The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Bauchi shops demolition: Relocating the traders

    Bauchi shops demolition: Relocating the traders

    Sir: The recent demolition of shops in Azare and Bauchi metropolises by Governor Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir has thrown thousands into disarray and despair, particularly affecting small business owners. Many people are now frantically searching for new business locations.

    Towns like Magama, Rimin Zayan, and Nabordo in Toro Local Government Area are also impacted, as the state government has ordered shop owners to vacate their shops without providing proper alternatives. To this end, the state government must understand that making such a decision without ensuring suitable relocation options would jeopardise the survival of these traders.

    For now, only God knows the exact number of families relying on the demolished shops for their livelihoods. The harshness of these decisions could endanger lives, especially given that Bauchi State is among the states with the highest rates of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Demolishing the shops of those who are fortunate enough to be employed will only worsen this situation.

    Increasing the number of jobless individuals in the state is likely to lead to widespread unemployment and insecurity. As the saying goes, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” The ongoing insecurity in the northeastern region and other parts of the country is closely tied to poverty and a lack of employment opportunities.

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    With businesses shut down, what are people supposed to do? How will they feed their families? Where will they find a means of survival? It seems that the government lacks answers to these pressing questions, having failed to make adequate arrangements for the affected business owners. This lack of action appears to create an environment that exposes people to vulnerability and poverty, which could eventually lead to increased insecurity, as no one can endure hunger without seeking ways to survive.

    In light of this situation, we urge Governor Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir’s administration to quickly identify a location to relocate the affected business owners. Many businesses are on the verge of collapse, and if they do fail, it could take years for others to recover, as building a business is a long-term endeavour.

    However, considering the significant developmental projects you have brought particularly in infrastructure, we are hopeful that you will approach this matter with compassion for the affected victims. By providing them with an appropriate location to continue their businesses, you would undoubtedly contribute to the growth of the state’s economy and help create a brighter future for the people of Bauchi State.

    •Ukasha Rabiu MagamaMagama, Toro, Bauchi State

  • Erosion menace in Aba South

    Erosion menace in Aba South

    Sir: We, the concerned residents of Nwabufor–Awkuzu–Waterside axis in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, wish to use this medium to draw the attention of the Abia State government and the general public to a severe erosion crisis threatening our lives, properties, and livelihoods.

    This ongoing disaster is a direct result of an incomplete underground drainage project initiated by a previous administration and handled by Heartland Construction Company. The drainage was designed to channel rainwater from various parts of Aba to the Waterside area. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned midway with a concrete headwall marking its abrupt end, instead of being extended fully to the Waterside discharge point.

    As a result, the entire volume of stormwater from the city is being funneled into our area without proper outflow. This has created deep and expanding erosion gullies, swallowing houses and farmlands. The situation worsened when the concrete headwall, no longer able to withstand the water pressure, collapsed, unleashing even more damage.

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    We sincerely appreciate the ongoing developmental strides of Governor Alex Otti across the state—especially in areas of infrastructure, economic reform, and road rehabilitation. We are confident that under his visionary leadership, our cry will not go unheard.

    We urgently appeal to the government to: Launch a comprehensive erosion control project in our area. Extend the drainage system properly to the Waterside as originally intended.  Close and stabilise the erosion site to prevent further environmental degradation.

    This is a critical environmental issue that demands swift and decisive government action. We trust that Governor Otti, a leader known for listening to the people, will intervene promptly and effectively.

    •Concerned Residents Nwabufor–Awkuzu–Waterside Area,   Aba South LGA, Abia State

  • PHED and injustice of darkness

    PHED and injustice of darkness

    Sir: I write not just as a concerned citizen, but as a voice for an entire community that has been abandoned and left in darkness for three straight weeks.

    What is happening on the street hosting Life Forte Hospital, Port Harcourt, is nothing short of tragic. For 21 days, we have been without electricity—completely cut off from what should be a basic service in any civilised society. It is heartbreaking, infuriating, and shameful.

    This is a hospital environment—where people go not just for treatment but for survival. Every second counts. Machines must run, cold chains must be maintained, and human lives depend on uninterrupted power. Yet here we are, using generators 24/7, burning through resources, battling noise and fumes, all because the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has failed to do its job.

    This is no longer a case of poor service. This is a deliberate act of neglect. This is man’s inhumanity to man.

    It is hard not to believe that this is a calculated attempt to sabotage the hard work and good intentions of the Minister of Power and Mr President, who have publicly committed to transforming Nigeria’s power sector. But what good are policies from Abuja when PHED continues to disgrace the system on the ground? If there’s any sincerity in the reforms we keep hearing about, then this is the kind of embarrassment that must not be tolerated.

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    Let me be clear: until someone is sacked—until people are held truly accountable—this culture of impunity and mediocrity will persist. The power sector will not move forward until incompetent hands are replaced with capable ones.

    We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for what has already been promised—at least 12 hours of power per day, as stipulated under Band C regulations. What we are getting is zero.

    This is painful. This is unjust. This is unsustainable.

    And so, I lament, not just in words but in deep frustration for my community. PHED, you have failed us. Restore the power. Do your job. Or step aside for those who can.

    •Amb. Adeyemi Temitope  Iwofe Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

  • Security, intelligence and anti-graft realities

    Security, intelligence and anti-graft realities

    Sir: April further showed Nigeria as a nation whose security architecture is under siege from terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. Far from fearing our security operatives, criminal elements across the country displayed shocking audacity, sending a chilling reminder that the battle for Nigeria’s soul remains bloody and unresolved.

    In a horrific display of lawlessness, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji celebrated Eid in Sokoto by executing kidnapped victims—recording and broadcasting the gruesome act without fear of consequences. Across parts of Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara, bandits not only continued their reign of terror but have begun levying taxes and operating parallel governments in areas still supposedly under state control.

    Compounding public anxiety, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu made headlines when he advised families of kidnapped victims to “stop paying ransom.” While theoretically sound, the reality is far more brutal. Without swift and credible government intervention, desperate families are left with no option but to finance their own tragedies. Until state forces can decisively rescue captives, this vicious cycle will continue.

    In just one month, attacks escalated across Plateau, Kwara, and Benue states, leaving communities in mourning. Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents resurfaced with deadly ambushes, signaling their continued relevance in Nigeria’s security equation.

    April’s bloodshed has revealed not just operational lapses but a deep strategic and moral crisis. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) must urgently intensify efforts, especially by working discreetly with rescued victims to extract intelligence, boost surveillance systems, and dismantle criminal networks across the board.

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    While commendable successes by security operatives—such as rescuing hostages and recovering illegal arms—were recorded, they were dwarfed by the scale of atrocities witnessed within just 30 days.

    The Department of State Services (DSS), often criticised and even facing calls for its disbandment, must seize this moment to redeem itself. Encouragingly, recent commendations from the Plateau State government and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna for the DSS’s contributions to curbing insecurity suggest a glimmer of institutional reliability. Their successful arrests of gunrunners and dismantling of kidnapping syndicates are steps in the right direction.

    Notably, the DSS also intercepted a British Army Major in Delta State attempting to smuggle 50 AK-47 rifles and ammunition—a major bust, and a signal that the service can perform under pressure. Their ability to withstand calls for the suspect’s release further strengthens public confidence.

    Going forward, DSS and ONSA must strengthen collaboration through real-time joint operations, intelligence-sharing, and visible outcomes. The Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) also must integrate its overseas capabilities with ONSA’s domestic strategies. Today’s criminals are sophisticated—our response must be smarter.

    Beyond the battlefield, Nigeria’s fight against corruption also demands attention. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must intensify efforts, not only with ongoing arrests of internet fraudsters but by pursuing justice in high-profile cases involving figures like Betta Edu and Sadiya Umar Farouq.

    Regarding Aisha Achimugu’s case, the EFCC must adhere to due process and uphold its promise to act with diligence and integrity. Recent arrests, including that of Bauchi State Accountant General Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, show the commission is active—but visibility and transparency are critical.

    Despite receiving accolades—such as the Government Spokesperson Award and the Courage in Justice and Transparency Award from the Nigerian Human Rights Community—EFCC must do more to recover funds stolen through schemes like CBEX. Collaborating with Interpol to dismantle international fraud networks and prevent future scams using forged EFCC certificates will reinforce the commission’s credibility both locally and abroad.

    Transparency is the only antidote to growing public cynicism about the commission’s integrity.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), though laudably organising programmes like its stakeholders’ meeting on accountability in local government, must now transition from talk to action. Corruption within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remains rampant. A recent ICPC report showed that over 60 percent of corruption cases involved the diversion of healthcare funds—a scandal that demands decisive intervention.

    April has ended, but the wounds it inflicted are still fresh. If we’ve learned anything, it is that the fear of the Nigerian state must be restored—not with hollow rhetoric, but through coordinated, courageous, and relentless action.

    •Haroon Aremu Abiodun exponentumera@gmail.com

  • What then is the hope of a Nigerian student?

    What then is the hope of a Nigerian student?

    Sir: I recently had one of the most questioning days of my life. I was on public transport heading to school when the driver suddenly struck up a conversation about his time in university, my university, in fact. He claimed to have graduated with a second-class upper. Now, he drives a bus for a living.

    Something in me broke. I was hurt, confused. I began to wonder what my own future would hold after graduation. Maybe he lied about his grade, maybe he didn’t. But the fear he planted stayed with me.

    I walked into my ENG 405 class, ‘The Language of African Literature in English,’ still lost in thought. During a heated discussion on what constitutes African reality, a student boldly claimed that poverty is “just a phase” and not a true reality. I was fuming. Most of us would leave that lecture hall to trek home, eating imagination and assignments for dinner. And someone in that same classroom dared to write off the pain of the majority perhaps because it didn’t speak to him at the moment?

    My uncle and even my pastor often speak of a different Nigeria. In the early 1970s, they say jobs waited for graduates even before final exams. Some were gifted cars. Others travelled abroad for further studies, fully funded by the government. What happened? How did we go from jobs waiting for graduates to graduates waiting on POS machines for customers?

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    The education system is a shadow of itself. Lecturers strike just to get paid. Classrooms meant for 80 students now choke with over 200. In 2024, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reported that nine percent of graduates are unemployed, a figure that doesn’t even capture the underemployed, the ones selling recharge cards with degrees in engineering.

    How did a country that once called itself the “Giant of Africa” become one where most citizens can’t afford a decent meal?

    Tuition fees are rising while minimum wage crawls behind at N70,000, Permit me to mention that not even all employers adhere to this new adjustment. Parents juggle rent, food, and bills. The dropout rate climbs quietly. The number of jobless graduates? No one even bothers to count anymore.

    So, I ask again:  What then is the hope of a Nigerian student?

    •Kolawole Eniola Israel kola125@gmail.com

  • Adijat Pereira: Justice delayed

    Adijat Pereira: Justice delayed

    Sir: The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) urges the Lagos State government and the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos to ensure that justice prevails in the case of Ms. Adijat Pereira, who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Omotolani Sunday Taiwo, aka Dayan, in February. Family sources say there have been attempts by the police to cover up the case. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is outraged by this development.

    As noted in a petition to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, dated March 19, 2025, Adijat’s mother spoke with her for the last time on February 26, and on February 27, Adijat could not be reached. Later in the day, her mother was called to an apartment where the lifeless body of her daughter was lying in a pool of blood. Some clay pots, a calabash with blood, and other ritual items were also discovered in the room.  Her so-called boyfriend had disappeared and remains at large.  

    Adijat’s family reported the case to the Meiran Divisional Police Office. Family sources told AfAW that the father of the suspect came to the police station and tried to get the police to abandon the investigation. The police tried to intimidate and force the mother of Adijat to discontinue the case.

    This development made Adijat’s mother petition the CP. The matter was transferred to the state criminal investigation department at Panti, Yaba. Based on the information available to AfAW, the investigation is stalled. This is a very shameful development and does not speak well of the Nigerian police. The police should swing into action and arrest and investigate the suspect.

    Many Nigerian youths are under the illusion that they can make money and become wealthy through ritual attacks and sacrifice. However, there is no evidence that ritual sacrifice of anything or anybody, including humans, yields money or wealth.

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    There have been other cases of suspected ritual attacks and murder of ladies by their boyfriends in Lagos and other parts of the Southwest. These ritual attacks continue because perpetrators are seldom brought to justice. Ritual attackers and killers are not made to answer for their crimes. This situation of impunity must change and the Lagos State government should lead the way.

    The world is watching and following the case of Adijat and how the government and police in Lagos are handling it. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches will continue to pressure officers at the state CID, FIDA, and the Lagos State government to ensure justice is done.

    Adijat was murdered in February. Her case is already a case of justice delayed. Let us work, campaign, and ensure it does not become a case of justice denied.

    •Leo Igwe nskepticleo@yahoo.com

  • Quiet erosion of medical authority

    Quiet erosion of medical authority

    Sir: Recently, the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) has gone on a spree of approving first-degree allied health courses with “Doctor” titles — from the Pharm D to Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Physiotherapy, and even discussions around Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science, as well as Doctor of Nursing Science.

     This reckless elevation of titles without clarity on clinical roles is beginning to dangerously dilute the medical space. It confuses patients, creates false equivalence in multidisciplinary care, and contributes to an identity crisis in the healthcare workforce. These shortcuts are being institutionalised under the guise of academic reform — but with real consequences for clinical governance and health outcomes in an already fragile system.

     Sadly, instead of turning inward and reforming our medical structure, many medical bodies— including respected bodies like the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), MDCAN, and NARD — resort to their usual pulsatile, knee-jerk reactions that only appear like and fuels professional jealousy. Rather than pushing to redefine the MBBS, restructure training, and reposition the profession in policy circles, we whine. That won’t save us. What will save us is bold reform. Let’s rethink our structure, modernise our degree, add value to every stage of our training, and stop being passive in a system that rewards the loud and the lobbying.

     For me, I blame doctors’ docility. Instead of aiming higher and seeking better opportunities, we often sit back and bemoan what others are getting. We should be initiating moves and targeting a better share. Remember, this is Nigeria — do you think they will stop? By the time they equalise, they aim even higher.

    When was medical education last reviewed? They’re always finding shortcuts. When you go to our hospitals, you’ll see nurses who did post-basic courses — like ENT, Ophthalmic, Orthopedics, Dermatology — already posing like consultants, feeling superior to MOs, with lighter work schedules, running clinics, and even getting improved payments.

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     We should aim higher too — like pushing for diplomas or post-MBBS certifications in specific fields before becoming fellows, adding value to our qualifications and pay. Or integrating postgraduate components into the MBBS, like awarding a BSc in basic medical sciences after finishing pre-clinicals.

     As it stands today, a nurse who does a post-basic course gets improved allowances. But for doctors, unless you become a fellow, you get nothing extra — despite taking calls across all specialties as an MO (Surgery, Medicine, O&G, Paediatrics). Nothing special is added. Yet you may find MOs sending consults to nurse specialists in Orthopedics, ENT.

    Let’s make the MBBS degree richer too. We shouldn’t carry the whole hospital on our shoulders and still feel depressed and underpaid compared to our work.

     Whatever we push for, we can get it too. Two years basic nursing + one year post-basic and you’re acting like a consultant? Let’s unbundle the MBBS too, make the system easier while maintaining discipline! Like to consider removing the 100 level year for Science classes (biology, physics and chemistry), introduce opportunities after finishing pre-clinicals, provide opportunities when you are working as MO doing all specialists’ work, improve consultant package or create a cadre for ‘Super Consultant,’  SR will be the new Consultant, while the Consultant who passed Part I becomes ‘Super,’ as obtained in  Architecture , when you finish MBBS you should be awarded MSc.

     This is what professional bodies like NMA, MDCAN, MDCN, NARD and all other medical professionals’ associations should be engaged in.

    To survive Nigeria, one must professionally play Nigerian.

    •Dr. Shamsu Gujungushamsgjg@gmail.com

  • Sani’s bluntness on North’s woes

    Sani’s bluntness on North’s woes

    Sir:  Governor of Kaduna State Uba Sani is neither just a complainant who seeks to hide under past failures to underperform nor a compliant leader who sustains retrogressive systems, but a kind of realist who adequately appreciates challenges and strives to surmount them. He not only avoids indulgence in escapism and skepticism, both of which hinder attainment of tangible results, but commits himself to the expansion of scope of governance as a strategy for the delivery of democracy dividends.

    As the member of the 9th Senate and current governor of Kaduna State who also belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani holds a position that is most critical to the peace and development of the North and therefore absolutely qualified to respond to the views of others on the region and the whole country. He reserves the right to, either as a counter-argument or simple clarification, respond to the issues being raised against the government of Kaduna State or even the Federal Government by some political opponents.

    It is, therefore, with the usual courage for which he is known that he acknowledges the predicaments of the North in particular and Nigeria in general, but always strongly attributes the persistence of the identified problems to the prolonged neglect that the North suffered when most of those critics were in positions of authority and could therefore have dealt with them.

    Atiku Abubakar who was a very powerful vice president, Nasir El-Rufai who was at various times the director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term governor of Kaduna State as well as some others like them who have turned themselves into regular attackers of even the most well-intentioned policies of the APC-controlled government are, by his judgement, guilty in this regard.

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    The bluntness with which he speaks about the North’s woes; tracing them to their sources, depicting their magnitude and proffering solutions, shows that he is prepared to tackle them to the extent that his position allows. As he continuously and desirably exposes the complacency of most of those critics at the time a lot of the challenges surfaced or even their complicity in the noticeable escalation of same, the Northerners and, by extension, all Nigerians are speedily becoming more knowledgeable about the origin and dimensions of the deterioration.

    By taking the blame for the underdevelopment of the North to the doorsteps of the critics and even advising them to apologise to the victims of their inaction, Governor Sani has fully spoken the minds of all well-meaning Northerners. It has already been widely realised that  succour for the North can be found only when such a realistic approach to the challenging issues is adopted and sustained.

    What is, perhaps, most laudable is his effort to make a difference by introducing measures for the integration of the neglected persons in Kaduna State into the financial circles to enable them benefit from the empowerment programmes and other services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions. The inclusion, so far, of millions of people of Kaduna State in the social register as a result of which financial services have now become accessible to them is a giant and most desirable step towards poverty reduction, especially among the underprivileged members of the society.

    •Shuaibu Gimishuaibugimi1966@gmail.com

  • Jos market inferno: Compensation for victims

    Jos market inferno: Compensation for victims

    Sir: According to the Nigerian Daily Trust newspaper, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed in a fire that lasted approximately 12 hours, during which the state fire service failed to provide help. Most of the victims, struggling to make ends meet, lost their businesses in this devastating incident.

    It’s important to highlight that the victims were not operating their businesses illegally; they were, in fact, directed by the government to do so. Despite paying considerable revenue to the government, it raises the question: why does the government not provide support to these individuals in their time of need?

    The main market, Jos Terminus Market, lacks a single firefighting truck, even though the market generates substantial revenue for the government each month. Where is all this money going? This is not the first time the market has suffered from a fire; however, the government has taken no action to prevent future occurrences.

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    The market first caught fire in 2002, and since then, the government has failed to rebuild it, even though millions have benefited from it, including the state government itself. While they continue to pay taxes, many vendors are forced to share neighbouring shops to conduct their businesses. With all these years gone by, what exactly is the Plateau State government doing with the revenue it collects, especially considering its failure to provide firefighting trucks to prevent further disasters?

    If there had been firefighting trucks available, up to 500 shops may not have been lost in this inferno. Therefore, due to the government’s negligence in supplying firefighting equipment or responding during the fire, they must compensate the victims.

    We urgently call on the Plateau State government to provide compensation to help these individuals rebuild their lives, as leaving them empty-handed would exacerbate their suffering and harm the state’s economy.

    •Ukasha Rabiu Magama Magama, Toro, Bauchi State

  • Minimum wage remains a promise on paper

    Minimum wage remains a promise on paper

    Sir: In recent months, the Nigerian workforce has once again found itself at the centre of a pressing national conversation—the implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage. For many citizens, especially those in low-income brackets, this policy represented not just a wage adjustment but a lifeline in an increasingly suffocating economy. Yet, despite public declarations and union agitations, implementation across several states and within the private sector remains largely symbolic, with little evidence of real, widespread adoption.

    The cost of living in Nigeria has soared to unprecedented levels. A visit to the market paints a painful picture: a bag of rice that once cost N8,000 now sells for over N70,000, transportation costs have tripled, and essential services such as health care and education are slipping beyond the reach of the average citizen. Inflation has eroded purchasing power, and many full-time employees still live pay check to pay check, unable to meet basic needs. It is within this grim context that the N70,000 minimum wage was proposed—a sensible move to cushion workers from the blows of economic hardship.

    However, this wage increase remains largely unimplemented. At the time of writing, at least 20 state governments, including Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Nasarawa, and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have not commenced payment of the new wage. The reasons vary—from claims of insufficient revenue to bureaucratic bottlenecks and political reluctance. Yet the consequences are the same: a demoralised, overburdened workforce that feels forgotten and undervalued.

    Even in states that have begun implementation, inconsistencies abound.

    The private sector tells a similar story. While some forward-thinking organisations have reviewed their pay structures in alignment with the new minimum wage, many others continue to offer wages that fall far below the N70,000 threshold. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cite narrow profit margins and economic uncertainty as barriers to implementation. For multinational companies, the excuse often lies in uniform global wage structures that are slow to adjust to local developments. Still, in both cases, the result is an uneven and unfair compensation landscape that leaves the average worker short-changed.

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    One cannot ignore the long-term risks of this non-implementation. A demotivated workforce is an unproductive one. Poor remuneration leads to high turnover, absenteeism, and reduced efficiency. Moreover, the psychological toll of working without earning enough to survive is immense. It breeds resentment, mental fatigue, and in some cases, fuels the rise of informal and illicit economies. In public institutions, it can translate to poor service delivery, corruption, and unrest. In private businesses, it weakens competitiveness, as skilled labour gradually seeks greener pastures elsewhere.

    What makes this situation more troubling is that the N70,000 minimum wage is not an arbitrary figure. It was calculated against economic indicators and intended to reflect a living wage—one that allows workers to cover essential needs, support dependents, and live with dignity. If the government and private employers alike cannot deliver this, the question then becomes: how sustainable is our labour system?

    Of course, one must acknowledge the financial constraints many states face. Internally generated revenue (IGR) remains low in several regions. But even within this, implementation is not impossible—it is a matter of priority. Many states continue to spend lavishly on political appointments, overseas trips, and nonessential projects while postponing critical welfare reforms. Redirecting funds, plugging leakages, and adopting innovative budgeting approaches could create room for better wage compliance.

    At the federal level, stronger oversight mechanisms are needed. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), alongside labour unions and civil society organisations, must work collaboratively to ensure full compliance. Transparency should be non-negotiable, and a detailed national wage compliance report should be published quarterly to hold state governments accountable.

    For private businesses, a shift in mind-set is essential. Workers are not just cost centres—they are the engines of value creation. Investing in fair wages is not just morally sound; it is strategically wise. Wage fairness is not an act of charity—it is a smart business decision.

    The Nigerian economy cannot grow on the backs of underpaid workers. Neither can national stability be assured in an environment where millions toil daily without hope of upward mobility. The minimum wage, if fully implemented, could be a significant step toward a more just, resilient, and productive society. But until that happens, it remains what it currently is: a promise on paper, not yet a reality.

    •Samuel Jekeli,Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.