The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • House Speaker: Why Tajudeen Abass fits the bill

    House Speaker: Why Tajudeen Abass fits the bill

    SIR: Leadership at every level is all about the people. Any leadership that does not envision programmes in the people’s interests is a failed leadership ab initio. It is for this reason that the next House of Representatives must be led by someone with proven capacity, competence, character, and experience in the business of law-making. This is necessary because the House of Representatives is a House of the people, therefore, it must not only be seen to serve the interest of the people, it must also produce results at all times to show that it remains aligned with the people’s expectations and aspirations.

    It is for this reason that men and women of goodwill everywhere have been clamouring for Hon Tajudeen Abass of Zaria Federal Constituency to be elected the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    His profound experience as a lawmaker started when he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 under the platform of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to represent Zaria Federal Constituency and served as the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance until 2015 when he was re-elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and served as the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals.

    He was once again overwhelmingly re-elected to the Green Chamber in 2019. Aside being the APC Caucus Leader for Kaduna State in the House of Representatives since 2019 and chairman of the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Constitution Review Conference for North-Central in 2021, he was Treasurer of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (African Chapter) in 2019, the same year he was appointed to represent the Northwest in the Governing Council of the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), an appointment he holds till date. Regularly courted for his wealth of experience, Tajudeen has served as chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committees four times from 2015 to 2022.

    Read Also: Northern youths beg G7-members to back Abbas as speaker

    Always seeking to improve the welfare of the people through quality legislative bills and motions, Tajudeen sponsored 43 bills and 13 motions in the 8th Assembly which was the third highest number of bills sponsored by any member. Not known to rest on his laurels, Tajudeen took quality representation and legislative output a notch higher by sponsoring 78 bills and seven motions in the 9th Assembly which was the highest by any member in the House. Twenty of his bills have been assented to by the president, hence, contributing meaningfully to the socio=political and economic development of the country.

    These great feats have singled him out for consecutive awards and honours as the Best Performing House of Representatives member for several years. 

    A lawmaker with such towering credentials who has proved to be a man of his own mind with excellent interpersonal skills cannot be a stooge to anybody and will work with his colleagues, as he has done everywhere, to achieve great things for the House and the people the members represent. 

    Every institution will always put its best foot forward; it cannot and should not be different with the House of Representatives. No matter the factors considered in choosing the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass ticks all the boxes. Humane, cerebral, experienced, transparent, accountable, competent, compassionate and cordial towards colleagues and the people, he has come prepared and committed to be the best Speaker of what will be the best House of Representatives in Nigeria’s history! 

    •Jude Ndukwe, Abuja.

  • Prioritizing Universal Health Coverage

    Prioritizing Universal Health Coverage

    SIR: Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, where the administration of President Bola Tinubu has an opportunity to prioritize and accelerate efforts to ensure affordable and quality healthcare for all Nigerians. With pressing challenges in the Nigerian health system, such as high out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, limited health insurance coverage, and a burden of disease that encompasses both infectious and non-communicable ailments, the need for transformative action is more urgent than ever.

    Nigeria faces a significant hurdle as approximately 75% of total health spending in the country comes directly from the pockets of individuals and families. This places an immense financial strain on households and creates a high risk of impoverishment due to medical expenses. Shockingly, less than 5% of the population currently has any form of health insurance coverage, leaving millions vulnerable to the devastating consequences of inadequate healthcare access. In light of these statistics, the imperative to reduce OOP expenditure and increase the population covered, services covered, and the proportion of costs covered cannot be overstated.

    The country carries a heavy burden of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health conditions, ranking among the highest in the world. Additionally, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) continue to pose significant challenges to the country’s healthcare system. Equally concerning is the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which accounted for 29% of deaths in Nigeria in 2016. This convergence of health issues demands immediate attention and a comprehensive approach to healthcare provision.

    Despite commendable efforts in the past, progress towards UHC targets in Nigeria has been slow. Insufficient public health financing and an overreliance on external support are worrisome, particularly in light of impending donor transitions and reductions in concessional external financing for health. This delayed progress towards UHC is further compounded by the “4Ds” of transition: shifts in demography, disease burden, development assistance for health, and domestic health finance. The changing disease burden, including the rise of NCDs and injuries, coupled with existing challenges in maternal, new-born, and child health, presents a formidable task for the healthcare system. Additionally, the shifting demographic profile of Nigeria’s population, with a significant bulge in the adolescent band, adds complexity to the pursuit of UHC.

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    Addressing these challenges and achieving UHC necessitates intentional efforts and collaboration between multiple stakeholders within the health ecosystem. It requires the unwavering commitment of the new administration, supported by a robust policy framework that acknowledges and addresses these transitions. The success of UHC will depend on the knowledge and capacity of all stakeholders involved, as well as the implementation of relevant policies that take into account the evolving health landscape.

    President Bola Tinubu has an opportunity to set the agenda and place universal health coverage at the forefront of his administration’s priorities. This calls for bold and decisive action, including increased public health financing, the expansion of health insurance coverage, and the strengthening of primary healthcare systems. To achieve these goals, partnerships with international organizations, civil society, and the private sector will be crucial in mobilizing resources, expertise, and innovation.

    One crucial tool that can be leveraged to achieve UHC is the expansion and strengthening of health insurance coverage. By prioritizing health insurance as a key component of the UHC agenda, Nigeria can make significant strides in reducing out-of-pocket expenditure, improving access to essential services, and safeguarding its population from financial hardships due to healthcare costs.

    By expanding the population covered under health insurance schemes, Nigeria can ensure that more individuals and families have access to essential healthcare services without incurring catastrophic costs. This expansion should aim to encompass the most vulnerable segments of society, such as low-income households, informal sector workers, and rural communities. Special attention should also be given to women, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses, as they often bear a disproportionate burden of healthcare expenses.

    To achieve these goals, Nigeria must prioritize key actions. First, there is a need to strengthen the regulatory framework for health insurance, ensuring that it is robust, inclusive, and aligned with the principles of UHC. This includes developing clear guidelines for the establishment and operation of insurance schemes, promoting transparency, and safeguarding against fraud and abuse.

    Second, efforts should be made to promote public awareness and education on the importance and benefits of health insurance. Many Nigerians remain unaware of the options available to them or the rights and entitlements that come with health insurance coverage. Effective communication campaigns, community outreach programs, and partnerships with civil society organizations can help bridge this knowledge gap and encourage enrolment in health insurance schemes.

    Nigeria’s journey towards UHC will not be without its challenges, but with strong leadership and a shared commitment, the nation can overcome these obstacles and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in accessing quality healthcare. President Tinubu has the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by prioritizing universal health coverage, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for all Nigerians.

    •Victor Okeke,

    Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

  • Tinubu: Inheriting a divided nation…

    Tinubu: Inheriting a divided nation…

    SIR: Nigeria of today is a country that is not a nation, a people that are battling to grasp shared value, one that has shared experiences but have refused to hold hands, to dialogue across the Niger, to look for consensus.

    Our stereotypes have further been dragged; in the last eight years, our social, cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity have been stretched. These divisions that have historical roots have been badly handled in the country’s political and social landscape in the last one decade.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must address our ethnic diversity. Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, each with its own language, traditions, and cultural practices. At no time has these ethnic diversities led to tensions and conflicts like now, especially when it comes to issues of resource allocation, power sharing, and representation.

    We need to re-enact our long history of religious coexistence and remember how many communities still practice a combination of traditional religions alongside Islam or Christianity.

    Mr. President, there are socio-economic disparities, with regions varying in terms of development, infrastructure, and access to basic services. The northern region, in particular, has faced challenges related to poverty, illiteracy, and underdevelopment compared to the more economically prosperous southern region. These socio-economic disparities continue to exacerbate the sense of division and marginalization among different parts of the country, as the north has largely held power and the southeast feeling alienated.

    Read Also: Tinubu says security will be top priority of his government

    The APC has retained power but political differences exist, as the landscape is characterized by competition and power struggles between different political parties, regions, and interest groups. In the run up to the last elections, political divisions aligned along ethnic and religious lines, leading to a complex web of allegiances and rivalries. President Tinubu must navigate firmly as this same-difference realities impact policy-making, governance, and the distribution of resources.

    Despite these divisions, the new administration must draw from our rich history of cultural exchange, inter-ethnic marriages, and collaborative efforts among different groups. Tinubu must work out the country’s diversity as a source of strength, providing a foundation for vibrant arts, music, cuisine, and cultural heritage.

    Efforts must be made to address these divisions and promote national unity through initiatives such as dialogue, inter-ethnic and inter-religious partnerships, and inclusive governance. The promotion of shared values, respect for diversity, equitable resource distribution, and fostering a sense of national identity are crucial for building a more unified and prosperous Nigeria. The Nnamdi Kalu debacle, Ibraheem Yaqoub El-Zakzaky, Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers must be handled because Nigerians are divided.

    •Prince Charles Dickson Ph.D.

    pcdbooks@yahoo.com

  • Governance agenda for the incoming administration 

    Governance agenda for the incoming administration 

    By Tufayl Olamilekan Adelakun

    SIR: The incoming administration has the big task of fostering national unity through sincere policies that can strengthen our diversity. Though the APC won the presidential election, the party has a long way to go to win public trust. It is not enough to debunk the speculations that the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket is aimed at the Islamisation of the country; the new administration should really be intentional about running a government of national unity.

    Secondly, security is a paramount duty of any responsible government. The importance of securing the lives and properties of citizens cannot be overemphasized. The outgoing administration scored low on security. According to a report by SB Morgan, about 2,085 persons were killed in Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2021 in violent attacks by terrorist Boko Haram and militia herdsmen and by the end of the year, the number of deaths was estimated to be 10,366.

    Also, according to data sourced from the Council on Foreign Relations, CFR, and National Security Tracker, NST, an estimated 4,545 people were killed by different groups of terrorists and bandits, and incidences of kidnapping stood at 4,611 in 2022. 

    From the aforementioned statistics, it is clear that the incoming administration is inheriting a disturbing security situation and as such it must take urgent steps in addressing the push and pull factors behind these insecurity issues such as abject poverty and unemployment, among others. The security architecture in the country also needs to be restructured in tandem with global best practices and the welfare of the intelligence agents be prioritized to enable them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

     Thirdly, the economy of any nation is a building block for development. Nigeria is regarded as the giant of Africa because of the prospect and strength of its economy. Sadly, Nigeria’s economy has nose-dived under the present administration. Before President Buhari took over power in 2015, Nigeria’s inflation rate averaged nine per cent but since then there has been a surge. Currently, it is above 22 per cent.

    Similarly, the last poverty survey from the NBS showed that more 65 per cent of the Nigerian population, or almost 95 million people, live below the poverty line. The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index further reveals that 63 percent of Nigerians- 133 million people – are multi-dimensionally poor. 

    These indicators are all worrisome. Already, many young Nigerians have lost hope in the country due to the economic woes and are migrating massively to other countries with buoyant and thriving economies. To restore the faith of already-disillusioned Nigerians in Nigeria, the incoming government must take active measures to provide substantial opportunities, create a conducive environment for businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, to thrive by tackling the epileptic power supply in the country.

    Fourthly, the incoming administration must not downplay the critical need to restructure the country. A system that creates competition among the states and geopolitical zones in the country will foster more development and will bring to an end several national challenges facing the country.

    Interestingly, the President-elect Bola Tinubu gave an interesting perspective on restructuring and the national divergences in a speech entitled: ‘A New Nigeria or a Better One: The Fitting Tools of a Great Repair’, delivered at the annual dinner of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association in Lagos in September 2017. Said he at the occasion: ‘We cannot become a better Nigeria with an undue concentration of power at the federal level. Many of the 68 items on the exclusive federal list should be transferred to the residual list…Some items which should be left for the states to handle such as police, prisons, stamp duties, regulation of tourist traffic, registration of business names, incorporation of companies, traffic on federal truck roads passing through states, trade, commerce and census are now on the exclusive list for the federal government.’

    Fifthly, education is key to any nation’s development. The incessant industrial actions by university teachers and the non-teaching staff, the poor state of facilities in schools, poor funding of the education sector, among others are key issues the incoming administration must look into.

    Lastly, the health sector in Nigeria is urgently in need of attention and as such the incoming administration must pay attention to developing it. The Nigerian health sector faces challenges such as underfunding, poor remuneration of medical personnel, brain drain, inadequate facilities, among others.

    • Tufayl Olamilekan Adelakun, Adelakuntufayl79@gmail.com 

  • Let Nigeria remain indivisible

    Let Nigeria remain indivisible

    By Engr. Olasupo A. Oluleye

    SIR: It is not by accident that we are a black race. The Almighty Father planned it so. There are also the white race, the brown race and a race with a mixture of colours. We the black race had experienced slavery. The sweat of the black people built the White House in the United States of America.

    Today, let all races live in peace together. We should remember that as human beings we live forever. Death as a human being is a short span of one’s entire existence. At death, we pass into the beyond. The duration in the beyond varies with each individual – depending on how he or she had fared while on earth – being good or evil.

    The greatness of GOD is that He has built the whole world on three or so simple laws and He doesn’t need to interfere at all. And now in Nigeria’s case; it is not by accident that Nigeria is the largest country in Africa today – in the form of population. At independence in 1960 we had a population of about 60 million. Today we are about 220 million. Let us jointly build a powerful black nation.

    Yesterday’s Egyptians were definitely black people and they built monuments that have stood the match of times. Let us sit down and negotiate what is jointly good for all of us.

    No tribe should dictate to the other.

    No black man or woman carries on his or her forehead that he or she is a Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, Fulani, Tiv or Hausa.

    We all carry our back skin. As a 14-year-old boy, I lived with an English man who was then the Chaplain of St. Andrews College Oyo – then way back in 1953.

    He never showed me that I was black. I traced his home while in the United Kingdom to Norfolk. But at the same time, some whites do not want blacks to get on. Some whites only want to see blacks as hewers of woods and drawers of water. They want to deprive any black nation seen to be powerful, Nigeria inclusive. Those guarding Nigeria must protect Nigeria with all resources at their disposal. They have to be vigilant.

    Some individuals may like to destroy Nigeria. Any Nigerian president should aspire to that post not to accumulate wealth and build many houses but to serve Nigerians – creating wealth and guarding the freedom and liberty of the people. Nigeria is a blessed country. Let those agitating for separation put their arms down and let us build a joint black race – for the glory of the black people.

    I witnessed the dawn of Independence Day in 1960 at Umuahia. It was a glorious day. Today let us not have any religious sentiments – Muslim or Christian. Each person has the free will to choose his or her religion. It is a gift to every human being by GOD.

    • Engr. Olasupo A. Oluleye, Iju, Lagos.

  • Youths and sports betting

    Youths and sports betting

    By Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola

    SIR: Recently, there was a report in one of the Nigerian dailies that a student of The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State committed suicide after losing his and his friend’s school fees to sports betting.

    Betting or gambling is one of the legalized businesses in Nigeria. Nonetheless, there is a question we ought to ask: does the government, after issuing licences to betting companies, monitor their activities?

    One of the rules of the game is that those who are still underage should not engage in betting. Section 34 of the National Lottery Act 2005 forbids the underage to involve in betting.

    “Any person who knowingly sells to any person under the age of 18 years any ticket in a lottery operated by a licensee commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction…

    This is exactly what the Act states. So why do the betting companies in Nigeria allow children under the age of 18 to get involved in a game which was designed for adults only?

    The death of the boy is unarguably a shame to the federal government and to the betting companies whose desires for money appear to be more important than the lives of people.

    There are some things these betting companies will never tell many of their addicted clients. One of the facts is that a betting company never lose. It’s the gamblers that mostly lose, but this is most times not obvious. Even if you had the chance to win via betting today, you would undoubtedly lose the same money, and even more, to the house tomorrow.

    The government needs to pay attention to the industry’s activities because of the psychological effects on those involved. Allowing the underage, who ought to be in schools, to get involved does no good to our society whatsoever.

    Unfortunately, like government, parents are not also helping the situation. Some parents nowadays even encourage their children to place bet on sports. They believe that the children will one day hit the jackpot, and change the conditions of the families for better. This is the situation we find ourselves in Nigeria today.

    And now with the introduction of online betting in Nigeria, cyber-cafés have turned into betting business centres.

    Is this not the right time to urge the Nigerian government to start enforcing the law that guides all forms of betting and gambling in the country to preserve the future of Nigerian youths?

    • Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola – babalolaademola39@gmail.com

  • Letter from Onitsha

    Letter from Onitsha

    I have received a few letters from my readers over the long period of ventilating my mind in several newspapers, principally the Guardian in which my first article was published in 1999. To be honest, the letters have been very few but some of them have been memorable, unforgettable even,  because they were the beginning of endurable relationships with their respective writers. And I would hasten to add that e-mails will not be considered in this category of letters because of the impersonality of e-mails vis a vis those  letters delivered in a stamped envelope and which may take so long to be delivered that they are now described as snail mail. They may have been slow but they carried substantial weight and came with something personal from the sender. Unfortunately, in these days of electronic transfers of everything, not to talk of artificial intelligence, the romance of letter writing has been consigned to the dustbin and at least in Nigeria, post offices and all the officials associated with them are now conspicuous only by their absence from the public space. Their demise deserves to be mourned.

    Long before we all contrived to become computer literate and threw away our pens, I received a letter which was post-marked in Ondo. Upon reading it, I found that it was written by a secondary school boy who wanted me to know that he was a regular reader of the Guardian and that he really enjoyed reading my articles when ever they were featured in the Guardian. I was very much impressed by the coherence of his writing and I immediately sent him a response. Not content with being a correspondent, he followed up with a visit to me at Ife, introducing himself to me when he was finally in my presence by calling himself, ‘your boy from Ondo’. He did not stop here as he followed this up by coming over to the  university to study Pharmacy; following closely in my footsteps by becoming a pharmacist and then went a step further by abandoning the practice of pharmacy for that of a writer very early on in his career. Over time and despite the otherwise intimidating disparity in our respective ages, we are now good friends who are constantly talking about how life is unfolding in Nigeria.

    Another letter that is worthy of recall came in from much further away as it came from Onitsha. Some ten years ago, I wrote an article with the satirical title of ‘Dangerous man at the Central Bank’. Lamido Sanusi had just been appointed the Governor of the Central Bank at the time and he had gone into that temple with a whip with which he was belabouring the padded backs of the fat cats who had installed themselves as controllers of the Nigerian banking sector, or in some cases, had installed themselves in powerful positions in some bank or the other. I was quite impressed by the exertions of the young governor and said as much in my article which caught the attention of many people and remains a prime example of my work as a titular columnist. One of those who were captivated by that article was my correspondent from Onitsha. A few days after that article was published, I received that famous letter from Onitsha and it soon proved to be a life changer. After the effusive praise of my article, a photocopy of which was enclosed in the letter as proof that it had been read, as if any such proof was needed. I was baldly informed that the article had sparked a determination in the writer to study for a degree in English, not only that, but to take the degree from Obafemi Awolowo University where I was a lecturer. This elicited a wry smile from me, seeing that it stated clearly at the bottom of the article that I was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, as far away from the Department of English as can be ordinarily imagined. The writer then informed me that since I was the one who influenced his decision to take a degree in English it had become my was duty to ensure that he was admitted to what had now become the university of his choice. He sat for the JAMB examination and his score was so close to 250 marks as to make no difference. I was therefore convinced that he was a worthy candidate for admission but not to take any chances, I went over to the Faculty of Arts to make sure that he had indeed been offered the admission I thought his performance deserved. To my surprise, I found out that the cut off mark for English that year was a few marks in excess of 250 and he was therefore not qualified for admission into the Department of English. Having taken part in the admission process to my own Faculty, I knew that his chances of admission were slim to none and asked that he be considered admission into another course in the Faculty. It was on the basis of this plea that he was admitted to the Department of Modern European Languages to study German.

    As could be expected, the young man was not pleased by this turn of events since he had English on his mind, if what he said in his letter about me provoking his interest in the study of English was indeed the truth and nothing but the truth. At first, he wanted to turn down the offer of admission but on second thoughts, he took my advice to accept the offer to study German at Ife which after all was the University of his Choice. In the end, he came over to Ife for four years and went back to Onitsha with a degree in German in this pocket and a lifelong attachment to Ife in his heart, a situation which is consistent with our dream of a united Nigeria since the catalyst for our meeting was an article about a prince from Kano as he was at the time, completing the usual triangle of West, East and North in usual Nigerian discourse about unity.

    I would not have made reference to the letter from Onitsha but for the fact that I received an e-mail from my man on the Niger recently as I have been receiving from time to time over the last few years. None of the e-mails has reached the passionate level of that first letter but the most recent one deserves some attention because of its subject. My correspondent was making a response to my article about the fruitless search for unity within the Federation. Quite out of the blues and in the absence of any preamble, he said emphatically that there was no basis for Nigerian unity because as far as he was concerned Nigeria was created in error. According to him the Amalgamation of the constituent parts of Nigeria should not have happened. I must admit that there are many people who share this sentiment but as I told him, he had not thought his submission through and that he was just repeating what he had heard so often that it had become part of his reasoning process and I did not think that he should be allowed to get away with such slack reasoning.

    The fact of the matter is that the Lagos colony together with the Southern and Northern protectorates were stitched together in what has come to be known to history as the Amalgamation. Nigeria as a country came into being in 1914 because the British colonialists were in the process of building their empire on the cheap and that the main driver of that initiative was strictly economic and therefore not altruistic or even noble: thus building a very weak foundation for the nation. As a result of this, the new nation was totally devoid of both heart and soul, no wonder then that Nigeria has been struggling with a plethora of problems and has been lurching form one crisis to the other. But, is it true that all those parts that were amalgamated were so different from each other that there was no basis for bringing them together in a new country? What people did not take into consideration was that new countries were being created all over Europe in the period leading up to the First World War and that some of them, notably Germany and Italy were created through the amalgamation of different territories some of which had a history of serious discord between them. Italy and Germany are still going strong even though they have had to cope with regional conflicts, some of them of the explosive kind. Nigeria is not alone in being the product of Amalgamation. In any case, with the territories involved in the Nigerian version of Amalgamation, did the British really have a choice in the matter? Long before Nigeria was conceived in the mind of the British, people living in different parts of the country had interacted with each other, in some cases for centuries so that they could not be considered to be total strangers to each other. The extent of the interactions which took place at that time cannot now be quantified but we know that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe from Onitsha was born in Zungeru in 1904 at a time when that town was the capital of the Northern Protectorate. There must be many others in this category but have been lost to history because, they cannot not now be credited with great deeds as is the case with Zik. Apart from the movement of people between the various protectorates, there were joint services which cut across the territories that now constitute Nigeria before Amalgamation was declared. For example, the Railways which connected Lagos to Kano was finished in 1912. More tellingly, money from the South was used to balance he budget of the Northern Protectorate which suggested that the Amalgamation when it happened, was a culmination of a process which took place over a considerable period of time.

    The Amalgamation of 1914 was a mistake only because of its unintended consequences. The British would not under normal circumstances have considered the possibility of putting together a territory that now contains a fifth of the population of Africa with all the potential conferred on her by not just population but an impressive quantum of rich natural resources. Those riches, if they had been prudently managed would have made it possible for an African country to become one of the leading countries in the world. Without Nigeria’s impressive size, military clout and diplomatic recognition, the country would not have been able to fight successfully for the emancipation of Southern Africa from the oppression of apartheid rule in those truly turbulent days of the seventies when the forces ranged against freedom for our brothers in the South appeared to be running out of control. It is inconceivable that the British planned to create such a vibrant country through the amalgamation of those protectorates.

    Nigeria as presented to us by the British is a country which has a great deal going for her, the only problem here, is the questionable quality of those human beings who now inhabit that amalgamated space.

  • Strengthening Nigeria’s pandemic resilience

    Strengthening Nigeria’s pandemic resilience

    By Victor Okeke

    SIR: The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the critical importance of primary health care (PHC) in Nigeria and the devastating consequences of neglecting it during times of crisis. The diversion of health workers and the disruption of health systems have had far-reaching implications, leading to widespread backsliding of health services and a decline in access to essential health products. This regression has created a vicious cycle of vulnerability, particularly affecting high-risk groups.

     Recognizing the significance of PHC, it is crucial to prioritize it in pandemic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (PPR) efforts. Before a pandemic strikes, PHC plays a crucial role in promoting health, preventing underlying conditions, and strengthening individuals’ ability to fight off infections. It builds trust in local health workers and facilities, combats misinformation, and enhances community resilience.

     During a pandemic, PHC serves as the first line of defence. Health workers available through PHC are essential in identifying new cases, supporting surveillance efforts, delivering continuous care, providing risk communication tailored to specific contexts, and ensuring the availability of essential supplies. Moreover, comprehensive PHC systems can be quickly repurposed to distribute emergency countermeasures alongside essential health services, preventing the collapse of the health system.

     After a pandemic, PHC plays a vital role in delivering catch-up care and addressing disruptions to preventive services. It can contribute to social and economic recovery by connecting communities to support programmes related to nutrition, housing, and finance.

    Additionally, integrating emergency surveillance with routine health data at the PHC level enables the rapid identification of disease hotspots and informs future research and development efforts, ensuring that pandemic counter-measures are suitable for the communities they aim to protect.

     Despite the importance of PHC, proposed reforms to the PPR architecture have largely overlooked it. This silence is concerning, given the instrumental role PHC plays in crisis management.

    To address this gap, there are several key actions that Nigeria should take. First, increased investment in PHC is necessary to maintain and improve population health. Second, community-driven contingency plans should be established to ensure that PHC remains accessible and affordable throughout all stages of a crisis, including catch-up care.

    Finally, PHC should be leveraged as a coordination point for integrating PPR efforts with universal health coverage, ensuring equity and comprehensive care.

     PHC can serve as the linchpin for equity in PPR, and therefore, emergency response should not come at the expense of routine service delivery. Governments must develop failsafe plans for PHC, similar to crisis management plans for data and computer systems. Prioritizing PHC in national and international PPR negotiations and investments will help communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from infectious disease threats.

    This means that the country should prioritize increased investment in PHC to ensure the availability of essential health services, a well-trained workforce, and sufficient infrastructure. Adequate funding will enable the expansion and improvement of PHC facilities, ensuring they are equipped to provide quality care, diagnostics, treatment, and preventive measures.

     There is also need for community engagement to foster partnerships between health care providers and local communities and empower individuals to take an active role in their own health. This includes promoting health education, preventive measures, and effective risk communication to enhance awareness and response capabilities.

     Also, a robust surveillance system is critical for early detection and response to emerging health threats. Nigeria should strengthen its disease surveillance mechanisms, leveraging PHC facilities as primary reporting points. Health workers at these facilities should receive proper training to identify potential outbreaks, report cases promptly, and follow established protocols for containment.

    A resilient PHC system requires uninterrupted access to essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies. Nigeria should strengthen its supply chains, ensuring the availability and distribution of critical resources during a pandemic. Additionally, essential health services such as routine immunizations, maternal and child health care, and chronic disease management should be maintained even during crisis situations.

    It is time to recognize the critical role of PHC and ensure its integration into Nigeria’s pandemic response and recovery strategies. By doing so, we can build resilient health systems and safeguard the well-being of all Nigerians.

    • Victor Okeke, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

  • Hilda Baci stirs Nigeria’s melting pot

    Hilda Baci stirs Nigeria’s melting pot

    SIR: Between May 11 and May 15 , celebrated Nigerian chef Hilda Baci whipped Nigerians into a frenzy as Nigerians shed their prejudices and forgot their problems to gather  round her pot and watch her cook for over 100 hours and break a record in the process.

    It is not exactly clear when the 27-year-old from Akwa-Ibom decided to go for an almost impossible feat. But  some years ago, she became convinced she could somehow break the world record for the longest cooking time of 87 hours set by an Indian chef, Lata Tondon.

    When the race finally started on May 11, Nigerians soon got wind of it and gathered around one of their own as she began a relentless march to the history books.

    Public officers, top politicians and Nigerians from all walks of life either sent their best wishes to the chef or visited her kitchen in Lagos to savour her culinary skills. More than two hundred meals were prepared and over three thousand people fed.

    It is indeed striking that within a year, two young Nigerian women have put Nigeria on the global map. First, in July 2022, Tobi Amusan surged to Nigeria’s first ever gold medal in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

    The world over, throughout the course of history, women have shown that they can compete,and  go toe to toe with men when provided the opportunity. This has always been a source of great discomfort to those who have always argued that women should stick to their place in the kitchen, bedroom or in other spaces that are meant to keep them hidden.

    Had Baci chosen to be a Nigerian woman of easy virtue and drawn Nigeria international opprobrium and condemnation in the process, Nigerians would have been left gnashing their teeth in shame instead of celebrating her extraordinary accomplishment.

    Baci’s brilliant feat also invokes another issue that has not been given sufficient attention in Nigeria which is the issue of women’s participation in politics.

    In April 2022, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in an epochal decision ordered the federal government to reserve 35 percent of all appointments into public office for women.

    The decision had come at the instance of a court action by a group of people who had become increasingly frustrated as attempts to implement the National Gender Policy met familiar resistance.

    However, and rather predictably, the decision has received a very short shrift from Nigeria’s policymakers who continue to shirk the decisions that would see women enjoy their due.

    In a country where women have been stereotyped for ages and forced to pigeonholed into roles and positions, Baci stands out as one who unapologetically bucks the trend.

    Coming at a time when women have become easy targets of the cowardly criminals who rampage through Nigeria, Baci’s feat and the woman herself are an inspiration just like Amusan, Chinamanda Adichie and many other hardworking Nigerian women.

    Even in the captivity of terrorists for close to a decade, Leah Sharibu remains a startling testament to the resilience of the Nigerian woman and a far more effective rebuke to the terrorists who have made a beloved country unrecognizable.

    May Baci’s feat endure and be worth its weight in gold. May her historical record bring visibility to Nigerian women and in the process rip the glass ceiling to shreds.

    • Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Lagos and Nigeria Police

    Lagos and Nigeria Police

    Sir : The decision by the Lagos State Government to collaborate with the Lagos State Police Command in rebuilding, regenerating, and remodelling 25 dilapidated barracks is commendable and praiseworthy. It should be noted that this act of benevolence isn’t the first of its kind. Over the years, the Lagos State government has done a lot for the Nigeria Police Force, especially through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) established in 2007. Virtually all sections of the Lagos State Police Command — Mobile Police, Marine Police, Mounted Police, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), etc. have sipped and are still sipping from the state’s well of generosity. In 2021 alone, the state government spent a whopping N3 billion to equip the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in its quest to ensure the safety and security of Lagosians.

    Police barracks are the worst of the lot among the security agencies in Nigeria. Many of them which were built decades ago are now in shambles. They look more like habitation for prisoners than for those tasked with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the society. Lack of maintenance has led to the collapse of some in Lagos and Ibadan. The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has certified that some of these barracks as unfit for human habitation.

    A befitting accommodation is one of the basics of life that every human should aspire to, more so police officers. When officers of the law live in a conducive environment, it would enhance their productivity. A befitting barracks signals to police officers that they are valued and appreciated by the government. It positively affects their relations with members of the public as well as shape public perception in their favour.

    The contributions of the Lagos State government to the police through LSSTF has contributed significantly to the relative peace and security witnessed in the state despite its population density. Security is a collective responsibility and governments at all levels including the citizenry should endeavour to give adequate support to the security agencies when necessary. It shouldn’t be left for the federal government alone to handle.

    •Peter Ovie Akus,

    New Jersey, USA.