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  • Adamawa celebrates a harvest of new chiefdoms, emirates

    Adamawa celebrates a harvest of new chiefdoms, emirates

    In a landmark move to foster equity and local governance, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State established five new chiefdoms and two emirates. Between February 5 and 20, he officiated the coronation of the newly appointed rulers, presenting them with the staff of office. This step, aimed at enhancing traditional leadership and promoting unity, marks a significant moment in the state’s history, bringing renewed hope and self-determination to these communities, ONIMISI ALAO reports.

    To promote equity and fairness among the people of Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri established five new chiefdoms and two emirates. Between Wednesday February 5 and Thursday February 20, he officiated the inauguration ceremonies for these chiefdoms and emirates, formally presenting the staff of office to the paramount rulers of each.

    On February 19, Governor Fintiri crowned Dr. Ali Damburam as the Ptil of Madagali, making him the king of the newly established Madagali Chiefdom. The following day, February 20, he crowned Prof Bulus Luka Gadiga as the Mbeke Ka Michika. These two chiefdoms, along with Madagali and Michika, were part of the five chiefdoms and two emirates created under a bill passed by the Adamawa State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Fintiri at the end of 2024. In addition to Madagali and Michika, the new chiefdoms are in Hong, Gombi and Yungur (Song), while the two new emirates are Fufore and Maiha. The appointments of the new rulers were announced on January 3, 2024, and the dates for their coronations were subsequently set.

    The coronation ceremonies for the newly created chiefdoms and emirates began on February 5, 2025, in Fufore and concluded in Michika on February 20. On February 5, at the Atiku Abubakar Stadium in Fufore, Governor Fintiri presented the staff of office to Alhaji Sani Ribadu, the first Emir of Fufore. In his address, Fintiri emphasised his administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions, fostering unity, and ensuring effective governance at the grassroots level. He highlighted that the creation of new emirates and chiefdoms was designed to resolve conflicts, promote arbitration, and bring justice closer to the people. “We are embarking on a journey that will bind our people together and create the right reach for governance in areas where it has been seemingly difficult to reach,” the governor said.

    Governor Fintiri underscored the importance of the newly enacted Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law 2024, which laid the foundation for the creation of the new traditional institutions. He explained that the law aims to reposition these institutions for greater effectiveness, ensuring they play a more impactful role in governance and community development.

    On February 6, a significant ceremony took place in Dumne, Song Local Government Area, where Johnson Diyo Matalo was crowned as the Gubo Yungur. This event symbolised the restoration of the Yungur Kingdom, a long-awaited event that many described as the end of decades of subjugation. During the ceremony, Fintiri reiterated his administration’s commitment to all-inclusive governance, stating that the restoration of Yungur, along with the establishment of other new chiefdoms and emirates, was a step toward addressing historical imbalances and promoting unity across the state. “There was no justification for the Yungur people to be subjected to the traditional rule of anyone else. I am glad to have rectified this anomaly,” Fintiri stated. The newly crowned Gubo Yungur, Johnson Diyo Matalo, pledged to lead his people with humility and a strong commitment to the law, promising to be a ruler who serves his community with integrity.

    On February 8, Governor Fintiri, accompanied by his retinue, visited Gombi for the coronation of Aggreh Ali as the new Kumu Gombi. During the ceremony, the governor urged the newly appointed paramount ruler to leverage his extensive administrative experience in leading his people, particularly in matters concerning peace and security, which remain critical to the region’s stability. On February 13, Alhaji Ahmadu Saibaru was inaugurated as the first Emir of Maiha. In his address to the people of Maiha, Governor Fintiri congratulated them on this historic occasion and urged them to view their cultural diversity as a source of strength, not division, emphasising the importance of unity in building a prosperous future for the community.

    Addressing the Emir, Fintiri said: “You must carry everyone along; whether they are Njanyi, Bata, Fulani, Kanuri, Holma and so on; and you must not discriminate on the basis of religion.”

    On February 14, the coronation train moved to Hong, the headquarters of the Huba Chiefdom, where Governor Fintiri presented the staff of office to Alheri Bulus Nyako as the newly appointed Tol Huba of Hong. This ceremony marked the restoration of the Huba Kingdom’s long-lost status. Nyako reflected on the struggles that had spanned over a century, leading to the restoration of the Huba Chiefdom, and pledged to lead with fairness and accountability throughout his reign.

    On February 19, Governor Fintiri crowned Dr. Ali Danburam as the Ptil Madagali during a ceremony in Gulak, the administrative seat of the Madagali Chiefdom, solidifying the paramount ruler’s position. The coronation series concluded on February 20 in Michika, where a grand ceremony saw Prof Bulus Luka Gadiga crowned as the Mbeke Ka Michika. During this dazzling event, the governor officially handed over the staff of office, marking the culmination of a historic series of traditional rulings across the state.

    In the final, yet undoubtedly significant, coronation of the series, Governor Fintiri urged the people of Michika to harness their remarkable wealth, sound education, and diverse talents as invaluable assets in driving the development of their chiefdom. Acknowledging the historical significance of the Kamwe people, Fintiri expressed deep appreciation for their longstanding contributions to commerce and governance. He also praised their industrious spirit and their notable achievements across various fields. In his address, the newly crowned Mbeke Ka Michika, Prof Bulus Luka Gadiga, assured his people of his unwavering commitment to advancing progress in key areas such as education, agriculture, and economic growth, with a focus on bringing positive change to the community.

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    The rain of long desired chiefdoms, emirates

    The long-awaited creation of new chiefdoms and emirates in Adamawa State has been met with widespread celebrations across the affected local government areas, from Fufore to Yungur (Dumne in Song LGA), Gombi, Maiha, Hong, Madagali, and Michika. For the people of these regions, the establishment of new traditional institutions has brought the long-sought self-determination and local governance they had been yearning for.

    For many of these communities, the new traditional leadership is seen as truly indigenous, giving them a sense of pride and belonging. It marks a significant shift after several decades without any expansion in the number of paramount traditional institutions in the state. The last major change to the traditional structure occurred in 2004 when Governor Boni Haruna elevated several local leaders, including the Hama Bachama, Gangwari Ganye, Emir of Mubi, Amna Shelleng, Murum Mbula, and Kwandi Nunguraya, to first-class kings. One clear example of the positive impact of this new order is seen in the Hong Chiefdom, where the Huba (Hong) stool, once abandoned, has now been revived after a long struggle. The revival of this long-lost chiefdom has brought immense joy and gratitude to the people of Hong, demonstrating the transformative power of the new traditional institutions in the region.

    On February 12, just two days before the installation of their newly appointed paramount ruler, prominent sons and daughters of Hong gathered in Yola, the state capital, to address the press. The briefing, held at the NUJ Press Centre, was an opportunity for the people of Hong to express their joy and pride in the restoration of their cherished traditional leadership, now under the leadership of Töl Alheri Bulus Nyako, the new ruler of the Huba Chiefdom. Speaking on behalf of the community, Dr. Idi Hong, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the historical significance of the event. He reminded the press that the Huba Chiefdom had been reduced by colonial powers to a mere shadow of its former self, placed under the jurisdiction of an ‘ungraded district head’ and subjected to the authority of the Adamawa Emirate. Despite multiple attempts to restore the chiefdom—most notably in 1906, 1986, and 1988—none of these approvals had been implemented, leaving the people of Hong without their rightful traditional leadership for many years. Dr. Hong’s address reflected the immense satisfaction and gratitude of the people of Hong, who were finally witnessing the long-awaited revival of their ancestral governance.

    “Attempts to revive the Huba monarchy faced intimidation and resistance,” he lamented. Continuing, Idi Hong said the breakthrough for the Hong people came in December 2024 when Governor Fintiri signed the bill creating the Huba Chiefdom alongside six others. “This decision brought an end to a long-standing struggle for independence and self-determination,” he added.

    Disquiet in legacy emirates

    While the people of the newly created chiefdoms and emirates celebrate what they describe as newfound freedom, there is a quiet sense of loss among the legacy emirates from which these new territories have been carved. The Adamawa and Mubi Emirate, two of the largest and historically significant emirates, have been most affected by the creation of the new chiefdoms and emirates.

    Before the law establishing the new territories was signed by Governor Fintiri, the Adamawa Emirate covered a vast expanse, including the local government areas of Hong, Song, Gombi, Fufore, Girei, Yola North, Yola South, and Mayo-Belwa. However, with the new law, significant portions of this territory were taken out to form new chiefdoms and emirates. Hong, the Dumne axis of Song, all of Gombi, and Fufore are now part of the new administrative units, leaving the Adamawa Emirate with only Yola South, Yola North, Girei, and Mayo-Belwa.

    Similarly, the creation of new territories has also greatly reduced the influence of the Mubi Emirate. Previously, the Mubi Emirate encompassed Mubi South, Mubi North, Maiha, Michika, and Madagali. After the recent changes, Mubi Emirate now only governs Mubi South and Mubi North, losing control over Maiha, Michika, and Madagali. While the new arrangements have been welcomed by the people of the newly created chiefdoms and emirates, the legacy emirates have seen their reach and influence significantly diminished, marking a period of adjustment and, for some, quiet grief over the loss of territory and authority.

    Among the two affected emirates, the Adamawa Emirate has seen the most vocal opposition to the reduction of its influence. Dr. Umar Ardo, a prominent politician and the Adamawa State Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the new arrangement. In an article, Ardo argued that the new order could lead to societal discord, suggesting that it is fraught with historical inaccuracies, ethnic biases, and religious divides. He expressed concern that the way the new chiefdoms and emirates were created could fuel tensions among the various communities, undermining the state’s unity and social harmony.

    “First, the decision to sever historically significant domains such as Gurin and Ribadu from Yola and place them under Fufore is a glaring historical anomaly,” Ardo asserted, adding that the identified locations were integral to the cultural and political identity of the Adamawa Emirate. He also said that while the creation of new chiefdoms and emirates might seem like a step towards cultural recognition, the decision to classify them as 2nd Class and 3rd Class entities is a halfhearted act that reveals a lack of genuine commitment to their empowerment.

    “The communities that advocated these chiefdoms did so with the expectation of equal status with existing first-class chiefdoms, yet they have been relegated to subordinate positions,” he said.

    He said: “In a state that harbours 79 distinct ethnic groups, the new situation will only highlight the sensitivities and fears of other ethnic minorities who have been effectively excluded from and marginalised by the new status quo ante.”

    Ardo, writing in his capacity as the convener of the League for Northern Democrats (LND), strongly disagrees with the perspective of the Gongola People’s Forum (GPF), which has praised the creation of new chiefdoms and emirates as a means of fostering unity in Adamawa State. Ardo contends that this view is fundamentally flawed, arguing that the new administrative units have already introduced divisions rather than unity. In his critique, Ardo pointed out that the creation of new chiefdoms and emirates, without addressing deeper issues of ethnic and religious discord, will only worsen existing divisions. He emphasized that creating administrative boundaries alone cannot resolve underlying societal tensions. “Creating new administrative entities without addressing the underlying issues of ethnic and religious discord only exacerbates existing divisions,” Ardo asserted.

    Furthermore, Ardo rejected the GPF’s praise for Governor Fintiri as a “fearless leader” and “emancipator,” arguing that such accolades are misplaced. He explained that true visionary leadership is demonstrated through strategic policies that address the state’s core challenges, such as poverty, unemployment, and insecurity, rather than through symbolic or politically motivated changes to traditional leadership structures.

    In contrast to the critics, the beneficiaries of the newly created chiefdoms and emirates, including the new chiefs and emirs, have been effusive in their praise of Governor Fintiri for granting them a renewed sense of freedom and self-determination. The Gubo of Yungur, Johnson Matalo, expressed his gratitude, stating: “The creation of the seven chiefdoms and emirates is a testament to our governor’s commitment to peace, unity, and development across Adamawa State. We appreciate this historic step, which has given our people a stronger voice and a clear identity.” Matalo’s statement reflects the sentiments of many who view the establishment of these new territories as a positive and transformative move, providing them with greater autonomy and influence in the state’s governance.

    At the end of the coronation exercise that he supervised in Michika, Fintiri said: “We recognise that a thriving society is built on a strong foundation of opportunity and wellbeing for all citizens. My administration is resolute in its determination to achieve success, and we will not be deterred by the voices of critics whose primary past-time seems to be sewing the seed of disaffection in our communities.”

    Meet Adamawa’s new and old chiefdoms, emirates

    The recent creation of new chiefdoms and emirates in Adamawa State has introduced a new layer of traditional leadership across the region. These new territories vary in status, with the Fufore Emirate holding second-class status and its headquarters in Fufore, while the Maiha Emirate is a third-class emirate with its headquarters in Maiha. The newly established Hoba (Hong) Chiefdom, with its headquarters in Hong, and the Madagali Chiefdom, based in Gulak, both hold second-class status, as does the Michika Chiefdom, which has its headquarters in Michika. The Gombi Chiefdom, located in Gombi town, and the Yungur (Dumne) Chiefdom, with its headquarters at Dumne, are both designated as third-class chiefdoms.

    On the other hand, the older, established emirates and chiefdoms in Adamawa, including the Adamawa Emirate, retain first-class status. The paramount ruler of Adamawa Emirate, the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa, continues to be a central figure in the state’s traditional leadership. He also serves as the Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs, a position recognised by the law that created the new chiefdoms and emirates. These older institutions, with their first-class status, maintain a significant influence in the state’s governance, while the new chiefdoms and emirates represent a shift toward decentralizing power and giving local communities a more direct role in leadership.

    Mubi Emirate, a significant economic hub, encompasses Mubi South and Mubi North councils, forming the commercial nerve center of the region. Ganye Emirate includes the councils of Ganye, Jada, and Toungo, while Bachama Kingdom spans the Numan and Lamurde councils. In addition, the Amna Shelleng is located in Shelleng Local Government Area, representing another key traditional authority in the state. The Kwandi Nguraya Kingdom, predominantly of the Lunguda people, is primarily located in Guyuk Local Government Area, with its palace in Guyuk town. Demsa Local Government Area stands out with two paramount rulers: the Hama Bata, whose palace is in Demsa town, and the Murum Mbula, whose headquarters is in the Borrong axis of Demsa. This unique dual leadership structure adds to the rich cultural and traditional diversity of the region.

  • ‘How killer herdsmen dispatched my husband, only two children into early graves’

    ‘How killer herdsmen dispatched my husband, only two children into early graves’

    For the people of Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh areas of Turan, Jato-Aka area, Benue State, the last couple of months have been trying times.

    Suspected killer herdsmen have been invading the communities and several others in the area, dispatching scores of farmers to their early graves.

    The herdsmen, who had allegedly declared an ‘operation one man one bullet’ on the Tiv farmers in the area, also forced many survivors in the affected communities to take refuge elsewhere after their homes were left in ruins.

    One of the victims, Cicilia Gondo, who lost her husband and only two children to the crisis in early February 2025, has nowhere to take refuge and decided to find her way to Lafia, Nasarawa State to settle with a relative spoke to our correspondent in Lafia about the gravity of the crisis and how her husband and children were killed in one sweep by the herdsmen rendering her dream shattered.

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    She told our correspondent in Lafia that the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State was a planned genocide aimed at decimating the people for no just reason.

    Gondo said: “Our people committed no offence. We did not kill or confiscate their cows. Nobody or Tiv farmer complained of encroachment into their lands by herdsmen.

    “We had absolutely no problem with the herdsmen and there was no disagreement of any sort.

    “The perennial herdsmen attacks which have led to loss of many lives with large communities deserting their ancestral homes is unfortunate

    “As a result of these developments, farming in the area became difficult as our people can hardly go to their farms.

    “They cannot even stay in their villages and have had to desert them for fear of the mindless killers.

    “As things now stand, by next year, Benue may no longer be called the food basket of the nation because of the atrocities of herdsmen.”

    Repeatedly wiping tears from her face as she spoke, Mrs Gondo recalled the fateful morning of February 2 when some herdsmen ambushed her husband and their two children on the farm.

    She said: “The four of us were heading to the farm when suddenly we heard gunshots from different directions

    “Before we knew what was happening, everywhere was in disarray.”

    She said her husband and the two children ran into the bush while she ran in the opposite direction

    “That was how I was able to escape as bullets came from nowhere and hit my husband and two children.

    “But there were no bullets in my direction, so I was able to survive it.

    “When I first heard the gunshots and my husband and children went the other way, I had prayed to God to accept my soul.

    “My husband was telling me to hide and lie down. But that was his last voice I heard.

    “When the dust raised by the herdsmen’s attack settled, some villagers rush to the scene only to find the lifeless bodies of my husband  and the two children in pools of blood.

    “The bullets had hit my husband on his chest while my only two boys were shot in the head.

    “They all died on the spot.

    “It was the first time I would come face to face with death.”

    Yet to come to terms with becoming a widow when she spoke with our correspondent in Lafia, Mrs Gondo said she could not believe that all the hope that she and her husband had nursed about training their only two children up to the university had been dashed by their sudden death.

    She recalled that she got married to her husband in 1999 but could not have children until eight years later when they had their first son Terngu while Aondowase came three years after, and she was unable to give birth again till the sudden death of her husband and the children.

    The widow said her husband was not educated because his father died very early and he was the only son. Then his mother followed suit seven years later. “That was even before I got married to him.

    “But our plan was to give our children the needed support through farm work so that they could go to school, as Terungwa was getting set to register for the 2025 JAMB when death came calling.

    “My sister here is married to her husband who is from Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    “They are based here in Lafia, and she was the one who brought me here after my husband, children and some other victims were given a mass burial, so that I can rest and think of what next to do with my life.

    “But honestly, I feel that the herdsmen should have killed me too so that we can all return to our creator at the same time.

    “It is still like a dream, because that very day, we woke up in the morning and my husband told me that we should get ready to sell some tubbers of  yams to raise some money for  Terungwa, our first son, to go to Makurdi to register for JAMB and probably do some extra JAMB classes.

    “He was also talking about sending some yam tubbers to my own people.

    “There was nothing to suggest that my husband was embarking on a journey of no return or that it would be the last time we would be seeing and having such a progressive conversation.

    “I did not also know that I would never see my children again. My life is ruined and there is no hope for me any more.

    “God should just take my life. The herdsmen have finished me.

    “Killing my husband and two children in one sweep is too much for me to bear.

    “Certainly, life won’t be the same.

    “My husband never gave me any inkling he was leaving this sinful world. All along, he kept telling me about his plans to train our children.

    “But suddenly, both he and the children left the world and we could not achieve our dreams together.

    “I wept bitterly because of the enormous things we still wanted to do together. I’m depressed because of the sudden death of the people I called my world.

    “The killer herdsmen have deprived me of peace of mind. The killing of my husband and only two children was a devastating blow.

    “I have not been sleeping as they keep appearing to me anytime I want to sleep.

    “God, what have I done to deserve this?

    The distraught widow recalled that the entire community had been under heavy attack.

    “Killings have been going on without anybody to call the herdsmen to order.

    “More than 49 people have been killed so far in the affected areas.

    “My husband was shot on the chest while another bullet caught him from the back and pierced through his stomach, killing him on the spot, while my two children’s heads were damaged with bullets.”

    Mrs Gondo told our correspondent in Lafia that the entire Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh areas, popularly called Turan, in Kwande Local Government Area, was under severe herdsmen attacks and had been deserted.

    She said: “The inhabitants have fled their homes following gruesome killings by herdsmen on a daily basis.

    “If nothing is done by security agents, the herdsmen intention is to capture half of Benue State.

    “The affected communities face imminent famine because nobody is prepared to go to the farm right now.

    “Herdsmen with sophisticated weapons have taken over almost all the Turan communities in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.”

    The House of Representatives member representing the Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Dr. Asema Achado, says the sustained attacks and killings of innocent people in Benue State represent a deeply troubling and unacceptable emergency that cannot be overlooked.

    Achado, in a statement, pointed out that many local government areas in Benue State are facing attacks by armed herders, with thousands of people displaced, many killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed.

    He maintained that the attacks are unprovoked and systematic, leaving families in mourning and communities engulfed in fear.

    Achado stresses that multiple reports and testimonies from affected families and community leaders have consistently pointed to the involvement of armed herders in the attacks that have plagued the state.

    Also speaking, an indigene and elder of Nyiev-Tiev, Barakur District of Mbaikyor council ward, Turan-Jato-Aka, Mr Atsaregh Vershima Barnabas, told our correspondent that his area is badly affected by herdsmen attacks.

    He said on December 25, last year, more than 50 people were killed, causing the entire community to be deserted.

    “The constant herdsmen attacks is gradually eliminating the poor innocent people of Turan from the Tiv and Kwande map.

    “We are calling on government to end the fulani herdsmen attacks so we could go back to our ancestral homes.

    “The constant attacks on us have claimed over 100 lives within this year alone, while series of mass burials have taken place in the land.”

    He traced the killings to the continuation of mining activities in the land while the host community members are been killed.

    “As an Indigene of the community, I am worried that our people are being killed on a daily basis around the mining sites and other parts of the community while mining activities are peacefully taking place without any miner being touched or harmed.

    “This is of great concern because most of the miners share the same backgrounds with the herdsmen whereas they are comfortably hosted in our communities.

    “Most of the drivers who covey these mining products are of the same backgrounds with the herdsmen whereas they stay in our midst in the name of mining to get relevant information for their members.”

    He said some traditional rulers in the area “who are supposed to be the custodians of the law are being mentioned publicly by members of the community on their relationship and involvement with the herdsmen who are killing and displacing us on a daily basis.”

    He called on the state government to place “an immediate ban on all mining activities in Turan land and Kwande LG as a whole, because we have been experiencing constant attacks on a daily and weekly basis on our poor, innocent people who are not necessarily residing within the mining sites and areas where mining activities are constantly going on without interruption.

    “I suspect that mining is part of our problem, and for that reason, we appeal that all miners vacate our immediate communities to ensure thorough security check against our invaders.

    “It will interest you to know that over 75% of Turan land is displaced and occupied by fulani herdsmen. This cuts across the five council wards of the clan moon where not even a cat is remaining in Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh.

    “As dangerous as it may be, Turan is bordered internationally with Cameron, and nationally with Taraba and Cross River states.

    “Locally with Katsina Ala local government, which is facing very serious insecurity challenges, as well as Ikov people of Ushongo Local Government Area.

    “Worst of it all, in Kwande, Turan is bordered by Ikyurav Ya, Shangev-ya and Nanev.

    “if the fulani herdsmen who are now attacking people around the backyards of Jato Aka town succeed in entering Jato Aka, then no part of Kwande and Ikov people of Ushongo is safe again.

    “The time to secure the people of Turan who are displaced and are residing in Jato Aka and Nyihemba as well the entire people of Kwande and Ikov is now.

    “I am crying for my people as true son of the land who is pained and touched to the bone.”

  • Mother of three seeks arrest of landgrabbers who killed husband in Ogun

    Mother of three seeks arrest of landgrabbers who killed husband in Ogun

    Kemi Shoboyede waited endlessly for her husband’s return on Thursday February 27, 2025. Worried by his delayed arrival, the mother of three reached out to a few friends and colleagues of her hardworking husband, Saheed Shoboyede, a carpenter and commercial driver in the Osuke area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    Unknown to her, her 24 years old husband who left their residence hale hearty had been shot by some land grabbers. Shoboyede was rushed to the State General Hospital, Ota where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

    “Killer land grabbers have turned me into a widow. They have forced me to take up the responsibility meant for two persons.

    “My husband was a carpenter and he was on a visit to one Baba Oloye at Osuke when hoodlums led by a notorious land grabber called Elijah unleashed terror on the community and gunned him down.

    “He had his workshop at Osuke and he would normally return at the weekend because of the numerous jobs he has to handle for his customers.

    ‘’He was also a driver whenever he had no job to do in order to make ends meet.

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    “The incident occurred at about 8 am. Land grabbers, led by a man called Elijah, stormed the Muslim Prayer Ground in Osuke on a motorcycle and shot indiscriminately, causing panic among residents during which my husband was shot dead.

    “I want the state government to get justice for me and my children. Elijah has been killing people unnecessarily in order to grab their lands.

    “Government should make the killing of my husband the last one by Elijah and teach him a lesson.

    “My husband left me with three children and he also had one with a woman who is also late.

    “I am really heart broken and need justice for my slain husband.’’

    Giving a graphic account of the incident, an artisan who went to the community to honour a job appointment, Ibrahim Idowu, recalled how he narrowly escaped being hit by the sporadic shots from the hoodlums.

    Idowu said: “I went to Osuke for a welding job, and while I was there waiting for my client around the Eid praying ground at about 7 am, some men stormed the place and started shooting sporadically.

    “I ran into the bush with other residents until the hoodlums stopped shooting and left on a motorbike. A young man was shot dead.

    “The police later arrived at the scene but the hoodlums had left by then, and those of us who hid in the bush for safety seized the opportunity to come out.’’

    The traditional ruler of Ita Alia community in Osuke, Chief Jomoh Tolib Akeju, explained that the hoodlums’ siege on the community had been on for some time, urging the state government and police authorities to arrest the culprits and ensure justice.

     “This killing was one too many. One Elijah led some boys to kill one of our youths at Osuke, and he has been doing it for some time and getting away with it.

    “The state authorities should rescue us from his reign of terror.

    “Elijah has powerful godfathers who use him to terrorise property owners.

    “Only government can save us from him. Hence we are crying out to the state government for help.

    “We know that when government is ready, Elijah will be arrested.

    “We know that he has godfathers who ensure that he is never arrested for the killings he has carried out, but he will definitely be arrested if government intervenes.

    “Hence we are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Governor Dapo Abiodun to order his arrest so that he can face the wrath of the law and we can live in peace.’’

    The head of Ileke Royal Family, Biliaminu Adisa Akeju, said the land grabbers were working for some powerful men, who always ensure they are not arrested and prosecuted.

    “One Elijah, who has a lot of godfathers and has been killing people in Osukeland. He just killed one Saheed Soboyede and no one can stop or apprehend him.

    “He has been doing it for long and always avoided arrest.

    “I believe that God has the power to ensure he is arrested and made to face justice for killing people in a bid to take their land.’’

    “Government should please rescue us from the grip of heartless land grabbers at Osuke who have been killing people here all the time.’’

    Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has condemned the brutal attack on Osuke Village, Ota, by gunmen, which led to the death of Shoboyede.

    The command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to apprehend the culprits.

     A statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.

    Odutola disclosed that Olusoji Jinadu, a resident of Iju Mosque Compound, reported the attack to the police at about 2:20 pm.

    He told the police that on February 27, at about 8 am, a group of armed hoodlums led by a man identified as Elijah stormed the Muslim Prayer Ground in the community, firing indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.

    Odutola said: “Tragically, the complainant’s son, Saheed Jinadu Shoboyede, was hit by a bullet.

    “He was rushed to the State General Hospital, Ota, where a doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

    “His remains have been preserved for an autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.”

    She added: “Police operatives promptly visited the crime scene where three expended cartridges and two spent AK-47 rounds were recovered.

    “His remains have been preserved for an autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.”

    Odutola added that the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a full-scale investigation to track down the perpetrators.

    “The Ogun State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

    “We urge members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing any useful information that could aid in the swift apprehension of the culprits,” Odutola stated.

    The police further urged anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest station or call the command’s emergency lines.

  • Silent Killers: How sugar-sweetened beverages lead adolescents to early grave

    Silent Killers: How sugar-sweetened beverages lead adolescents to early grave

    • We grapple with, gaseous ulcer, heartburn, bloating, other challenges consuming SSBs- Adolescents  

    • Psychiatrist, cardiologist, others lament chronic damage to lives

    Many adolescents risk developing and spiking cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on account of their addiction to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). On the surface, some of the adolescents, who take an average of a bottle daily, said they often grapple with heartburn and bloating, among other challenges. But medical experts fear they may suffer chronic health challenges if the consumption pattern continues. INNOCENT DURU reports.

    Chizoba, an adolescent and undergraduate, has an unquenchable appetite for sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). A day hardly ends without her gulping at least a bottle.

    “I take one to two bottles daily, especially during school days, depending on how the weather is. I hardly take any during the weekend,” the fair complexioned undergraduate said.  

    For her, the addiction to SSBs is “mostly meant to satisfy the craving for it. Sometimes it is because it can accompany any form of snack.”

    Chizoba said on the average, she spends about N3,000 on SSBs in a week. In one month, she would have spent about N12,000 on her choice drink, and at the end of every year, the soft spoken young lady would have spent at least N144,000, using the prevailing price per unit.

    Aside from the ephemeral sweetness Chizoba derives from consuming her choice SSBs, she hardly could point to any other gain she gets from her obsession for the drinks as SSBs hardly quench thirst.

    “I rather have a number of health challenges that come with the consumption of those drinks,” she said, triggering some curiosity in our correspondent.

    Chizoba saw through the shock on our correspondent’s face and yelled,  “yes” in affirmation of what she just said. 

    “I do have gaseous ulcer, sometimes it leaves me bloated. And I guess it increases my menstrual pain,” shs added.

    In spite of the known danger and damage that SSBs do to her body, Chizoba has not deemed it expedient to put an end to her obsession for them.

    Her disturbing experience is just a case of how SSBs are silently destroying and leading adolescents to their early graves.

    Checks show that Chizoba is not alone in this craze for SSBs. Hordes of adolescents in the society, those in higher institutions in particular, are hooked on them. It is water for their food and the icing on the cake for their snacks.

    In some cases, it is used as a status symbol to show the consumer is ‘rocking life to the fullest’.

    This, no doubt, explains why Nigeria ranks fourth globally in SSB consumption with an annual sale of approximately 38.6 million litres in a market valued growth rate of 16.63 per cent in 2023.

    Health experts have linked excessive consumption SSBs to Nigeria’s non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden.

    NCDs are said to be responsible for about 41 million deaths a year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.

    According to a report by BMC Public Health about the fatalities caused by NCDs, “17.9 million are attributable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), 9.3 million to cancer, 4.1 million to respiratory diseases, 1.5 million to diabetes, and the remaining 8.2 million to other NCDs.

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    “About 47% of deaths from NCDs are premature, and most of the deaths (31.4 million) occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), which now face a double burden of infectious diseases and NCDs.”

    Disturbing as these revelations are, Fehintola, a 16-year-old, appears unperturbed and seems to have signed a pact with SSBs. Like Chizoba, a day hsrdly passes without her consuming a bottle.

    “I take SSBs very often. How many times I take it a day depends on the weather. If the weather is hot, I do take chilled drinks,” she said.

    Her addiction to SSBs, unfortunately, comes at a price. “I do have cramps, but then, I still take SSBs,” she said without an iota of concern about the effects on her health.

    Speaking on how much she spends on SSBs, Fehintola said: “I spend between N2,000 and N3,000 weekly.”

    Also speaking with our correspondent, Dammy, a 17-year-old, said: “I take SSBs almost every day. I take them because they are sweet.

    “I just like to take them. Any time I feel tired, I just take SSBs and feel better.”

    On how she feels after consuming the drinks, Dammy said: “SSB consumption could make me stool and frequent the restroom. If I take it excessively, I may have heartburn.”

    More adolescents speak on SSB consumption

    Our encounter with male adolescents showed that they equally have strong fondness for SSBs.

    One of the respondents, who gave his name simply as Shola, said he takes SSBs at least once a day.

    “I wouldn’t finish a meal without one,” he said emphatically.

    Speaking in the same vein, another respondent, Ben, said he takes SSBs almost every day. 

    “I just take them for refreshment,” he said.

    Nigeria among countries with high cases of adolescent diabetes – Studies

    Studies have shown that cases of diabetes are on the rise among adolescents in the country.

    A report on ‘Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among students’ listed Nigeria, among the 10 highest number of countries with the number of new cases of T1DM (children and adolescents less than 20 years.  The report said: “In Africa, the incidence and prevalence of DM are shown to be on the increase among children and teenagers. The estimated number of children < 20 years with T1DM in the African region was 50,200. Nigeria, Algeria, and Morocco have been listed among the 10 highest number of countries with the number of new cases of T1DM (children and adolescents <20 years), per year in the world.”

    It noted that the current trend suggests a possible escalation of DM among children and adolescents in Africa shortly. Children and adolescents <19 years are part of the population of secondary schools in Africa. Various studies have reported the prevalence of T1DM among secondary school students in Africa. For instance, a cross-sectional study in Cameroon reported the prevalence of TIDM to be 1.8% among students while a study in Nigeria reported the prevalence of Impaired Fasting Glucose to be 17.30% and a further study in Nigeria detailed the prevalence of T1DM among students to be 0.3%.”

    The report added that  another study among girls in selected boarding secondary schools in the Wakiso district of Uganda showed a prevalence of pre-diabetes to be 6.40% and a cross-sectional study in Nigeria reported the prevalence of T1DM among students to be 0.6% and 28.70% for prediabetes.

    “Also, a study investigating the prevalence of T1DM among school-age children in the Menoufia governorate in Egypt found the overall prevalence of T1DM to be 3.75/1000 Besides, few studies have reported the prevalence of T2DM among adolescents in the general population in Africa However, as at the time of putting this review together, there was the paucity of studies of T2DM carried out among primary and secondary school students in Africa.”

    Another study titled ‘Prevalence of pre-diabetes and risk factors among secondary school adolescents in Osogbo Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria’ concluded that prediabetes is becoming common problem among Nigerian adolescents and advised that “There is therefore need for stakeholders to face this challenge before it becomes endemic.

    Experts decry SSBs’ damage to adolescents’ health

    Medical practitioners have raised concerns about the despicable contributions of SSBs to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden in the country. The experts fear that the country could have a large army of chronically sick adolescents if nothing is done to curb their consumption of SSBs.

    According to Harvard T. H.  Chan of the School of Public Health, SSB refers to any beverage with added sugar or other sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, fruit juice concentrates, and more). “This includes soda, pop, cola, tonic, fruit punch, lemonade (and other “ades”), sweetened powdered drinks, as well as sports and energy drinks.”

    Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, according to UNICEF, are non-transmissible diseases of often long duration. “Examples of NCDs include mental health conditions, stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease.”

    Speaking on the effects of SSBs on cardiovascular health of adolescents, a cardiologist, Dr John Atshamen, flayed the ravaging effects of the drinks on the immune system.

    He explained: “There’s natural sugar, and there’s free sugar.  The natural sugars are all those naturally produced like, fresh juice, honey, etc. The free sugars “They increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.  It is not recommended that we go for these free sugars.  We usually would recommend that we take as low as possible as part of what we are eating.”

    Free sugars, according to Dr John, increase the risk of weight gain and obesity.

    “If you look at a lot of children now, especially those that are exposed to a lot of carbonated drinks, the frequency of childhood obesity is increasing, and the frequency of dental cavities are increasing. 

    “You see obesity in countries that patronise these lots of added artificial sugars, like the U.S.  They are suffering the plague or pandemic of childhood obesity.

    “This is now progressing to West Africa and even to Nigeria, where we see a lot of children now becoming obese because they are taking a lot of these carbonated drinks.

    “What this does is that these sugars, even though they may be a source of calories, tend to affect the immune system and they tend to affect the cholesterol components in the body. 

    “Apart from weight gain, they can also cause some problems for the blood vessels, increase the risk of stroke, increase the risk of diabetes, increase the risk of even heart failure.”

    He added that the risk of childhood diabetes, which is also a risk for cardiac problems, has been increasing. 

    “So, increased consumption of these sugary products will lead to increased cardiovascular risk.  There’s no doubt about that.

    “There are a lot of research that shows that there has been association between this carbonated or free sugar,  increased sugar intake and worsening cardiovascular risk,  increasing risk of stroke, increasing risk of diabetes, either pre-diabetes or over-diabetes.

    “Some forward thinking or progressive countries have been hammering or stressing on the need to reduce these products or even to add them to the labels so that you see what you are taking. 

    “A lot of these carbonated drinks have a minimum of eight cubes of sugar.

    “Some people would say 15 or 20 cubes, but documented research shows about a minimum of eight point something cubes of sugars in them. 

    “Just imagine licking eight cubes of sugar and how it will feel. 

    “These sugars tend to increase the bad cholesterol in the person’s body and reduce the good cholesterol.

    “When cholesterol levels are high, they can increase the risk of cardiac problems.”

    From experience, he said, “I have seen a lot of patients that have been having increased childhood hypertension.

    “But for a lot of patients that have cardiac diseases, whether children or adults, one of the first things that we prescribe in the management of this condition is lifestyle modification.”

    How SSBs affect mental health of adolescents

    SSB consumption is said to also be a contributory factor in certain mental health challenges.

    Explaining how this happens, Dr Abayomi Seun, a psychiatrist at Federal Neuro- Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, noted that consumption of SSBs can affect the mental health of adolescents in several ways.

    According to him, adolescence is a period of rapid physiological growth and psycho-social development, where they grapple with a lot of stress about changes in their bodies, increasing academic workload, struggles with peers and parents and societal pressures.

    “Not surprisingly, about one out of seven adolescents suffer from a mental health challenge. And 50% of all mental health challenges in adulthood already show symptoms by age 14 years.

    “With this background, you can understand why the mental health of adolescents demands special attention,” he said.

    Quite frankly, Dr Abayomi said, many factors contribute to mental health struggles among adolescents rather than one singular factor such as intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. “However, research has increasingly shown that aggressive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to mental health problems such as aggression, depression and anxiety disorders.”

    From his wealth of experience, he said, adolescents who consume loads of sugar-sweetened beverages – even though they suffer from poor mental health – hardly present to the hospital with addiction to sugar beverages.

    “Instead, it is other problems that bring them to hospital, such as anxiety and panic disorders, depressive disorders and substance use problems.

    “It is usually in the course of managing them for these other conditions that we discover that their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is unusual.

    “It is important to note that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages alone cannot explain their mental health problems. It is only one of numerous other factors that interact in complex ways to contribute to mental illness.

    “By and large, with adequate support both for the adolescents and their parents and guardians, they can be helped to either quit or reduce to the barest minimum.”

    SSBs compounding oral health of adolescents

    A dentist, Dr Francis Fagbule, in a chat with our correspondent, warned against the destructive effects of SSBs on the teeth.

    He said: “People should know that SSBs contribute almost nothing useful to them when they take it. They are only packing in sugar and acidic content that are not beneficial to their bodies. 

    “The potential health problems are enormous, particularly when those products are taken habitually.”

    “Explaining how SSBs harm oral health, Dr Francis said: “There are micro-organisms in the mouth normally. They act on this sugar and feed on it. 

    “The process of glycolysis whereby they turn the carbohydrates into acid usually starts in the mouth.

    “That acid from these micro-organisms are able to start dissolving the tooth, and that is how the process of initiating dental cavity (hole in the tooth) starts.”

    SSBs, according to him, contain essentially sugar with little or no nutritive value. “It is basically just saying let’s put sugar in a cup, pour water into it and add some colouring. 

    “If we keep taking SSBs habitually, it increases the risk and also causes dental caries.

    “Many of these drinks are carbonated and that means they are produced even to be acidic.

    “When we drink them we feel their sharpness in our mouth.

    “When you take these drinks and run your tongue on the surface of your teeth, you will find that they feel rough at that particular time. That is because of the erosive nature of those drinks. 

    “This is not just about the sugar that the bacterial or micro-organisms will convert to acid. Even the acidic content of some of these SSBs is also contributing to this problem.”

    He warned that “if we continue consuming them, we are only increasing the risk and will eventually come down with dental caries.

    “If you take a few sips of SSBs and you feel that roughness on your teeth, after about 30 minutes or one hour, if you run your tongue on the teeth surfaces, it will be smooth again.  This is because the saliva production which is normally alkaline has taken care of that situation and restored the surface of the tooth back to normal.”

    Addressing a common practice among the young ones, he said: “If you give a child a drink and he takes a little and keeps the rest in the fridge and goes back to sip after an hour and does that almost throughout the day, what that child is doing is that he is keeping the environment of the mouth in a very acidic state for a long period.”

    Speaking on how SSBs affect the gum, Dr Francis said: “When you continue taking SSBs, you are feeding the micro-organisms. As you are eating it, the micro-organisms are also eating it. 

    “When you continue to feed on SSBs, micro-organisms feed on that and help in the formation of plaques.

    “When plaques stay in the mouth for a long time it becomes very hardened such that it is difficult for you to remove it when you brush your teeth.

    “All this put together causes irritation to the gum. When the gums get irritated then it gets infected, it is red and swollen. Sometimes it becomes painful. 

    “That is why when some people are brushing, they will notice blood coming out from their gum.

    “SSB encourages direct and indirect accumulation of plaques which then results in irritation or infection of the gum, causing gum diseases.”

    If this is not taken care of very fast, Dr Francis said, it will progress to “what we call periodontitis, meaning it will start getting deeper and deeper. 

    “The teeth are held in place by the gum. If the gum gets weakened, you will find out that the tooth is shaking and can even remove.”

    Nutritional dangers of SSB, by expert

    Seun Obembe

    Shedding light on nutritional dangers of SSBs, a freelance and holistic nutritionist cum CEO of Osa Food and Solution Ltd, Obembe Oluwaseun, said SSBs often exceed daily recommendations and are linked to various health problems.

    “SSBs often contain more than the daily recommended intake of sugar. Consuming high amounts of sugar has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.”

    Obembe noted that SSBs also have the tendency to displace essential nutrients, adding: “Regularly consuming SSBs can lead to an imbalanced diet, displacing more nutritious beverages like milk, 100% fruit juice, and water.

    “SSBs also lack essential vitamins and minerals. They are often devoid of essential vitamins and minerals, providing empty calories.”

    Providing information on how SSBs impact on gut health, the nutritionist said they alter gut microbiome.

    “Consuming SSBs can alter the balance of gut bacteria, leading to changes in metabolism and immune function.

    “SSBs also Increase inflammation. The high sugar content in SSBs can lead to increased inflammation in the body, exacerbating chronic diseases.

    “SSBs contribute to weight gain and obesity. Regular consumption of SSBs has been linked to weight gain and obesity and increased risk of chronic diseases.

    “Consuming SSBs regularly has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.”

    To check the ravaging effects of SSBs on the consumers, adolescents in particular, Obembe advised that Nigerians should limit or avoid consuming SSBs altogether.

    “They should choose water and unsweetened beverages or opt for unsweetened tea or coffee instead of SSBs.

    “Consumers should check the ingredient list and nutrition label to ensure the beverage you choose is low in added sugars,” he said.

    How to curb SSB consumption using taxation

    A tax expert and partner at Ascension Consulting Services, Adeniyi Sunmola, has shared his thoughts on how to curb consumption of SSBs among adolescents.

    Beginning with how efforts are being made globally to check SSB consumption using taxation, Adeniyi said:  “Governments worldwide have adopted various taxation strategies on SSBs to reduce their consumption and mitigate NCD risks such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

    “In Nigeria, the following taxation strategies have been implemented:

    “Excise taxes; The Nigerian government (Finance Act, 2021 to Section 21 of the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc (Consolidation) Act (CETA) introduced a ₦10 per litre excise tax on non-alcoholic, sugar-sweetened beverages in 2022 as part of fiscal measures to discourage excessive consumption and improve public health.

    “Ad Valorem taxes – While not widely implemented for SSBs in Nigeria, taxation based on the product’s price could make more expensive sugary drinks costlier, potentially deterring consumption.

    “Tiered Tax System – Nigeria has not fully adopted a tiered tax system, but such a structure could impose higher tax rates on beverages with higher sugar content while lower-sugar options face reduced or no taxation.

    “Flat Tax System – The existing ₦10 per litre tax follows a flat taxation model, meaning all sugary beverages are taxed equally regardless of sugar concentration.

    “Import Duties on SSBs – Nigeria imposes tariffs on imported sugary drinks, which can serve as an incentive for local production while also influencing the affordability of these products.”

    These taxation strategies, according to Adeniyi, aim to discourage consumption, encourage reformulation by manufacturers, and generate revenue for public health initiatives.”

    He noted that in spite of the implementation of taxes on SSBs, several challenges persist in Nigeria.

    “There is low tax rates on SSB in Nigeria.  The ₦10 per litre tax may not be sufficient to significantly affect consumer behaviour, as the price increase is relatively low compared to disposable income levels.

    “Again there is ineffective implementation of policies. Weak enforcement by regulatory agencies limits the full impact of taxation.

    “Another challenge here is industry resistance and lobbying. Beverage companies in Nigeria have resisted tax increases, arguing that it negatively impacts business and employment.”

    Continuing, Adeniyi also identified consumer behaviour adaptation as an obstacle to curbing SSB consumption.

    His words: “Many Nigerians may switch to alternative sugary beverages, including locally produced drinks, which are often not taxed at the same rate.

    “Another factor is Lack of Public Awareness. “Many Nigerians remain unaware of the relationship between excessive sugar consumption and NCDs, reducing the effectiveness of taxation as a deterrent.

    “Cross-border smuggling and tax evasion are another forms of challenges. “The porous nature of Nigeria’s borders allows for smuggling of untaxed sugary beverages from neighbouring countries.”

    Lastly, he said limited use of tax revenue for public health constitutes an obstacle to using tax to reduce SSB consumption. “Currently, there is no clear earmarking of revenue from SSB taxation for health programmes, reducing its potential impact on public health initiatives.”

    Solutions to SSB consumption through taxation

    To enhance the effectiveness of SSB taxation and reduce consumption in Nigeria, Adeniyi suggested raising SSB taxes beyond the current ₦10 per liter to at least a 20% increase in the final retail price, in line with WHO recommendations.

    “Regulatory agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service should enforce stricter monitoring to curb tax evasion and ensure compliance.

    “Government and health agencies should conduct nationwide campaigns to educate Nigerians on the health risks of SSBs and how taxation discourages excessive consumption.

    “Providing tax incentives for local beverage manufacturers to produce low-sugar or sugar-free alternatives can offer healthier choices to consumers.”

    He added that implementing a tiered tax system could also check SSB consumption, saying “Nigeria could introduce a system that taxes beverages based on sugar content, ensuring that highly sugary drinks face higher levies.

    “Restricting advertisements targeting children and adolescents, as well as enforcing clearer nutritional labelling, can also help reduce SSB consumption.”

    Adeniyi also advised that Nigeria should collaborate with neighbouring countries in West Africa to harmonise SSB taxation policies and reduce smuggling and “allocating funds from SSB taxes to obesity prevention, diabetes care, and nutrition education would increase public health benefits.”

    He expressed optimism that “if these solutions are effectively implemented, Nigeria can achieve significant reductions in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and curb the rise of non-communicable diseases in the population, particularly among adolescents.”

    • This report is supported by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

  • My worries as UK prepares repatriation of 700 Nigerian prisoners – Rev Ogwuche 

    My worries as UK prepares repatriation of 700 Nigerian prisoners – Rev Ogwuche 

    More than 700 Nigerians alongside nationals of other countries serving jail terms in different prisons across England and Wales may soon be repatriated to their various countries. National Director, Church God Chaplains Commission (NTCG, England & Wales) and Coordinator, Nigerian Overseas Prisoners Support Initiative, Rev. Michael Angley Ogwuche, disclosed this, among other revelations, in a chat with INNOCENT DURU.

    Is it true that there are plans by the UK govt to deport more than 700 Nigerian prisoners and those of other nations?

    A recent announcement by the UK government reveals a new £5 million investment aimed at accelerating the deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) from prisons across England and Wales. This development, which includes the deployment of specialist staff to 80 prisons, is part of a broader strategy to address overcrowding and reduce costs to British taxpayers. While this move promises significant benefits for the UK’s prison system, it also raises critical questions about its impact on Nigerian citizens currently incarcerated in the UK and the readiness of Nigeria to reintegrate these individuals.

    Furthermore, the potential diplomatic hurdles involved cannot be overlooked. Foreign nationals currently make up about 12% of the UK prison population, with a significant portion being Nigerians. The UK government has intensified efforts to expedite the removal of these offenders, removing 2,580 foreign criminals since July 2024; a 23% increase compared to the previous year. The newly announced funding will create 82 specialist roles focused on speeding up deportations, with these officers set to be fully operational by April 1, 2025.

    The 700 prisoners may not all be affected, as some may have legal grounds for remaining in the UK due to established family ties and may not have exhausted their legal appeals. Accelerated deportations could potentially infringe upon their right to due process.

    What, in your view, gave rise to this?

    According to James Timpson, the UK’s Minister for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending, British taxpayers should not have to bear the cost of housing foreign criminals. He emphasised that faster deportations are a crucial part of the government’s plan for change, which aims to reform the prison system and enhance public safety. However, for the estimated 700 Nigerian citizens currently serving sentences in the UK, this development could significantly alter their circumstances potentially fast-tracking their return to Nigeria under the Early Removal Scheme. This scheme allows for the deportation of foreign offenders up to 18 months before the completion of their sentences.

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    How does this affect Nigerians?

    Many Nigerian prisoners may not have exhausted their legal appeals in the UK. Accelerated deportations could potentially infringe upon their right to due process. Moreover, the speed of deportations might strain diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the UK, particularly if Nigeria is perceived as being unprepared to reintegrate these returnees.

    Do you think Nigerian prisons have the capacity to handle this?

    Nigeria’s prison system is already overstretched, with issues such as overcrowding and limited rehabilitation resources. An influx of deported prisoners could exacerbate these challenges, making reintegration and rehabilitation efforts even more difficult.

    Furthermore, early deportation could lead to severe emotional and financial strain for those with established family ties in the UK, separating families across continents without adequate support mechanisms in place.

    What economic and Social pressures could this cause for Nigeria?

    Repatriating a significant number of Nigerian prisoners could burden Nigeria’s already overstretched correctional facilities and rehabilitation programmes. The economic cost of reintegrating these individuals many of whom may lack employable skills or support networks could pose an additional challenge.

    Do you foresee any diplomatic strain between Nigeria and the UK?

    In January 2014, the BBC reported that the UK and Nigeria signed a prisoner-exchange deal. The agreement was intended to allow citizens convicted in either country to serve their sentences in their homeland, promoting reintegration into the community upon release. However, it remains unclear whether this agreement has been fully implemented or what its impact has been on Nigerian prisoners in the UK. The speed and scale of the current deportation efforts could lead to tension between the two countries, particularly if deportations are seen as abrupt and lacking proper coordination. Ensuring a smooth and humane process would require extensive dialogue between the Nigerian High Commission in London and UK authorities.

    Do you foresee any form of stigmatisation and reintegration challenge?

    Returning prisoners often face significant stigma upon arrival in Nigeria, complicating efforts at reintegration. Without comprehensive support systems, these individuals risk becoming marginalised, which could increase the likelihood of recidivism or lead to other socio-economic problems. From the UK’s perspective, the financial savings and reduction in prison overcrowding are clear benefits. By removing foreign offenders faster, the UK could save millions in incarceration costs and free up prison spaces.

    What is the economic implications for Nigeria?

    For this new policy to succeed without causing undue strain on Nigeria’s resources, a strategic partnership between the UK and Nigeria is essential. This could involve capacity-building support for Nigerian correctional facilities; Funding for rehabilitation programmes to ensure effective reintegration of deportees; Bilateral agreements that clarify the responsibilities of both nations regarding deportation and reintegration.

    In the coming months, it will be important to monitor how this new measure is implemented and to advocate for a process that respects the dignity and rights of Nigerian prisoners. The Nigerian Overseas Prisoner Support Initiative (NOPSI) will continue to ensure that the voices of Nigerian prisoners are heard and that their rights are upheld during this transition.

    Lastly, the UK’s plan to speed up deportations may offer a short-term solution to its prison overcrowding crisis, but it also presents a significant challenge for Nigeria. The diplomatic and ethical dimensions of this policy cannot be ignored. Ensuring that deportations are conducted fairly, humanely, and in close cooperation with Nigerian authorities will be essential to preventing further strain on Nigeria’s correctional system and its diplomatic relations with the UK.

  • I’m team leader, not boss, says VC who drives tractors, handles shovel

    I’m team leader, not boss, says VC who drives tractors, handles shovel

    • Says Nigeria could develop tech-driven economy in five to ten years

    Prof. Francisca Oladipo is the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) in Oko, Kwara State.  In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, the professor of Computer Science reveals why he took up an appointment with the private university, the challenges that come with managing a private university and her unforgettable experience as a don, among other issues.

    I’m sure you had other options before you opted for the academia. What was the attraction?

    I have always been in the academia. As a matter of fact, by the time I was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University in 2022, I had already spent 21 years as a university teacher and administrator across countries and continents. However, speaking generally, I have always loved teaching. It did not matter the level—primary, high school or tertiary institution. My parents were teachers and I kind of grew up learning to train others to do things—teach people to cook, drive, build; just generally impacting knowledge. So I would say that I am a ‘natural formator’. 

    How did you become the Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University?

    I was head-hunted for the position of Vice-Chancellor of the university. I was not even in Nigeria when the Founder of the University, Engr Dr Johnson Adewumi, based on recommendations of some highly placed Nigerians in the university sector, reached out to me. There were no adverts or applications, just a series of interactions with the university’s Board of Trustees and Governing Council, and my appointment was announced.

    What challenges did you face in attaining this position?

    There were no challenges to attaining the position of a Vice-Chancellor really. Yes, I was hesitant initially because I had other plans for my career at that point, and they did not include heading a university (smiles). Additionally, I was leading some international research projects and being offered the position of Vice-Chancellor kind of presented some uncertainties around my availability to complete the project. But all that was taken care of.

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    I have had the privilege of speaking to many vice-chancellors in government institutions, and many of them are of the view that private universities are not an option for them. Why did you decide to accept an appointment in a private university?

    I love challenges. I love solving difficult problems. I love to tread where everyone else dreads. I was leading an international Euro-African project prior to my taking up this appointment. I accepted the position because I believed, and still do, in the vision of the Founder. I knew what I was getting into, I understood the challenges and I took them headlong. Thomas Adewumi University is a legacy project, a way of giving back to the Nigerian educational landscape, a means of shaping the future of our young people through affordable quality education. While I can understand why many of our good Professors would decline appointments as Vice-Chancellors in the private university sector, my position as Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University is more of a partnership to work together with people of like minds to co-create for global impact.

    The position offered me an opportunity to do what I love doing the most – nurturing young minds through education. It offered me the opportunity to be part of something noble and exciting but challenging at the same time – nurturing a young institution to become a university that is in a class of its own, bring about disruption and challenge the norms.

    What challenges have you faced in managing a private university, especially as a woman?

    I will like to not dwell on the fact that I am a woman. The major challenge was and still is majorly around funding. The university is being funded solely by our proprietor, so things are not really easy like you have in the public university system where you have TETfund and other government supports. In addition, being a young university (we are less than four years old), we originally struggled with increasing our enrolment. We needed to do more to earn the trust of the public in order for parents to trust us with their wards. But through the hard work of the members of the campus community – faculty, staff and students, we have been able to carve a niche for ourselves and achieved many milestones.

    You were the first woman to serve as a member of the Governing Council at the Federal University, Lokoja, and the first female Head of the Department of Computer Science at that university. Could you share your experience?

    Federal University, Lokoja was like my promised land and a training ground for me. I was a lot of ‘firsts’ in that university. I was not only the first and only female in the Governing Council but was also the youngest member. Therefore, it was an exciting experience for me really. I learnt a lot more from the external and internal members of the Council who you could say have ‘been there, done that’. Federal University Lokoja is unique in one way: we are welcoming, and we don’t discriminate on account of tribe, gender, age or any other demographics. I was an Associate Professor when I contested for and won an election as the Senate Representative to the Governing Council. As the Head of Department of Computer Science, I enjoyed the trust and support of all the members of the university community even beyond my department. We were like a family.

    Like I said earlier I like to venture into what many believe would be impossible, so I revamped the undergraduate curriculum for the computer science programme, established the PGD, MSc and PhD Computer Science programmes and was on the verge of establishing the Faculty of Computing when I was posted out for another assignment.

    How do you cope as a female university teacher and administrator?

    I cope well as excepted. I understand my roles and KPIs and I work daily towards achieving them. As an administrator, I believe in the merits of delegating, but being a private university where some of the talents may not be adequate, I take on more responsibilities beyond that of my office. I am a teacher, and even as a Vice-Chancellor, I still teach no fewer than six units in a semester. As a researcher, I supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate theses, publish extensively, attend and present at conferences. I am not a boss, but a team leader and I lead from the front. You would see me driving tractors, handling shovels, participating in digging and other heavy activities during constructions, etc. to encourage my colleagues.

    What is one unforgettable experience you’ve had as a lecturer?

    My career as a lecturer is filled with many unforgettable experiences. However, I would never forget the experience of witnessing the remarkable transformation of students who struggle tremendously at first with their academics, possibly failing in their first semesters, but going on to become some of the best in their sets. Experiences like such remind me of why I am a teacher – not just to transfer information but to create environments where students can discover their intellectual capabilities and unique contributions.

    How would you describe your experience as an undergraduate and how you navigated potential distractions?

    My undergraduate years were without many distractions. I was what you could best describe as an ‘effico’. It was basically classroom-hostel-church/fellowship-classroom. There were no mobile phones at that time and not many students had entertainment systems, so we basically just studied.

    How did your upbringing shape the woman you have become?

    I was raised by very loving but strict parents. They taught us godliness, respect, contentment, hard work, commitment and service to humanity. My parents were my first teachers and I guessed that kind of influenced my choice of career in some ways.

    Many women claim experiencing sexual harassment. What are your thoughts on this issue?

    It is unfortunate really and I believe that our society should do more to protect the vulnerable. Sexual harassment is not limited to just women, men and children also experience the evil. People should be encouraged to speak up. We should shun the culture of victim-shaming, victim-blaming. The university system can put modalities in place for prevention.

    What does being a woman mean to you?

    Being a woman is just one facet of my complete identity. Yes, it is important, but it is not all encompassing. I see being a woman as meaning that you have to navigate a complex identity that is being shaped by biological and cultural context. For example, I would not imagine you asking a similar question of a male Vice-Chancellor. Being a woman means that your lived experiences are constantly under scrutiny, you have to fight limiting stereotypes that define womanhood based on physical appearances and family experiences.

    What are you passionate about?

    I love to nurture new things to grow. I am passionate about training my students. I love watching their lives grow, from the timid fresher of the prelim years to the uncertainties around getting into the core of the field of study in year two, to the stronger gaits of the penultimate year three and the freedom of the final years.

    What led you to pursue a career in Computer Science? 

    My father was a mathematician. It was a field considered by people to be quite tough. Recall that I mentioned earlier how I love doing difficult things. However, there was the thing about studying ‘professional courses’ in the university – computer science was considered as the ‘profession branch’ of mathematics.

    How did your parents react when you told them you wanted to study Computer Science?

    They were quite okay with my choice. Computer Science as seen as a prestigious field, ranked up there just a little below Medicine, Pharmacy and Law. So it was a thing of pride for them, especially my mum who did not want me to end up as a Mathematics teacher (smiles).

    Why are there so few women in the digital or technology sector in Africa?

    There are several interconnected factors actually. There is the cultural expectation that portrays the STEM fields as being masculine, making girls to frequently face discouragement from pursuing technical fields. This cultural barrier also traditionally assigns the roles of care giving and household responsibilities to the woman. Therefore, this limits their time for professional development, and digital professions tend to demand more time commitment.

    Although the trend is changing, we still have a scarcity of role models in the form of female tech leaders and entrepreneurs which makes it harder for young women to envision technology careers.

    How soon do you envision Nigeria having its own Silicon Valley?

    I am really not sure we need to have ‘Silicon Valley’ in Nigeria (smiles). Remember that Silicon Valley is a region in California, serving as a global centre for high technology and innovation. However, Nigeria has the potential to develop its own global innovation centre much sooner than many might expect. With the rapid growth of innovation tech hubs and emerging ecosystems across the country, coupled with the increasing government and private sector investments in digital infrastructure, we could see a well-established tech-driven economy within five to 10 years. To accelerate this timeline, we must prioritize expanding internet access, ease of doing business to encourage more investments, curriculum revamp to strengthen STEM education starting from basic education level, etc.

    Many Nigerian youths are technologically savvy, but some use these skills negatively, which has harmed Nigeria’s image internationally. How do you think the government can better harness the skills of these youths?

    First it is important to tackle the problem from the roots by addressing the underlying economic motivations while providing accessible alternatives that harness these technical skills positively, both for individual advancement and national development.

    The government should adopt constructive approaches to redirect our tech-savvy youths towards positive contributions. Most of them generally desire for some income before now adopting flamboyant lifestyles based on the amount of illicit money they realise from cybercrimes.

    Government should expand legitimate tech education and certification programmes that are affordable and accessible, in order to create clear pathways to legitimate careers. We need to establish tech hubs and innovation centres across our campuses and within communities where youth can develop skills, connect with mentors, and access resources for legitimate entrepreneurship.

    Another approach is to partner with international tech companies to create local employment opportunities and apprenticeships with competitive salaries. However, this should be supported with commensurate investment in digital infrastructure to improve internet access and reliability, making legitimate remote work more viable. We cannot underplay the role of outreach in positive reinforcement. Government should create continuous public awareness campaigns to highlight success stories of Nigerian tech professionals and entrepreneurs who have built successful legitimate careers from tech. Finally, I will suggest legal reforms where the cybercrime laws will focus on rehabilitation rather than solely punishment.

    Many students have applied to study cyber security lately. What makes this course special?

    The BSc in Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly popular due to several compelling reasons which is a combination of global demand, accessibility, income potential and career sustainability. Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand worldwide, providing strong salary potentials, and this creates an accessible international career opportunities irrespective of the country of origin.

    Secondly, the field provides location-independent job opportunities that allows our graduates to earn international salaries even while living in Nigeria. Another reason is that there are several career progression paths with various specializations in cybersecurity (network security, application security, forensics). There are more, but these are some of the reasons for the increased demand for the course.

    When you’re not teaching, how do you relax or what do you do for fun?

    I love to cook. I experiment with different recipes by creating my own or recreating the ones that I see elsewhere. I love to read. The works of Sydney Sheldon and John Grisham are some of my favourites.

    Some people have expressed concerns about the proliferation of universities in Nigeria. How would you respond to this?

    We do not have proliferation of universities in Nigeria. The truth is that the current number of universities (both public and private) is not enough to accommodate the growing demands for university education in the country. Available information from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shows that almost every year, less than 50% of admission seekers are admitted into their courses of choice. This necessitates the need to expand access to university education.

    Government primary and secondary schools were once considered the best, yet many parents now choose not to send their children to these institutions. Do you think government universities are following this trend?

    There is no denying the concerning parallels between what happened with elementary schools’ system and what we are seeing in higher education today. Public universities that were once the unquestioned leaders in Nigerian education are facing significant challenges ranging from infrastructure deficiencies to funding shortfalls and frequent disruptions from strikes. However, there is no denying the fact that except for a few, they still maintain certain advantages, particularly in research capabilities, established academic traditions, and affordability compared to private alternatives.

    Many of our most accomplished faculty and brightest students still choose public institutions. The critical issue is not whether government universities are declining but rather how we can revitalize them. This requires a multi-faceted approach: sustainable funding models, administrative reforms, stronger industry partnerships, curriculum modernization, and improved student services.

    Rather than accepting decline as inevitable, we need collaborative efforts between government, academic leadership, and private sector partners to strengthen these institutions. We must recognise that our public universities remain essential to ensuring educational access for all Nigerian students, regardless of economic background; therefore we should focus on transformation rather than continuing to draw the parallel.

  • How japa syndrome is ruining marriages, destroying households – Counsellor

    How japa syndrome is ruining marriages, destroying households – Counsellor

    • Says there’s no such thing as irredeemable marriage

    Marriage counsellor and thespian, Bisi Adewale, spoke with Online Editor SUNDAY OGUNTOLA on the impact of Japa syndrome on marriages and how to make the institution work. Excerpts:  

    Many couples are living apart on account of migration. Is that something you recommend?

    Migration has been a natural phenomenon all over the world from the days of the Bible. Even Abraham migrated. People have always moved when there is famine.  When there is war, you see people moving.  But lately,  it  has become more pronounced, maybe because  of  the nation’s economy  or the  mentality  of  the  people.

    So  the  issue  of  japa  has  been  there, but  it  has  become  something  of  an  epidemic  in  Nigeria now.  And it is affecting marriage and families. It affects families in several ways.  The  first  one  is  what  I  call  the  proceed  spouses  syndrome.  The  Proceed  Spouses  Syndrome  is  a  situation  whereby  only  one  of  them Japa.  The  husband  is  in  UK,  France,  US,  Germany  or  somewhere,  and  the  wife  is  here  in  Nigeria  or the  other  way round. And that can be for many years. 

    I counselled a woman some time ago.  She  said  the  last  time  she  saw  her  husband  was seven  years  ago.  The husband is in France.  I  met  another  woman,  who  said  the  husband was  in  the UK.  So I began to talk to the man.  The  day  I  landed  in  the UK,  the  man  stopped  picking  my  calls. I understand the reason for  that, because  when  you have  been  somewhere  for  nine or  10  years,  you  must  have  started  a  new  family.  The wife is still here now. It has been around 13 years. He even stopped picking calls. He stopped calling the woman. And I think they have two children.  The children have never seen their father as adults. They were little when he left. 

    There’s another woman who was trusting God.  They were together for two years, then the husband  travelled. He is still there now, almost 50  without  a  child,  and  the  husband  is  nowhere  to  be  found. So,  she  was  asking,  ‘Am  I  a  Miss  or  a  Mrs?’  I said that is  a  big  question,  and it was not  for  me  to  answer. 

    So, staying apart encourages infidelity.  It encourages rumours, crisis and conflicts.  It encourages raising children in a delinquent way.  You turn a wife into a baby mama. Or should I  call  it  single  mother  that  they  didn’t  plan or   bargain  for? It is also affecting the upbringing of the children and by extension the society.  And  the  problem we  are  starting  now, we  may  not  really  appreciate  it  until  the  next  five,  10  years.

    But when Christians migrate, they are supposed not to have anything  to  do  with anyone else while trusting their spouses to  join  them…

    It is expected that when a Christian migrates, he or she should abstain.  They should be faithful while apart. But we  need  to quickly  remember  that  the  Bible  says  it  is  not  good  for a man  to  be  alone. In  fact,  one  of  the  reasons  God  said  we  should  get  married  is  to  avoid  sexual  sins. 

    So now when you are away  from  your  wife,  from  your  husband  for  one,  two,  three,  four  years,  it  will  be  very  difficult to  stay  faithful. It will be very, very difficult.

    I was in a church in France.  Some  guys  that  were  coming  to  me,  I  asked if they could vouch they had never slept with anybody else since they arrived. Many of them said Pastor, please let leave that side. Some were crying while others who were sincere confessed.  They  said when  they  realise  that  there  is  no  woman  beside  you,  some  women  would deliberately  come and  get  at  you.

    So, Christians are expected  to  be  faithful. But  faithfulness  is  not  something  you  can  do  by  strength. It  is  something  you  need  to  do  with  carefulness,  by  boundary.  Even  we  that  are  with  our  wives,  we  are  still  running  away  from  girls, let alone people who would not see their wives. They are not animals; they are humans.  That  is  why  it  is  never  encouraging  for  you  to  be far from your spouse. I always  tell  people  that  a  great  marriage  is  one in which both husband  and  wife  are  in  the  same  country,  in  the  same  city,  in  the  same  house,  in  the  same  room,  on  the  same  bed, under  the  same  duvet.  That’s what marriage is all about.  Anything short of that is something else. We call it damage, because it will damage that marriage.

    Read Also: Akwa Ibom seeks presidential intervention on erosion, deep seaport

    Even  people  that  are  in  Abuja  and  their  wife  is  in  Lagos,  it  leads  to  a  lot  of  infidelity. And these  are  the  people  that  come  back  home  every  fortnight, some  people  every  weekend, talk  less  of  somebody  that they  may  not  see  each  other  in  the  next  six  years. So there is  no  Christian  that  will  be  able  to  sustain  you  when  you  disobey  the  order  of  God. If they will migrate, they should migrate together.

    But some people will say they didn’t plan to stay for that long. They just thought they’ll go for six months or one year and ask their spouses to join them.

    If  you  are  truthful  to  yourself, you will discover that it  is  not  one  plus  one.  You know what it means to get a visa.  If  you  are  really  truthful  to  yourself,  it  is  not like  you  are  migrating  from  Lagos  to  Ibadan.  And  you  now  say I  want  to  be  at Ibadan to look for a house, settle down and bring my wife.

    I  have  a  particular  pastor  years  ago  even  before  the japa  syndrome.  He went for about 17 years.  The wife couldn’t join him.  He is back now in Ibadan.  The  wife  came  to  our  office,  shouted,  prayed,  did  a  lot  of  things.  Eventually he came back home after 17 years of separation.

    So,  when  people  say  they  didn’t  plan  it that  way,  they  should  plan  it  very  well  and  go  together from  day  one.  Otherwise, they may scatter that marriage and destroy their homes.  So, I say if you must japa, please japa together.

    Is it realistic considering the economic difficulties and strain? Is it out of place for someone to go and the other joins later?

    It  depends  on  the  value  you  place  on  your  family  life.  It  depends  on  the  value  you  place  on  your  future,  your  family  life and   your  children.  If  you  place  great  value  upon  them,  I  can  see  a  lot  of  people  that  decided  to  stay  for  one,  two,  three  years  and  refuse  to  go  until  they  can  get  enough  resources  to  go together. Those are wise people.

    I remember a man came to my office. He is in the UK, the wife is in Lagos here.  He  came  around  and  said,  ‘Pastor,  they  told  me  the  escapade  of  my  wife.  How can I stop her from sleeping around?’  I said take her with you. Even  a  woman  that  is  with  you,  if  she  wants  to  sleep  around, she will  sleep  around.  Talk less when she is not with you  at  all.  You  will  come every  December and you  think that  woman  will  not  sleep  with  somebody  else?

    I ministered for a pastor in the UK years ago.  We were in his house.  When  I  stepped  out  of  his  house,  in the  opposite  flat,  there  were  two  white  women  there.  They were in pants.  They  lay  down  on  the  lawn in  the  front  of  their  house.  They said they were sunbathing. And they were like almost 95 per cent naked.  My  pastor  friend  now  said  can  you  see  them? I said yes.  He  said that is  why  it  is  difficult  to  stay  in  this  town  without  your  spouse; that many  of  our  people staying  here  without  their  spouses and claim they  are  spiritually  strong, these  are  the  people  that  destroy  them.

    Can  you  iimagine seeing that every  morning  you  before  you  go  to  work?  If  they  just  walk  up  to  you  one  day,  which  many  of  them  do…  Many  of  them don’t  value  any  morals; they  just  believe  that   having  sex  with  anybody  is  like  drinking  water. That is  how  many  of  our  men  hang  in  the  hands  of these  strange  women.

    We are talking about the value on the family now.  The  thing  is when  you  make  the  money,  our  own  teaching  about  family  life,  when  you  make  the  money,  it’s  about  you  and  your  family.  It’s about the future. 

    We’ve  seen  a  lot  of  people  that  went there.  I know a particular man who was there.  We were neighbours before. He was there and made all the money.  The  wife  got  to  know  that  he  was  sleeping  around  and doing all manner of things.  By the time he got back home, he was old.  He had bought houses in Lagos and everything. Then the wife turned against him.  It was serious.  He was over 80 when he came back.  He  was  coming  to  my  house  to  beg  for  food and water.  At  times,  he  would say  ah,  they  didn’t  give  me  water. Because  they  would  shut  down  the  water at  the  back, knowing  that  he  could not  climb  the  tank.  They would not cook for him. The wife and the daughter left in the house dealt with him.

    When I  talked  to  the  younger  brother, he  said  the  mistake  was from the man because he abandoned  the  family  for  a  long  time. Eventually, the wife joined him but couldn’t even fit in.  She discovered he had girlfriends and baby mamas everywhere. The  man  had  a  lot  of child  support money  to  pay  to  so  many.  So  the  wife  returned  to  Nigeria to  take  care  of  her  children.  And the man stayed for another almost 20 years. 

    Eventually, he  got  old. He  couldn’t  stay  alone  again,  so he  came  back  to  Nigeria and the  whole  family turned  against  him. He lived a miserable life before he eventually died. 

    When he died,  I approached the  family for the burial  arrangements.  They asked who we were arranging burial for.  He  died,  we  have  removed  him  from  LUTH  and  took  him  to  Matori  to  bury  him. Just  like  that;  just  the  way  you  would  do  to  a  chicken.

    We said okay, we are neighbours, what can we do? Maybe, we can have at least a wake.  Because  at  a  stage, the man was the  chairman of our landlords’  association.  At least we should honour him.  They  said  we  will  give  you  the  frontage  of  our  house free  of  charge.  We will not collect money.  But we won’t attend.

    So we should always think of old age.  We should only think of the future.  We  should  only  think  of  the  time  we  are  going  to  have  billions and even  one  plate  of  rice  will  be  like  a  mountain  before  us.  That is  why  every  decision  we  want  to  take  now,  think  of  the  old  age,  think  of  the  future.

    I  always  tell  people  to  add  30  years  to  their  ages.  You will always behave better if you do.  If  you  are  50  now,  add  30  years, you will  be  80.  If you are 40 now, you will be 70.  Many  of  the  things  you  value  now,  will  be  valueless  then.

    As  much  as  King  David loved  women,  a  time  came  that  they  gave  him  the  best  woman  in  Israel and the  man  couldn’t do  anything.  We will all get to that level. That  woman  that  wants  all  the  trinkets,  all  the  bags,  all  the  shoes, the  time  is  coming  you  have  all  the  shoes,  you  have  all  the  bags and  there would be  no  event  to  attend.

    Many  of the jobs we  are  pursuing  now, even if we have 100,000  degrees,  they  won’t  take  us  in  2055. They won’t take us.  Many  of  the  things  that  you  are seeing that  are  glistering now,  technology  must  have  changed.  The  best  of  all  our  cars  will  look  like the old  cars  of  those  days.

    Some say parenting is the toughest job on earth. Do you agree?

    I don’t always agree with that.  The  reason  why  people  normally  say  parenting is the  toughest job is  because people were never  trained  for  it. For  example,  I’m  a  trained  accountant. If  you  say  I  should  come  and  work  as  a  journalist,  it  will  be  the  toughest  job.  You  are  a  journalist,  if  I  say  you  should  come  and  work  as  an engineer,  it will be  the  toughest job. That is some of the things we are saying.  They  will  say  parenting  is  the  toughest  job,  marriage  is  the  toughest  relationship. Why?  Nobody is taught to do it.

    The  job  somebody  is  doing  the  person  will  use  about  35  years  to  pursue  the  certificates.  About  25 years to pursue  the  certificates and work for 35 years before  retirement.  But  for  parenting,  we  have  so  many  people who are  raising  children  who  have  never  read one book about it. They have never attended any training. They have never listened to anybody to train them. That is  why  the  thing  looks  so  difficult,  so  tedious. 

    So,  every  job  looks tedious  until  you  have  the  skills to  do  it. If they give you and I N100 million or N200 million and  they  give us all  the  materials  to  build  this  house  where we are seated, in 20, 30  years, you and I will never  succeed  on  doing  something  like  this. Despite  all  the  resources,  despite  all  the  money,  ordinary  wall,  we  may  not  succeed  in  building, because we don’t have the skills to do so.

    So  when  somebody  now  asks  us,  is building a house  the  toughest  job  in  the world? We’ll  say yes, because  we  were  never  trained  to do it. But  when  you  are  well trained,  you will discover that parenting has principles, styles and modes. When  the  parent  is  well equipped, we’ll be ready. 

    For example,  when your  child is  four years old,  what that child will  do is quite different from when  that child is 14 years old.  When  you  look  at  the  child  and  say,  at  the  age  of  four,  you  just  say,  oh,  Juliet, go  and  put  on  your  slippers  and  follow  me. Juliet, at  the  age  of  four,  will  run  after  you and say, ‘Daddy, I  want  to  follow  you.’  The  same  Juliet  at  the  age  of  14,  when  you  say put  on  your  clothes  and  follow  me, will say ‘Daddy  where  are  we  going  to? Now  you say are  you  talking  to  me  like  that?  I’m  your  dad.  She will say, ‘Daddy  where  are  we  going  to?’

    And  when  you  say  okay  we  are  going  to  a  certain  place, she will ask what  are  we doing there?  Why  must I follow you?  What’s  my  role  there? Then you will think  the girl is stubborn, the girl is  difficult. But the girl is not  stubborn or difficult. She is just being a  teenager. 

    So, parenting is not  difficult. It is only difficult for the unskillful. Acquiring skills simply means you attend training or read books. Thank  God for  modern day,  if you go on many of  these websites, even YouTube, if  you consume the right YouTube  content,  you  are  going  to  learn  so much about parenting. But books are the best. 

    And we have a lot of organisations  who  are  giving  very  good  training  to  parents  who  are  ready.  But  how  many  parents  will say  I  want  to  let  go  N100,000  to  learn  about  parenting?  Everybody seems to know it and everybody  seems  to  be  making  mistakes.  That  is  why  we need to become intentional in our  parental  works.

    So  what’s  your view on people  who say spare the rod and spoil the child? What  does  the  rod  mean  and how do you use the rod according to the Bible?

    There  are  two  things  to  the  issue  of  the  rod  and  the  child.  Now, the Bible says train up a  child  in the way he should go. It also  says  we  should  correct  our  child  when there’s hope. That is to say the bible supports the rod – discipline.  But  the  Bible  says  rod  of discipline because  foolishness abide in  the  heart of the child. But  the kind of rod we use in Africa is not rod of discipline. It’s rod of affliction.

    When  you  hit  the  head  of  the  girl or the  boy  with  a heavy  rod, you are afflicting. Some will use  blades to cut the child.  Some  will  hit  the  head  of  a  child. Some  will  kick the  child and he will  land  on the floor, and they will sit on the  child and begin to say I’m the one  that gave birth to you; I can kill  you. Those are not the rod of discipline or correction. That is the rod of  affliction.

    And there  are  two  ways  to  it.  The  first  one is  the African  way,  which leads to  child  abuse. Where  you kick your child the way you  like. The second one is the  European  and  American  style.  The  first one is child abuse, the  second one is child indulgence, whereby  you  dare  not  touch,  you  dare  not  correct  or  the  child  will  call the police. So, the European  side is not the best; it is not  balanced.  The African side is also not balanced. But the Bible  standard is  balanced.

    You  wrote  a  book  some  years  ago,  Fight  for  That  Marriage.  In  the  light  of  what  we  see  these  days, to what extent should  people  fight  for  their  marriage?

    I think I’ve been hearing that question for  some  time  now,  especially in the case of this lady  that  was  killed in Abuja, Osinachi. I will say the way to fight for  marriage is not the way people  are  thinking  about  it. Fighting for  your  marriage  starts  even  before  you  choose  a  life  partner.  When  we  decide  to  wait  for  the  right  time,  to  be  mentored,  to  be  led,  to  be  corrected,  you  are  already  fighting  for  your  marriage.

    When  you  are  in  the  marriage,  you  are  faithful  to  your  wife  or  to your spouse. You have effective communication. You spend time together.  You honour your  spouse.  You are  fighting  for  your  marriage.  And when there is  misunderstanding,  you  decide  to  seek professional help. Maybe  marriage  clinic.  Because  most  of  the  time  nowadays,  marriage  counselling  is  not  even  working. So  what  we  do  nowadays  is  marriage  clinic. So,  when  you support the  development  of  your  marriage,  when  you  apologise,  when  you  forgive,  you  are  fighting  for  your  marriage.  When you  know  what  to  say  but  you  don’t  say  it,  when  you  cherish  your  relationship  more  than  your  ego,  and  because  of  that  you  decided  to  call  for  reconciliation,  you  are  fighting  for  your  marriage.

    But fighting for your marriage  does  not  mean  that when  you’re in an abusive relationship, you don’t  talk,  you don’t  say  anything,  you die  there.  No.  That  is  not  how  to  fight  for  your  marriage.  Because  I  usually  tell  women  that L  comes  before  W.  Life  comes  before  wife.  Your  life  comes  before  wife.  But  you  know  that  when  you  are  truly  fighting  for  your  marriage,  your  marriage  will  not  get  to  the  state  of  beating  each  other.

    There  is  a  trail  to  violence,  chain  of  violence  in  marriage.  It normally starts from irritation.  If you don’t address it, irritation will turn into offence.  Offence will turn into conflict. If you don’t resolve the conflict, conflict will turn into bitterness.  Bitterness will turn into resentment and resentment will  turn  into  violence.

    When  you  are  at  the  level  of  bitterness  and  resentment,  only  very  few  things  can  lead to  violence.  For  example,  I  see  toilet  rolls  on  the  table, then I begin to say lots of awful things. The issue is not with the toilet roll on the table but the bitterness that has piled up for many years. And some people can be like that for 5, 10, 20 years before they burst out. So, people that fight for their marriages always sit to talk about their issues.

    We normally have chains of reconciliation. You move from forgiveness to reconciliation,  from  reconciliation  to  normalisation,  from  normalisation,  you  go  to  repeat. That’s  marriage.

    In every marriage, there will be forgiveness, reconciliation,  normalisation,  repeat.  Because there’s  no  way  you  can  be  together  with  somebody  and  you  will  not  offend  each  other.  You will,  no  matter  whom  you  ask.  That is  why  when  some  pastor  preach  that  we  have  never  had  the  first  misunderstanding,   I  say  in  my  marriage  I  have  misunderstanding.  Those pastors can be Angel Gabriel that got  married  to  Angel Michael.  So  I  can’t  speak  for  them.

    We teach conflict management in marriage.  It’s not conflict cancellation but management.  You have to manage it till  you  breathe  your  last.  Because why  do  we  fight  in  marriage?  We fight ecause we are different.  Why  do  we  fight  in  marriage?  We fight because  we  are  humans.  Why  do  we  fight  in  marriage?  We fight because  we  are  close.

    So,  when  people  want  to  get  married,  one  of  the  strongest  keys they must develop  is  conflict  management skill. And they  should  come  out  of  illusion  where  they  think that  we  are  compatible.  Many people got married based on  that  illusion; that  I’m  getting  married  to  my  soul mate.  Nobody is  your  soulmate.  But  you  can  find  soulmate  by  creating  one. But you didn’t marry a soul mate.  That you are just physically compatible, mentally compatible, spiritually compatible, socially compatible, vocationally compatible; the Bible does not talk about compatibility. The  Bible talks about agreement. Can two walk together except they agree? And marriage is just a union of two people that are agreeable  people.  So,  fighting for  your  marriage  is  a  very  good  thing.  We  keep  on  fighting.”

    Some marriages have deteriorated so badly that divorce becomes the best for all parties. At what point should divorce become the best option?

    I am a marriage clinician.  It  is  like  you  are  talking  to  a  medical  doctor.  Can  you  imagine  sitting  down  before  your  doctor  and  you  now  say,  ‘Doctor,  when  is  death  the  best  option  in  the  medical  life?’

    The doctor  will  say  there  is  no  time  even  when  the  doctor  knows  that  somebody  will  die, they  will  still  manage  as long as the  person  is  still  breathing.  That’s my attitude to marriage.  And there’s something I always say that there’s no marriage that is  irredeemable  in  the  workshop  of  God. Now, at what stage will a marriage become irredeemable? When people decide not to work on it.  Every marriage must work.  But  most  of  the  time,  people  cherish  their  ego more  than  their  marriage.  So  there  is  no  time  I  will  suggest  go  and  divorce.  This  year  will  make  it  26  years  I’ve  been  practising. I’ve  never  had  a  situation  whereby  I  say  oh  you  people  deserve  to  go  and  divorce or  suggest  it.  And  by  the  time  we  begin  to  work  on  them, you  just  discover  that  it  works.  Amazing turnaround.  We  even  worked  with  a  couple  that  had been  divorced  and  separated  for  17  years, and two  of  their  children  have  now  grown  up.  They brought  them and  we were  able  to  bring  them  together.  They asked themselves why is it  that  we  divorced  then?  What  was  wrong  with  us? And today  they  are  together.

    Now,  that  said,  if  a  marriage  will  work,  we  must  create  an atmosphere  that  will  make  it  work.  Now,  what  is  the  atmosphere  that  makes  marriage  work? People  marry  because  of  love.  But  when  you  enter  into  marriage, love is  the  least  thing  you  really  need. Because love  is  not  enough  for  marriage. 

    One  of  the  strongest  things  that  makes  marriage  work  is  called  intentionality. In  fact,  I  wrote a  series  of  books  recently  about  it.  I  called  it  Wonders  of  Intentional  Marriage Volume  1,  2,  3.  Because  I  discovered  that  number  one  thing  that  destroys  marriage  is  not  violence. Number  one  thing  that  destroys  marriage  is not  infidelity.  It’s  not  violence.  People  can  mention  so  many  things but they  won’t  mention  the  real thing  that’s  number  one  cause  of  divorce in marriage.  What  is  it?  Carelessness.

    Somebody may say,  well,  how  can  carelessness  be?  Okay,  somebody  that sleeps with  somebody’s  ex-wife  is  because  he’s  careless  morally.  Somebody  that  beats  his  wife,  they  didn’t  just  get  into  the  room  one  day  and  begin  to  beat  each  other.  They  will  start  by  being  careless  in  their  words,  careless  in  their  attitude.

    The first carelessness  is with  our  intimacy.  When  you  see  a  boyfriend  and  girlfriend,  they  pay  attention  to  each  other,  they  talk  to  each  other and they  stay  late  in  the  night.  But  immediately  they  get  married,  they  become  careless  in  their  union.  The  man  is  not  ready.  Can  your  girlfriend  be  calling  you  and  you  will not  pick  her call? A  girl  you  are  still  toasting  to  marry  you,  you  pick  it  seven  times.  Most  of  the  time  they  flash  you,  you  call  back.  But  the average  married  man,  the  wife  will  be  calling,  they  will  not  pick.  And  then  when  they  will  pick,  they  will  say ‘don’t  waste  your  credit.  I’m  coming  back  home  now.  I’ll  call  you  back or  I’m  in  the  middle  of  something.  So,  we’ve  lost  this. 

    Then  we  become  careless  towards each  other.  So,  one  thing  that  makes  marriage  work is  intentionality.  If  every  husband  and  wife  can  become  intentional  in  their  attitude,  every  marriage  can  work.  Can  you  imagine  if  you  go  back  to  the  time  of  dating  each  other,  like  the  old  days. The  time  you  called  each  other  and  do  extra  cool in  the MTN  of  those  days.  The  time  you  decided  to,  in  fact,  as  at  that  period,  they  didn’t  have money to go to the eatery.

    Oh,  I  was  in  one  particular  eatry  years  ago  and  I  saw  a  guy. He  came  around,  the  only  thing  he  could  buy  was ice  cream.  And  very soon,  the girl came. He  didn’t  even  share  it. He  got  the  ice  cream for the  girl.  And  he  dipped  his  hand into his pocket and  brought out pure water for  himself.  I  said,  that  is  a  boyfriend,  not  a  husband.  A husband  will  not  do  that.  He  is  the  one  that  will  drink  the  ice  cream. 

    Another  carelessness  we  normally  have,  if  marriage  is  having  a problem,  we  carelessly  go  to  the  wrong  people  for  help. Who are the people we  normally  go  to?  ‘FFF’.  Who  are  the  ‘FFF?’  Our  friends,  our  families and  our  fans  on  Facebook,  our  followers  on  Facebook.  Now,  when  you  take  your  marriage  to  those  kind  of  people,  they  will  bring  their  selfishness  on the  table.  They will bring their  ignorance  on  the  table.  So that is one of the  major  problems.

  • Nigeria’s push to lead Africa’s $180b digital trade revolution

    Nigeria’s push to lead Africa’s $180b digital trade revolution

    From a continent of long reputed potential, Africa is transforming to a continent buzzing with economic prosperity. Her digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion in 2025, thus, contributing significantly to her Gross Domestic Product (GDP), creating new job opportunities, and expanding regional trade. But, Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy—is poised to lead this evolving digital trade revolution, encouraged by her sheer market size, entrepreneurial drive and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA looks at some of the strategic actions taken by the President Bola Tinubu administration to solidify Nigeria’s position as Africa’s digital trade leader.

    The landscape of Africa’s digital trade and trade in services has witnessed significant growth in recent years, drawing sufficient strength from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and its Protocols, particularly the Protocol on Digital Trade, the first of its kind in the world, and the Protocol on Trade in Services.

    Digital trade and trade in services, which are widely acknowledged as game-changers and key drivers of Africa’s economic transformation, are already helping to diversify economies, increase competitiveness, and improve productivity.

    This is hardly surprising, considering that the Continent’s digital economy is projected by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to reach $180 billion in 2025, up from $115 billion in 2020; thus, contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), creating new jobs, and expanding regional trade.

    For instance, while the World Bank estimates that digital technologies can create over 10 million new jobs in Africa by 2025, primarily in the services sector, the AfCFTA is expected to increase intra-African trade to 50 per cent by 2030, with digital trade as key driver.

    Adopted by the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012, the AfCFTA is arguably, the most ambitious and strategic push to build an integrated, diversified and industrialised continent capable of holding its own in the global economy.

    With its promise of creating a continental trade bloc of 1.3 billion people across Africa, with a combined GDP of about $3.4 trillion, the AfCFTA, which implementation kicked off on January 1, 2021, is easily the world’s largest trade agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1994.

    However, the AfCFTA Agreement and its Protocols on Digital Trade and Trade in Services present new hope that captures Africa’s audacious step in driving accelerated trade across borders using home-grown Africa-focused tools and solutions. But the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade is particularly ground-breaking.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole explained that it is the first ever continental digital framework and it covers modern technology, new economic opportunities, data protection and cross-border digital connectivity in an innovative manner, different from the traditional protocols.

    The minister, in a statement, which was made available to The Nation, said Nigeria is currently solidifying its position as Africa’s digital trade leader, by working towards the ratification of the Protocol on Digital Trade to the AfCFTA Agreement.

    She said beyond this, the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s administration is also working to strengthen policy harmonization by aligning national regulations with AfCFTA frameworks.

    Nigeria, Dr Oduwole added, is also enhancing trade facilitation through digital customs processes and e-commerce policies, and expanding digital infrastructure by increasing broadband penetration and fostering public-private investments in connectivity.

    The minister noted that with over 109 million internet users and a thriving mobile economy, Nigeria has the foundation to lead Africa’s digital commerce evolution. She described the country’s approach to digital trade facilitation as decisive.

    Dr. Oduwole, however, said expanding broadband access, modernising Customs procedures for e-commerce, and ensuring interoperability of payment systems will be essential for driving inclusive growth.

    She added that by deepening engagement with regional trade frameworks and harmonising digital regulations, Nigeria is positioning itself as a continental hub for digital services exports, facilitating cross border transactions, fostering innovation and attracting global investment.

    Seizing the opportunities in services sector

    With services sector contributing over 50 per cent to GDP, Nigeria is already a regional leader in Financial Technology (Fintech), creative industries, professional services, and digital platforms.

    For instance, Nigeria’s fintech industry, which is home to five of Africa’s nine unicorns, including Flutterwave, Interswitch, Moniepoint, and OPay, has driven cross-border payments, mobile money adoption, and financial inclusion, powering digital transactions across the continent.

    Indeed, fintech is one of Africa’s strongest services-driven industries, with the market projected to reach $3.3 billion by 2025. The growth of fintech in Africa is driven by the increasing adoption of mobile payments, online banking, and other digital financial services.

    Companies such as Chipper Cash, valued at over $2 billion, OPay, valued at over $2 billion, and Flutterwave valued at $1 billion, are leading examples of this growth, providing innovative payment solutions and financial services to millions of users across the continent.

    Similarly, the creative economy, which is home to Nollywood, Afrobeats, a growing gaming industry and digital content exports, highlights the strength of Nigeria’s creative talents. The creative economy also demonstrates first-hand how digital platforms can turn cultural assets into globally exportable services, shaping and redefining pre-conceived perceptions about the continent.

    Information Technology (IT) outsourcing firms are also expanding into new markets, strengthening Nigeria’s position in Africa’s knowledge economy. Initiatives such as the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) launched in September 2023, and the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) backed by the Office of the Vice President are enabling this growth.

    The Three Million Technology Talents Program (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is also enabling this growth and opening up opportunities for access to high quality Nigerian talent at a global scale.

    The 3MTT programme, according to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani is a critical part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power her digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter.

    Launched in 2022, the 3MTT initiative aims to produce three million technically proficient individuals over four years in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies.

    In professional services, Nigerian legal, consulting, and accounting services, as well as the rise of e-health and e-learning solutions further underscores the country’s role in providing technology-driven services that address continental gaps in healthcare and education.

    The creative economy and e-commerce are significant services-driven industries in Africa, with the continent’s music industry alone expected to generate $1.3 billion in revenue by 2025, driven by increasing demand for African music, film, and other creative content.

    Africa’s e-commerce market is growing rapidly, and is projected to reach $75 billion by 2025, according to multinational strategy and management consulting firm McKinsey. Companies such as Jumia, valued at over $1 billion, are tapping into this growth, offering music and video streaming services, as well as a wide range of products, including electronics, fashion, and home goods.

    Other leading e-commerce players in Africa include Konga.com, valued at over $200 million and PayPorte valued at over $100 million, according to Forbes 2024 report.

    Digital finance, e-health and e-learning are also growing rapidly in Africa, driven by the increasing adoption of digital technologies and the need for innovative solutions to address the Continent’s development challenges.

    Companies such as Andela, valued at $1.5 billion, which provides remote work opportunities for African software developers and Esusu, valued at $1 billion, which offers credit building services for tenants, are examples of this growth.

    Furthermore, the rise of African unicorns such as Interswitch, valued at over $1 billion, Wave, valued at over $1.7 billion, and MNT-Halan, valued at over $1 billion, demonstrates the continent’s potential for creating successful and scalable businesses in services-driven industries.

    In all of these, Nigeria has never wavered in her resolve to lead the charge in Africa’s $180 billion digital trade revolution, propelled by the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Trade in Services. The country has taken steps to reinforce her leadership in innovation is digital public infrastructure, for instance.

    One of the steps was the introduction of the Contactless Passport Application System (CONPAS) by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), streamlining passport processing for citizens and enhancing ease of travel, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    According to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the initiative showed the Federal Government’s dedication to allowing passport renewals to be conducted without physical presence, cutting down processing times significantly.

    While noting that it also reinforces modernisation as Nigeria embraces technology to meet the contemporary needs of her citizens, Tunji-Ojo, added that the initiative is in line with the administration’s pledge to digital transformation of the country as Nigeria races towards achieving the $1 trillion-dollar economy ambition.

    The Nation learnt that this initiative, alongside other digital trade advancements, including investments in port modernisation and the on-going implementation of its National Single Window Project are streamlining trade corridors and reducing Customs clearance times.

    These reforms enhance Nigeria’s role in handling a major share of West Africa’s cargo and passenger traffic, and reflects the current administration’s broader commitment to harnessing technology for efficiency and transparency through ease of doing business.

    Dr Oduwole emphasised that with Nigeria’s sheer market size, entrepreneurial drive, and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, she has all the right ingredients to be at the forefront of Africa’s transformation.

    “The country has made significant progress in liberalising key AfCFTA priority sectors—agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics and automotives—aligning with regional trade integration efforts,” she stated, pointing out, for instance, that with agriculture contributing over 23 per cent to GDP, Nigeria is expanding agro-processing and export capacity to enhance competitiveness and access to global markets.

    The pharmaceutical sector, forecast by the Goldstein Market Intelligence to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.1 per cent from 2017 to 2030, is also strengthening local production to reduce dependence on imports and improving health security.

    Similarly, Nigeria’s automotive industry is also advancing rapidly, fueled by government-led projects promoting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs). This followed President Tinubu’s September 2023 launch of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), with a target to convert one million vehicles to CNG by 2027.

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    The essence of the Initiative is to reduce the country’s reliance on petrol. And reinforcing its commitment to clean energy, the government has also supported locally produced Electric Vehicles (EVs) by leading indigenous manufacturers such as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) and JET Motor Company, marking a bold step toward sustainable mobility and industrial expansion.

    That’s not all. Nigeria is also strengthening local vehicle production and industrial growth under the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), as indigenous companies like IVM lead the charge by manufacturing vehicles with 70 per cent locally sourced parts, bolstering domestic manufacturing capabilities.

    Despite these significant milestones, Dr. Oduwole said given the evolving digital space, there is a sense of urgency for Nigeria and Africa in general to keep ahead of the curve and work collaboratively to strengthen the digital trade potential across the continent.

    According to her, the sad reality is that some African countries are still at the start-line of this digital race, even as the rest of the world is already adapting to various levels of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    “There is, therefore, an imperative for the on-going 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of the Heads of State and Government to establish a coordinated framework for championing the entrenchment and advancement of digital trade under the AfCFTA and supporting member states to strengthen their capacities to embrace and expand digital trade across the continent,” the minister stated.

    President Tinubu was in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where he participated in the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government which held from February 14 to 18, 2025.

    Dr. Oduwole said the designation of a Continental Champion for the implementation of the Protocol on Digital Trade, at the Session, will go a long way in advocating for and ensuring support for African States and the private sector for increased digital trade.

    “The vision and promise that the Protocol on Digital Trade holds can only be realised through coordinated multi-stakeholder collaboration. To that end, my call to action for Governments is the prioritisation of ratification and domestication of the Protocol as well as alignment of legal frameworks to support digital trade,” she stated.

    The hurdles

    Despite the significant growth potential of Africa’s digital economy and trade in services, several challenges have hindered their development. For instance, regulatory fragmentation and inconsistent standards across borders are major obstacles, making it difficult for digital service providers to operate seamlessly across different countries.

    Also, limited access to financing for digital service providers, lack of digital inclusion, infrastructure and connectivity deficits, and a digital skills gap contribute to the challenges facing digital trade and trade in services in Africa.

    Furthermore, cyber security concerns, including increasing threats and data breaches compromise the integrity of digital trade transactions and erode trust in digital services.

    However, the AfCFTA is not folding its arms. It is currently harmonizing regulations and standards across the continent and facilitating the growth of digital trade. Moreover, initiatives such as Afreximbank’s Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, the AfDB’s Digital Africa initiative and the World Bank’s Digital Economy for Africa initiative are working to improve digital infrastructure, enhance digital skills, and promote digital inclusion.

    Additionally, cyber-security measures, such as the African Union’s Cyber-security Convention, are being implemented to protect digital trade transactions and build trust in digital services.

    Dr. Oduwole, however, stressed the need for African States to prioritise the ratification and domestication of the Protocol on Digital Trade after the adoption of its eight annexes at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government.

    Beyond that, she said decisive steps must be taken to ensure vertical regulatory and statutory alignment as well as harmonization at the national and regional levels. According to her, “This ameliorates the frustrations in dealing with the ‘spaghetti bowl’ of fragmented frameworks from country to country.”

    Closely related is the establishment of horizontal coherence between the national strategies and the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade to essentially ensure that government initiatives are drawn from the same proverbial hymnbook as the strategies for implementing the Protocol.

    This, according to the minister, will include paying deliberate attention to initiatives that advance the provision of public digital infrastructure, development of tools for a digital marketplace, digital inclusion for MSMEs and other underrepresented groups, as well as providing the enabling environment for digital innovation to thrive.

    As with other key aspects of the AfCFTA multi-faceted mandate, Dr. Oduwole said there is need for multi-stakeholder collaboration in the implementation of both the Protocols on Digital Trade and Trade in Services.

    “This entails leveraging strategic partnerships including with the private sector, the AfCFTA Secretariat, regional organisations, development partners, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and other transformational alliances,” she said.

    The minister pointed out that honing these high impact collaborations will help with mobilization of resources, policy harmonisation and access to finance in addition to enhancing e-commerce/digital trade platforms and generally make cross-border trade more efficient.

    She also said capacity building is a critical requirement, given the fast evolving and changing dynamics of the digital trade and trade in services ecosystem. She said trained negotiators and regulatory bodies are required to design and implement AfCFTA-aligned policies as well as harmonize trade standards and support efficient customs procedures.

    In the same vein, awareness creation among African businesses, (as well as investors globally), sensitizing them about the benefits of the AfCFTA Protocols on Digital Trade and Trade in Services, will enhance their capacity to leverage opportunities in those sectors.

    “Scaling digital skills programmes to equip African youth for high-demand service job, strengthening innovation ecosystems to enhance service sector competitiveness and expanding regional digital marketplaces for seamless trade in services, are a few examples of what is possible when capacity building is embraced,” Dr. Oduwole stated.

    While admitting that the road ahead demands deliberate action, the Minister, however, said it requires bold, forward-looking strategies that bridge gaps and transform challenges into opportunities.

    While insisting that Nigeria has the digital momentum to lead Africa’s digital trade revolution, the minister, however, said leadership is not just about potential—it is about deliberate, strategic action.

    “By aligning policy, infrastructure, and collaboration efforts, Nigeria can move from being a key player to become the undisputed digital trade leader of and for Africa,” she emphasised.

  • LASAMBUS: Overcoming limitations to fulfil life-saving mission

    LASAMBUS: Overcoming limitations to fulfil life-saving mission

    When an accident happens on any of the chaotic roads in Lagos, every second counts. But for many residents, getting emergency medical help can feel like a gamble. While there are lifesaving interventions by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), others share frustrating stories of delayed calls. Is LASAMBUS still delivering on its mission? CHINYERE OKOROAFOR reports on its successes, struggles and the urgent need for a stronger emergency response system in the state.

    On a humid evening in Lagos, Adeolu Alade was driving home from work when he witnessed a horrific accident along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. A commercial bus had rammed into a stationary truck, leaving passengers trapped and bleeding.

    In a panic, Adeolu dialed 112, the Lagos emergency line, hoping for a swift response from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

    “I kept hearing music playing while waiting for an operator,” he recalled. “Minutes felt like hours before someone finally picked up.” By the time an ambulance arrived, bystanders had already driven some victims to a nearby hospital on motorcycles. Others were left helpless, waiting for medical attention that came somewhat late.

    Role of emergency medical services in a fast-growing Lagos

     Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa, with a population exceeding 20 million people and increasing daily due to urban migration.

    The city’s rapid expansion has led to higher traffic congestion, increased road accidents and a greater demand for emergency medical services (EMS).

    According to data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos records thousands of road traffic accidents annually, with many victims requiring urgent medical attention.

    To address this growing need, LASAMBUS was established in 2001 to provide free emergency medical response across the state.

    The service was designed to ensure that accident victims and critically ill patients receive immediate care before reaching a hospital, significantly improving survival rates.

    Studies show that victims of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) without pre-hospital care are 5.5 times more likely to die than those who receive swift medical intervention.

    However, LASAMBUS has faced several challenges over the years, including delays due to traffic congestion, poor road access and prank calls.

    A major setback occurred during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, when several ambulance points were vandalised, disrupting emergency response operations. Although the five locations such as the Tollgate and the Third Mainland Bridge, among others, have been restored with new ambulance vehicles, there are concerns over the visibility, response time and efficiency of LASAMBUS. Residents say they no longer see the emergency vehicles stationed at their usual locations.

    Many worry that the service may not be fulfilling its purpose

    One commuter who passes through Lagos Tollgate daily noted that he had not seen an ambulance there for a while.

    According to the commuter, if the emergency toll line doesn’t connect, it would be helpful to have someone available at the designated ambulance points to report emergencies in person.

    Recalling an incident, he explained that while driving from Mowe to Maryland, he witnessed an accident near Isheri and repeatedly tried calling the emergency toll line but couldn’t get through.

    Since he was heading toward the toll gate, he assumed he would find someone there to report the accident.

    However, when he arrived, he saw no ambulance personnel—only two LASTMA officials. He reported the situation to them and continued his journey.

    Data from a study titled “Lagos State Ambulance Service: A Performance Evaluation” highlighted these mixed realities.

    Between December 2017 and May 2018, LASAMBUS received 1,352 road traffic accident (RTA) calls, but only 37.1% were attended to. Factors such as traffic congestion (60%), poor access (17.8%) and prank calls contributed to delays.

    When The Nation visited five key ambulance points—Lagos Tollgate (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway), Mile 12 (Kosofe LGA), Third Mainland Bridge, Anthony (along Oshodi-Oke Expressway), and Mobil (Lekki-Epe Expressway in Eti-Osa LGA)—there was no ambulance in sight.

    However, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials at these locations confirmed that LASAMBUS is still active.

    One official at the Lagos Tollgate explained that the ambulance had just left to respond to an emergency.

    Similarly, a female officer at the Anthony point confirmed that the ambulance had been dispatched to Oshodi for an emergency and was later called to handle an accident in Bariga.

    The officer emphasised that while ambulances may not always be parked at designated spots, they are constantly on the move responding to distress calls.

    Some residents also complained about delays when calling emergency numbers 767 or 112, saying the lines play music for a long time before a call centre agent responds.

    As the city continues to grow, experts argue that more ambulances, better coordination, and increased public awareness are essential to strengthening emergency response systems in Lagos.

    A public health specialist, Dr. Ifeoma Onyeoma explained that having more ambulances will reduce delays, especially in a busy city such as Lagos.

    She also stressed the importance of a well-organised system where emergency teams can communicate quickly and reach accident scenes faster.

    “Many people don’t know how to call for help during emergencies. Public awareness campaigns will help residents understand how to contact LASAMBUS and what to do while waiting for help,” she said.

    Despite these challenges, the Director of Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mrs. Beatrice Makinde insists that LASAMBUS remains fully operational, ensuring swift medical assistance across the state.

    Read Also: Whither Nigeria in the fight against postpartum hemorrhage?

    In a chat with The Nation, Makinde explained that the ambulances are always on the move, responding to emergency calls.

    She said this is why people may not often see them parked at their usual spots.

    “We receive over 200 emergency calls daily, ranging from road traffic accidents to medical emergencies and building collapses. Our ambulances are always on the move,” the official said.

    According to Makinde, the ambulance service operates from five base stations strategically located across Lagos, including Badagry, Lagos Island, Ikeja and Ikorodu to ensure quick response to emergencies.

    She acknowledged that some ambulance points were vandalised during the #EndSARS protests but have since been renovated and reinstated at key locations, including the Tollgate, Third Mainland Bridge, and the rest.

    “When there is an emergency call, it is routed through our Command and Control Centre, which then directs the nearest available ambulance to the location. Our teams stabilise patients at the scene before transporting them to the appropriate hospitals,” she said.

    Makinde further explained that some Lagos residents call the emergency numbers just to test if they are working. When the call is answered, they simply say, “Oh, sorry, we just wanted to check if the number still works.”

    She reassured residents that the emergency numbers work efficiently, even as she urged people to avoid prank calls, as they could delay help for those in real emergencies. LASAMBUS provides free emergency medical assistance, ensuring swift response to critical situations.

    Its services include on-site stabilisation, such as suturing and infusion therapy, to keep patients stable before hospital transport.

    Depending on the severity of the case, the service director said patients are taken to specialised hospitals, trauma centres for fractures and severe injuries, while neurological cases are referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    The service plays a crucial role in handling collapsed buildings, road accidents and other medical emergencies, ensuring timely intervention and life-saving care.

    Beyond emergencies, Makinde said the ambulance service also supports large gatherings, as Lagos State mandates the presence of an ambulance at events with over 100 attendants.

    Event organisers must request an ambulance at least two weeks in advance through the Ministry of Health, reinforcing the government’s commitment to public safety.

    Residents can request an ambulance by calling 767 or 112, which routes calls through the Lagos State Command and Control Centre. The centre coordinates emergency responses among multiple agencies, including fire services, the police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and LASTMA.

    She added that the state currently operates 36 ambulances, which she admitted are not sufficient because of the state’s growing population.

    She commended the Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to improving emergency services, stating that more ambulances may be added this year.

    “The governor has the interests of Lagos residents at heart. That is why our emergency response system remains one of the best in the country,” she stated.

    Despite the challenges, LASAMBUS remains a lifeline for many residents of Lagos in critical moments, responding to hundreds of emergency calls daily, including road accidents, building collapse, and emergency support at public gatherings, among other emergency services.

    For instance, in April 2022, a 27-year-old expectant mother, Shukurat Isa went labour while traveling on a public bus from Awoyaya to Orile in Lagos.

    As the bus reached the Law School Bus Stop on Victoria Island, she began experiencing intense labour pains. A fellow passenger promptly called the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for assistance.

    Within 14 minutes of receiving the distress call at 8:02 a.m., a LASAMBUS team arrived at the scene by 8:16 a.m.

    The emergency medical team assisted Shukurat in delivering a healthy baby boy weighing 3.3 kg. After ensuring both mother and child were stable, they transported them to the Ikate Health Centre for further care.

    The incident highlights the critical role of LASAMBUS in providing timely emergency medical services in Lagos.

    The swift response and professional care not only ensured the safety of Shukurat and her newborn but also underscored the importance of public awareness with regard to the availability and proper use of emergency services.

    While improvements are needed, more ambulances, better coordination, and faster response time, residents also have a role to play.

    Understanding how to use emergency services properly, avoiding prank calls, and providing clear accident details can make a big difference. In a rapidly growing city like Lagos, a strong, well-functioning emergency system can mean the difference between life and death.

    But with Lagos’ growing population and heavy traffic, the demand for efficient pre-hospital emergency care has never been greater. The question remains: Can LASAMBUS overcome its limitations to truly fulfil its life-saving mission?

  • Third-party insurance: A lifeline for victims or burden for vehicle owners?

    Third-party insurance: A lifeline for victims or burden for vehicle owners?

    In a sweeping move to enforce Nigeria’s Insurance Act 2003 and the Motor Vehicle (Third-Party Insurance) Act, 1950, the police launched a nationwide crackdown on February 1 to ensure compliance with mandatory third-party insurance. This move has sparked mixed reactions, with many motorists becoming more aware of the legal protections the policy provides. In this special report, Assistant News Editor/Head, Security Desk, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU examines the complexities of enforcement and explores the ongoing debate about its effectiveness in improving road safety and protecting accident victims

    There was chaos at the busy Cele Bus Stop in Okota yesterday morning after a commercial bus grazed a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Without hesitation, the driver of the SUV rushed out of his vehicle, causing a major traffic disruption. He stormed toward the danfo, yanked the commercial driver from his seat, and in a matter of moments, both men were locked in a heated argument that nearly escalated into physical confrontation. Thankfully, nearby law enforcement officers intervened, calming the situation and instructing that both vehicles be removed from the road to clear the way for other motorists.

    Scenes like this are all too familiar across the country. Road traffic accidents, whether serious or minor, often trigger intense reactions from drivers, regardless of time or location. In some cases, disputes escalate into fistfights, resulting in injuries. In others, the offending driver may apologize, only to be met with either acceptance or a demand for damage repairs from the victim. Despite being in place since 1950, many Nigerians are unaware that the N5,000 they pay annually for Third Party Insurance is not just a legal requirement or a bureaucratic formality. For many, it’s merely a way to avoid hefty penalties—such as a fine of N250,000, a year in prison, or both. While car owners dutifully pay the insurance premium each year to remain roadworthy, the financial burden of accidents still falls on their shoulders, with insurance companies raking in millions of naira in profits.

    However, a significant shift occurred in December 2022, when the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) raised the cost of third-party insurance for private vehicles from N5,000 to N15,000. Commercial vehicles, staff buses, general-purpose vehicles, and articulated trucks now face higher premiums, with coverage extended up to N5 million. Tricycles, motorcycles, and bicycles are also included under the scheme, with premiums adjusted to reflect the different levels of risk associated with these vehicles. In addition, the commission increased the third-party claims cap from N1 million to N3 million, aiming to better align with current economic realities. The hike to N15,000, however, sparked a wave of public outrage, with many Nigerians accusing the commission of insensitivity to the struggles of ordinary citizens.

    It was only a few weeks ago that most of the motoring public, through the vigorous enforcement of the law by the police, became aware that their third-party insurance certificate provides coverage for such situations. They learned that, in the event of an accident, there was no need to resort to fighting or causing a scene, as the insurance company, by law, is obligated to cover the financial burden up to N3 million. This realization has been a turning point for many drivers, who now understand that the insurance is designed to protect them from the costs associated with accidents, making the often chaotic and confrontational aftermath avoidable.

    Third-party insurance policy and why the police took up its nationwide enforcement

    Compulsory Third-Party (CTP) motor vehicle insurance, also known as mandatory liability insurance, is a legal requirement in many countries around the world. This type of insurance provides coverage for injury or death caused to third parties in accidents, but typically does not cover damage to the insured vehicle.

    In Africa, countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt have implemented third-party insurance policies. Globally, numerous other nations have also adopted mandatory third-party insurance, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Russia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Australia, and New Zealand.

    Though the names and regulations surrounding third-party insurance can vary from country to country, the core objective remains the same: to provide coverage for third-party vehicle damage, as well as bodily injury or death resulting from accidents. This universal approach ensures that the financial burden of accidents is shifted away from individuals and placed on insurers, offering a level of protection to those who are affected by accidents, regardless of fault.

    Following a meeting with the Director General of NAICOM, who visited him at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, announced to Nigerians that the vigorous enforcement of third-party insurance would begin on February 1. The police emphasized that the purpose of this enforcement was to enhance the safety of Nigerians and their property, particularly as road traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death and injury in the country.

    Data released last year by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) revealed that at least 21,509 people lost their lives in road accidents across Nigeria between 2021 and September 2024. The families of these victims, many of whom were left impoverished by the sudden loss of breadwinners, should have been entitled to compensation from the insurance company of the vehicle(s) responsible for the fatalities, if the vehicles were covered by valid third-party or comprehensive insurance policies.

    In addition to the tragic loss of life, thousands of others sustained various injuries in road accidents, with many facing hefty medical bills that should have been covered by the insurance of the vehicle responsible for their injuries. In the event of a road accident, the law requires that the parties involved promptly invite traffic officers from the police or the FRSC to document the incident. Typically, photos and videos are taken of the damaged vehicles, properties, and any injured or deceased persons. The traffic officers also carry out investigations to determine which party was at fault, while emergency responders attend to the victims. All these steps are vital, as a police report is necessary to process an insurance claim. Without this official documentation, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to seek compensation for the damages or injuries sustained in the accident.

    Aside from ensuring public order and safety during accidents, the process of involving the police also serves a crucial role in verifying vehicle documentation. This verification can help authorities identify stolen vehicles, track down criminals on the run, or uncover vehicles involved in illegal activities. Such checks enhance security by linking vehicles to their rightful owners and ensuring they are being used for lawful purposes.

    The proper enforcement of insurance laws also contributes to a more orderly road system. It not only strengthens public confidence in the police as effective enforcers of the law but also alleviates the financial burden on government resources. By making insurers responsible for covering the costs of accidents, the financial responsibility of victim compensation is shifted from the state to the insurance providers, thus relieving taxpayers from the heavy costs associated with road traffic incidents.

    Speaking on the matter, Police Spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s high time the government and everyone took traffic management seriously, to save lives and property. Road traffic accidents kill more people than terrorism and insurgency.” He further clarified the police’s role in enforcing third-party insurance compliance, noting, “It’s a slap on the face of the police to say we are busybodies for enforcing third-party insurance compliance. It is the duty of the police, as the lead agency in internal security, to enforce all laws.” Adejobi made it clear that there was no room for debate on the issue, pointing out, “The Insurance Act is very clear. Why do we have the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and maintain the traffic training school in Ikeja?”

    Data obtained from the police indicated that a total of 4,434 vehicles have been contraband since the commencement of the enforcement. Of the total contravened, 441 were charged to court, 3,225 released after compliance while 531 vehicles were under investigation. According to the police, the enforcement drive also seeks to address the issue of fake or fraudulent insurance certificates. Many people, the police noted, are unaware that only insurance companies registered and approved by NAICOM (National Insurance Commission) are recognized by law. These licensed insurers are the ones held liable in the event of an accident, ensuring that victims can receive compensation for their injuries or losses. By verifying the authenticity of insurance certificates, the enforcement helps protect the rights of accident victims, reducing the economic hardships and losses they would otherwise face, and ensuring that the financial burden of accidents is properly addressed through legitimate insurance channels.

    Read Also: Mixed feelings greet third-party insurance policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

    Legal framework and matters arising

    The legal framework surrounding third-party insurance in Nigeria is supported by several critical laws and regulations aimed at ensuring road safety and providing compensation to accident victims. At the core of these regulations is the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Insurance) Act, which mandates that all motorists must maintain a minimum level of insurance coverage to protect against potential liabilities to third parties. This law serves as the primary legal requirement for third-party insurance in the country, ensuring that individuals involved in accidents can be compensated for damages or injuries caused by other drivers.

    In addition to this, Section 68 of the Insurance Act 2003 reiterates the compulsory nature of third-party motor insurance, imposing penalties on those who fail to comply. This section ensures that all motorists meet the necessary insurance requirements, and it provides a mechanism for holding defaulters accountable. The NAICOM Regulations further enhance this framework by assigning the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) the responsibility of overseeing and enforcing compliance with insurance laws. NAICOM ensures that only registered and licensed insurers operate within the country, and it works to uphold industry best practices, ensuring that insurers meet the standards required to provide compensation to accident victims.

    The FRSC Act, 2007 also plays a significant role in enforcing traffic laws, granting the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) the authority to ensure compliance with road safety regulations, including the third-party insurance requirement, on federal highways. This act empowers the FRSC to maintain order on the roads and ensure that drivers are adhering to the law. Lastly, the Police Act, Criminal Laws, and the Constitution grant the police the authority to enforce all laws in Nigeria, including those related to third-party insurance. As the lead agency in internal security, the police play a crucial role in ensuring that motorists comply with these laws, which are fundamental to road safety and providing compensation for accident victims. Together, these legal instruments create a comprehensive system for enforcing third-party insurance in Nigeria, ensuring that the financial responsibility for accidents is properly addressed, protecting the rights of accident victims, and promoting overall road safety.

    The media has been flooded with videos and images of enforcement teams carrying out stop-and-search operations, demanding evidence of compliance with the mandatory third-party insurance requirement. In many instances, vehicles without valid insurance were impounded, with their owners instructed to obtain the policy before they could retrieve their vehicles. However, the police’s involvement in this enforcement has sparked controversy, particularly among some activists who feel that the police are overstepping their bounds by taking on responsibilities that traditionally belong to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). These critics argue that the police should be focusing on more pressing security challenges rather than getting involved in traffic enforcement.

    Additionally, there have been accusations that police officers deployed for the mission were using the opportunity to extort money, harass motorists, and demand bribes, further straining the already fragile relationship between the police and the public. Some citizens also expressed concerns that the officers may not have the proper training or tools to accurately verify insurance certificates in real time, potentially rendering the enforcement ineffective.

    Despite these concerns, the enforcement exercise has largely proceeded without major issues. While there were some isolated incidents of misconduct and overzealousness—especially in states like Enugu and Akwa Ibom—the operation has generally been smooth. To quell fears of a potential rivalry between the police and the FRSC, Police Spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi addressed these concerns, stating that both agencies were not in competition but were, in fact, working together toward a common goal. This collaboration, he assured, would ensure that the enforcement of third-party insurance is carried out effectively, contributing to improved road safety and better protection for accident victims.

    “Not at all. They will rather work with the police on the enforcement.  The law specifically empowers the police on the enforcement. The Police Act, Constitution and Traffic Laws also give the police such powers. The police have wide and enormous duties generally, that is why it is called the lead agency in internal security,” Adejobi said.

    On the issue of extortion, harassment and corruption, Adejobi said the enforcement teams had already been warned to eschew such practices, embrace professionalism and ethical law enforcement practices, which they have complied with to a large extent. Asked who enforces compliance on the part of the insurance companies notorious for always saying away from paying claims, Adejobi said that is the responsibility of NAICOM. “We can hold NAICOM accountable. We should not forget that we have a commission in charge of other processes not the NPF. The only thing the police can do is to make sure you have your police report when and where necessary.”

    Prospects and recommendations for effective enforcement

    To address the ongoing issue of fake insurance policies, experts suggest that the police integrate their enforcement efforts with the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID). This integration would enable real-time verification of insurance certificates, reducing the reliance on paper documents that are easily forged. By leveraging modern technology, this move could significantly enhance the integrity of the enforcement process and help ensure that only legitimate insurance policies are in circulation.

    There is also a strong call for collaboration between NAICOM, the FRSC, and the police to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign about the importance and benefits of third-party insurance. This education campaign would help motorists better understand the value of insurance, not just as a legal requirement, but as a critical safety net for themselves and others on the road. Increased awareness could also reduce resistance to compliance and increase overall insurance coverage among motorists.

    To avoid duplication of efforts and potential conflicts between agencies, experts recommend the establishment of a clear framework that defines the specific roles and responsibilities of the police, FRSC, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), and NAICOM in enforcing third-party insurance regulations. This would ensure coordinated and efficient enforcement, eliminating overlaps and confusion in the execution of duties. Furthermore, it is essential that the police authorities implement strict anti-corruption measures to prevent officers from abusing their enforcement powers. Ensuring that the enforcement process is free from bribery and harassment is crucial to maintaining public trust. Transparent procedures should also be put in place to allow motorists to easily challenge any wrongful actions or unfair treatment by enforcement officers.

    Finally, to address the root cause of the widespread sale of fake policies, it is recommended that the government and NAICOM work closely with insurance companies to ensure that third-party insurance remains both affordable and accessible to the general public. By making genuine insurance policies more affordable, the incentive for motorists to purchase fake policies from roadside vendors would be significantly reduced. Incorporating these recommendations could lead to a more effective and transparent enforcement of third-party insurance laws in Nigeria, ultimately improving road safety and ensuring that accident victims receive the compensation they deserve.

    Sharing her views on the matter, Bola Odukale, the Director General of the National Insurers Association (NIA), expressed her support for the enforcement of third-party insurance, calling it a welcome development. She highlighted that the initiative represents a renewed hope in ensuring vehicle owners comply with the required insurance standards, ultimately protecting both themselves and other road users. Odukale emphasised the importance of the policy, stating, “It will protect accident victims against the costs of recovering from an accident that someone else, such as another driver, has caused and make compensation available for innocent victims.” Her statement underscores the significant role third-party insurance plays in providing financial security for those who suffer from road traffic accidents, ensuring they are not left to bear the burden of costs and injuries caused by others.

    Odukale listed low public awareness/limited understanding of insurance benefits; difficulty in reaching rural areas and underserved communities with insurance products; cultural and religious factors; perception of financial burden; fragmentation of the market and inadequate access to information technology as significant obstacles with getting the people to embrace insurance culture. “Some Nigerians view insurance as contradicting their cultural or religious practices, leading to resistance to adopting insurance as a financial instrument. Many Nigerians perceive insurance as an additional financial burden rather than a protective measure. With limited disposable income and numerous financial priorities, insurance is often considered a luxury rather than a necessity. Other issues include inadequate access to information technology, high inflation, security concerns, and persistent unemployment,” she said.

    Odukale recommended the expansion of distribution channels, adding that agent networks, microfinance institutions and retail outlets should be utilized to reach rural areas. “Leverage digital platforms for online policy purchase and customer service and claims processing. Partner with government agencies, cooperative societies and trade unions to reach the informal sector. Build trust and confidence. Improve customer service and complaints. resolution mechanisms. Collaborate with regulatory bodies to enforce consumer protection standards

    “Lagos is often called a pacesetter because it sets an example for other states in Nigeria in many areas, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Camera and every state should embrace such technology. Please note that all over the world, deployment of law enforcement agents and technology are best solution to enforcement of compulsory insurances

    “Enforcement agencies in Nigeria are important because they protect citizens, maintain law and order, and prevent and detect crime. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) serves as the primary law enforcement agency in Nigeria, responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crime, and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.

    “Third-party insurance is quite popular in car insurance purchases because it is legally mandatory. However, due to the extent of many myths surrounding it, many car owners fail to make educated decisions,” she said.

    To foster a culture of insurance in Nigeria, Odukale emphasised the need to improve public awareness, expand distribution channels, and build trust and confidence in the system. She pointed out that educating the public, especially young adults, about the importance of early insurance planning is crucial. Odukale also suggested implementing policy regulatory interventions to create a more robust framework for the industry. Furthermore, she highlighted the role of technology in minimising fraud, as well as the use of data-driven insights to better understand customer needs and market trends. By leveraging modern technology, insurance processes can be streamlined, fraud reduced, and the overall experience made more efficient for both insurers and consumers.

    Odukale also called for stronger inter-agency coordination, advocating for a system that is not only efficient but also transparent. She believes that such collaboration would benefit motorists, accident victims, and the broader society. Ultimately, she sees the proper enforcement of third-party insurance as aligning with the police’s mandate to maintain law and order, contributing to both road safety and internal security. By taking these steps, Nigeria can develop a system that ensures greater protection for all road users while promoting a safer, more reliable insurance landscape.