The Nation Newspaper

Category: Editorial

  • Bandits’ grave 

    Bandits’ grave 

    Vanquishing them is vital to re-imposing peace in the troubled North West.  But only justice to all can sustain the peace

    The North West has, of late, become a deep grave of bandits — bandits that had turned that region into a hell-on-earth, for its long-suffering domiciles.

    The list: Halilu Sububu, the Nigerien-turned-Nigerian terror merchant, Buhari Alhaji Halidu aka Buharin Yadi, one Dangote worsted in a gun battle with a rival bandit gang in Dumbunrin Forest in Katsina State, Boderi Isyaku, the cheeky one that not only kidnapped 39 students of the Federal College of Forest Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, but also pulled off an attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, in 2021.

    Others, on the long list of the doomed: Kachalla Dan Chaki, Dogo Gudali, Dogo Rabe (reportedly killed in an Air Force strike between Zurmi/Birnin Magaji (Zamfara State) and Jibia (Katsina) — the area he and his gang dispensed terror, Alhaji Auta and Kachalla Ruga (the pair killed by security forces after a raid on their redoubt in Gusami Forest in Zamfara State), Rufai Maikaji, Ya’u, Alhaji Karki, a kingpin that met his death while trying to overwhelm a military unit in Niger State, and the bandit leader simply called “Yellow”, who operated camps in Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina states.  Again, an Air Force air strike ended Yellow and co-felons.

    If a statement from the military authorities is to be believed, time is fast running out for Bello Turji Kachalla aka Turji, the latest of the bandit “kings” ravaging Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states.

    In 2022, Turji pulled off a series of massacres in Zamfara State, in which almost 200 defenceless locals, many of them women and children, perished.  The 30-year-old is even right now hedging his bet against the military.  He just imposed a N50 million levy on Moriki, a rural town in Zamfara State.

    The community’s “crime” is the alleged killing of Turji’s cows, by the town’s new military commandant. But Turji has countered that the fine — since negotiated down to N30 million — was for the killing, by the town’s security architecture, of 11 of his men, aside his herd of cattle.  For that, Turji had kidnapped 11 Moriki locals.  If by September 12 and the levy had not been paid, he would execute them all.

    September 12 has come and gone — and no execution has been reported — but it’s on this levy that Turji is contesting space with the military.  The local army commandant had told the locals to ignore Turji’s threat.  But that advice has virtually bounced off the community, given Turji’s demonstrable cruelty and ruthlessness with his victims.

    That showdown has prompted the latest anti-Turji frenzy, which elicited the statement by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, that Turji is living on borrowed time.  That should cheer up the Moriki folks. But the dread remains as long as Turji still lives.

    That brings the matter to the agonising question: why are people upbeat over the felling of these bandits, when the government, as much as possible, has the duty to protect citizens and preserve lives?  Not a few have even gone to thumb down the military for wanting to rout the bandits, when they could have employed less bloody, non-kinetic options?

    Yes, it’s rather macabre to joy over the killing of another, lest the society itself plumbs the bandits’ savagery, which is utterly condemnable.  But with the present perilous security situation, the military have little choice outside pacification — to at least re-impose order.

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    It’s a tough yet understandable shock therapy to re-set security, return the area to basic civility and re-assure the law-abiding folks that the government is still alive to its core security duties and responsibilities.  You can’t do that if you don’t bump off the bad boys and dominate the environment with superior force.  That, ab initio, is lawful coercion, of which the government is supposed to have a monopoly.

    Besides, if international trends of combating terrorism is any guide– and on that score, two infernal players, Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Queda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have been defanged — the ruthless clearing of bandits is the logical though grim way to follow.

    Armed bullies don’t bow to superior reason other than the force of arms. While the huge US military machine started hunting down these global terror vermin, many peaceniks squirmed at the campaign.  But years later, the end has clearly justified the mean-ness — to filch that sarcastic expression from Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    So, the Nigerian military has earned due praise for their accomplishment on the bandit front.  When added to the gradual peace returning to the North East, following the serious defanging of Boko Haram, both are worth toasting — and relieved Nigerians are grateful.  But the military should not rest; and must be given every encouragement to finish the job.  The CDS, sharing N1 million cash among the braves that made Halilu Sububu history, is taking a good step in that direction.

    Still, after the military have won the war, the government must put things in place to finally win the peace; and return northern Nigeria to the harmony it hitherto enjoyed.

    Again, let’s return to Turji.  Whatever his grim fate, he thoroughly deserves it.  He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword: in December 2021, he set a lorry ablaze in Zamfara, with all its passengers.  Those poor souls were heading south.  Earlier in September 2021, he stormed Gonroyo Market in Sokoto State, killing more than 60 traders in untrammelled cruelty.  That was retaliation for an alleged killing of 11 Fulani folks, said to be bandits.

    But how did Turji himself land in banditry?  According to a Wikipedia account, Turji claimed some of his family’s cattle — their basic livelihood as a family of herders — were stolen by the Yan Sakai, a local vigilante group.  The same group followed that with an alleged murder of six of Turji’s siblings.

    To add insult to injury, the Turji cows, allegedly stolen, were gifted the Emir of Zurmi.  Turji’s father tried to sue the Emir to recover their cattle.  That move not only failed, the alleged response by the local establishment was the Yan Sakai — same vigilante that stole the family cattle and killed six siblings — also allegedly murdering Turji’s uncle!  That reportedly drove the young man to banditry to apparently avenge family honour!

    After clearing the deck of these dangerous criminals, the government must investigate the truth or otherwise of these Hausa-Fulani claims of mutual hurts, mend deep hurts on both sides, and ensure justice for everyone.

    That’s the only way to make any kinetic victory count.  Justice for all must therefore form the fundament of rebuilding the North.  Otherwise, military victory will only offer a temporary calm, before the storm next time.  That must be avoided at all cost.

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

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

    • By Arinze Oduah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    •Oduah writes from Lagos

  • Edo governorship poll

    Edo governorship poll

    •Decorum and civil comportment must be watchwords

    Voters in Edo State are heading for the poll tomorrow, to elect the person who would take office on November 11, when a new governorship tenure kicks in. Of the state’s population estimated at about 4.8million people, some 2.2million are eligible to exercise their franchise in this election – being the number of those who picked up their permanent voter cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), out of 2,629,025 people registered as voters. INEC said a couple of days ago that 379,245 had not collected their voter cards.

    Saturday’s election, which is one of the two off-cycle polls remaining for the electoral body to conduct this year, will hold in 4,519 polling units across 192 electoral wards in Edo State’s 18 local government areas. Seventeen political parties will be fielding candidates for the poll. But public electioneering that lasted from late in April till last midnight showed up a three horse race involving candidates Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of Labour Party (LP).

    Security conditions in the electoral environment have been a major issue that hobbles this poll. In the months leading up to the election, the electoral umpire repeatedly affirmed its readiness to ensure a free, far and credible poll but raised security concerns over the charged political atmosphere. At a stakeholder meeting in Benin, the state capital, last week, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu admonished the gladiators to eschew political intolerance and acts that could jeopardise the electoral process. He told them: “You should continue to restrain your supporters from violence and other disruptive conduct,” adding: “The best way to do so is by the personal example you set as political parties and candidates, both in your campaign speeches and action.”

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    Even now that campaigns are over, the same creed is expected to guide election day and post-election conduct by political actors. It is an indication of the overly charged polling atmosphere that the Nigeria Police said it would be deploying 35,000 operatives for this election, to be complemented by 8,000 personnel from other security agencies. Speaking at the stakeholder meeting in the Edo State capital last week, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun pledged that the personnel to be deployed will be professionally comported. He said: “We understand the vital role we have to play in the election and we pledge to safeguard the process, including INEC materials to be used for the election. We have the mandate to provide a conducive environment, and our approach is grounded in professionalism.”

    The police boss mentioned that movement restriction from 6a.m. to 6p.m. on election day would be strictly enforced and assured the people of security of the process, urging them to come out and vote with the confidence that their safety was guaranteed. He warned against political thuggery and violence, saying the police would deal with anyone found wanting. “It is in this regard that I direct all local security outfits in the state to refrain from interfering in election matters,” Egbetokun said as he suspended the activities of the Edo State Security Network “till further notice.” According to him, police personnel have been trained sufficiently to carry out their duties without bias.

    It is a shame that the Nigerian polling environment is so insecure as to warrant posting 43,000  security operatives on duty for election in a setting that is only 17,802km2 (6,873 sq. ml) in land area. But that is the reality we face because of desperation by political actors that makes elections wars by another name. It is also the reason that the socio-economy has to be shut down with the no-movement rule anywhere an election is being held in our clime, unlike in more civilised societies where routine life goes on simultaneously with elections being conducted. 

    Electoral wins are pursued by many Nigerian political actors by hook or crook apparently because of the winner-takes-all nature of those wins. Besides, there are few countries where political offices are more rewarding to individual power elite than in Nigeria. The desperation driving behaviour by political actors and their supporters, which makes the electoral environment insecure, needs to be reined in and kept in check by political parties and their candidates. Edo’s political actors should lead the way and ensure civility and decorum during polling tomorrow.

    Part of the challenge, obviously, is absence of requisite level of trust in INEC. The electoral body has done a great deal already to show itself an impartial umpire, but there is room to do more in the Edo State election to boost the confidence of political actors. So must the police and other security personnel deployed on election duty be well comported in line with assurances given by the IGP.

    Let Edo people freely choose and let that choice be reflected in the outcome.

  • A laudable idea

    A laudable idea

    The President’s promise of National Disaster Fund is good but it must be judiciously managed when set up

    Nigeria has had her litany of environmental problems like flooding and erosion that have claimed lives and properties. Increased rainfall and the fact that Nigeria shares borders with many other West African countries often contribute to some of the flooding incidents in the country.

    Very devastating flooding; from Lagos to Nasarawa, Benue to Bayelsa etc., had come with loss of lives, wild and domestic animals, and farmlands. In most of these cases, the communities never recover and the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) often gets a hit. For a country with Nigeria’s population, agriculture and its varied value chains get impacted.

    It is therefore tragic that despite the yearly forecasts of government agencies like the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA) and Nigerian Hydrological Agency (NHA), certain strategic proactive actions never get taken by other agencies and even governments at all levels, to mitigate, if not prevent flooding.  Even though the NHA had in April during the Annual Flood Outlook forecast the floods in as many as 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, the Borno State flooding, a few days ago, was still devastating, as it claimed many lives. The state that has suffered from Boko Haram and other terrorist attacks recently literally went under water, with loss of lives and infrastructure that might take years to rebuild.

    The NHA had warned about the release of water from the Cameroon Lagdo Dam and its possible consequence of flooding in about 11 states, given the increased rains in some Western and central African countries. The people of Borno did not have to wait for Cameroon’s release of water to experience the nightmare.

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    Predictably, the torrential rains in the state led to the collapse of nearby Alau Dam which had allegedly been neglected over the years, despite huge allocations for its repair. The flooding that followed the collapse almost sank the city. The impact is just being collated but there have been deaths, the drowning of many livestock, destruction of property and sadly, the escape of about 200 inmates from the correctional centre in the city.

    President Bola Tinubu was in Maiduguri to commiserate with and offer support to the government and people of the state on Monday.  According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 70 per cent of Maiduguri was submerged by the fast-moving water, displacing over a million residents and resulting in 30 casualties.

    We commend President Tinubu’s launch of a national disaster relief fund to address the rising impact of floods and other natural disasters. This is a laudable project that can have far-reaching impact on victims of flooding and other disasters. Collaborating with the private sector would be socio-economically impactful.

    We must however warn that the corruption and mismanagement of funds that is common in the country must not be allowed to rear its ugly head in the management of the funds. Disasters, whether natural or man-made, impact our humanity and we must handle such with compassion.

    There must be better equipment and financial support for NEMA. Disaster management around the world has gone beyond providing mats, mattresses and perishable items. There must be infrastructure for real rescue like helicopters, excavators, ambulances and special needs equipment like wheelchairs and adult strollers.

    There must also be improved citizen awareness about safety measures and environmental impact of private actions and inactions.

    We recommend a detailed investigation of the Borno incident alleged to have been due to official negligence and corruption. There must be punishment for bad behaviour.

  • Bye to LG ministry

    Bye to LG ministry

    •Bauchi takes steps to implement Supreme Court judgment on local govt autonomy

    The July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy directed that funds due to local governments from the Federation Account should thenceforth be paid directly to them. This was to end the financial asphyxiation of the third tier of Nigeria’s federalism by state governments which, through the State Joint Local Government Account, had been denying them access to and use of a substantial part of these allocations. Moreover, the verdict declared that it was illegal to dissolve democratically-elected local government administrations and replace them with caretaker committees, and that the Federal Government should not release allocations to local governments run by such unconstitutional committees. As at the time of the judgement, the local governments in around 22 out of the 36 states of the federation were run by these illegal caretaker committees.

    The judgement has elicited diverse reactions. The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, in his capacity as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) responded as follows: “By and large, the governors are happy with the devolution of power concerning local government autonomy. It relieves the governors of some burdens. People don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments.”

    However, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State reacted less conciliatorily. According to him, the judgement was “just a distraction”. He was further reported to have said: “I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we all swore to uphold”; and that “it behoves us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that will suffer.” Governor Makinde therefore set up a committee to review the Supreme Court judgement.

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    In another category of reactions to the Supreme Court verdict, a number of state governments with local governments run by caretaker committees have fixed dates for democratic elections into them or have actually conducted these constitutionally-required elections. Bauchi State is in this category. The state conducted its local government election on August 17, 2024. Furthermore, the governor, Bala Mohammed, was reported to have scrapped the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the following reasons: “First to reduce the cost of governance, shrink the establishments of the government and to implement the judgment of the Supreme Court on local government.” He was, in addition reported to have declared: “We will no longer have a commissioner for local government henceforth.”

    This decision is commendable. It signals respect for the rule of law. It is also pragmatic and shows the governor as a responsive leader who would not obstruct any move to broaden opportunities for democratic governance and intensify efforts at accelerating development at the grassroots level. To handle the substantially-reduced third-tier-related matters by the state government, one of the options open to the government is to establish a bureau or department of local government affairs, in the Governor’s Office.

    Another remarkable development in Bauchi State is that, to be able to contest in the August 17 local government election, two of Governor Mohammed’s commissioners resigned from the cabinet, and won seats as chairpersons of their respective local governments.

    With the financial autonomy that local governments have been granted, there have been many calls for people of high standing in society to aspire to and thereby enhance the quality of leadership at that level. Bauchi State has shown an impressive example of how it could be done.

  • Private jets take over

    Private jets take over

    •Aviation sector should be sanitised and people made to pay appropriate fees.

    The Nigerian sky is today adorned by various technological birds. They fly like natural birds, but were created by man largely for pleasure and travel. In some other countries, they are used mainly to facilitate business, public or private, but in Nigeria, many use it to boost their standing in the social order. Everyone announces his arrival in the circle of the super rich with purchase of a jet or more. They are changed at will to further consolidate their position in the circle; a case of “my jet is better than yours”.

    Unfortunately, as is the case in other things, the sub sector is poorly regulated. Many of the jets are not registered in the country, while others, though registered for private purposes, have since migrated to commercial uses. They are available for hire. The owners

    would not bat an eyelid even when told that they were cheating the government.

    It is thus heartwarming that the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has now sounded the warning that the laws and rules guiding the aviation sector would be fully applied. To demonstrate his seriousness, three private jets have been grounded for malfeasance.

    We are in full support of the application of all rules and regulations. However, where some are deemed inappropriate for the current state of the economy, the laws could be amended as laws are made for men and not men for the law. We have a duty to carefully nurse the economy to vibrant health and the aviation sector cannot be left out.

    Those private jet owners found to have been cheating the country by failing to pay dues and fees over time should be brought to book since the jets have been toys for flaunting wealth.

    We are also in full support of the appropriate agencies of government digging into the sources of income of the jet owners. Where their declared sources of income, and returns made for tax purposes do not match the lifestyle, they should be made to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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    Nigeria is bleeding today because those who make the most out of the economy fail to pay appropriate taxes; only paid workers in the private and public sectors remit their taxes as expected. Developed countries do not joke with taxes. Even at the level of presidential candidates in the United States, their tax records are scrutinised by the authorities. In Nigeria, it used to be so. Towards the 1979 presidential election, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the  Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), and Malam Aminu Kano of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) were  disqualified by the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) over tax matters before they got court orders reinstating them on technical grounds.

    Unexplained wealth had come up in public discourse of recent. The executive should look into it and get a bill sent to the National Assembly to probe into the background of the super rich who are won’t to flaunt their opulent lifestyle at will. It is not a crime to make wealth and use it to boost the economy. Nigeria needs captains of industry such as Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga and other industrialists who have become established employers of labour in the country and Africa. But, there are so many others who live like multi-billionaires and no one could vouch for the integrity of their riches.

    Again, we salute the measures taken by the aviation minister to sanitise the industry. He should be backed fully by the government. However, where some measures could harm the survival of commercial airlines and probably lead to loss of jobs in a tight economy, government should enter into productive discussion with stakeholders.

    For those who see purchase of private jets as a means of massaging their ego, they should be made to pay. Those who chose to sidetrack the rules by registering abroad and operating locally, those who registered as private jets but converted them to commercial in practice should be made to pay fully for the crime, but the ones willing to convert formally to commercial business should be assisted. The sector should be sanitised and made to conform to international best practices.

  • Dealing with bandits

    Dealing with bandits

    • If government ever negotiates, it must be from a position of strength

    A northern group lately admonished government against contemplating negotiation with bandits tyrannising that region of the country. It would that government sustains the tempo of ongoing military operations against the criminals and deal them a decisive defeat rather than be distracted by overtures for rapprochement.

    This latest call by the northern group came against the backdrop of a video clip online purportedly showing notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, seeking reconciliation with the Federal Government. The group, known as Arewa Elders Progressive Group called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to ignore Turji’s antics and carry through with its kinetic sleight of hand through the military to bring him and his cohorts to their knees.

    A statement by the Northwest chairman of the Arewa group, Alhaji Mustafa Dutsinma, warned against any attempt to negotiate with persons connected with banditry because, according to him, the morale of people of the North is presently high as they have found hope in military operations going on in different theatres. He argued that Turji was only pretending to seek reconciliation, given many lives that he and his gang had taken in recent years of banditry in northwest Nigeria. “Recent reports suggest that President Tinubu is considering reconciling with notorious bandit, Turji, and his cohorts. We strongly advise against this move, as it will set a dangerous precedent and undermine efforts to combat banditry,” the statement said.

    Dutsinma applauded military offensives ongoing against bandits and urged that these be sustained for a victorious outcome, arguing that reconciling with the bandits would be a slap on the face of victims and families who’ve suffered unimaginable trauma and losses requiring that justice be served on those responsible for the atrocities. According to him, government’s recent decision that the defence minister of state Bello Matawalle, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa and other service chiefs should relocate to the Northwest to lead military personnel in tackling bandits is commendable. “So far, going by the continued military attacks forcing some of the bandits to retreat in other places, reconciliation without accountability will be a miscarriage of justice and a disservice to the nation,” he said, adding: “Turji and his cohorts have committed unspeakable crimes including murder, kidnapping and destruction of property. They must face the full weight of the law rather than be offered a reconciliatory olive branch.”

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    It was not clear what inclination Dutsinma saw on the part of government towards holding talks with bandits. The CDS last week affirmed that Turji’s waterloo is imminent. “On the issue of Turji, he is just a deranged individual who feels power, but I can bet you that it’s just a matter of time,” he said in response to journalists’ question about reports that the bandit kingpin imposed a N30 million levy on Zamfara State residents for killing of his cows by soldiers. “It is a matter of time, we’re going to get him, and I can assure you that it will be within the shortest possible time,” Gen. Musa said.

    The Arewa group’s call, however, agrees with the emergent dominant view in the North on how to deal with the banditry menace. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari, some state

    governors, including Alhaji Bello Matawalle (then as Zamfara State governor) and his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Bello Masari, tried negotiating with bandits without getting positive results. Former Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State also attempted the option but soon switched to advocating carpet-bombing of bandits in their forest hideouts by the military, upon seeing the futility of negotiating with the criminals.

     In the present dispensation, Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Dikko Radda of Katsina and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara have separately advocated a hard hand against bandits and strongly warned against government negotiating with them.

    We, on our part, have always argued for not negotiating with bandits because there is no evidence whatsoever of attempts at negotiation having dissuaded them from their criminal enterprise. Celebrated exploits of controversial Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi ended up as efforts at whitewashing the bandits and securing momentary reprieves for their victims, without any long or, indeed, medium term deterrence influence. Bandits should be vanquished and put out of business by military forces to secure enduring respite for hapless Nigerians in areas where the criminals operate.

    When the battle is decisively won, though, there may be room for talks to redress causative factors of the banditry menace. Leaders of thought often cited economic factors that government needs to alleviate to diminish motivation onto banditry. But it has also been argued that at the root of the menace is a historical tribal war between the Fulani hegemonic class and the conquered Hausa tribe; and this may be what plays as curious measures of accommodation that some bandits enjoy in some northern communities and among community leaders. Governor Radda, for instance, recently said bandits could not operate without connivance by persons in the society, and spoke of a community where the leader collected N700k from bandits and allowed them kill 30 villagers. When government discusses such issues with parties involved, it must be from a position of strength after the criminals are subdued.

  • The right approach

    The right approach

    Not enough attention has come to a recent public indignation from the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, when she publicly berated top staff of her ministry for extravagance of public funds.

    “You try it next time, I will come here and get you people disgraced,” was her attitude to ministry officials who organised an event and spent on a jamboree what should have been assigned to empower women of the lower class.

    “I am ready to be misunderstood,” she went on. She was angry and some might say inelegant in the way she lashed at her ministry officials for spending over N100 million to organise an event.

    She said she had asked them to split any money allocation and remember the poor and vulnerable women. She said, she had warned against any “programme without empowerment.”

    She made this against the background of the hunger protests that erupted in parts of the country. She is perhaps the first minister ever to have come to the public to lambast top ministry officials for wasting public funds.

    The minister has been more than a little controversial, and she has sometimes erred. But she has not lost her track. No one ever proved anything against her. Rather, she has had her heart in the right place. Whether it was the issue of sponsoring allegedly mass wedding of nubile citizens in the north, or the charge that she was diverting N1.5 billion in her ministry, she has always had the better end of the story.

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    She was no different on the matter of wastage in her ministry. The problem is not just about that event that raised her ire, or about the ministry of women’s affairs alone. It is the scourge of public service in our country.

    Every budget cycle, the Federal Government allocates huge slices of the year’s expenditure to the ministries, departments and agencies. They see huge chunks of the money as pies for private consumption. They spend them on programmes, such as the one highlighted by the minister. They are usually seminars. Sometimes those in Abuja would want to hold it in Lagos or Calabar or Uyo, and they will pay for hotels and invite many persons as guests. Sometimes, they create a cabal of consumers who will be lined up to attend a slew of conferences from the United States to Malaysia.

    In the end, they have achieved next to nothing. The ministries have hardly been a source of ideas for governance or economic or social progress. They are just mammoth receptacles. They would then list as accomplishments all the sums of money they have spent on these so-called important programmes.

    Often, towards the end of the year, they are in hurry to exhaust the money in the purse. If they do not spend all of it, the balance would have to be returned to the national treasury pending new budgets for the new year. They become like devourers.

    Now that the president has pared travels, they have developed creative ways to spend the money, including internal travels and training. When a conference is supposed to hold in Abuja and it holds there, they would develop imaginative ways to burst the valve so money would be spent. It entails much padding and spending heads that they find easy to defend.

    But the minister acquiesced when she said the top hands in the bureaucracies should split the money in half and let the people who are finding life challenging in these hard times to turn the money to good use for their families.

    It is therefore the work of the auditor- general and the Minister of Finance to pay more attention to this duplicity going on in government.

  • No mercy

    No mercy

    We welcome AGF’s plan to abolish state pardon for looters

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), struck a chord with public sentiment when he advocated that those convicted of corruption should never be granted state pardon. The AGF spoke at a round table, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for states’ attorneys-general, in Abuja.

    He said: “I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘prerogative of mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others.”

    We agree with the AGF that allowing political leaders to exercise the ‘prerogative of mercy’ enshrined in the constitution for political office holders who have been convicted of corrupt practices defeats the very essence of that provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Section 175(1)(a) of the constitution provides: “The President may – Grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”   

    Again, section 212(1)(a) provides that: “The Governor may – Grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence created by any law of a state a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”

    In recent political history, the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari granted pardon to former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba states, respectively, who were convicted and jailed for corrupt practices. Again, under former President Goodluck Jonathan, state pardon was granted to former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted of corruption.

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    Clearly, while the President could hide under the provision of section 175(2) of the constitution which requires him to consult the Council of State, and the governor of the state, on the Council of State on Prerogative of Mercy, as provided in section 212(2) of the constitution, to give the impression that such pardon is not a self-serving exercise, the president or the governor invariably determines who to grant mercy. The example of President Jonathan was particularly embarrassing, as he granted pardon to his former boss, and political godfather, Mr Alamieyeseigha.

     The examples cited above show how political office holders could use the high offices of the state they occupy to achieve purely self-serving political agenda. Such abuse can only be avoided if the provision of the constitution is amended, as proposed by the AGF. If the constitution makes it impossible to grant such pardon, then no amount of pressure can allow the president or the governor exercise such power. Without any doubt, such abuse of the constitution encourages corruption, since political office holders know that even if they are convicted for corruption, later, their friends in power could set them free.

    Nigeria has made progress with the establishment of the EFCC and ICPC to fight corruption, especially against politically exposed persons. It will be counter-productive that after the humongous resources usually expended to track and prosecute corrupt practices, the culprits, who usually have enormous resources to get the best defence attorneys, bribe, or derail the investigation, can, upon a successful prosecution and conviction, get freed by a stroke of the pen of the president or governor. Such practices, apart from encouraging corruption amongst office holders, sends a wrong impression to the people that the political class is a conclave of sinners.       Luckily, there is an ongoing constitution amendment process going on. So, we urge the AGF to key into that by forwarding an executive bill on his proposal. We hope other political actors at the national and state assemblies will support the proposed amendment, for the good of the nation. If such amendment sails through, it may deter many potential looters.

  • Shiites, police clash again

    Shiites, police clash again

    •We wonder in what capacity a proscribed group carried out public procession

    In what has become an all-too-familiar and regular feature, the recent clash between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known

    as the Shiites sect in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, resulted in the death of two policemen, injury to three others, disruption of commercial activities in the Wuse District of the FCT and destruction of property, including the burning of three police vehicles. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igwe, claimed that members of the sect had attacked a police checkpoint in the Wuse area, resulting in the atrocities through the use of machetes, locally made bombs in bottles, knives and improvised explosive devices.

    Giving its own account of the incident, the Shiites group stated that the police “attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed numerous mourners. While

    trying to disperse the Arba’een Trek, the police killed and injured numerous mourners. Presently, security agents are busy arresting the Arba’een Trek mourners”. Of course, the police had itself stated that it had arrested several of those who perpetrated the attacks and this is as it should be, with the proviso that those apprehended will be charged to court for trial as constitutionally obligated.

    We are unaware of any independent confirmation of the killing of numerous members of the Shiites group by the police in response to the attacks.

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    Indeed, it is pertinent to ask in what legal capacity members of the IMN were undertaking their Arba’een Trek and if they had authorisation from the security agencies to carry out the activity, with the latter committed to ensuring law and order during the procession. For, it is common knowledge that in the aftermath of several violent confrontations with security agencies at various times, the IMN was proscribed in 2018. If it thus sought to engage in a public outing despite its illegal status under the law, it could only be described as an act of provocation and defiance against the law and constituted authority.

    There had been bloody and fatal confrontations between the IMN and security agencies in different parts of the North in 2016, 2018 and 2020. In 2018, for instance, members of the IMN reportedly converged on Abuja to participate in the Arba’een mourning procession despite warnings from security agencies against doing so. On that occasion, members of the sect reportedly attempted to obstruct the movement of an army convoy carrying live ammunition. The resultant exchange of fire between the two parties resulted in large casualties, especially among the IMN sect members.

    It is the seeming repeated allegiance of the sect to external religious interests over and above Nigeria’s sovereignty that led to its proscription. However, since the IMN’s predilection for undertaking its annual mourning trek in defiance of the law has become predictable, the security agencies should have been better prepared to nip any such eventuality in the bud, and prevent it from becoming a larger societal crisis.

    The killing of two police officers, ASP Innocent Agabi, and Inspector Alexander Oder, reminds us once more of the supreme price paid daily by members of our security agencies in carrying out their responsibilities of protecting our lives and property. We commend the FCT Commissioner of Police for promptly paying condolence visits to the families of the slain officers, offering them words of comfort and, most importantly, promising to ensure timeous processing and payment of their entitlements. This will enable their families plan for their future while encouraging those in service that a grateful nation will not forget their families should they pay the supreme price in the call of duty.

    But promise is not enough. The police authorities must follow the promise with action.