as follows: the Chairman, BOT, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu, Deputy Chairman, BOT, Senator Fred Orti, Vice Chairman, BOT, Amb. Ibrahim Mai Sule, Chairman, NEC, Mamman Mike Osman, Secretary General Alhaji Murtala Aliyu.

    “The new Chairman, ACF’s NEC, Mr. Mamman M.Osuman, in his acceptance speech paid tribute to the founding members of ACF. The new NEC, he pledged, will reinvigorate a new ACF that will be different in outlook and impact as it seeks to contribute to national discourse on issues relevant to the Nigeria Project.

    “The meeting also received a goodwill message from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. George Akume who also urged the ACF to provide the needed leadership for ushering a new Northern Nigeria in its bid to overcome the multi-faceted social and economic problems, as well as for unity.”

    However, Kogi East Elders Council (KEEC) and the Arewa Youth Vanguard said they had earlier uncovered alleged plans by Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello to cause cracks in the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) with the intention to remove the chairman of the Forum, Gabriel Aduku.  

    The two independent bodies said in a separate press statements that Governor Bello did not take it lightly the visit of ACF chairman to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, shortly before the November 11, 2023 off-season election in Kogi state to request among others, the beefing up of security in the north and particularly, Kogi state, which was sliding into anarchy due to insecurity.

    However, when WhatsApp and SMS messages were sent to the Commissioner for Information & Communications, Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, he ignored the messages after he directed that, “Kindly resend the message on WhatsApp”, which was done  as requested.

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    Fanwo also did not pick his call when a telephone call was put across to him. 

    “The Kogi East Elders Council’s statement was signed by its Secretary, Mr. Alphonsus Alhassan and made available to newsmen in Kaduna. In a similar vein, the Arewa Youth Vanguard through its leader, Alhaji Abdulsamad Babayo advised the leadership of ACF not to play into the hands of governor Bello, saying the Forum will be sounding its own death knell if it plays into the hands of “unscrupulous” politicians.

    According to the statement, “The attention of the Kogi East Elders Council (KEEC) has been drawn to the clandestine moves orchestrated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the out-going Governor of Kogi State, to mortally injure the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) through the unwarranted attempt to cause the premature and ill-advised removal of, its Chairman, Chief (Arc) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku who assumed the office of the august organization only recently. 

    “The Governor’s grouse with Chief Gabriel Aduku (who also doubles as the Acting Chairman, Kogi East Elders’ Council, (KEEC) was his visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, shortly before the November 11, 2023 off-season election in Kogi State to request among others, the beefing up of security in the North and particularly, Kogi State, which was sliding into state-tolerated anarchy.

    “During the visit, Chief Aduku also expressed grave concern about the security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of Northern Nigeria . His visit therefore, could not be termed as partisan by any fair-minded watcher of recent events in Nigeria.

    “As Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, the entire 19 northern states fall under the purview of the ACF helmsman’s scrutiny and and it is part of his patriotic duty to consult individuals or groups anywhere in Nigeria to reposition the interest of the constituent parts of Arewa. Or, are we to assume that Kogi State is not covered by the sphere of ACF’s operations?

    “If anything credit must infact, be given to the Aduku-led ACF for the relative security success enjoyed in Kogi State during the November 11, 2023 election. Were it not for that statesmanly and timely visit and the subsequent intervention of the military, only God knows how many persons would have been killed and maimed in Kogi State by thugs sponsored and unleashed on opponents and citizens by Yahaya Bello and his goons.

    “In previous elections under this Governor, Police helicopters were deployed to unleash terror on voters at polling units by openly shooting at the electorate thereby scaring them away from exercising their franchise. In addition, fake security personnel were all over the place, killing innocent voters, while ballot box snatching was the order of the day then.

    “We also witnessed how vehicles carrying collated results were burnt down by agents of Governor Yahaya Bello.”

  • Akume to Nigerians: Be wary of crooks selling fake employment

    Akume to Nigerians: Be wary of crooks selling fake employment

    The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has raised the alarm over the activities of some swindlers peddling fake job appointment letters to unsuspecting Nigerians.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 12, by the Head of Information at the OSGF, Segun Imohiosen, the swindlers, have been cunning citizens by asking them to submit curriculum vitae at a fee, to a non-existent desk at the SGF’s office.

    According to the statement, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has however warned citizens to be wary of messages circulating in the social media and personal messaging platforms, falsely promising non-existent employment opportunities.

    He said: “The attention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been drawn to the purported fake appointments by unscrupulous elements to swindle unsuspecting individuals.

    “The SGF described as false the information circulating on the social media, emails, text messages, and other outlets urging members of the public to submit their Curriculum Vitae at a fee, to a non-existing desk at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate their selection for various federal government appointments.

    Read Also: FG vows to compel airlines to compensate passengers over delayed, cancelled flights

    “The culprit has been using the name of the former Director Information, Willie Bassey, and these fraudulent contacts; *Aliyu Isah; +234 9168487156, +234 8035557865 and email; draliyu95@gmail.com*, among others to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “The general public is by this notice advised to be wary of the perpetrators of these dubious activities and their cohorts; and disregard such information being peddled around.

    “Any official enquiry and clarification should follow the official communication channels of the OSGF via www.osgf.gov.ng and info@osgf.gov.ng.

    “In view of the above, the SGF warns peddlers of such fraudulent requests to desist forthwith from using the Office to fleece unsuspecting members of the public or face the wrath of the law.”

  • Kaduna bombing: Tinubu’s daughter visits victims, donates N5m to injured survivors

    Kaduna bombing: Tinubu’s daughter visits victims, donates N5m to injured survivors

    President Bola Tinubu’s daughter,  Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, on Tuesday, December 12, visited Kaduna to commiserate with the people and government of the state over the unfortunate error bombing incident at Tudun Biri on Sunday, December 3.

    Tinubu-Ojo, who visited the injured survivors of the attack at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, also contributed towards their rehabilitation with the sum of N5million

    Read Also: Lagos records zero bank robbery in four years as Sanwo-Olu raises N2b for LSSTF

    She spent time with the victims in the various wards, expressing her sympathies and understanding their situations.

    The president’s daughter who also brought along food items for the victims, echoed the calls for justice that many have advocated.

    She also visited the Kaduna Government House, where she and her entourage met Governor Uba Sani behind closed doors.

  • British High Commission, USAID kick against GBV

    British High Commission, USAID kick against GBV

    The Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms. Gill Atkinson, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director, Ms. Sara Werth, hosted a panel discussion with women-led Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response service providers that operate across Nigeria.

    The event was in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign that starts on November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and ends on December 10 (Human Rights Day).

    The roundtable called for continued efforts to support women-led GBV prevention and response service providers who are helping victims and survivors across Nigeria. Discussions focused on the increasing rates of GBV as a result of the increase in crimi-nality and banditry in the country.

    USAID Deputy Mission Director Ms. Sara Wert said: “USAID will use its convening power to strengthen coordination for the GBV response. To start, we are looking at how to better integrate GBV interventions across all our programmes. We will work to address programming gaps we identified today in partnership with the government of Nigeria and the private sector.

    “In March 2023, USAID updated its Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment policy. The policy strives to eliminate GBV and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities so all people can live free from violence. Often violence against women and girls becomes normalised. For each rape reported in connection with a conflict, the United Nations estimates that between 10 to 20 cases go unreported. Impunity, silence, and stigma are part of the problem.”

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    Atkinson said:  We need to remember that gender-based violence does not occur in some distant place, it is happening in our local communities, potentially to our colleagues, neighbors, or even family members. Ending gender-based violence is a top priority for the UK Government and a cornerstone of our new International Women and Girls Strategy.

    “Our 2023 International Women and Girls Strategy outlines ending GBV as a top priority, and we have most recently supported the creation of the Mirabel centre in Lagos, the first Sexual Assault and Referral Centre (SARC) in Nigeria. Through our programmes, we also support victims and survivors of GBV in the Northwest and Northeast states. This includes legal advice, psychosocial support, and police investigation training.”

  • A welcome order

    A welcome order

    • Lockdown: Humanitarian affairs ministry must make public what it spent on school feeding 

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Beta Edu, has since her inauguration been  quite visible in the media explaining how her ministry intends to lift 133 million people out of multi-dimensional poverty. However, on various occasions she had been faced with a barrage of questions. Many want to find out the magic wand she intends to wave seeing that ‘lifting’ people out of poverty needs more than good intentions. The strategies must be as realistic as it needs deeply thought-out policies and execution strategies. 

    There must also be trust on the part of the beneficiaries of the humanitarian efforts. That this seemed not to be the case led to a situation where some non-governmental groups took the ministry to court for not attending to their requests made under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

    No doubt the road to poverty is a long one just as the road to recovery is not a hundred metre dash. 

    Perhaps no administration in the country had driven more people into poverty more than the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari. This was in spite of the novel creation of the humanitarian and poverty alleviation ministry that had Dr. Sadiya Umar Farouq as the minister.

    However, despite more than N3.5 trillion spent by the former administration, most of the social intervention schemes failed to make any noticeable impact; more people in fact fell into the poverty bracket and Nigeria earned the unenviable tag of the poverty capital of the world. 

    The National Social Intervention Programmes (NSIP)include the School Feeding programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), N-Power, National Social Intervention  Programme (NSIP), National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSCO), and the National Cash Transfer Programme (N-CTP) otherwise called ‘Trader Moni’.

    From all indications, analysts believe these programmes were high on names but lacking in efficiency and valid outcomes. There were allegations of high-level corruption and inefficiency on the part of the drivers of those programmes. The COVID-19 impact and the badly handled school-feeding and palliative-sharing scandals across the country worried industry watchers who felt that that was a human error of incompetence and corruption. Unfortunately not much was done by the then government to either prosecute suspects or remedy the situation, hence the NGOs raised the alarm and even dragged the ministry to court. Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Abuja Federal High Court subsequently gave the order that Dr. Edu  should release details of N535.8million of the schoolchildren feeding fund during the COVID-19 lockdown. This couldn’t have come at a better time. Justice Maha held that the minister’s failure to respond to the groups’ letter dated August 6, 2020, or even give reasons for its refusal to respond to the request as prescribed under the FOI Act contravened the provisions of Section 4(a) and (b) of the act.

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    This judicial intervention is a welcome development, especially given the furore the issue had generated across the country. People had averred that the programme was dead on arrival as it seemed poorly thought-out and in real terms would always be a logistical nightmare even for a Federal Government. A better planned process would have seen the local governments in a better position to coordinate such programmes in a country as populous as Nigeria. In a country with very opaque bureaucratic system, it seems to have been a disaster foretold.

    We commend the judicial order, as accountability by government and its agencies is the soul of governance in viable economies. We just hope too that the order would be obeyed by the present government so as to reassure the people that they would not go the same route as their predecessors. The rule of law in all instances must be paramount. This should also serve as a lesson to the government to re-evaluate the programme, which is not a novelty as most developed countries have the school feeding programme that is seen as a way of nurturing the children, especially in underserved communities.

    The school feeding programme in a Nigeria with high poverty index is a necessity as most parents can no longer afford to feed their children properly and in some cases the feeding in school serves as an incentive to send the kids to school. This is especially valuable in a country with the highest out-of-school children at more than 20 million. 

    Accountability in government is a sine qua non to confidence-building in a country with high level trust deficit in all tiers of government by the citizens. We commend the NGOs for pushing this through the courts instead of employing non-legal means that might do more damage. The trillion naira investment in the whole programme must be properly probed too.

  • Gruesome murder

    Gruesome murder

    • Community leader buried alive by captors after collecting part-ransom

    It was a death most gruesome, bizarre and illustrative of inexplicable sadism and wanton cruelty on the part of the alleged murderers. A former Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Kereken-Boue community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, who had been abducted by a cult gang in the state, was reportedly buried alive by his captors. They killed the victim  in this painful manner despite collecting N200, 000 from his wife as part-payment for the ransom demanded. 

    Even though this grim deed cannot be undone and the dead restored to life, the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime offers at least some hope that justice would be done in the matter.

    Briefing newsmen on the issue in his maiden press conference as  Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr Tunji Disu, said “After concluding intense surveillance on November 15, in separate crack operations, men of the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested Baridapdo Igra, 33, and Elvis Gordon, 26, two suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in Kereken-Boue community of Khana Local Government Area”. The arrested duo, according to Mr Disu, not only confessed to being the leaders of ‘Iceland and Degbam’ cult groups in Khana LGA, they also admitted responsibility for the murder of the Kereken-Boue CDC former Chairman. They also confessed to their involvement in the murder of nine other persons between 2021 and 2023 in different acts of violence for which the community was partially evacuated within the period.

    Although cult gang activities, including violent clashes and barbaric killings occur in different states across the country, the incidence of this form of crime is particularly prevalent and consistently recurrent in Rivers State in the Niger Delta region. On April 20, for instance, it was reported that clashes between two suspected factions of ‘D12 and Blackies’ rival cult groups in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt resulted in the death of a man in his twenties popularly known as Asari.

    In September, a dreaded cult group in Ahoada LGA of Rivers State was responsible for the murder of the late Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Superintendent of Police Bako Angbashim, in the Odeimude community of the local government. The same cult gang led by one Gift Okpara, also known as ‘2baba’ was allegedly implicated in the killing, barely two months after Angbashim’s murder, of five persons in Odiemerenyi community, reportedly for providing information to the police on the hideout of the gang.

    It was also in September that a young man was reported to have been beaten to death by hoodlums suspected to be members of a rival cult gang in Rumuodomaya community in Obio/Akpor LGA. Another young man was allegedly killed by gunmen suspected to be cultists at Mile 1 in Diobu community of Port Harcourt Local Government in October. A report by the Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), a Non- Governmental Organisation, estimated that at least 202 persons had been killed as a result of cult and gang violence in Rivers State between January 2021 and September 2023. According to the report, Ahoada LGA had the highest number of incidents with 63 deaths, followed closely by Port Harcourt LGA with 60. Thirty persons were reported to have died near the Bayelsa National Force; nine were killed in Lewe District of Gokana LGA while eight deaths were recorded in Bonny and adjoining local governments.

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    Noting a rise in cult activities in the state, especially in the wake of the recent attempt by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach the governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, the PIND report stated that “cult clashes and political violence are mutually reinforcing – cult gangs are often funded and used by politicians to attack opponents and influence election results”. It is probably because of this link between powerful political actors and cult gang criminality that those apprehended for these acts of violence are hardly ever brought to book.

    Before the posting of Disu to Rivers State as commissioner of police, there had been widespread disenchantment with the performance of the state police command in checking cult violence in the state. For instance, the Concerned Ekpeye People for Peace and Development had decried the state of insecurity in Ekpeyeland and expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the former police  commissioner, Mr Emeka Polycarp. Disu has commendably hit the ground running with the arrest of the cult gangsters responsible for the murder of the former Kerenke-Boue CDC chairman. The challenge now is to ensure the swift and efficient prosecution of the accused and all those involved in similar cases so that the current rampaging cultism can be decisively curtailed in the state.

  • Unemployment: Pathways to progress

    Unemployment: Pathways to progress

    • By Maryam Kamilu

    Sir: Unemployment remains a pressing issue in Nigeria, posing significant socio-economic challenges and hindering the nation’s overall development. With a large youthful population and an economy striving for growth, addressing unemployment stands as a critical priority for the government and stakeholders alike.

    The Nigerian labour market faces multifaceted challenges, with a staggering number of young graduates entering the workforce annually, often without sufficient job opportunities. According to reports, the unemployment rate in Nigeria has remained high, particularly among young adults and women, exacerbating issues of poverty, social instability, and economic disparity.

    Several factors contribute to this complex problem. Inadequate access to quality education and vocational training, limited opportunities in the formal job sector, a mismatch between skills and market demand, rapid population growth, and an economy heavily reliant on oil revenue are among the key contributors to the unemployment crisis.

    The federal government has implemented various initiatives and policies aimed at mitigating unemployment. Programmes such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), and the N-Power scheme have been launched to provide skills training, entrepreneurial support, and temporary employment opportunities.

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    However, challenges persist in the effective implementation and scalability of these programs. Issues like inadequate funding, bureaucratic red tape, insufficient infrastructure, and limited private sector involvement hinder the full potential of these initiatives to create a substantial impact in addressing unemployment.

    Encouraging private sector participation and fostering entrepreneurship is crucial in generating employment opportunities. Creating conducive environment for businesses to thrive, providing access to credit facilities, improving infrastructure, and offering tax incentives are vital steps to spur job creation by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

    A reformed educational system that focuses on skills acquisition and aligning curricula with industry needs is fundamental in preparing the workforce for the demands of the modern job market. Vocational training, apprenticeships, and technology-oriented education can equip individuals with the skills required for gainful employment.

    Addressing the unemployment challenge demands a comprehensive approach involving both short-term interventions and long-term structural reforms. The government needs to collaborate with the private sector, educational institutions, and civil society to create an enabling environment for job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Fostering an inclusive economy that harnesses the potential of its youth can propel Nigeria towards sustainable growth and prosperity, ultimately reducing unemployment and ensuring a brighter future for its citizens.

    •Maryam Kamilu,

     Borno State University, Maiduguri.

  • Security agencies’ unsightly scuffles

    Security agencies’ unsightly scuffles

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: Every now and then, Nigeria’s chaotic and class struggles slip into the ranks of its security agencies with deadly consequences. 

    The latest theatre of unsightly power play came at the Benin Specialist Hospital where a patient brought in by some DSS officials was supposedly not promptly treated, which caused the officials to attack some persons within the hospital, including policemen and other members of different Nigerian paramilitary agencies.

    The hospital was to offer a different version of events, claiming that the DSS personnel was brought in dead but that his colleague refused to accept it.

    It was not the first time such an ugly melee has broken out between men of sister security agencies in Nigeria and given Nigeria’s poor track record in that wise, it won’t be the last.

    Godwin Emefiele, the former Central Bank Governor has become a constant visitor to Nigerian security agencies since he left office. In July, an unsightly melee broke out between men of the DSS and officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service over who should take him into custody following the order of a Federal High Court siting in Abuja.

    In November, a police man and a soldier each died as the soldiers and police clashed in the state, with several officers left injured. In November, following the arrest and detention of some of its personnel on allegations of cybercrime, there was a scary confrontation between men of the Nigeria Air Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Kaduna.

    In February, a police corporal stabbed a soldier to death in Lagos during a fight. Soldiers supposedly reprised by torching a police station.

    In November, two soldiers and some police men fought over alleged traffic violations in Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State. The same situation was on show in January in Lagos.

    Instances abound of occasions when those supposed to synergize to keep Nigerians safe chose the undignifying sport of insane and inane power tussles.

    The one that readily comes to mind is poor discipline. It is an open secret that many of the men who man Nigeria’s security agencies lack discipline. This lack of discipline when wrapped in uniform has become especially pronounced and prominent in recent times.

    There is also a sense in which profound frustration courses through Nigeria’s security forces. This is no surprise, given that being a security personnel in Nigeria in the past eight years has become akin to signing a death warrant.

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    In what can only be ill-fittingly described as a pressure cooker, those who have elected to serve as security personnel in Nigeria have seen it all.

    Many of them have fallen in service of an increasingly fragile country. Many of them who have paid the ultimate price in the service of their country have seen their families abandoned upon their death.

     For Nigerians who always have to look over their shoulders because they have increasingly become the fascination of terrorists, it is a matter of sickening embarrassment that security personnel who should be securing them favour fisticuffs and handbags as pastimes. No matter the aggravation, sister security agencies should always be able to work together to contain Nigeria’s surging insecurity.

    Interagency rivalry and petty scuffles only serve to cause public loss of confidence in the security agents, betraying them as unserious. At a time when Nigeria is battling on multiple security fronts, this is serious baggage to carry around.

    Security personnel in Nigeria should be seen to be pointing their guns threateningly at the criminals determined to overrun Nigeria, and never at each other. The times are too strange for strange habits.

    Those who enforce the law in Nigeria and maintain law and order just be seen to pay nothing but absolute obedience to the law. This invariably includes shunning all acts that are capable of disrupting public peace and order.

    • Ike Willie-Nwobu,

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • Nurturing climate change narratives

    Nurturing climate change narratives

    • By Esther Adeyanju

    Sir: Climate change, an existential challenge of our time, demands a collective and strategic response from all sectors of society.

    Picture this: A world inundated with climate data, scientific jargon, and dire predictions. How do we bridge the gap between the complexities of climate science and the understanding of the everyday citizen? How can we make sure regular people grasp the full significance of climate change and actively support experts in achieving their goals? This is where Public Relations, PR professionals play a crucial role. They serve as the communicators who simplify intricate climate science into understandable language, making it relatable and emphasizing why it is crucial at this very moment.

    In this endeavour, the role of public relations professionals emerges as an anchor for effective communication, advocacy, and mobilization. As we try to understand and deal with the challenges of climate change, the impact of PR extends far beyond managing reputations; it becomes a vital force in shaping the narratives that drive sustainable action.

    Public Relations professionals are storytellers with a unique responsibility to frame the climate change narrative in a way that resonates with diverse audiences. It is not merely about presenting data but crafting compelling stories that bridge the gap between scientific findings and public understanding. In a world besieged with information, PR acts as the translator, making climate science accessible, relatable, and urgent.

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    A study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication reveals that the public’s understanding of climate change often hinges on how the message is communicated. PR professionals, armed with communication expertise, have the power to influence perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. By strategically framing messages, they can inspire action and foster a sense of shared responsibility.

    PR professionals within these sectors act as conduits, communicating transparently about sustainability initiatives, emission reduction strategies, and the integration of eco-friendly practices. According to a survey by Edelman, 64% of consumers identify as belief-driven buyers, emphasizing the need for companies to communicate their environmental commitments effectively.

    As climate-related crises become more frequent, PR professionals are at the forefront of crisis communication. Whether addressing the aftermath of natural disasters or managing the fallout from environmental controversies, their role in maintaining transparency, providing accurate information, and guiding crisis response is indispensable.

    Beyond crisis response, PR professionals are instrumental in educating the public and mobilizing communities for sustainable action. Initiatives like climate awareness campaigns, educational forums, and community engagement efforts not only raise awareness but also empower individuals to contribute to climate solutions. Data shows that informed and engaged citizens are more likely to advocate for policy changes and support eco-friendly practices.

    The urgency of addressing climate change requires a unified effort, and PR professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the charge. By leveraging their skills in communication, advocacy, and relationship-building, they can propel climate action from rhetoric to reality. As we confront the challenges of a changing climate, the importance of PR professionals in shaping public understanding and fostering meaningful change cannot be overstated. It is time to recognize them not just as communicators but as catalysts for a sustainable future.

    •Esther Adeyanju,

    Esther.wunmi.adeyanju@gmail.com