The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

Battle over power tariff

An age-old maxim says when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Electricity consumers in Enugu State are like that grass, as they were lately pitched in blackout by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) that is at loggerheads with the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) over the latter’s reduction in tariff to be paid by premium Band A customers. The electricity distribution firm cut power supply to state residents by as much as 50 percent in retaliation against the regulatory body’s decision to cut tariff.

EERC had in July unilaterally lowered the tariff to be paid by Band A consumers within the market jurisdiction to N160/kWh from N209/kWh, effective from 1st August, claiming it had such power under the Electricity Act 2023. Chairperson of the commission, Chijioke Okonkwo, said the newly prescribed rate was cost reflective. According to him, the tariff cut followed the regulatory body’s review of tariff and licence applications by MainPower (EEDC’s successor firm) as the new subsidiary company that operates in Enugu State. “We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024 and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price. The price is low due to some reasons, including the fact that the Federal Government is subsidising electricity generation cost…,” Okonkwo argued inter alia, adding: “Breaking this across the various tariff bands means Band A will be paying N160 while Bands B, C, D and E remain frozen.”

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The tariff slash raised concern among electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and generation companies (GenCos), especially as they feared other state electricity regulatory commissions could take a cue from the EERC. Meanwhile, opinions differed among industry stakeholders, with federal regulators and market operators arguing that uncoordinated tariff adjustments could undermine the operational and financial sustainability of the electricity industry.

EEDC’s way of pressing its displeasure was cutting power supply to Enugu consumers by 50 percent. This prompted the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) to call a mediatory meeting on 13th August in Abuja. At that meeting attended by agents of the EERC and EEDC, among other key stakeholders, NISO said the recourse taken to by EEDC had serious operational implications particularly for transmission and service-level agreements at national grid interfaces. “Fair prices, sustainable business operations and a stable electricity market are not mutually exclusive; they require transparency, coordination, and mutual respect,” NISO Chief Executive Abdu Mohammed said before the meeting moved behind closed doors.

The sectoral reform by which power has been devolved to states to regulate electricity distribution within their respective jurisdiction faces a litmus test in the Enugu electricity market. Reason must be allowed to prevail, without consumers being made casualties of a turf war between market operators. And stakeholders should work to ensure the Enugu crisis isn’t replicated in other market jurisdictions.

August 25, 2025
Mental health of inmates

Incarceration should not be an impediment to proper healthcare for inmates with mental health issues. However, many people who are incarcerated in the country lack access to mental health professionals because they are in short supply.

“We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our custodial centres,” according to the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of medical services, Dr Glory Essien. She gave this figure during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), held in Abuja, on August 12.

From her explanation, the mental health of these inmates had been impacted by their incarceration. She said: “From the moment someone is brought in—those who have seen a custodial centre know what I mean—the police escort them to the gate, it’s opened, they’re admitted, and then that gate locks behind them.

“That instant loss of freedom can trigger something. Some begin to show signs of disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has shifted.”

When this happens, the shortage of mental health workers complicates the problem. “If you’re in a facility housing 500 to 1,000 inmates, and you’re the only attending doctor, nurse, or psychologist, it’s simply not possible to monitor everyone individually,” she observed.

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The prison system, therefore, trains some inmates to assist the staff in identifying those showing signs of poor mental health, she added. According to her, they are “trained to alert the staff when they notice concerning behaviour. They might say, ‘This inmate seems dazed, hasn’t eaten, hasn’t spoken to anyone.’ Such observations help the staff to “intervene early,” she said. But she noted that these efforts are inadequate in dealing with the scale of the problem.

Two other speakers at the event gave further insights into the issue. The Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of pharmaceutical services, Mohammed Bashir, said there were 81,122 inmates in 256 correctional facilities nationwide, adding that specialised consultants “usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of these cases.” This is concerning. Correctional centres with a small number of such cases also deserve attention.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, noted the maldistribution of mental health professionals, saying, “Let them not only be centred in Abuja and Lagos; we need them to go out to the fields. Because if we even put two in the states, it will help them.”

The authorities need to address this aspect of conditions in the country’s correctional centres.

August 22, 2025
Power outages and Nigeria’s digital economy dream

Sir: Nigeria cannot hope to digitise its economy when its entrepreneurs and citizens spend more time and money generating power than generating innovation. Until the power supply is fixed, Nigeria’s ambition for a true digital economy will remain more rhetoric than reality.

Private individuals and businesses have done more than their fair share. Many have moved from diesel to solar energy, inverters, and even bio-gas systems. Others have embraced energy-saving systems to reduce consumption. These efforts, while admirable, represent only coping mechanisms, not sustainable solutions.

Generators, in particular, are a symbol of the broken system. Their drawbacks are well documented: unbearable noise, air pollution, escalating costs, and long-term health risks. For small businesses, the costs of fueling and maintaining generators eat deep into profits.

The reality is stark: Nigeria cannot grow a digital economy on a foundation of noise and smoke. Power is not optional. It is the backbone of everything—data centres, fintech apps, e-commerce platforms, e-health systems, and even education technology.

The government must take immediate steps to ease the burden while working on long-term fixes.

First, the government must expand grid reliability in urban hubs. Quick fixes such as upgrading transformers, replacing broken distribution lines, and improving load management in major cities will directly benefit businesses. A reliable grid in commercial hubs like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano will have a ripple effect on the economy.

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Second, providing grants or tax incentives for SMEs to adopt solar and inverter systems will drastically reduce their dependence on generators. Also, widespread installation of prepaid meters and real-time monitoring of distribution will cut down on electricity theft and ensure that consumers only pay for what they use.

Encouraging public-private partnerships to set up mini-grids powered by solar, hydro, or wind in high-density business clusters will also help. These can be scaled quickly and help to reduce pressure on the national grid.

For the long haul, we must start with massive investment in renewable energy. A clear national roadmap to expand solar farms, small hydro dams, and wind energy will reduce reliance on fossil fuels. We need to urgently improve the energy mix diversification. Relying on gas alone is risky. Nigeria must diversify its energy mix by integrating coal, nuclear, and renewable power into the system. This makes the grid more resilient.

The truth is simple: Nigeria’s digital economy cannot thrive without electricity. Fixing power is not just about lighting homes and businesses; it is about creating jobs, driving innovation, and attracting foreign investment.

Reliable power supply is the number one signal that Nigeria is serious about transformation. Until then, the noise of generators will remain the sad soundtrack of our so-called digital economy.

•Elvis Eromosele, elviseroms@gmail.com

August 22, 2025
U.S. visa vetting: Dignity beyond the embassy gate

Sir: As Nigerians approaching U.S. consulates face a demand to surrender years of digital memory, what was once personal correspondence, family laughter, political doubts, even moments of private grief, has now become searchable data. With that, a visa interview ceases to be a test of intention; it becomes a test of innocence, where dignity is traded for suspicion and identity is flattened into algorithms.

What is framed in Washington as a matter of security is experienced in Abuja as a narrowing of possibility; a gatekeeping of opportunity wrapped in the language of safety.

Far from scapegoating Nigeria, the U.S. has gradually rolled out expanded social media vetting requirements across the globe since 2019. Applicants for most U.S. visa categories from tourist to student to immigrant have been asked to disclose their handles and activities on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Countries in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa have long borne the brunt of these checks, with visa seekers reporting extensive delays, denials without explanation, and an atmosphere of suspicion that stigmatizes entire populations as potential threats.

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Nigeria has one of the largest populations of social media users in Africa, with Facebook alone hosting over 40 million accounts. Unlike societies where online use is limited, Nigerians live much of their civic and professional life online. From activists organizing to small businesses marketing fashion on Instagram, social media is the bloodstream of modern Nigerian life.

To subject five years of this digital life to foreign scrutiny is not a neutral exercise. It risks criminalizing dissent, chilling expression, and exposing Nigerians to arbitrary interpretation of jokes, slang, or political critique.

An activist’s satirical post against corruption, a doctor’s tweet on government failings, a student’s Facebook rant about hardship could become grounds for suspicion in a consular officer’s eyes. In effect, ordinary Nigerians will be judged by their digital shadows.

Certainly, governments have a duty to keep their borders safe. Yet evidence on the effectiveness of social media vetting remains weak.

The Brennan Centre for Justice and the Centre for Democracy & Technology have noted that there is little proof that scanning visa applicants’ Facebook accounts prevents violent extremism. Instead, the policy risks drowning consular staff in irrelevant information while reinforcing stereotypes that entire countries are breeding grounds of insecurity.

For Nigeria, the blanket suspicion undermines Nigeria’s reputation as a partner in global security and business. It paints its youth, entrepreneurs, and professionals as guilty until proven innocent, with Facebook timelines as the courtroom.

Nigerian academics already face hurdles in securing U.S. visas, with stories of missed conferences, delayed fellowships, and revoked admissions. For young founders, the prospect of having every Facebook post scrutinized by a visa officer is more than an inconvenience; it is a reputational risk that could cost on U.S. partnerships, venture capital, and accelerator programs. Investors wary of uncertain mobility may simply redirect resources elsewhere, weakening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

At its core, the requirement raises questions of dignity. Should a Nigerian professional, who has never committed a crime, have to surrender five years of private conversations, political views, or even personal grief shared online to secure entry into another country?

The policy risks exporting America’s anxieties to Nigeria while diminishing Nigerians’ right to self-expression.

For a nation that prides itself on resilience and creativity, this could feel like an assault on national pride. It sends a message that Nigeria’s millions are too suspect to be trusted, their Facebook timelines weaponised against them. It risks reinforcing a narrative of exclusion at precisely the time when Nigeria seeks to expand its global voice.

Nigeria cannot simply accept these measures in silence. Diplomatically, it must engage the U.S. to argue for fairer, more evidence-based security practices that target genuine threats rather than entire populations.

The visa debate is about the ethics of mobility in a world where borders are becoming firewalls and where social media footprints have become political liabilities. For Nigerians, it is a reminder that the struggle for dignity is now waged not only in parliaments and courts, but in the algorithms and archives of platforms like Facebook.

The struggle for fairer visas is a struggle for recognition that privacy is a right, that opportunity should not require self-erasure, and that dignity does not stop at the embassy gate.

•Lekan Olayiwola,lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

August 22, 2025
Road carnage: Urgent need for driver education stronger law enforcement

Sir: In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing rise in the number of road accidents, claiming the lives of countless citizens and leaving many others injured or incapacitated. The recent fatal crashes involving trucks belonging to Dangote Cement Company are only a tip of the iceberg. There have been several other cases involving the vehicles of other organisations and individuals.

Behind the headlines lies a deeper and systemic problem that has for too long been ignored. These include inadequate driver training, the proliferation of unlicensed drivers, compromise at driver licensing centres, and weak enforcement of traffic laws.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria is among the Countries with the highest road traffic fatalities in Africa, with thousands of deaths recorded annually. These crashes are not mere accidents; they are preventable tragedies, largely caused by human error and systemic negligence.

The National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR 2012), particularly Sections 42–45, 46:7 & 8, 57, and 110, clearly mandate that every driver, especially commercial vehicle operators, must undergo pre-licence theory and practical lessons, as well as annual post-licence refresher training in standard approved driving schools and allied institutes.

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Most of the government and private sector organisations that do sponsor their drivers for refresher training programmes believed they were doing the drivers favour without knowing that their failure is a violation of the Road Traffic law. If drivers not sponsored for regular and standard training programmes are involved in fatal road accidents or crashes, such organisations can be held guilty and liable for violating the duty of care under the Manslaughter Act while such drivers will also be charged for manslaughter or murder as the case may be.

Furthermore, the law prescribes specific classes of licences, ensuring that drivers are properly trained and certified to handle the categories of vehicles they operate.

Nigeria cannot continue to lose her citizens to road crashes that can be prevented through proactive policies and enforcement. There is an urgent need for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to take the lead by constituting a high-powered Committee on Driver Education and Traffic Law Enforcement.

This committee should include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIOs), Institute of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (I-DIN), transport unions and stakeholders.

The mandate of this committee would be to design a workable National Action Plan that ensures strict adherence to pre-licence and post-licence training requirements, enforcement of the appropriate classes of driver licences, particularly for articulated vehicle drivers (Class G) and convoy vehicle drivers (Class V), closure of loopholes and eradication of compromise at driver licence centres and continuous public education and awareness campaigns on traffic laws and road safety.

The committee should ensure wholesome use of advanced technology in traffic law enforcement in all the 36 States and FCT, harmonisation of the FRSC database with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database and the Bank Verification Numbers for ease of enforcement and penalty payments.

Nigeria cannot afford to treat road safety with levity any longer. Every life lost on our roads is not just a statistic—it is a father, mother, child, technocrat, breadwinner, or leader whose absence leaves a permanent void in families, communities and the Nation. Beyond the human cost, road accidents drain the economy through medical expenses, loss of productivity, and damage to infrastructure.

It is time for the federal government, through the SGF’s office, to act decisively. Setting up a national committee on driver education and traffic law enforcement is not just an administrative necessity—it is a moral responsibility to protect Nigerian lives.

We must remember that safe roads are not a privilege—they are a right. With the right policies, strict enforcement, and collective responsibility, Nigeria can drastically reduce road traffic crashes and save thousands of lives. A stich in time saves nine.

•Jide Owatunmise, Lagos

August 22, 2025
Celebrating Nigeria’s ‘Bin Laden moment’
- By Chiechefulam Ikebuiro
Sir: Osama Bin Laden was a case for America. He was a pain in the neck. Their number one enemy. For years, he inflicted terror and grief on the American government and her people. So, when US forces finally captured and killed him, and had him buried at sea, it was not just a military victory- it was a national exorcism.

I remember flipping between CNN and Fox News that day as Americans poured into the streets, chanting “America, America, America,” after President Barack Obama announced Bin Laden’s death. That collective outburst was not just celebration, it was a signal to the world that Americans were united and would not allow their enemies succeed.

Last week, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu announced the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru sect, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, leader of the Mahmuda militant group. According to the NSA, these men have long been wanted internationally for coordinating brutal attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure.

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This is no small feat. This is Nigeria’s “Bin Laden moment.” Yet, we let it slip past like an evening breeze. No national address. No deliberate attempt to turn this into a morale booster for our people. For years, we have been flogged by the whip of terrorism with our villages burned, our soldiers ambushed, our children kidnapped. Surely, we deserve the dignity of savouring a win

A short presidential broadcast would have sufficed, both to reassure Nigerians and to send a chilling message to the remnants of these terrorists. Silence in moments of triumph only emboldens those hiding in the shadows.

Make no mistake, this is a big win. But our fight is far from over. Security agencies must now be armed not just with weapons, but with the political will, funding, and intelligence network required to sustain this onslaught. Already, reports suggest some of these terrorists are considering surrender. That is good but let us not be naïve. The fish may be dead, but its eyes are still watching. A terrorist who lays down his weapon today may still be plotting tomorrow.

And so, I say, we cannot afford to let off the gas. We must pursue this campaign with the single-mindedness of a farmer chasing locusts from his field- if you leave a few behind, your harvest will still perish.

In the end, the real victory will not be when a few leaders are arrested, but when the ordinary Nigerian can travel from Maiduguri to Makurdi, from Zamfara to Zuba, without fear of being snatched or slaughtered.

Until then, every win must be celebrated, not just for symbolism, but for the psychological warfare it wages against those who dare to terrorize us.

•Chiechefulam Ikebuiro,

chiechefulamikebuiro@gmail.com
August 21, 2025
WASCE: Thriving on a rigged education system?
- By John Amabolou Elekun
Sir: The release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASCE) results has left the country’s education system at a crossroads. At the heart of the controversy is the English Language paper, the foundation of every student’s academic and professional future.

When the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) first announced the results, only 38 per cent of candidates had passed English. The figure was alarming, but it reflected what many educators already knew: the collapse of teaching standards, underfunded schools, and the lingering effects of years of instability.

However, without explanation, WAEC revised the pass rate upward, to 62 per cent.

When WAEC announced the 38 per cent pass rate, Nigerians may have been shocked, but they were not surprised. For years, teachers, parents, and students have been warning that the quality of learning is deteriorating. Poorly trained teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of resources all point toward declining outcomes.

But when WAEC suddenly inflated the pass rate to 62 per cent, it crossed from bad performance into outright betrayal. A 24 per cent surge cannot be explained by “review processes” or “standardisation”. It can only be explained by deliberate score manipulation designed to save face.

Institutions live or die on trust. WAEC is supposed to be a guardian of merit and fairness. Instead, it chose deception. By rewriting failure as success, it undermines its own credibility and robs students of the one thing they desperately need: the assurance that hard work counts.

Beyond the numbers, the very conditions under which many candidates sat for the English paper were degrading. Reports abound of students forced to write late at night, under poor lighting, sometimes in classrooms without electricity. Others faced overcrowding, noise, or intimidation from invigilators.

This is not just inconvenience; it is malpractice. How can a child be expected to interpret literature or construct an essay under conditions where they can barely see the question paper? In such circumstances, the exam stops being a measure of knowledge and becomes a test of endurance. And endurance, as every Nigerian knows, is not distributed equally. Rural students, already disadvantaged by weaker schools, were hit hardest.

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WAEC cannot claim to be measuring merit while presiding over chaos. If fairness means anything, then the only just solution is a properly supervised re-sit of English Language — and any other tainted subjects — for all 2025 candidates.

This scandal cannot be allowed to fade into silence. The National Assembly has a duty to act. A legislative inquiry must be launched into the conduct of the 2025 WAEC English Language exam. Nigerians deserve answers to the following questions: Who authorised the revision of the pass rate? What processes were followed, and were they transparent? How can we ensure such manipulation never happens again?

An independent audit of the results — with credible observers at the table — is essential. More broadly, the lawmakers must establish stronger oversight of WAEC. An institution with so much power over the futures of young Nigerians cannot be left to police itself.

Education is the foundation of every society. It is where we decide whether to build citizens who trust their institutions or citizens who reject them. Nigeria cannot afford to keep failing at this foundation.

The way forward is clear, and it demands urgency. The following steps must be taken to save the country’s educational system: WAEC must organise fresh English Language papers, and any other affected subjects, under transparent and humane conditions; government should provide immediate counselling services for affected candidates; an external review of the marking and grading process must be conducted, with independent observers; the National Assembly must take responsibility for monitoring WAEC’s operations and holding it accountable; and never again should students be subjected to exams in darkness, noise, or intimidation. Fairness must be non-negotiable.

The credibility of Nigeria’s education system is hanging by a thread. WAEC cannot be allowed to escape accountability for the 2025 English exam fiasco. The numbers may have been revised, but the damage is real: to the confidence of our children, to the trust of parents, and to the integrity of our institutions.

If Nigeria is serious about building a future, it must begin by protecting the credibility of its education system. Our children deserve honesty, fairness, and dignity. To deny them that is to rob the nation itself.

•John Amabolou Elekun,

Lagos
August 21, 2025
Counterterrorism: What next after recent successes?
- By Zayyad I. Muhammad
Sir: Nigeria’s security agencies have achieved a remarkable breakthrough in the war against terrorism with the capture of two senior leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated network notorious for orchestrating high-profile attacks and kidnappings across the country, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

The arrested leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman of Ansaru and Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda faction, are both internationally wanted terrorists whose activities have destabilized communities and threatened regional peace. Their capture represents not just a symbolic victory, but a substantial disruption of terrorist command structures within the region.

This milestone has drawn widespread commendation from Nigerians and the international community alike. Special recognition has gone to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for his leadership in coordinating the high-risk, intelligence-driven operations between May and July that made this success possible. The operation involved sophisticated intelligence-sharing, inter-agency cooperation, and ground-level community collaboration, elements that reflect the growing professionalism of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy.

While this is an achievement worth celebrating, the question remains: what next?

Should Nigeria rest on this success, or use it as a springboard for broader and deeper security reforms?

The arrests have underscored a critical truth: effective counterterrorism depends on three key pillars: intelligence gathering, the use of modern technology, and active participation by local communities. These are not one-off tools but continuous strategies that must be embedded into Nigeria’s national security framework.

Going forward, the NSA and the security agencies must sustain the momentum and remain proactive. Terrorist groups such as Ansaru, ISWAP, Mahmuda, Boko Haram, and organized bandit networks specializing in ransom kidnappings and rural attacks will inevitably attempt to re-strategise. The likelihood of new leaders filling the vacuum left by these arrests is high, and with it comes the danger of retaliatory strikes.

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Encouragingly, Nigeria’s international partners have acknowledged this achievement as a significant turning point. The United States government has approved a $346 million arms deal to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to confront insurgency and criminal organizations. Beyond arms, this reflects a renewed confidence in Nigeria’s security leadership and provides an opportunity for deeper cooperation in intelligence, training, and technology transfer.

Despite this progress, Nigeria still faces a complex, multidimensional security challenge. From terrorist groups operating in the Northeast, to bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the Northwest and North-central, to separatist violence in the Southeast and oil theft in the Niger Delta, insecurity continues to manifest in diverse forms. These challenges are interlinked and often fuel one another, meaning that victories in one area must be consolidated and expanded to prevent resurgence elsewhere.

The capture of these high-profile terrorist leaders is, therefore, not an end but a beginning. It represents both an opportunity and a test: an opportunity to further weaken terrorist networks, and a test of Nigeria’s ability to sustain, scale, and institutionalize success. Mallam Ribadu and Nigeria’s security agencies must continue to receive commendation, resources, and unwavering political support to consolidate on this achievement and advance toward lasting peace and security for all Nigerians.

•Zayyad I. Muhammad,

Abuja
August 21, 2025
The making of a royal banger

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had conferred a honorific title, the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”, on an Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

But the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, took offence, claiming he was the only authority — by law — allowed to confer Yoruba-wide titles, and threatening Armageddon, if the Ooni did not reverse himself within two days!

The making of a royal banger!

Okay, even among the royals, a tiff is not unexpected, though its regularity might be far between. Royals were first human, before a feudal system lofted them above fellow creatures. Still, must royal tiffs be so base, be so crude, be so uncouth, from both sides? Frankly, the exchanges, between the Oyo and Ife courts, are rather forgettable!

By Yoruba sacred myth, Ife is the spiritual fount of Yorubaland — what the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, coined the “Source”, in the bruising royal politics of his day.

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Oyo, on the other hand, was the imperial capital, on account of the then fashionable crime of empire building. Pray, how can sacking, maiming and killing a captive people — fellow Yoruba and other folks — be a blessing to anyone, including the cruel imperial power?

So, by myth and brazen power, both Ife and Oyo have a special place in Yoruba history. Which is why you’d expect whatever emanates from either court not to be disagreeable, even if both violently disagree. But the toxin issuing from both courts, over the “Okanlomo” matter is, to say the least, disgraceful.

The Oyo opening salvo: “… It is very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland Chieftaincy title conferred on Engr. Dotun Sanusi with 48 HOURS (capitals his) or face the consequences.” Crude.

The Ife riposte: “My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Baba Sala” the Ooni’s spokesperson dismissed the threat from the Oyo court as comic relief: as Moses Olaiya, the iconic Baba Sala and late ace Yoruba rib-cracking comedian, provided. Rude.

After everything, the whole huff was needless. Sanusi just said his Chieftaincy was “Okanlomo Oodua”, not “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”! Idle tiff?

Even then, “Okanlomo” is honorific, not a core traditional title. “…of Yorubaland” is also farcical. If the Ijebu were never under the yoke of Oyo, even at the climax of its imperial powers, and the Ijebu are part of Yorubaland, then it’s common logic that the Alaafin couldn’t validly confer any pan-Yoruba title, beyond Oyo’s immediate vanity, and definitely not outside its old imperial boundaries.

Let these two monarchs get busy with serious things. The Okanlomo feuding should be infra dig to their majestic dignities, though the Alaafin would appear more blame-worthy, for opening the front with a vain-glorious attack. Enough!

August 21, 2025
Two years of Renewed Hope in Interior Ministry

By Femi Salako

There are many ways to look at visionary leadership, the capacity to translate vision into reality, as the American leadership expert Warren Bennis is justly famous for saying. Visionary leadership involves the ability to innovate and to create; which is why, according to Leroy Eimes, a leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see; that is, one who knows, in the words of Alan Kay, that the best way to predict the future is to create it. Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts, it is about one life influencing another, says John C. Maxwell, and great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves. (Eleanor Roosevelt). If vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others (Jonathan Swift) and leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work (Seth Godin), then visionary leadership means creating a platform for revolutionary ideas that shape and change the course of human existence. As President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope leadership clocks two years in office, it is apposite to consider how far the country has come in terms of strengthening its internal security organs, and how this fits into a broad strategy.

To be sure, Nigeria still grapples with internal challenges—every country does—but a close analysis of the situation so far will reveal precisely why there is cause for cheer. Precisely two years ago when President Tinubu appointed Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior, he was looking at security as the bedrock of national development. His focus is enhancing the capabilities of our security forces, promoting peace and stability, and ensuring that every Nigerian feels safe and protected, no matter where they reside. Recognizing the limitations of brick and mortar measures, the ministry deployed digitization looking at the capacity of advanced technology to detect and prevent illegal activities such as smuggling and human trafficking, streamline border crossing processes, reducing wait times and improving the overall travel experience.It aimed to reduce errors and inconsistencies in documentation and identification, making it easier to verify identities and track individuals; provide valuable insights and data analytics to inform policy decisions and improve border management, and reduce opportunities for corruption and bribery by minimizing human interaction and increasing transparency.

In the last two years, digital systems have enabled the immigration authorities to better manage and monitor the flow of people across borders. They have also facilitated legitimate trade and commerce by reducing delay and increasing the efficiency of customs procedures. They have led to improved compliance with regulations and laws and created a more efficient, secure, and effective border management system.

It is significant that in not more than a year, landmark achievements such as the clearance of a backlog of 204,332 passports within a record-breaking three-week period, restoring confidence in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), revolutionized passport processing within a two-week timeline for applications and introducing home and office delivery of passports, streamlined application process, and championing the rights of Nigerian applicants and ensuring that they receive just treatment abroad, were made. Regarding the welfare of paramilitary officers, the administration’s focus on equitable compensation and the unfolding of plans for a functional pension board to boost morale and productivity, and the alignment of paramilitary salaries with those of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure fairness and equity attracted plaudits. But that was not all: there was, crucially, a focus on the criminal justice reform. This move saw to the decongestion of correctional facilities, clearance of fines and compensations worth N585 million for 4,068 inmates, and the transformation of correctional homes into centers of rehabilitation, fostering hope and redemption for inmates.

Today, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, security infrastructure has been modernized. Among other landmark initiatives, the ministry created a state-of-the-art Data Centre and Command and Control Centre supporting new visa and passport application policies and border management; and E-Gates at airports that enhance security and efficiency. It also saw to the rehabilitation of correctional centers, with the Interior Minister earning several awards, including the Public Service Person of the Year 2023 (Leadership newspaper) for the bold and exceptional reforms. Via the Ministry of Interior, President Tinubu has demonstrated transformative leadership, fortifying Nigeria’s security. Among other extremely innovative measures, there is Safe Haven, a means of enhancing national security and community safety through partnerships with law enforcement and community leaders; Smart Border, which relates to modernized border management with advanced technologies to enhance security and facilitate trade and travel; Disaster Response Unit, which coordinates emergency responses and preparedness for disasters, and E-Visa, which simplifies the visa application process to promote tourism and international collaboration. There is also Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS), a system for enhancing migration data management to inform policy decisions.

With a clinical focus on reforms and modernization, the Tinubu administration has emplaced the Immigration Service Reform Committee with a focus on modernizing the Nigerian Immigration Service to enhance efficiency, reduce corruption, and improve service delivery. It unfolded the Digital Case Management System, streamlining case handling in the justice system to enhance transparency and reduce delays. With specific reference to correctional services, reform has been built around rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society. A case study is the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre, where facilities have been modernized to create a more humane and effective correctional environment.

Take a look at the Centralized Interior Management and Administration System (CIMAS), a centralized platform that enhances oversight and decision-making across Ministry of Interior agencies. CIMAS facilitates secure inter-agency collaboration and intelligence exchange among security agencies, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality. Nigerian travelers are now familiar with initiatives like Electronic Visa (e-Visa), Landing and Exit Cards (LEC), Advance Passenger Information (API), Migrant Information Management System (MIMS), Citizen and Business (C&B), Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), Temporary Work Permit (TWP), Guard Management System (GMS) and Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens.

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Notable achievements include increasing patrols with over 30 patrol vehicles, launching contactless biometrics, enhancing security and efficiency, designing and developing a Tier 4, 8.3 petabyte Data Centre and automating the visa application process. Before Tinubu’s Renewed Hope government, the situation in the paramilitary agencies was characterized by demoralized workforce, career stagnation, spilled over promotion exercise and female gender disenfranchised with low recruitment profile. All of that vanished with the coming on board of the Tinubu administration, which ensured the recruitment of at least 35 percent females in all recruitment processes, approval of 30,000 recruitment, promotion of over 50,000 personnel in two years, approval of peculiar allowance, implementation of modernized immigration project, and approval of paramilitary academy.

In particular, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has witnessed the deployment of over 800 mobile enrollment devices, integration of NIN with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), revalidation of Front-End Enrolment Partner (FEP) licenses, inter-agency collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), launching of the Self-Service Mobile App and Web Modification App, and technological upgrades and monitoring and evaluation systems. Go to the Federal Fire Service and you see improved response time and emergency services, and decreased amount of property lost to fire incidents from 1.2 trillion to 1.9 trillion saved in 2024t. Take stock of the situation in the NSCDC and you will marvel. The launching of Mining Marshall to protect mining sites and the Special Female Squad to protect school environments; massive arrest of illegal miners, establishment of a Railway Command to protect railway infrastructure, and the security of all telecommunications installations nationwide is nothing short of revolutionary.

In particular, there is an evident commitment to accountability and transparency, instilling values of integrity and openness in governance. Another angle involves supporting educational programs, healthcare initiatives, and empowerment projects in communities. The overall Impact is transforming institutions and uplifting Nigerian society through effective leadership and innovation and demonstrating a proactive approach to governance and commitment to protecting lives and property. This is the ennobling state of affairs in the Ministry of Interior where, under President Tinubu’s guidance, Tunji-Ojo keeps recording milestones.

August 20, 2025