The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • The Multichoice fine

    The Multichoice fine

    •The company has a right of appeal. But regulatory agencies should avoid a situation like this

    MultiChoice Nigeria, a subsidiary of MultiChoice Africa is unarguably the leading pay television service company in the country. The company was launched in 1994 as a joint venture between Multichoice Africa and Adewunmi Adesanya, an entrepreneur, to provide subscriber management services to DSTV subscribers in Nigeria.

    Before the arrival of Multichoice in Nigeria in 1994, there were smaller cable TV companies but most, if not all, had fallen off the cable TV radar due to a number of socio-economic factors. Since the arrival of MultiChoice and its DSTV, some other companies like HITV, MITV, Startimes, etc. have come on the scene, but not all have stayed the course. Startimes has been on and somehow attempted to get a chunk of the Nigerian market, but Multichoice, through its brands and sponsored programmes, seems dominant.

    Their partnerships with Sky Sports for the broadcast of international football leagues, sponsorship of Big Brother Africa (BBA) and Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) and partnership with the Nigerian film and entertainment industry, Nollywood/AfricaMagic had made them very popular. It also helps that they now have most Nigerian local TV channels in their bouquets. Their services have been above average in terms of consistency and service delivery across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

    Read Also: MultiChoice Nigeria to appeal tribunal’s N150m fine, free subscription

    However, the recent fine by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Multichoice Nigeria, of the sum of N150m and to provide its Nigerian customers with one month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages for disobeying its orders which restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the determination of the suit brought before it. The suit had been filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who said the eight-day notice given by the company for its price increase was inadequate.

    The first increase in DSTV subscription was in 2009 but MultiChoice introduced the low cost bouquet then at N1,500. In 2011, there was another increase to the premium and compact bouquets, leaving the lower ones unchanged. In August 2012, there was a 10% increase across all bouquets. In 2015, there was another 20% increase. In all these, the premium bouquet, which is popular amongst the elites has been increased by 55% in eight years, the access bouquet has attracted 26% increase. The company has about 6.7 million subscribers in both Nigeria and South Africa. However, given the population and economic power of Nigeria, they have a higher percentage of the subscribers.

    In a way, MultiChoice enjoys a seeming monopoly of the Nigerian cable TV market. Many Nigerians have criticised the incessant price increases but the management maintains that the increases are neither manipulative nor punitive. They point out that the operating environment continues to change, making it more difficult for the company to maintain a steady price for its services. They always draw attention to the inflationary economy that affects the cost of doing business in Nigeria as it affects every other company.

    Paradoxically, MultiChoice Group, has reported a $38 million loss before tax in its financial year ended March 31, 2024, attributing the loss to currency volatility and weak consumer spending. So, the company seems to be impacted by our economic and financial policy issues. However, we believe that when it comes to the law, the company must align with the industry guidelines and make sure that their activities do not breach industry or judicial guidelines and pronouncements.

    However, we believe that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and other relevant agencies that regulate the industry must do better in putting checks and balances in place to avoid similar matters becoming subjects to be adjudicated on by either regular courts or sectorial tribunals. A diligent and constant checks and balances as stipulated in the rules and guidelines setting up such agencies would keep companies on a straight line and save individuals and groups the task of going back and forth in tribunals or courts.

    Nigeria is not the only country that consumes the services of cable TV networks. It therefore follows that the government and its agencies must sit up and be active enough to avoid this kind of scenario. The company is an employer of labour in the country and anything that affects its financial standing will logically impact on the employees as there might be need to downsize by firing some staff. The economy does not grow through such unstable actions.

    We however believe that the company has a right to appeal which it has promised to do but more can be done to avoid the seeming monopoly of the cable market. Government must create the enabling environment to give more companies room for competition as is done in other jurisdictions.

  • Pilgrims or drug mules?

    Pilgrims or drug mules?

    NDLEA should look beyond the veneer of “pilgrims” to un-earth a possible, well-entrenched cabal

    It’s natural to be riled against some so-called pilgrims to Mecca, the Islamic holy land, caught in alleged drug smuggling. That, to not a few, is indeed a new low.

    So, the moral rage is eminently justified. Still, it won’t be the first set of smart Alecs using holy pilgrimage as veil to smuggle drugs into Saudi Arabia. There have even been grim summary executions of Nigerians, after trial and conviction, in that kingdom.

    Which is why we must always look beyond the surface, if we must penetrate the “holy” veneer to reach the vile truth. A deadly drug cartel appears embedded in that route, just as others, where drug mules masquerade as licit travellers. 

    The case of the latest Saudi Four might not be far different. By the raid that led to their arrest, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was not only spot on in their approach, they also harbour no illusion on the enormity of the task. That is to be commended.

    On June 5, NDLEA cells raided an Oshodi, Lagos, hotel, where intending hajj pilgrims were lodged. From news reports, the quad — three men and a woman — were caught, bang in the act,

    swallowing wraps of cocaine, preparatory to their Mecca flight. They were lodged in two rooms, which points to a premeditated gang-up to commit crime.

    The four were Usman Kamorudeen, 31, Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46, Fatai Yekini, 38 and Kemi Ayinla, 34 — the only woman in the quad. They were swiftly rounded up and paraded in public, even if legal rights activists would frown at such a parade as probably prejudicial to trial, since everyone is presumed innocent before conviction.

    Read Also: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

    The swift raid and prompt arrest were awe-inspiring: two hundred wraps of cocaine pellets, weighing a cumulative 2.2 kilograms, had been prepared for two of the suspects to swallow, when NDLEA stormed the room and it was game over — with all the alleged incriminating evidences.

    The intelligence that delivered that was top rate. NDLEA should do more of that. What is left is to press the suspects hard to extract information to nab the real masterminds behind this ring. The balance of facts tends to confirm that indeed, behind it all, is a highly organised and deep-seated cabal.

    So far, the NDLEA comment after this swoop shows the agency has its head screwed in the right place. “The agency will work with our counterpart in Saudi Arabia,” Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman/chief executive said, “to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.” Good talk! Noble goal!

    Still, beyond crime and punishment, NDLEA, supported by the network of religious leaders — and those especially must be concerned — should continue to mount a blitz of enlightenment, on why hard drugs not only ruin the economy, but absolutely destroy lives: lives of otherwise promising youths.

    Even if religious leaders were distracted, they can’t afford to sit on the fence now, not with drug racketeers carving out a chunk of their yearly pilgrims market to traffic their nefarious products — or what can be more cynical than hiding behind Muslim or Christian pilgrimages to be a drug mule?

    But beyond crime and morality, governments at all levels too must create opportunities as a matter of emergency. Yes, crime could be a cold part of the economy or even prosperity, just as inflation (no matter how marginal) goes with economic growth. 

    But it is also true that there is a direct link between enhanced and expanded opportunities in profitable entrepreneurship and gainful employment on one hand, and reduced crime on the other.

    So, the anti-drug war must be fought on the three prongs of a stiff punishment for crime, moral rejuvenation and perpetual policies that promote economic growth and citizen development. 

    It’s no mission impossible. The war can be won hands down.

  • Return of the old National Anthem

    Return of the old National Anthem

    Sir: National anthems are more than mere songs; they encapsulate a nation’s history, values, and aspirations. In Nigeria, a country rich in cultural diversity but often divided along ethnic and religious lines, the national anthem serves as a poignant reminder of unity and collective identity. The reintroduction of Nigeria’s old national anthem goes beyond having symbolic value but has the potential to foster national cohesion and patriotism.

    National anthems play a significant role in nation-building. They are a form of affirmation, akin to a national prayer, that can inspire citizens and remind them of their shared heritage and common goals. The old Nigerian anthem, with its powerful lyrics, speaks directly to the values of unity, justice, and peace, which are crucial for the nation’s progress. It has the potential to strengthen national solidarity and inspire a renewed commitment to Nigeria’s development and prosperity.

    Each stanza of this anthem carries a message that resonates deeply with the ideals necessary for national unity. Stanza 1 emphasizes unity in diversity, reminding Nigerians that despite ethnic and linguistic differences, they stand together in brotherhood. Stanza 2 highlights the national flag as a symbol of truth and justice, values that should guide the nation and be passed on to future generations. Stanza 3 is a prayer for divine assistance in building a just and peaceful nation where no one is oppressed, ensuring prosperity and blessings for all.

    Read Also: Rejoinder to New York Time’s jaundiced report on Nigeria’s current economic situation by Onanuga

    While some critics argue that reintroducing the old anthem is a misplaced priority, it is essential to recognize the broader context of this move. Reinvigorating national symbols can be a step towards addressing deeper issues of national identity and unity. However, for this initiative to be effective, it must be accompanied by genuine governmental actions that demonstrate a commitment to equity and fairness.

    The government must address public grievances and ensure that policies are not just rhetoric but are implemented with transparency and accountability. Nepotism and favouritism should be actively discouraged to foster a sense of trust and inclusion among all Nigerians. By aligning the ideals expressed in the national anthem with tangible actions, the government can reinforce the message of unity and justice.

    The re-introduction of Nigeria’s old national anthem is a powerful tool for national unity and patriotism. It serves as a reminder of the country’s rich history and the values that can guide it towards a brighter future. For this initiative to succeed, it must be part of a broader strategy that includes genuine governmental commitment to equity, fairness, and addressing the grievances of all Nigerians. Through this holistic approach, Nigeria can build a nation where unity in diversity is not just an ideal but a lived reality.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu, Abuja.

  • Nigeria’s unexplored tapestry of heritage

    Nigeria’s unexplored tapestry of heritage

    By Oluwole Ogundele

    An attempt has been made in this article to offer a perspective on the largely unexplored cultural heritage forms in Nigeria. This is with a view to promoting a better country, capable of contributing significantly to the emergence of a richer global order, defined by fine-grained service to humanity. 

    Raising profound questions from time to time, about the essence of our existence at the personal, inter-personal, and societal levels, is critical. A considerable amount of wisdom is embedded in this existential reality. Religious and political dogma has to be thoroughly tamed because it is usually at variance with the exercise of pushing back, the frontiers of knowledge. Socio-political transformations and spiritual discoveries, are ontologically unending. Therefore, it is most worrying, that Nigeria from the dawn of independence to date, has remained an untamed juggernaut, rewarding a few political class members and their cohorts, at the expense of the toiling masses-the producers of our national wealth.

    It is very appalling that most Nigerian political leaders, are regularly in cahoots with the Western world and parts of Asia. This is due to their (politicians) maximum corruption, reflecting spiritual poverty. The ugliness has always been having a drastic domino effect on all sectors of the Nigerian economy. Ayn Rand, a Russian-American philosopher of repute, said in 1957: “When you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you, when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice, then you know that your society is doomed.” PBAT must begin to reset this imbalance, through the lens of cultural revolution. This should be the top priority for him, in order to succeed as president.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Don’t relent in prayers, Audu urges Nigerians

    No society can experience sustainable development without an appreciation and of course, appropriation of its cultural traditions. All well-organised societies around the world, developed on the basis of distinctive cultural values. Culture is an environmental and socio-historical force that propels a country into greatness. This includes agricultural systems, culinary practices, architectural heritage, conflict management systems, burial practices, marriage systems and travels. All these categories/sub-cultures are located in the sphere of performativity. 

    Indeed, this intellectual engagement entails the generation and testing of new hypotheses. In the process, some old assumptions and practices are jettisoned or modified, whenever they constitute a clog in the wheel of progress. In other words, not every aspect of our conventional wisdom is usable today. However, a lot of people, in an undignified hurry, would find the subject of cultural pragmatism very boring and even distressing. It is submitted here, that a critical assimilation of the past, is the panacea for sustainable development in Nigeria. It is a pity, that most Nigerians are victims of smugness-an encumbrance to human progress in a myriad of ways. Most parts of the world practised human sacrifice about 5000 years ago or thereabouts. These places include Egypt, China, Iraq (formerly called Mesopotamia), Britain and Denmark. For instance, the tombs of 1st Dynasty pharaohs were surrounded by graves of their domestic workers or courtiers.

    Most of these societies evolved from savagery/barbarism into civilization. Only a few human societies remain in the dark up to now, understandably because they refuse to raise foundational questions, about their cultural practices within the framework of performativity and by extension, progress. A lot of ancient Nigerians had some considerable knowledge and understanding of the interlink between science, technology and religion, with a special emphasis on iron metallurgy and good governance. That was the secret about their generally unacknowledged intellectual contributions to global civilization.

    Despite the numerous challenges arising from our colonial encounters, Nigerians can still begin to regain their lost self-confidence. Any human being without self-confidence or self-esteem, is like a log of wood. In consonance with a popular Yoruba proverb, “today’s Nigerians are eating food that has no palm oil, even though there is more than enough of it in the kitchen.” In this regard, palm oil stands for our abundant natural and cultural heritage resources. These resources have to be appreciated beyond the scope of cosmetic exercise. There is no harm in showcasing facets of our local dances and music during cultural festivals. But much more attention has to be paid to the material heritage, with a view to translating aspects of it to scientific and technological products for improving the human condition. This is in addition, to engendering the highest cultural standards for politics and by extension, human progress.

     The various Nigerian divinities are deep-rooted in spirituality. Our ancestors during the pre-colonial and early colonial times, used these deities to reduce corruption and power-drunkenness to the barest minimum. That is to say, that deities were used as social control mechanisms among other things. After swearing with the Bible or Koran on assumption of duty, our leaders (with a few exceptions) begin to loot the collective treasury. No factories are established to reduce the unemployment rate and poverty. Consequently, insecurity becomes an untamable monster. Painfully, the causes of material poverty are gullibly explained by the traumatised/dehumanised Nigerians, as the handiwork of witches, as opposed to leadership failure. We must hold our leaders accountable! For goodness sake, let us leave witches and wizards alone! 

    Unsophistication has become fully embedded in the daily life of an average Nigerian.  Not unexpectedly, many religious centres are having a field day, in a society that has its texture woven with threads of monumental ignorance or superstition.

    Our leaders have to begin to take oaths with local divinities. This is with reference to Ogun (Yoruba god of warfare and metals) and Amadiora (Igbo god of thunder and lightning). Each of these divinities is no respecter of persons. Politicians cannot bribe them. Corrupt public office holders are worse than armed robbers. In actuality, they are a glorified brand of the Boko Haram organisation, whose activities are poisonous to the hearts and souls of innocent Nigerians. Let us allow our gods to deal with them decisively. Most politicians are a personification of insane corruption-Nigeria’s deadliest enemy.

    It is time to begin to explore the applied knowledge dimension of our heritage resources in order to move forward. The president, National Assembly members, state governors, ministers, directors-general and ambassadors should stop swearing with the Holy Bible or Koran. Nemesis through this lens is too slow. African religions have no time to waste with gluttonous, thieving public officers, no matter how smart they may be.

    In addition, we should re-configure the Yoruba “juju” called Apeepa, in order to promote modern communication systems, instead of using it (knowledge system) to kill an imaginary or real enemy, even in a country as far afield as Australia. The phones we use today, were/are products of creativity and engineering by fellow humans, not some ghosts. This revolutionary transformation is possible in Nigeria, in the face of strong determination of the critical stakeholders. In this context, healthy collaboration of the government with local scientists, technologists, and cultural resource management experts, is a task that must be done.

    •Prof Ogundele is of Dept. of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan.

  • When vandals are on rampage

    When vandals are on rampage

    By Zayd Ibn Isah

    Few things demonstrate the appalling actions of vandals on the Second Niger Bridge and other public infrastructures across the nation like a particular video which surfaced online recently. In the video, a man is shown tirelessly removing water out of a submerged boat while a woman pours water back into the same boat.

    Although this was meant to be a comic video, I couldn’t help but recognize just how it starkly illustrates one of life’s Sisyphean realities. Simply put, this is when someone’s effort at setting things right is undermined and made to appear futile by the destructive actions of others.

     I understand some of us might blame the actions of the vandals on hunger and lack of employment opportunities, but removing iron coverings from canals and destroying other infrastructures like pipelines and street lights, built with taxpayers’ money, does not justify the actions of the criminals. Eventually, it is innocent commuters working hard to add value to their lives, rather than resort to criminality, that would bear the consequences of these dastardly activities.

     According to Bennet Oghifo and Rebecca Ejigorma, in a 2012 ThisDay article titled “Nigeria: Manhole Covers – a New Attraction for Thieves’’, “There are gory tales of people disappearing without a trace after falling into manholes in the middle of some roads in Lagos. Others are injured after falling into these holes. Motorists have lost their tyres to these holes, some of which have jagged edges caused by unsuccessful attempts by thieves to remove their covers completely.”

    Read Also: Nigeria ‘ll soon overcome challenges — Oyebanji

     Unfortunately, such acts of vandalism not only endanger lives but also disrupt essential services and infrastructure vital for the well-being of communities. The consequences extend far beyond the immediate inconvenience caused by damaged infrastructure. They affect public safety, economic stability, and overall societal progress.

     In 2019, a fresh graduate of the University of Lagos, Adewura Lateefa Bello, was declared missing. After efforts were made to find her, it would later be discovered that she fell into an open manhole during a flood and was swept away. The tragic death of the beloved Adewura, as well as the termination of her dreams and hopes, is made all the more painful when we realize that she would still be alive today, if not for the negligence and insensitivity of several fronts.

     For one, the wicked intentions of the vandal who removes the manhole cover for selfish gain, and then, the inability of officials in charge of road maintenance to quickly spot and deal with this, in ways that would ensure no one suffers from the criminal’s actions. The blame extends even further to us road users who spot these glaring gaps and fail to report them. E no concern me, na government wahala.

     Another online article, this one from Daily Trust of February 14, 2022, entitled “Inside Abuja’s Manhole Of Death”, exposed the dangers and environmental hazards of this form of vandalism. According to the article, these open manholes are all over Abuja, and often result in injuries to unsuspecting pedestrians. One of such victims recounted his harrowing tale of misfortune to Daily Trust, saying that in trying to dodge a reckless dispatch rider, he ended up slipping into a manhole at Finance Bridge in the Central Area. In the article, the victim said, “Immediately I fell into the hole, the water almost reached my neck. I lost my phone and some personal belongings in the hole. I was lucky that a passer-by noticed when I slipped into the death trap, and for this, scores of Good Samaritans were involved in the tediously energy-sapping mission to save my life.”

    Another victim, as detailed in the same article, was less fortunate, having to be hospitalized for months in order to recover from injuries sustained after falling into an uncovered manhole.

     There are similar tales to those ones, and as many have been fortunate to survive, there are others who died from the same avoidable misfortune, and only Almighty God knows if some persons declared missing, simply disappeared within these gaping holes. All of this is enough to fume at. No one deserves to fall victim to another person’s wickedness and negligence in this country of ours, this country which already gives many people untold hardship and suffering. It is high time we collectively re-evaluate the value of a life in Nigeria, if only to assert the importance of protecting public property.

     As much as law enforcement officials have been known to regularly apprehend the unscrupulous elements behind these rampant acts of vandalism, a lot of measures should be employed to curb the act itself and prevent unfortunate harm. Admittedly, installing CCTV cameras in public areas and adding trackers to public property might be steps beyond our current capabilities, but there are still some grounded measures appropriate for our level of enforcement and prevention. How about increasing police presence in areas prone to vandalism, especially during certain periods of high criminal activity? If law enforcement agents are stretched too thin, neighbourhood watch groups can be brought in so that residents can help monitor and report suspicious activities.

     The task of curbing vandalism is one that falls to all of us as Nigerian citizens, and as such, fostering bonds between law enforcement and local communities can result in a stronger deterrent to vandalism. Another proactive measure is in ensuring that rapid repairs and clean-ups are undertaken to protect commuters and pedestrians. Taking this further, awareness can be initiated to inform the public of this menace, especially the role that ordinary citizens can play in helping the authorities. And of course, stiff penalties should be the lot of apprehended vandals. Their activities represent only a slim aspect of what is negative about the Nigerian condition, but by punishing them, others can be discouraged from taking such desperate paths.

     Ultimately, vandalism is a societal problem that extends beyond the removal of manhole covers, even including electrical installations, telecommunication cables and railway tracks. The task at hand might seem daunting by sheer scope alone, but it gets a bit easier when we all commit to it. We all have roles to play in this, and no effort is insignificant, because a simple good act might just be enough to save a life. And as I’ve stressed here, the life of one Nigerian is worth every measure needed to keep all of us safe.

     •Isah can be reached via lawcadet1@gmail.com

  • Intending pilgrims and hard drugs

    Intending pilgrims and hard drugs

    Sir: The recent arrest of intending pilgrims with cocaine hours before their departure for Hajj in Saudi Arabia was a feat for which the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, deserved a standing ovation.

    The details of the arrest, published by the media, indicated that the suspects, four in number, were caught red-handed at a hotel in Oshodi, Lagos at the point when two of them were about to ingest 100 pellets of the illicit drug each.

    It’s hard to image what would have happened to them if they were caught in the holy land. The risk is the death penalty which is the prescribed punishment for drug trafficking in the kingdom and Nigeria would once again be put in a bad light, as a nation of ‘drug traffickers.’

    One way or the other, those suspects have NDLEA to thank for saving their skin, because either they were ignorant of the capital punishment for drug offences in Saudi or they were just daredevil desperadoes trying to fulfil a death wish.

    At the same time, Nigerians, particularly those already in Hajj, have to thank the agency for saving them from embarrassment from their black sheep compatriots. In a country where the Muslim Ummah globally had gathered for a holy pilgrimage, how would they have felt if their Nigerian brothers and sisters were paraded as traffickers of illicit drugs?

    NDLEA has since promised to work with the Saudi authorities to fish out the intended recipient(s) of the consignment in Saudi.

    Read Also: NDLEAnabs 110 suspects, recovers 520.385kgs illicit drugs in Kaduna

    The significance of the NDLEA feat is more pronounced when connected with the statement by the Charge d’affaires/Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy in Nigeria, Kriwat Pharmorabuta. Two weeks ago, the diplomat commended the efforts of the agency under the leadership of Brig. Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd).

    In his words “I have good news that I received as we speak, because before, there were around 800 prisoners from Nigeria in Thai prisons, but right now the number has decreased greatly; it is less than 200. That means it’s very difficult now for them to get out with the drugs. So, I congratulate you and the Nigerian people. I feel pleased because I’m a diplomat in Nigeria and so I love not only my country, I love also Nigeria because Nigeria is my second home. So, when I receive good news like this, I feel very happy which in my opinion is a great feat not just for the agency but for the nation as a whole.”

    One can attest to the fact that NDLEA is one of the best performing agencies in the past three years and this is as a result of the rate at which drug peddlers are being arrested, drug seizures, and eventual prosecution.

    This notwithstanding, the agency still has a lot to do to rid the country of the scourge of illicit drug use and trafficking because cutting the supply will drastically reduce the demand and this is a collective responsibility of everyone not just the NDLEA. Also, it will be of great advantage to the country if the federal government can escalate necessary support in terms of funds, training, and gadgets to make the job easier and also motivate their gallant officers in discharging their duties.

    •Oye Lawal,Gwarimpa, Abuja FCT.

  • Democracy at 25: Slow but steady progress

    Democracy at 25: Slow but steady progress

    Sir: Democracy is the best system of government. It provides room for the citizens to choose their leaders, determine policies of their government, decide laws, guarantee human rights including right to protest, foster innovation, entrepreneurship etc.

    I strongly disagree with the apologists of autocracy and revisionism blaming Western liberal democracy as the reason for Nigeria’s predicament or those who think that in 25 years, Nigeria’s democracy has not grown.

    Nigeria’s democracy is maturing. Take for example, the periodic free and fair election which is a pillar of democracy. The last general election conducted in Nigeria was a testimony to the growth of democracy in the country. It was not by coincidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lost Lagos to Peter Obi; or that Labour Party could defeat APC in the FCT Abuja. We also saw how Dauda Lawan Dare in Zamfara State defeated an incumbent, Bello Muhammad Matawalle. In Kano, we witnessed how NNPP, a new political party defeated APC, the then ruling party.

    All these are true indications that our democracy is growing and that people’s votes actually count. The introduction of technology and other innovations into our electoral system has continued to strengthen our democracy. The massive electoral rigging, including ballot box snatching and stuffing that happened in 2003 and 2007 general elections cannot be replicated today.

    Read Also: Senate Leader Bamidele tasks Nigerians on patriotism, oneness at Eid-el-Kabir

    Today, Nigeria has kissed a goodbye to some authoritarian practices witnessed under Olusegun Obasanjo presidency (1999 to 2007), particularly the interference and overbearing influence of the president himself. Nigerians will recall how former governor of Oyo State, Rashid Ladoja was impeached, the Anambra political saga between Christ Ngige and Christ Uba, how Joshua Dariye was suspended and how the governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyeseigha was removed from office.

    Under the same Obasanjo who is now calling for another type of democracy, we witnessed how the presidency spearheaded the removal of principal officers of National Assembly, imposed party leaders; there was the spectre of political assassinations such as the killings of Chief Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, among others.  It was Obasanjo who destroyed PDP through his imposition of candidates. He also attempted to amend the constitution to pave the way for sit-sight leadership in Nigeria. All these undemocratic practices have become history today as the Nigerian electorate have more voice and more power to vote out incompetent leaders.

    Nigeria’s democracy has ensured respect for the freedom of expression, right to association and peaceful assembly.

    The embedded accountability in democracy has enabled the Nigerian electorate to secure many concessions from the ruling elites. These include enactment of several landmark laws and provision of gigantic projects across the length and breadth of the country.

    Fighting corruption also is more effective under democracy than when Nigeria was under military dictatorship.  EFCC and ICPC for example, have recorded thousands of conviction of treasury looters and other criminals and recovered billions of cash and assets some of which are being utilized for the reconstruction of Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway among others.

    •Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar, Unguwa Katsina.

  • World Day to Combat Desertification

    World Day to Combat Desertification

    Sir: The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed annually on June 17 to call attention of global leaders, the public and relevant stakeholders to comply with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It was adopted on June 17, 1994 in the context of the wave of soaring desertification consuming millions of arable lands around the world thus putting all living creatures in a tight spot and starvation. The chosen theme for this year (2024) is “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future”.

     According to a recent UN survey, every second, the equivalent of four football fields of healthy land is lost to desertification. This implies that 100 million hectares of fertile lands are degraded a year posing catastrophic effects on communities, ecosystems, food security, famine and water resources.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails fathers as true heroes on Father’s Day

     The UN also stated that 3.2 billion people are already impacted by the escalating desertification and 50 million people could be displaced in the next 10 years, making it one of the most serious environmental problems facing the human race.

     More than 24 billion tons of fertile soils vanish from sight every year and two-thirds of our planet is currently undergoing desertification. If no action is taken, 1.5 million sq. km of farmland, equivalent to the entire arable land of India, will be lost by 2050.

     Over the years, the effects of desertification and drought have thrown the 11 states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara into ineffable dilemma, impacting human beings, farmland, water and food production across the country.

     It is therefore imperative that African leaders move speedily to achieve goal 7 of the UN’s SDGs if only to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Doing so is analogous to safeguarding the lives of poor Africans from the health hazards of dirty energy from firewood thus saving the population from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Massive investments in clean energy transition should also be a key part of African governments’ top priorities so as to build a brighter future for generations to come. This will be an indelible legacy for the younger and coming generations.

    •Mustapha Baba,Azare, Bauchi State.

  • Customs’ revealing statistics

    Customs’ revealing statistics

    Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) last week, unveiled startling data on activities of smugglers of petrol around the border states of the country.

    Its Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi while updating the nation on the activities of his agency raised alarm over the renewed smuggling of petrol to neighbouring countries following what he called, the massive hike in the price of the product in those countries. He bandied comparative prices of the product in neighbouring countries and the region to back up his claim.

    Hear him: “While PMS is sold at an average of N701.99 in Nigeria, it is sold at an average of N1,672.05 in the Republic of Benin and N2,061.55 in Cameroon. In other countries around the region, the price of PMS ranges from N1,427.68 in Liberia to N2,128.20 in Mali, averaging  N1,787.57 according to fuel price data obtained from Opensource”.

    That is not all. He further reeled out statistics from the National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on the average daily evacuation of petrol to various states of the country to buttress the smuggling trend. The data shows significant changes in evacuation patterns that are not justified by corresponding economic and demographic changes in states that share contiguous borders with neighbouring countries.

    According to the figures, between April and May, Borno and Kebbi states recorded 76 and 59 per cent increases in evacuations ranking among the top three states. Katsina also recorded more than 50 per cent increase in evacuation raising concerns on the actual delivery of petrol and the potential for smuggling.

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    As a response to this nagging trend, the agency in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA initiated what they called “Operation Whirlwind”. The objective is to dismantle the smuggling cartel and save the nation from the economic and social repercussions that unlawful activity entails. The operation NCS said, paid off handsomely with the arrests and confiscation of smuggled petrol.

    Within seven days, Operation Whirlwind intercepted 150, 950 litres of fuel valued at N105,965,391 in various states nationwide. These included Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River, Ogun, Katsina, Kebbi and Taraba. That was not all. Other seizures amounting to humongous sums of money were equally made.

    It is good a thing the NCS with the assistance of the NMDPRA is monitoring fuel evacuations across the country. It has gone ahead to initiate measures in conjunction with the ONSA to check the rising smuggling of petrol around border states. That some of these states have in the last couple of months, been receiving fuel evacuations that defy demographic and economic reasoning can only be explained by the allure of smuggling.

    Smuggling around our porous and largely unmanned borders is not entirely new. It thrives because of the inability of those in authority to police the borders and unmask the unpatriotic cartel behind the economic sabotage. Smuggling and illegal oil lifting deny the country of the much needed revenue for its development.

    Perhaps, the new initiative by the NCS and the ONSA marks a renewed awareness on the harm which that act of economic sabotage has wrought on the national economy. That is why every effort must be deployed to ensure that the new campaign is sustained and results achieved.

    But the campaign may not achieve its goal without the collaboration of the local population and the traditional institutions in the border states. The smuggling routes are well known to the indigenous people and the traditional institutions in the border states. These groups should be identified and their collaboration sought in stemming the tide of smuggling.

    There should be serious monitoring of the destinations of the delivery trucks. With effective monitoring, diversion will be put to effective check. It will also bar fraudulent officials and their collaborators from ordering supplies that will end up in phoney destinations.

    Here, the job of the security agencies comes into serious calculation. If the speculation that security agencies now accompany delivery trucks to border states are true, the measure should be further reinforced to nip smuggling of petrol in the bud.

    But the observed increase in smuggling of petrol around border states as monitored by the NCS and NMDPRA are as revealing as they are troubling. More than anything, they touch on the controversies that had overtime dogged the fuel subsidy regime. At issue has been the domestic consumption of petrol.

    The most potent argument usually put forward to justify subsidy removal has been the large quantity of petrol consumed domestically. Though the figures have never lent themselves to exactitude, but officials of the government have always argued that the huge savings from subsidy removal will catalyse quantum development when injected into the national economy.

    The argument is that we consume large quantities of petrol daily and a lot of money will be realised from subsidy elimination. This, the promoters of subsidy removal contend will ultimately lead to public good. 

    But this line of argument has always elicited the concomitant question of the precise amount of local fuel consumption for the larger picture to come clearer. That information has remained within the realm of speculation.

    The question has resonated with the revelations from the NCS and NMDPRA. Their records of sporadic rise in the supply of petrol to border states when there are no observed changes in economic and demographic indices, point inexorably to the fact that domestic estimation of fuel consumption may have been largely exaggerated. And any calculations based on such distorted figures will remain largely illusory.

    That is the issue to contend with. It is loaded with the frightening prospects of distorting all the calculations of the government on the quantum of revenue generation from fuel subsidy removal and investments it can generate. That is the startling danger the high incidence of petrol smuggling in border states brings to the fore.

    But smuggling around the border states either of petrol or other essential products are not entirely new developments. They have always been there. The difference in prices between goods produced locally and their counterparts in border countries is the oxygen that sustains the illicit business. The same logic has all these years, been the basis for the campaign on subsidy removal either of petrol or electricity. So the issues raised by the NCS are not entirely new.

    They have always been part of the calculations. And if the price of the product in neighbouring states is influenced by our local price adjustments, there is everything to expect that prices will be higher in those countries now fuel sells for about N900 in some states of the country.

    But the floating of comparative pricing in such other African countries as Liberia and Mali etc., which do not share borders with Nigeria, is an entirely different kettle of fish. The intention of the NCS boss in factoring these into his comparative engagement is not known. But they strike as sad reminders to the type of strategies deployed each time a government seeks to increase the price of petrol.

    It is scary that we are at it again. Coming at a time a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and oil marketers had alleged the government is still paying subsidy more than before, the comparison is suspicious. Though the federal government denied the allegation by El-Rufai, comparisons portraying the country as paying the cheapest price for petrol are highly suggestive.

    This is not the time for such reminders even if the data floated are collaborative. With the excruciating cost of living brought about by liberalisation measures, nothing should be done to exacerbate an already fluid situation.

    The NCS should concentrate its efforts in fighting the menace of smuggling around our border states. It is obvious from the figures released, that Nigerians consume far less amount of petrol than is ordinarily attributed to them. Its message is clear.

     If the current fight is waged to its logical conclusion, it may be possible to know our domestic fuel consumption. Then, the accruable revenue from subsidy removal will become clearer. It may then dawn on us that much of the so-called subsidy ends up in the pockets of the cartel neck-deep in trans-border smuggling of the product.

  • Adedeji: A different kind of taxman

    Adedeji: A different kind of taxman

    By Aliyu Gaya

    Over dinner at the restaurant of the latest five-star hotel in upscale Lagos penultimate Saturday, there was a pervading sense of confidence in the tax ecosystem expressed among diners, a motely crop of corporate Nigeria captains. They had broken off from their meeting at a nearby highbrow club to serenade their mortal bodies with a sumptuous dinner. And my goodness, it was worth the time.

    The talk centred on Zacch Adedeji, the barely nine-month on the job chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). While a lot was said about FIRS, past and present, the industry captains praised President Tinubu for head-hunting a young man who is at home with the rudiments of revenue management in the 21st century economy. Adedeji was spotlighted for a couple of innovations that he brought to bear in revenue management at his new job. He was said to have kept the books open; defined, with clarity, the rules that govern revenue collection under his watch; given a human face to matters of taxes and tax collection and shown a high sense of integrity which also governs the manner FIRS personnel now relate with tax-payers.

    The undeniable undertone in their discussion was that in the past, the FIRS sees every business as an entity to be taxed, but now the same revenue service approaches every business with an attitude to help the business grow, make profit and in the long run pay more tax. This is the concept in modern revenue management. The tax man has ceased to be an unfeeling, stern-face collector. Not anymore! These days, the tax man (revenue man, as they should be addressed) helps to grow the business, sustain the business and collect more revenue from the same business that would have been forced out of existence with over-bearing tax attitude.

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    One of the complaints of business owners in Nigeria is the knotty issue of multiple taxations. Adedeji is helping to navigate businesses out of this ‘complicated nest’, as described by one of the CEOs.

    I was in the company of one of the CEOs of a major construction company in Nigeria and a huge tax payer too. We had arrived in Lagos from Abuja that afternoon for the meeting and I could notice how he was nodding in affirmation, without uttering a word, to the adjectives and kind words used to describe Adedeji. All I could take away from the conversation was that a star will always shine even in the darkest of nights. I felt a sense of pride for the FIRS chief as men older and far more experienced than him, with scars to show for their decades of entrepreneurship and hard knocks in the competitive corporate space, spoke glowingly about his exploits on the job in so short a time. All under-50s in Nigeria should be proud that one of their own is so well-spoken of by persons who, ordinarily, should be his most acerbic antagonists and critics. The tax-man is never loved by the tax-payer, they say. But here’s Adedeji being showered with encomium by the creme de la creme in the tax-paying community.

    Adedeji is already a shining star and has entrenched himself as one of the veritable arrowheads that would help President Tinubu achieve his Renewed Hope mandate. A popular African proverb says that morning shows the day. While it may yet be morning in Adedeji’s four-year journey (which is renewable), his bold and expressive imprints these past months can only help us make the conjecture that the right man for the job is here, primed and fully prepped.

    Now it shows. In first quarter (Q1) of 2024, the Service collected the sum of N3.94 trillion in tax revenue, representing a 56.7 percent jump compared to the figure recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. This is a new lease and it speaks to the leadership style of the man many address by his first name, Zacch. He is said to have no airs, not popped up by vainglory. He is said to lead from the front, a leadership template that he has effectively emplaced in the service. Adedeji is reputed to be an unobtrusive leader. Such leaders are not overbearing. They do not lord it over you and they are not the every-moment-in-your-face leader. They give you enough leg-room to take your own initiative and navigate through the headwinds that assail you as you execute your daily brief. This is the type of leadership that births grand results. Adedeji has established this culture of leadership at FIRS and the impact is a workplace buzzing with innovation, devotion and fresh ideas; a rare meeting of commitment and capacity.

    Already, he has set a lofty target for himself and his team; to achieve a revenue target of N19.4 trillion this year. For a service that grossed about N13 trillion last year, this new target appears unrealistic. But given the interplay of the fresh zeal and dynamics that now define FIRS operations, it’s safe to believe that they will crest the target.

    Staffers of the Service believe that with what Adedeji has engineered out of the old order including migrating FIRS from the drudgery of annual filing of Transfer Pricing Returns, and Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) notifications from e-TPPlat to the TaxPro-Max Platform, using their regular login credentials, the cup is half full, not half empty.

    One of the highlights of the dinner discussion was the window Adedeji gave existing and prospective taxpayers to fulfil all pending filing obligations. That period of grace will last till about two weeks, precisely June 30. This was considered another masterstroke to help businesses grow and not to kill them.

    To make the business of tax collection more people and business-friendly, FIRS under Adedeji waived the administrative penalties as spelt out in the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Regulations 2018 and the Income Tax (Country-by-Country) Regulations 2018. This gave a human face to the process and duty of tax collection. With such gesture, more Nigerians are brought into the tax net. But more importantly, it demonstrates that paying tax is not punitive but a duty.

    Adedeji believes there is a nexus between human capital development and effective tax collection. To connect the dots and achieve his set goal of improved tax collection, he has ensured the continuous upskilling of FIRS personnel and infusion of relevant digital tools into the management of the tax value chain.

    It’s all too obvious that Adedeji’s experience is counting for him. A journey of public service spanning the subnational to the national. From Oyo State Ministry of Finance where he served as Commissioner (2011 to 2015) through the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) where he was the Executive Secretary and CEO to the Presidency where he was Special Adviser to President Tinubu’s advisory team on revenue, he has been exposed to the whole gamut of public finance management. In him, Tinubu has found a worthy and competent enabler as he tries to build a badly damaged economy which he inherited.

    • Gaya, public finance expert, writes from Abuja