The Nation Newspaper

Category: Editorial

  • Salutary collaboration

    Salutary collaboration

    • America’s delivery of ‘critical military supplies’ to Nigeria will greatly assist in the latter’s anti-terror war

    Closely following on the last Christmas eve’s targeted, precision missile strikes against terrorist camps in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State by the United States military, working closely with the Nigerian government, Nigeria, this week, received a consignment of what was described as ‘critical military assets’ from the global super power.

    In a statement on its official X account on Tuesday, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), announced that “U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership”.

    After its military strike in Nigeria’s Northwest on December 24, AFRICOM had equally, in a public statement, referred to the support and cooperation of Nigeria in carrying out the operation.

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    This week’s military supplies to Nigeria in aid of the ongoing war against banditry and terrorism in the country indicates that the anti-terror collaboration between the two countries is being sustained and deepened. This is a salutary development, given the rather bellicose note on which the interaction between the US and Nigeria on the issue of terror attacks in the latter started.

    Obviously influenced by the propaganda of certain aggrieved Nigerian groups in the United States alleging that acts of terrorism and banditry in the Northern part of the country were genocidal attacks against Christians because of their religion, President Donald Trump had initially threatened military intervention in Nigeria to protect Christians. He warned menacingly of US troops intervening ‘guns ablazing’ to confront Islamic terrorists.

    It is a tribute to the subtlety and effectiveness of Nigeria’s diplomatic offensive led by the top hierarchy of the military and intelligence community and foreign ministry technocrats, as well as the resilience and vibrancy of political institutions in the US, that the true character of the protracted insurgency in Nigeria has been unveiled and President Trump’s actions in the country moderated.

    As the President Bola Tinubu administration has consistently reiterated, terrorism in Nigeria, rather than being targeted at any single religious group, has claimed large numbers of Christians, Muslims and other religious adherents as victims. The violence in the country has complex, multiple causes, including ethnic, economic, historical, geographical, regional, climatic and religious factors.

    But then, there is no excuse for even one life, no matter the religious inclination, to be lost to any form of violence.

    Arbitrary external intervention aimed at one religious group could only have complicated the situation and worsened matters to the detriment of security and stability within Nigeria and spilling over dangerously into the West African sub-region. Of course, the concern of a global power like the US about terrorism in an important geo-political entity such as Nigeria is understandable. Insecurity and instability in Nigeria would have serious global implications.

    This is why Nigeria, the US and indeed the rest of the world must have a common interest in checking the menace of religious extremism and terroristic violence that constitutes a grave threat across large swathes of the Sahel.

    To its credit, the Trump administration has been quite helpful in Nigeria’s war against terrorists. In his first term, the Trump administration approved the sale of Tucano fighter jets to Nigeria, which considerably strengthened the capacity of the Nigeria Air Force.

    Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, was recently in the US to fasttrack the process for the supply of 12 AH-IZ fighter jets to Nigeria by Bell Textron of California. This jet is fitted with advanced sensors, precision-guided weapons as well as features for fighting at night. Surely, the new anti-terror collaboration between the two countries should spur American authorities to help speed up the delivery of these vital equipment needed to fight the terror war.

    In the final analysis, however, without discounting the importance of external support, Nigeria must bear the responsibility for ensuring the safety of all of its citizens throughout the country, irrespective of their faith, ethnic origin, gender, age or region. This must entail greater diligence and resolve to emplace a more efficient, effective and responsive internal policing architecture, enhance the operational potency of the military and significantly improve the quality of governance to address the acute poverty that is at the root of the protracted crisis of insecurity.     

  • Oba Babatunde Akran (1936 – 2026)

    Oba Babatunde Akran (1936 – 2026)

    • A traditional ruler who transformed his kingdom into global tourism centre

    He reigned for nearly 49 years following his coronation in April 1977. He was the 17th Akran of Badagry, a first-class traditional ruler who served as the Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. 

    The passing of Oba Babatunde Akran (De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I), the Oba of Badagry, on January 12, at the age of 89, was a significant cultural loss.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a posthumous tribute, described him as “a stabilising force known for uniting diverse interests within his kingdom,” adding that he “promoted Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals nationally and internationally, fostering tourism and cultural exchange.” The governor noted that “He also used his position to attract growth and development to the ancient town.”

    Oba Akran’s efforts were driven by a clear, long-term vision. In an interview marking his 80th birthday, he shared his aspiration for Badagry, stating he desired a transformation that would make it “a big town” and “open it up to the world.”

    Notably, during his reign, the Federal Executive Council in 2022 approved the Badagry Deep Seaport project, a major Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Nigeria, aiming to make the country a West African maritime hub with a $2.59 billion port and Free Trade Zone (FTZ). It is designed to create jobs, attract investment, and boost the economy through container handling, oil/gas services, and industrial zones. 

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    Also, under his traditional leadership, Badagry evolved into one of Nigeria’s premier cultural and tourist destinations. Badagry’s growth as a tourist attraction is largely tied to its historical significance. His leadership helped preserve and promote: The Black History Museum, housing artifacts from the transatlantic slave trade; The First Storey Building in Nigeria, built in 1845; The Point of No Return, the historic slave embarkation point on Gberefu Island; and The Agia Tree Monument, where Christianity was first preached in Nigeria.

    His reign also saw the elevation of the Badagry Festival, which celebrates the Gbe and Ogu (Egun) heritage, drawing visitors from the global African diaspora.

    Oba Akran was a strong advocate for the “Door of Return”— a concept that encourages descendants of enslaved Africans to visit Badagry and reconnect with their ancestral home. He often hosted international visitors and dignitaries at these sites, ensuring that the history of the Gbe and Ogu people remained central to Nigeria’s national story.

    His path to the throne included teaching and journalism stints. “I was once a school teacher, after which I started my career in journalism,” he recounted, noting he had enjoyed teaching “because it afforded me the opportunity to impart knowledge to the younger ones and to also study further.” He added: “When I became a journalist, I did not find it difficult to adjust to the new work environment and schedule.”

    His background in journalism was particularly noteworthy: he worked for the ‘West African Pilot’, rose to News Editor at the ‘Daily Sketch’, and eventually served as the Acting News Editor (South) for the ‘New Nigerian’. According to him, “journalism in our days was not a job but our life. If you want to make it in the profession, set a high standard for yourself… Be creative and friendly. These are some of the attributes that can make you climb the ladder of the profession.”

    He leveraged this professional background to “rebrand” the throne, using the power of the press and public relations to put Badagry on the global map as a UNESCO-recognised site of historical significance.

    He will be remembered for his role in transforming traditional history into an economic asset. He encouraged the preservation of the Slave Route and the Point of No Return, turning traditional leadership into a vehicle for global tourism and international relations.

  • Undocumented refugees

    Undocumented refugees

    •This is a serious challenge given the insecurity that Nigeria is grappling with

     Nigeria is reported to currently host no fewer than 21,807 unregistered foreign refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence in neighbouring countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says because they are without formal registration, they are unable to access food, healthcare and other essential humanitarian assistance that it provides.

    According to the global agency, a majority of the unregistered persons are Cameroonians who escaped the protracted conflict in the country’s Anglophone north-west and south-west regions. Overall, Nigeria hosts some 127,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 41 countries, but more than one in six remain outside official reckoning. Of the total, 80,915 are recognised refugees, while over 25,000 are asylum seekers with claims still being processed by Nigerian authorities. The remaining 21,807 people have no documentation whatsoever with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

    Reports cited UNHCR’s monthly dashboard data, which showed refugees registration backlog has remained high over the past year – an indication of the rate at which persons continue to cross into Nigeria to escape violence.

    In December 2024, 21,095 refugees were awaiting registration. By June 2025, the number had surged to 32,750, marking a 55 percent increase in just six months, before falling again to 21,807 by November. The March 2025 dashboard data showed 20,997 refugees awaiting registration, suggesting that new arrivals continue to outpace government’s ability to process them.

    For persons caught up in the backlog, the consequences are severe as unregistered refugees are not eligible for UNHCR-supported food stipends, cash assistance, health insurance schemes, shelter support or other humanitarian services, forcing many to depend on overstretched host communities or informal coping strategies.

    A good number of the refugees live in host communities across Cross River, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Benue and Adamawa states rather than in camps. Urban centres such as Lagos, Abuja and Kano also host refugees from diverse nationalities, some of whom have been in Nigeria for over a decade.

    Nigeria operates an open-door asylum policy rooted in the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention, which require countries to offer protection to people fleeing persecution and conflict. The NCFRMI, working with the Nigerian Immigration Service and UNHCR, is responsible for registering asylum seekers and conducting Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures that typically takes three to six months. Successful applicants receive refugee identity card that grants them access to work permits, school enrolment and, in principle, freedom of movement beyond designated settlements.

    Since 2019, Nigeria also began issuing Convention Travel Documents – a sort of refugee passport that enables refugees to go on international travel.

    During large influxes, however, individual documentation procedures are often replaced with group recognition. In 2024, Nigeria granted Temporary Protection Status to 86,000 Cameroonian refugees, with effect until June 2027, while 20,000 Nigeriens in Damasak were given prima facie refugee status.

    Reports cited officials familiar with the refugee registration process saying staffing shortages, security restrictions and logistical challenges hobbled enrolment in Borno, Adamawa and Cross River states that host the bulk of new arrivals. “Registration can take weeks or even months, depending on the state and the availability of NCFRMI personnel,” a field officer was quoted saying.

    UNHCR data showed that Cameroonians dominate Nigeria’s refugee population, accounting for 86 percent or approximately 119,208 people fleeing the eight-year-old Anglophone region crisis. Smaller populations came in from Niger (15,011), the Central African Republic (1,053), Syria (1,330) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (598), among others. Women and girls account for little over half of the refugees, while children represent close to 60 percent.

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    The refugee situation compounds the challenge of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Nigeria grapples with. Official estimate puts the population of IDPs resulting from Boko Haram and Islamic State insurgencies at some 3.5 million persons. There are also persons displaced by natural disasters, further putting a strain on humanitarian resources. In 2024, severe floods affected more than 480,000 people in 34 states, including tens of thousands in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

    Besides complicated humanitarian care, the refugee situation has grave implication for infrastructure capacity in the country. There is every reason to believe the UNHCR estimate is understated, because there is cultural absorption of refugees in some communities that would not put them forward for official documentation. Meaning that these persons share in the use of existing infrastructure that over the years have not been expanding to meet increasing volume of users.

    In addition to getting a handle on documentation procedures, therefore, government will need to do more in expanding infrastructure capacity across the country.

    There is also an inherent threat to Nigeria’s security when some immigrants can’t be tracked, because some could resort to lawless acts after infiltrating the Nigerian space.

    Security is a collective project. Hence, we argue that nations invoking sovereignty to keep out international interest are in error because refugees generated by the situation in those countries could hazard the safety of neighbouring countries. The world has long become a global village with common interest.

  • Hassan Sunmonu at 85

    Hassan Sunmonu at 85

    •Happy birthday to the Labour leader with many milestones

    “Organise, Don’t Agonise” – the title of his book – captures his essence as a veteran Labour leader. The cover describes it as “the memoirs of an African trade union icon,” covering “tactics, trials and triumphs from six decades in the trenches.” The book launch was the high point of the celebration of Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu’s 85th birthday on January 7, in Abuja. 

    In a newspaper review, historian Prof. Toyin Falola observed that the work “is not just a collection of memories and experiences, it is also a collection of arguments and efforts to advance a global view of organisation, leadership, and national responsibility.” He described the author as “a seasoned leader who navigates the uneasy intersection among the workforce, the state, and waves of international politics.” Falola concluded that the memoir is “a serious book that rewards critical engagement and deserves a significant place in conversations about labour, power, and the unfinished project of Nigerian democracy.”

    Sunmonu, who comes from Osogbo in Osun State, achieved significant milestones in his career: he was the pioneer president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), serving two terms from 1978 to 1984, and later became the longest elected secretary-general of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) in Accra, serving from 1986 to 2012.

    Under his leadership, the NLC was victorious in the battle to make May 1 (Labour Day) a public holiday in the country; furthermore, he led the fight for a new minimum wage of N125 in 1981 – a landmark achievement that redefined the Nigerian worker’s standard of living – following a successful nationwide strike under the President Shehu Shagari administration.

    Indeed, he revolutionised Labour through “The Workers’ Charter of Demands” in February 1980, which demanded that a national minimum wage and a minimum pension scheme be institutionalised based on the practice in developed countries. This has been described as “the first agenda-setting document for decent work by Nigeria’s working class.”

    At the continental level, the Sunmonu leadership built a new secretariat for OATUU in Accra, and established the Kwame Nkrumah Africa Labour College, Accra.

    This commitment to the struggle dates back to his studies at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, where he earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering. In his final year at the institution, he was president of its student union and an executive of the National Union of Nigerian Students. He later obtained a post-graduate diploma in Highway Engineering in Italy.

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    As a professional civil engineer in the Federal Ministry of Works, he was involved in several projects, including Zaria – Kano Road reconstruction; Igolo – Porto Novo Road (Benin Republic); dualisation of Denton Causeway (Oyingbo – Iddo, Lagos); construction of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos; and construction of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

    Notably, President Bola Tinubu, in a birthday message, highlighted Sunmonu’s immense contributions to nation-building and commended his commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers. The president observed that “his emergence at the pinnacle of the labour movement is instructive,” noting that before the NLC’s formation in 1978, the Obasanjo government had disbanded four national labour unions.

    At his 85th birthday celebration in Abuja, Sunmonu’s activism remained undiminished. He called for stronger collaboration among unions, stressing that unity is the only way to advance workers’ interests. His final argument served as a challenge to the nation: “If Nigeria can harness its mineral resources, Nigeria has no business with poverty.”

    His achievements have earned him high-level recognition both at home and abroad; he is a recipient of the Nigerian national honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), and the National Order of Burkina Faso.

    He remains relevant for his example as an effective organiser and vigorous campaigner for workers’ welfare.  

  • Economic misconceptions

    Economic misconceptions

    • It’s unfortunate that people who don’t understand ‘Tinubunomics’ are turning it upside down

    It is perhaps inevitable that commentaries on economic policies in most societies tend to be undertaken by many who lack the requisite expertise for informed and dispassionate policy analysis on the pertinent issues. This is because the economy affects everyone in the polity, but those with the appropriate knowledge to tackle a subject that assumes ever-increasing technical complexity like economic science are negligible.

    Again, economic discourse invariably involves a high degree of emotions, especially in periods of existential hardship, thus rendering objective analysis more difficult. Politicians in quest of power, for instance, are wont to discredit economic policies of incumbent governments, thereby creating the impression that a change of government will usher in an instantaneous Eldorado.

    In the same vein, vested interests blame extant policies for current difficulties even if the root causes are more complex and nuanced. It is thus not surprising that the Director-General of the Budget Office, Dr Tanimu Yakubu, recently took on critics of the ongoing economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, and cautioned against the tendency to engage in sensational critiques with scant regard for the principles of public finance.

    Yakubu’s position can be understood against the background, for instance, of many opposition politicians blaming such reforms as removal of fuel subsidy or the merger of the parallel exchange rate markets for worsening poverty levels without indicating if there were any viable alternatives to such policies or how structural reforms could be implemented without some pain.

    According to the Budget Office boss, “Tinubunomics was never a promise of instant abundance. It is a macro-fiscal reset undertaken within hard constraints: inherited debt service, FX realism, security spending, legacy arrears, and competing constitutional obligations”. He insists that the reforms are not a quick fix for instant wealth but meant to address inherited deep fiscal challenges to restore price signals, improve revenue and rebuild economic credibility.

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    Yakubu points out the fallacy in exaggerated claims of the purported revenue figure of N150 trillion accessed by the Federal Government. In this regard, he stresses that “Borrowing is not income; it is financing and creates future obligations. Federation receipts are not equivalent to what the Federal Government can spend. Once these distinctions are ignored, any number – no matter how dramatic – can be manufactured”.

    We agree with him that the country’s rising debt stock cannot be attributed solely to fresh borrowing while discounting the fact that a substantial percentage of the increase in Naira equivalent of the debt is as a result of revaluation of existing external debt due to exchange rate adjustment.

    In any case, generalised condemnation of borrowing is often silent on where funds for investment in critical infrastructure will come from in the face of severe revenue shortfalls. The problem is surely not borrowing but the use to which such fund is put, a point which the administration’s economic managers must be mindful of.

    Rather than creating a huge pool of spendable funds, he posits that the removal of fuel subsidy plugged sources of huge resource leakage and the benefits will be gradual, not sudden. In the same vein, he admonishes critics of public economic policy not to routinely aggregate tax collections, customs receipts, borrowing and subsidy savings into huge figures that are illusory and misleading.

    It is of course commendable that Dr Yakubu has tried to place the administration’s economic reform policies within the proper context in public discourse. But the truth is that criticisms of government’s handling of the economy will persist for as long as it takes for the cost of living crisis to ease and the quality of life to improve meaningfully for many citizens.

    This should motivate government to intensify efforts to achieve accelerated economic recovery, particularly through drastically reducing waste in governance and more effectively tackling the menace of corruption. This is even as no effort should be spared to continue to explain to the public the nature, import, course and progress of the reforms.

  • NSCDC takes charge 

    NSCDC takes charge 

    • President Tinubu should assist the corps to deliver on its additional mandate of protecting our VIPs

    By now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to enforce his order to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw policemen attached to certain very important personalities (VIPs), is no longer in doubt. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC) that the president asked the affected VIPs to turn to for protection has asked the president for permission to recruit more men, to enable it cope with the deluge of requests from the important personalities.

    Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who broke the news on November 23, last year, said “Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties.” He added that “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

    The IGP promptly complied with the order. “In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately,” he said.

    Orders to withdraw such policemen have been like a recurring decimal, as virtually all the IGPs, particularly since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999, had issued such before, albeit unsuccessfully. No sooner had the policemen been withdrawn from the VIPs than they would be returned to them surreptitiously.

    Obviously President Tinubu did not want this to repeat itself. Hence, he gave the order as President (as against the previous practice of the order coming from an IGP), and also followed it up by immediately providing an alternative in the NSCDC, prompting the agency to seek presidential permission to recruit an additional 30,000 men, to be able to cope with the new workload.

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    President Tinubu deserves commendation for this resolve, which is in the national interest. The country cannot continue to tie down a significant number of policemen to a few individuals when there is an acute shortage of policemen in the country. The commendation is especially against the backdrop of protests and pleas from some of the affected VIPs.

    We recall the pressure specifically from the National Assembly, where the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, pleaded with the President to rescind the order.  “Some members of the National Assembly say I should let you know that they may not be able to go home today. We plead with the President to review the decision’’, Akpabio told the President during the 2026 Budget presentation on the floor of the Senate, last month.

    It takes strong will to resist such pressure from high quarters, which actually was the reason earlier orders by successive IGPs on the matter could not last.

    The NSCDC has accepted the challenge. One of its officers told The Punch that “The CG and the minister have met with the president. They explained the need for more personnel, especially with the increasing demand for VIP protection.

    “The president has given his word that justice will be done to the request, with possible recruitment of about 30,000 personnel.”

    We urge President Tinubu to treat the matter as urgent in view of the danger of leaving the affected VIPs at the mercy of the marauding criminals in the country.

    The new assignment has made it the more imperative for more focus to be on training for the NSCDC personnel. It also means they have to be provided the appropriate arms to enable them cope with the demands of the job. Needless to say their welfare must be attended to, too.

    But the lesson, especially for the policy makers, is that we need to pay more attention to the police and other para-military services because of their invaluable contributions to peace and stability in the country. If the police had not been neglected for too long, there would not have been any need for the privileged ones in the society asking for special protection. A question of what goes around comes around.

    Protection of lives and properties of all citizens, not a select few, is a cardinal duty of governments.

  • Aondoakaa’s call

    Aondoakaa’s call

    •We cannot forever depend on America or any foreign country to solve our problems

    A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)  Emmanuel Aondoakaa, during a bi-partisan consultation dinner in his state capital, Makurdi,  Benue State, called for the United States government to extend its military air strikes to the state, to help flush out the terrorists and bandits there.

    He made the appeal in response to the incessant terror attacks on the people and residents of the state. He claims the terrorist gangs have morphed from alleged herders seeking grazing fields to real criminal gangs that have overrun many local government areas, after killing people and destroying properties.

    While we find it curious that a former attorney- general can call for the intervention of a foreign government to solve an internal domestic security issue, we equally appreciate the dire situation that has led to the loss of several lives and properties in not just Benue State, but most states in the northern region of the country.

    The North East, North Central and North West of the country have been fertile grounds for a series of attacks that have moved from claims for herders in need of grazing fields for their cattle, to wanton killings of citizens, kidnappings and human displacements (IDPs), to utter destruction of farm lands, especially in Benue State, which has the enviable tag as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation’, given its success with food and fruits production.

    Vicious attacks on the state have been happening since 2011, 2013, 2018, 2024 to 2025 and even this year. The notorious Agatu massacre of 2016 stands out for the scale of human losses and global outrage as more than 300 people were murdered during a series of attacks, without any of the perpetrators arrested  and prosecuted.

    The recent Yelwata massacre that reportedly claimed hundreds of lives has attracted more international attention, including the United States’ Congress that even sent a delegation to the scene. There are allegations that between 2024 and 2025, over 6,896 people were murdered and thousands displaced, with numerous properties burnt in the process.

    The attacks on several farming villages in Benue State have seriously impacted food security in the country. The consequences of the several attacks that have persisted over the years have also badly impacted the people, the local and national economies and the global perception of Nigeria’s ability to secure the lives and properties of its citizens.

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    The reasons for the attacks have metamorphosed from disputes over lands for grazing to indigenes and settlers, and even Christians versus Muslims in what many are now describing as Christian genocide. The attacks on not just Benue but many other communities in other states have further increased the trust deficit of the citizens on all tiers of governments.

    The insecurity has several implications. No economy thrives amidst insecurity. Domestic and foreign investments don’t thrive amidst any form of insecurity.

    While we appreciate the effects of insecurity in every state and in this case Benue, we feel that the former AGF, as a statesman, ought to employ other measures in calling for the attention of the government to tackle the menace. Nigeria is a sovereign nation that can seek solutions to its internal problems. Appealing for a better use of intelligence and better training and deployment of law enforcement agencies and community vigilance might be a better option than inviting an America with all the possible outcomes that might include more civilian casualties or even an escalation of the insecurity and attacks.

    History has records of America’s interventions in other countries and it has not always been funny. The stories of Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, etc. show that perfect outcomes do not occur always. We can only strengthen our institutions, regain the citizens’ trust and use decisive intelligence and law enforcement to tackle the insecurity across the country.

    What would be the outcome if America continues going from state to state to sort out issues that our domestic policies and system ought to sort out? We must not seek to outsource problems we have the capacity to solve. America might not be the saviour under this circumstance. Even if we must seek their help in arms supply and intelligence, we must be the ones in charge. They cannot bear our cross forever. Our systems must be made functional for national development.

  • World Braille Day

    World Braille Day

    Succinct and poignant, the theme for the commemoration of this year’s World Braille Day,  ‘Let the blind read’ aptly captures a serious challenge faced by the visually impaired across the world. This is talking about the inadequate opportunities for those who have lost their sight to access reading materials; a problem that is particularly acute in developing countries such as Nigeria.

    Commemorated annually on January 4, the World Braille Day utilises this significant invention, that aids literacy and education among the blind, for global reflection on ways to continue to deepen the reading culture within this important category of citizens.

    Giving an insight into the dimensions of the problem in Nigeria, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr John Asein, noted that less than one per cent of published materials in the country are produced in formats accessible to the blind such as Braille, audio or digital texts equipped with screen-reading facilities.

    Decrying what he described as a serious “book famine” among the blind, Dr Asein emphasised that “the cost of inaccessibility is not merely social exclusion, but long-term harm to education, employment prospects, and the inclusion of the print-disabled in the larger national development agenda”.

    We agree with him that guaranteeing the visually challenged access to reading through the provision of the requisite facilities should not be an act of charity but should be treated as a fundamental right of affected persons.

    In the final analysis, it is the society as a whole that benefits when all categories of citizens are able to read, attain literacy, obtain an education and continuously improve their minds through reading. The mind, it has been graphically stated, is a terrible thing to waste and this certainly does not exclude the minds of the visually challenged. It is thus commendable that Section 26 of the Copyright Act, 2022, has enabled Nigeria to domesticate the Marrakesh Treaty, “expressly permitting the reproduction, distribution, and cross-border exchange of works in accessible formats for persons with print disabilities”.

    To ensure the effectiveness of its statutory mandate in this regard, the NCC’s new  guidelines “provide much-needed clarity, transparency, and safeguards for the production and dissemination of accessible format copies” which are designed to “encourage broader institutional participation, rebuild confidence among rights holders and intermediaries, and substantially increase the availability of books in Braille and other accessible formats”.

    This is surely the right way to go even though the NCC must more effectively publicise its activities in this regard so that visually impaired persons will be aware of their rights and thus be in a better position to pursue and protect them.

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    In her message to mark the day, the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, stressed the need for all authorities at all levels in the country to deepen policies and partnerships that will “empower blind and visually-impaired citizens to live full, independent lives and participate confidently in national development”.

    In particular, Mrs Tinubu made the crucial point that as the process of digitalisation deepens across the world, the question of accessibility to reading materials by the blind and visually-impaired in a digital age must be accorded the right priority. Her admonition that the integration of Braille with modern technology is critical to guaranteeing equal access to information, education, and economic opportunities for persons living with visual impairments must be taken seriously by policy makers at all levels.

    Available data indicate that there are about 24 million people who suffer vision loss in Nigeria, about 1.3 million blind people and another 4.25 million adults above 40 years with moderate to severe experiences of impairments.

    Beyond the problem of access to reading materials in the requisite formats by the visually impaired, other difficulties faced by physically challenged people in Nigeria include limited job opportunities, poor economic prospects, inadequate access to qualitative healthcare and lack of safety and facilities to aid convenience of mobility in public buildings, among others.

    The adequacy of care and support given to all categories of physically challenged persons is a key indicator of the degree of compassion, civility and indeed civilisation in any society.

  • Unmanned fuel stations

    Unmanned fuel stations

    • Those to be negatively impacted have to start planning for the eventuality

    Last week, a leading player in the fuel retail sector, AA Rano, took a major step in digital transformation with the unveiling of its first fully automated and unmanned fuel stations. The initiative, said to be part of a strategic partnership with an indigenous technology firm, Petrosoft Limited, which specialises in downstream oil and gas management systems, will see the Petrosoft deploy its SmartPump technology across AA Rano’s 200 retail outlets nationwide, including border communities with Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon.

    Understandably, the partners see the coming of the unmanned stations as setting a new standard for reliability, speed, and customer convenience in the country. Chief executive officer of Petrosoft Limited, Joshua Denila, would say of the digitalised fuel dispensing and payment project as demonstrating ‘how home-grown technology can overcome the myriad challenges in Nigeria’s retail fuel market’.

    He further says of the technology, as “integrating retail automation, corporate fuel management, and inventory monitoring. The system enables self-service refuelling, automatic vehicle identification for corporate fleets, real-time dispenser control, advanced tank gauging, and cloud-based monitoring to track fuel levels, detect leaks, and prevent theft.

    Our fuel dispensing and payment systems are developed locally and built to international standards”, he said.

    We must admit that the development, a reflection of how much service providers value the convenience that evolving technologies bring, has become somewhat inevitable. After all, Nigeria has of recent witnessed unprecedented assertiveness in the area of payment solutions with the trail blazing initiatives of the likes of Andela, Interswitch, Flutterwave, OPay, and Moniepoint. It seems therefore a matter of time that such innovative solutions would emerge in a leading sector like the fuel retail chain. That this Nigerian company is not only leading the charge but has proven again, that such cutting edge technology could be sourced locally ought to provide immeasurable comfort.

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    Yet, as inevitable as the development has become, we must also admit the growing concerns about the potential loss of jobs at a time of high unemployment. Already, a group – Concerned Petrol Station Workers led by a Kaduna-based rights campaigner, Ibrahim Zango, has voiced strong opposition to the plan. Insisting that the initiative would strip many young Nigerians employed as fuel attendants of their source of income, he considers the move ill-timed, considering the nation’s ongoing economic difficulties and growing unemployment rate.

    “At a time when Nigeria is already grappling with mass unemployment, rising cost of living and growing insecurity, deploying job-eliminating technology without safeguards is dangerous,” Zango said.

    Finally, he averred: “Sending us out of the jobs some of us have been doing for decades without robust plans will only multiply our crisis as a country”.

    We acknowledge that such fears, succinctly captured, are not entirely groundless, although they seem exaggerated at this point. In a country with some 22,681 registered filling stations as at 2025, it is hard to see how Rano’s phased introduction of 200 automated filling stations, which represents less than one percent, would precipitate instability.

    Of course, the expectation is for more players in the retail sector to transition to this new reality. But then, there is, as yet, no suggestion of industry-wide adoption in the immediate future to warrant the kind of fears being expressed. In any case, we are not aware of any laws or regulations that forbid any investor from adopting such convenient, cost-cutting, technology-driven solutions it deems fit to enrich its consumer experience. Our plea is for those that might be affected to embrace its inevitability while taking concrete steps to prepare well ahead for the moment. It is an inescapable change that technology brings.  

  • A welcome threat

    A welcome threat

    MDAs that failed to render financial accounts timeously deserve to be penalised

    Allocation of funds to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that failed to render their statement of accounts as at the close of business on December 31, last year, is to be suspended indefinitely. In addition, their director/head of accounts and administration are also to face administrative consequences.

    The warning came via a circular signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation (AG-F), Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi. The circular, titled: “Guidelines of Financial Activities for End of the Year 2025”, dated December 22, 2025, states: “Any MDA that fails to prepare and render its separate (stand-alone) annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely, while a query shall be issued to the director/head of accounts and administration.”

    By the circular, all MDAs must ensure that all revenues due to both the Federation Account and the Consolidated Revenue Fund/TSA Sub-Recurrent Account are fully collected and properly accounted for before December 31, 2025.

    Moreover, MDAs permitted to retain 50 per cent of their gross internally generated revenue (IGR) and remit the remaining 50 per cent to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account are to adhere strictly to the provisions of the applicable finance circular of December 28, 2023.

    According to the accountant-general, all the MDAs must “ensure due diligence in the collection, utilisation, and remittance of their revenue,” in line with the circular referenced FMF/CME/OTHERS/IGR/CFR/21/2023.

    There are several other provisions in the circular which the MDAs are expected to comply with, which all bother on the need for accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds.

    Truth is, there are too many loopholes that unscrupulous public officials exploit to steal public funds and one of these is to delay rendering of their financial statements. We therefore see nothing wrong in trying to checkmate such officials.

    As a matter of fact, almost all of the expectations from the MDAs should have been routine; that is there ought not be any reminder or warning from the government to them to do what we consider to be the needful.

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    For instance, we do not think it is necessary to remind any government agency to remit unspent funds in any year to the treasury. This should be the norm, but MDAs have not been consistent in remitting such funds. As a matter of fact, a time there was when some of the government agencies would award all manner of frivolous End-of-Year contracts for items that they did not need, just so they could exhaust their budgetary provisions, to justify a raise in their following year’s budget.

    We commend the AG-F for the reminder to the MDAs to do the needful, and for reminding them of the consequences of not doing it.

    But, beyond that is the need to enforce extant rules against recalcitrant agencies as threatened in the AG-F ‘s circular. This is important because one of our main problems as a country is the lack of will to enforce sanctions; not necessarily the absence of same. This is why corruption has literally become a malignant tumour in the country.

    The truth of the matter is that there are too many leakages in government finances in the country. This explains the mind-boggling frauds in billions of naira that some public officials had siphoned off; some of them already convicted, while others have their cases pending in courts. Something must be wrong with the accounting processes that make such mind-boggling thefts possible.

    At the beginning of the new political dispensation in 1999, it was discovered that many federal public agencies did not render their financial returns for years!

    We urge the Auditor-General of the Federation too to do his bit so that frauds can be prevented, at least to the barest minimum before they occur rather than acting reactively.

    It is by promptly dealing with rogue public officials that government can demonstrate that it has zero-tolerance for corruption.