The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • On Makinde’s rumoured presidential ambition

    On Makinde’s rumoured presidential ambition

    Sir: Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has, in recent times, made headlines for what many political observers consider his budding ambition to contest for the presidency in 2027 general elections. Though still speculative, a closer analysis of his track record, political strategy, and the broader national context reveals that his presidential ambition may be doomed from the start, or as some political pundits argue, “dead on arrival.”

    Makinde’s foray into presidential politics raises questions about his readiness and credibility to lead a country as complex and diverse as Nigeria. While ambition is not inherently negative, his approach seems to prioritize personal political advancement over the public good. His tenure as the governor of Oyo State has been marred by controversies, governance deficits, and accusations of self-serving behaviour, which, if unresolved, may severely undermine any hope of national political success.

    One of the most glaring weaknesses in Makinde’s presidential bid is the state of governance in Oyo State under his leadership. Despite his initial popularity upon assuming office in 2019, Makinde’s administration has failed to live up to expectations. Accusations of neglecting key areas of governance, such as healthcare, education, and food security, have become common refrains from critics and constituents alike. Makinde’s penchant for investing in high-profile projects has raised concerns about the sustainability of his policies and their impact on the common people.

     The governor’s recent actions—such as his establishment of the PDP Southwest headquarters in Ibadan—point to a man more focused on consolidating power and positioning himself for higher office than on addressing the concerns of his constituents. His efforts to secure a pliable successor in Oyo State are similarly viewed as an attempt to protect himself from accountability once his governorship ends.

    This pursuit of self-preservation is not lost on the Nigerian electorate, many of whom are growing weary of politicians who seek personal gain at the expense of the public good. Makinde’s disregard for the needs of Oyo State while chasing after national relevance is seen as a symptom of the broader problem of political opportunism that has long plagued Nigeria. His lack of focus on governance raises serious doubts about his motivations and whether he is truly capable of leading Nigeria.

    Read Also: Makinde approves N80,000 minimum wage for Oyo workers

    Another factor that renders Makinde’s presidential ambition dead on arrival is his antiparty activities in the 2023 presidential election and his contribution to the fractures within his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Makinde’s anti-party activities have left him isolated, with many within the PDP viewing him as an opportunist who is willing to sacrifice party loyalty for personal gain. This internal division will likely come back to haunt him if he seeks the party’s nomination for the presidency in 2027.

    Complicating matters further is the fact that President Bola Tinubu, also from the Southwest, will still be a major force in Nigerian politics come 2027. Makinde, who also hails from the same geopolitical zone, will face the formidable challenge of convincing voters and party leaders that he, rather than Tinubu’s APC machinery, deserves their support. With Tinubu’s established political network and influence in the Southwest, Makinde’s chances of rallying the region behind him appear slim.

    Moreover, the political landscape in Nigeria is such that regional support plays a critical role in any successful presidential campaign. Makinde’s strained relationships with other regional power brokers and his inconsistent party loyalty mean that he lacks the political alliances needed to mount a credible challenge on a national scale. His ambition to compete against Tinubu for influence in the Southwest, while also courting support from other regions, appears to be an uphill battle.

    Nigeria’s political landscape is increasingly complex, and the country’s challenges require leaders who can navigate these complexities with a clear vision, competence, and a commitment to public service. Unfortunately for Makinde, his track record suggests that his ambition is driven more by quest for personal gain than by a genuine desire to lead Nigeria toward a better future. His presidential aspiration is, by all accounts, dead on arrival.

    •Barrister Adisa Atolagbe, Abuja.

  • Postgraduate assessment: A vote for take-home examinations

    Postgraduate assessment: A vote for take-home examinations

    Sir: In a progressive and intellectually mature society, postgraduate students should be entrusted with more academic freedom and respect, especially during examinations. The stringent supervision and overly controlled conditions of Master’s and PhD exams in Nigeria stand in stark contrast to the principles of independence and critical thinking these degrees are meant to nurture. Instead of enforcing strict exam-room protocols, universities should allow postgraduate students to complete their exams under more flexible conditions, such as take-home formats that emphasize understanding and application over rote memorization.

    During my doctoral coursework at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun between 2019 and 2020, I experienced the advantages of take-home exams. These exams encouraged me to dive deeper into topics, consult various sources, and structure my responses in a way that showcased a true grasp of the material rather than simply recalling facts. This format allowed for a richer, more advanced learning experience and taught me to handle knowledge responsibly and independently. Such a model fosters academic maturity, urging students to think critically, manage their time effectively, and develop arguments backed by comprehensive research—all essential skills for any serious researcher.

    Nigeria’s educational system needs a revamp to align with global trends that increasingly prioritize practical, research-based, and applied learning. The current system treats postgraduate students with an outdated level of mistrust, assuming they lack the integrity to complete exams independently. This lack of confidence not only demeans students but also fails to reflect the essence of postgraduate studies, where students are expected to be self-motivated and ethically responsible.

    Implementing take-home exams for Master’s and PhD programs would convey an implicit respect for students’ maturity and commitment to their fields. This approach would allow students to explore complex ideas with the resources needed to craft thoughtful responses, ultimately elevating the quality of academic discourse. It would shift the focus from merely “passing exams” to genuinely mastering subjects. When students are allowed this freedom, they are more likely to pursue knowledge with passion, creativity, and depth, leading to more meaningful research outcomes.

    Opponents of take-home exams often argue that such flexibility would lead to higher instances of academic dishonesty. While the concern is valid, universities can implement measures to mitigate cheating, such as using plagiarism-detection software or structuring questions that require original, critical analysis rather than straightforward answers. Moreover, fostering a culture of academic integrity from the undergraduate level up would make dishonesty less tempting, as students would have internalized the importance of honest scholarship.

    Read Also: Late Lagbaja’s hometown suspends anniversary indefinitely

    Granting postgraduate students’ greater academic freedom would have a profound impact on Nigeria’s academic standards. The trust given to students would likely be reciprocated with an increased sense of responsibility and accountability. As they progress through their programs, students would grow as thinkers and scholars, better equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s intellectual and professional landscape. This shift would also make Nigerian institutions more competitive on the global stage, aligning with educational models that regard postgraduate students as responsible, capable adults who are trusted to handle their academic obligations with integrity.

    In my honest opinion, Nigeria’s educational system must evolve to respect the maturity of postgraduate students. Embracing take-home exams as a standard for Master’s and PhD students would not only reflect confidence in students’ abilities but also promote a more rigorous, research-oriented academic environment. When the system heralds a culture of trust and responsibility, Nigerian universities can truly empower the next generation of thinkers, researchers, and leaders.

    •Imikan Nkopuruk,Abuja

  • EFCC in overdrive?

    EFCC in overdrive?

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), government’s anti-graft agency, were reported to recently storm a radio station in Enugu to arrest a presenter amidst a live broadcast. The incident made the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), another government agency and broadcast industry regulator, to publicly apologise and call out the anti-graft agency.

    The NBC, in a statement penultimate week, apologised to the broadcast industry, the people of Enugu State and the listening public for the incursion by EFCC agents into Urban Radio 94.5 FM while a live programme was airing to arrest the presenter who they suspected of financial sleaze. The anti-graft agents had at about 6:48p.m. on 14th October raided the radio station in hunt for Favour Ekoh. The station’s management in a statement shortly after the raid said the operatives arrested Ms. Ekoh while she was presenting a live show titled ‘Prime Time.’

    In its own narrative, the EFCC denied that its agents disrupted the station’s operations, and said Ms. Ekoh’s arrest was not during a live programme. The agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, explained that the arrest was because Ms. Ekoh was being investigated by the Enugu zonal directorate of the EFCC in an alleged N700million Ponzi scheme involving some 50 victims. Urban Radio in a post on its X handle, however, insisted EFCC operatives interrupted its live programme to arrest the presenter, saying it has “strong evidence” to prove the claim. It proceeded shortly after to upload a brief recording showing the live programme being interrupted by the operatives who arrested Ms. Ekoh.

    Read Also: Diasporans are indispensable assets to Nigeria, says Tinubu

    NBC rendered an apology in a statement in Abuja by its Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Susan Obi, who described the incident as, in the least, regrettable. The statement held the anti-graft operatives’ incursion on a live programme “a violation of the professional ethics of broadcasting,” saying: “The approach by which the arrest was carried out is improper. This action is regrettable, considering the impact of the broadcast media on the society.”

    It wasn’t that the industry regulator favoured corruption, making clear it appreciated efforts by EFCC to rid the country of financial crimes. “NBC (however) differs with the manner of approach deployed by the anti-graft agency which could have led to public disorder, disturbance, aggravated mass panic and hysteria,” the commission said as it apologised for the incident and enjoined media professionals “to continue upholding ethical standards while discharging their responsibility.”

    EFCC didn’t ply a convincing denial of the claim that its operatives stormed in on a live programme to arrest the presenter; and you would wonder what was urgent that they couldn’t wait for the programme to be over, if not that they were authority drunk. Security services need to be routinely reminded that Gestapo tactics do not fit with our democracy.

  • Open letter to education minister

    Open letter to education minister

    • By Olayinka Iroye

    Sir: On behalf of Nigerians and the academic community, I extend heartfelt congratulations on your appointment. Nigerians are confident that under your leadership, the education sector will witness transformative and much-needed reforms.

    As you assume this critical office, I urge you to address an urgent issue affecting many young Nigerians: the restriction on mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) imposed on Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates from Nigerian Polytechnics who completed their National Diploma (ND) on a part-time basis but transitioned to full-time HND programme. Despite their dedication and academic compliance, these students now face exclusion from NYSC mobilization due to a recent policy shift—a situation that has caused widespread disappointment and frustration for them, their families, and the society at large.

    This restriction has ignited a significant outcry across various platforms, with voices from scholars, media, student bodies such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) all appealing for a review of this policy. The affected students, many of whom have waited nearly a year find themselves ensnared by unanticipated policy changes. They deserve fair consideration, not penalization for following an educational path approved by the system itself.

    The implications of this exclusion are severe and far-reaching. For the students, this policy casts a shadow over their hard work and aspirations. For their families, who have made substantial financial sacrifices, the delay compounds frustrations. On a broader level, the exclusion signals a troubling message to young Nigerians, creating doubts about the credibility of our educational system and diminishing confidence in the polytechnic pathway.

    Read Also: Nigeria, ECOWAS to improve energy data methods

    Moreover, the resulting disruptions in polytechnics across the nation are a cause for concern. Protests, demonstrations, and a growing sense of alienation among students threaten the academic and administrative stability within these institutions. If left unaddressed, this issue could undermine campus peace, exacerbate disenchantment among students, and disrupt the broader learning environment.

    Honourable Minister, as you embark on the mission to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector, I respectfully request that you consider addressing this matter as one of your immediate priorities. We appeal to you to direct JAMB, NYSC, and other relevant agencies to mobilize these graduates in the upcoming NYSC batch. Such a decision would bring swift relief to affected students and their families, while demonstrating your commitment to equity, inclusivity, and the welfare of Nigeria’s youth.

    Addressing this issue with compassion will underscore your dedication to fairness and inclusivity in Nigerian education. With your leadership, I believe a fair and positive outcome is within reach.

    Once again, congratulations on your well-deserved appointment.

    •Olayinka Iroye,

     The Federal Polytechnic Offa

  • Badenoch: A dream realised in Diaspora

    Badenoch: A dream realised in Diaspora

    • By Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye

    Sir: As Nigerian born Olukemi Badenoch achieved a remarkable feat in the politics of United Kingdom (UK), praises and encouragement should be in order to celebrate this amazing woman in all ramifications.

    Born Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke of Ondo Ekinmogun, Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, it gladdens the heart that a Nigerian blood became a conservative icon, replacing Rishi Sunak, the immediate past Prime Minister.

    Kemi’s journey is a testament for hope that many Nigerians, that given the opportunities, would achieve feats deemed impossible even by our leaders. She has proven to the world that we, as Nigerians, are capable of not just dreams, but of achieving dreams of flourishing, spreading our wings even in the windiest storms given the opportunity. If only our country would enable our growth.

    Today, Nigeria has almost become the poverty capital of the world with traps and snares to hold dreams bound, stifling growth, and neglecting the abundance of what our wealth of knowledge could achieve, pushing young and promising citizens out of Nigeria in search for a greener pasture. The sheer number of people leaving Nigeria highlights the missing trust for our government, abandoning their homeland in search of a greener pasture to grow and become people of history like our forefathers.

    With the incessant insecurity, unemployment, economic hardship, and abuse, I can say that our leaders are our problems. And I am elated that people like Kemi Badenoch found a way out of this dream-trapper nation to shine, to lead, and make Nigerians home and abroad proud of the nationality that has done us more harm than good.

    I hear many Nigerians criticizing Kemi Badenoch for her comment about Nigeria during her campaign, but as Nigerians, are we oblivious to the fact that this is a necessary truth?

    Her revelation about the growth and competition stifling environment, the corruption engorged systems, the missed opportunities, lack of fair competition, and the privileged having an upper hand over the underprivileged cuts home more than she might have meant. All these are nothing but the truth.

    Kemi Badenoch is a case study. Nigeria would have killed her dreams if she had remained in the country. Her words are a call to accountability, a voice for those silenced by poverty, exclusion, and systemic abuse and not an attack on Nigeria.

    Or don’t we see how the system is treating Nigerians, making them beg for the most basic of all amenities?

    I do not view her choice of words as an attack on her roots, but from a place of lived experience, pain, and voicing out for those without the voice and platform she has been given. Her journey abroad was not an abandonment of her roots but the realities that forced her to leave. Her criticism, though painful, should be a rallying cry for us to demand better; to demand that Nigeria live up to its potential and provide a nation worthy of its people’s dreams.

    Read Also: Anti-graft: Lawyers’ platform seeks more powers for EFCC

    Had Kemi Badenoch chosen to stay in Nigeria, her story might have been like so many others—punctuated by harassment or forced into silence by those who see female ambition as threat. Our brightest minds are thus left to fight battles that should not exist. Either through sheer hard work or privilege from her parents, she did not allow Nigeria to hold her dreams at ransom. She did not allow Nigeria to kill her dream.

    As we congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her remarkable achievements, we are left to ask ourselves: how many more Kemis have we lost? How many have seen their dreams crushed under the weight of Nigeria’s dysfunctional system? Her success should not be an exception; it should be the rule. But this will remain a dream until Nigeria is willing to confront its failures honestly and commit to nurturing the dreams of its people. Instead of putting the head of those who speak out on the stake.

    To Kemi, I say – you are a symbol of what Nigerians can achieve when given the opportunity. And to Nigeria, I say – May you not continue to kill the dreams of your children, for each life that leaves you is a loss you cannot afford. And to Nigerians, I say – May we continue to have the zeal and urge to follow our dreams and make the nation proud.

    Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye,

    United Kingdom.

  • Make energy priority for Southwest Commission

    Make energy priority for Southwest Commission

    • By Mujib Dada-Kadri Esq

    Sir: Nigeria’s political and economic foundations were built on regional developments and integrations. The regional economic foundations comprised of the North, East, West and Mid-west leading to significant economic prosperity especially in agriculture. Unfortunately, the regional model (regionalism) was truncated by political complexities and controversies of that era which arguably prompted a disruptive coup in 1966.

    Undoubtedly, the significant success of that era which presented Nigeria as a leading light in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the league of commonwealth nations was so evident coupled with enviable regional competitive strides.

    Interestingly, Nigeria’s political and economic evolution under different democratic/civilian dispensations has resulted in the jettisoning of the economic legacies or potentials of regionalism leaving us to caress the nostalgia of the 50s/60s for ethnic and political advantages.

    The regional economic legacies of agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructures and education have been largely trashed. For example, the legacies of reputable Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC) founded by the regional administration of Chief Obafemi Awolowo which metamorphosed into Odua Group of Companies have been poorly preserved. Other regional conglomerates have suffered similar fate.

    The recent establishment of South West Development Commission (SWDC) provides a fresh opportunity to reflect on old regional economic legacies that favoured Western Nigeria and inspire new ambitions. Obviously, the reintroduction of regional development agencies which commenced during the era of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, aimed for special regional economic interests especially to assist the marginalized Niger-Delta region and subsequent creation of North East Development Commission to assist the region in post-terrorism recovery.

    South West Development Commission has joined the “league” and excellent regional economic ambitions should be considered to avoid the redundancy syndrome that captured previous regional development commissions.

    This writer is proposing a strategic energy masterplan for Western Nigeria. Nigeria has monumental energy potentials and oil has contributed the largest to Nigeria’s GDP for over 35 years.  Alternatively, Nigeria has intimidating gas resources but has failed to maximize its natural gas resources for domestic energy security, international trade, industrialization, agriculture, power supply and urbanization.

    According to PWC 2020 report, Nigeria has the 9th largest gas reserves globally with about 209.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves. These gas reserves have been confirmed to be enormous in these inland basins; Chad, Dahomey, Sokoto, Benue trough, Niger Delta, Bida and Anambra. Luckily, the Dahomey/Benin basin spans across Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states and some parts of West Africa. The need for Southwest to maximize the potentials of the Dahomey basin cannot be overemphasized especially for sustainable electricity in Western Nigeria.

    Read Also: Nigeria, ECOWAS to improve energy data methods

    South West Development Commission should make energy transition and maximization key interest for the development of Western Nigeria. The commission in achieving this ambition should mastermind a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will include all states in Western Nigeria to establish “LUKUMI ENERGY PROJECT” under the auspices of WESTERN NIGERIA ENERGY MASTERPLAN. The aim of this project is to jointly raise minimum of $5billion for gas expansion projects that will explore the Dahomey Basin to provide gas for power generation and distribution to all states in Western Nigeria. The goal is to generate and distribute minimum of 5000 megawatts in three years to power all homes in Western Nigeria, special industrial zones and share excess with the national grid in accordance with the newly amended Electricity Act and 1999 constitution which allow for generation of electricity by sub-nationals and other forms of independent power generations.

    The natural gas exploration is also possible by sub-nationals but within the framework of a corporate entity which will be licensed by the federal government. This project will be expected to contribute more than 10% to Nigeria’s GDP in seven years and deepen regional industrialization.

    Western Nigeria has lofty legacies to protect and new economic ambitions to project to the world. Energy transition and maximization have been suggested as the most strategic for the region regardless of other economic interests because of the huge potentials inherent in energy sector and easy plausibility of regional connectivity.

    •Mujib Dada-Kadri Esq,

     Abuja

  • Integrate scrap metal business into poverty reduction plan

    Integrate scrap metal business into poverty reduction plan

    Sir: I dare to ask: is there any business or profession that is 100 per cent clean, devoid of any bad eggs?  Amongst judges, lawyers, doctors, teachers or politics if it can be called a profession, the fact is that there are full of wicked people in every sector does not call for it banning.

    Therefore, it is myopic for anyone to advocate for banning scrap metal business in any part of Nigeria.

    If for example, you outlaw the scrap industry, what are you going to do with over three million youth, most of whom young, aged between 10 to 35 in northern Nigeria? What will be their fate? Who is going to employ them?  Here we are living in one of the individualistic society where everybody is on his own. The political elites use the system to amass wealth in order not invest but to stash it away, and the same class are calling for destruction of an industry that provides jobs to millions of people, what a sadistic mind-set?

     Fifty per cent of the entire total raw materials our manufacturing industries use are sourced from the scrap metal and waste dealers. This helps our government to preserve the scarce foreign exchange. Indeed, without scrap metals and waste dealers, I don’t know how factories can survive.

    I learnt that most of the plastic and metals, including mat, kettle, plates, shoes, rod, etc are made from the recycled materials. Recycling is greatly helping in protecting the environment, reducing methane and addressing the climate change.

    Read Also: Climate Change: Nigeria to double down climate financing, says Minister

    Thus, banning this very important industry will never solve the challenge posed by thieves and vandals. Even if you outlaw the business, the vandalism will continue or even worse because those that will be jobless will go underground and become hardened criminals. Nigeria cannot afford to create more criminals.

    So, what is the way forward?

    Since we all agree that recycling is an indispensable venture, the government should sit down with the dealers and all stakeholders from the industry, to co-create a sustainable solution. Looking down on scavengers and levelling them blindly as thieves is useless because you are not addressing the problem.

    These scrap metal dealers have their own association. How many times has the government bothered to sit with them and develop a permanent solution to the challenges of theft and vandalism? Treating all of them as criminals is not only unfair but even goes against the doctrine of the rule of law.

    We need an intervention that will not compound our poverty, unemployment and security challenges.

    I am happy that some state governors in northern Nigeria are now having a change of strategy in dealing with scrap metals and waste entrepreneurs.

    •Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar,Unguwa Katsina

  • Edo election and PDP’s TV histrionics

    Edo election and PDP’s TV histrionics

    Sir: Arise –TV’s regular morning show on November 2 featured one Martins Obono, Executive Director, Tap Initiative for Citizens Development. Obono claims to be one of the many civil society activists in Nigeria and indeed, there are a legion of them. We do know for a fact that dangerous and unscrupulous elements operate as spies and agents and in all manner guises in the name of operatives of civil society organizations.

    In the extant case, Obono could barely conceal the fact that he was a PDP agent, commissioned to discredit the results of the Edo State gubernatorial election held on September 21 as he went straight for the jugular of INEC from start. By deliberate act of skulduggery, he referenced the results in the fake PDP-IREV portal as if it was truly INEC-IREV. A bit of balanced review of his claims portrayed INEC as dumb and obtuse. That is far from the truth!

    Martins Obono’s egregious claims cannot stand the heat of legal interrogation except to serve the purpose of unconscionably besmirching the image of INEC thereby keeping the forlorn hope of the vanquished falsely high.

    While Obono was justifying his engagement by the PDP, the petition filed by the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo, before the State Election Tribunal contesting the outcome of the election clearly circumvented the dead end of making electoral malpractices and corrupt practices such as forgery of results being belaboured at Arise-TV media trial as grounds for his petition. Rather, the two main grounds that will be hotly contested in the State Election Tribunal as filed by the PDP are:

    (1) Non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    (2) That the 2nd respondent (Governor-elect) did not win with the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

    There is no deposition or documents supporting allegations of “forgery” before the election tribunal. In the petition, the PDP is building her case around allegations of over-voting, votes’ suppression, etc. The Arise TV histrionics is a superfluous and unwarranted media trial that might distract their focus on proving the allegations in their petition.

    It is important to call on the general public to discountenance the wild claims by the PDP and her paid agents. The APC repeatedly raised alarm before and after the election that PDP installed digital technology equipment including a fake IREV Centre at a location near the Government House to falsify the votes scored by the respective parties at the election.

    Read Also: Infrastructure: Nigeria may miss 70 per cent broadband target

    Further post-election investigation not only confirmed the APC’s alarm but phantom and fictitious figures emanating from their illegal IREV portal are in the public space. They lied that requisite INEC Electoral forms were not filled in 320 polling units across the states, when in fact these forms were actually filled and endorsed.

    They lied about over voting in 58 polling units, this they did by mischievously adding “spoilt ballot papers” into their computation of valid votes cast for determining over voting. They did not plead the number of accredited voters as captured by the BVAS machine, they did not plead the BVAS report on accreditation of voters, yet they imagine they can prove over voting.

    Similarly, they repeated their crazy allegation of over voting and non- filling of the INEC Electoral forms in 75 polling units. They then prayed that APC’s valid votes in these polling units be cancelled on the basis of these false and speculative pleadings.

    The APC teeming members and the public should be wary of the misleading information regularly churned out by the PDP and their agents. It will intensify in the course of the trial. The true status of the PDP petition and pleadings before the State Election Tribunal should give no one any cause for worry. In the light of its vacuousness and hollowness, it cannot stand the test of legal scrutiny and fireworks. The counsels are not magicians and it is not within their calling to conjure evidence to prove cases! When it is dismissed by the tribunal (as we hope and expect), we should expect that opposition rogue mainstream and online media outlets will go haywire scandalizing and demonizing the courts/ judiciary for dismissing the empty petition. It is in their character to be desperate, irresponsible and unpatriotic!

    •Washington Osa Osifo, PhD,Benin- City

  • Nigeria’s ignoble record of traffic offenders

    Nigeria’s ignoble record of traffic offenders

    Sir: The rate of road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths is very high in Nigeria. The 2023 data released by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) showed that about 5,000 people died in road traffic crashes. The report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that over 39,000 people died in road traffic crashes in 2023 in Nigeria. Although there is disparity between the figures released by FRSC and WHO but we know who is correct and who is wrong.

    This year, the FRSC released the data of traffic offenders and it was mind-blowing. The report revealed that the number of Road Traffic Offenders arrested in the year 2023 is 614,051.

    On the side of FRSC, the arrests are a record – breaking achievement. To me, I see the high figure of violators as a bad omen. It is clearly an evidence that too many people are either still ignorant of the road traffic regulations and road rules while some are stubbornly disobeying the traffic laws thereby presenting themselves as safety risks on the roads. Hence the persistently high rate of road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths on our roads. The higher the rate of road rules violation, the higher will be the rate of road traffic crashes.

    It is worrisome that over 80 per cent of the current holders of Nigeria Drivers Licence do not know all the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Nigeria Highway Code. Over 70 per cent got their drivers licence without undergoing the full theoretical and practical training sessions in driving schools. What we see on the roads today are trial by errors driving which has been the root cause of the high rate of traffic law violations and crashes.

    The National Road Traffic Regulations (2012) clearly states that every driver (and rider) must undergo a minimum of nine hours of cumulative refresher training before the drivers licence can be renewed.  The compromise in the enforcement of this law has further worsened the level of knowledge, skills and attitudes of drivers thereby placing Nigeria as one of the countries with the highest rates of road traffic crashes and also among the worst countries to drive in.

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    The high rate of compromise and corruption in traffic law enforcement is also another major cause of the high rate of traffic law violations and crashes.

    The continuing loss of lives and properties on the road has a lot of viral effects on the country, GDP, communities, families and businesses among others.

    In order to quickly and effectively stem this disheartening tide, there is an urgent need for the federal, state and local governments,  ministries of works and transportation,  the FRSC as the lead agency in Road Safety Administration,  state government traffic agencies,  Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIOs), driving schools, transport unions, NGOs and CSOs involved in road safety, Institute of Driving Instructors of Nigeria and other stakeholders in transportation and road safety to wake up to their responsibilities towards ensuring safer road infrastructures and  safer road users.

    •Jide Owatunmise, Lagos

  • Bago’s fantastic target

    Bago’s fantastic target

    Sensationally, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago made the headlines after announcing that the state would in November not only begin paying a minimum wage of N80,000 to its workers, which is N10,000 more than the stipulated new national minimum wage, but also aim to “eventually achieve a minimum wage of one million naira.” 

    According to him, “The N80,000 approved is sustainable, and with our progress in agriculture, we are confident we can increase it further in the future.” He added: “We are establishing civil service farms so that our workforce can be more productive. With this approach, we could eventually achieve a minimum wage of one million naira, but for now, we are starting with N80,000.”

    Was the governor serious? Did he expect the public to take him and his words seriously? President Bola Tinubu signed the N70,000 minimum wage bill into law in July, after months of intense negotiations with labour leaders who had demanded a much higher minimum wage. Indeed, the labour unions had initially demanded over N600, 000 monthly, arguing that the country’s cost-of-living crisis warranted such a high figure, compared with the old N30,000 minimum wage.  

    Notably, the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Niger State, Abdulkarim Idris Lafene, observed that the N80,000 minimum wage which would be paid by the state government “is not fully aligned with the current economy, considering the high cost of goods and living expenses.” However, he added, “We are hopeful that the minimum wage will eventually reach one million naira, as the governor has indicated.” Unbelievable!

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    Reports say 21 states are set to begin implementing the new national wage law, with some of them ready to pay their workers slightly above the stipulated N70,000 minimum wage. The states are: Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi, Ebonyi, Delta, Edo, Borno, Kwara, and Kano.  

    Fourteen states adjusted the fixed minimum wage upward, possibly to give the impression that their governments are worker-friendly.  They include Lagos and Rivers (N85,000); Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom (N80,000).  Others are: Delta and Ogun (N77,000), Ebonyi and Kebbi (N75,000), Ondo (N73,000), Kogi (N72,000), Gombe and Kano (N71,000).

    Governor Bago of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is 50 and became governor in 2023. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.  He may be dreaming of a second term which would take him to 2031. So, he may have time to reach the point of possibly paying one million naira as minimum wage in his state. But he sounded like a politician saying what he thinks the people want to hear.