The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    • By Arinze Oduah

    Nigeria’s rivers, roads, and mines have become death traps, with a worrying rise in fatalities across various sectors. The recent boat accidents in Zamfara State, which claimed an estimated sixty-four lives, and the earlier incident in Bayelsa State, where over twenty perished, are stark reminders of a broader problem. Nigeria’s weak safety standards and regulations, compounded by the failure of government and other critical stakeholders to act promptly, continue to endanger lives. But this does not have to be the reality. Around the world, governments, private sector stakeholders, and communities have collaborated to establish robust technical and operational standards, create safer systems, reduce fatalities, and minimize risks. Nigeria can learn from these examples and urgently apply the lessons to avert further loss of life.

    The success achieved under Professor Wole Soyinka-led Federal Road Safety Corps to reduce fatal road crashes indicates that establishing safer systems is possible within a relatively short time. As with our roads, so also our waterways and industrial mining sites.

    Nigeria’s waterways have witnessed an alarming frequency of boat accidents. From overcrowding to the use of faulty vessels and inadequate safety measures, the causes of these accidents are well-documented but poorly addressed. The Zamfara and Bayelsa boat accidents are just two examples in a long list of tragic events. These recurring incidents are not limited to Nigeria’s waterways—fatalities from tanker explosions, road accidents, and mining disasters are also increasingly common.

    For example, in Niger State, a recent mining collapse left over twenty miners dead, with many still unaccounted for due to slow and inefficient rescue operations. This was shortly followed by a tanker explosion that killed fifty-nine people. These accidents, along with the boat tragedies, underscore the systemic issues that contribute to preventable deaths from operational safety accidents across Nigeria.

    But what is most disheartening is the complacency that surrounds these disasters. Instead of proactive solutions, the response from the government and other stakeholders has been slow and reactive, offering only short-term relief like financial aid to victims’ families but failing to address the root causes. Nigeria must break this cycle by learning from the successes of other nations, and from past interventions that have been successful.

    Countries like Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines, which also grappled with frequent maritime accidents, have made significant progress by strengthening regulations, improving enforcement, and ensuring a multi-stakeholder approach to safety. Bangladesh faced similar issues of overcrowded ferries and frequent capsizing incidents in the early 2000s. The government responded by enforcing strict regulations, including a mandatory limit on the number of passengers per vessel, implementing regular inspections, and requiring vessels to have standardized safety equipment like life vests for every passenger.

    The government worked with the private sector and civil society to raise awareness about safety measures, and the collaboration with international organizations helped improve the training of captains and crew members. As a result, Bangladesh saw a drastic reduction in the number of boat-related deaths.

    India faced similar challenges, particularly with road accidents and industrial disasters. In response, the Indian government launched the Motor Vehicle Act (Amendment) of 2019, which introduced stringent penalties for traffic violations, mandated insurance coverage for road users, and launched awareness campaigns in collaboration with non-profits and the private sector. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also worked to enhance emergency response systems, ensuring that rescue and relief operations were faster and more effective. The results were immediate, with a noticeable decrease in road fatalities and a more efficient response to disasters.

    Nigeria can adopt and adapt these strategies to reduce or eliminate fatal marine accidents. For instance, introducing compulsory and standardized safety equipment on all boats, establishing regulations on the maximum number of passengers, and training operators could drastically reduce maritime tragedies. A stronger collaboration between local authorities, community leaders, and international bodies could help build a safer environment across Nigeria’s waterways, while also ensuring accountability through regular audits and enforcement.

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    The first step Nigeria needs to take is to set and communicate transparent standards and enforce regulations. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) must act immediately to ensure that all boats meet basic safety standards, including the installation of life jackets, radios, and other equipment essential for emergencies. Additionally, Nigeria must urgently introduce and enforce laws that limit the number of passengers on vessels, just as Bangladesh did, to prevent overcrowding—a leading cause of capsizing. NIWA should also ensure effective direct and indirect oversight of all jetties for compliance.

    Collaboration is key. The government cannot do it alone. Private companies, especially those involved in the transportation and logistics sector, must play their part in enforcing safety measures. By partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies, Nigeria can quickly implement training programs for boat operators and introduce certification processes to ensure that only qualified personnel oversee vessels.

    Public awareness is another critical element. In many countries, awareness campaigns have proven effective in changing attitudes towards safety. Nigeria should launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public on safety protocols when using waterways, roadways, and mining sites. This could be achieved through public service announcements, partnerships with schools and places of worship, and local community engagement efforts.

    Lastly, Nigeria must overhaul its emergency response systems. Rescue operations during recent disasters were delayed due to inadequate equipment and poorly trained personnel. The government should prioritize investment in emergency services, ensuring that responders have the right tools and training to act swiftly and effectively in the event of an accident. Working with international partners, as seen in India’s collaboration with the NDMA, could help Nigeria build the capacity of its emergency teams.

    In addition to enforcement and awareness, Nigeria must focus on long-term infrastructure development. The safety of Nigeria’s transportation systems, both on land and water, is linked to broader infrastructural issues. Poorly maintained roads and waterways increase the likelihood of serious accidents. Investments in modern transportation infrastructure, such as the dredging of rivers to create safer waterways and the expansion of well-maintained road networks, are necessary to reduce accidents.

    Stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector, have a crucial role to play. By contributing resources and expertise, they can help fund infrastructure projects that will ultimately save lives. For example, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dangote Industries, BUA Group, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other large corporations and associations involved in road transport could support safer road projects, while local transport unions, particularly the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) could work to enforce better driving standards and vehicle maintenance.

    The government, through public-private partnerships, should also investigate funding life-saving technologies such as GPS tracking for boats, which can allow authorities to monitor vessel movements and quickly respond when vessels are in distress.

    Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. The recent tragic accidents in Zamfara, Bayelsa, and Niger State are stark reminders that the time for action is now. By adopting global best practices and ensuring cooperation among all stakeholders, Nigeria can prevent these tragedies and protect its citizens. Immediate enforcement of safety standards and regulations, collaboration with international partners, adoption of relevant technology, investment in infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns are necessary steps toward building a safer future. The government must move beyond reactive measures and work towards comprehensive, lasting solutions.

    •Oduah writes from Lagos

  • Politics, governance and the value of time

    Politics, governance and the value of time

    Governance requires effective time management to thrive. Unfortunately, political systems often waste this precious resource, compromising citizens’ well-being and national prosperity. As a universal currency, time is equally distributed but unequally valued, with marginalized communities frequently bearing the brunt of temporal inefficiencies.

    At the politics-time intersection, power dynamics emerge, shaping lives through prioritization, policy and resource allocation. To maximize productivity, strategies like prioritization and goal-setting are crucial, lest poor management leads to missed deadlines and lost opportunities. Historically, societies aligned tasks with natural rhythms, highlighting the tension between short-term gains and long-term benefits, thus underscoring the need for intentional time management in governance.

    In Nigeria, the value of time is often perceived as a luxury that only the affluent can afford. The average citizen is caught up in a daily struggle for survival, where time is a scarce resource. The chronic fuel scarcity, endless traffic jams, and inefficient public transportation systems all conspire to waste valuable time. These issues substantially impact the economy, with estimated losses of $1 billion annually

    Time plays a critical role in both political participation and environmental sustainability. It is a scarce resource in modern society, and its value is often overlooked until it’s too late. In today’s fast-paced world, we’re constantly reminded to ‘make every second count’ and ‘time is money.’ However, this mantra can lead to burnout and exploitation, as seen in the gig economy, where workers are pushed to work long hours without adequate compensation or benefits. Low-income households spend significant time managing finances, accessing social services and waiting in lines, resulting in severe time poverty. In stark contrast, effective time management can transform lives, as seen in the biblical examples of Joseph and Daniel.

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    Joseph and Daniel epitomize wise time management. They highlighted the importance of using time effectively to achieve success and fulfill one’s purpose. Despite imprisonment, Joseph interpreted dreams and rose to Egypt’s second-in-command. Daniel devoted himself to study and prayer, interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and gained prominence in Babylon. In contrast, Esau, the Prodigal Son, and the servant with one talent squandered their time and ultimately regretted their choices.

    Remote work blurs work-personal life lines, while systemic inequalities perpetuate disparities in incarceration rates, opportunities, and marginalized communities’ potential. Governance failures exacerbate this vulnerability, as seen in high-profile cases like the unresolved Chibok girls’ abduction, which has devastatingly contributed to Nigeria’s economic and security shocks. Globally, COVID-19 and ‘Black Lives Matter’ also highlight the unequal distribution of time, underscoring its value and the need for intentional governance.

    As a matter of fact, every 14- or 15-year-old student learns in Economics O-Level about the ‘time-value of money’. The principle has its broader applicability beyond financial calculations. It also drives political economy, leadership and governance. Governments allocate and expend resources, which is inherently time-bound. Governments have a limited window to make a meaningful impact, making every moment count. Consequently, evaluating a government’s tenure – essentially an interregnum – hinges on its ability to optimize limited time.

    Effective time management requires preparedness, as The Boy Scouts’ motto goes. Unfortunately, governance in Nigeria, like the rest of Africa, falls short due to military interruptions and lack of research. Moreover, most Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), humorously described as political parties, assume office without thorough preparations, largely due to the absence of data-driven insights. Coincidentally, Nigeria’s once-thriving Research Departments associated with pre-independence and post-independence political parties have vanished, thus hindering their ability to drive meaningful development and sustainable growth. Is it any wonder why today’s SPVs prioritize personal gain, jobs racketeering and other self-serving interests? While exceptions exist, they are few and far-between. This scenario exemplifies a concerning reality of which structured leadership intervention is crucial to prevent Nigeria’s losing traction and impact.

    Nigeria needs leadership that prioritizes economic growth through production and modernization, rather than merely focusing on consumption and jobs for favoured individuals. Presently, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector contributes only 8.23% to the country’s GDP, compared to 25% in South Africa. For a paradigm shift, this leadership should allocate at least 60% of the budget to capital expenditure, guided by performance-based planning and devoid of graft and waste. This is the only way to avert the comic tragedy we have seen in the past few days in Borno State where human negligence, ineptitude and incompetence other than natural forces have triggered  off  a disaster of monumental proportions.

    Governor Babagana  Zulum has demonstrated effective administration of resources in Borno State. Nonetheless, the recent disaster necessitates an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the avoidable disaster. As fate would have it, all the Biblical disasters of yore have now been shown to not be ‘plagues and pestilences’ but the results of human error, incompetence and policy distortions. The Borno catastrophe, which is bound to be replicated in other locations, has demonstrated the need for preparedness and a new approach to governance, based on technical competences and the proactive framework methodology. There’s no alternative!

    In today’s interconnected world, governance efficiency is closely tied to technical proficiency. The UK Government showed this foresight when it established the Government Economic Service (GES) in 1964, under Prime Minister James Harold Wilson. This initiative has not only become a cornerstone of governmental efficiency in the UK but also inspired similar efforts globally. To stay competitive, Nigeria should establish a Government Economic and Technology Service, to modernize governance, boost revenue and eliminate waste. Building on this initiative, a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s trade and tariff policies is also essential as we enter the Artificial Intelligence era, this is the minimum expectation.

    Specifically,  the Board of Trade and Tariffs, chaired by the Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, should be restructured to include diverse stakeholders, such as representatives from the government, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Organized Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations and Labour. This diverse membership will enable the Board to effectively counteract the manufacturing slowdown and prevent the exit of long-standing companies, some of which have been operational for 75 years. Dangote Refinery’s debacle partly demonstrates how trade and tariff policies are often misinterpreted,

    In any case, that Nigeria faces complex governance challenges, which also require a multifaceted approach, is no longer news! For example, the country ranked 145 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index. Also in our very eyes, the powerful continues to exploit time to maintain control while the culture of ‘African time’ has refused to shed the toga of tardiness and inefficiency.

    To get out of the woods, Nigeria must strengthen institutions, combat corruption and promote transparency. Singapore’s economic transformation, driven by strategic planning and institutional reforms, now serves as a model. Technology integration, like Estonia’s e-governance model, which has saved citizens over 1400 years of working time annually, can also help Nigeria boost efficiency and transparency.

    In a memorable statement made on December 20, 1948, Cliff Gladwin proclaimed: ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man.’ With this in mind, President Bola Tinubu has a historic opportunity to navigate the complex challenges and balance the competing interests currently troubling Nigeria’s destiny. On this sacred space, the president must fight injustice, punish evil and prioritize the needs of ordinary Nigerian, whose existence has been hung up in a long vigil of socioeconomic despair. Surely certainly, few leaders get to operate in a context of disaster and change. For Tinubu, this makes this moment crucial!

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • ‘Effective leadership, catalyst for development

    ‘Effective leadership, catalyst for development

    By Muinat Ajibade-Alasela

    The Deputy Director of Education, Lagos State Ministry and Examinations Board, Mr Bashir Jamiu, has stated that effective leadership is the catalyst for development.

    He made this gesture at the 7th Triennial Conference of League of Muslims School Proprietors Worldwide (LEAMPS), Themed: “Leadership and Strategy: Navigating Change and Growth”

    He said that it was no doubt that the theme of the discussion is very germane at this crucial time in the society and among the Muslim Ummah, adding that the  essence of leadership is to propel organizations’ progress.

    “One truth remains constant, effective leadership as displayed by our noble prophet is the catalyst for success”, he said.

    According to Jamiu, leadership is not a title but a mindset, it is about inspiring others, fostering collaboration and driving progress.

    “We must clearly define and communicate our organizations’ purpose, values, future direction, embrace resilient, adaptability and continuous learning, we must encourage diversity, empathy and open communication,” he said.

    He gave few tips for navigating change and growth which included collaboration to drive growth, continuous learning, mentorship and growth opportunities, leverage on technology to drive innovation, efficiency and competiveness.

    Jamiu explained that placement certificates are ready for collection between August and September and there will be penalty for schools who refused the certificate collection.

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    “Placement certificates of 2014 -2019 and 2021 are ready for collection. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) of 2016, 2020 and 2021, 2023/2024 certificate will be received online,” he added.

    He also mentioned that meeting will be held next week to discuss the inclusion of Yoruba language as compulsory subject in the entrance examinations they conduct for students.

    The National president of LEAMPS, Alhaji Abdulwahid Obalakun, advised the new executives to make it a priority in moving LEAMPS forward.

    “My message to them is that LEAMPS is still climbing the stairs; we aren’t yet at our destination. Those coming in should make it a priority to move it forward,” he said.

    The Lagos State Chairman, LEAMPS, Mansur Yaqeen, admonished the new executives to collaborate with other advocacy groups to achieve a lot in uniformity.

    “There’s need for cooperation between LEAMPS and other associations like Council of Private Schools in Lagos (COPSILS), and the low school advocacy group, so they should be able to merge with such and act as a catalyst for change in the government quarter using those groups to achieve their aim.

     “They shouldn’t regard those advocacy groups as insignificant, they should see the importance because the government would not listen to an individual but will give a listening ear to an organisation,” he said.

    The event also featured the election of new executive members that will steer the affairs of the organisation.

    Yaqeen was reelected as chairman.

  • Leadership Redefined at Oshodi

    Leadership Redefined at Oshodi

    By Tunde Akanni

    “Now, you have called us to duty. We feel honoured to be so called. We are ready to take this community to the heights. Resources, in sha Allah, will not deter us. But I will love to plead with our elders, with due respect, to get ready to buy into new ideas that will reflect global best practices. We may disagree at some point, but our common interest must be constant and that is to develop Oshodi by modernizing the facilities we can all proudly call our own. We are poised to give our best. We beseech Allah to give us all the needed strength and bless same as we embark on our lofty mission. Oshodi is our own, so we must be ready to develop it on our own rather than concede unnecessarily to charlatans.”

    This was Engineer AbdulFatah Odebisi speaking immediately after he was turbanned as Baba Adinni of Oshodi Central Mosque. As a demonstration of his sincerity, Odebisi immediately donated a whopping ten million Naira. Topping the donation immediately were three of his sons, Ibraheem, Abubakar and Yusuf, who also donated one million Naira each. From the Odebisi household alone, #13 million Naira was raised. Thunderous chorus of Allah Akbar instantly drowned the entire crowd.

    Meanwhile, Engineer Odebisi’s soulmate of decades, Barrister Zikrullah Hassan, who was former national president of the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria, MSSN, and retired recently as Chair of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, had complemented his friend’s donation with another million Naira.

    While the donations were still being celebrated Sheikh Thauban Al-Ilory, son of the legendary Islamic scholar, Adam Al-Ilory, pleaded for quietude. Sheikh Thauban had the distinguished pleasure of doing the ceremonial weaving of the turban for Baba Adinni.

    “I’m not sure many of us here know the real capacity of this new Baba Adinni of Oshodi.” The Sheikh announced to the surprise of many. He continued: “ I have a small story to share here about this great man before tying this turban” The entire audience became anxious. Thauban cast glances around and wanted to be sure that his story would be heard by all. He then continued: “In the United States of America where this our great brother lives, he has accomplished great feats.” The audience wanted more:  “We should just be prayerful and do all that is possible to keep encouraging him. So, near Philadelphia, recently  a church building with multiple adjoining halls was on offer for sale. Who could buy? Who will buy? Our brother stepped forward and bought the vast facilities! E gbOLohun tobi Jamaa!”  Thus came the shouts of “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar…” The excitement was total and elicited near interminable celebrations. The Islamic bandiri drumbeats jumped into frenzy with accompanying ecstasy of communal unison.

    Far from the recurrent louts with seeming larger than life visibility across social media platforms dispensing torrential violence,

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    Concerned Oshodi men and women with self proclamation as the best among humans have conceptualized some grand renewal for their community. The task is for all Oshodi folks to implement through and through.  Organised groups of decent men and women like the Ibile Group as well as dignitaries of varying professional inclinations and ranking including businessmen and businesswomen across sectors deemed important enough in Oshodi showed up and promptly. None seemed to be in a hurry, obviously in relish of the spectacle of commitment generously on display by both the honourees and their guests at the special event.  Elderly Adele Oshodi, Alhaji Lukman Mabinuori  sat patiently all through on the high table with Mogaji ile Sule of Oshodi, Bale of Obanikoro Aare Adinni of Oshodi, Alhaji Moroof Akanni Olorunloju  as well as the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Alhaji Faruq Onikijipa who was also the guest lecturer of the day.

    Highly revered for his philosophical presentations never devoid of oratorical proficiency for holding audiences spellbound, he explained that titles otherwise known as lakobu for muslims does not deserve harsh criticism from those who may not subscribe to it. According to him, there were reliable quranic authorities strong enough to substantiate it as there were prophets with additional nomenclatures with which they were referred to by the Almighty Allah in the Quran. “Our incontrovertible leader, Muhammad, PBUH, for instance is otherwise known as Al Ameen, earned from his height of transparency in all transactions with everyone he related with domestically and even in the commercial spheres”. The Grand Mufti then concluded that the leadership of the Oshodi Central Mosque should not only be commended for this initiative but also on the irresistible qualities of their choice for the turbanning scheduled to take place during no other month other than the ultra-precious month of Rabiul Awwal in which the best leader of all times, Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, was born in the holiest city of Makkah.

    Resplendent in his rendition, Sheikh Onikijipa recalled that when the mosque leadership reached him on this programme and ultimately got him to relate with Engineer Odebisi, he had no iota of doubt that they had made an excellent choice. “Baba accorded me a most appropriate courtesy which registered an impact I will cherish for long”

    The guest lecturer went on to add that gracing the turbanning ceremony had further enabled him  appreciate better the level of courtesy and politeness he received from Engineer Odebisi on account of the company he keeps. He sought the audience’s understanding to do a public appreciation Barrister Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan, sitting next to Engineer Odebisi for the turbanning. Sheik Onikijipa recalled, with relish, that Barrister Hassan did him a great honour with a most inspiring official congratulatory message in Hassan’s capacity as the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON when his appointment as the Grand Mufti of Ilorin was announced.

    As a leader with the constant consciousness to be didactic, the Grand Mufti commended Barrister Hassan for steering the leadership of NAHCON with confidence and transparency even as the resources available to him were limited. “We, members of the muslim ummah in Nigeria cannot thank you enough for doing us proud by representing us so well. What else can we say about Hassan’s successor who did only one operation and has left us to continue to wonder on his choice? Heart congratulations, once again to Barrister Hassan” Grand Mufti finally rounded off with special prayers for the honourees of the day and enjoined everyone else to emulate them to earn proper recognition within the muslim community.

    Former NAHCON Chair later commended his bossom friend and age-old associate now the Baba Adinni of Oshodi   Muslim community for dedicating his life and wealth to the course of Allah.

    He recounted that it was good enough that Alhaji Odebisi’s roots recognized his activism in Da’wah  but that his efforts have since become transcontinental. “These efforts of ibadah today cut across generations as well.  Our good friend and brother was very active and dedicated to the growth of Islam in Nigeria even before he left fort he US.  It was not for nothing that he emerged as the first Secretary of NACOMYO. When he relocated to the US, he continued to champion the course of Islam with his life and wealth,”

  • The Maiduguri devastation

    The Maiduguri devastation

    Sir The recent floods, which devastated Maiduguri, were a mixture of acts of God and acts of men. Our inactions contributed in the greater part of the human disaster. We are talking about the failure of a dam – Alau Dam – within a failed system. Ours is overwhelmingly an ailing system dominated by human, moral and resource deficits. That is why our lukewarm actions were let loose just as the tormenting water let itself loose.

    The fact remains that flood can devastate the surrounding areas of a dam if it is broken or some abnormalities are observed. This was evident but ignored by those responsible for its safety.

    Dam construction takes into consideration dam failure as a probable unwanted phenomenon. Dam failure could be as a result of poor foundation, internal and external erosion, overtopping, static and seismic instability and other issues such as slope instability. The personnel of the dam are also supposed to undergo regular training to ensure they are fully prepared for possible failure events. These are some of the fundamental rudiments of protecting dam against overflowing to save lives and properties.

    Against this backdrop, we need to go beyond the lamentation, charitable donations and rehabilitation of the victims. What do we do to avert a future reoccurrence? This is the significant question that needs to be addressed, assessed and encapsulated as the perimeter for our collective responsibility.

    In the last tragic episode, the people of Maiduguri were unnecessarily made risk bearers. What is unknown to many is the existence of the Flood Risk Management (FRM) strategy which was evolved to address the problems of the environment with emphasis on flooding. It is apparent that the strategy failed to live up to expectations probably because the government is more concerned with providing funds for post- disaster flood response.

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    Also mind-boggling was the claim by the Minister of Water Resources, Joseph Utsev that what happened was as a result of climate change and not negligence of the dam. Secretary to the Borno State government had also inspected the dam prior to its overflowing and assured the people that there was no cause for alarm. This was in spite of the fact that defects responsible for the overflow of the dam were discovered nine years ago.

    What the minister ought to do is, at least, institute a credible committee that would unravel the real and not ‘imagined’ causes of the failure of the dam with a view to ameliorating its negative perspectives. Similarly, the Borno State SSG should know that issues bordering on safety are not based on mere assumptions and must engage experts to ascertain the reality of existing things on the ground.

    •Abdu Abdullahi,aaringim68@gmail.com

  • Society and the missing rod

    Society and the missing rod

    Sir: The news of African children who are dissociated from their parents has become an unpleasant but regular song in the mouths of many parents. Under labels such as Gen-Z and Millennials, many are now parenting children with whom they only share financial bond. Life in Nigeria has become a drift from a generation of students who used to be asked why they were always home to a generation of students who are begged to come home. The irony however is that the generation that prefers to be distant from home is the generation well-pampered at home, while the homely generation was the one for whom the rod was not spared. What does this say about parents and parenting?

    This era has a generation of parents who want to provide for their children what they felt they lacked in care; thereby negotiating the boundary of being caring and becoming carefree. The generation of parents who were chastised for their words, their actions, their movements, their choices and so on now feel life is beyond chastisement.

    In the typical Nigerian home until the 90s, the horn of the father’s car or the sound of his voice was a call to order for the children. A wake at midnight by any of your parents was either for a revival on your buttocks or the kind of sermon even your pastor cannot deliver on the pulpit. It was a period you would not go home to tell your parents you were punished in school or by a neighbour.

    It was not the period to pay for assistance in WAEC, impersonate children in JAMB or beg lecturers for admission as if they own the universities. It was a time parents were ready to let you sit WAEC three times and JAMB five times until you are academically sound enough to pass by yourself. That training produced the best of parents who are now professionals and would prefer to negotiate everything for their own children. Parents raised with little that they were able to manage well now provide everything for children who find it hard to make the best of it.

    Was it so much fun growing up under this regimented home structure? No! Did we all even like our parents for these hard times then? No! But are we better off for it today? Yes! Do we look back today and thank our parents for those times? Yes! Do we recount these experiences with our siblings, friends and contemporaries with so much laughter? Of course yes! Now, are we so emotionally distant from our parents like the ones we overly pampered? Certainly No!

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    It must be mentioned too that the era of the rod was not one devoid of caregiving and affection. It was the time we looked forward to travelling to the village for Christmas or “Sallah” so we could see our cousins, nephews and our friends in the village. It was a time we had our village friends even as city children and we always prayed for festivities to come fast so we could bond. Such relationships built in us affection, compassion and consideration for others.

    On the contrary, the care we give today is that which isolates our children from others. They do not know their cousins in the city, not to speak of the ones in the village. So it becomes okay for them to go and not look back. After all, they have just one man and one woman called their parents to miss and not a family or community of people. WhatsApp family groups make it easy to reach out to their siblings. If you are lucky as parents, they add you to it. Alternatively, they create the redundant one where you only send your morning devotion and announcements, and they have theirs where they bond virtually.

    The ways of the old may not be entirely practicable today but they must not be completely jettisoned. Even the western world that does not use the rod anymore once created the idiom that says “spare the rod and spoil the child”. The rod, of course, is a metaphor for chastisement. It does not exactly mean hitting children even though it does not exclude it, but it means discouraging indiscipline, correcting bad habits and promoting virtuous lifestyle.

    If the closer we get as parents is the farther they become as children, then we may conclude that the use of the rod is not the problem but the avoidance of its use.

    •Ganiu Bamgbose,Lagos State University, Ojo.

  • Dangote Refinery: Better times ahead

    Dangote Refinery: Better times ahead

    Sir: Nigerians have long waited for the commencement of the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by Dangote Refinery due to its expected benefits. The refinery commenced its first loading of PMS on Sunday, September 15, which according to the Ministry of Finance is a significant step in Nigeria’s journey toward energy self-sufficiency.

    However, according to the federal government, the Nigerian National Petroluem Company Limited,  NNPCL, will be the sole buyer of PMS from the refinery for now, and from October , the NNPCL will begin selling crude oil to Dangote Refinery in Naira and purchasing PMS from the refinery in Naira, while diesel will also be sold in Naira to independent marketers. The decision to make NNPCL the sole off-taker of the PMS from the refinery has raised a lot of dust.

    Many people were disappointed when the NNPCL announced a hike in the price of PMS, as there was a general belief that PMS prices would drop once Dangote Refinery commenced production and sales. The refinery, which is privately owned and profit-oriented, won’t sell PMS for less than its production cost. Some major determinants of its production cost are the price of crude oil on the international market, the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate, and the cost of refining crude per litre. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun said in a TV interview on Sunday, September 15, “We are expecting that as this refinery and others ramp up production, scale, and achieve greater economies of scale, there should be the opportunity—and there is definitely the potential—to reduce their costs, which should be passed on to the consumer.”

    There are concerns from many quarters that the recent hike in the price of PMS could cause a rise in inflation, which Nigeria has struggled to tame. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s headline inflation on a year-on-year basis dropped to 32.15% in August 2024, from 33.4% in July 2024. Food prices have been the major driver of inflation, and therefore, ordinarily, as we fully enter the harvest season, a continued decline in inflation would have been expected. However, the recent hike in the price of PMS and fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate will affect the inflation figures for subsequent months.

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    The price of PMS is expected to reduce in the long term as economies of scale are achieved by refineries, when more refineries come on stream, leading to competition, and as the Naira begins to gain value. Selling crude oil to domestic refineries in Naira and purchasing refined products from them in Naira will significantly reduce the pressure on foreign exchange. According to the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zach Adedeji, this policy will save $7.32 billion annually by conducting all crude transactions with local refineries in Naira. It will also result in a more stable and stronger Naira.

    The federal government, NNPCL, and Dangote Industries Limited should be commended, as this is the first time in about 30 years that Premium Motor Spirit production has begun in Nigeria. The price of PMS is expected to decrease in the near future, therefore Nigerians should be patient.

    While the hike in PMS prices will impact inflation in the coming months, I don’t expect it to be very significant because food prices, which are the major driver of inflation, will drop further as we move deeper into the harvest season. Beautiful times lie ahead for Nigerians.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu,<kenerek1@gmail.com

  • Amnesty for IPOB?

    Amnesty for IPOB?

    Is Amnesty International (AI) granting amnesty to IPOB — its ultra-rogue branch, under Simon Ekpa, the Ebonyi-born, Finland-based, self-named IPOB prime minister?

    The Nigerian Army didn’t say that much in its challenge to AI, in a report The Nation published on September 16: “Army to ICC, AI: speak out against IPOB’s crime against civilians”. 

    ICC is the International Criminal Court, the global court for crimes against humanity, which the Nigerian Army somewhat accuses Ekpa’s IPOB of, with reference to its “brutal torture” of a former soldier, Corporal Toriola Adewale.

    The Army claimed IPOB forced Adewale, via a video circulating in the social media, “to deliver coerced messages to active military personnel, urging them to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities and abandon their duties.  This defenceless citizen was further compelled to falsely claim he was treated well while being held captive.”

    The Army did not state how IPOB snared Adewale, or give further proof of his “torture”. IPOB notoriety on this score though, with its mindless killing of ambushed security personnel and sundry defenceless civilians, would appear clear.  Its so-called “Biafra Liberation Army” or “Eastern Security Network” hardly pleads innocent on attacks on soft targets.  Indeed, it glorifies such crimes.

    Yet, there’s a background to the Army’s AI call-out.  AI’s rights observatory is to checkmate governments’ routine abuse of citizens in many countries, outside the rich global North.  That wasn’t ignoble, given that democracy in most of Europe and North America had developed a robust rights for the citizen. That can’t be said of many parts of Africa, South America and Asia: near- or far-East.

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    The problem though was, with time, AI had embraced toxic politics in its observatory: only governments are constant devils that must always be lashed at.  Citizens are willy-nilly angels.  

    That’s why why AI and co-ideologues saw nothing wrong with “peaceful protesters” waving Russian flags; and clearly brain-washed youths — many of them teens barely out of the minority years — torching government properties and looting private business concerns.  Again, all they saw were “peaceful protesters” who must be promptly released.  Of course, AI and co can tell that to the marines!

    It’s for this tunnel vision of rights — don’t legitimate government too have rights? — that the Army is calling out AI — and co-merchants of “rights” over IPOB.

    Does IPOB enjoy Al’s amnesty?  Is IPOB’s “peaceful rights protest” now?  Why AI’s loud quiet on IPOB’s right abuse? 

    Controversial questions, sure to rile those brainwashed by AI’s “rights” ideology.  But it’s a legitimate query if AI is serious about its credibility. 

    It’s time, therefore, AI re-calibrated its mission.  There are still too many murderous governments out there, from which citizens need protection. 

    But that protection they won’t get with AI’s present perception as loud but empty dogma tool for western countries bent on demonizing and distracting developing countries, grappling with own peculiar problems.

  • On Yobe/UNICEF partnership in teachers training

    On Yobe/UNICEF partnership in teachers training

    Sir: I commend the Yobe State Universal Basic Education Board (YSUBEB), led by acting chairman Mallam Isa Shettima, for organizing a comprehensive training program for public school teachers across the state. This commendable initiative, in collaboration with UNICEF, has equipped educators with essential skills to teach at the appropriate levels, thereby enhancing the quality of education in Yobe State.

    The training program covers all geo-political zones of the state, including Damaturu, Potiskum, and Nguru, showcasing YSUBEB’s commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind. By investing in teacher development, the board is addressing important aspect of education, acknowledging that educators play a vital role in shaping young minds.

    UNICEF’s contributions to Yobe State’s educational system, especially during the Boko Haram insurgency, have been invaluable. The organization’s dedication to promoting access to quality education, even in challenging circumstances, is truly commendable.

    The partnership between YSUBEB and UNICEF serves as a model for effective collaboration, demonstrating the potential for meaningful change when stakeholders unite toward a common goal. By pooling resources and expertise, they have created a comprehensive training program tailored to the specific needs of Yobe State’s educators.

    A significant benefit of this training program is its focus on teaching at the right level. By imparting knowledge at an appropriate pace, educators enable students to grasp complex concepts, build solid foundations, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

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    Moreover, the program’s emphasis on engaging young pupils reflects YSUBEB and UNICEF’s recognition of the importance of early childhood education. Research consistently shows that investments in early learning yield substantial returns, shaping future academic success and overall life outcomes.

    As trained teachers return to their classrooms, it is crucial for them to implement their newfound knowledge. I encourage educators to seize this opportunity and integrate innovative teaching methods and strategies into their practice.

    YSUBEB and UNICEF’s commitment to education extends beyond the training program; they work tirelessly to tackle systemic challenges, improve infrastructure, and foster inclusive learning environments.

    The success of this initiative relies on sustained support and collaboration. I urge stakeholders—including policymakers, community leaders, and civil society organizations—to rally behind YSUBEB and UNICEF.

    The YSUBEB-UNICEF teacher training program is a ground breaking initiative poised to create a lasting impact on Yobe State’s education landscape.

    •Kasim Isa Muhammad,Damaturu, Yobe State.

  • Youth and the choice-less conundrum

    Youth and the choice-less conundrum

    Sir: Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently arrested 46 suspects over alleged involvement in internet-related fraud in Delta State. The suspects popularly called yahoo boys were arrested in Warri, Ubeji and Jeddo communities in Delta state on September 8. About 13 exotic cars, laptops and mobile phones were also recovered from them.

    Now, in the face of yet more arrests of young Nigerians for internet-related fraud, the natural reaction is to flinch and rail at the process and proceeds of a crime which consists in impersonating white people on the internet and mining such impersonation to milk the unsuspecting but ultimately gullible among them of their money. This crime which is as widespread as it is lucrative on its way to become the crime of choice among Nigeria’s young people.  

    It may be argued that those going into ‘yahoo yahoo’ are doing so as a matter of choice, but even a cursory scratch at the surface of a financial crime gaining ferocious popularity would yield a choice-less conundrum. How crueller can conditions get in a country where families exert themselves, exhaust their resources, sell off ancestral lands to put their children through school only to be confronted with debilitating unemployment at the end of the day?

    The truth is that with rampant unemployment, Nigeria is leaving an entire generation without choice, and the consequences are as gripping as they are sobering. It is also providing dangerous justification for the kind of immorality that scalds the soul of a country.

    Churches and mosques litter every nook and cranny of the country, yet they fail to light up the corridors of power. Government officials lecture on morality only when convenient while assiduously refusing to practice what they preach.

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    What’s the difference, if any, between the moral bankruptcies of the ‘yahoo boy’ who fleeces unsuspecting white people of their money, and the corrupt security personnel who systematically enriches themselves by exploiting the ‘yahoo boy’?

    As long as Nigeria’s young people remain with neither options nor opinions about decent, dignified living within a state that prefers to  dissemble before it discerns, ‘criminals’ and their crimes of survival will continue to reach for survival, no matter how far it is placed beyond their reach.

    The solution is a simple as it is complicated. No matter how dead a conscience is, it often retains a spark of morality. No matter how hardened those knee-deep in internet crimes are, there is a tale of desperation that simmers just beyond the surface.

    What options are available? Former president, Muhammadu Buhari may have ill-advisedly described Nigerian youths as ‘lazy’ in 2018, but it is beyond doubt that the country has some of the most enterprising young people in the world. What options exist for these young people brimming with ideas who want to earn honest living? What are the alternatives to crime in a country where nothing really works but crime? Unless these questions are honestly and completely answered, and options provided, Nigeria will remain a country whose young people are sacrificed to the gods of financial and economic promiscuity and impropriety because there are no other plans for them.

    The reality is that the wildly dysfunctional, but prolific machine of the Nigerian state is steadily churning out a stream of cunning and crafty internet thieves who are dragging Nigeria’s name through international slime. It is only a matter of time before they drag out the entrails of the Nigerian state and splay same on the barbed wires of international opprobrium.

    • Kene Obiezu keneobiezu@gmail.com