The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Contactless passport application as game changer

    Contactless passport application as game changer

    • By Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye

    Sir: If you’re a Nigerian living abroad, you’ll understand the hassle people face just to renew their international passport. This task that should be a mundane, ordinary task in any advanced country triggers dread and frustration in us. For many years, the passport application process has been marred with inefficiency and corruption; even ordinary logistics was an issue.

    Imagine someone who lives in Glasgow or Newcastle having to travel all the way to London just to have their biometric data captured. Same with people in Canada who have to endure eight-hour long flights to the High Commission in Ottawa just for ‘capturing’.

    Think about the travel expenses, frustration dealing with archaic systems, and some corrupt officials. We have even heard stories of touts charging illegal fees for “express service”.

    It gladdens my heart to see Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo fulfil his promise of revolutionizing the passport application process through contactless technology. He said his goal was to eliminate the need for physical presence during renewals of passports. Applicants can now pay and complete their application form online. This contactless method will also eliminate the need for capturing again if you have done it in the past. Just upload an approved photo through the mobile app and you are good to go. The inclusion of home delivery of the passport to applicants crowns this initiative with extra goodness. This is a step towards achieving global freedom.

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    Although this approach has been ongoing in developed countries, I am glad to see Nigeria embracing the power of technology to drive innovation and make life easier for her citizens. I am proud to say that what Minister Tunji-Ojo and his team have achieved in such a short time in office is nothing short of commendable. For many years now, we have endured archaic systems that need upgrading, facing a system designed to frustrate rather than serve us. So, the introduction of the contactless passport application process is more than just an upgrade, it is a lifeline and a solution to challenges faced by millions of Nigerians in the diaspora.

    This innovative step will save us time, money, exploitation, and also reduce corruption in the system. It will at least help us regain a semblance of dignity to a process that has long been an embarrassment. It’s a simple example of how leveraging technology can transform governance and improve lives.

    •Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye,

     United Kingdom.

  • PDP crises: The way out

    PDP crises: The way out

    • By Paul Onehi

    Sir: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once a dominant force in Nigerian politics, finds itself navigating turbulent waters.  Internal strife, factionalism, and electoral setbacks have left the party grappling with an existential crisis, raising serious questions about its future viability and its capacity to regain its former glory.  Understanding the depth of these challenges is crucial to charting a credible path forward.

    The current crisis is multifaceted.  A primary source stems from persistent leadership tussles and power struggles within the party’s hierarchy.  Ambitions clash, loyalties are fractured, and accusations of betrayal and manipulation fly frequently. This internal conflict often spills over into public view, undermining the party’s image and eroding public trust.  The lack of a clear and unifying vision further exacerbates this problem, leaving members disoriented and susceptible to competing factions.

    Furthermore, the PDP’s electoral performance in recent years has been underwhelming.  Repeated losses at the national level, including the just concluded Ondo governorship elections, have shaken the party’s confidence and exposed vulnerabilities in its strategies and outreach.  This electoral decline can be attributed to several factors, including a failure to adapt to the evolving political landscape, a disconnect with the aspirations of a significant portion of the electorate, and accusations of internal sabotage during elections.

    However, all is not lost. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), still possesses considerable strengths.  It boasts a substantial membership base across the country, a deep-rooted organizational structure in many states, and a legacy of governance at both the national and sub-national levels.  These assets provide a foundation upon which a revitalized party can be built.

     Prioritizing genuine reconciliation among warring factions is paramount.  This requires open dialogue, compromise, and a willingness to put the party’s interests above personal ambitions.  A robust internal dispute resolution mechanism, fairly applied, is crucial.

    The party needs a clear and compelling vision that resonates with the aspirations of contemporary Nigerians.  This requires a deep engagement with the challenges facing the country and the development of practical and achievable solutions.  This vision should be articulated clearly and consistently across all party platforms.

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    Promoting internal democracy is essential to fostering inclusivity and minimizing the potential for manipulation and power struggles.  Transparent and credible primary elections, where all members have a fair chance to participate, are crucial.

     The party must actively engage young people and women, empowering them to take on leadership roles and ensuring their voices are heard.  This not only broadens the party’s appeal but also brings fresh perspectives and ideas.

    Improving communication strategies and strengthening outreach efforts to various segments of the population are essential.  This involves utilizing modern media effectively and engaging directly with communities across the country. Establishing a robust mechanisms for accountability and transparency within the party’s operations will foster trust among members and the public. This includes transparent financial management and rigorous adherence to ethical standards.

    The PDP’s future hinges on its ability to address these challenges effectively.  A return to its former glory requires a fundamental shift in approach, prioritizing unity, internal democracy, and a clear vision for the country. 

    Only through a concerted effort to overcome internal divisions and reconnect with the Nigerian people can the PDP hope to regain its position as a major political force. The path ahead is challenging, but not insurmountable.  The question remains, will the PDP rise to the occasion?

    •Paul Onehi,

     University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

  • Port Harcourt refinery: What President Tinubu should do!

    Port Harcourt refinery: What President Tinubu should do!

    • By Zayyad I. Muhammad

    Sir: The 60,000 barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery has officially resumed operations after years of inactivity. This marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to revitalise its oil and gas sector. As one of the country’s oldest refineries, with a history spanning 59 years, the Port Harcourt facility is now expected to load at least 200 trucks of petroleum products daily, easing supply constraints, reducing dependence on imported fuels, and introducing a new price regime to compete with the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery.

    Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries have long been entangled in a web of corruption, mismanagement, and relentless attacks on pipelines by organised oil thieves. These issues have not only crippled their operational capacity but also forced the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products, despite its status as a major oil producer.

    As the old Port Harcourt refinery has resumed processing crude, with Warri and Kaduna expected to follow soon, an important question arises: Should Nigeria continue with the traditional model of absolute state control and management of its refineries? This outdated approach has proven ineffective in the past, plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and underperformance.

    This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revamp Nigeria’s refinery management system and introduce reforms that can ensure long-term production and efficiency.

    When all four state refineries are fully revived and operational, as anticipated in the near future, President Tinubu’s government has three viable options for reforming the management of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries. One approach could involve retaining ownership of one refinery while granting it full autonomy to manage its operations independently, cover its expenses, and remit dividends to the government. Another option is to lease one of the refineries to an oil company or a group of investors interested in petroleum product refining, ensuring it operates efficiently under private-sector expertise. Lastly, the government could fully privatise one refinery, distributing shares among the federal government, host communities, and Nigeria’s 36 states. This inclusive approach would address diverse stakeholder interests while ensuring effective management.

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    However, discussions about Nigeria’s refineries are incomplete without addressing the critical issue of managing the country’s extensive 5,120-kilometre oil pipeline network and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.). While the engagement of local communities by NNPC Ltd. has started yielding positive results, significant challenges persist.

    The most pressing issues include frequent illegal tapping by oil thieves, sabotage, encroachments on pipeline rights-of-way, delays in detecting leaks, and equipment failures caused by the inaccessibility of certain locations. Compounding these problems is the reliance on outdated methods of pipeline management, which hinder the system’s efficiency and responsiveness.

    To address these challenges, adopting advanced technologies is essential. Systems like SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), Fibre Optic Cable (FOC) networks, and tools such as “go-devils,” scrapers, or smart pigs can revolutionise pipeline management. These technologies provide real-time monitoring and early warning systems, enabling swift responses to potential threats or damages, even in remote and inaccessible areas. By integrating these solutions, Nigeria can significantly enhance the security and functionality of its pipeline network, ensuring a more reliable and efficient oil and gas sector.

    The revival of the Port Harcourt old refinery and the anticipated return to operation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries are commendable achievements. However, the Tinubu administration must critically evaluate and adopt a new, feasible, profitable, and masses-friendly approach to managing these refineries. The traditional model of state absolute control has consistently failed, resulting in inefficiencies, corruption, and financial losses. It is time for a transformative strategy that ensures the refineries operate sustainably while delivering maximum benefits to the Nigerian people.

    •Zayyad I. Muhammad,

     Abuja.

  • Yam SSA and the rationale

    Yam SSA and the rationale

    A council area chairman in Enugu State has just shown how creative one could get dishing out political appointments. Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area Chairman Eric Odo appointed senor special assistants on agriculture with respective designation for yam, garden egg and pepper production; and he insists it is one of the brightest ideas to be unveiled in modern-day governance.

    Letters that went viral online lately revealed Odo’s appointment of Nwodo Ugonna and Ezeugwu Ogbonna as Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture to the local government chairman. Ugonna’s letter specified that he was being appointed SSA on Agriculture (Garden Egg and Pepper), while Ogbonna’s appointment letter designated him as SSA on Agriculture (Yam and Pepper).

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    Following criticisms that trailed the appointments, Odo defended his action, saying it was aimed at boosting food production in the council, meet local demand and explore export opportunities. Addressing journalists at the council headquarters in Ogbede, last week, he dismissed critics as uninformed and politically motivated. “These appointments are strategic,” Odo explained. “Igbo-Etiti has a comparative advantage in cultivating these crops, and we need individuals with the expertise to help farmers maximise their potential. This initiative is about enhancing productivity, improving market access and increasing farmers’ income,” he added.

    The council chairman described the appointments as part of a broader vision to create a thriving local economy rooted in agriculture. “The appointments will ensure that farmers receive the resources, support and expertise they need,” he said, adding: “This initiative, which has been misunderstood by disgruntled individuals and opposition figures, underscores my determination to harness Igbo-Etiti’s agricultural potential for economic growth and sustainable development.” According to him, the dual motivation for the appointments is improving agricultural productivity and create jobs within the community.

    Odo made a good attempt at being persuasive. But we could ask how many aides he needs to boost agriculture in just his council area amidst concerns over bloated cost of governance in this country. The aides are to liaise between him and the farmers; they aren’t the farmers themselves, and it is arguable how much expertise the farmers lack and would need be filled in for by political appointees. Besides, potential replication of the initiative at other tiers of government is an unwieldy scenario to contemplate. Just imagine the Governor appointing a commissioner for tomatoes, another for yam, and yet another for palm produce rather than a single agriculture commissioner at the state level. Or, indeed, the President appointing a minister for rice, another for beans and another for kolanuts at the federal level. The possibility for job creation is limitless, of course, but so also is the cost of governance.

  • What does Obasanjo want to be remembered for?

    What does Obasanjo want to be remembered for?

    Sir: At 87 plus, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo remains one of the prodigiously blessed Nigerians, dead or alive.

    He has enjoyed manifold and mindboggling blessings in all facets in the same country he’s chosen to continually malign and ridicule at every given opportunity.

    By sheer act of Providence, he was the Army Commander who the rebellious Biafran soldiers handed over the “mantle of surrender” in Asaba, a historic and symbolic event that drew curtains on the acrimonious, very destructive and disruptive Nigeria civil war.

    He also had the privilege of being the first military ruler to hand over to a democratically elected government. This happened in 1979 when he passed over the baton of nation leadership to Shehu Shagari of National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    He mysteriously resurfaced at the corridor of power after he got released by the military government led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, to lead the nation as the first democratic leader at the commencement of the 4th Republic in 1999.

    He governed the nation for eight years (1999-2007).

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    Nigerians vividly recall that after he left office, he missed out only by whiskers, being elected as Secretary General of United Nations, an exalted office that would have cemented his stature as global personality.

    But instead of Obasanjo to solemnly reflect on all these unusual achievements, continually glorify and thankful to Almighty God, he simply misconstrued them as events that have placed him on superior platform to every other Nigerian.

    As obtained across the world, past leaders are grouped in the eminent category of statesmen, a body that collectively serve as repository of knowledge and ideas for the incumbent.

    Nigeria past leaders are not exception to this, as Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammudu Buhari, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan dutifully and patriotically play this role from time to time.   

    Only Olusegun Obasanjo had long opted out of this eminent class, always preferring to unduly critique all policy and programs of successive governments after him.   

    Despite foisting an ailing Umaru Yar’Adua on the nation, he nonetheless subjected that government to intense scrutiny until the demise of the Katsina born leader. He practically stood on the neck of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan throughout his tenure, as the latter bluntly refused to pander to him.

    He brought back his earlier method of critiquing government through loads of letter writing during the regime of immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, the taciturn Daura-born general practically ignored him for the eight years he was in saddle.

    After the present government of President Bola Tinubu chose to ignore him and his antics in the last 18 months, he opted to deploy the platform of Yale University in faraway, America to embarrass, as well as cast doubts and aspersions on competence and ability of the president to provide effective leadership and fight corruption, making very spurious and unsubstantiated corruption allegations against the government in his despicable presentation.   

    Would Obasanjo have tolerated this recklessness and spurious allegations during his regime?

    Nigerians vividly recall that his regime of 1999-2007 was characterized by corruption of colossal dimension. Under his watch, Atiku Abubakar alienated a significant proportion of national assets running into several billions of dollars to his cronies through the instrumentality of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The same era witnessed $16 billion meant for rehabilitation and repositioning of power sector that practically got misappropriated by top officials of the then PDP government.

    Obasanjo era witnessed unprecedented massive attacks of democratic institutions.

    As a leader who had awesome opportunity to change the direction and cause of the nation with respect to genuine economic growth and infrastructural developments, he chose to pursue vainglory and very pedestrian issues.

    Here is a leader who ceaselessly and recklessly attacked the successive leaders for nothing, other than selfishness and attracting undue favour. 

    The ball is his court to play. May Almighty God grant him grace to change his way before death comes knocking!            

    •Kola Amzat (FCA)Lagos.

  • A rusty reward system

    A rusty reward system

    Sir: At a recent convocation of one of Nigeria’s oldest universities, the best graduating students were gifted a paltry N30,000 for their efforts. Many Nigerians immediately compared the measly cash gift for years of backbreaking hardwork with the millions winners of reality shows take home in Nigeria.

    Money is not everything, but in many instances, and especially in a country like Nigeria, where poverty is systemic, it is close to being everything. As the country has gradually witnessed a corrosion of its national values and ethics, money has taken center stage. Poverty is such a burdensome boulder in Nigeria, such that even those who bear it in the name of religion are rushing to set it down.

    As many Nigerians have adopted a transactional, mercantile mentality, an area of life more affected than others is education. Some years ago, a Nigerian music artiste declared that “school na scam” in a song which went viral, with the line becoming the favourite of many young people who now jettison education for internet fraud. To prove that school na scam, many people easily draw correlatives between education and unemployment; the fate of teachers around the country, and the crisis of the education sector in Nigeria.

    Many years ago in Nigeria, education was the holy grail. With public schools in top shape and conditions excellent for students, many people picked up quality education at almost no cost. Upon graduation, many of them had well-paying jobs waiting for them.

    To repay the country, this generation of Nigerians, which enjoyed the first fruits of Nigeria’s independence and new round oil wealth, embarked on a destruction and desecration of the country’s values.

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    Charged with serving Nigeria with the skills the country sponsored them to obtain, many of them have overseen the corruption in public office which has destroyed the future for many Nigerians. When young Nigerians embracing internet theft look at this generation of Nigerians, it is with nothing but contempt and derision.

    Incentivisation is innate to human beings. Indeed, it is an inheritance. People know, as a matter of primal instinct, that they should gravitate towards that which promises them the rewards. This inclination to orbit around a reward system becomes a dangerous problem when the reward system is one which rewards ventures that add very little to society, while ignoring endeavors with more potentials.

    Many people may argue that education is its reward. But in a world of competing rewards, subconsciously forcing people to choose rewards that offer instant gratification over tangible long-term interests won’t exactly serve the national interests.

    •Kene Obiezu,keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Still on Okowa and Delta’s 13% Derivation Fund

    Still on Okowa and Delta’s 13% Derivation Fund

    Sir: The 13% derivation fund is a benefit-sharing system that provides funds to oil-producing communities to help them address the effects of oil and gas exploration in the areas of infrastructure. The fund helps communities address infrastructural decay and degradation.

    The fund is also meant for oil-producing communities’ access to healthcare, potable water, and paved roads. The fund is also supposed to assist with the provision of economic empowerment, compensate oil producing communities for losing their proprietary rights, fishing rights, and productive farmlands.

    The 13% derivation fund is based on section 162 (2) of 1999 constitution. The fund is paid to the oil-producing states on a monthly basis.

    In his press statement titled: Okowa and EFCC: The facts, the fiction, and the fairy tale, following Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s arrest and detention by EFCC, Olisa Ifeajika, his Chief Press Secretary (2019-2023) threw light on the funds received and disbursed by the Delta State government, excluding the loans taken in the eight years of the administration.

    In the statement, he said: “…..for the avoidance of doubt and for the benefit of the public, we wish to bring to the fore some salient information from the audited accounts of the Delta State government for the eight years that Okowa presided over the affairs of the state. Total revenue (FAAC, IGR, other receipts) was N2.65 trillion, salaries, N628.5bn, pensions/contributory pensions/social benefits, N141.22bn, overhead/consolidated revenue charges, n489.83bn, grants/contributions, N107.88bn, DESOPADEC, N221.2bn, internal loans repayment/public debt charges, N200.38bn, FAAC deductions for loan repayment, N150.63bn, total capital expenditure, N729.2bn.

    Ifeajika quoted from the audited accounts of Delta State government for eight years. It is interesting to note that DESOPADEC, which by law is meant to receive 50% of the 13% derivation fund disbursement to Delta State, only received the sum of N221.2bn in eight years.

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    Now, let’s analyse the percentage of 13% Derivation Fund from the total FAAC allocations to Delta State in eight years.

    Of the gross allocation received from FAAC, on average, the 13% Derivation Fund makes up about 79%, whilst statutory allocation represents 21%. If we go by the incomplete 13% derivation fund of N1.09 trillion, DESOPADEC should have received 50%, amounting to N545 billion for the development of oil producing communities.

    From the figure released by Olisa Ifeajika as contained in the audited accounts, DESOPADEC only received only N221.2 billion. The salient question to ask is, how did the Okowa administration utilize the N323.8 billion meant for the development of oil producing communities?

    Without gainsaying, the utilization of the 13% Derivation Fund is meant for the development of oil producing communities. Based on the DESOPADEC Law, the state withholds 50%, and the other 50% meant for DESOPADEC was not fully disbursed in the eight years of Governor Okowa.

    It should be made abundantly clear that the governors in receipt of the 13% Derivation Fund, by law, do not have the right or prerogative to utilize the funds as they deem fit. If they do so, it will amount to misappropriation and mismanagement of the fund specifically meant for the development of oil producing communities. Without the oil exploration and exploitation from those communities, Delta State wouldn’t be one of the beneficiaries of the 13% Derivation Fund and would only be stuck with the statutory allocation component of FAAC allocations. It is unjust and inhuman to deprive oil producing communities of their rightful entitlement.

    We are requesting Olisa Ifeajika to use the same medium used in the defence of the arrest and detention of Okowa, to publish the 13% Derivation Fund and Statutory Allocation breakdown of FAAC Allocation received in the eight years of Okowa, for the sake of transparency and accountability, and to know if oil producing communities were fairly treated. It is not wise to use unprintable words on those asking questions for clarification sake, and seeking equity and fairness.

    We await the information on the breakdown of the question of FAAC Allocation asked above. We are at the point where the voices of all genuine advocates of fairness, equity and justice need to be heard, even if it involves taking legal action(s) to interpret the utilisation of the 13% Derivation Fund received by Delta State government.

    •Olorogun Stephen K. Dieseruvwe, Bradford City, UK.

  • Happy puppets,happier puppeteers?

    Happy puppets,happier puppeteers?

    With jet pumps of emotion sprucing clean the “children’s” alleged crime, Hardball can be pardoned to think it is all right for teens to grab foreign flags, do heartless torching of government facilities and loot private shops — all as “democratic” right to protest!

    And shame: it’s the same mealy-mouthed lobby that ab initio canonized “legal protest” — no crime — but refused to take responsibility for the destruction that inevitably follows — big crime!

    Indeed, at no better time has a cynical push for “human rights” become a brazen push for “human wrongs” — and that lobby is not even sorry, given the court arraignment drama that has birthed this latest racket of conspiratorial sympathy!

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    But thank God: after the equal opportunity destruction that the EndSARS riots brought Lagos, including the torching of a fleet of near-brand new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) coaches at the Oyingbo terminal, aside torching the most iconic and historic skyline of Race Course and Broad Street, dating back to when Lagos was Federal capital, the courts did well to limit protesters — vandals? — to two spots.

    That was how and why Lagos escaped the wilful fire that time.  But Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the North were not so lucky.  The most tragic, of all these states, was Kano.  A gallery-playing Governor Abba Yusuf gamely invited fire to own thatch roof, playing the cynical “democrat”, deluded he would hurt no one but Abuja.

    The governor’s folly harvested a band of court-burning, rod-wielding and shop-looting “children” — a self-destruct fire that laid Kano prostrate!  What was more?  That band, in merry treason, was wielding the Russian flag and baying for military rule!  Are we then supposed to forget all that, because they all were “children”?

  • Anambra’s revenue collectors

    Anambra’s revenue collectors

    Importantly, the Anambra State government must investigate the incident in which two alleged Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection agents of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration were burned alive by a mob in Onitsha. A viral video showed the mob hitting the alleged revenue collectors with different objects before setting them ablaze. The shocking incident happened at Old Market Road in the commercial city.

    According to an eye-witness account, six “revenue collectors” were chasing a tipper driver “over a certain amount they asked him to pay.” Some of them tried to take control of the vehicle, which led to a struggle.  “In the process, the tipper driver lost control and rammed into a bystander, killing him instantly. Immediately the revenue collectors saw the damage they had caused, they tried to flee the scene.”

    The witness said an angry mob “set two of the revenue officials ablaze while four others managed to escape.” He added: “It was one death too many as this had been going on in Anambra in the last two years. The person the tipper driver rammed into is a known person. We cannot continue like this anymore. These revenue touts of the state government have killed more Ndi Anambra than non-state actors who are disturbing the peace.” The mob went too far.

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    However, a government official was reported saying the alleged revenue collectors were not government agents. Spokesman for the state police command Tochukwu Ikenga said they “responded swiftly” on receiving the news of the incident, adding, “We are already working with the relevant authorities to ascertain what happened.”

    It is disturbing that residents of the state were reported to have complained about the activities of revenue collection agents working for the state government, particularly their aggressive methods. The Soludo administration should look into this accusation and take action to ensure that its revenue collectors do their work without aggression.

    In March, Soludo, while speaking about his achievements two years after he became governor, said the state’s IGR was “N1.4bn to N1.5bn a month” at the beginning of his governorship but “now, we are getting to a little under N3bn.”  “That’s not where we want to be,” he added. “Our target this year is to be able to exceed N4bn, and Anambra has the potential to get up to N10bn on a monthly basis.”

    Improving the state’s IGR should not involve acts of aggression. It is condemnable that three lives were lost in this incident. 

  • Eliminating violence against women

    Eliminating violence against women

    Sir: The United Nations takes November 25 every year as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. As the world marked the occasion yesterday, it is important to reflect on the welfare of women in a world working furiously against them.

    Women face significant challenges in the world today. Whether in the workplace, at home or in the larger society, there is a concerted but subconscious effort to render women invisible and voiceless.

    At home, women face the hurdles erected by a superstitious and patriarchal society which simultaneously subjugates women under the prescripts of patriarchy while remaining aloof when reality forces upon them the role of breadwinners.

    In many societies, twisted belief systems do not allow woman to operate beyond the boundaries of making the home. With perverse prisms through which women are seen only as good for house chores and making babies, women are expected to reinvent themselves for these purposes only while restricting themselves to the home front. In other words, women are not expected to have aspirations that transcend the kitchen or cradle. As injustices go, few are more atrocious.

    Violence against women remains systemic and even structural in a country like Afghanistan, where the terrorist Taliban government is bent on increasingly limiting the space available to women. In many places, violence against women has become so entrenched as to be normalized.

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    Many work spaces remain closed to women who face hurdles erected by men. Women can’t get into many jobs because they are supposedly more suited to men. This tendency to shrink the work space to exclude women is a major form of violence against women. Unfortunately, it has also spilled into the public space. For example, despite the Federal High Court judgement compelling the federal government to reserve 35 percent of all public appointment slots for women, that order has not tasted any sort of compliance.

    As the world becomes more unequal and insecure with conflicts breaking out in  different parts of the world, women remain an extremely vulnerable group. Women and children disproportionately suffer the effects of conflicts conceived and stoked by men.

    This year’s commemoration of what is a plague in contemporary society is also a massive opportunity for reflection and action on domestic violence. Many women are living impossibly violent and volatile conditions right in the heart of their homes where they should feel safest.

    Domestic violence must no longer be treated as a family affair which can be settled outside the operation of law. All those involved must be treated like the criminals that they are. Eliminating violence against women is pivotal to a safe world where everyone lives with dignity.

    •Ike Willie- Nwobu,Ikewilly9@gmail.com