Politicians have many consultants. Since they battle with executive stress, those who are high up usually have paid personal physicians.
Some have advisers, or political aides domiciled in the universities and human rights enclaves. Others tap the media for problem solving
Many patronise pastors, sundry spiritualists, including babalawos and other seers who claim to see tomorrow.
The last category is more relevant during electioneering. It is because they can predict victory and failure, and they can also appease some supernatural forces to avert failure or convert it to success.
To one of those who claim they can read the signs of the times went four politicians. The four are A, B, C, and D. One of them, A, was jostling for the position of party chairman. B was eyeing vice chairman. Since B was the only candidate for vice chairman, it was certain that he would be vice chairman unopposed. B did not need prayers again.
But upon getting to the man in an Ijebu town of coastal Lagos, the powerful consultant picked another person, B, out of the four, saying that the crystal ball has told him he would be chairman. The three – B, C and D – protested, reminding him that they came because of A. The man shook his head, meaning ‘no way.’
He insisted that B, who was not contesting for chairman, would be the chairman. They went back disappointed because B never bought form for chairmanship position.
Upon request before they departed, the man reluctantly prayed for A. But as they were departing, he still pointed his finger at B, saying that he would still be party chairman. They ignored him and left. They doubted his capacity, competence and claim. They regretted consulting him. They lamented that they gave money and other things to a fake.
The party congress came. A was defeated by his rival from another camp or caucus within the big party. But B was elected unopposed as vice chairman.
However, suddenly, the chairman resigned, and since the state chapter could not hold a new congress, the party asked B to step into the shoe of chairman immediately.
It was at that stage that the three of them remembered the prediction of the Ijebu man who claimed to see tomorrow.
Trust replaced doubt. Henceforth, he became their permanent spiritual consultant in whom they were well pleased.
The social media space in Nigeria last week took a breather from the political fireworks characteristic of some of the platforms, buzzing with tales of how hospitals designed to save lives have turned into graveyards with the negligence and avarice of some medical doctors. The sad narratives followed the death of Nkanu, a 21-month-old son of renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The unsavoury development was compounded by a disturbing report on how a mother of five died in Kano after a surgery in which a surgeon forgot scissors in her body. There are concerns that these ugly developments could spike medical tourism abroad and skyrocket demands for foreign exchange, INNOCENT DURU reports.
• Tragic tales of doctors’ negligence turning hospitals into morgues
• Fashion entrepreneur Toyin Lawani narrates ordeal at hospital where Chimamanda’s son died
• ‘How doctors made wrong diagnosis, forced us to have surgeries’
The world stood still for Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie last week. Not for her literary ingenuity but the loss of her son, which many believe will remain indelible in her heart. Sadly, Chimamanda expressed doubts over her ability to survive the unfortunate incident.
In a message chronicling how her son died, the Anambra born author said she had come to Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu had “what we first thought was just a cold but soon turned into a very serious infection, and he was admitted to Atlantis Hospital.”
According to her, Nkanu was to travel to the US the next day (January 7), accompanied by travelling doctors.
She said: “A team at John Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore. The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight.
“Atlantis Hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.”
In the morning of the 6th, she said, “we left Atlantis Hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms.
“We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line’ procedure.
“I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater, and immediately knew something had happened.”
She said a short time later, a medical official she referred to as Dr M came out and “told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated.
“But suddenly, Nkanu was on a ventilator. He was intubated and placed in the ICU.
“The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest.
“All these had never happened before.
“Some hours later, Nkanu was gone
“It turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol.
“The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive.
“How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to monitor him?, she asked rhetorically, adding
“Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!
“The anesthesiologist was criminalky negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child.
“No proper protocol was followed.”
In a tone laced with palpable emotions,Chimamanda said: “We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever.
“It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.
“We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working?
Nkanu’s death stirred a lot of reactions and counter reactions from the bereaved, the hospital, medical profession, legal practitioners and disturbed members of the society.
Following Chimamanda’s loss, celebrity fashion entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani has also revealed that her medical ordeal began with a spine surgery implant at the Euracare Hospital. In an Instagram post, Lawani recounted severe medical negligence that left her with long-term, life-altering health complications.
She said: “Every time I say that if you have health issues in Nigeria and you make it out alive, just thank your stars, people feel the comment is meant to berate Nigerian hospitals.
“I saw one foolish person saying trash about me last week, all because I was speaking from experience. I just ignored it. You spend close to ₦100 million on hospital bills and they still mismanage your health.
“They thought I was joking when I said I was going to sue, but I said they should just wait until I am stronger.
“Most of these hospitals just put on a front with white staff, and the aftercare is terrible. I am still suffering the consequences of Euracare right now.
“One issue takes you there, and another issue sends you home.
“I kept asking myself why I did my spine surgery implant in Nigeria. Till today, I still cannot speak well or walk well. I had complications and started bleeding in my lungs.
“I had to be taken back into the theatre the next day to be re-operated on.”
Describing a night when her heart “ceased” after being given injections, requiring urgent intervention, she said that despite undergoing three back-to-back surgeries at Euracare, her condition deteriorated, with severe lung infections and breathing difficulties.
She said the situation became so dire that she was airlifted to the United Kingdom for emergency care. UK doctors, she said, discovered a significant lung infection and performed another surgery immediately.
“Before I knew it, I stopped breathing. They had to puncture my lungs, and they damaged my vocal cords,” she said.
“I remember a night when I was given two injections and my heart seized. I could not breathe. @Prettydammy2 and @Segun_Wealth witnessed it; her husband had to threaten them.
“The trauma I faced in that hospital for months is something I still cannot get over till date. I am still in and out of the hospital till now because of this.
“They do not even care if there is mismanagement; you will still pay. I lost the use of my two legs after I was sent home and ended up back in that hospital again.
“I had to call the ENT doctor in the UK. He then told them to operate for the third time to remove the tracheotomy tube from my lungs and see if I could breathe on my own without it.
“After that surgery, I was on the next flight to the UK with my family the following day.
“When I got here. The doctors told me I had to undergo another surgery and said I had an infection in my lungs.
“When they showed me the large lumps they removed afterward, I was in shock.
“After three back-to-back surgeries in the same hospital, I still had to undergo another one when I got to the UK. It is just so shameful.
“This statement is not said enough: if you have health issues in Nigeria and you have the money, run.”
In another post, she said: “Part 2 of what my eyes saw at Euracare. I spent two months there in total and another month in a rehabilitation centre because I lost the use of my hands and legs.
“I also developed bedsores. I had to relearn how to walk, speak, and bathe myself. I am still undergoing speech therapy till today.”
She added: “When I tell people I am dealing with trauma, they do not understand me at all.
“This traumatic experience completely changed my entire life—how I see things and even people.
“I appreciate life more now and tend to let go of so many things, because your life can change in a second.
“Nigeria’s healthcare system needs regulation. Anybody from abroad can come with money, open a hospital in Nigeria as a business, and do as they wish.
“They use international standards to lure clients.
“I have proof that I came out of surgery without a hole in my lungs, and if Segun_Wealth had not raised the alarm about my swollen neck, they still would not have noticed.
“It was after that I realised I was having difficulty breathing. Till today, I still need a walking stick to support myself.
“The story of that hospital is long. I first had to save my life.
“I promised them that when I am well and sound, they will hear from me.
“Seeing @chimamanda_adichie’s story today triggered me to speak up so that many people can be saved.
“When I said almost ₦100 million, I was not joking. I still have my receipts from Euracare.
“Euracare is like a business center. Most of the doctors there are not even permanent staff; they come to perform surgeries and then leave.”
Meanwhile, Euracare has not been pronounced guilty by any court or committee since the allegations were made. The hospital has commiserated with the bereaved family and also absolved its officials of negligence in carrying out their duties.
The hospital had also yet to react to allegations made by Toyin Lawani.
Chimamanda Adichie serves hospital legal notice over son’s death
Smarting from the pain caused by the irreparable loss, Chimamanda served a formal legal notice on Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, alleging medical negligence and professional impropriety in connection with the death of her son.
The development came asovernor State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered an official probe into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, following widespread public concern over the incident.
While the management of the hospital made frantic efforts to deny any complicity in the death of the boy, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Head of Medical Malpractice, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said the ordeal faced by Chimamanda and her family represents only a tip of a much larger crisis of medical negligence affecting countless Nigerian families.
The brickbats had yet to settle when the news broke of a mother of five who died from complications arising from a doctor leaving a pair of scissors in her body after surgery.
The fresh incident rubbished whatever defence people were trying to make for medical practice in the country and raised questions about the training of doctors, expertise of the practitioners and quality of equipment used.
The incidents evoked sad memories, forcing people both online and offline to recount death and near-death experiences at the hands of medical practitioners in the country, especially the private hospitals which they accused of putting money above the lives of patients.
Woman dies after surgery
Less than one week after the demise of Chimamanda’s son, came the news of one Aishatu Umar, who died four months after surgeons left a pair of scissors inside her stomach during a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Center, a government-owned health facility in Kano State.
The mother of five passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 during a corrective surgery to remove the scissors.
A relative of the deceased, Abubakar Mohammed, said Aishatu died after enduring months of severe abdominal pain following a surgical procedure carried out at the hospital about four months ago.
According to Mohammed, the surgery was performed in September, after which Aishatu reportedly began experiencing persistent and worsening abdominal pain.
He alleged that despite repeated visits to the hospital, she was only given pain-relief medication without further investigations.
He explained that medical tests and scans were eventually conducted just days ago, revealing that a pair of scissors had allegedly been left inside her body during the initial surgery.
“She underwent surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in September. After that, she complained of severe abdominal pain for months.
“Each time she returned to the hospital, she was given painkillers,” Mohammed said.
“It was only two days ago that scans were carried out, and that was when doctors discovered that scissors had been forgotten inside her body.
“Plans were made for another surgery, but she passed away before it could be done,” he added.
Mohammed described the incident as a clear case of negligence and called on the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice for the deceased.
“How can medical professionals forget a pair of scissors inside a patient’s body?
“This is unacceptable and damages the integrity of the health sector,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board said it had ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the allegation to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding Aishatu’s death.
The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has, however, confirmed that the death of Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, was linked to medical negligence at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, a government-owned health facility in Kano.
In a statement, the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, said a preliminary investigation ordered by the Executive Secretary, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, revealed that surgical scissors were inadvertently left inside the patient’s body following a surgical procedure.
Following the findings, the Board announced the immediate suspension of three medical personnel directly involved in the case from clinical duties.
Prior to the above incidents, we had reported about how a young pregnant mother died in a controversial situation undergoing surgical operations to give birth to her first child.
The report revealed how the hospital where the deceased, Anita Nathaniel was admitted insisted she must give birth through CS in spite of a scan showing all was well with her showing the ability to deliver naturally. Nathaniel, Anita’s husband also refused, stressing that he and his wife wanted her to have a normal vaginal delivery.
After much pressure, the husband caved in, and paid N150,000 of a N300,000 surgical bill.
“After making the payment, I was assured that the surgeon would join them shortly. But my wife had to wait for well over eight hours before the surgeon arrived,” said Nathaniel.
The caesarean section (CS) was eventually done and Anita was gone afterwards.
Medical experts argued that the anaesthesia failed to maintain the necessary depth of unconsciousness, thus causing Anita to wake and feel intense pain as the surgeon cut into her abdomen and manipulated her internal organs.
Her body’s natural response to such extreme pain, argued a consultant clinical anesthesiologist, Olumide Francis, was to “activate the fight or flight mechanism, increasing her heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels.
“However, in a patient weakened by childbirth, this physiological response can be dangerous.”
Netizens relive ordeal with doctors
The death of Chimamanda’s son triggered chains of reactions on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) as netizens took turns to relive their ordeal at the hands of hospitals and doctors who made wrong prescriptions and insisted on surgeries that were at the end of the day found to be needless.
Narrating his experience, Dr Joe Abbah said: “A private hospital in Abuja said I needed surgery and was trying to pressure me to do it with them immediately.
“I wasn’t sure and my family wasn’t comfortable. My Madam reminded me that in the UK, there is a mandatory cooling off period of 14 days between when you are told that you need surgery and when you actually have it, unless it’s a life-threatening emergency.
“The cooling off period enables you to decide whether you want to go ahead with it or not.
“The surgeon asked me whether I was afraid of him and I said no, it’s the anaesthetist I am afraid of. He asked why and I said that I had heard too many stories.
“To the obvious disappointment of his clinic manager who had already started to process HMO approvals, I decided to get other opinions.
“Getting a second opinion elsewhere and a third opinion abroad, it turned out that I didn’t need any surgery at all.”
Reacting to Abbah’s post, Ijeoma Ekenechukwu @MappingReveals, said: “Hmm! I hope it is not the same doctor we have used. Had similar experience in Abuja, got a second opinion in Lagos and they say nothing.
“The Abuja kept pressuring me with text and emails to operate, and this was linked to a job role. I kept giving excuses to delay him, travelled to UK, had another opinion and nothing again for surgery.
“Thinking back, this is how they would have operated for nothing.”
Also recounting a friend’s experience, Stress Manager @eakpe said: “One hospital in Abuja told a friend that he needed to undergo heart surgery and was pressuring him to do it immediately or it could be too late.
“He wasn’t comfortable with the whole thing, so he decided to see his doctor in the UK, only to be told that he had an ulcer and that the chest pain he was feeling was from acid reflux.
“He returned to the hospital in anger and showed them his diagnosis from the UK, and they began to beg him.
“I have said this several times that most private hospitals are more concerned with profit than with the welfare of the patient.”
On his part, Musa Jidda said: “Sometime in 2011, one woman battled a mysterious illness for months. Local hospital here in Nigeria prescribed meds that only made it worse.
She flew to Egypt for a second opinion. The doctor shocked her: “it’s just a reaction to the drugs you’ve been taking.” He simply told her to STOP everything.
In just one week, she began recovering. Today? She’s completely healed!
The crue1est sc@m in Nigerian healthcare: Some private hospitals know a patient is dying… yet they invent rare diseases you’ve never heard of, push expensive, useless drugs, and even force needless surgeries, all to milk every last kobo from grieving families.”
Also sharing a friend’s experience, Jerry P @Markusjerryp, said: “This happened to a friend of mine. He was diagnosed with a kidney-related issue and he called me for help. I went to the hospital that night.
“The doctor insisted on an MRI scan, which I paid for at about ₦155,000, and prescribed antibiotics costing ₦93,000, which I also paid for.
“After reviewing the MRI results, the doctor insisted that my friend needed surgery within 24 hours, at a cost of ₦3.5 million.
“At that point, common sense kicked in. I forwarded the MRI results to three doctors, two consultants in Nigeria and one in the United States. All of them reviewed the report and said it showed only minor kidney stones.
“They advised that he should drink plenty of water. They also said the antibiotics prescribed were unnecessarily strong and recommended stopping them and using a much cheaper alternative.
“I advised my friend to leave the hospital and focus on drinking plenty of water as advised. Two years later, he is perfectly fine.”
A netizen who goes by the name The Adeyemi @DrYemiOvGynea said: “Truth is a lot of unnecessary surgeries happen in private hospitals in Nigeria. Doing surgeries pay more and that’s how they get money to stay afloat.
“These even happen in the posh ones. There have been reports of people still having their appendices intact then they have in fact had appendicectomies done in private hospitals. These things go unchecked.
“Regarding the UK you mentioned, you wouldn’t even have the surgery done in weeks or months so far it is elective, giving you opportunity to re-consider your options.
“Most cases in medicine have got more than one options if not emergencies.”
Nigerians, according to a report by Nairametrics, spend between $1.6 billion and $2 billion each year on medical treatment abroad, putting pressure on the economy and exposing gaps in the local health system, according to data from healthcare investment agencies.
For decades, the report said, the search for medical treatment abroad placed a heavy burden on Nigeria’s economy and exposed long-standing weaknesses in its local healthcare infrastructure.
The disturbing ordeal of the citizens, which are clear loss of trust in the country’s healthcare, could worsen the quest for medical treatment abroad and consequently pile more pressure on the economy.
Chimamanda’s lawyers file suit against hospital
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, and issued by a law firm led by Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, accused the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and other attending medical personnel of breaching the duty of care owed to their son, who died in the early hours of January 7, 2026.
According to the notice, the child, born on March 25, 2024, was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist medical team was reportedly on standby.
The procedures carried out at Euracare reportedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) and a lumbar puncture, during which intravenous sedation using propofol was administered.
The parents alleged that the child developed sudden and severe complications while being transported to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI.
The notice claimed that despite being under sedation, the child was moved between clinical areas under conditions that raised serious concerns about compliance with patient safety and paediatric anaesthesia protocols.
The legal notice outlined several alleged lapses, including concerns about the cumulative dosing of propofol in a critically ill child, inadequate airway protection during deep sedation, failure to ensure continuous physiological monitoring, and transfer without supplemental oxygen, adequate monitoring, or sufficient accompanying medical personnel.
Further allegations included the unavailability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular distress, and failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia, patient-transfer, and safety standards.
The parents also accused the hospital of failing to adequately disclose the risks and potential side effects of propofol and other anaesthetic agents, thereby undermining the requirement for informed consent.
The solicitors stated that these alleged lapses constitute prima facie breaches of duty of care, rendering the hospital and involved medical personnel liable for medical negligence resulting in the child’s death.
As part of their demands, the parents requested certified copies of all medical records relating to their son’s treatment within seven days. These include admission notes, consent forms, pre-anaesthetic assessments, anaesthetic charts, drug administration records, monitoring logs, nursing observations, ICU records, incident reports, and the identities of all medical staff involved.
They also demanded internal reviews, safety logs from the MRI suite, and all documentation related to the child’s care. Euracare was formally instructed to preserve all physical and electronic evidence, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
The solicitors warned that any destruction or alteration of evidence after receipt of the notice would be treated as obstruction of justice and could attract legal consequences.
They further stated that failure to comply with the demands would leave the parents with no option but to pursue all available legal, regulatory, and judicial remedies.
The child’s aunt, Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu, a dual board-certified internal medicine physician with over 30 years of clinical experience in Nigeria and the United States, has challenged Euracare’s public statement on January 10, 2026.
In a rebuttal, Nwandu questioned the hospital’s claim that there were inaccuracies in the family’s account of events and alleged that the hospital’s statement contained significant falsehoods.
She disputed Euracare’s assertion that the child had received care at two paediatric centres prior to admission, stating that he was treated at only one hospital before being referred to Euracare for the procedures.
Nwandu further alleged that internationally accepted medical standards were not followed, insisting that a sedated child on oxygen requires continuous oxygen therapy and monitoring of oxygen saturation, pulse, and respiration.
She also claimed that proper resuscitation equipment, such as an ambu bag, was not provided during the child’s transfer within the hospital.
Hospital condoles with family, denies negligence allegations
Euracare Multispecialist Hospital has commiserated with Chimamanda and her family describing the loss as profound and heartbreaking.
In a statement issued by its management, the hospital conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the parents and extended family, noting that the death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy that goes beyond words.
While empathising with the family’s grief, the hospital also addressed what it described as inaccuracies in some reports circulating about the circumstances surrounding the child’s care. Euracare emphasised that it is a reputable medical facility specialising in complex care and staffed by an internationally trained and experienced clinical team.
The statement reads: “We extend our deepest sympathies to Chimamanda Adichie and family on the demise of their son and acknowledge the profound and unimaginable loss they are experiencing during this deeply distressing time. The loss of a child is beyond words, and we offer our most heartfelt condolences to his parents and the entire family.
“We find it necessary, for the record, to clarify that some of the reports currently being circulated contain inaccuracies.
“Our facility is a reputable centre for complex medical care, led by an internationally trained and experienced clinical team.
“The patient, who was critically ill, was referred to our facility for specific diagnostic procedures after receiving treatment for a period of time at two paediatric centres.
“Upon arrival, our medical team immediately provided care in line with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards, including the administration of sedation where clinically indicated.
“In the course of his care, we worked collaboratively with external medical teams as recommended by his family and ensured that all necessary clinical support was provided.
“Despite these concerted efforts, the patient sadly passed away less than 24 hours after presenting at our facility.
“We have commenced a detailed investigation consistent with our clinical governance standards and best practices.
“We remain committed to engaging transparently and responsibly with all clinical and regulatory processes.
“We recognise that the family is grieving an irreplaceable loss and we shall continue to support them in any way that may bring comfort during this devastating period.
“As medical professionals, we carry the weight of this loss deeply. Our priority remains compassion, patient safety, and the responsible handling of this matter, while respecting the family’s privacy and allowing due process to take its course.
“We continue to hold the family in our thoughts and prayers.”
Agbakoba calls for comprehensive overhaul of health sector
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Head of Medical Malpractice, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has said the ordeal faced by the family of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie represents only the tip of a much larger crisis of medical negligence affecting countless Nigerian families.
In a statement calling for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system, Agbakoba said the sector has become dangerously overcentralised under the Federal Ministry of Health, leaving states lax in oversight and regulation.
According to him, the recent tragic loss of Nkanu Nnamdi, one of the twin sons of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, has once again drawn national attention to the deep-rooted problems in the country’s health system.
“As my professional focus over the past 20 years has been medical malpractice, during which I have handled over 50 cases, this unfortunate incident is yet another example of the unacceptable level of incompetence in some Nigerian hospitals,” he said.
Agbakoba noted that he was not surprised that a routine procedure at a well-regarded hospital reportedly ended in tragedy.
“Propofol, which was reportedly administered to Nkanu, requires exceptional care because of its potential to cause cardio-respiratory failure.
“An overdose can be fatal, and there appears to be a strong possibility of overdose in this case,” he stated.
He commended the Lagos State Government for its swift move to investigate the incident and Euracare for agreeing to cooperate with investigators, but stressed that the probe must be genuinely independent and transparent.
Sharing personal experiences, Agbakoba disclosed that he was once misdiagnosed with a condition that could have had serious consequences, while his brother nearly lost his life following an operation performed by a doctor who falsely presented himself as a surgeon.
According to him, the root cause of these recurring tragedies lies in the collapse of Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework for healthcare delivery.
“In the past, the health system operated under a strong supervisory structure. Chief Medical Officers and Health Inspectors oversaw critical care, ensured compliance with standards and held practitioners accountable.
“The last Chief Medical Officer of Nigeria was Dr. Samuel Layinka Manuwa,” he said.
It is strange that the new tax laws, and the motivation behind the structural reforms, are being twisted by armchair critics and opposition figures who know the truth but prefer to deny it.
But the resistance is futile. The law became operational in the first week of the year, and the general public is not fooled by the falsehoods from detractors, saboteurs and fraudsters who prefer “business as usual”.
Having failed to halt the passage of the legislations by the National Assembly, opposition leaders, who may not have even bothered to study and digest the Act, have curiously regressed into manipulative propaganda aimed at whipping up emotions in a bid to incite Nigerians and discredit the government.
Ahead of the electioneering, the opposition is losing ground and destructive criticisms have replaced civilised scrutiny. They, therefore, seek short-lived collaboration with their confederates in the business environment. These lackeys perceive that their interests are at risk because the curtains are being drawn on long years of their mindless economic sabotage.
In the coordinated attacks, a lawmaker stood up during plenary to allege a gap between the Bills passed by the National Assembly and the one assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Up to now, he has not provided the proof of doctoring, alteration, or padding in the law to reinforce his allegation.
Shockingly, African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader Atiku Abubakar seemed to have taken up the fight from there, alleging that the gazetted laws contain unauthorised alterations, which, in his view, amounted to forgery and a “grave constitutional issue”. He called for a fresh legislative vote rather than re-gazetting to correct what has paled into imaginary discrepancies.
When the former Vice President alluded to a compromised or flawed process that undermined legislative authority, Nigerians knew that he was playing his peculiar brand of politics.
The 2027 electioneering, to political actors outside power, is nearer than imagined. In Nigeria, there is hardly a demarcation between politics and governance. Politics has ceased to be a vocation. It is now a full-time occupation of economic value. This has its implications for the ballot box war, often fought with bitterness and desperation.
The concern of the former Vice President may not be whether or not the combined tax laws conform to the cardinal principles of fairness, certainty, convenience and efficiency. The fear among the political foes of the government is that the success of the bold and brave reforms may enrich the scorecard of the administration and increase its popularity ratings among the voting public.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may have also turned itself into a partisan party when it rejected the laws, which it grudgingly labelled a “distorted,” regressive, and unpatriotic enactment that can cause further hardship for workers. NLC President Joe Ajaero demanded a review, alleging lack of consultation and calling for the suspension of the “unpatriotic” tax policies that lack the face of justice. The union leader omitted the benefit of exceptions. He also failed to explain how renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) can affect workers’ welfare.
But the attention of Nigerians, particularly those from the financial sector, was arrested by the KPMP’s analysis, which alluded to what it called multiple errors and gaps in the consolidated laws, which the reputable firm apparently failed to point out earlier during the consideration of the Bills at the parliamentary hearings and perusals.
To the extent that the firm could not adequately avail itself of the opportunity of pointing out those hidden gaps and errors, particularly during the public hearing organised by the National Assembly, some observers tend to argue that the firm’s post-assent observation is an afterthought meant to perforate an iron-cast legislation designed for the benefit of the masses.
Certain professional firms are indeed entitled to engagements with policymakers and drivers to foster an understanding of the scope, focus, and limitations of the legal frameworks and the basis for improvement. Since society is dynamic, such interactions may be essential to the evolution of new ideas in aid of the current law, thereby making strategic amendments imperative in the future.
As the implementation of the law was about to commence, business barons and other tax evaders, who perceived themselves as the targets of the visionary and revolutionary initiatives, became weary to stand on the way until their propaganda overwhelmed the low-income earners, taking along the gullible.
The trick was to mobilise the poor and the indigent and expand the scope of feeble resistance to the pieces of legislation that do not have the potential to hurt even the middle class.
But the gap in constructive criticisms remained open due to the deliberate omission by subjective critics of the N800,000 annual tax-free threshold. If an intervention by a tax regime does not bridge or close the gulf between the rich and the poor, it is not meaningful and progressive. Here lies the friendliness of the law, its captivating beauty, its human face, its human heart and milk of human kindness.
The significance of the tax reforms is the relief to the masses – the average worker – through the increased disposable income achieved through the exception. Taxes on rent and essential electronic transfers below ₦10,000 and multiple taxation on small businesses have been removed. The goals is to lower inflation, foster equity by taxing high earners more, and boost infrastructure investment.
As small companies with lower turnover are exempted from certain taxes, they are allowed to grow, and the threshold for company income tax is increased to ₦50 million yearly. If all these are properly explained to the average worker, the propaganda of those enlisting them into an unnecessary battle against the Federal Government would be futile.
If, in pursuance of harmonisation and greater efficiency, the small taxes at federal, state, and local levels are merged, would the burden on small traders and informal workers not cease?
If stamp duties are removed for many, and electronic money transfers below ₦10,000 are also exempted, would daily transactions for the average person not be smooth?
If higher taxes on large corporations and wealthy individuals are designed to fund efficient public services, infrastructure, and social amenities, is it not in the national interest?
If the projected five-year tax exemption for companies in the agricultural sector is achieved, would it not lower food prices and boost food security?
Since these tax reforms are designed to shift the focus from taxing poverty to taxing prosperity, the burden on the average Nigerian is reduced while national economic stability is enhanced.
The fear of taxation, right from the beginning, has always motivated individuals and organisations to dodge the patriotic duty of payment. A great advantage is the push towards economic formalisation, and the large informal sector, which often made revenue collection a herculean task, is tracked. The expansion of the net is bound to reshape the economy.
To many analysts, the Tinubu administration has effected a paradigm shift by halting the fragmented, old-fashioned, and inefficient tax system that has not yielded optimal revenue and continued to sustain the poor fiscal environment that frustrates growth.
The hidden Value Added Tax (VAT) is removed from consumer prices, but input VAT on assets and overheads is reviewed. The VT rate, still at 7.5 per cent, presents a more competitive outlook than the 15 per cent in Ghana, 16 per cent in Kenya, and 15 per cent in South Africa.
Also, the moderate cut in corporate income tax rate to 25 per cent is more favourable than the 30 per cent in Kenya, 27 per cent in South Africa, and 25 per cent in Ghana. Also, the five per cent excise tax on airtime in Nigeria has been reversed, compared to 15 per cent in Kenya and five per cent in Ghana.
Accordingly, the top marginal tax rate for high-income earners is 25 per cent in the country. It is lower than the 35 per cent in Ghana and Kenya or 45 per cent in South Africa. Nigerian small-scale businesses pay a zero per cent corporate tax rate compared to about three per cent of turnover in Kenya and Ghana. A feature of the VAT design is the widening of the input VAT recovery to assets and overhead as tax administration and compliance become more digital, with much reliance on tax intelligence and risk-based audit.
Another advantage is the introduction of clearer guidelines for taxation, which would encourage businesses and individuals to register formally. The path to formal financial services, credit facilities, and government support programmes is open to individuals and small organisations. The beauty of formalisation reflects in the resultant transparency, the reduction of bureaucratic bottlenecks, and greater opportunities for wider participation in the economy. The overall result is the anticipatory increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through a proper focus on production in a conducive economic climate.
If over 90 per cent of micro and small businesses are out of the “tax-paying” bracket for major taxes – Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Withholding Tax, VAT, and Development Levy – leading to lighter compliance expectations, and big businesses pay more, there is a reduction in gaps that tend to promote fairness and equity. By ensuring that higher-income individuals and profitable corporations pay more, the pressure on low-income earners is removed.
As wealthier citizens contribute proportionally more to national development, resources are redistributed without the regression to subsidy, which is appropriated by the rich.
Also, the opportunity for investment and business growth is enhanced through incentives to investors in many sectors, such as technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and renewable energy. Indeed, as anounced by the tax curator, Taiwo Oyedele, all investors in the capital market are eligible for capital gains tax exemption with over 99 per cent exempted unconditionally based on a threshold of N150 million proceeds and N10 million gains in any 12 months’ period.
Nigerians can now track how tax revenues are utilised, thereby holding both government and corporate bodies accountable. The added benefit of transparency is that projects that benefit citizens, such as hospitals, schools, and other public infrastructure, can better be funded by the government.
However, public enlightenment about the essence of taxation should be intensified. This will puncture the misinformation and disinformation machination of opposition figures who, for long, have been the major parasites on the economy and the nation’s astute biggest tax evaders.
These, surely, are not the best of times for bandits, terrorists and other heartless anti-social elements who for years have made life unbearable for innocent Nigerians in Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Adamawa, Niger, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and other parts of the country. Their cup is full and the security agencies, aided by unprecedented support from America, are poised to return their ‘favours’ in the same measure as they had dished out to hapless citizens. They gave no quarter in the execution of their evil agenda and would get none from the military.
From Sokoto and Niger to Kogi and Kwara states, the marauding beasts are finally feeling the heat. Their camps are in disarray from ground and air offensives launched by security agents. If the age-long submission of famous physicist Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion was previously lost on them, they must by now have embraced the reality that every action must necessarily provoke an equal and opposite reaction.
In the perspective of a patriot, the optics from the nation’s security situation in recent weeks can hardly be more gratifying. It all began with American President Donald Trump’s famous social media post in which he threatened that American forces would invade Nigeria “gun-a-blazing” to end what he called genocide against the Christian population. While the debate raged on his flawed claim that only Christians were being killed by terrorists and bandits, the American President made good his threat in the night of December 25 last year with the launch of precision strikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State. The American President would later announce the gesture as his Christmas gift to bandits who a few days earlier had vowed to make Christmas a moment of grief for the hapless Christian population.
Trump’s action became a shot in the arm for the nation’s security agents who have since taken the fight to the terrorists in their enclaves in Borno, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and elsewhere. In Kogi State, for instance, the residents could heave a sigh of relief for the first time in many months after a recent invasion of some forests in the state where Ayere and Obajana, two previously obscure communities, suddenly became household names on account of their notoriety as hotspots for kidnapping. The two communities, which are gateways between the northern and southern parts of the country, had become nightmares for travellers.
A day hardly passed without a heart-rending story of commuters waylaid by dare-devil bandits who goaded them into the bush and subjected them to untold torture while also demanding as ransoms from their anxious relations sums huge enough to build a modern stadium. In a particularly pathetic instance, the bandits abducted a nursing mother from a passenger bus on her way from Lagos to Abuja, forcing her to leave her teething baby in the commercial bus they were travelling while they marched her and other travellers into the bush.
The foregoing considered, it is difficult not to be excited by the will Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo has demonstrated in the fight against banditry in the state. Announcing government’s breakthrough in a press statement, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, attributed the success of the sustained war against banditry and terrorism in the state to series of highly successful precision operations carried out by coordinated joint security forces including the Nigeria Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with support from the Nigeria Police Force.
He said: “The coordinated strikes and ground battle led to the destruction of several bandits’ camps, the dismantling of their criminal networks and the neutralization of many criminals with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries. Initial feedback from affected communities has shown renewed confidence in the capacity and commitment of our security forces to decisively end banditry and kidnapping, not only in Kogi State but across the country.”
Besides Kogi, there have been reports of precision air interdiction operations in Zamfara State, striking Turba Hill and Kachala Dogo Sule’s camp in Tsafe Local Government Area, which, according to the Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, engaged multiple active structures, “triggering intense fires that destroyed bandits’ facilities, neutralized many of them and crippled the group’s IED production and deployment capacity. In Sokoto, troops of the Lakurawa terrorist group are being forced to migrate towards Niger Republic as the heat from air strikes becomes unbearable.
Unfortunately the security agents have not only the bandits and terrorists to contend with but also the army of cynics who see nothing in the successes being recorded against the anti-social elements. The cynical reactions, especially on the social media, are such that leave one wondering who their authors are supporting between terrorists and the nation. In extreme cases, many of them serve as informants to bandits and even supplied food, fuel and weapons to them in their hideouts. Even the traditional media is complicit in many cases. They gleefully report every incident of killing or kidnapping by terrorists but look away when security agents turn the table.
But whether they like it or not, Nigeria is winning the war against banditry and terrorism. Only last week, Nigeria took delivery of new weapons from America; a reassuring development after Trump’s pledge to work with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an end to the dare-devil groups.
The title of this commentary reflects a question asked wherever people gather – on buses, in bars, and at parties. Modern life revolves around the reliable provision of electricity, water and mass transit. Without power, the simple task of pumping water becomes nightmarish; relying on handheld pumps is a physically exhausting struggle.
Dealing with our so-called electricity distribution companies is like living through a series of ‘tales of the unexpected’. It is a tragicomedy of the highest order! Many have endured the harrowing frustration of failing to load prepaid meters for days, even after payments have been cleared on their apps. And when the credit finally loads, there is zero guarantee that the power will actually follow. It is utterly ridiculous!
In effect, the consumer is forced to ‘gift’ these companies with interest-free loans for services they may never see. Unlike almost any other industry, these firms enjoy the luxury of idling on hundreds of millions in ‘prepaid’ funds while the customer is left unserved. The chance to squeeze easy profits out of these idle, trapped funds is irresistibly mouthwatering. Any business handed such an unusual windfall should, by all rights, be running at peak efficiency.
To put it in context, no one pays for goods at a supermarket or fuel at a station only to return a month later to finally collect what they bought. Yet, this is the ‘Eldorado’ these power companies enjoy – a dream scenario that any other business would kill for.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) is having a field day, acting with the typical arrogance of a monopoly that knows its customers have nowhere else to go. Right now, the consumer is holding the short end of the stick, forced to grin and bear it simply because Nigeria lacks the kind of small-claims courts that Margaret Thatcher so famously championed in the UK.
A court like that would finally give ‘David’ – the everyday consumer – the stones to take on the Goliath of monopoly power. Under that system, the state actually backs the little guy with legal aid, trials are wrapped up in weeks, and justice is swift. With the threat of heavy punitive damages hanging over their heads, these high-and-mighty firms would quickly realize that pocketing money for services they don’t deliver is a gamble they can no longer afford to take.
If, for instance, hundreds of consumers were to file individual claims or join forces in a massive class-action suit, IBEDC could find itself facing crippling liabilities that would threaten its very survival. Sadly, only Lagos and perhaps one or two other states have bothered to set up these small-claims courts. We don’t yet know how effective they’ve truly been, but their very existence is a hard-won victory for the everyday person. Every state in Nigeria must follow suit. It is the only way to finally put these broken monopolies and cartels under the microscope and hold them to account.
In a country like Nigeria, where institutions are often weak, inept, or outright corrupt, taking on Goliath is a Herculean task. The average consumer simply doesn’t have the funds or the legal aid to survive a judicial process that can drag on for fifteen or twenty years. He or she is up against a behemoth with the cash flow to hire the priciest lawyers – experts who know every trick in the book to keep a case stuck in court for decades. It is a system that breaks the faint of heart and, frankly, is a total waste of time.
This is exactly why monopolies like the IBEDC don’t bother themselves with the fact that they are meting out such blatant injustice to people who have already paid for services they never receive. What we are seeing is a clear, painful confirmation: the entire electricity ‘privatization’ remains a catastrophic policy failure!
Take Australia, where the debate keeps circling back to public ownership as the only way to ‘reboot’ a broken system. You don’t just flip a switch; it takes years of gutting the rot from the inside before any kind of private market can actually function. In Nigeria, however, that kind of disciplined turnaround feels like a pipe dream, for reasons we all know too well! The political will to act for the people – or the consumer – is nowhere to be found.
This means the radical surgery needed to save the patient is simply not on the table. Instead, the country will keep stumbling over obstacles to real growth and job creation, held back by an electricity framework that is as incompetent as it is laughably inept. No amount of foreign investment can help a nation achieve true progress under such conditions.
While the Federal Government has made commendable strides in stabilizing the macro-economy, it must now pause and face the rot in our electricity market. It must summon the courage for the brutal, inescapable surgery the system requires. It is better late than never!
Electricity providers also subject consumers to unfair billing practices through crumbling grid maintenance and sheer operational sloppiness, leaving us to suffer through frequent, soul-crushing blackouts. In a cruel twist, we – the consumers – end up paying for this unreliability through our tariffs, effectively subsidizing the provider’s own failure to deliver the power they promised and we paid for. Worse still, these providers pass the bill for their own waste directly to us.
Whether it’s the cost of running ancient, gasping power plants or the massive amounts of electricity lost through leaky, broken transmission lines, the consumer picks up the tab through opaque regulatory loopholes. These losses – where energy literally evaporates before it even reaches your door – become a hidden tax on every monthly bill. It is a scandalous arrangement: the Nigerian customer is forced to pay for ‘ghost’ energy they never actually touched, saw, or consumed.
This exploitation isn’t an isolated incident; it is a nationwide epidemic that raises ugly questions. Why isn’t IBEDC issuing official receipts for the massive sums squeezed out of communities under the guise of ‘replacing’ equipment? Are these levies even recorded for auditors to see? We don’t see this nonsense in the telecoms sector. MTN, Airtel, and Glo face constant vandalism, often in remote and dangerous areas. Yet, has anyone ever seen a telecom giant text customers in Ijebu-Jesa, Kontagora, or Umudike asking for contributions to fix a vandalized base station? Of course not. So why does IBEDC get a pass?
Why are consumers forced to pay for fixed assets like transformers and cables – items that belong to the company, not the people? When communities bow to these demands, they are essentially ‘gifting’ infrastructure to a private firm. They are paying for the very tools the company will use to bill them later. It is a blatant double-taxation on the poor that has no place in a civilized economy.
This isn’t just a grievance; it’s a practice that raises grave questions about regulatory compliance and consumer exploitation. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be granted a federal mandate to forensically audit community levies collected over the last five years.
When audits do occur, the paper trail for these unrecorded contributions remains suspiciously opaque. No reputable firm would gamble its global standing on such murky financial channels. If a functional state truly exists in Nigeria, the regulators – and mutatis mutandis, Parliament and the police – should have demanded answers years ago.
May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!
“To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.” — G. Edward Griffin
The media, since December of last year, has been in a reporting frenzy over a systemic monumental sleaze involving the federation’s immediate past number one legal officer. Abubakar Malami, SAN, while serving as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, had no foreboding that an agency that is once under his control in the Justice Ministry, the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will one day confidently invite, detain and arraign him, his wife and son, in a court of law over alleged corruption committed while in office.
But today, it has happened to him, hitting him like a thunderbolt. Reflectively, such self-inflicting happenstance can never be ruled out in the lives of those currently serving in different positions across the country after leaving office. The remedy is for them to strive to overcome official financial misconduct.
Through a court order, EFCC has secured a temporary forfeiture of 57 properties worth N212.8billion said to belong to Malami, his wife, and son. This is perhaps the biggest corruption case, so far from a single family of a former or serving public office holder under this democratic dispensation. And this leaves much to be desired about how fast the once cherished family values in our communal lives are fast eroding from our society. This singular incident of privileged human insatiable greed involving Malami and family, with other laughable unresolved corruption cases pointedly indicates why the country, in the midst of God-given resource-endowment, may forever be struggling for real greatness by remaining avoidably poor.
From being an unknown/unrated corporate lawyer/attorney in 2015, Malami, by sheer providential luck of being appointed by demised President Mohammadu Buhari, had magically, in eight years of two terms of that epoch (November 2015-May 2023), reportedly amassed stupendously huge unexplained wealth to the admiration of a largely morally bankrupt society and to the chagrin of few right thinking Nigerians.
Malami now faces EFCC’s 16-count charge, including an infraction of Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable under Section 15(3). Alongside his wife, Bashir Asabe; son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, allegedly used Rahamaniyya Properties and Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder about ₦9 billion with which they bought thirty choice houses littered across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and other states. The houses are believed to have a current street value of N212.8billion. All the houses were believed to have been clinically acquired during his eight years of serving in the government of the late President Buhari.
Malami and family, after meeting bail conditions stipulated by the judge, returned to Kebbi, his home state, where a shameful spectacle occurred. They insensitively rode in a chartered private jet to a waiting crowd of jubilating relatives and supporters. This shameful display involving key suspects in a N212.8 billion money laundering case sadly underscores how low our contemporary but mostly depraved communities have sunk.
This perhaps explains why the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index graciously ranked the country 140th out of 180 countries. In a total corruption rating score of 100, the country scored a paltry 26 marks, far below the global average pass score of 43. This result, reflects a dip from the position of 136th out of 174 captured most-corrupt-countries in 2014.
What the Malami and family’s alleged corruption infamy tells us is that our society as a collective is fast becoming abysmally irredeemable from the firm grip of corruption. Illegal dipping of hands in public tills has sadly become a norm rather than an exception. Becoming the order of the day are: Inflated project costs by government officials in tandem with contractor allies, outrageous commissions on negotiations done on behalf of the government, setting aside of brilliant policy initiatives except such allow for personal aggrandizement, and a shoddy handling of anything government works to give room for pursuits of filthy lucre, amongst others.
This is why at this point in the nation’s most recent history, the country’s immediate-past number one legal officer, wife, and son, without being known for having hitherto engaged in any identifiable industry or productive engagements/venture can allegedly amass such stupendous wealth and properties. No wonder that the family system as a veritable foundation of societal values have overtime been destroyed by especially governmental kleptocrats.
Malami at one time sadly sat over a ministry that wrote and approved legal opinions relied upon in the prosecutions of criminals when he himself is entrapped in questionable ‘mens rea.’ It won’t be hyperbolic to state that this probably symbolized amongst the privileged class in the country, a syndrome that has haughtily affirmed corruption as having assumed a toga of crime without conscience – with no serious consequential repercussions – once the right bargain is struck.
Perturbingly, our society has been routinely celebrating unrestrained individualism over our communal good and well-being. Several looting of public treasury by individuals in government, running into trillions of Naira have continued unabated with several others waiting for their opportunity. The Emefiele Central Bank scandal is fast fizzling from public consciousness. Diezani Allison-Maduekwe is also fast becoming history. The case of the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris who was accused of stealing tens of billions of Naira may never be revisited again. The Abdul-Rasheed Maina pension fund stealing scandal has equally become history. The subsidy thieves are busy enjoying looted trillions of Naira in their various communities while other Nigerians are now paying the price of government’s ineptitude in handling its oil operations. Of major concerns here is how to resolve or tackle this moral question of celebrating intellectual corruption that gives the elites in government especially, the myth of unchallenged privilege.
There is class culpability in what we have accused Malami of. This is because very few families of politically exposed persons can be exonerated from the Malami corruption malady because it is something that is routinely practiced while our poverty-stricken populace, as spectators, pitifully hail such disgusting acts of odious criminality. If truly the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, are effectively watchful of elites in government, Malami could not have brazenly committed these alleged crimes, notwithstanding his being in power at the time.
These three societal institutional watchdogs looking the other way, can only give a false sense of temporary invincibility to those currently serving in government and their families that they can do anything and go scot-free for as long as they remain in power. Someone needs to remind them that whatever protection they enjoy now by virtue of being in power is temporary. Recent history has shown that the long arm of justice, even though grinds slowly, will eventually catch-up with such people at the end of their tenure.
Another peril against cleansing our societies of the filth of corruption is always the reappearance of publicly known looters of public tills in successive governments. Examples of powerful public till robbers that meandered their ways back to appointive/elective positions litter the entire political landscapes. Ayn Rand’s inimitable words gave an insight into the consequences of unrestrained looting in any country with his graphic description of a doomed society to be one in which “corruption is being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice.”
Our society needs redemption from the pangs of avoidable official sleaze committed by mindlessly avaricious past and present government officials that have ascribed law to a cobweb that holds only the weak while the strong/mighty effortlessly passes through, unruffled. Most Nigerians believe that Malami, despite the alleged corruption charges hanging on his neck, might soon be forgiven and told to sin no more. They sarcastically say, this is Nigeria where anything goes, after all.
Something urgent has to be done about official corruption because of its destructive influence on the country’s general wellbeing. Noam Chomsky succinctly captures the malady’s rapaciously debilitating effect when he declared: “Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.” Our societal foundations are being destroyed by the corruption cankerworms.
To save our society from the hundreds of corrupt public officers and families lurking around the corridors of power and tormenting our forward-movement at the various levels in this federation, I beckon on all, including especially the traditional rulers as royal fathers to kindly act as patriots by rejecting public till robbers in our communities. Our royal fathers as traditional leaders of our communities must henceforth start denying such pen-rogues of prime chieftaincy title recognitions to restore community integrity and sanctity. We owe ourselves the task of ensuring that condemnable acts of stealing in government stands exposed, anytime and anywhere.
The urgent need to address climate change has led to a growing consensus on the importance of decarbonization. This procedure involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (Co2), to mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, decarbonization is not a one-size-fits-all effort. Different countries, industries, and communities face unique challenges and opportunities in their transition to a low-carbon economy. Decarbonization is a complex strategy and requires a multifaceted approach that takes into account various factors, including:
Economic development: Countries at different stages of economic development have varying capacities to invest in low-carbon technologies and infrastructure.
Energy mix: The composition of a country’s energy mix, including fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables, influences its decarbonization pathway.
Technological advancements: The availability and affordability of low-carbon technologies, such as solar panels and electric vehicles, impact decarbonization efforts.
Policy and regulation: Effective policies and regulations are crucial for driving decarbonization, but their design and implementation vary across countries.
Public acceptance and behavior: Decarbonization requires changes in individual behavior and societal norms, which can be influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors.
Country-Specific Decarbonization Pathways:
Countries with different economic, energy, and technological profiles require tailored decarbonization strategies. For example:
Developed economies: Countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan can focus on transitioning their existing infrastructure to low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Developing economies: Countries like Nigeria, India, Brazil, and South Africa need to balance economic development with decarbonization efforts, leveraging low-carbon technologies to fuel their growth.
Oil-exporting economies: Countries exporting oil as main stay for their income must diversify their economies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and invest in low-carbon industries.
Industry-Specific Decarbonization Strategies:
Different industries have unique decarbonization challenges and opportunities:
Energy sector: Transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
Transportation sector: Promoting electric vehicles, improving fuel efficiency, and developing alternative fuels like hydrogen.
Industry sector: Improving energy efficiency, switching to low-carbon production processes, and developing CCS technologies.
Local communities can play a vital role in decarbonization efforts:
Community-owned renewable energy projects: Community-led initiatives can develop and own renewable energy projects, such as wind farms or solar cooperatives.
Energy efficiency programs: Communities can implement energy efficiency programs, such as building insulation and retrofitting, to reduce energy consumption.
Sustainable transportation initiatives: Communities can promote sustainable transportation options, such as car-sharing, bike-sharing, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Conclusion: Decarbonization is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires tailored approaches for different countries, industries, and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach will not be effective in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by each country and industry. Instead, policymakers, businesses, and communities must work together to develop and implement context-specific decarbonization strategies that balance economic, social, and environmental considerations.
By acknowledging and addressing the diversity of decarbonization challenges and opportunities, we can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Dr. Adebayo Matthew, Adeleye (Ph.D., Ibadan). Researcher on Environmental Pollution and Control badeleye@gmail.com +234 803 525 6450
Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has been awarded Governor of the Year by New Telegraph Newspapers.
The award is in recognition of the giant strides his administration has made in the education sector.
The award will be conferred on him during the award ceremonies coming up later in the year.
Within the first year of the administration, it has constructed over 100 schools, employed over 6,000 teachers and increased subvention to tertiary institutions which saw Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma having its subvention increased from N41 million monthly to N500 million.
Listing some other achievements of the Governor, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, mentioned the construction of new workshops, procurement of sophisticated equipment and strengthening technical colleges across the state.
” The state government has also signed international partnerships that have seen many teachers and students from the state going abroad to study and learn. The governor has also increased the subvention to Edo University, Iyamho from N25 million monthly to N250 million. We have done the digitalisation of certificates across schools, and anybody anywhere can have access to their certificates.
” There is also the construction of six-kilometre internal roads in the only state owned polytechnic in Usen after 23 years of its existence via partnership with the NDDC. We have introduced bursary payment to students after 20 years. There is also the ongoing dualisation of Ekpoma Road with concrete and fixing of street lights with support from President Bola Tinubu to ease the age-long suffering of both students and commuters
” Also, it is the administration that resolved the predicament of 128 medical students of AAU who could not be inducted four years after graduation. The same way the government resolved the issue of 810 nursing graduates of the university who were not inducted. Similarly, over 1,000 students who had irregularities in their admission processes with JAMB were unable to be mobilised for the NYSC scheme until the governor stepped in.
” The government is not relenting as there is the ongoing construction of 600 hostel capacity in AAU, as well as the ongoing work on two in one 500 sitting capacity lecture theatre in AAU. Teachers welfare is also top priority and our teachers have never had it so good. There is also this strategic partnership with NELFUND to ensure no child in Edo tertiary institution is sent home because of school fees,” he said.
Iyamu noted that the recognition given Governor Okpebholo was well deserved and that it would spur him to do more, adding that more are still coming.
Several fully funded scholarship opportunities are available for Nigerian students in 2026, covering undergraduates, masters, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies across multiple regions. These scholarships are designed to reduce financial barriers while offering access to world-class education and professional development.
Here are the fully funded scholarship opportunities you should look out for:
Global & Intercontinental
* Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2026 – Deadline: February 27, 2026 * Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship 2026/2027 – Deadline: January 31, 2026 * Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) 2026 – Deadline: January 14, 2026
Europe
* Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2026
* JANUS (Applied Security and Defence) – Deadline: March 6, 2026 * META (Manufacturing 4.0) – Deadline: February 15, 2026 * GLOBED (Education Policies) – Deadline: February 12, 2026
* Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP), Wageningen University, Netherlands – Deadline: February 1, 2026
* DAAD Scholarships (Germany) 2026/2027 – Deadlines vary by course
* University of Manchester Humanitarian Scholarship – Deadline: March 31, 2026 * University of Southampton GREAT Scholarship (£10,000 tuition support) * Chevening Scholarship (UK Government) – 2026/2027 applications open later in 2026
North America & Australia
* Australia Awards Scholarships 2026 * Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University (USA) * McCall MacBain Scholarship, McGill University (Canada)
Regional & Special Interest
* Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Scholarship, Qatar * TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship – Deadline: March 15, 2026 * Nigerian Law School Scholarship Programme 2026
Together, these scholarships present valuable opportunities for Nigerian students seeking fully funded education abroad and at home in 2026, across diverse fields and academic levels.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Conakry, the Guinean capital, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima was received on arrival by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony scheduled for Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium.
Doumbouya’s inauguration follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, formally bringing to a close a four-year military transition and restoring constitutional governance in Guinea.
Shettima’s presence at the ceremony underscores Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its sustained commitment to democratic rule and political stability across the sub-region.
Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Nigeria has continued to position itself as a stabilising force in West Africa, advocating democratic governance as a foundation for regional peace, security and shared prosperity.
The visit is also expected to serve as a strategic engagement to deepen bilateral ties and expand the economic corridor between Nigeria and Guinea, reinforcing cooperation in trade, investment and regional integration.
