The Nation Newspaper

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Opportunities and challenges for Nigeria
- By Wale Bakare
In recent years, the rapid advancement of technology has been transforming economies and societies worldwide. Among these technological advancements, disruptive innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), have emerged as pivotal forces shaping various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education, and agriculture. In Nigeria, a nation rich in diversity and potential, the impact of these innovations is both profound and multifaceted. The progress made in AI and disruptive innovations in Nigeria presents opportunities that can lead to significant development, but also challenges that must be addressed to fully harness their potential.

Disruptive innovations are technologies or processes that significantly alter traditional ways of doing things. They often create new markets and value networks, displacing established market leaders and challenging existing norms. AI, as a subset of these innovations, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans. This encompasses machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and computer vision, among other technologies. The importance of these innovations is increasingly recognized by various stakeholders in Nigeria, including the government, private sector, and academic institutions.

The integration of disruptive innovations and AI offers a promising path toward achieving sustainable development goals in Nigeria. As the nation grapples with various socio-economic challenges, the need for innovative solutions becomes even more pressing. The government has shown a willingness to adopt these technologies, fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation. AI-related initiatives and research are gaining traction, marking a significant shift in how technology can address local challenges.

Nigeria’s tech ecosystem has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with cities like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt emerging as vibrant tech hubs. This growth has attracted significant investment in start-ups and technology-driven solutions, transforming the landscape of entrepreneurship. The Nigerian Start-up Act of 2022 highlights the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, providing a legal framework to support start-ups and facilitate their growth. This initiative has created an ecosystem that encourages collaboration between various stakeholders in the tech space.

Nigerian universities and research institutions are increasingly engaging in AI research, reflecting a growing interest in developing local solutions. The establishment of research centres, such as the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and the Data Science Nigeria, signifies a commitment to fostering a new generation of data scientists and AI specialists. These institutions are equipped to tackle local challenges, ensuring that innovations are relevant and beneficial to the Nigerian context. This investment in human capital is crucial for the long-term sustainability of AI development in the country.

AI and disruptive innovations are finding applications across various sectors in Nigeria. The agricultural sector is benefitting from AI technologies, such as precision farming and crop monitoring, which help farmers optimize yield and manage resources effectively.

Moreover, the fin-tech industry in Nigeria is leveraging AI to enhance financial services, improve credit scoring, and mitigate fraud. Companies like Paystack and Flutterwave have transformed payment processing, making it more accessible to businesses and consumers alike. AI-driven credit scoring platforms like CredPal are democratizing access to loans, ensuring that even those without traditional credit histories can secure financing. In education, AI is being embraced to enhance learning experiences, with edtech startups like Andela and Decagon training the next generation of software developers and data scientists.

The government has initiated various programs to promote the adoption of AI and disruptive technologies. The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and the National AI Research Grant Scheme aim to position Nigeria as a global digital economy powerhouse. Collaborations with international organizations are underway to develop frameworks and policies that support AI innovation while ensuring ethical considerations and data protection. These initiatives reflect a proactive approach to creating an environment that nurtures technological advancement.

The integration of AI and disruptive innovations presents substantial economic opportunities for Nigeria. By adopting these technologies, Nigeria can enhance productivity across various sectors, stimulate job creation, and drive economic diversification. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that AI could contribute significantly to Africa’s GDP by 2030, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies. This potential for economic growth is particularly critical for a country like Nigeria, which is striving to diversify its economy beyond oil.

Read Also: Nigeria’s financial inclusion grows to 50%

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, there is a unique opportunity to harness the potential of young minds in technology and innovation. Investing in education and training programs focused on AI can empower the youth, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven economy. By fostering a culture of innovation among the younger generation, Nigeria can ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent that drives economic growth and development.

However, despite the significant progress made, Nigeria still faces challenges that must be addressed. Infrastructure deficiencies remain a major hurdle, with the lack of reliable electricity, internet connectivity, and digital infrastructure hindering the widespread adoption of AI and disruptive technologies. Addressing these issues is crucial to creating an enabling environment for innovation to flourish and ensuring that technological advancements benefit all Nigerians.

Access to funding is another significant barrier for many start-ups and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. While there has been an increase in venture capital investments, many innovative ideas struggle to secure the necessary funding to scale. Establishing robust funding mechanisms and support systems for start-ups is vital for fostering innovation and ensuring that promising ideas can develop into sustainable businesses. Moreover, bridging the skills gap in the tech industry is essential for the successful implementation of AI and disruptive technologies.

As AI continues to evolve, ethical considerations surrounding its use become increasingly important. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability raise concerns that need to be addressed through comprehensive regulatory frameworks. The government must work closely with stakeholders to develop policies that promote ethical AI practices while fostering innovation. Overcoming resistance to change is also crucial, as the adoption of disruptive innovations often faces pushback from established industries and traditional practices.

The journey toward harnessing the potential of disruptive innovations and AI in Nigeria is well underway. By addressing infrastructure deficiencies, fostering a skilled workforce, and creating supportive policies, Nigeria can unlock the transformative power of AI and disruptive technologies. Embracing innovation will not only drive economic growth but also enhance the quality of life for its citizens. With a commitment to leveraging these technologies for sustainable development, Nigeria can carve out a prominent place in the global digital economy.

By capitalizing on the opportunities presented by AI and disruptive innovations, Nigeria can build a future that is not only technologically advanced but also equitable and prosperous for all its citizens. The path forward is filled with potential, and with the right strategies and investments, Nigeria can emerge as a leader in the African tech landscape, paving the way for a brighter future for its people.
- Bakare is a Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion Advocate.
October 25, 2024
Tinubu is a listening president
- By Tunji Bello
Let me confess that we were very intentional in choosing Kano as our next port of call after hosting a similar stakeholders’ interaction in Abuja and Lagos. This is because Kano is the heartbeat of the northern economy. Kano has a tradition of standing for what is right. And we believe once Kano decided to join and own any advocacy against any anti-people practice, others will follow the footsteps of Kano. We consider you market leaders and other key players in the supply and distribution chain as a strategic partner in this regard.

Before initiating this idea of town-hall meeting, we at the commission had conducted extensive market surveys across the country. And our findings were most startling and worrisome. Our operatives identified patterns of price fixing perpetrated by some market associations, price gouging, and other unethical practices. We observed that the margins in the prices of imported goods are very disproportionate in many cases; and in the case of locally produced goods, excessively inflated.

For proper understanding, let me break down the unethical practices we are advocating against. Price fixing refers to an unholy agreement between competing businesses to set prices at a certain level. This can be done either explicitly or implicitly, and it prevents healthy competition that is otherwise expected to drive prices down and improve quality.

Price gouging on the other hand occurs when sellers significantly increase the price of goods or services during a crisis. This practice takes undue advantage of the consumers.

In our investigation, we also discovered that some traders form a cartel in the market and put barriers in form of ridiculous membership fees intended to ensure price fixing in the market. Without joining them, they won’t allow anyone to sell goods in the market or provide services.

As patriots, we must learn to tell ourselves the truth at challenging moments like this. True, no one can, in good conscience, deny that the high exchange rate and the removal of petrol subsidy have not invariably raised the cost of doing business. From the global perspective, the world has had to also deal with the consequences of COVID-19 of 2019 and 2020 with the attendant disruption to supply chain, coupled with the Russian-Ukrainian war which has affected the global food production chain.

Read Also: President Tinubu’s new cabinet

However, let it also be recognized that the burden of high prices of food products we all face in Nigeria today is, in no small way, being worsened by the unscrupulous activities of those engaged in mopping up food grains from the markets and hoarding them in warehouses, thereby creating artificial scarcity and driving up the costs of living in the country.

Without caring for the consequences of their action on fellow countrymen and women, some of these unscrupulous actors go as far as taking some of the food items they had mopped up from the farmers or the markets and smuggling them across the borders to sell at premium, thereby endangering our national food security. Therefore, there is urgent need to balance the desire for business profitability with the imperative of consumer protection.

To be sure, all these unethical practices I have enumerated constitute serious offences under the FCCP Act. Under Section 17, for instance, the commission is empowered to deal severely with those who commit anti-competitive offences as well as engaging in misleading, unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable marketing, trading, and business practices. The law empowers the commission to impose heavy fine against breaches and also prosecute offenders which could lead to jail terms. Under Section 155, violators — whether individuals or corporate entities — face severe penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment if found guilty by the court.

Please, also note that Section 107 (4 a.) of FCCP Act clearly states that, “Where the undertaking is a natural person, is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to payment of a fine not exceeding N10,000,000.00 (N10m) or to both the fine and imprisonment.”

However, in the spirit of democracy, we at the commission have resolved to first explore the option of dialogue with you with a view to reaching a consensus on how we can collectively stop these unwholesome practices in the marketplace. Don’t get us wrong; we are by no means saying everyone is guilty here. We only have few bad eggs involved in such unethical practices. It is therefore our collective responsibility to work together to achieve reasonable pricing of goods and services, especially at a time the country is undergoing bold economic reforms which may bring temporary discomfort today but will definitely usher a better economy for us tomorrow.

As I said earlier, before Kano, we had met with manufacturers, market leaders and service providers first in Abuja and then Lagos. We had heart-to-heart discussions during which they told us the peculiar problems they are facing.

As a responsible and responsive public institution, we know you in Kano have your own stories to tell and demands to make to help us sanitize the markets. We are here to hear you out. It is important to note that the views and recommendations from stakeholders at the Abuja and Lagos town-hall meetings were collated by us and transmitted to the relevant quarters. I am pleased to inform you that action has been taken on some of them as reflected in some of the policies and measures recently introduced by the government.

Before rounding off, let me assure you that we have a very listening president in the person of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He feels for the people and shares their pains and is ever willing to go the extra miles to take measures to cushion the effects of the hardship the ongoing economic reforms may bring. Already, in response to popular demand, President Tinubu has taken practical measures like the removal of tariffs on the importation of food items.

The federal government has also commenced the implementation of zero Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise duties on pharmaceutical products and medical devices. This initiative aims to reduce the prices of essential drugs and stimulate the local pharmaceutical industry.

Just as a number of taxes have also been removed to assist micro, small, medium enterprises as well as taxes being removed from public transportation. All of these are part of the deliberate measures being taken by the administration to mitigate the consequences of the economic reforms.

We, therefore, expect that the manufacturers, market leaders, service providers and everyone involved in the production and distribution chain pass down these gains to the consumers by reducing the prices of goods and services for the benefit of all of us. For instance, when the government assists the operators of public transportation with easy credits to convert their vehicles from petrol to relatively far cheaper CNG, we don’t expect them to charge the same fares as those who buy petrol.

Earlier in Abuja as well as Lagos, I had enjoined stakeholders to embrace the spirit of patriotism and cooperation at this challenging moment. Here in Kano today, I am echoing that statement. Please, let us talk to ourselves and say no to the exploitation of one another.
- Being excerpts from the keynote address by the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer (FCCPC), Tunji Bello, at a stakeholders meeting on exploitative pricing hosted by the FCCPC in Kano on Wednesday, October 23.
October 25, 2024
Trump: A darling to re-elect or a devil to reject?
- By Anthony S. Aladekomo
Is President Donald Trump (2017-2020), seeking re-election on November 5, a darling to re-elect by Americans or a devil to reject? Should the Republican Party presidential candidate be given a second chance or opportunity by Americans? Are there valid reasons millions of Americans should team up with Elon Musk, who is solidly behind Mr. Trump? Should they join hands with Robert F. Kennedy, Jnr, the Independent candidate, who stepped down for Trump? Should they agree with them and Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party and member of the British parliament, who sees Trump’s rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as a person with “a history of being part of the radical left.” Should Americans give Trump another four years and see whether he can truly “make America great again” (MAGA)?

The naysayers who posit that Trump is too blunt and overt are not without some point. Those who may complain that some of the records of his past private and public life could overshadow any good deeds he might have done are not unreasonable. But let us be fair, and understand also that that all natural human beings have some inherent weakness or imperfection or the other. It has to be noted also that saints are rarely found among politicians while politicians are rarely found among saints.

Many a time, what Trump’s Democratic opponents do is to magnify his weaknesses or imperfections as if they too are perfect. Sometimes, they even do what they condemn in Trump. For example, Trump only threatened to build a physical wall between the US and Mexico, but he never did it. Yet, President Joe Biden with his Democratic Party, who castigated Trump’s verbal threats to build such a wall, later embarked on practically building a wall of partition between the two countries!

It would be interesting to note that Biden’s “immigration czar” is no other person than Vice President Kamala Harris. Yet, it is a notorious fact that illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border, resulting in crimes, have heightened under Biden. According to an estimate of the US Department of Home Security, 11 million illegal immigrants were living in the US as at January 2022. Trump has said more than that number actually sneaked into America under the watch of the Biden/Harris administration alone.

On the other hand, President Trump prioritised the security of America and of Americans between 2017 and 2021 when he was in power; he did not want to be or remain politically correct about America’s security. Trump’s immigration policy was reasonable, as it was meant to save the US and its citizens from another 9/11 attacks. Only an unworthy ruler would capitulate to criticism and chicken out from taking a firm decision necessary to save his country and citizens from terrorism and carnage. So, he issued Executive Orders 13769 and 13780 for the protection of the country from foreign terrorist entry from a list of countries that generally did not satisfy the baseline standard. He also issued Proclamation No. 9645, which placed entry restrictions on the nationals of eight foreign countries whose ways of managing and sharing information about their nationals the president considered inadequate. The eight countries affected by the Proclamation were Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. He was invoking the powers vested in him by sections 1182 (f) and 1185 (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). His traducers vilified him with multi-dimensional virulence over the regulations, but they worked. What is more, in the case of Trump & Ors v Hawaii & Ors App. No. 17-965 (judgment delivered June 26, 2018), the US Supreme Court upheld the regulations.

Read Also: Trump campaign accuses UK’s Labour of poll interference

During Trump’s first term in office (2017-2021), fears were raised by his critics and political opponents that he was a war-monger and would throw the United States into a needless international war with Iran, Afghanistan, China, and North Korea or escalate Israel’s conflict with its Arab neighbours. But he did otherwise; he proved himself to be a man of peace. His term was peaceful internally and externally. His Mexico border wall proposal was to enhance America’s security. As hinted earlier, the Biden/Harris administration later plagiarised it. To remove a real or imagined platform for the development of nuclear weapons of mass destruction that might be a threat to the Middle East, he reversed former President Barrack Obama’s nuclear energy deal with Iran. He did not only strike peace deals with North Korea but visited the communist country!

He was somewhat more diplomatic in dealing with Afghanistan. Trump was passionately and practically committed to religious freedom advocacy worldwide. The Trump administration committed more funds for religious freedom around the world and, in 2019, it mobilised liberal countries to form an International Religious Freedom Alliance (IRF Alliance), which the Biden/Harris administration seems to have since undermined or downplayed. Yet, the IRF Alliance had been a great step in the right direction considering the fact that about 70% of the wars and crises currently going on in the world were wholly or partially provoked by religious extremism or reasons.

In a nutshell and to the disappointment of his traducers, President Trump never fomented any war; neither did he instigate any proxy war while in office. He rather pursued and achieved peace in different parts of the world.

The Biden/Harris administration’s foreign misadventures have led to increasing de-dollarisation of the global economy and potential expansion of the BRICS bloc, which is out to challenge the US-led Western hegemony. The alienation of erstwhile allies and disenchantment with the US even became so notorious that President Emmanuel Macron of France kept theorising some detachment from the US and a European army that would be distinct from the US-led NATO on the grounds that Europe should no longer see Russia or the enemy of its friend as its own enemy.

Unlike his opponent Harris, Trump is also against abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage and LGBTQ. He is on the same page with the US Supreme Court judges who, in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation 597 U.S. 2022, recently reversed the pro-abortion decision in Roe v Wade 410 US 113 (1973). Today, most of the leaders of the Democratic Party- Obama, Biden, Harris and her running mate and Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz—are actually staunch supporters of abortion rights, same-sex marriage and LGBTQ.

Interestingly, Trump has sprung up the anticipated October surprise. Polls results are getting tight. The polls were conducted around the same time that Harris’ Democratic political godfather and former President, Barack Obama, was publicly lamenting that, unlike when he was vying for the presidency, some Black male voters were backing the Republican candidate. What is more, President Biden’s reluctance to campaign for Harris is believed to be doing serious damage to her ambition. For example, while Harris accused the Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, of “playing political games” with his response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton that had hit his state, Biden publicly disagreed with her as he described the governor as “cooperative” and doing a “great job”.
- Dr. Aladekomo is a law lecturer and public affairs analyst.
October 25, 2024
Open letter to World Bank’s Indermit Gill

By Ahmed Olayinka Sule

I read with interest your article published in the October 17 edition of the Financial Times titled, “Nigeria’s economic transformation must succeed.” You argue that President Bola Tinubu’s market-oriented reform is a turning point and note the need for the government to remain committed to the cause as failure could jeopardise other market reforms across Africa. However, your justification for the reforms is flawed and contradicts your suggested priorities for continued success.

You note that the united exchange rate, petrol subsidy cuts and monetary policy tightening marks a turning point for Nigeria and must be allowed to succeed. In justifying these economic returns, you state that the deregulation of the exchange rate eliminated the arbitrage exploited by “Some local elites, who acquired dollars cheaply at the government’s expense” You argue that the petrol subsidy cuts would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal position and shore up the Naira. Additionally, you note the monetary tightening in response to the increasing inflation would “Boost confidence in the Naira and anchor inflation expectations.”

Despite the difficulties resulting from these reforms, you state, “Nigeria will need to stay the course if it is to become an engine of growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

A famous quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein is, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” This would not be the first time Nigeria has implemented neo-liberal market reforms that have resulted in disastrous results. Yet, you continue to justify these ineffective reforms that heap misery upon the Nigerian masses. You completely ignore the legacy of the Structural Adjustment Program implemented in Nigeria in 1986. These reforms, which Bretton Woods Institutions championed, entailed currency devaluation, trade liberalisation, austerity and deregulation. The result was disastrous for Nigeria, and the country has yet to recover from the impact of the neo-liberal reforms.

No thanks to the 1986 market reforms, Nigerians faced youth employment, an increase in its external debt profile, and elevated school dropout rates due to increases in tuition, business closures, economic hardship, unemployment, social unrest, strikes, de-industrialisation and reduced access to social services. It is incredulous that despite these documented impacts, you are still calling for the same reforms to be implemented again.

As you call for the sustained commitment to these reforms, you fail to draw a link between these failed policies and the human cost. Rather, you call for the establishment of a “Cost-effective safety net to protect the most vulnerable.” Is this not like giving someone crutches after breaking their legs?

Due to President Tinubu’s economic reforms, which you praise in glowing terms, Nigeria faces soaring inflation, increased transport costs, unemployment, shrinking purchasing power, crime, protests, business closures, food insecurity and low industrial capacity utilisation.

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For too long, the IMF and World Bank have developed theoretical policies disregarding the realities of people living in the Global South. In his ground breaking book, “Confessions of an Economic Hitman,” John Perkins describes how powerful entities like the Bretton Wood Institutions manipulate the Global South in the interest of the West. It is easy for officials from Bretton Wood Institutions to pontificate about the merit of market-oriented reforms and urge Nigerians to stay with the cause amid hardship.

Ha-Joon Chang describes organisations and people as Bad Samaritans pushing Neo-liberal reforms while ignoring the West’s protectionist past. It is hypocritical for Western countries, along with their agencies, to advocate free-market reforms while, at the same time, they are giving subsidies to protect their critical industries. Examples of these Bad Samaritans are the USA, which, with one side of its mouth, says that it supports President Tinubu’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy, including ending the fuel subsidy and unifying foreign currency exchange rates. In contrast, with the other side of its mouth, it gives a $369bn subsidy programme to spur investment in green technology and address climate change. As this is happening, the IMF and World Bank look the other way even though the USA has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 122.3%.

Mr. Gill, your proposed safety net seems to be at odds with the deteriorating fiscal position of the country. As more people fall into poverty due to the devaluation of the Naira and removal of fuel subsidies, wouldn’t the safety net you propose to mitigate the effect of the reforms worsen the country’s fiscal position, leading to a vicious cycle of more reforms leading to more poverty to fiscal deficits?

The policies you support should not be called economic reforms, but rather economic suicide. Nigeria is not facing an economic transformation but rather an economic Armageddon. Rather than supporting policies which suck the blood out of Nigerian masses, the World Bank should turn its attention to tackling corruption and illicit financial flows. According to the IMF, the implicit subsidy will cost Nigeria $5.9 bn. However, according to the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Nigeria loses $18 billion annually to illicit financial outflows driven by tax evasion, corruption, organised crime and trade mispricing. There are alternative solutions, and it’s time we explore them.

Furthermore, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission, Africa loses approximately $50 billion annually due to profit shifting by multinational corporations, with Nigeria accounting for 20% of this loss. Research by PwC revealed that Nigeria’s 2014 GDP could have been 36% higher if it had reduced corruption to Malaysia’s levels, and up to 37% of GDP could be lost by 2030 if corruption is not dealt with immediately. These illicit financial flows would not have been possible without the help of the Western financial system in the form of financial institutions and tax havens, which aid these illicit flows by concealing beneficial ownership, reducing tax liabilities and facilitating money laundering.

In conclusion, rather than calling on stakeholders to support the draconian Washington Consensus reforms, Bretton Wood Institutions should rethink its neoliberal ideology, which your predecessor Joseph Stiglitz describes as “Another example of the rich old boys club imposing their will.”

•Sule, CFA, financial analyst, writer, documentary film maker and social critic, writes via <suleaos@gmail.com>

October 24, 2024
ECOWAS and junta leaders’ ambition in West Africa

By Paul Ejime

The decision by Assimi Goïta, who led two military coups within nine months in Mali from August 2020, to promote himself from Colonel to five-star general, speaks volumes for the political ambition of the junta leaders in West Africa.

By that announcement on October 17, Goita became the highest-ranking officer in the Malian Army. His fifth year in power has since been marred by little or no progress on the political transition to constitutional rule, which he and his comrades in arms promised the Malian population.

Young officers in neighbouring Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger have since followed Goita’s example in sacking elected civilian presidents, whom they accused of corruption, mismanagement and failure to defeat terrorists and separatist groups that have seized swathes of territories in the Sahel from where they launch deadly attacks on civilians and military formations.

According to the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence jumped by 20% in 2023, claiming more than 23,000 lives – a new record, with over 80% of the deaths in the Sahel and Somalia. The figures for 2024 will be much higher.

Once a relatively unknown Goita – son of a retired Military Police officer, now 41, grabbed headlines on August 18, 2020, when he toppled elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, after weeks of mass protests over alleged corruption and Keita’s failure to end Mali’s armed rebellion.

Under international pressure, he cobbled a military-civilian transition administration and served briefly as vice president under transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.

Goita then seized power again in May 2021 after accusing the two civilians of failing to consult him about a cabinet reshuffle that would have replaced the defence and security ministers, both military officers. Ndaw and Ouane were forced to resign and detained briefly before being released.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc, suspended and imposed sanctions on Mali over the second coup.

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But Goita and his Malian co-coup plotters soon found allies from the three other army-ruled regimes in the region – Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger.

After ECOWAS shelved its widely publicised but unpopular plan to use military intervention to free deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and restore constitutional rule in Niger, Goita and his colleagues in Burkina Faso and Niger, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in French, and in January announced that their countries were quitting ECOWAS immediately.

The ECOWAS protocol stipulates that a member state must give a 12-month notice before leaving the organisation, as happened in 1999-2000 with Mauritania, which incidentally, has applied to rejoin the regional bloc.

Military rule is an aberration in today’s World, but ECOWAS, having realised its initial mistake regarding the later-abandoned military option, has changed tact. It is now trying to use dialogue and diplomacy to persuade the junta leaders to return but without success.

The junta leaders have dug in by removing the ECOWAS logo from their countries’ new international passports, but the security situation in the three countries has not improved. If anything, attacks on military personnel and civilians have intensified. Economic hardship and suffering by ordinary citizens have also worsened in the three landlocked countries.

One of the reasons, they gave for leaving ECOWAS was that foreign powers, especially France, were teleguiding the regional bloc.

Ironically, the three renegade states still belong to the eight Francophone West African Economic and Monetary Union, UEMOA in French, all members of ECOWAS. Similarly, the three remain in the eight-member Senegal-based Central Bank of West African States, BCEAO, using the CFA franc currency, controlled by the French treasury.

Previous attempts by some countries such as Mali, to ditch the CFA franc failed due to their weak economies and strong resistance from Paris, which has a stranglehold on the economies and exercises enormous influence on the political affairs of its former African colonies.

The junta leaders are riding on the crest of growing anti-French sentiments in Francophone countries, but how far this would carry them without improvements in governance is another matter. Their decision to expel French and American troops from security-challenged Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, has not gone down well in Western capitals even as the AES countries continue to report more domestic coup attempts.

Doubtless, Western powers’ losses in the Sahel will represent gains for China and Russia, with the latter stepping up military and defence cooperation with the AES nations. Russia’s private military group, Wagner, is now very active in the three countries, while a Chinese company has won the contract to produce Burkina Faso’s new international passports.

Barring last-minute remedial measures, the three AES countries’ decision to leave ECOWAS will become effective in January 2025, with attendant far-reaching consequences, especially on the movement of persons, trade, regional integration and international relations.

ECOWAS was the first African Regional Economic Community (REC) to introduce a visa-free regime involving the free movement of persons, goods and the rights to residence and establishment through a 1979 Protocol. Its implementation has not been smooth, but it is one of the tangible achievements recorded by the organisation once acclaimed as a trailblazer in conflict prevention, management and resolution, especially in ending the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Community has a Trade Liberation Scheme (TLS) and other programmes, such as common external tariffs and Customs and Monetary Union toward regional integration.

Also, with intra-regional trade relying heavily on itinerant traders crossing contiguous borders, reintroducing visa requirements for AES citizens travelling to ECOWAS countries or vice-visa could be a recipe for chaos and an invitation to avoidable humanitarian crises.

Already, diplomatic tension has erupted between Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire, with the latter recalling its diplomats from Cote d’Ivoire as Abidjan and Ouagadougou governments accuse each other of destabilising and harbouring dissidents. UN agencies and NGOs have reported an exodus of displaced persons from Burkina Faso to Cote d’Ivoire, with some being turned back. If visa requirements are reintroduced the situation could degenerate.

From their body language, particularly Goita’s latest promotion and the suspected plan to self-succession by making themselves eligible to contest elections under extended transition programmes, the junta leaders are showing their true colours and vindicating analysts who warned that they were opportunist power-grabbers.

The tragedy is that ECOWAS seems to have run out of ideas. For instance, there was a shameful and most embarrassing viral video on social media of an ECOWAS parliamentarian from Senegal, who was brutally attacked by suspected government thugs in Lome, Togo recently. His alleged offence was attending an event organised by the opposition party in Togo.

The regime in the same Togo unilaterally changed the country’s constitution this year and organised a controversial parliamentary election boycotted by opposition parties without any consequences. The government in Guinea Bissau also dissolved the country’s parliament in violation of ECOWAS protocol, with impunity.

To stand on a strong footing to challenge military coup makers, ECOWAS political leaders must purge themselves of political and constitutional coups, corruption and mismanagement, election rigging and the shrinking of civil space through repression of the opposition and violation of human rights.

Nigeria, the regional powerhouse is dealing with its domestic crisis, but it has no choice but to reinvent itself for the urgent mission to rescue ECOWAS from a catastrophic disintegration.

The alternative is to allow the organisation considered “Nigeria’s baby” to die and with it much of what is left of the country’s regional, continental and even global influence or relevance.

•Ejime is a global affairs analyst.

October 24, 2024
Nigerians and their priorities

By Zayd Ibn Isah

The winner of the 2024 Nigerian Prize for Literature has emerged and it’s none other than Olubunmi Familoni. The name sounds unfamiliar, right? That’s exactly the point. Despite the prestige of the Nigerian Prize for Literature—the most prestigious literary award in the country, and the biggest in Africa—many Nigerians are unfamiliar with both current and past winners.

How many Nigerian writers do we actually know? If you ask a university graduate today to list the names of Nigerian writers, they would likely stop at Professor Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A surprising number of undergraduates, particularly Zoomers (Gen Z), would probably claim not to have heard of such names, not to talk of their works.

I was surprised when I asked a young friend, who studies English and Literature at one of the oldest universities in the country, if he knew Abubakar Adam Ibrahim. His response made me question the type of books he was reading or those recommended by his lecturers. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim is one of the finest writers of his generation. He won the Nigerian Prize for Literature in 2016 with his stunning book, Season of Crimson Blossoms, and his works have been translated into more than three foreign languages. Yet, if you asked this same student to list the names of musicians, actors, and actresses, including BBNaija housemates, yauwa! The list would be endless.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” If we look at what dominates our conversations, we must ask ourselves: what does it say about the soul of our nation?

The Nigerian Prize for Literature is an annual award sponsored by NLNG, established in 2004. It operates on a four-year cycle, rotating through four genres: prose, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. Initially, the prize stood at $20,000, later increasing to $50,000, and today, the award comes with a whopping cash prize of $100,000.

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Since its inception, the Nigerian Prize for Literature has produced over 10 winners. Yet, these fine writers remain far less known than the winners of Big Brother Naija and other reality shows.

It’s no secret that our society often places more emphasis on celebrity culture, politics, and social media trends than on intellectual achievements. Familoni’s remarkable work, which portrays the complexities of Nigerian life and culture, should have captured national attention long before this recognition. Yet, how many Nigerians have heard of his books, let alone read them? How many Nigerians have even heard of others who have also won the coveted prize?

As a nation, we seem to prioritize fleeting trends over lasting influence, and the sensational over the substantial. Political scandals, social media trends, and celebrity culture often dominate conversations, while achievements in literature, science, sports and other fields often go unnoticed by the majority. This raises the question: What are our priorities as a nation, and are they aligned with the progress we want to achieve?

A few days ago, the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2024 was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang, for “her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Even up till now, Kang’s native South Korea is still abuzz with the news of her triumph and glory. South Koreans, both old and young, have been expressing their delight at Kang’s win, which they see as a national achievement. Some of them even trooped to bookstores in Seoul to take pictures with her books! And as expected, there has since been a surge of interest in Kang’s oeuvre of novels, not just in her homeland but across the globe as well.

How I wish Olubunmi Familoni’s win of the Nigeria Prize for Literature would have been greeted with a similar response nationally. But alas, news of Familoni’s win only resonated within literary circles, as literary enthusiasts congratulated him on social media platforms. Outside of that, many Nigerians were unaware that a new winner of the prize had emerged, and it is safe to say that many more would be unaware that such a prize even exists.

Presently, Nigeria is among countries with the lowest reading cultures in the world, according to World Culture Statistics. Experts have blamed the decline of a reading culture in the country to factors like the proliferation of the Internet and online media, which have even overtaken older media forms like television and radio. I remember vividly as a young child—and I’m sure older people can remember too, how there used to be an abundance of classics by Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi and many other writers. Such things are no longer common nowadays.

The saddening truth of this matter is that many Nigerians do not read, and rarely even see the act of reading as a leisurely activity. Apart from reading within an academic context, Nigerians fail to see any benefit from indulging in the magic of words unless it guarantees them marks towards a grade. And if one doesn’t care for books at all, he or she would care less about the people who write them in the first place. As such, we end up producing educated illiterates as thousands of graduates emerge from our universities.

Between TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat, Nigerian youths spend too much time on their mobile devices, and rarely get to use that time for meaningful pursuits. At the end of the day, they might appear sophisticated with their designer clothes, high-end smartphones and expensive wigs, but once you try to engage them in a reasonable conversation, you might be shocked at their shallow level of reasoning and enormous ignorance of the world they live in.

If we are not careful and strategic about getting Nigerians, especially the youths, to lean away from vapid online activities, we risk having in the nearest future, a mass of adults with poor attention spans, ignorant understanding of the world itself, and a deficiency of critical life skills.

It is sad that whenever the season of the Nobel prizes arrives, Nigerians who understand its significance cannot predict the possibility of anyone from this country winning in any of the categories. It is sadder that literature seems to be the only category from which a Nigerian winner can emerge, as the only Nobel Laureate we have is the living legend of Prof. Wole Soyinka. As a friend of mine noted, we have not developed the necessary structures to anticipate Nobel Prize triumphs in Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, and Economic Sciences. After all, we place more value on visual entertainment and music, with our strongest cultural exports being our comedic, theatrical and musical talents/products.

And yet, the saddest tragedy lies in the fact that our literature, the one thing which gives our writers fame abroad, is not cherished or recognized enough at home. Our strongest bet for another Nobel Prize Laureate comes from the literary star of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and one can only hope that if she eventually wins the prize, our people will care enough to celebrate such an achievement.

Congratulations again to Olubunmi Familoni, winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2024, and to Han Kang, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2024.

•Isah can be reached at lawcadet1@gmail.com

October 23, 2024
On Soludo’s search for sustainable Local Govt. administration

By Chekwube Nzomiwu

A few days ago, the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo assented to two new laws concerning local government administration –the Anambra State Economic Planning and Development law 2024, and the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024.

Public outcry and condemnation greeted the action of the governor from across the country, with many Nigerians viewing the local government administration law in particular, as a violation of the financial autonomy granted to the 774 local government area councils by the Supreme Court.

The reaction of the public prompted Governor Soludo to put up an opinion article in defence of the two legislations, which seemed obnoxious in the eyes of the public. The article widely published in both the print and online media was titled, “Nigeria’s Evolving Federalism and Search for Sustainable Local Government Administration.

I would not have bothered commenting on Soludo’s article, if he was just expressing his opinion on how the local government system should be run in the country. After all, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria entitles every citizen “the freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and info without interference.” Moreover, the concept of “free marketplace of ideas” first introduced by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, holds that from the competition of ideas in free, transparent and public discourse, the truth will emerge.

But, along the line, I remembered the popular statement of an American politician, diplomat and social scientist, Daniel Patrick Moynihan (May 16, 1927-March 26, 2003): “You are entitled to your own opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”

On this basis, I resolved, therefore, to interrogate the facts presented by Governor Soludo, to ascertain the extent of their validity within the context of the autonomy granted to the councils by the Supreme Court and the apparently contradictory legislations, particularly the new local government administration law.

In May 2024, the Federal Government through the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, had approached the Supreme Court in a suit seeking to compel governors of the 36 states of the federation to grant autonomy to the local governments in their domain. The states through their Attorney-Generals filed a preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to entertain the suit.

Prior to the suit, the local governments were tied to the apron strings of the governors and many of them were administered by handpicked officials of the state government, instead of democratically elected officials as guaranteed by Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. Incidentally, Anambra State was among the serial defaulters, having failed to conduct local government election for over 14 years before the intervention of the federal government.

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In a landmark judgment delivered in July, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the federal government, affirming the autonomy of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. The apex court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay federal allocations directly to democratically elected councils.

Incidentally, Governor Soludo who was among the first responders to the judgment, told State House correspondents in Abuja that the governors were going to review the judgment. He later recanted, saying the judgment was great and final. But in what looked like throwing a spanner in the works of local government autonomy in Anambra State, the governor quickly initiated a bill before the House of Assembly, compelling the local governments in the state to remit a portion of their federal allocations into a consolidated account controlled by the state government.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) dominated House of Assembly, passed the bill in spite of opposition mounted against it by members of the Labour Party (LP) caucus, who insisted that such a law will allow the Anambra State government to partake in the sharing of the funds meant for the 21 councils in the state. The governor swiftly signed the bill into law in spite of warnings from civil society organisations that he should not do so. His assent to the law attracted widespread condemnation from across the country, hence the opinion article in defence of his so-called “progressive laws,” which are retrogressive in the eyes of the public.

A careful perusal of Soludo’s article revealed nothing new. It was a regurgitation of the usual abracadabra by governors to hoodwink undiscerning Nigerians into believing that their interest in the local government system is about true federalism. Let nobody be deceived, it is not. The essence of true federalism is devolution of political power. Devolution of political power encourages grassroots development, which local government autonomy symbolizes.

Soludo was hundred percent correct when he said that in true federations, with the exception of perhaps Brazil and a few others, the local government is not recognised in the constitution as a federating unit. Even in the Nigerian constitution, the local government is not recognised as a federating unit. But the same constitution never said that the local government is an appendage of the state government. The recent judgment of the Supreme Court did not say that the local government is a federating unit in Nigeria. So, bringing up this issue is purely diversionary.

Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution recognised the local government as the third tier of government in Nigeria. This is what the Supreme Court re-affirmed. The constitution clearly outlined the powers and functions of the local government, likewise every other tier of government. Until the constitution is amended, the governors should respect the autonomy of the councils. They should allow them to get the maximum benefits of the revenue accruing to them. This is the only way we can stabilise the local economy, achieve financial inclusion, encourage rural development, stem rural-urban migration, and tackle unemployment, thereby reducing insecurity in the country.

The same Section 7 of the constitution empowers the House of Assembly to make laws for the effective administration of the local governments and not to encroach on local government funds, which is what the new local government administration law in Anambra State sets out to do, in utter disregard of the pronouncement made by the Supreme Court.

I don’t know who told Soludo that there would be chaos if the local governments are granted absolute autonomy, since the constitution did not grant them absolute autonomy. The local government system in Nigeria is one of the most organised in the world. Having undergone several reforms, it is well structured. Besides, the political structure, comprising of chairmen, councillors and supervisory councillors, the councils have their own bureaucracy, consisting of heads of personnel, treasurer, auditors and supporting staff, just the way the states have governors, Houses of Assembly, Commissioners, the Head of Service, Accountant-General and Auditor General, among others.

If not for the corruption induced on the councils from above, especially the state level, they are capable of meeting their obligations to workers, pensioners, teachers and counterpart funding of Universal Basic Education and Primary Healthcare. Former governors are standing trial in court today for diverting funds meant for meeting local government obligations to personal use while they were in office.

As a self-professed “federalist”, Soludo ought to have been aware that in countries like United States of America where true federalism thrives, the counties organise their own security, conduct elections for themselves and manage their affairs, largely independent of the states. So, any governor sincere about the evolution of true federalism in Nigeria should allow the local governments in his state to enjoy the autonomy granted to them by the constitution, which the Supreme Court re-affirmed.

The Supreme Court said in black and white that the money due to the local governments should go to them directly. The judgment of the Supreme Court is final. It is not subject to appeal. It is now part of Nigerian law. It does not need any legislation to give it life if the apex court made no order to that effect.

•Dr. Nzomiwu, an indigene of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, is a communication scholar, media practitioner and political scientist. He writes via chekmma@yahoo.com

October 23, 2024
Understanding the Lagos revenue tax portal

By Mobolaji Egbewunmi

Tax payment is a statutory responsibility as entrenched in section 24 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution as amended. That section states that everybody who earns an income must declare the same to the authority and that this declaration must be honest. That is why tax payment is considered a civic responsibility.

It is also a moral responsibility because we are morally bound to pay taxes so that the government can have the required resources to address identified gaps in infrastructural development, and also deliver on its social responsibilities.

Holly Sklar said, “Taxes and levies are how the government pools resources for public health safety, security, education, infrastructure, research, intervention programs, and all social services”.

Many do not know that when they default, the government can take them to court and upon conviction, can be criminally liable or forfeit their properties.

Also, the government has the right to put a lien on your business as well as sanction you for community service and so on. You may even be denied access to some government services.

It is important to stress that tax is a type of revenue, while revenue is an income that comes to the government be it through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), federal transfers, capital gains, sales of assets, rents, leases, or grants and loans.

So far there is an income in monetary terms, to offset your budgetary allocation, it is revenue. The tax falls under IGR, which includes Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

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Other revenues are IGR in nature but not taxes. This includes Motor Vehicle License, Building Permit, Land Title approval, and the Land Use Charge (LUC) among others. The LUC is a combination of your tenement rate, neighbourhood improvement levy, and ground rent.

But then, one must stress that statutorily, if you do not earn an income and if you are a pensioner, aged and you are not into making any form of income; you are not entitled to pay tax.

Aged pensioners are exempted from some levies and charges. For instance, an aged landlord will not pay for LUC provided the said property is not used for commercial or rental purposes.

But if a retiree receives rental income from any property he has to pay the LUC on the property.

Being the nation’s pacesetter, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently unveiled the Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) as a way to make payment of taxes seamless in the state.

The LRP is a revenue collection application in the simplest form. The government understands the importance of “ease-of-doing -business” and wants to simplify the way citizens get these bills.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th US President, said “Simplification of the taxes and levies has become an immediate necessity”. LRP is, thus, a deliberate platform to intentionally improve the experience of payers in Lagos State.

To put the implementation of LRP in proper context, if, for instance, you have a Land Use Charge (LUC) Bill to pay alongside other bills like LAWMA, LASEPA, Water Corporation, Vehicle Licensing, etc., instead of moving from one point to the other on a queue waiting for your bills, you will rather stay in the comfort of your office or home, log onto LRP and access your bills for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with a single-payer ID.

This is possible because every bill that is generated by all MDAs is preloaded on LRP. So, you can now go independently to the revenue portal, as it offers a self-service option. You can go into the revenue portal to view your bills on a page and you can click and make payments to any of the revenue-generating agencies that have generated bills for you as a payer.

It is a one-stop shop for revenue collection, especially for those in the non-tax category. The LRP is designed to make payment of taxes easy for everyone.

It is simple, available, and confidential. It has a level of integrity in the course of deployment and it allows you to view your bills in real-time, download your payment history, download your remittance statement, and validate your payment so that you do not pay into the wrong hands.

Part of the feedback before now is that payers sometimes cannot easily get their receipts. So, LRP has finally come as a succour to put a stop to all these challenges.

An email address, revenueoffice@lagosstate.gov.ng, and lrp@lagosstate.gov.ng, where enquiries could be swiftly responded to have been created as part of efforts to ensure prospective taxpayers enjoy a seamless experience.

Besides the LRP, the government has been deploying technology in diverse ways to ease the payment of taxes and ultimately to improve the ease of doing business.

For instance, there is e-tax, the end-to-end application being currently used by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). It is a one-stop shop for tax administration.

The role that e-tax is playing to the LIRS is what LRP will be playing to non-tax revenue. LRP will take the major stage for non-tax revenue.

There is also an application called ‘Madam Shikini’, which is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot. It is about to be launched. It is an application where Lagosians can interact with a bot any time of the day.

Despite all these efforts, there are still noticeable gaps and a need for improvement. Consequently, the government is working very hard on continuous improvements to achieve the global status of our dream. It may not be perfect yet, but work is ongoing towards ensuring improved compliance. It is a work in progress.

On the issue of multiple taxation, although many are of the view that residents experience this, it needs, nonetheless to be emphasized that this is merely a perception issue. It is a misconception.

We must reference the Act which is called the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act. The act is centred on what every tier of government can collect; it is a federal government law. It means that all revenue being collected in Lagos today is one way or the other legislated.

I must give a practical example of how people perceive multiple taxation. Let us use, for instance, a barbing shop in a place like Ikeja as an example. Because the local government is empowered by that act to collect lock-up shop permits and radio licenses; local government consultants or their agents will approach the barber to pay for the permit and radio license. If the same barber wants to advertise his trade, he will be required to put out signage that requires the approval of the Lagos State Signages and Advertising Agency (LASAA).

So, he will pay LASAA, as he experiences growth in his trade, he will employ five or more stylists, and he is expected to pay the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) for their PAYE, based on the minimum wage rule. But if he pays below the minimum wage, he is not expected to pay LIRS. Then, LAWMA comes for his waste, and if he has a car, he is required to renew his vehicle license.

That is just a simple scenario. It’s a circle that has legal backing. So, it is not multiple taxation. What we can clamour for is the harmonization and simplification of taxation.

To conclude: it is important to urge Lagos residents to keep performing their civic responsibilities. Tax compliance is one of such. It is their taxes that make the difference in the state. Without it, there will be no development.

•Egbewunmi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

October 23, 2024
Monkeypox: A growing global health threat

Charles Adeogun

In recent years, the resurgence of the monkeypox (Mpox) disease has become a significant public health concern, with outbreaks spreading across various geographical locations and the number of infected individuals rising steadily.

This rare and infectious disease, caused by the mpox virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus, has prompted global alarm due to its increasing incidence and the severity of its symptoms.

Epidemiology and global spread

Traditionally, monkeypox has been endemic to Central and West Africa, with outbreaks typically confined to these regions.

However, the disease has recently expanded its reach, leading to significant outbreaks in Nigeria (2017 and 2024), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (2018 and 2024), and more widespread global cases reported in 2022 and 2024.

Transmission

Monkeypox spreads through multiple routes, making it a challenging disease to control. The primary transmission methods include:

Contact with infected animals

This includes rodents and primates, as well as direct transmission from infected humans.

Direct contact with body fluids: Blood, saliva, and pus from infected individuals are highly contagious.

Indirect contact: Touching contaminated objects and surfaces can also lead to infection.

Exposure to respiratory droplets: Inhalation of droplets from coughing or sneezing can spread the virus.

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Clinical features

The symptoms of monkeypox are often severe and can include:

Fever, chills, and fatigue

Headaches and muscle aches

Malaise and swollen lymph nodes

A characteristic rash that begins as flat spots and evolves into pus-filled blisters

The incubation period for monkeypox, which is the time from exposure to the virus to the onset of symptoms, typically ranges from 10 to 14 days, but it can vary between 5 to 21 days.

Treatment and prevention

As with most viral infections, treatment for monkeypox is primarily supportive, focusing on fluid administration, adequate rest, and pain management.

In some cases, antiviral medications may be required.

Prevention remains the most effective strategy for combating the spread of monkeypox.

Key preventive measures include:

Vaccination, particularly for vulnerable individuals, with the smallpox vaccine offering some protection against monkeypox.

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce exposure risks.

Practicing good personal hygiene and avoiding touching areas with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Health education, public enlightenment, and sensitisation efforts to promote adherence to health guidelines and minimize the risk of transmission.

High-risk behaviors and

regional considerations

In regions of Central and West Africa, where monkeypox prevalence is high, the consumption of bushmeat or wild game poses a significant risk.

The handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of infected bushmeat have been identified as important potential routes for transmission.

To mitigate the spread of monkeypox, it is recommended that individuals in high-risk zones avoid consuming bushmeat.

Additionally, thorough cooking methods and high food hygiene standards are crucial in reducing transmission risks.

Cooking meat to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) is essential to ensure safety.

Current outbreak status

As of August 26, 2024, over 21,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide, resulting in more than 500 fatalities.

The majority of cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Other countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Sweden, and Thailand are also reporting infections.

The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

In Nigeria, approximately 40 cases of monkeypox have been recorded in 2024, with no fatalities reported so far.

The situation underscores the urgent need for continued vigilance, public health interventions, and adherence to preventive measures to curb the spread of this potentially deadly disease.

•Adeogun is a medical doctor.

October 23, 2024
Sokoto: Righting the wrongs of the past
- By Sani Kabiru
Sokoto State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is still floundering in the mud of the defeat it suffered in the hands of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC during the 2023 general election. In fact, watching the present administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto do in less than two years, what the party couldn’t do in their eight years of locust ravaging regime that left the state wallowing in dire hopelessness while the state’s coffers was mercilessly drained without any positive impact for the citizenries who were left holding the short end of the stick, must be deeply hurting.

No doubt, the opposition is an integral part of the democracy hence all games are expected to be played according to laid-down rules to enjoy sanity and fair play. Instead the opposition has resorted to deploying all sorts of shenanigans and mind manipulation to hoodwink the gullible and taint the image of the governor in the eyes of the public. In the age of rapid evolution in the new media, particularly artificial intelligence and deep-fakes, it is clear that no amount of propaganda will make the people of Sokoto State who voted out the PDP easily forget the history or deny the fact that Governor Aliyu is taking the state out of the woods.

Today, it is common knowledge that throughout the eight years of the PDP administration, pension wasn’t paid even once. Yet, Governor Aliyu who inherited the huge backlog has paid over N500 million out of the accrued debt and N300 million for fresh retirees in the state monthly.

Governor Aliyu has revitalized the civil service, and today, salaries are now paid on time, cash allocations to ministries have been restored, and allowances previously suspended under the PDP have been reintroduced. The result is a motivated and productive civil service, essential for the effective delivery of public services. It came as a surprise to many when he paid a month’s salary as a bonus.

Also, while his predecessor has a worrying history of globetrotting and tele-governing the state from Abuja, here’s a governor who hardly travels out of Sokoto and in close to two years of his stewardship, he travelled out of the country only twice, to Hajj and his son’s graduation. To him, prudence is the watchword, and these are verifiable facts, not the social media’s mischievous tendencies aimed at weakening his bond with the electorates in a desperate move to denigrate his intimidating popularity.

In just a little more than one year, Governor Aliyu who has accomplished substantial milestones, delivered more dividends of democracy compared to Aminu Tambuwal’s eight years of misrule, transforming Sokoto’s infrastructure, education, health, and civil service. There’s a saying that water is life! His swift action in addressing Sokoto’s water crisis—ensuring that taps that had run dry for eight years were restored —demonstrates his commitment to reversing PDP’s failures. A pivotal moment in the administration’s resolve was the state of emergency declared on water supply, with 50 additional boreholes supplementing the state water board’s efforts, leading to a significant reduction in the number of water vendors, thereby improving the lives of ordinary Sokoto residents.

From the water supply, Aliyu’s administration moved rapidly to make enormous strides in education. In a little over a year, over 45 schools have been renovated and equipped with modern facilities to provide conducive learning environment. This focus on education is a continuation of Wamakko’s legacy, as he had always placed a premium on human capital development during his time as governor. This dedication has also culminated in the payment of outstanding debts in tertiary institutions, preventing students from missing their exams due to unpaid tuition fees.

Governor Aliyu’s administration has also placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure and security. This has been headlined in the rollout of new buses for intra- and inter-city services and taxis for the metropolitan area, while major roads in urban areas like the Sahara and Gawon Nama have been reconstructed. These projects have transformed Sokoto’s cityscape into a picturesque place, giving it a new glow, particularly with solar-powered lights lining the streets.

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On the security front, Governor Aliyu has made perhaps, the biggest impact since insecurity took firm roots in the northwest. He’s deploying proactive strategies by providing the necessary tools to combat crime, especially kidnapping and banditry. Military-grade vehicles, including Buffalo trucks and Toyota Hilux, have been commissioned for use by security forces. Recently, Governor Aliyu, joined by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, donated 10 operational vehicles to the military. These efforts have significantly bolstered the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in Sokoto. This move which has been hailed as deliberate effort to partner the federal government’s renewed offensive against bandits and other non-state actors in the Northwest, with Sokoto serving as the staging ground further demonstrates the administration’s commitment to the safety of its citizens.

Health is wealth they say. Well, Governor Aliyu has taken that statement quite seriously by attacking the problems of the state’s healthcare sector with vigour. A former commissioner of health, Governor Aliyu had, within two weeks of taking office, visited the Sokoto Specialist Hospital where he was understandably appalled by the deplorable conditions he met. Accordingly, he immediately set in motion remedial measures to bring the hospital back to standard and these include the restoration of the hospital’s cash allocation and the provision of a standby generator to ensure consistent power supply. Today, the hospital operates at a level befitting its status as the state’s largest healthcare facility.

Yet, it’s Governor Aliyu’s model of compassionate leadership that endeared him to the people of Sokoto. All the governor’s policies have been deliberately formulated with a human face, ensuring that all government’s actions are guided by compassion toward the vulnerable populations. In this light, monthly allowances for disabled persons, which had been suspended by the previous PDP administration, have been reinstated. And, in recognition of the roles they play in institutionalising morality and playing the important roles of guiding the people, Imams and their deputies are now on the government’s payroll. This move was to create a sense of financial security for the clerics in a bid to ensure that their livelihoods are secure. The governor’s visit to the state orphanage, where he directed immediate improvements in living conditions and donated vehicles, further highlights his commitment to the welfare of Sokoto’s most vulnerable citizens.

In his proactive manner, Governor Aliyu had envisioned the recent bleak statistics that placed the state and Gombe as having the highest rates of food inflation. Besides the government’s recent decision to sell rice to households at 50% less than the market price, a decision that predates the National Bureau of Statistics’ recently released data, other policies specifically designed to arrest this trend have been implemented and will soon start bearing fruits.

It’s pertinent to remind the PDP that Governor Aliyu will never be distracted by the antics as this is a time for governance, not politics. Recall that in the 2019 governorship election, despite the PDP’s incumbency advantage, Sen. Wamakko’s political structure nearly ousted Tambuwal, who won by a razor-thin margin of 342 votes. This near miss was a testament to Wamakko’s enduring popularity and political skill. By 2023, with Tambuwal out of the picture, Wamakko’s disciple Governor Aliyu, won the governorship with a decisive margin, cementing Wamakko’s status as the undisputed leader of Sokoto politics.

Certainly, the enduring partnership between Governor Ahmed Aliyu and Senator Aliyu Wamakko is ushering in a new era of development for Sokoto state. Together, they are undoing the damage wrought by the PDP’s eight dark years and setting Sokoto on a path toward prosperity. With a renewed focus on repositioning every sector of Sokoto State, the APC-led administration is delivering tangible benefits to the people, proving that leadership is about impact, not tenure. As the people of Sokoto continue to reap the rewards of this partnership, one thing is clear: Senator Wamakko’s political legacy is secure, and the people can only hope that Governor Aliyu builds on that foundation to continue with his bold strides toward development.
- Kabiru writes from Sokoto.
October 22, 2024