The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Poverty, vices soar in Cross River community as locals lament 87 years in darkness

    Poverty, vices soar in Cross River community as locals lament 87 years in darkness

    • Natives still use bush lanterns, charcoal pressing  iron
    • Questions trail state government’s multi billion naira investments in rural electrification

    New Ekuri, a rural community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State has remained in darkness in all its 87 years of existence.And that is  despite  successive government’s vow to provide electricity even in remote areas of the state.   Numerous promises made,and billions of naira spent over the last 10 years by   the administrations of the immediate past  Governor Ben Ayade and the incumbent, Governor Bassey Otu,have been to no avail. New Ekuri is a victim of the failed promises and today wallows  in ruins as joblessness, poverty and festering vices have become dominant features of the community. INNOCENT DURU reports.

    Hilda Ayimor, a  junior secondary school pupil in New Ekuri wouldn’t have known what electricity looks like but for neighbours who use generators and solar light. Her community hasn’t had power supply in its 87 years of existence. Not even a single power pole or cable passes the area to give the people a glimmer of hope that electricity supply would soon get to the community.

    “Ours is a world of darkness,” Hilda said in a tone that wrenches the heart.

    “We are always in darkness.  Many of us, the young ones who have not gone outside this community before, wouldn’t have known what electricity is if not for neighbours who use  I  better pass my neighbour  generators and those who use small solar light panels. I guess we are just a little better than our ancestors who lived during the stone age.”

    Owning to  the enormity of the chores she attends to at home after school hours, Hilda hardly has time to read during the day.

     “It’s only at night I have the time to read. Unfortunately, power is a challenge. We use torch to read. We have only one  torch in our house. We put the light in one place and come together to read around it,” she said.

    “It’s always not easy for us to read in that manner but we have no choice.  That is the condition we have found ourselves in New Ekuri.”

    The pupils are not alone in this disgusting condition that the people of New Ekuri have found themselves.

    Their teachers fare no better in  preparing  for classes.

    “Absence of power supply is  doing  incalculable  damage to education and everything you can think of in our  community,” a teacher who gave his name as Nathaniel  Okon said.

    “It very sickening teaching without power supply. I use torch to read to prepare for class. At times, I read in the evening after school hours when there’s an opportunity to do so. There is a torch I tie on my head to read. But the challenge is that it causes headache for me after a while.  I can’t even read online because we don’t have internet connection in the community.”

    Once in a while Okon uses  generator  but he finds the cost of doing so prohibitive.

    “I manage to spend about N10, 000 on fuel monthly from my meager salary of N20, 000,” he said.

    “ I am sustained by what I get from my farm and small business. When  there is no money to buy fuel, I go  out to power my phone at a charging point. It costs  N300 to do that.”

    As a teacher who admonishes his pupils to maintain a high level of  cleanliness,  Okon does everything possible to make sure he doesn’t go to school with rumpled clothes.  “I use pressing iron that uses charcoal to iron my clothes because  there is no electricity. We do not buy charcoal because that is what we use to cook.”

    Economic activities grounded

    Socio-economic life in the community is almost zero. Hand work that young people could engage in to earn a living is non-existent. Only privileged members use generator to power their businesses. Incidentally, businesses hardly thrive  in the community where poverty walks on all fours.

    Gilbert Uyietta who runs a beer parlor business in the community said: “We rely on generators all year round. It  affects  my business. Seventy percent of the profit that I am supposed to have goes into buying fuel. A litre of fuel here is N1,500.

    “Today, I have bought three litres of petrol that can serve me for about three to four hours.  If you check that, it amounts to N4, 500 daily. It is not certain I will make enough sales that will give me that amount in a day, much more  profit that I will need to attend to other personal and family needs.”

    Sounding frustrated,he added: “if I have enough capital, I will leave the community and go to an urban area where there is electricity.”

    A member of the community, Pastor Louis described  New Ekuri  as  a very poor environment.

     “Life is difficult in New Ekuri.  The cost of living is very high because when our people travel  to buy things, they factor the very high overhead costs  and the profit they want to make  into whatever item they want to sell.

    “So, you are buying it at a very high price. When you don’t have power supply, your business will not flourish the way it should be,” he said, regretting that “people rely on  their torch here. Some people use rechargeable light. That’s what people actually depend on. If not, they would have been going about with their bush lanterns and candles and all that.

    “In fact, even now, some people still use bush lanterns in their houses.  There are many who sleep in the dark. Another thing that actually helps people here is this Hausa light, known as  after NEPA.  So they buy battery, slot it in there and use it.  When it runs down, they go back to buy another  battery. When its life span expires, they will look for another one to buy.”

    Reeling out other woes bedeviling the community, Pastor Louis said: “There are several people who cannot go to school because there are  no means of doing so. You look at where people live and be sorry for them because  they are poor. And sometimes when you see  what our people eat, you will be moved to pity.  It also speaks volumes for you to understand that if these people had good means of livelihood, things would have been better for them today.”

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    No access road, other infrastructure

     Pastor Louis also identified lack of roads as one of the challenges hindering the development of the community.

    “Where will electricity come from? When we  don’t have an access road, is it electricity we will  have?” he asked rhetorically.

    “The government has  never done anything like that for us.  Whatever we have is what we have done through communal efforts  to see that we shouldn’t  remain in the forest.”

    Going down memory lane, he said: “ New Ekuri was created in 1938. Our people migrated from Old Ekuri which had been there before 1938. New Ekuri is almost 90 years old and for this length of years, we have never had power supply much more   government presence of building a road for the community.

    “Since we don’t have an access road, where will those poles pass through?  That’s the challenge we face. We are in Nigeria and we vote during elections but we don’t have government’s attention. The government is aware of our predicament. We have been talking and talking without response.”

     The cleric noted that  what would have  attracted the government’s attention to help New Ekuri  is the “conservation we are embarking on. That project  will  be of benefit not just to the state but  to the country and the world at large. But because government has no interest in that, they still support loggers  to go into the forest.  The government allows them  to go in there and that has been a big fight for Ekuri people to see how they could sustain what they have actually decided to conserve all these years.  So it’s a big fight for us.”

    Politicians have kept making empty promises- Clan head

    The Clan Head of Ekuri Clan and  Village Head, New Ekuri, Chief Abel Egbe lamented that  they are only remembered by politicians during political campaigns.

    His words: “There is no politician that comes here to campaign that we have not told about our predicament. They always promise that they would do something but at the end of the day, they do nothing. It is always  empty promises they make.   What is it that you ask politicians that they will not promise to give you?  They will promise you everything but will they fulfill it?”

    Continuing, he said: “At times, when the politicians come, we ask them to put their promises into writing but immediately they win their elections,  they will be nowhere to be found again. When they want to mount  street lights, they will not remember us.  They will put all that in their communities but they don’t deem it necessary to extend it to us.

    “A member of the State House of Assembly mounted street lights and stopped it at Old Ekuri. He didn’t extend it to our side. My youth leader went there and pleaded that he should give us  three or four but he didn’t  give us even one.”

    Bemoaning the level of joblessness among his people, he said: “here, people cannot acquire skills that require electricity. The jobs that could have been provided through that are not there. Anything that requires light for people to get engaged and earn a living is  not available here.”

    Rape, other vices thrive in the community

    Criminal activities are on the rise in the community and the absence of electricity is believed to be the primary cause.

    “Rape is very rampant because everywhere is very dark at night,” Okon said.

    Continuing, he said: “all manner of nasty things happen here at night under the cover of darkness. Secret cult activities are also very rampant.  It is very alarming and all this is getting out of hand because there is no power supply.  You know that electricity is a form of security. Once there is power supply in any environment, that area will be safe a little.”

    Also decrying the high  level of criminality, a member of the community, Supol Godwin Akamo said: “There are vices going on because of the sordid darkness our people are living in. The women rose recently against the menace of rape.”

    Community calls for help

    Community leaders and residents appealed to the state government and their representatives in the state and National Assemblies to come to their aid. 

     Supol  Akamo said: “we are in darkness.  We are not different from primitive people.  We are still living like stoneage people.  We want people that can help us. We are suffering and dying in silence because we don’t have any representatives in government. Our cries are ignored by those in authority.”

    Ayade’s unfulfilled promises

    In April 2017, the immediate past governor of the state, Ben Ayade raised the hope of New Ekuri people and other rural communities in the state when he announced that the government had concluded plans to build a two-megawatt power plant in each of the 18 local councils of the state.

    He said the project, which was billed for completion before 2019, would  be executed in partnership with a South African firm, Industrial Project Services (IPS).

    During the presentation in Calabar,  Ayade said: “I have 18 local government areas and it is my commitment to ensure that every council and village has electricity under my watch.”

    Admitting that the move was very ambitious, he, however, noted that the plants would incorporate renewable and non-renewable energy sources, adding that the state was “considering the option of using solar for the day and gas fire for the night.”

    Ayade went on: “The radiation studies and baseline data for Nigeria cover copiously a spectrum of Cross River. Obviously the radiation that we see from literature studies shows clearly that we have a high level of it, thereby making the applicability of solar as an energy source in the northern and central parts of the state very viable.

    “We are trying to have an industrial setting where we will actually be dealing with power supply and solar base systems to stranded communities, those that are disconnected from the national grid as well as some municipalities that are there.”

     In March 2019, the Cross River State Electrification Agency, announced that Ayade had procured a total of 189 electricity distribution transformers, worth N650million, for the 18 local government areas of the state.

    The then Director General of the agency, Dr. Jake Enyia, who lauded the efforts of the state governor in improving access to electricity in rural communities, said procurement processes were on-going for the provision of electricity in more than 400 communities across the State at the cost of N8.5billion.

    He said this was in line with the Cross River State Executive Council’s approval of 100percent electricity coverage in the state.

    According to him, “…procurement of 189 electricity distribution transformers at the cost of N650 million, …carried out a survey of the status of electricity infrastructure in the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “The governor has also commissioned some abandoned electrification projects across the state.

    “There is direct intervention to more than 30 communities in the provision of electricity materials worth N30million, enhanced relationship and constant monitoring of activities of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, in Cross River State, which has necessitated the radical improvement in power supply in the state.”

    Otu’s  promise

    Ayade’s successor, Bassey Otu, in October 2024 launched an innovative solar power initiative aimed at electrifying 10,000 rural households across the state.

    The state government,  in February this year announced that it had taken delivery of 10,000 solar home systems to power remote communities across the state but none of that has been seen by New Ekuri people.

    The solar systems—comprising solar panels, charging ports, radio systems, and fans—are designed to provide reliable electricity to areas beyond the reach of traditional grid infrastructure.

    Receiving the shipment on behalf of the Governor, Francis Ekpo, Director General of the Cross River State Electrification Agency, described the development as a major milestone in the state’s push for rural electrification. He called the initiative a game-changer for rural development, particularly for communities in hard-to-reach areas.

    “This is an exciting moment as we begin to implement one of His Excellency’s key visions—electrifying 10,000 homes. Today, we are offloading the solar home systems that will soon be distributed to communities in need,” Ekpo stated.

    The pledges laced with admission of unfulfilled promises continued last week when the Cross River State Government and Rural Electrification Agency (REA)  launched a renewed partnership to aggressively expand clean energy access across the state.

    The renewed commitment emerged  at a high-level strategic roundtable in Abuja, themed “Sustainable Impact, Beyond Policies: Powering Cross River State’s Blue & Green Economies Through Clean Energy Investments.”

    Speaking at the event, Governor  Otu , represented by Deputy Governor  Peter Agbe Odey, said the state had  reached a critical point where only three of Cross River’s 18 local council areas enjoy consistent electricity, a situation that leaves  millions of residents and businesses dependent on generators and high fuel costs.

    Otu, who painted a stark picture of the state’s energy crisis, said Ikom, the state’s commercial nerve centre, has had no public electricity for over six months.

    According to the governor, Ogoja, another major local council area, has been battling frequent blackouts and low voltage for years, disrupting businesses, hospitals, and smallholder agro-processing operations.

    While describing energy access as a critical enabler for the development of the state’s blue and green economies, Otu noted: “It is through enhanced clean energy infrastructure that we can unlock the vast potential of our natural resources while preserving our environment for future generations.”

    State government promises into look into complaints

    The state government has promised to look into the complaints of the people of New Ekuri.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Electricity, Engineer Emmanuel gave the assurance in a telephone interview with our correspondent. His words: “I will do a finding on the community and do a follow up on it.”

    Engineer Emmanuel noted that the governor  recently approved the rehabilitation of the  Akamkpa axis of the state.

    “Before this time they had a total collapse of their network that feeds the area and its environs.  The rehabilitation  is still on.  We did a test run on some parts of Akamkpa, the whole length of Akamkpa is yet to  to be captured because they are doing vegetation cleaning.

    “The supply in that axis has been fluctuating.  The power distributors have not been able to allocate sufficient power to that axis. We are on it already.”

  • Enhancing the safety, security of volunteer traffic warriors

    Enhancing the safety, security of volunteer traffic warriors

    Nigeria’s roads remain perilous, with thousands of crashes and lives lost each year, and volunteer traffic marshals often find themselves on the frontlines of this crisis. On November 8, the University of Lagos hosted the 2025 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop, bringing together policymakers, security experts and volunteers to confront rising risks, review operational gaps, and chart strategies to enhance the safety, security, and effectiveness of those who keep the nation’s highways safer, reports Ntakobong Otongaran

    There is a quiet, uncelebrated heroism that often threads through Nigeria’s highways—borne not in sirens or ceremony, but in the reflective vests of men and women who surrender their weekends and at times their own safety to keep others alive. It was this spirit of selfless civic service, fragile yet determined, that seemed to breathe through the sparkling ambience of the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, where Special Marshals and policymakers recently gathered for the 2025 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop.

    Unlike typical official gatherings, this one carried the weight of urgency. Nigeria’s roads had again delivered a grim reminder of their volatility: 5,281 crashes in just six months; nearly 40,000 people involved; almost 3,000 lives extinguished; tens of thousands rescued from the brink. And above it all loomed the World Health Organisation’s chilling metric—21.4 deaths per 100,000 citizens—branding Nigeria as one of Africa’s deadliest terrains for road users. The statistics were not recited for drama; they were the shadows under which every discussion took shape.

    Unlike the routine cadence of official gatherings, this one carried a palpable weight of urgency. Nigeria’s highways had once again laid bare their unforgiving volatility: 5,281 crashes in just six months; nearly 40,000 people caught in their chaos; close to 3,000 lives abruptly extinguished; tens of thousands pulled back from the edge. Hovering over it all was the World Health Organisation’s stark calculation—21.4 deaths per 100,000 citizens—casting Nigeria among Africa’s most perilous landscapes for road users. These figures were not summoned for effect; they were the sombre shadows beneath every conversation in the hall.

    Taking the podium on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, the Chairman of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, David Idris Zacharias, distilled the debate with crisp clarity. Safety and security, he reminded the hall, are not parallel lines—they intersect constantly and decisively to shape every facet of road governance. The FRSC, he urged, must invest deeper in the skills that truly save lives: emergency response, first aid, fire prevention, safety management. A uniform, he said, does not make a competent marshal; training does, equipment does, the right operational environment does. He pushed the argument further by calling for a bolder embrace of technology—smarter surveillance systems, more agile traffic control mechanisms, and digital tools capable of lifting Nigeria’s road-safety architecture onto faster, more responsive footing. His assurance that the National Assembly stood ready to support efforts to strengthen operational standards sent a subtle ripple of optimism through the hall.

    In his welcome address, the Lagos State Coordinator of Special Marshals, Dr Olabisi Dennis, rooted the day’s reflections in pride and purpose. A UNILAG alumnus himself, he pointed to the symbolic weight of hosting the session at a campus known for producing leaders, thinkers, and nation-shapers. Lagos, he noted with warmth, had become a standard-bearer for volunteer dedication—its Special Marshals embodying discipline, unity, and an unwavering sense of public duty. For Dennis, the workshop was more than a meeting; it was a renewal. The challenges are evolving, he acknowledged, and volunteers must evolve with them. But he expressed confidence—anchored in the shared resolve he saw in the room—that the deliberations would yield ideas strong enough to elevate the Special Marshals scheme for the years ahead.

    The keynote address, delivered by the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, offered a penetrating appraisal of the operational terrain confronting Special Marshals today. He observed that their responsibilities had grown markedly more complex, shaped by emerging security threats and the increasingly unpredictable behaviour of certain road users. Hamzat noted that both officers and volunteers had, in recent times, endured harassment, threats, and even physical confrontations during operations across Lagos corridors—incidents that, in his view, underscored the urgent need to recalibrate existing strategies to better safeguard personnel.

    Describing the Special Marshals as an indispensable extension of the Corps’ operational strength, he praised their voluntary service, which has elevated public education efforts, enhanced field operations, and deepened community engagement. Yet, he cautioned that today’s realities demanded heightened vigilance, tighter coordination with Regular Marshals, and more deliberate collaboration with security agencies. He referenced several troubling episodes in which marshals had been exposed to danger, insisting that operational security must now sit at the very centre of strategic planning.

    Hamzat outlined priority strategies for the future: stronger situational awareness, thorough pre-operation risk assessments, robust communication channels, and reinforced partnerships with security operatives during patrols and high-risk deployments. He encouraged greater adoption of technology—GPS tracking, authorised communication platforms, and field recording devices—to strengthen accountability and minimise operational disputes. Continuous capacity building, he stressed, was equally crucial, recommending periodic refresher courses on conflict management, first aid, and emergency response. Beyond strategy and equipment, he emphasised the human element: volunteer welfare. Recognition, support, and a sense of belonging, he noted, remained essential to sustaining performance, motivation, and long-term retention within the Special Marshals scheme.

    The technical session, helmed by Prof Iyiola Oni of the Centre for Multimodal Transport Studies at the University of Lagos, widened the discourse, placing Nigeria’s challenges within a global, evidence-driven context. His presentation laid bare the staggering scale of the road safety crisis worldwide: 1.35 million lives lost annually to road crashes, and 50 million more left with serious injuries. Nearly half of the victims were vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and children—and 93 per cent of these fatalities occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

    Turning the lens to Nigeria, Oni argued that the nation’s persistently high fatality rate revealed systemic gaps demanding urgent, decisive action. Enforcement alone would not suffice; education, institutional strengthening, and structured volunteer support were equally critical. Within this framework, he highlighted the indispensable role of the Special Marshals. Describing them as individuals of integrity and means, Oni emphasised that these volunteers dedicate their time and expertise to advance the national road safety agenda. Their duties span highway patrols, traffic control during special operations, road safety education, data collection, and research support. It was precisely their voluntary commitment that rendered them a singular asset in Nigeria’s transport safety architecture.

    Yet, Oni did not shy away from outlining the risks they face. Exposure to roadside hazards, harassment from motorists, limited emergency response systems, insufficient safety training, and inadequate welfare or insurance coverage were recurring challenges that undermined both effectiveness and safety. To address these vulnerabilities, he recommended a structured approach: comprehensive safety and security policies for volunteers, improved provision of personal protective equipment, closer collaboration with security agencies, and robust insurance coverage. Regular training in first aid, emergency scene management, and conflict de-escalation, he insisted, must also be institutionalised.

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    Workshop participants reinforced these concerns with vivid field accounts. Coordinators spoke of Marshals confronting aggression from motorists, threats during traffic duties, and insufficient backup from security agencies during high-risk assignments. These testimonies underscored the urgent need for strengthened operational safeguards and institutional frameworks. The presence of the House Committee chairman, Zacharias, lent hope that these concerns might translate into concrete legislative action. Zacharias had earlier reiterated the committee’s commitment to national safety standards, signalling that recommendations from the workshop could influence policy—news that resonated deeply with volunteers who long sought statutory support.

    Technology emerged repeatedly as a transformative tool. GPS-enabled patrol monitoring, digital communication platforms, and body cameras were proposed as essential for transparency, accountability, and efficiency, echoing practices successfully deployed in other countries. Equally pressing was first aid training. Participants stressed that timely intervention often separates life from death on Nigerian roads. They advocated equipping every Special Marshal with basic life-support skills and standardised first aid kits, noting that delays in medical response frequently exacerbate the toll of road crashes.

    As the workshop drew to a close, the Lagos Sector Commander reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to the Special Marshals, whose discipline, dedication, and patriotism had consistently bolstered road safety across Lagos—a state renowned for one of the country’s most intricate and demanding traffic systems. He expressed confidence that the recommendations emerging from the workshop would inform future operational guidelines, strengthen field conditions, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the volunteer scheme.

    The event concluded on a note of renewed purpose, emphasizing steadfast adherence to the principles of safety, discipline, and public service. While the challenges before Nigeria’s road safety framework remain formidable, the deliberations highlighted the indispensable value of a secure, well-trained, and adequately supported volunteer corps. The measured tone of the discussions underscored the need for prudence, institutional order, and strategic foresight as the nation navigates the complexities of modern road safety management.

  • Tackling oil price shocks with economic diversification, FX reforms

    Tackling oil price shocks with economic diversification, FX reforms

    Nigeria’s economic diversification project is gaining ground. Oil is now accounting for a smaller share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 33 per cent of government revenue, and 51 per cent of exports. With oil now a smaller share of GDP and fiscal revenue, a sharp oil-price decline is being cushioned by the flexible foreign exchange (FX) regime, rising non-oil exports, and growing services trade. The deployment of the Electronic Forex Market Surveillance System, shift to a single, market-determined exchange rate regime, and enhanced risk-based banking are expanding Nigeria’s capacity to absorb external shocks and diversify away from oil, reports Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE.

    After nearly a decade in which real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth averaged about two per cent, the economic reforms initiated by the Federal Government have begun to restore momentum and confidence in Nigeria’s broader macroeconomic environment. In the second quarter of 2025, the economy expanded by 4.23 per cent—the strongest growth in four years—driven by improvements in telecommunications, financial services, and oil production.

    The introduction of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Code has established clear rules for transparency, ethics, governance and fair dealing among authorised dealers. The deployment of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Management System (EFEMS) system, powered by Bloomberg BMatch, has equally transformed FX trading through mandatory order submission, real‑time regulatory visibility, and enhanced price discovery. Together, these reforms have reduced opacity and manipulation, and restored discipline to the market. The naira now trades within a narrow, stable range. The once‑substantial gap between the official and parallel markets has shrunk to under two per cent, down from over 60 per cent.

    Foreign capital inflows reached US$20.98 billion in the first 10 months of 2025, a 70 per cent increase over total inflows for 2024 and a 428 per cent surge compared to the US$3.9 billion recorded in 2023, reflecting a clear resurgence in investor confidence. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, explained that naira now trades within a narrow, stable range. The huge gap between the official and parallel markets has shrunk to under two per cent, from over 60 per cent. For him, macroeconomic indicators show that Nigeria is more resilient to external shocks today than at any point in her recent history.

    For instance, Nigeria’s external sector strengthened decisively in 2025, with the current account balance rising over 85 per cent to US$5.28 billion in Q2, up from US$2.85 billion in Q1. Bolstering our external buffers, foreign reserves reached US$46.7 billion by mid-November, the highest in nearly seven years, providing over 10 months of forward import cover and significantly enhancing the economy’s resilience.

    Cardoso explained that what is most important here is that Nigeria’s FX reserves are being rebuilt organically, not by borrowing, but through improved market functioning, stronger non‑oil exports, and robust capital inflows. “While oil production improved modestly to an average of 1.45–1.52 million barrels per day in 2025, the truly encouraging development is the strong performance of non-oil exports. Supported by ongoing reforms and greater exchange-rate flexibility, non-oil exports have grown by more than 18 per cent year-on-year, reflecting rising competitiveness under a truly market-driven FX framework,” he said.

    He disclosed that as with foreign investor inflows, diaspora remittances have also strengthened with confidence returning to official channels following enhancements in transparency, settlement efficiency, and reporting. “Remittances increased by approximately 12 per cent this year, and we expect this momentum to continue as the Non-Resident BVN, launched earlier this year, becomes more widely adopted in 2026.”

    Flexible exchange rate to be sustained

     The CBN boss said the apex bank is committed to maintaining the current flexible exchange‑rate framework that allows the naira to act as a shock absorber while limiting excessive volatility. “To strengthen this framework further, we will shortly be unveiling the revised FX Manual to expand market participation and tighten documentation standards, enhance EFEMS surveillance, and ensure consistent implementation to avoid any possibility of policy reversal. Recent assessments by rating agencies have provided significant external validation of Nigeria’s reform trajectory,” he said.

    Already, Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s have all acknowledged the positive impact of Nigeria’s reforms, from stronger reserves to improved fiscal discipline and greater FX transparency. Across all three agencies, the direction is consistent: fundamentals are strengthening, reform credibility is rising, and Nigeria’s risk profile is improving. “Fitch upgraded Nigeria from B- to B (stable), recognising our commitment to orthodox policies including FX reform, monetary tightening, and ending deficit monetisation.” Moody’s also raised its rating from Caa1 to B3 in May, citing improved fundamentals and a stronger outlook. And just this November, S&P affirmed B-/B and revised its outlook to positive, underscoring sustained reform momentum, rising reserves, and enhanced macroeconomic resilience.

    Moody’s has also further concluded its periodic review and while headlines may highlight risks, as rating agencies are mandated to do, the substance of the report reaffirms ongoing improvements, including stronger fiscal metrics and deeper diversification. “These endorsements of Nigeria’s policy direction have translated directly into improved borrowing terms, increased investment inflows, and enhanced credibility. Underscoring this progress, Nigeria this month successfully raised US$2.35 billion through a Eurobond issuance, attracting US$13 billion in orders, the largest in the nation’s history,” he said.

    Major policy shifts lifting economy

    Prof. Abiodun Adedipe, founder and Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult), listed major policy shifts yielding positive results for the economy. He said that the CBN has eliminated  strange arbitraging and round-tripping opportunity through the forex market reforms; through petrol subsidy removal, the Federal Government removed crippling annual waste of US$10.7 billion and created environment for competition; bank recapitalisation is creating stronger and more capable banks to fund US$1 trillion economy while fiscal consolidation is plugging leakages, deploying technology and making government agencies more accountable and expanding fiscal space at sub-national.

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    Continuing, Adedipe said the real game changer remains the tax reforms, capable of igniting regional competition (the secret behind Chinese economic renaissance) while the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Consumer Credit Corporation, recapitalised Bank of Agriculture, National Credit Guarantee Company Ltd, Single digit interest rate mortgage loans are major steps that should be taken to support sustainable economic growth.

    Support for domestic economy

    Adedipe said that Nigeria’s economy is supported by large, youthful and rapidly growing population (estimated at 237.53 million in July 2025 and sixth largest in the world, median age at 18.1 years). The country, he said, also benefits from rapid urbanisation with 54.28 per cent in December 2023, up from 46.12 per cent in 2013 and 51.96 per cent in 2020, deepening internet penetration which is at 48.15 per cent in April 2025, up from 45.57 per cent in August 2023 and 31.48 per cent in December 2018.

    Nigeria’s tele-density is at 79.65 per cent in May 2025, from 76.08 per cent in December 2024 and 102.97 per cent in Dec 2023, due to data cleanup at end of April 2024. “On global internet users, Nigeria with 123 million ranks 11th and 7th with over 84 per cent on mobile devices. Local oil refining continues to expand and prospects of new refineries, manufacturing is reviving and there is expanding interest in non-oil exports. Improvement in infrastructure will begin to positively impact the cost of doing business,” he said. He added that sustained deep reforms will enhance global competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business, plug leakages and shrink the space for economic rent.

    Fiscal‑monetary coordination

    The CBN explained that monetary reform cannot be effective in a vacuum. Alignment with fiscal policy has strengthened Nigeria’s macro stability and yielded tangible results including reduced domestic borrowing costs, improved liquidity conditions, and more predictable fiscal operations.

    For instance, the discontinuation of direct deficit financing signals one prong in our commitment to discipline. “This stance is unequivocal as there will be no return to the practice of financing fiscal deficits by the Central Bank. In parallel, the fiscal authorities have embarked on key institutional reforms – including the implementation of a Revenue Optimisation (RevOp) framework, the establishment of a new National Revenue Agency, and upgrades to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) – to strengthen revenue mobilisation and public financial management.

    “As we transition towards a full‑fledged inflation‑targeting framework, this partnership will deepen, ensuring fiscal and monetary policies reinforce each other in delivering durable price stability,” Cardoso said.

    Oil/gas output, revenue position

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) reported a significant surge in revenue, hitting N5.08 trillion in October 2025, up from N4.27 trillion recorded in September. The figures are contained in the company’s Monthly Report Summary for October 2025. According to the report, NNPC Ltd’s profit after tax (PAT) rose sharply to N447 billion in October, compared to N216 billion in September, stronger operational efficiency, improved market conditions, and enhanced cost optimisation strategies deployed by the national oil company.

    The report shows that production hit 6,997 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) in October, up from 6,284 mmscf/d in September. Gas sales, reported on an M-2 basis, climbed to 4,713 mmscf/d, marking a significant increase from 3,443 mmscf/d recorded in the previous month. Crude oil production experienced a slight dip, falling to 1.58 million barrels of oil per day (mmbopd) in October from 1.61 mmbopd in September. NNPC Ltd also stated that it will continue to sustain industry-wide collaboration and drive production recovery initiatives.

    Buffers against oil prices fall

    Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said global oil prices have dropped significantly, now hovering just above $63 per barrel while the naira exchanges at N1,445/$ at the official window. The Wall Street Journal’s grim forecast that Brent crude could fall below $50 per barrel by the end of 2025 only deepens the urgency for strategic policy responses. To strengthen economic buffers and sustain FX inflows, the CBN has proactively initiated strong measures aimed at cushioning the domestic economy against the looming oil price shock and ensuring sustainable economic development.

    Nigeria’s 2025 budget is squeezed by assumption of oil production of two million barrels per day and an oil price of $75 a barrel. At a benchmark of $75 per barrel and a production capacity of two million barrels per day (mbpd), Nigeria’s oil revenues would fall given the present oil price which is below budget benchmark. Such a shortfall could push the fiscal deficit to between six and seven per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), potentially fuelling inflationary pressures and weakening macroeconomic stability. Among these are policies to boost Nigeria’s non-oil export potential, strengthen backward integration to reduce dependence on imported goods, and streamline diaspora dollar remittances to enhance foreign exchange inflows.

    Drawing from China’s economic strategy, the apex bank said Nigeria’s competitive exchange rate can drive export-led growth. To harness this potential, businesses are expected to adopt export-oriented strategies by targeting sectors with strong export potential such as agriculture, manufacturing and creative industries; implement import-substitution models by strengthening domestic production capabilities and reducing reliance on costly imports; and focus on value addition by shifting from exporting raw materials to processed goods, thereby boosting foreign exchange earnings.

    Cardoso said Nigeria’s creative sector has potential to attract $25 billion annually to the economy, highlighting the untapped opportunities in Nigeria’s expanding creative sector, including music, film, crafts and digital exports. He urged businesses to explore international markets, digital platforms, and global tours to increase dollar revenue inflows. The CBN boss also recently advised telecom companies to reduce their dependence on foreign imports by producing key components of their inputs locally. The backward integration proposal for the telecom industry comes at a time the real sector is in dire need of sustainable growth. The CBN boss gave insights on what the economy stands to gain from backward integration in the telecoms sector.

    Discouraging foreign services import

    Speaking in Abuja during a visit by the Airtel Africa management team led by Group CEO Sunil Taldar, the CBN Governor underscored the importance of boosting local production to ease pressure on the dollar, generate employment and strengthen the national economy. Cardoso emphasised the urgent need to domestically manufacture key telecom inputs—such as SIM cards, cables and towers—that are currently being imported in large volumes. He highlighted that the CBN has taken deliberate steps to stabilise the foreign exchange market, strengthen the naira, and attract investor confidence. With these foundations now in place, he urged telecommunications companies to embrace backward integration as a strategic imperative.

    In response, the Airtel Africa CEO commended the CBN’s reform efforts and voiced strong support for local production, noting that such a shift would ultimately yield long-term benefits for the telecommunications industry. He also reaffirmed Airtel’s commitment to expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria through innovative technology solutions.

    Research Head, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Charles Abuede, said the CBN governor’s call was to discourage the importation of foreign services into Nigeria, especially when efforts can be made to develop such services locally. “The high demand for foreign exchange by telecom operators has further pressured the naira due to increased demand for the dollar. However, with adequate infrastructure development and a conducive operating environment facilitated by regulators, these challenges can be mitigated,” he said. According to Abuede, “given Nigeria’s FX policies, illiquidity in the foreign exchange market and infrastructure deficits, I think increased investment in the telecom sector would enable operators to embrace backward integration. This would allow them to manufacture key components, such as SIM cards, locally. As a result, production costs could decline—provided the operating environment remains stable. This will improve profit margins and enhance both top-line and bottom-line growth in the long run.”

    Building resilient economy

    He said Nigeria’s economy has been fully restructured and is now resilient, with huge buffers against global risks. Cardoso said the naira has equally emerged as a competitive currency, with the economy witnessing positive trade balances and large businesses moving from imports to export of locally produced goods and commodities. According to him, the positive economic indicators have combined to create resilient and strong buffers, keeping the economy in great shapes.

    O n the impact of the trade tariffs on the domestic economy, the CBN boss said the tariffs are less of problems for the country. “And for us again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed to the tariffs, and the impact of that was relatively modest. We now have a more competitive currency with the results that, for once, we have a situation where we have a positive balance of trade surplus, and we expect it to be six per cent in GDP for some time.

    “So basically, what is happening is a complete restructuring of the economy, where we are encouraging people to go into domestic production, and, of course, discouraging imports. And I think we were very fortunate, because a lot of the things that were needed to have been done, we did them much earlier, and as a result of that, we’re able to create resilience and buffers against potential shocks,” Cardoso stated.

    He explained further that oil was the oil commodity that was exposed to the trade tariffs, but the impact was equally modest. “So, and of course, in terms of anchoring expectations, we found that those who followed the Nigerian economy were fairly comfortable. And for us, again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed, and the impact of that was relatively modest,” he said. Overall, oil prices may face further declines if OPEC+ decides to raise output. The alliance is expected to focus on reviving another sliver of production in December in a move that may amplify traders’ concerns about a global glut.

  • NERC’s leadership void puts power sector on edge

    NERC’s leadership void puts power sector on edge

    A dangerous leadership vacuum has engulfed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), where the tenure of the Vice Chairman and several Commissioners expires today, compounding a crisis that began in June when the Chairmanship fell vacant. With the Electricity Act 2023 offering no provision for an Acting Chairman, the Commission now risks operating without a legally recognised head—an unprecedented situation stakeholders warn could plunge the already fragile power sector into a full regulatory shutdown, reports Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS.

    A leadership vacuum now grips the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as the tenure of the Vice Chairman and several Commissioners expired yesterday, deepening an institutional crisis that began in June when the Chairmanship position fell vacant. The Electricity Act 2023 does not provide for an Acting Chairman once an incumbent’s tenure lapses, meaning the Commission may, in strict legal terms, operate without a head—an outcome stakeholders warn could trigger a “full regulatory shutdown” in a sector already fraught with instability.

    To avert this, President Bola Tinubu had, in August, nominated Abdullahi Garba Ramat—an engineer and former Local Government Chairman—as substantive Chairman, alongside two Commissioner nominees: Abubakar Yusuf for Consumer Affairs and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun for Finance and Management Services. But the confirmation process has stalled in the Senate. Last month, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed that the upper chamber halted Ramat’s confirmation due to what he described as a “baggage of public and private complaints” surrounding his nomination. According to him, the Senate was “statutorily bound” to step down any nominee under intense public scrutiny, noting that several appointees before now had withdrawn in similar circumstances. He insisted that the National Assembly could not be “dragged into public opprobrium” through allegations—however unproven—such as the widely circulated but unsubstantiated claim of a $10 million bribery scandal linked to the process.

    Despite this, pressure continues to mount. On November 11, protesters comprising civil society groups, human rights activists, and supporters of Ramat marched to the National Assembly, demanding the Senate fast-track his confirmation. They expressed frustration that although Ramat had already undergone screening by the Senate Committee on Power, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, he has yet to be cleared for the role—leaving NERC’s leadership uncertainty unresolved.

    Appointment on merit

    Checks revealed that 39-year-old Abdullahi Garba Ramat may possess credentials that suggest potential for modernisation. He holds a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Strategic Management and has earned recognition for introducing blockchain-driven revenue systems and energy-efficiency initiatives during his tenure as Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area, Kano State. Yet, despite these achievements, many stakeholders insist that his lack of direct power-sector experience stands as a significant drawback—one that could undermine his ability to lead Nigeria’s most sensitive regulatory institution.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, expressed deep concern over the growing leadership vacuum in NERC. According to him, the electricity sector is already grappling with liquidity crises, widespread metering deficits and persistent operational inefficiencies. In such a fragile environment, a leadership void at the apex regulatory level could stall critical decisions, delay ongoing reforms and further erode investor confidence in a sector in desperate need of stability.

    For Yusuf, the position of NERC Chairman cannot be treated casually or politicised. It requires an individual with deep knowledge of the sector, someone who has acquired technical understanding through years of engagement with electricity market dynamics. This, he stressed, must guide appointments at all levels—government, leadership, management and operations. “The sector has gone through a major transition which needs to be managed strategically and competently by operatives who understand the electricity sector,” he warned. “This is not a sector where the quality of personnel or the quality of governance can be compromised. We need to prioritise prompt appointments to fill vacant positions and build a sustainable succession pipeline within the Commission. These are essential for sound regulatory governance.”

    READ ALSO: It is satanic to say Edo is against investors, says Okpebholo

    Yusuf further emphasised that the electricity industry plays a strategic role in Nigeria’s quest to mobilise private-sector capital, both locally and internationally. Attracting such investments, he noted, demands a regulatory environment that inspires confidence. The calibre of leadership and staff at NERC, therefore, is central to building that trust. He urged the Presidency to critically evaluate all issues surrounding appointments, succession and leadership in the sector. “Nigeria is not short of competent people from every region who can serve effectively. What we must avoid is creating capacity or governance gaps in NERC. This matter requires urgent attention,” he added.

    While political debates continue at the National Assembly over NERC’s nominations, experts argue that the real crisis lies in the failure to appoint a substantive Chairman based strictly on merit. According to a critical stakeholder in the electricity space who requested anonymity, “The uproar in the Senate is a distraction. The real problem is the refusal to elevate people within the system who understand the regulatory environment and have the competence required for the job.”

    Indeed, since NERC’s creation 20 years ago, the Commission has repeatedly appointed individuals with little or no grounding in the electricity sector as chairmen. In most cases, these appointees have had to rely heavily on long-serving technocrats within the Commission to navigate its complex regulatory and market frameworks. This, industry watchers say, undermines regulatory efficiency and slows down reform implementation. This is why many experts insist that promoting seasoned professionals who have grown through the ranks at NERC would provide greater stability, continuity and technical competence. Over the years, however, appointments into NERC’s leadership have tilted more towards political considerations than technical merit—a pattern analysts warn is dangerous for a sector central to Nigeria’s economic survival.

    Even with the comprehensive reforms embedded in the Electricity Act 2023, several economists argue that NERC’s persistent leadership deficiencies remain a key reason for the electricity sector’s recurring failures. Without strong regulatory leadership, they insist, the Act’s intended benefits will remain largely unrealised. The Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, a consumer-rights and power-sector advocacy organisation, Adetayo Adegbemle, also expressed worry over the prolonged delay in confirming the Chairman-nominee. According to him, since August—when the President submitted the nominee’s name—the Senate has confirmed several other appointees, yet the NERC nomination remains suspended. “This is a dangerous precedent in a very critical sector,” he warned. “We still do not know whether the nominee will be confirmed or rejected. This uncertainty does not bode well for the health of the power sector.”

    Adegbemle stressed that the indecisive approach of government institutions toward such a sensitive regulatory appointment sends the wrong message to investors. In a sector where confidence and predictability are essential, he said, prolonged political delays can discourage investment and stall development. “This is not the time to play politics,” he cautioned. “We have not made significant progress in the sector, and leadership uncertainty only makes matters worse.”

    Past occupants and status of current Commissioners

    Complicating the ongoing leadership crisis at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is the sensitive issue of geopolitical balance. A review of historical appointments into the chairmanship shows clear disparities, with several geopolitical zones yet to produce a NERC Chairman in the Commission’s two-decade existence. The North-West has produced Sanusi Garba, who retired in June 2025 after serving as Chairman. The current nominee, Abdullahi Ramat Garba, also hails from the North-West (Kano State), though his confirmation remains stalled in the Senate.

    The South-South has produced two past chairmen — Prof. James Momoh from Edo State and Ransom Owan from Cross River State. The South-East has produced Dr. Sam Amadi from Imo State. However, the South-West, North-Central, and North-East have never produced a chairman. This imbalance has fuelled renewed calls for future leadership selections to reflect federal character and ensure a more equitable distribution of strategic national positions. Beyond the chairmanship vacuum, stakeholders are expressing alarm over emerging patterns of tenure violations among commissioners. Section 36 of the Electricity Act 2023 stipulates that the Chairman shall serve a single five-year term, while Commissioners serve four-year terms, with eligibility for reappointment where applicable. Yet, some commissioners appear to have exceeded these statutory limits — a development that could invalidate regulatory decisions taken during the extended period, should any operator legally challenge them.

    Among those whose tenure expired on December 1 is Dr. Musiliu Oseni (South-West), the Vice Chairman and Commissioner for Market, Competition & Rates, who bowed out after completing a full 10 years in office across two terms. Also leaving the Commission is Hajiya Aisha Mahmud (North-West), the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, who has now concluded her first term. But the exits are far from over. A fresh wave of tenure expirations looms between now and early 2026, threatening to further thin out the Commission’s leadership bench. Those nearing the end of their terms include: Nathan Rogers Shatti (North-East), Commissioner for Finance & Management, now in his second and final term; Dafe Akpeneye (South-South), Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance, also rounding off his second and final term; Dr. Yusuf Ali (North-Central), Commissioner for Planning, Research & Strategy, completing his first term; and Engr. Chidi Ike (South-East), Commissioner for Engineering, Performance & Monitoring, likewise finishing his first term.

    The clustering of these expiration dates has amplified fears that the Commission may soon struggle to form a statutory quorum — a legal minimum required to make decisions, issue regulations, approve tariffs, process licences, and carry out other critical regulatory functions. Without timely replacements, stakeholders warn, NERC could be pushed into a state of operational paralysis at a time when the electricity sector can least afford it.

    System threatened?

    As multiple commissioners depart without new appointees confirmed to replace them, experts warn that Nigeria risks breaching the Electricity Act 2023. Crucially, the Act does not allow for acting appointments for these high-level positions, meaning that once vacated, the seats remain empty until fully appointed and confirmed replacements are in place. “This trend can lead to a regulatory shutdown, endangering electricity market operations, tariff reviews, licensing, consumer protection and market settlement,” a stakeholder cautioned.

    Their concerns are grounded in the law. Section 35(1) of the Electricity Act mandates a full board of seven commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, to constitute the Commission. Section 226 empowers these commissioners collectively to issue regulations and perform all statutory functions. Without the required number of commissioners, regulatory decisions — including crucial processes such as tariff adjustments, dispute resolution, market monitoring, and licensing — risk stalling. Section 33(3) strengthens the Commission’s mandate: “The Commission shall be the apex regulator of the NESI and shall be an independent body in the performance of its functions and exercise of its powers under this Act.” This independence is pivotal to investor confidence, sector governance, and market stability.

    Established under the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 — now replaced by the Electricity Act 2023 — NERC has long played a central role in Nigeria’s electricity sector. Its responsibilities span licensing participants across the value chain, developing technical standards and operating codes, defining consumer rights and obligations, and setting cost-reflective tariffs under frameworks such as the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO). Over two decades, the Commission has contributed significantly to sector growth by expanding generation and network capacity through licensing, developing market rules, and driving reforms aimed at efficiency and transparency. These achievements have been anchored on rule-based governance and robust stakeholder engagement.

    However, experts warn that the current leadership gaps threaten to erode these gains. Without prompt, merit-based appointments and adherence to tenure provisions, NERC’s institutional progress — built painstakingly over 20 years — could collapse rapidly. The consensus among stakeholders is clear: restoring stability at NERC is not just an administrative necessity but an urgent national priority.

  • I witnessed British District Officers defecating on young, hefty Nigerians carrying them about in hammocks – 90-year-old retired cleric

    I witnessed British District Officers defecating on young, hefty Nigerians carrying them about in hammocks – 90-year-old retired cleric

    • Says Britain must pay reparation, apologise to Nigerians
    • Recalls life in old Lagos where two Mushin gangsters’ names evoked fear

    Ex-General Overseer of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, Awawu, Mushin, Lagos, Joshua Ogundele Bello, clocked 90 last week, while his wife, Margaret, attained 80. Pa Bello went down memory lane to narrate how Hammocks were used as means of transportation by the colonial District Officers wherein about six to eight able-bodied men would carry them to neighbouring towns in the 1940s. He also spoke with TAIWO ABIODUN about Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of the Kalakuta Republic, the Night Soil Men, the sanitary inspectors and more.

    In spite of his advanced age as a nonagenarian, Pastor Joshua Ogundele Bello can still walk fairly long distance without stress. He hardly visits the hospital because he rarely falls sick. He gait is straight when he walks, and does not need a walking stick to aid his movement. To him, age is in the mind. “I am still strong,” he said, bursting into laughter.

    “I was born on the 22nd of November 1933 in Iyere-Owo, Ondo Province of the then Western Region and later Western State, now Ondo State. By then there were no hospitals and there was nothing like medical facilities.

    “So I was delivered at home, in Iyere by native/traditionalist midwives, and was nurtured with local herbs and concoction. Maybe that cum God’s grace is why I am still strong,

    “I attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Owo in the then Ondo Province in the old Western State (now Ondo State) where I completed my elementary school in 1956. I went to school late because I was going to the farm to help my parents, and my illiterate parents didn’t know about Western education

    “In fact, I forced myself to go to school without minding my age. From there, I proceeded to St. David’s Secondary Modern School, Owoh and left at Modern Three in 1960.

    “Then, I had a brother, Samuel Ogundaisi, who is now late. He was a taxi driver in Lagos. Since I had been hearing stories about Lagos, I made up my mind and out of curiosity wanted to know and explore ‘this Lagos’ on hearing about social activities and employment opportunities.

    “I boarded a vehicle for five shillings and left for Lagos to meet my brother. Our currency then was pounds, shillings and pence, the British currency, because we were under the British colonial rule.

    “On some of the coins, we had the picture of Queen Elizabeth of England. On January 1, 1973 the British currency was stopped in Nigeria and we started using Naira and Kobo of different denominations, but the British currency remained in the United Kingdom.”

    LAGOS AS MY DREAMLAND

    According to the nonagenarian, the Lagos environment was totally different from the one in his home town, Iyere-Owo,

    He said: “I was shocked when I saw the city of Lagos and what it looked like. It was totally different from where I was coming from. Back home activities were dull compared to the city life of Lagos.

    “Where I came from, everyone must be indoors at 8pm.

    “I lived with my brother at 25, Kosobameji Street, Mushin. Throughout my 40 years stay in Mushin, I lived at two places: 25 Kosobameji Street and 31 Onifade Street.

    “But the Onifade building has been sold. I learnt they are erecting another building there.

    “I saw many people wearing ties and suits, and I was curious about their jobs. I was attracted by their dressing.

    “I got a job at Royal Exchange Assurance for fourteen and a half years (1961-1975). Insurance was popular and many were aware of the importance.

    “I remember while I was in the Bible school, my classmate bought a Peugeot 404 car. I advised him to do comprehensive insurance and he complied. Five months later, the car was stolen and the insurance company bought another one for him.

    “I went to Life Bible College of the Four Square Church Gospel Church, Ebutte Metta, Lagos between 1974 and 1977 while Rev. Farounbi of Four Square Gospel Church ordained me as a pastor.”

    THE MUSHIN OF OLD

    Pa Bello said the Mushin we see today is different from that of the 1960s. Mushin, he said, has developed or transformed from a shanty community in the 1960s to a modern one. Then, he said, bus stops were scarce and the population of Lagos had increased through the years.

    He said: “Mushin was a place partly full of criminal activities in those days. The mere hearing of ‘ Oko Mushin” sent shivers into one’s spine. Night crawlers were high, unlike nowadays.

    My first observation then was that Lagosians don’t sleep. Lagosians were always on the road till dawn.

    “My brother, who was a taxi driver then, was always busy at night driving customers to brothels and other places. In some areas in Mushin were people of high caliber who lived in some areas while the middle and low-class people lived in another area.  

    We had dangerous and dreadful places like Bàbá Olosa, Olorunsogo, Iyana Isolo, Ìdí Oro, Akala, Ikorodu Road and Palm Groove areas regarded as flash points. I remember there were notorious people in the 1960s and 1970s. The most popular ones were Omo Pupa and Anikura; two names that struck fear in the hearts of many.

    Their cruelty knew no bounds. They evaded arrest, and even when arrested, they vanished like smoke. These two men were powerful and very notorious in Mushin. They were feared and dreaded. Nobody could arrest them. Even the police could not. They were involved in all manner of criminal activities and no one could question them. They were the lords of Mushin. They got away with crimes!”

    Bello, who always preached sanitation, said: “Mushin was the worst with poor hygienic conditions, for not many houses had toilets. People defecated anywhere irrespective of the places as long as there was space.

    “There were night soil men, popularly called Agbe poo, who would come and remove human waste into buckets, carry them on their heads and later empty them into the lagoon.  Only a few houses had water systems to flush their human waste.

    “Men who worked as Agbe poo were mostly strangers in Lagos. The trick is this: those who you will never recognise in life were the ones doing the job. They would not use hood or cover their faces.

    “But people from Lagos or neighborhood towns or who lived in the vicinity would cover their faces with hoods to avoid being  recognised.

    “In fact, Mushin in those days was horrible due to their poor sanitary conditions. In some households, a separate room was created in the building, which served as a pit toilet among the rooms. In another vein, within the building, a room would be converted into a toilet. You would just throw your faeces into the room and that was all.

    “In another room converted to a toilet, you just pass your human faeces in a bucket, and when it is full, the night soil men will come at the end of the month to scoop them away.

    “You could see over 100 people in a building in Mushin as they trooped out like locust in the morning, going to work. Nobody ever thought of an epidemic. On the roadsides were faeces while one could see human beings squatting to defecate. But this did not apply to high class areas.”

    RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

    “Lagos is a multi-cultural and multi-religious city. No one cared about their neighbour’s religion. We had a lot of Christians going to church on Sundays while the Muslims did not disturb anybody as they observed their Jumat services on Fridays.

    “The traditional religious people too were not left behind as they did their own without disturbing anybody. There was no chaos at all.

    “The traditional religion people did their own worship. In fact, there was no day or night one would not see sacrifices with cowries, dogs’ heads among other things in clay pots at crossroads. They loved and mingled with one another.”

    DAY FELA’S HOUSE WAS BURNT

    He was still in Mushin when the late Musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti ‘s house was burnt by soldiers.

    He said: “I used to pass by Fela’s house called Kalakuta Republic at Ojúelégba while going to work. He also had a Shrine there. He was one of Nigeria’s best and greatest musicians.

    “When the unknown soldiers burnt his house on Ìdí Oro-Agége Motor Road, in the1977, the whole Mushin shook to its foundation. Everybody scampered into safety as soldiers went haywire.

    “We thought that all Mushin residents were being attacked. We all ran there and saw flames. The building was surrounded by armed-to-the-teeth soldiers. Fela was beaten and his mother was thrown from the upstairs.

    “The following day when I passed the place and saw the remnants of the building, tears rolled down my cheeks. Anyway, the government took possession of the building, and a school was built there, which is still there till now.

    “Fela later waxed two songs titled Unknown Soldier and Coffin for Head of State.

    “People loved Fela because he was a man of the people. As a Christian, I didn’t go to Fela’s night gigs, but I loved his songs. He was a Pan Africanist and he was pro people and anti government. He was a human rights campaigner and the only musician who could challenge the government.”

    MY CONVERSION INTO CHRISTIANITY

    Pastor Bello said: “If you observe my name, you would see that it has three religious names: Joshua Ogundele Bello. Yes, I am from an African Traditional Religion background.

    “That is where you got Ogundele. Ogun is the Yoruba god of iron. My father’s name was Bello because he converted to Islamic Religion, while I am Joshua. I was baptized after my conversion into Christianity by my brother who brought me to Lagos and preached the Gospel to me.

    “I was convinced and have no regrets about the conversion till this day.”

    RAW DEAL WITH COLONIAL MASTERS

    The nonagenarian who witnessed the colonial administration described the colonialists as wicked. Reason: “In Owo where we had District Officers, the natives treated the colonialists as if they were gods. They oppressed with the colour of their skin.

    “They were worshipped like gods just because of the colour of their skin. Anytime a District Officers was going out, no matter the distance, about six to eight hefty men would carry him on their heads.

    “Yes, I mean it. The DOs had hefty men with hammock on their shoulders. They were called “Hammock Boys” because they carried the hammock on their heads or shoulders as a transportation system.

    “There were no vehicles in Owo in those days, so they carried the DOs in the hammock to Ifon, Ipele, Imoru, among other nearby villages (now towns).

    “In fact they carried them through the forests and across the rivers because their feet must not touch the ground or water. To add insult to injury, the colonialists would defecate and urinate on the Hammock Boys who carried them on their shoulders.

    “Such was the man inhumanity to man they subjected us to, just because we are black.

    “Whenever I look back and remembered how the British maltreated us, I feel sad. It was such a terrible experience. Even the invention of the bicycle and the cart made little or no difference.

    “Carts, which was supposed to be pulled by horses, were pulled by human beings while the colonial masters or District Officers would sit in the cart alone! Only those who were highly educated could go near them.”

    Bello added: “They need to pay us reparations for what they did to us. They should pay compensation to us and beg for forgiveness. They dehumanised us.

    Read Also: Religious genocide: Minister charges CSOs to help correct misinformation about Nigeria

    “They came to Africa, especially Nigeria, to strip us of our dignity. The British who came to colonise us really maltreated us, because the colour of their skin placed them too high.”

    “Before the colonial period our monarchs were treated like next to God. But the arrival of the colonialists brought different strategies and rules. Instead of fearing the monarchs, it was the government that was feared.

    “I was young when Oba Olagbegi Atanneye 1 reigned between 1921-1938, Olowo Ajike Atanneye II 1938-1941, Olowo Olateru Olagbegi I ,1941-1968. Olowo Adekola Ogunoye II,1968-1993,Olowo Olateru Olagbegi II 1993-1998,Olowo David Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III 1999-2019 and Olowo Gbadegeshin Ajibade Ogunoye 2019 to date.

    “I witnessed the crisis that sent Olateru Olagbegi I into exile. Owo people were annoyed about his activities, but this was because of politics in those days, as many houses were burnt and many people were killed.

    “He was accused of sending policemen to Uso where many were killed. Later, he was sent on exile. It was predicted that he would spend 25 years in exile and come back 25 years after. The prediction later came to pass.

    “Then, Owo was inflamed. Many houses were burnt.”

    SANITARY INSPECTORS

    Bello described the sanitary conditions in Lagos and many towns as bad and caused a lot of misunderstanding among the natives and colonialists.

    He said: “Due to the level of our education then, many didn’t care about their hygiene conditions. The colonialists introduced sanitary I\inspectors called wolewole. These officers were powerful and therefore feared and respected.

    “They were like today’s public health officials/eEnvironmental health officials who would come into your compound to inspect the environment.

    “We also had these police officers called Olopa Akoda. The sanitary inspectors were quickly noticed by their dressing; same with police officers.

    “A lot of quarrels, misunderstanding and confusion broke out whenever the sanitary inspectors came to inspect the environment and living conditions of the residents.

    “Many were arrested and charged to local courts. This was a wake-up call to good hygiene conditions.’

    MARRIAGE

    The clergyman is married to his heartthrob, Margaret.

    Speaking with the reporter, Margaret said: “I got married to my husband in 1966 and later changed my name from Mulikatu Saka after baptism in 1967 to Margaret, because I didn’t want to miss the letter ‘M’ in my name.

    “I had a friend whose name was Fatimo. She too changed it to Florence because she didn’t want to miss the letter ‘F’.

    “My parents did not complain because I was married and therefore could bear any name.”

    Madam Margaret, who clocked 80 recently, recalled that she met her husband at Pentecostal Assembly, Soremekun, Mushin.

    She said: “I was living with my Cousin at No 6, Kings Street, Lagos Island. He came with his friend Engr. Otokiti, now late. The rest became history, as they say.”

  • How my stowaway bid to England was aborted – Business mogul Adedoyin

    How my stowaway bid to England was aborted – Business mogul Adedoyin

    •Says I floated many businesses to avoid returning to poverty

    Prince Samuel Adedoyin, a frontline industrialist cum philanthropist, will clock 90 years in the next five days; December 4, 2025 to be precise. Interestingly, nothing about the physical appearance of the Chairman, Doyin Investment Group gives any inkling he is on the verge of becoming a nonagenarian. Our correspondent, INNOCENT DURU, was shocked to be ushered into an office where the business mogul was comfortably seated, discharging his official duties with the agility of a youth. “You are welcome,” he said, in a vivacious tone as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. In the twinkle of an eye, Prince Adedoyin cleared his table, requesting that the interview should begin. Excerpts:

    You will be 90 in a few days. How has life’s journey been?

    My own life is to thank Almighty God. There’s no life without regrets, but through God Almighty, I have lived a fulfilled life. There is nothing to complain about but to be thankful to God. That is how my life has been.

    Your parents were farmers. How come you did not choose farming for a living?

    I started as a farmer, which I didn’t like because it was all about using hoes and cutlasses, going to farm without shoes, and so on at that time. I am still a farmer now, but it is mechanized farming. We have a farm in Kwara State. We have greenhouse farming, open fields. We have a cashew nuts farm, and so on. But it is all mechanized now instead of the primitive way of farming.

    Why did you leave school after Standard 4?

    That was the much my parents could afford. At any rate, the school there was then ended at Standard 2. I read up to Standard 4 at Iludun. If I were to go higher, I would have gone to Offa to finish the elementary school, and go to college.

    Offa Grammar School was very popular. It was the school that people attended before being able to get to the university. But we were not made to do that because it was only every first son that was allowed to go to school. If you had four children, you would only train the first son.

    It was me, when I was blessed, who trained all my family’s children irrespective of age or mother, because I was blessed enough to give them scholarship. And that was what I did for all of them to be able to go to school.

    When you left school after Standard 4, what did you do next?

    I came to Lagos. My father had divorced my mother and I loved my mother very much. She suffered so much for me and my brother that died. That made me to think that I could not live with my father. I had to stowaway and go to England. But I was not lucky. I was caught in Takoradi in Ghana.

    I was travelling by sea. They kept us where they kept luggage and so on. I went from here in Lagos. The port was at Marina, opposite UBA. That was where we got into the boat.

    Unfortunately, I was arrested in Takoradi. I begged one of the customs officers that arrested me to please use me as a steward because I could not afford to go back home.  My father would cut my throat.

    I was not successful as a steward, so I begged him to leave me alone. He was kind and left me alone. I worked as a vendor with Asanti Pioneer owned by an opposition paper. I sold meat before I started trading, I think with about two pounds then, and God gave me a breakthrough. That was how I came back to take my mother back.

    You mean you already knew about japa in those days?

    Well, I did japa, but not to go for work. My plan was to  go to school. I just wanted to leave my father because he divorced my mom, and he was not kind to me then. He was hard on me. He was a hard person. He had a polygamous family. My father had three wives.

    You said you have lived a fulfilled life. But looking back, if you have the opportunity, would you have lived it differently from the way you did.

    I used to think so before, but categorising everything together, I decided to remove ‘but’ from my life. God has been kind to let me become what I am through personal learning, practising, and experiences.  So when I put all my situations in a text or put them together, that is why I said I just have to thank God, because even if you work for a month, there will be ups and downs.

    There was a time I could not eat or feed. That’s why I said I have lived a fulfilled life,  because I’m sure that being news people, you would have interviewed some people may be in their 50s or 60s, and for you to be interviewing me at 90, without any defects yet, what complaint do I have to give to God?

    That is why I said if I summarise everything, all I have to do is to thank God for the overall blessing, and where I have reached.

    You started a business quite early, and you made success out of it. Would you say life was easier then than now?

    If you are a Christian, you will know that there is nothing difficult for God to do. People also used to say that times were hard in those days too. But God Almighty, who knows everything from everything, made some of us very successful, and it still happening.

    I have some of my children, despite all odds now, who have employed 300 workers and are still being very successful. I think life is by luck, God’s guidance and blessing.  So, to me, I don’t always want to say this time is worse than now.

    If we look at it, we would say that at that time, the value of money was stronger. How to live life was easier then.  But even at that time too… when we rented a house, like the one of six by eight feet, where I first of all lived with my bed of three by six, there was a wardrobe and I had a gramophone on the wardrobe. That was where we played with the green fluorescent lights.  I was one of the first few who could live in a room then. Yet, God did it.

    So at that time, when people were not able to live in a room, I was able to live in a room.  From a room to a room and palour, then to a flat before I was able to build a house in Ikoyi, and since then, it has been success all the way.

    Did you go into philanthropy because of what you’ve gone through or it is just a part of you?

    It is a part of me, because first of all, when I made the first money, the church that I built in my town is the one we are still using in Anglican, in Agbamu today. Although I now go to Redeem Church, I still maintain the church. The bishop of the Anglican Church is my very close friend.

     Your grass to grace story should be an inspiration for young people who came from humble homes. What advice would you give to such people?

    First of all, that one should be closer to God. Some people don’t believe in the power of God and His supremacy in life. God has allowed me to believe in Him right from the beginning, and I still do. And I think that is the backbone of my success. I think everybody should put God first in everything he or she wants to do. And if one believes absolutely in Him, there will be no going back. The foolish man says there is no God who can sanction him and peg him back. My God has not allowed them to happen to me.

    What challenges did you face in the early stage of your business?

    Capital. I started my business with 46 pounds. When I needed money to buy something one day, I approached Standard Bank for a loan of two pounds. We had so much stock and I needed to buy something quickly, and I borrowed two pounds from the bank, and it worked.

    Standard Bank was all run by the whites then. From that, God has always blessed me to have more than enough to run my business.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Nigeria secures Category C IMO seat

    You are into different things. What led to that?  Was it the fear of going back to poverty  or trying to compete with somebody somewhere?

    Not wanting to go back to poverty is my own main aim in life. I have not compared myself with anybody. No, I don’t want to suffer in life. I don’t want a setback. So I registered Jekoyemikale Oluwa (let it be well with me forever Lord) and Brothers. I still use it to pay my tax. That (the meaning of the name) is what has actually happened to me.

    Was it a kind of vision? 

    No, it is my prayer. That is what I asked God to do. That was what I did then, and it is still happening.

    Attaining 90 years, would you attribute it and the sound health you enjoy to the grace of God or some personal lifestyles?  

    I told you that everything that I have done is through the grace of God. There is nothing that I can call my own. Every blessing comes from Him.

    But do you watch what you eat or engage in sports to keep fit? 

    It is now I do that.  Before, you would first have to have enough to eat before thinking of dieting. At the beginning, there was nothing like dieting. But now I watch what I eat and what I take. But at that time, I ate whatever I saw.

    You have a foundation that takes care of the less privileged…

    That is what I do all the years of my life. I came from a poor area. The government in Kwara State does not help our area. So, I am the one who first of all built dispensary and maternity in the community. Later, I built a general hospital which I donated to the Kwara State Government to manage. But they didn’t even use a quarter of it. But behind it is where I’m building a school of nursing.

    Is there anything more you wish to achieve in life?

    If God allows me, I will help more people.

    How do you feel about the menace of banditry in your state?

    I feel the same way I feel about the whole country. I pray that God will help us to be able to tame those attacking Nigeria everywhere.  Before now, it was not affecting Kwara. But now that it does, it makes people to feel the pain more than reading about it. I wish God will help Bola Tinubu to save the country from such attacks.

    What is your advice to the younger ones about their lifestyle?

    Drink right, eat right and do everything in the right way. Now I know that it can help to save life. Before it was God who helped me, but now, I eat according to medical directive. I wouldn’t say that was what saved my life. It was God that saved my life. But I know it is good to eat right, drink right, and do everything right.

  • $46bn reserves, falling inflation signal CBN policy impact

    $46bn reserves, falling inflation signal CBN policy impact

    Nigeria’s inflation rate continues to cool, slipping to 16.05 per cent in October from 18.02 per cent in September 2025 — a trend economists say reflects the impact of sustained monetary policy easing and far-reaching reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The easing cycle has strengthened FX stability, boosted foreign reserves to $46 billion, and reinforced confidence in the macroeconomic environment. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso has consistently highlighted how recent policy decisions have made the naira more competitive and improved Nigeria’s investment climate for global investors, reports Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says ongoing policy easing and structural reforms are steadily filtering into the wider economy, helping to stabilise the naira, ease lending rates, and support the continued moderation of inflation. According to the bank, its recent monetary policy actions reflect a deliberate strategy to restore macroeconomic stability after years of fiscal and external pressures. It added that lower lending rates are emerging as one of the most visible outcomes of its policy trajectory, underscoring the leadership’s commitment to strengthening the financial system.

    The CBN noted that close alignment between fiscal and monetary policies has become indispensable at a time when technological innovation and digital finance are rapidly transforming the financial landscape. This coordination, it said, has enhanced the effectiveness of monetary tools and improved the transmission of policy decisions across sectors. At its 302nd meeting held on September 22 and 23, 2025, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) trimmed the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points — from 27.5 per cent to 27 per cent. The move, the first rate cut since the tightening cycle began, signals a shift in policy direction as inflationary pressures begin to ease. The committee said the decision balances the need to support growth while maintaining stability in the foreign exchange market.

    Early data appears to validate this stance. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its October 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, revealed that inflation fell to 16.05 per cent from 18.02 per cent in September. It added that on a year-on-year basis, the October 2025 headline inflation rate was 17.82 per cent lower than the 33.88 per cent recorded in October 2024 — a significant moderation despite differences in the CPI base year.

     However, the NBS noted some upward movement on a month-on-month basis. The October 2025 inflation rate stood at 0.93 per cent, slightly higher than the 0.72 per cent recorded in September. This indicates that although prices continued to rise, the pace of increase was modest and broadly consistent with overall disinflation trends observed in the past months. Beyond inflation, other indicators are also pointing in a positive direction. The gradual strengthening of the naira, coupled with rising foreign reserves, suggests an improving economic outlook. These gains have contributed to renewed investor confidence and better stability in the foreign exchange (FX) markets.

    Reflecting this trend, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a 3.9 per cent growth rate for Nigeria in 2025, citing ongoing reforms, FX market improvements, and a stabilising macroeconomic environment. The CBN attributes much of the progress to the FX reforms introduced under the leadership of Governor Olayemi Cardoso, as well as new Federal Government policies targeting improved local production, reduced forex demand pressures, and lower domestic prices. Looking ahead, analysts say sustaining these gains will require the CBN to maintain its FX reforms while fiscal authorities intensify efforts to boost foreign exchange earnings, particularly from gas, oil, and non-oil exports.

    Exchange rate positions

     The naira has achieved a notable milestone, strengthening by 3.5 per cent against the U.S. dollar over the past ten months, reaching N1,450/$ at the parallel market. This recovery, though modest, signals a crucial shift, driven by coordinated adjustments to fiscal and monetary policies by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The start of the year saw the naira trading at around N1,555/$. However, a brief period of instability saw the rate slip to a high of N1,597/$ by the end of April. The subsequent six months were marked by intense policy intervention. The naira briefly firmed up at N1,475/$ in October 2025 at the official market before settling at N1,500/$ at the parallel market yesterday, marking a 3.5 per cent gain from the January starting point.

    CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso says naira is turning the corner, and becoming more competitive in the international markets. He said Nigeria’s economy has been fully restructured and is now resilient, with huge buffers against global risks.

    He spoke during the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) press briefing at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US. Cardoso, who is the leader of the Nigeria delegation at the meetings, said the naira has equally emerged as a competitive currency, with the economy witnessing positive trade balances and large businesses moving from imports to export of locally produced goods and commodities.

    According to him, the positive economic indicators have combined to create resilient and strong buffers, keeping the economy in great shapes. Speaking on the impact of the trade tariffs on the domestic economy, the CBN boss said the tariffs are less of problems for the country. “And for us again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed to the tariffs, and the impact of that was relatively modest. We now have a more competitive currency with the results that, for once, we have a situation where we have a positive balance of trade surplus, and we expect it to be six per cent in GDP for some time.

    “So basically, what is happening is a complete restructuring of the economy, where we are encouraging people to go into domestic production, and, of course, discouraging imports. And I think we were very fortunate, because a lot of the things that were needed to have been done, we did them much earlier, and as a result of that, we’re able to create resilience and buffers against potential shocks,” he stated.

    What other stakeholders are saying

    The Director-General, the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Dr. Baba Musa, has called on government to ensure that 3.9 per cent growth for Nigeria in 2025 translate to decent jobs, rising incomes, improved productivity, and broader social welfare. In his report presented at the recently concluded 2025 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, titled: “Nigeria’s Economic Outlook at a Turning Point”, he said as Nigeria moves further into 2025, Nigeria’s economic story is one of resilience, renewal, and strategic recalibration.

    Musa, who is also the President, Nigerian Economic Society, said Nigeria’s economic trajectory is increasingly encouraging with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.9 per cent in 2025, up from 3.5 per cent in 2024, with further acceleration to 4.2 per cent in 2026.

    Musa said Nigeria in 2025 is at a critical inflection point, cautiously optimistic yet structurally fragile. “Gains in growth, inflation moderation, and investment confidence mark important progress, but the work is far from complete. To sustain the recovery, Nigeria must maintain macroeconomic stability, deepen structural reforms, and ensure that growth translates into tangible improvements for citizens. Achieving this requires collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, and development partners,” he said.

    According to him, by committing to policy consistency, human capital investment and inclusive growth, Nigeria can consolidate its recovery and emerge as a more competitive, resilient, and equitable economy in the years ahead. “Globally, economies are grappling with slowing growth, projected at 2.7% in 2025 by the IMF for advanced economies, and heightened geopolitical risks that affect trade and investment. Against this backdrop, Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable determination. Domestically, inflationary pressures, infrastructure deficits, and unemployment persist, yet they now represent policy frontiers rather than defining constraints,” he said.

    Musa said recent policy measures, ranging from fiscal consolidation to targeted monetary adjustments, have laid the groundwork for a sustainable growth trajectory. “The real test, however, lies not only in achieving stability but in ensuring that it translates into tangible socio-economic outcomes: decent jobs, rising incomes, improved productivity, and broader social welfare. If Nigeria deepens reforms, invests strategically in human capital, and leverages its structural advantages, the country can achieve not only recovery but inclusive and durable economic transformation,” he said.

    He said the growth for Nigeria is underpinned by stronger oil production following operational improvements and policy reforms in the petroleum sector. “Recovery in services, particularly telecommunications, financial services, and transport, reflecting resilient domestic demand. Improved agricultural output, thanks to favourable weather patterns and government support for mechanisation and inputs,” he said.

    He said the recent GDP rebasing has also given a more accurate reflection of the economy, capturing growth in high-potential sectors such as digital services, modular refining, and the creative industries. This expanded view highlights opportunities for job creation, innovation, and revenue generation that were previously underappreciated. According to him, inflation remains elevated but is gradually moderating.

    “Headline inflation declined to 18.02 per cent in September 2025, down from 20.12 per cent in August, reflecting improved food supply, seasonal harvests, and targeted interventions in the energy market. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s interest rate cut, the first since 2020, signals a nuanced policy shift: a deliberate effort to balance price stability with growth and employment objectives. This approach is consistent with modern macroeconomic management, where inflation targeting is tempered by the need to stimulate investment and production in key sectors,” he said.

    Read Also: CBN calls for stronger coordination to sustain economic recovery

    Speaking further, Musa said, “Investor sentiment is improving, illustrated by Shell’s approval of the HI Offshore Gas Project, expected to supply 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to Nigeria LNG. Economically, such projects deliver multiplier effects: they stimulate domestic suppliers, create high-skill and semi-skilled jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a reliable energy hub in Africa. They also enhance balance of payments stability, by promoting export-oriented production.”

    Moves to support economy

    The CBN under Cardoso is cultivating multiple FX sources to increase dollar inflows, boost dollar access to manufacturers and retail end users. From moves to improve diaspora remittances through new product development, the granting licenses to new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), implementing a willing buyer-willing seller FX model, and enabling timely access to naira liquidity for IMTOs, the apex bank has simplified dollar-inflow channels for authorized dealers and other players in the value chain. The move has led to substantial accretion to the gross FX reserves and supported the stability of the naira.

    Given that FX inflows to the economy are strategic in achieving monetary and fiscal policy stability, the CBN under Cardoso puts in a lot of efforts in attracting more inflows into the economy. Diaspora remittances to Nigeria, estimated at $23 billion annually, remain a reliable source of forex to the domestic economy. There are also other sources and policies that are being explored by the apex bank to keep dollar inflows coming.

  • Full barns, empty pockets

    Full barns, empty pockets

    •Women farmers count losses as food prices crash in Niger State

    There has been joy and gladness in the hearts of ordinary Nigerians that food prices have reduced by more than half for some months, making it easy for some people to stock up. However, while the citizens are happy, it is a different story for the farmers, majority of who store grains to sell when the price is right. For many farmers, the season of plenty has become a season of loss. JUSTINA ASISHANA visited some local governments across Niger State to document how the drop in food prices has affected farmers, especially smallholder women farmers.

    Cross Niger State, harvest season and storage of food produce usually bring joy. But this year, it is a different story. Women who once celebrated full barns now count their losses as they lament that bumper harvests no longer translate into profit, with the prices of crops like maize, rice and beans, which were once seen as gold, having crashed. These food products that once fetched thousands per measure now sell for a fraction of their former price.

    Women farmers like Jummai Makama and Aishatu Bawa in Paikoro, Priscilla Sado and Agnes Aynadanyi in Gurara and Halima Mohammed in Agaie stored grains from their last harvest, hoping for better prices, but were disappointed when it came time to sell their grains.

    Prices of maize dropped from N1,000 per measure to as low as N250-N400; beans fell from N150,000 per bag to N70,000, with a measure selling between N1,500 to N1,700 as against N2,800 to N3,000 that it was sold early in the year and the year before. This development makes farmers who waited to sell their farm produce get stuck with unsold produce, while those who sold early barely broke even.

    “As at this time last year, a bag of beans sold between N130,000 to N180,000 depending on the type that you have. But this year, the highest we can sell our beans is N80,000, which is not encouraging, not after buying fertiliser and chemicals very costly and not getting anything for your effort in the farm.

    “Buying fertiliser at a higher cost, and after harvesting, you look at the price you sold it and you will know that you did not gain. Most of our produce is still on ground and we are looking for buyers to buy it at the rate we want to sell it that would be okay for us,” Aishatu Mohammed, a multiple crop farmer in Paikoro said.

    Speaking with a tone of resignation, she said that though she is planting new crops, she does it reluctantly because she still has a lot of her harvest unsold with no hope of the price rising again.

    “I am still praying that the prices will go up a little, at least to enable me get the amount of fertilizer and chemicals I spent during the planting season. I sincerely pray that next year, the price will increase more than this year.”

    After spending 25 years in farming, Talma Baba, a rice farmer in Gurara Local Government Area, is taking the price fluctuations and uncertainty philosophically. She believes that it is the will of God for food prices to either go up or down, and since she does not lose too much, she will keep farming with the hope that her family will not be hungry.

    “Everything I do about my farming depends on God, and if God says the price will go up, it is God’s will. If the price reduces, I will still farm and sell. I will not get discouraged,” she said.

    Talma said she did not lose much in terms of selling her last year harvest as she was part of the people who sold theirs at the beginning of the year when the prices were still high.

    “At the beginning of this year, the food prices were still high and that was when I sold some of my produce, so I did not lose that much. It was after the middle of the year that the prices began going down, so I can say I did not lose too much.”

    The data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirms what farmers are experiencing. While food prices were still higher early this year, the monthly increases slowed down until September 2025, which saw the first actual month-to-month drop in food prices in over a decade. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s food prices showed a general slowdown in increases compared to 2024.

    Food inflation measures how much food costs have risen, compared to the same time last year. According to NBS, year-on-year food inflation rates dropped over the months in 2025, though actual month-to-month price reductions happened starting in September

    Based on NBS Consumer Price Index (CPI), the year started with January showing 26.08 percentage change in food prices compared to the same month in the previous year while in September 2025, the food inflation rate showed 16.87 per cent as against 37.77 per cent in September 2024.

    October and November data have not been released by NBS as at the time of writing this report

    Fertiliser now costs almost more than the farm

    The cost of farm inputs like fertiliser, herbicides, chemicals and seedlings continues to increase annually, with no hope of farmers, especially women farmers in the rural areas, getting access to government-subsidised inputs. Several of the farmers say that they have to rely on fowl or cow dung and refuse as fertiliser since they cannot afford buying fertiliser. This in turn does not give the yield they expect. Farmers say that fertilizer that once sold between N18,000 and N30,000 is now ₦60,000, and that is if you find it.

    Habiba Abdullahi, a rice farmer in Paikoro, lamented that her challenge since she started farming 10 years ago has been accessing fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide, and this has reduced her produce yield annually.  She pointed out that since she started farming, she has not had access to government-subsidized fertilizer, adding that last year when the Smallholder Women Farmers (SWOFON) were promised 300 bags of fertilizer by the government, they were only able to access 60 bags, which she said were not enough to go round members across the state.

    “When I started farming, my land was still fertile, so I was able to harvest 120 bags of rice. But as the years go by, the harvest has reduced drastically, and last year, I was able to harvest just 30 bags of rice.

    “My major challenge is that I don’t have fertilizer, no chemicals and no financial assistance anywhere, which made my harvest very low last year.

    “This year, I don’t know how many bags I will harvest. As a solution, I use fowl poop as fertilizer in my farm. Then for the chemical, I buy a little amount and mix with the fowl poo, which I use in the farm.

    “Before, the government price of fertilizer was N18,000 to N20,000. But now, we do not even see the government price, so we buy in the market where it is sold from N60,000 and above.

    “And a farmer cannot just use one bag of fertilizer. To see any result, we usually use two to three bags, and that is because the farm is not very big.”

    Though Habiba sold her produce early in the year before food prices went down, she worries over the price of rice which is currently being planted and would soon be harvested.

    She said:  “I have fears over the price of rice for next year. I only pray that the prices improve before we harvest this year’s rice and sell them.”

    Some of the women farmers accuse politicians of hijacking subsidized fertilizers meant for them as several of them noticed that the fertilisers sold by these politicians are usually cheaper than those sold in the market.

    According to them, the politicians hijack the inputs and because they are not real farmers, and end up selling it less than the real market rates to the real farmers.

    “We do not get our fertiliser from the government. We get it from those who sell it in the market. All the fertilizer shared by the government belongs to politicians. The common man buys from the black market where a bag now costs N50,000 to N60,000. Before, we were getting it at N25,000 for government price. The politicians sell to them, and they sell to us.

    “Last year, the governor directed that women farmers should be given 600 bags of fertilizer, out of which 300 were supposed to be for Smallholder Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFON). But because of the politicians involved, we only got 68 bags, which was not enough to go round.

    “But this year, we did not even see one bag. This is sad because four, five years ago, they gave these fertilizers to us for free, but now, nothing. How can the government go for a year without giving subsidised fertilizer to farmers?”

    Agnes Aynadanyi in Gurara LGA lamented that after using fertilizers for planting, she did not get the money back to even pay for the input

     “We brought medicines and fertilizer to use while planting, and most of us did not even get the money for the inputs.

    “This year, one mudu of corn was sold for N300. Last year, we sold it at N1000 to N2000.  I had to sell mine like that because I needed money. No gain at all.

    “Sometimes, I buy chemicals for N65,000 and fertilizer for N97,000. I buy 10 bags of fertilizer because if you did not put it much, it will not yield much. I did not get the money back.

    “With this new planting season, I just managed to start farming.”

    Pricilla Sado, who farms groundnut, melon, rice, beans and cassava in Agaie, lamented the high cost of renting farm implements every year. “This year, I hired a tractor to work for me in my farm. I paid N70,000 because my cousin knows who had the tractor. But last year, the person who did it for me collected N110,000 for just clearing and tilling the ground.

    “We do not have access to government owned tractors. We hear that they bring it but it is the politicians that hijack it. It is the same thing with fertilizer.”

    Jummai also lamented how the tractors were being hoarded by the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Agency (NAMDA), which claims that it does not have any, despite the ones seen in its offices in Minna.

    “We need modern and women friendly planting equipment which will be easy to use and faster. We do not have any tractor in our local government; not one in Paikoro.

    “If you have a big farm, you will have to go and rent it from private individuals. We haven’t seen any from the government here. In the whole local government, we don’t have a tractor. The government keeps saying it shared tractors but it is all politics.

    “Even now, in NAMDA in Minna, there are a lot of tractors, but they did not share it. The farming season for 2025 is already gone. Maybe they will keep it for 2026 against the 2027 elections.

    “The NAMDA office has several tractors and no single one has been given to us. They keep saying they don’t have. They will say they have it but at the grassroots, we have not seen it.

    “The products are there but we do not see them at the grassroots. They most probably sell them to the politicians who use them for private businesses.”

    For Fatima Matyaki in Katcha LGA, she has entered into an agreement with the people who sell fertilizer where she buys on credit and pays back after she harvests her crops. Because of the need to pay off the debt, she had to sell her produce quickly. So, she did not save a lot of grains like her fellow farmers.

    She lamented, however, that from her last harvest, she was barely able to meet up with the payment of the fertilizer and have some gain, because she sold the produce at very low price than she budgeted to sell it.

    “But I just had to sell it, because if I had waited longer, the fertilizer seller would be on my neck. So I could only afford to store little that would be enough for my family to feed on. So I am even discouraged to farm this year”, she said.

    Storage: Between spoilage and poison

    Several of the farmers do not sell the crops they harvest immediately. They store them using different preservation methods. None of the women farmers interviewed used modern methods for storing their crops.

    Majority of the women rely on traditional storage methods using insecticides or rat poison, locally referred to as “bomb”, which they tie in rags to repel pests. One of the crops they use the “bomb” to preserve is beans, risking food poisoning if not properly handled before it is sold.

    Explaining the reason for storing their produce for a while before selling, majority of the women farmers said they do so to make more profit as this tends to increase the price of the products, which had benefitted them in the past.

    “We store our harvests the local way. Like beans, we got some storage bags sold by the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanizaion Development Agency (NAMDA). When you put your beans in that bag, it can stay for 8 to10 months.

    “For soybeans, rice and maize, we store it locally. We put it in the room and put the chemical for preservation in it. The chemical is called the bomb. We put it in rag and tie it and put it inside the beans or other products like corn, millet and others.

    “The reason for using the bomb is that the smell drives away any pest, especially rats, weevils and termites. So, on my part, when I want to sell my produce, I take the produce and spread it on the floor for a day or two so that the sun can heat it and remove any smell or residue from the chemical we use.

    But she admitted that this could be dangerous to health.

    “In some cases, you will hear sometimes that beans kills people. That is because some people just take it to the market without removing the bomb, and this type of beans, when you cook it, you will perceive the smell. That is why it poisons people. It kills some people.

    “Some of these people where you say they ate beans and before you know they die, this can be as a result of eating beans that were preserved and was not properly dried before they were sold.

    “For yams, we have the barns which can serve for three to six months,” Jummai said.

    Safiya Musa, who farms rice in Paikoro, said she has been using the rat poison known as “bomb” for storing her grains since she started farming about six years ago.

    “I don’t have any problem or loss or damage. I use rat poison. I store maize for one year, nothing goes wrong with it.

    “Apart from maize and rice, other grains cannot stay very long as termites can enter to eat them up, especially if the ‘bomb’ you use has expired and you did not check it.”

    Comfort Joseph, a rice, beans, potatoes and corn farmer in Dikko community in Gurara LGA, uses a different and safer method in storing her beans by pouring ash on it as she fills it into the storage bag. For maize, she uses neem leave which she places inside the sack.

    “Pest has never affected my crops. But sometimes when you do not store your product properly, moisture affects it.

    “For other crops, I use the insecticide bomb to store them. It does not affect the crops, it is safe to use. All you have to do is use rag to tie it before dropping it into the crop.”

    Niger State based Nutritionist,  Hajiya Asmau Mohammed, explained that the use of chemicals in grain preservation is a common practice worldwide, particularly in areas with high humidity or long storage periods, noting that while chemicals effectively prevent insect damage, reduce post-harvest losses and maintain grain quality, they also pose significant health and environmental risks.

    “The contamination of grains with pesticide residues and the development of insect resistance are major concerns. For instance, studies carried out have shown that exposure to pesticides like phosphine can lead to neurological damage and respiratory issues in humans.”

    She noted that non-chemical methods, such as drying, storing in airtight containers, and using natural preservatives, offer eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives as these methods not only preserve grain quality but also promote sustainable food systems and community resilience.

    “However, the non chemical method may require more labour and careful monitoring, and their effectiveness can be limited by factors like storage conditions and pest pressure.

    “As a nutritionist, I believe that a balanced approach that combines the benefits of both chemical and non-chemical methods could be the way forward.”

    A health Consultant, Mathew Oladele noted that the common rodentcides in Nigeria commonly called rat bomb or giant killers or smoke bomb are not safe for grain or any type of food preservation, especially grains, adding that these chemicals cause food contamination and poisoning risks.

    “The rodentcides contains some chemical properties that are harmful to humans and animals. These materials are made purposely to control rodents and not to preserve foods items especially grains. These chemicals cause food contamination and poisoning risks.

    “The farmers need to be advised to stop using these harmful methods to preserve grains. Rat bomb has a tendency to cause multiple organs failures in human beings just as it does to the rats. It can cause food poisoning, severe illness, internal bleeding, brain swelling or even result in death.”

    He insisted that the process of preserving using rat bomb should be eliminated while farmers should be advised to use safer methods of grains preservation like rodents-proof containers, perimeter rodentcides fumigation, and other non-chemical storage systems to avoid contamination that could lead to food poisoning..

    Enforced uniform prices, higher losses

    In markets across the state, farmers face difficulties in selling their grains in the local markets at the rate they desire because of the market leaders who work at ensuring that every trader in the market sells at uniform prices, irrespective of each one’s peculiar realities, which in turn worsens farmer’s losses.

    Ndatu Ibrahim, a market leader in Paikoro, said the price of food is set when the market leaders calculate the amount the grains were brought and the transportation used in conveying the goods to the market with a little amount added to it as gain for the traders.

    Ndatu, who acknowledged the low prices of food, said unlike previous years when middlemen follow the farmers to their farms in the hope of getting it cheaper, this year was different because farmers are looking for ways to sell their produce at slightly higher rate in order to get returns on their investment. She added that several of the middlemen also felt the brunt of the food price reduction as those who stored their goods now sell at a loss.

    “The food prices have come down very much. The cause is unknown. Everybody in the market is crying, those who did storage, they are the ones who cried a lot. Some store corn at N10 million and sell it at N4 million. They lose. The price did not go up at all this period.  Middlemen who brought at any amount and stored also lost most of their money. Now, the middlemen have refused to come like they used to do because they lost a lot.”

    The Market Women Head in Agaie market in Agaie LGA, Zainab Mohammed, noted that they try to ensure that there are uniformed prices and anyone who flaunts the order faces disciplinary action which may lead to the person not selling in the market that day. 

    “Every day, when I come into the market, I and other officials go round and ask how much they are selling their product. Once a trader gives a different price, that trader is queried, and if the reason is not vital, we ask them to sell at the same rate with others. That is how we work to ensure all prices are the same.

    “We always have challenges especially with the farmers who sell their goods directly in the market. When we ask them to sell at lesser price than they are proposing, they complain that some of them go on dry season farming where they use fuel, which is very expensive. The price of the fertilizer is high and selling at lower price is killing them. But our hands are tied because the price has to be uniform.”

    Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, in October last year inaugurated the Niger State Price Control and Monitoring Board. The board is an eight-member committee led by Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed, who is a former Permanent Secretary, as Chairman – with other members drawn from various ministries, departments and agencies.

    The primary goal of the board is to ensure fair pricing and protect consumers and farmers from exploitation. Its specific functions include to control and stabilise the prices of essential commodities across the state; eradicate or minimise the hoarding of essential goods by traders; keep market prices under continuous surveillance and interpret price movements and handle issues that arise from enforcement and implement penalties for those who violate pricing guidelines.

    As at November 2025, the board was yet to undertake any activity nor has it carried out any specific enforcement actions, such as crackdowns on hoarders or the seizure of goods. The board has also not released an official, regulated price list for specific essential commodities.

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    The reporter tried to get the Chairman but could not get his contact, while some members who were reached said since the announcement of their names as board members the board has never really functioned.

    This is essentially, they said, because the government has not released money to fund its activities. It was gathered that since its inaugural meeting, the board has not met since it was inaugurated in October 2024.

    A retired statistician general in Niger State, who is also a farmer, Alhaji Usman Liman, noted that the drop in food prices is a good thing, but added that it would discourage farmers, especially as the prices of inputs, fertilizer, chemicals and seedlings have not reduced.

    “A farmer will buy his fertilizer N40,000 or more per bag and at the end, he will sell his maize for N20,000 per bag. This means he has to sell about two or three bags to get a bag of fertilizer. So it is not good for the farmers.

    “The long-run implication is that the next one year or less than one year, these prices will move. Particularly if it reaches next year, if farmers are discouraged, they won’t farm again.

    “What do you think will happen? Farmers will not go to the farms, there will not be food. So, the little food available will make the prices skyrocket again.

    “What the government should have done is to encourage the farmer by not opening the door for import, because you are encouraging people from other countries, particularly large-scale farmers from other countries bringing in their goods”.

    Why intended support fails to reach women farmers —NAMDA

    The Managing Director of NAMDA, Muhammad Alibaba, explained that while the state has policies to support women, a combination of input diversion, a distribution model that relies on a few formal (and not widespread) groups, and a critical lack of extension staff makes several women farmers to be “sidelined” and fail to access the intended inputs.

    He explained that the government’s “specific allocation for women” is channeled through a few prominent, organised women’s farmer groups, stressing that women who are not registered members of these specific organisations are often left out, admitting that these organised women farmers groups are not widespread but the agency cannot be everywhere.

    “As we speak, the government has approved the purchase of some quantity of inputs that will be distributed to farmers for the dry season (farming), since rainy season is over already. So that is likely to be sold as a subsidy to farmers.

    “We are conscious of the gender balance and gender mainstreaming. So, most often when it comes to inputs distribution by government, there are a few notable organisations that cater for women farmers. They are usually given priority attention in addition to ordinary farmers. These women organizations usually get specific allocation for their members.

    “Everybody is aware that the input costs are very high. Even male farmers can hardly afford them. So, we are hoping that apart from the state government’s expected intervention, the federal government itself may do something”, he said.

    Speaking on diversion, Muhammad acknowledged that they receive the same complaints once in a while explaining that most often, the inputs are usually limited and with little or no logistics to convey them to the expected locations, it may be diverted by some elements.

    “Efforts, like I said, are being deliberately made to ensure that women are not sidelined. So, those women that are complaining, maybe we need to encourage them to join this kind of women organizations who we give priority to so that if these inputs are available, they will be able to benefit from them. But, you know, anything that is human and is based on the population, there may be a few misclimates.

    But by and large, we try and ensure that farmers, well-known farmers, registered farmers are who we relate to. We already have a database of farmers from which we extract the list of beneficiaries. We can’t attend to all the farmers in Niger state.”

    The MD further lamented that the extension officers available at the local government levels to help farmers are not enough to cater for this large number of farmers across the state adding that there are some other initiatives at the community level that have taken it upon themselves to enlighten and train farmers.

    “The extension workers are not enough and this is because there have not been massive employment concerning extension workers and a lot of the extension officers have retired without being replaced. But these efforts are being made to fill the gaps through these community-based advisors.

    “And, of course, even the input suppliers, the distributors, they also serve like extension officers. So, in the local government agri-department, they also have officials that serve. But they are not enough.

    “We know that, and the state government, not long ago, approved the recruitment of additional extension officers. We’re making deliberate efforts to fill the vacuum and increase the farmer to extension officer ratio,” he said.

    As women farmers are already in the planting season, hope remains their only capital. They pray for better prices and real government support, so that full barns can finally mean full pockets.

    •This report was made possible with support from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, (ICIR).

  • Bayelsa community: We push faeces aside to fetch drinking water

    Bayelsa community: We push faeces aside to fetch drinking water

    • Residents battle cholera, dysentery, other water borne diseases

    • Decry open defecation, plead for public toilets

    Children and adults in Otuabagi, a community in Ogbia Local Government Area of BBayelsa State, where Nigeria first discovered and exported crude oil in commercial quantity, are afflicted by water borne diseases following unbridled engagement  in open defecation. Devastated  by their predicament, the embattled  people have vowed  never to engage in the despicable practice anymore if provided with public toilets. But will the state government and other representatives of the area in the state and national assemblies deem it fit to help the community? INNOCENT DURU asks.

    Pa Pamarier Odiki,  a former local wrestler, has been practising open defecation since he was born 84 years ago. His forebears engaged in the primitive practice and he and his offspring inherited it.

    His choice place for defecating is the brownish river where he majestically rides to on a canoe to discharge fecal matters from his bowels.

     “It is inside river that we defecate,” he said in a voice that bellied his old age. 

    “We always go on a canoe to defecate at waterside. The faeces goes and comes around. It’s often turning around the river because as the river carries it away, it brings it back subsequently,” he said.

    When fetching water for domestic use, Pa Odiki said, “if you see faeces in the river, you use your bucket to push it away and fetch water. We always allow the water to settle down before we drink it.”

    Pa Odiki sees nothing disgusting drinking such water since they have no alternative and are used to doing so.

    “I don’t feel any how consuming the water. If you want to bathe in the river, you will push the faeces away so that you don’t pack it on your head,” he added.

    While he and other members of the community are used to drinking the polluted water, the octogenarian admitted that “we suffer dysentery very often. Sometimes it is cholera that we suffer. If you drink the water, it will upset your stomach and you will begin to defecate anyhow.”

    Going to a hospital for treatment is never in Pa Odiki’s plans whenever he suffers dysentery. Going to a hospital is ultra vires as far as he is concerned.

    His words: “I do enter the bush and pluck certain leaves to treat  myself. I don’t go to the hospital. Is it not money I will need to settle the bills? 

    “At my age, where will I see or get the money to go to the hospital?

    Asked why he doesn’t have a toilet in his house, the aged man said “mud houses don’t build toilets. Where to pooh has always been a problem.”

    Checks around the community shows that poverty walks on all fours. The land lacks basic  amenities in spite of being the community that launched Nigeria into the comity of oil producing countries. Instead of the prosperity they were promised when oil was first found on their land, massive pollution occasioned by oil spill, failed or jaundiced water project, moribund cottage hospital, among other calamitous baggage, are all the people have been rewarded with.

    The land, which produced crude oil in large quantity, has ironically lost its good treasure and turned into a land where fecal matters are recklessly disposed, compromising the wellness of the area. 

    A septuagenarian, Madam Ikiomabhar Orubo, told our correspondent that she has also been engaging in open defecation all her life. Defecating in a toilet, ancient or modern, is alien to her.

    “I don’t have a toilet. I live in a mud house. The house is compacted and there is no space for toilet,” she said, clarifying that it is not a taboo to build a toilet within the house in the community.

    “I journey to the waterside anytime I want to defecate,” she said, adding:  “I go out even in the night to defecate. I have nothing to fear.

    “In my 70 years of existence, I have been defecating in the open. Since I was born, I have been going to the river to defecate. My children also  go to the river to defecate.”

    Like Pa Odiki, Madam Orubo also goes on a canoe to pooh in  the river. “When it is night, you can pooh and throw it away around waterside. I have a canoe that I use to go and defecate.

    “It is the same water that we drink. We don’t have an alternative.  We pooh in the water and still drink from it. 

    “My body does not do me any how drinking from the river we defecate into. I am used to it,” she said .

    The dark complexioned woman, however, said she stools at times “because we also drink the same water.”

    Each time she suffers health crisis drinking the contaminated water, Madam Orubo said she travels to Kolo for medical treatment; a journey which, according to her, costs about N5,000.

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    Unlike the above respondents,  Ibaru Enenia, a 56-year-old landlord and native of the community, says he does not pooh in the river. His ideal places for defecating are the bushes.

    He said: “Some people are ashamed of saying that they pooh in the bush, but I am not, because we don’t have toilets. 

    “Right from the time I was born, I have been defecating in the bush. I don’t defecate in the house,” he said. 

    Enenia explained that he defecates in the open because he does not have the means to add toilet to the modern house he built. “It will cost about N200,000 to build a toilet but I don’t have such money. Will I kill myself? If I have the money, I will build a toilet in my house. I pooh anywhere in the bush,” he said

     To buttress the fact that the practice is widespread in the community, Enenia said: “When defecating in the bush, you will see other people coming there too to come and pooh.

    “My children and other family members go into the bush to pooh. If I feel pressed in the night, I go out with my torch into the bush to pooh.

    “I am never afraid of anything, because when pooh holds you, fear will disappear. Some people pooh inside river.”

    Enenia also confirmed that the practice together with the oil pollution in the community has been responsible for myriads of water borne diseases in the community.

    His words: “Cholera, dysentery, leprosy, small pox and several other health challenges are ravaging our lives because we practice open defecation.

    “I have contracted sicknesses defecating in the bush. I will not deny that. As I am talking with you now, my body is itchy. Unfortunately, I don’t have money to go to the hospital. But if you give me, I will go. I use herbs for now to treat any sickness.

    Mother of five relives children’s battle with diarrhea

    Jennifer Simeon, a 31-year-old mother of five, said her children have always had a running battle with diarrhea.

    She said: “They often experience stomach disorder after drinking the water. After a while, the stomach will settle down. 

    The children do vomit and defecate watery faeces. Whenever they have the challenge, I always run to a nearby chemist where they mix tablets for them.”

    Responding to why she chooses to patronise chemists instead of taking them to a standard hospital, Jennifer said: “Our hospital here isn’t functional. Before we get to where we have a hospital, we will spend about N5,000. This is why we rush to chemist anytime we see those symptoms.”

    Jennifer also admitted engaging in open defecation. “I pooh in open places because we don’t have a toilet here. We pooh at the river side and when we go to the farm, we also pooh there. These are the two places we pooh.”

    Even though the river and bushes make defecation easy for her, Jennifer said she doesn’t  feel happy defecating in the open but  because of the situation “we have found ourselves here we have to manage what is available.

    She noted that defecating in the open portends a lot of embarrassment even though a large number of people in the community practice it.

    “I do face embarrassment defecating in open places. Some people will chase you away, asking why you are defecating in front of their place.

    “They would say carry you faeces and go away from here.

    “But since I don’t have my private toilet, it is still in the river I have  to go and defecate and it is often in front of somebody’s house.  They insult us every time but we don’t care about that anymore.  Children don’t also have toilets in school.  They pooh inside bucket  or paper and throw it away.”

    She averred that she is forced to consume the polluted water because she does sot have the resources to buy sachet water, which is cleaner and healthier. 

    She said: “We get our water from the river we pooh into. Sometimes we put alum to clean it up. At other times,  we use it without adding alum whenever there is water scarcity. Since we don’t have pipe borne water, what do we do? 

    “We don’t feel anyhow drinking the contaminated water. That is what we have been drinking since they gave birth to us. We are used to it.

    “We know that health crisis stems from our exposure to polluted water and environment, but there is nothing we can do about it.

    “We don’t have any alternative. We always have itchy skin and dysentery. We the women have rashes on our private parts.”

    Asked why she had not considered buying sachet water, which is cleaner, Jennifer said: “How will I be able to buy it every day and also give to the children to drink?

    “There is no source of income here. I am a farmer. But when you even  complete the planting, thieves will take the harvest.

    “This compounds the poverty level in this place.”

    No shyness in open defecation

    Gift Monday, a 30-year-old, said there is nothing to be shy about in open defecation.

    “If I am defecating and a man is coming to pooh too, he will move to one corner to do his own while I remain in my own place doing mine. I have defecated three times today and it has been watery,” Gift said.

    She added: “Right from when they gave birth to me till date, I have been defecating inside river. My children too have been defecating in the river.

    I don’t have a toilet in my house. I pooh in the river any time I am pressed. We  don’t have the space to build toilet in the house.

    “That is why everybody poohs in the river. We drink the contaminated water and also bathe with it.”

    Suggesting that affliction has become a norm in the community, she said: “Sickness comes and goes among us. We vomit and stool. We suffer diarrhea.

    “Whenever diarrhea comes, I travel to Kolo for treatment. I spend more than N4,000 travelling to Kolo. At the hospital, I will pay N10,000 to get medications, aside from paying to obtain card.”

    Why youths can’t construct public toilet

     A 27-year-old member of the community,  Omonibo Smart, while lamenting widespread practice of open defecation in the community, said: “We the youth have not thought of constructing public toilet because we lack the financial capacity.

    “The living standard here is very low. Only a very few privileged members of this community have toilets.

    “We are not comfortable defecating in open places, but that is the only way we can ease ourselves. 

    “We go out to defecate be it in the night or in the day time.  The children in the community also go to those places to defecate without any fears.

    Community begs for public toilet

    Following the rising health crisis bedeviling the community as a result of defecating openly all over  the place, the people have appealed to the state government and  their representatives in different public offices to provide them with public toilets.

    Pa Odiki vowed that “if they provide public toilet for us in the community, I will use it. Nobody will ever see me at riverside to defecate.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Madam Orubo said: “If the government will provide toilet for us, we will appreciate it. I really need it. A modern toilet will be highly appreciated.”

    On his part, Enenia said: “I actually feel bad that we pooh in the bush, but there is nothing we can do about it. 

    “That is why we are calling on the government and kind-hearted people to come and help us with public toilets.

    “The government should help us with public toilets. Three public toilets with six rooms will be okay for us, because we have three compounds here.

    “Once we have public toilet, I will not pooh in the bush again.” 

    Bayelsa public officials  decline comment

    Efforts to the reaction of different political officers in Bayelsa to react to the predicaments of the people of Otuabagi were unsuccessful.

    Our calls to the Commissioner for Health Dr Brisibe’s line kept showing that his line was busy. He  had yet to react to our text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile line as at the time of filing this report.

    This would be the second time our correspondent reached out to the commissioner on issues affecting the embattled commissioner without getting any response.

    Our correspondent had similar experience with the lawmaker representing the area in the House of Representatives, Hon Chief Mitema Obodor. Calls to his line kept showing it was busy. He equally did not respond to text and WhatApp messages sent to him on the subject matter. It was also for the second time  he declined comments on the challenges facing the people.

    The senator representing the area, Senator Benson Sunday Agadaga could not be reached. A WhatApp message to his line returned with a report that the message was read.  Our correspondent had also reached out to him previously on issues affecting Otuabagi  via the same mobile line without getting any response.

    NDDC declines comment again

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)  a federal government agency established by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000, with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, once again failed to state what it has done or doing to address the challenges bedeviling Otuabagi.

    The spokesperson, Seledi Thompson Wakama said she was bereaved and couldn’t respond to our inquiry. She had previously told our correspondent that she would provide an answer to our question when it’s available. She never did.

    In spite of the huge budgetary allocations to the commission and our efforts to draw its attention to the embattled community, NDDC has not deemed it expedient to look into the plight of Otuabagi. The sum of N2,493,138,248,477 was allocated to the commission in the 2025 budget but the total funds  allocated to it could not be verified at press time.

    In spite of rising revenue, Bayelsa turns blind eyes to Otuabagi

    Findings showed that Bayelsa State receipts from the federation account has improved tremendously in recent time espcially in the past two and a half years of Presiden Bola Tinubu administration, yet, providing public toilet for the community where Nigeria obtained its first crude oil.

    Between 2020 and 2025, excluding 2021 which revenue figure was not obtained at the time of filing this report, checks reveled the state has received over N1.2 trillion from the federation account.

    In 2020 state received #136billion, 2022 N229.81 billion, 2023 N268.34 billion  and N293bn in 2024. Bayelsa State received ₦306.88 billion, finishing as the fourth highest recipient as at August 2025.

    The Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Service  in March this year announced a historic increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue. It said the IGR  hit N4.2 billion in a single month, marking a 320 per cent surge from previous figures.

    60 percent of communities practice open defecation

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Bayelsa State government early in the year lamented that 60 per cent of communities in the state practice open defecation while only 40 per cent of riverine residents have access to clean water.

    They made this known during a two-day media dialogue on Bayelsa State’s 2025 ‘Cholera Response and Tractive Messaging on UNICEF/Government’s Joint Health Intervention’, which was held in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Speaking on ‘The Cholera Crisis in Bayelsa: A Deeper Look’ the Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, represented by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr. Jones Stow, said as of February 2025, the state had recorded 942 suspected diarrhea cases, across five high-risk LGAs: Southern ljaw, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe, and Ogbia.

    He said behind those numbers were real lives — families who have lost loved ones, children hospitalized for preventable illness, and communities paralysed by fear.

    The health commissioner stated: “The roots of this outbreak are stark — 60% of affected communities still practice open defecation due to a 75% gap in proper toilet facilities.

     “Only 40% of riverine residents have access to clean water, forcing reliance on contaminated streams.”

  • Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s administration is building worthy legacies – Dr. Daramola

    Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s administration is building worthy legacies – Dr. Daramola

    Dr. Olumuyiwa Olusoji Daramola is a renowned US-Based epidemiologist and Drug design expert whose expertise radiates across diverse areas of the medical field with immense knowledge in public health, pharmacovigilance, clinical research, biochemistry and molecular biology bioinformatics to mention a few. Daramola is a philanthropist who is passionate about good governance. The Ode-Aye born medic is interested in representing his people at the House of Representatives. In this interaction with ALAO ABIODUN, Daramola bares his mind on sundry issues , including politics, governance and his ambition. Excerpts:

    Politics is usually considered as dirty and not fitting for decent minds to venture into. What’s your take on this?

    Politics is a universal enterprise, it happens everywhere, and its decisions affect every aspect of our lives, whether we participate or not. When ethical, intelligent, and patriotic minds withdraw from the political space, they leave a vacuum that is quickly filled by those who may not have the right values or intentions.

    The real danger is not that politics is dirty; it is that good people shy away from it. A society improves when its best minds get involved, take responsibility, and contribute to building systems that work. If we desire a nation that reflects integrity, accountability, and progress, then decent minds must not stay away, they must join the process and make their participation worthwhile.

    How would you assess governance in Ondo State at the moment?

    Governance in Ondo State today is not only promising, it is a reflection of steady, responsible leadership built over the years. What we are witnessing under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is a continuation and consolidation of the progressive foundations laid by past administrations, each of which contributed in meaningful ways to the growth and stability of the Sunshine State.

    Governor Aiyedatiwa has taken this trajectory further with a renewed commitment to continuity, expansion, and targeted interventions that directly impact the people. Notably, his administration has shown exceptional openness to youth inclusion, deliberately incorporating young people into governance and giving them meaningful roles to play in shaping the state’s future.

    His administration’s massive infrastructural drive, from dualization projects to the rehabilitation and overhauling of critical roads, is opening up communities, enhancing mobility, and positioning the state for greater economic prosperity. These efforts are strengthening the developmental blueprint inherited from previous governments while addressing present-day needs with precision and foresight.

    From security to social welfare, education, grassroots development, agriculture, and human capacity development, the Gov. Aiyedatiwa administration is building worthy legacies and adding its own imprint of excellence, stability, and compassion.

    You have been rumoured to be interested in representing your constituency at the House of Representatives. Is this impression correct? If yes, why are you vying for this position?

    Yes, the impression is correct. My interest in representing our constituency at the House of Representatives did not start today. I offered myself to serve in 2023 and participated in the party primaries. Although I did not secure the ticket then, I remained steadfast, committed, and fully supportive of the eventual candidate and our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) at every opportunity.

    Public service, for me, goes beyond ambition; it is about purpose, responsibility, and genuine commitment to the progress of our people. I will gladly welcome the opportunity to represent our constituency because I believe we can achieve far more in terms of development, legislative empowerment, and accessible representation.

    My aspiration is driven by the desire to give our constituency a stronger voice, attract meaningful projects, and ensure that governance at the national level truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our people. I am prepared, and deeply connected to the challenges and opportunities within our communities.

    Through effective representation, I intend to unlock countless opportunities that will bring visible progress, empower our people, and advance the collective development of our constituency.

    What would you do differently if elected as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and why should your people choose you among other aspirants?

    If elected to the Federal House of Representatives, I will not focus on the title of the office only, but on the countless doors of opportunity it can open; both within and beyond our nation, for the direct benefit of our people. I will bring an inclusive and transformative approach into representation, ensuring every member of my constituency feels seen, heard, and involved in decision-making.

    Through my international connections, I will attract intervention projects and global opportunities, many of which require only the influence of the office to unlock. My empowerment initiatives will go beyond conventional handouts; they will be opportunities to transform destinies, uplift individuals and families, and create lasting impact. My programmes will foster independence, financial resilience, and life-changing prospects, ensuring that our people not only benefit in the short term but are positioned for sustainable growth and self-reliance.

    My people should choose me because I carry a people and development-oriented ideology. I am bringing a new face, a fresh approach, and a renewed flavor to representation. I am committed to delivering tangible results, fostering inclusive development, and ready to leverage every available resource to uplift our community, leaving no one behind.

    What is your stance on youth involvement in politics and advice for those standing aloof from it?

    Youth involvement in politics today is increasingly encouraging. I commend the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level for promoting active participation of youths in national affairs and development. Likewise, I applaud Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Ondo State for entrusting youths with significant roles in his cabinet. This approach serves as a strong motivation for young minds like mine to actively engage in shaping our society.

    I urge youths to ensure that their engagement counts. For those who choose to remain aloof, I want to emphasize that the strength and future of any nation lie in its youth. If we want our nation to grow and thrive, we must participate, contribute, and take responsibility for the direction of our society. Change will not come passively, it is through our active involvement, ideas, and actions that we can build the future we desire. Let us not wait on others; let us be the change-makers.