The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Nigeria: Why BRICS observer status matters

    Nigeria: Why BRICS observer status matters

    • By Anagba, Joseph Obidi

    Sir: The countries that comprises BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as well as its six coalition members (Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates UAE, Iran and Saudi Arabia, pending) and Indonesia which joined in 2024 are an informal grouping of emerging economies (mostly in the Global South, save for Russia) are hoping to increase their sway in the global order. Established in 2009, BRICS was founded on the premise that international institutions were overly dominated by Western powers and had to cease to serve developing countries. The bloc has sought to coordinate its member’s economic development and diplomatic policies, new found financial institutions and reduce dependence on the US Dollar.

    The term was originally coined by Goldman Sachs economist, Jim O’Neil in a 2001 research paper, in which he argued that the growth of what was then the “BRIC” countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) was poised to challenge the dominant Group of Seven (G7) wealthy economies to build an alternative to replace World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and push for reform in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

    In its 2024 Summit in Kaza, Russia, the following countries were invited as partners and observers, they include Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Nigeria. Their classification as partner nations allows them to participate in the 2025 BRICS Summit holding from July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a focus on Global Governance reform as well as cooperation among Global South Community.

    One of the most visible opportunities of participation is trade diversification which exposes Nigeria to large fast growing markets beyond our traditional Western partners in US, EU, and UK. It also offers potentials for increased exports (oil, gas, agricultural products services) imports of machinery, manufactured goods and technology. Another advantage of joining up with the BRICS coalition is that it will open up Nigeria to access to loans and infrastructure funding from BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) which serves as a potential counterbalance to the traditional lenders such as IMF, World Bank etc. possibly with fewer political conditions.

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    Furthermore, BRICS offers Nigeria investment inflows, attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from BRICS nations, particularly China and India in critical sectors like infrastructure (rails, ports and power) manufacturing and agriculture (potential investment access in processing and storage). In addition, Nigeria will collaborate with BRICS member states known for their technological advancement and skill set development where our vibrant human resources and youths can acquire latest skills in ICT, fintech, agro-tech, and renewable energy with this leading industry partners especially from India and China. Nigeria potential admission into the BRICS fold could enhance its participation in the body’s initiatives to reduce reliance on the dollars for trade and finance, mitigating forex volatility risk for Nigeria.

    Nigeria invitation to the coalition could bolster its political and strategic relevance in a multi-polar World Order. BRICS represent a push for a less Western dominated global system. Nigeria could leverage membership for greater voice in global governance, especially on reforms in the United Nations Security Council, World Trade Organisation (WTO) on trade deficit, tariffs and climate change re-negotiation.

    In a world of war-craft and geopolitics, Nigeria’s invitation could strengthen it alignment with other developing economies on common interests like fair trade, climate justice and seek development models from some of the coalition members. Nigeria’s partner’s status could serve as a tool to diversify diplomatic ties and reduce over reliance on western powers, enhancing strategic autonomy. As Africa’s largest economy and most populous black nation on the planet, joining BRICS could solidify Nigeria’s continental leadership credentials working along South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia as well as Uganda to find home grown solutions to Africa’s numerous problems.

    On a whole, BRICS presents Nigeria with a complex mix of significant opportunities and substantial risk. Engagement with the bloc is inevitable due to its economic weights, but the form and depth of that engagement either in (full membership, observer status, or bilateral ties) remain contentious. Nigeria’s decision will hinge on a careful assessment of its national interest, domestic priorities, risk tolerance, and the evolving geo-political landscape. The debate reflects Nigeria’s broader struggles to define its role in a fast shifting multipolar world.

    •Anagba, Joseph Obidi.

    Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution,

    Abuja.

  • Still on Makinde’s  N63.4 billion renovation of Government House

    Still on Makinde’s  N63.4 billion renovation of Government House

    • By Adedokun Seyi

    Sir: Oyo State government’s claim that foreign exchange volatility justified its lavish N63.4 billion renovation of the Government House is more than flimsy – it is unapologetic prodigality. To put it bluntly, this one-time redirection consumes nearly all of the N65.2 billion the state generated internally in 2024. That sum didn’t build schools, didn’t bolster healthcare, didn’t power economic engines, but it is to redecorate the governor’s residence.

    Any justification rooted in forex swings conveniently ignores that every sector – roads, health, education, moved forward despite the same currency turbulence. Only this one building got the bailout.

    If history has taught states anything, it’s that superficial grandeur rarely translates into long-term prosperity. What lift societies is not ornate ceilings or imported tiles in government residences, but bold, strategic investments that place citizens at the centre of development. That is the irreversible truth, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration seems to have ignored with the N63.4 billion renovation, an allocation nearly matching the state’s entire Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for 2024. When a state chooses to spend what it earns in a whole year on refurbishing a building few citizens will ever enter, it raises serious questions about its vision, values, and priorities.

    If Oyo had allocated N63 billion to off-grid solar or gas-powered micro-grids, it could have brought dependable power to hundreds of communities, powering cold storage for farmers and boosting agribusiness. According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, the multidimensional poverty rate stands at over 63% of the population, with Oyo State’s poverty index hovering around 25%–30%, depending on the metric used. A modest N10–N20 billion seed could kick-start a state-owned textile mill-carrying cotton from Oke Ogun through production, employing thousands, diversifying the economy, and reducing dependency on imported fabrics.

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    Food security was also pushed aside for chandeliers when Nigeria needs about N1.5 trillion annually for agricultural investment. While Oyo could not plug that entire gap, spending out of N63 billion would have meaningfully improved irrigation, mechanisation, and storage for its dominant rural population, 60 per cent of who depend on farming.

    A state keen on business competitiveness would prize clean energy and value-adding industries over elaborate lodgings. The ROI could be seen immediately: lower food costs, employment, reduced blackouts, healthier rural economies, and a rising local tax base. Dollars spent on bricks and paint don’t yield returns – the returns of a nascent textile mill do. Oyo’s choice betrays a regressive mind-set by funding a palace over potential. Weighed against evidence, N63 billion should have been a catalyst, not a capstone. If Oyo’s leadership channels even a fraction of that sum into clean power, local manufacturing, food-value chains, or rural SMEs, the results would outshine any ornament-laden corridor. The difference between governance and grandstanding isn’t delivery but direction.

    If Oyo State had allocated even N20 billion of the government house renovation cost to reviving its tourist sites, building infrastructure around them, training guides, and launching a digital promotion campaign, it could have launched a mini-tourism revolution. Local airlines, ride-hailing services, hoteliers, food vendors, and artisans would feel the impact. Employment would surge. Most importantly, the economy would diversify, bringing the state closer to the elusive goal of financial autonomy. Instead, the money would be buried in marble tiles, ornate chandeliers, and banquet halls that few citizens will ever see. The economic waste is evident. The moral cost is incalculable. Tourism isn’t just about fun; it is an industry, a job creator, a cultural bridge, and a revenue stream.

    Until the Oyo State government understands this and realigns its spending from vanity to vision, the dream of financial freedom will remain as unreachable as the top of a neglected Bowers Tower. It’s time to spend with foresight. It’s time to trade polish and political aspirations for prosperity.

    •Adedokun Seyi,

     adedokunseyi6@gmail.com

  • Use of indigenous languages in primary school

    Use of indigenous languages in primary school

    Sir: I have witnessed the powerful role language plays in shaping a child’s learning journey. Using indigenous languages in primary schools presents both powerful opportunity and complex challenges.

    One of the most significant benefits of using Indigenous languages in primary education is that it immediately makes learning more accessible. For many children, entering school is their first encounter with formal learning. Children learn best in a language they understand. When lessons are delivered in a familiar tongue, especially in the early years, comprehension deepens. It is easier for a child to grasp new things when they are not also struggling to decide an unfamiliar language. I have seen children who appeared shy and withdrawn suddenly come alive when lessons are delivered in their mother tongue.

    Moreover, indigenous language instruction strengthens cultural identity and self-esteem. Language is not a medium of communication – it is a vessel of tradition and history. When a child hears their mother tongue valued in the classroom, they feel seen and respected. This fosters pride which in turn motivates learning and participation. This creates a strong foundation for literacy, numeracy and general learning.

    Using local languages also help to keep our culture and identity alive. When children learn in their mother tongue, they also learn stories, songs and traditions that are important to their communities. This builds pride in who they are.

    Studies show that starting school in local languages help children become better readers and writers. Later on, they can learn other languages more easily too.

    Despite these benefits, the implementation of indigenous languages in primary education faces several obstacles. The first and the most discouraging is the lack of trained teachers who are both fluent in indigenous languages and skilled in teaching. In many cases, speakers of the languages are elders who may not have formal training in education.

    On the contrary, those who have formal training in education may not speak the local languages fluently. Therefore, without the right training, the quality of teaching can suffer.

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    Additionally, another challenge is people’s attitudes. Some parents believe that only national or international languages will help their children succeed. They may think using the mother tongue in school is a step backward. This belief can stop schools from fully supporting mother tongue education.

    Government support is often weak. While some countries have policies promoting local languages, they do not always provide the money or training needed to make it work in real classrooms.

    And then there is the issue of learning materials. Many schools don’t have enough books, posters, or charts in local languages. Sometimes, there simply are not words in the language for modern concepts like ‘computer’.

    So how do we make it work? First, we need strong political will – government must invest in teacher training, materials and community engagement. Second, schools need help choosing the right languages for their regions especially where many languages are spoken like Nigeria. And finally parents and communities need to understand that using that mother language is not a step backward; it is a leap forward.

    Teaching in indigenous languages can make a big difference in early education. It helps children understand, feel confident, and stay connected to their culture. But to succeed, we must solve problems like poor resources, lack of training and negative attitudes.

    With the right support, we can turn classrooms into places where all children, no matter their background can thrive.

    •Adebisi-Yusuf, Noimot Ayobami,<yusufjumoke87@gmail.com>

  • Tinubu’s new tax reforms and the North

    Tinubu’s new tax reforms and the North

    Sir: On Thursday, June 26, President Bola Tinubu signed into law four landmark tax bills recently passed by the National Assembly. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Tinubu’s style of governance, the new tax bills signal a new beginning for Nigerians, businesses, and governments, both at the subnational and federal levels.

    Some key highlights of the Reforms are

    Elimination of Duplication in Tax Collection: One major reform is the establishment of the new Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which will now collect revenues that were previously handled by numerous agencies, such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NIMASA, and others.

    Tax Exemption for Low-Income Earners: With the new provisions, individuals earning N800,000 or less per year are now fully exempt from income tax. This is a masterstroke, especially for many people in the North. It removes a huge burden and creates space for their small and medium-sized businesses to grow and flourish.

    New Personal Income Tax Rate: Only those earning above N50 million annually will be required to pay the new 25% personal income tax rate. This is both fair and reasonable.

    Another big win for the North, which has the highest concentration of poor people in Nigeria, is the removal of VAT on essential goods and services: school fees, medical services, food, pharmaceuticals, and electricity. This is a solid relief for the poor and for small and medium-sized businesses.

    Corporate tax will now reduce from 30% to 25%, and small businesses are fully exempt from paying income tax.

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    The controversial VAT issue has now been ‘fairly’ settled, and again, it’s a big win for the North, which had previously raised concerns. The new revenue-sharing formula is as follows:

    Federal government 10%, states: 55% and local governments: 35%.

    Even more importantly, the VAT sharing formula has been revised in a way that favours the North, particularly if northern states seize the opportunity to harness and develop their economies and markets, especially in agriculture.

    The new sharing criteria are:

    50% of VAT is shared equally among all states

    20% is based on population

    30% is based on where goods/services are consumed

    One of the most important features of these tax reforms is how they protect and uplift the poor and small businesses especially in the North, where about 65% of Nigeria’s poorest people live, where over 52% of the country’s states are located, where more than 60% of the population resides and nearly 70% of Nigeria’s landmass is found, and almost 80% of agricultural production takes place.

    It’s time for northern states to tap into local knowledge and deploy home-grown experts to thoroughly study the four landmark tax laws in line with each state’s peculiarities and needs, yet with whole North as the unifying objective.

    If well studied and strategically implemented, Tinubu’s new tax reforms could be the silver bullet the North has been waiting for.

    They offer fiscal justice, decentralization of revenue, protection for the poor, incentives for businesses, and a practical opportunity to lift millions out of poverty.

    But as always, it will take visionary leadership, technical capacity, and political will to translate policy into impact. The opportunity is here. The North must not waste it.

    •Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja.

  • Lessons from Wike as FCT minister

    Lessons from Wike as FCT minister

    Sir: One of the factors responsible for the success of the primordial Athenian political system was the practice of government of national unity. Such inclusivity involves using the best in terms of capacity building in the running of affairs of government.

    Two years ago when President Tinubu appointed Nyesom Wike into his cabinet as FCT minister, not fewer Nigerians were skeptical about such step. Many regarded it as political foolery.

    Such sceptics branded the president’s decision as political miscalculations, especially given the perceived haughty and braggadocio mannerism of Wike. Moreover, Wike being a PDP chieftain, a virulent APC opponent, tended to dismiss the president large heartedness as buffoonery.

    Two years down the line, Wike has not only proved pessimists wrong, he has risen to be one of the foremost avante – garde of the Tinubu government, based on his sterling performance and unalloyed loyalty to both President Tinubu and the nation.

    Today, Wike has left doubting Thomases dumbfounded, and had disappointed less astute politicians who have earlier dubbed him as a potential and unperceived PDP mole in APC government. The idea of government of national unity was popularized during post-independence era and during the First Republic. Those eras till date remain the best in the history of Nigerian politics and in terms of development.

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    The purpose of government is not just to win election but more importantly to ensure that lives and wellbeing of the people are improved. A reigning political party must see it as its responsibility to identify such capable politicians who will play down politics in order to serve the country.

    Like a midas touch, Wike has changed the landscape of Abuja and his unprecedented performance has so impressed the president who has described him as “a transformational leader”. The 17-day projects commissioning from June 10 to July 13 is a testament to his sterling performance as an FCT Minister. His remarkable milestone of two years in office have transformed the landscape of Abuja into a befitting nation’s capital.

    Wike’s unwavering commitment and dedication to the visionary Renewed Hope Agenda of the APC is both laudable and commendable. The progress the FCT recorded in just two years of Wike’s leadership is a reflection of his vision, capacity and passion for public service, politics apart.

    Wike has aptly shown that it is possible to practice the government of national unity, judging from what he has done as a PDP chieftain working in APC government. Nigerians must commend the sagacity and vision of the president for this break of old political jinx.

    •Sunday Olagunju Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • NNPC: Cut Ojulari and new board members some slacks

    NNPC: Cut Ojulari and new board members some slacks

    By Bamidele Atoyebi

    As public chatter intensifies over trillions supposedly unaccounted for in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), it is crucial to separate political fiction from professional fact. 

    The recent controversy surrounding alleged missing funds has stirred unnecessary public hysteria, much of it founded on misinformation and political undertones. Headlines of NNPC being “indebted to the tune of ₦100 trillion” or “mismanaging ₦200 trillion” are not only sensationalist but risk undermining the efforts of a newly constituted board that hasn’t spent up to four months in office.

    It is essential to state the facts clearly: the new board of NNPC, including the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, and other respected professionals, was inaugurated in April 2025. These individuals’ true technocrats in every sense have not had sufficient time to be held accountable for alleged financial irregularities that date far back into previous administrations.

    If indeed there are credible claims of mismanagement or missing funds as loosely suggested, then the right approach is to invite former board members, especially Mele Kyari and Chief Pius Akinyelure and his team, who presided over NNPC during the period in question. This is basic accountability logic. It is not only misleading but unjust to turn a spotlight of suspicion on a board that barely has its boots laced.

    We must ask: Who is sponsoring this media campaign? What are the motivations behind pushing a narrative that deliberately ignores the chronology of appointments, responsibilities, and timelines? Why is the Senate not backing its claims with a transparent financial review instead of throwing figures into the public space without substantiation?

    The answer lies in the growing discomfort among certain entrenched interests some may even call them “village people” who do not want Nigeria to make progress. They recognize the threat that capable and uncompromised leadership poses to the old order of impunity and mediocrity. They see the fresh wind of technocratic leadership at NNPC as a direct challenge to the status quo, and so, they attack it.

    What is particularly commendable about this new NNPC board is not only its professionalism but the unprecedented transparency it has brought. Ojulari, a seasoned engineer with decades of experience from Shell and Renaissance Africa Energy, is already redefining standards. Within weeks of assuming office, he authorized the release of April’s operational and financial data, the first move of its kind in the company’s history. Revenues were posted at ₦5.89 trillion, with a profit-after-tax of ₦748 billion, clearly reported for public scrutiny.

    Ojulari is not just leading he’s setting a new bar for what technocratic leadership should look like in Nigeria’s public enterprises. His reputation for operational brilliance and ethical leadership precedes him, and he is now leveraging that pedigree to reposition NNPC as a global energy player rooted in transparency, local content development, and investment confidence. As the engine of this transformation, he is restoring credibility and competitiveness to a company long mired in opacity.

    But he is not working alone. The current board is filled with highly experienced and competent professionals who bring with them decades of impactful service in the energy industry.

    Ahmadu Musa Kida, the board’s Non-Executive chairman, brings over three decades of upstream oil expertise, having served as deputy MD of TotalEnergies Deepwater Services. He is also a trained petroleum engineer with international credentials and has championed local capacity building while leading key offshore projects. His strategic and people-focused leadership is a great asset to the board.

    Babs Omotowa, former MD/CEO of Nigeria LNG, under whose leadership the company generated over $40 billion in revenue and remitted $22 billion to the federal government. He led landmark projects like the acquisition of LNG vessels and the Bonny Bodo road development. A global voice in the energy space, Omotowa also served on international boards, driving Nigeria’s environmental and transparency agenda globally.

    Also on the board is Engr. Yusuf Usman, a quiet titan whose leadership and achievements in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure are widely acknowledged. Starting his career at Shell before joining NNPC in 1993, he played leading roles in critical infrastructure projects such as the Calabar Ajaokuta pipeline and the OB3 gas pipeline both vital to Nigeria’s domestic gas supply strategy. As Chief Operating Officer for Gas & Power, he championed policies that doubled Nigeria’s domestic gas footprint. His reforms in procurement and contracting saved the country billions and introduced strategic clarity and fiscal discipline. Usman remains the only high-level executive from the controversial Diezani era never summoned by anti-graft agencies, a mark of unassailable integrity.

    Together, these board members represent a coalition of excellence visionaries in gas commercialization, infrastructure development, corporate finance, project execution, and policy reform. Their collective background in multinationals, indigenous operations, and public governance is unmatched in the history of NNPC.

    It’s also worth noting that the credibility of these individuals has never been in doubt. Among them are those who, despite serving in turbulent times, emerged without any blemish, untainted by corruption, and trusted by both public and private stakeholders.

    Ojulari himself is no stranger to transformation. As Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), he led the Bonga deep-water asset to peak performance, increasing output by 20% and reducing costs by over 30%. His engineering acumen and leadership won the Bonga FPSO several accolades, including “Asset of the Year.” Post-Shell, he continued his legacy at Renaissance Africa Energy, where he steered a groundbreaking $2.4 billion indigenous acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets, making a strong case for Nigerian control in the energy sector.

    Together, Ojulari and his fellow board members are charting a course that reflects President Tinubu’s confidence in their ability to reform the oil and gas sector. Their plans are ambitious yet strategic: boosting oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027, hitting 3 million barrels by 2030, and attracting upwards of $60 billion in investments within five years. Add to this the roadmap for revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacity and expanding gas infrastructure, and it becomes clear: the board isn’t asleep at the wheel they are racing to get Nigeria back on track.

    Let it be said clearly: this is the first time in Nigeria’s oil history that a team of seasoned professionals, not political appointees, has been given the reins of NNPC. That in itself is a step in the right direction. Instead of unwarranted criticism and phantom allegations, what they need is support, patience, and the space to implement long-overdue reforms.

    Nigeria has lost enough time and resources to distractions. The Senate and other political actors must rise above opportunistic politics. They should support these new NNPC leaders, not sabotage them. A true national interest conversation would focus on reform metrics, deliverables, and transparent financial reviews, not vague accusations aimed at derailing progress.

    This board is capable. The president knows it. The industry knows it. The Nigerian people should come to know it, too.

    It’s time to cut Ojulari, Yusuf Usman, and the entire new NNPC board some slacks and let them work.

     Bamidele is the Convenor of the BAT Ideological group and a news publisher. He sent this message from Abuja.

  • Zacch Adedeji: The technocrat who makes the system work

    Zacch Adedeji: The technocrat who makes the system work

    By Arabinrin Aderonke

    We do not talk enough about institutions or agencies in Nigeria. The conversation is often about who holds office, who left, who is performing, and who is not. But if we are serious about building a country that works, we must change that focus. 

    Great nations like the United States, Germany, and Japan were built not only by people but by the systems and structures they established. That is why the Tax Reform Bills is a big deal. Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (now Nigeria Revenue Service), deserves his flowers.

    In Nigeria, many laws are passed with little follow-up. Good ideas often do not survive politics. The Tax Reform Bills, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, followed a clear process. From early consultations to communication with the public and coordination with the National Assembly, the approach was structured. These policies form the base for a more fair, inclusive, and efficient tax system. 

    And truly, how many things do we even want to say? Where do we start? This man is trying. Dr. Zacch didn’t wait for applause before doing the work. He has focused on building a system that works, not just for the government but for the people. This tax reform is only the highlight we are all now talking about. But the real work started when he became the Executive Chairman.

    He began with the agency itself. Staff morale was low, structures were loose, and the system was outdated. He reorganized departments, improved staff welfare, increased salaries, and created a culture of responsibility. 

    The environment changed from survival to performance. He understood that if the people inside the system were not motivated, nothing on the outside would function properly.

    Then he went after the process. Under his leadership, the TaxProMax platform was upgraded. New modules were added. Over 80 per cent of operations were automated. 

    Filing became easier, records became clearer, and service delivery improved. He introduced a USSD code that allows people to retrieve their TIN and tax clearance certificates straight from their phones, with no internet being required. These are real solutions for real Nigerians.

    He also spearheaded the National Single Window Project, which links tax, customs, and trade. For the first time, businesses could start seeing a more coordinated and transparent system. 

    In 2023, revenue collection hit ₦12.36 trillion. In 2024, it grew to ₦21.6 trillion. Not by squeezing people dry but by widening the tax net, blocking leakages, and making compliance easier. In 2025, the target is ₦25.2 trillion, and with the structure he has put in place, it is not just possible, it is planned for.

    But beyond technology and revenue numbers, the Tax Boss has been consistent in saying we must not tax poverty. He pushed for exemptions for small businesses and low-income earners. He ensured that essential items like food, health, education, accommodation, and transport were VAT-free. That is leadership with empathy. 

    So yes, let us give him his flowers, and give them to him well. Tax Boss is not like the usual people we see in government. He came in, kept his head down, and did the work the way his boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asked him to. He didn’t chase attention, but now the results are speaking louder than any press conference. 

    In a country where many enter the office and leave things worse, Dr. Zacch is proof that one person can come in and truly change the story. He is showing us that the government can work if the right person is in charge. He is the kind of leader Nigeria needs more of, focused, honest, and truly working for the people. He has not only done well. He has set a new standard.

    Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service

  • Comrade Trump

    Comrade Trump

    By Diane Francis

    The contrast between Trump’s principled war with Israel against Iran and his fawning toward Russia’s Putin stands couldn’t be starker.

    Tehran has been toppled, but on May 28, Trump imposed a two-week deadline on Russia to stop bombing Ukraine to see if Putin was serious about peace. He didn’t stop, and it has worsened since. Trump has said nothing and taken no action. By June 9, he dismissed Russia’s constant attacks, then commented that Ukraine’s audacious “Operation Spiderweb” attack on June 1, against Russian aircraft, “gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them.”

    Then, on June 12, on Moscow’s national holiday, Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio released an official statement, which read: “On behalf of the American people, I want to congratulate the Russian people on Russia Day. The United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future.”

    What “aspirations”? What “brighter future?” The “Russian people” do not, and cannot, build toward a brighter future because they are modern-day serfs, entrapped in a kleptocracy run by a mafia controlled by a delusional and homicidal dictator.

    Trotting out such diplomatic drivel does not move the dial, and is as sincere as are phony claims by Russia that it seeks only peace. It does not. It “seeks” Kyiv, Odesa, and lands bordering the European Union’s eastern borders, as well as world dominance.

    Still, Trump doubles down. On June 16, Trump attended the G7 gathering in Canada. He was clearly upset that Ukraine’s President had been invited to attend the following day (which is why he left before Zelensky arrived). But on day one, he scolded the leaders for expelling Russia from the G8 back in 2014.

    “The G7 used to be the G8,” said Trump. He blamed the current war on this major snub, which was bizarre because Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine took place in 2014, and its second happened in 2022 and was a continuation of the war started in 2014.

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    Trump’s accusation didn’t surprise his former national security advisor, John Bolton, who later commented that Trump “never seemed to understand that Russia had been kicked out of the G8 for invading Ukraine or that the G7 membership consists of a group of like-minded industrial democracies.”

    But Trump’s fibbing would have pleased his pal, Putin, to no end, as would his cold shoulder toward Zelensky and Ukraine.

    Of course, it was nothing new. Trump never lets the facts about Putin and Russia get in the way of one of his Russian revisionist rants, a notably worrisome trait.

    More importantly, he continues to broadcast Russian talking points that Ukraine is losing the war to Russia, which are untrue but designed to dampen support for Western military assistance to Ukraine and to demoralize Ukrainians.

    Here are the facts, and Russia is not winning the war:

    1. Russia is, militarily and economically, “bleeding out.” Since January 2024, its massive ground forces have seized less than 1% of Ukraine, an area slightly bigger than Rhode Island, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, apart from Russia, and the size of Texas.

    2. The Russians advance 50 meters (164 feet) per day in their latest offensive in Kupyansk and 135 meters (443 feet) daily in Donetsk – a pace slower than the notoriously futile battles fought in The Sommes during World War I.

    3. One million Russians were killed or wounded by June 20, when summer began.

    4. Russia’s military supply chain has been disrupted and drained financially. Reports are that citizens whose loved ones have died as soldiers are forced to crowdfund and obtain charitable donations to buy body bags and hire transportation so that they can bring them home to bury them.

    5. Ukraine’s technological superiority is shredding Russian conventional armed forces. The battlefield is drenched with Ukrainian drones that do most of the killing and wounding. This is intensifying.

    6. Russia’s massive manpower losses are resulting in desertions and sabotage among the ranks, and forcing its military to offer huge signing bonuses to attract contract soldiers. The rate of attrition is skyhigh and so are the costs.

    7. One-third of Russia’s navy was destroyed and the rest driven from Crimea and the Black Sea by Ukraine’s state-of-the-art sea drones.

    8. The war is cratering Russia’s economy. Ukraine’s economy is doing okay because its government is prudent, its financial institutions are well run, and corruption is negligible. However, Russia hurtles toward economic catastrophe due to corruption, stagnation, brain drain, sanctions, labor shortages, capital flight, government debt, incompetence, and inflation.

    The correlation between Trump’s accession to the Oval Office and Russia’s increasing attacks against Ukraine’s cities and civilians is established and disturbing.

    Arguably, his praise and defense of Putin enables the slaughter: “With Trump so far failing to respond to Russia’s escalating drone strikes, the Kremlin has little incentive to stop. All signs point to Moscow’s defense industry only increasing its ability to launch ever-larger mass attacks,” observed The Kyiv Independent.

    Why is Trump doing this? Some suspect that the president or his family is corrupt. This is unproven, but it is undoubtedly a result of impaired judgment, which consists of a brew of intellectual laziness, vanity, and a proclivity toward geopolitical “name-dropping.” Instead of calling out atrocities, Trump drops Putin’s name a lot.

    “Putin speaks to me; he doesn’t speak to anybody else because he was very insulted when he got thrown out at the G8, as I would be, as you would be, as anybody would be,” he boasted to reporters at the G7.

    Trump bragged that Putin gave him a painted portrait on his birthday, along with a birthday phone call, just before Trump hosted a massive parade of American troops and military hardware. It’s also curious that Trump’s love of tariffs does not include support for a clever tariff bill by Senator Lindsey Graham that would impose 500% tariffs on Russian oil customers – a levy that would help stop the war.

    He has also refused to sign British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s massive new sanctions bill, designed to squeeze Russia’s energy revenues, which support his war. And Trump continues to badmouth Zelensky often, blames him for the war, and has mused about cutting off military aid to Ukrainians as a means of ending the war.

    It is also apparent that Trump is naïve enough to believe he can pull off a rapprochement with the world’s most hated and treacherous leader, presumably so that the two can carve up the planet.

    Another explanation for his lavish “Putinizing” is that he and Steve Bannon have long feared China and have an affinity for Russia because they believe in a “civilizational realignment.” Whatever the pathology, Trump is the guy who likes the guy who keeps committing genocide in Ukraine.

    Fortunately, Trump fools no one, except himself, especially after he trotted out an example of false equivalency to justify doing nothing to stop Putin’s rampage. He said, “Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy,” Trump said in the Oval Office, with his German counterpart Friedrich Merz looking on silently. “They hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park, and you try to pull them apart. They don’t want to be pulled. Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”

    His analogy was erroneous. This is not about two young children fighting. Russia is ten times bigger than Ukraine and a giant bully who wants to destroy it, then murder the other “kids” in the neighborhood. It must be stopped; they cannot be allowed to “fight for a while.” This attitude puts Trump at odds with most Americans who support Ukraine and with the 91% who don’t trust and intensely dislike Putin and Russia.

    Trump’s policies and pronouncements about this gigantic war in Europe are not aligned with the beliefs and wishes of the American people. But there’s no accounting for ignorance. France’s Voltaire said it best: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.”

    ·             This article was first published in www.kyivpost.com

  • Revisiting June 12 crisis: How Tinubu foiled budget presentation by Shonekan

    Revisiting June 12 crisis: How Tinubu foiled budget presentation by Shonekan

    By Gboyega Amoboye

    The June 12 1993 political crisis is a contemporary  history .According to historians there are   three major sources of history; written , oral or remembered, and dug up history. The history of June 12, 1993  satisfies all these three conditions .

     That revisionists therefore   attempt to rewrite the history is very unfortunate more so that  journalists who covered the whole episode of June 12 are still around to “put the ball back to the centre”.

    As one of the privileged recorder of that history therefore one felt uncomfortable when a former Governor of Jigawa State, Hon. Sule Lamido recently attempted to rewrite the history of June 12 struggle . He  accused one of the  pillars the struggle,  President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lobbying  General Sanni Abacha for  a political appointment after Chief Earnest  Shonekan’s Interim government was sacked   on November 17, 1993, 82 days in office,  by Justice Dolapo Akinsanya. She had ordered that the winner of the June 12 Presidential election be sworn in as recognised by law.

    But instead of implementing the ruling General Abacha gate crashed into the State House and proclaimed  himself, Head of State.

    It might be recalled that when Shonekan was the Head state, the National  Assembly as the most significant symbol of democracy was in session. The Senate President was Iyorchia Ayuu and later Senator Ameh Ebute while Senator Bola Tinubu was the Senate Leader.

    It is significant to note that While members of the civil society, Trade unions , Human rights activists and students bodies were fighting Shonekan outside the walls of  the National Assembly the Senate was fighting him from within.

    The final  battle the Senate had with Shonekan was the boycott of his budget presention . On that  day  Shonekan had arrived at the temporary chamber of the House of Representatives in Area 10 Garki only  to meet a virtually empty chamber following   total boycott by  Senators. Only a few members of the House of Representatives were seated and was presided over by the Speaker, Agunwa Anekwe instead of the Senate President.To make Shonekan comfortable, civil servants were drafted into the chamber to occupy empty seats of Senators.

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    At the end of his presentation I asked Shonekan how he felt with the boycott of the presentation by the Senate. He said “When I came I met people and presented my budget”.

    It should be noted also that as the Senate Leader, Bola Tinubu was the Chief lobbyist and mobiliser against Shonekan and his interim government.

    Following the capture of power by Abacha instead of swearing in Basorun MKO Abiola as directed by Justice Akinsanya, the next battle ground shifted to the formation of NADECO in which Bola Tinubu was not only very active but also a major financier..

    In page 162 of a book published by NAPOC, Aborted  Third Republic,  President Bola Tinubu narrated how he took four years’ leave of absence from Mobil Oil to contest election into the Senate in 1992.He said ,”The day we were to be inaugurated, I was picked to speak for the SDP. I was frontal with  the military government that they have a great opportunity to return Nigeria to democracy. We have been elected and there is nothing you can do about it you have to find a way to inaugurate us  and then plan your exit’. He said after he had finished his address, General Ibrahim Babangida came down from the podium and gave him a handshake which he said  was uncommon with military personnel and said ‘I like your courage and boldness ‘.

    On how NADECO was being funded, Bola Tinubu said “We were the financiers. I had some investments then. Pa Alfred Rewane was one of the financiers. I had two filling stations in London which my wife was managing ‘.

    One would conclude that It was either Sule Lamido was ignorant of this sacrifice by Tinubu  or dis honest with  the truth. Even though politics may be a game of mudsling a gentleman’s ‘ failing  must always lean on virtue’s side because truth is not only constant, but also supreme..

  • As researchers raise the alarm on resource depletion

    As researchers raise the alarm on resource depletion

    By Sunday Saanu

    Unless federal government takes urgent steps, Nigerians may face acute food insecurity in the years ahead with the alarming rate of depletion of vital resources such as marine and inland fish stocks due to overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, wildlife and destructive harvesting practices. More poignantly, forest resources are dwindling from various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation and unsustainable logging, while land and water bodies suffer from degradation; driven by agricultural expansion, urbanisation, and industrial pollution. Coastal habitats, including mangroves and estuaries crucial for fisheries and biodiversity, were said to be  facing severe environmental stress as well.

    These were part of the serious concerns and observations raised at the University of Ibadan (UI) first conference of Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, tagged “Renewable Natural Resources Management and Use: A Pathway to Sustainable Development”, held between June 16th and 20th at First Bank Building, Faculty of Agriculture, UI. The colourful event which brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including leading academics, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, civil society organisations , students, and local community representatives, was organized on account of the critical role of renewable natural resources in sustaining livelihoods, fostering economic growth, and maintaining ecological balance, especially in the face of burgeoning populations, climate change, and environmental degradation. It was indeed a vital platform for interdisciplinary discourse, knowledge exchange, and the formulation of actionable strategies.

    Declaring the conference open, UI Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale noted that Nigeria  was specially blessed with rich endowment of natural resources, which he observed “forms the bedrock of economies, cultures, and ecosystems, yet these resources face unprecedented pressure such as deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water scarcity and the pervasive impacts of climate changes. Prof. Adebowale however reasoned that the only way to eradicate poverty and overcome hunger was the creative ways with which we exploit these natural resources to our advantage” While urging the participants to suggest better ways of managing these amazing natural gifts, the UI boss argued that Nigeria has no business with poverty if we manage our wealth well.

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     Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Adejoke Olukemi Akinyele had hinted that the hybrid conference aptly named Renewable 2025 reflected the wavering commitment of the Faculty to advancing knowledge and developing solutions towards a sustainable future. The Dean who paid glowing tribute to all past and present Faculty members for their dedication to academic excellence, insisted that sustainable management and utilization of these resources were critical to ensuring their long-time availability and maintaining ecosystem health. Elegant Prof. Akinyele stated that her Faculty aimed at expanding the frontiers of knowledge in renewable natural resources and providing leadership not only in Africa, but also through global partnerships.

     In his keynote address, a UI Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development, Prof. Labode Popoola averred that renewable natural resources were not infinite, stressing that “when managed wisely, they regenerate and continue to provide essential goods and ecosystem services that sustain human life and economic growth.  He maintained that renewable resources were at the core of the survival and satisfaction of humans on planet earth, performing environmental service functions, providing socio-cultural services, scenic and landscape services, and socio-economic services.

     However, at the end of a week’s brainstorming, the conference participants noted that fragmented and often weak governance framework, characterised by insufficient inter-agency coordination, overlapping mandates between federal and state authorities, and inadequate enforcement of existing laws and policies were a major drawback in effective management of natural resources. This fragmentation, according to them, “hinders comprehensive resource management and often facilitates illicit activities across various sectors  such as illegal fishing, logging, mining, and poaching. Besides, the communique observed that the absence of robust, continuous scientific data, including the lack of comprehensive spatial tools like Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for resource monitoring and governance, impeded evidence-based policy formulation and adaptive management.

    Again, the communique which revealed the profound socio-economic vulnerabilities of local communities, particularly artisanal fishers, forest-dependent communities, and rural farmers, who were disproportionately affected by resource degradation and unsustainable practices, pointed out that their marginalization in decision-making processes often exacerbated these challenges. More importantly, “the undeniable impacts of climate change – including rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, sea-level rise, and ocean acidification – were intensifying pressure on all renewable natural resources, threatening food security and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events”, the participants stressed.

     To remedy the situations, therefore, they suggested that government should expedite the review and harmonisation of existing laws and policies to eliminate overlaps and ensure clear mandates across federal, state, and local governments for integrated natural resource management. Government must also prioritize the legislative adoption and implementation of a unified National Food Safety and Aquatic Health Regulatory Authority.

     The conference was supported by key partners and stakeholders including Amarac Technologies Incorporated, CIFOR-ICRAF, Fan Milk,  Fisheries Society of Nigeria, FEMADEC Group, FOJ Multidynamics,  International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), National Park Service, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Processed wood producers and marketers Association of Nigeria, UI Distance Learning Centre, UI Postgraduate College, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), World Fish and 360degrees Habitat Ltd.

     Interestingly, problems have been identified. Solutions have been proffered. Will government take action? Only time will tell!

     • Saanu, Ph.D in Cultural and Media Studies (08034073427) is with University of Ibadan. Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com