Fans and admirers of promising Nigerian music act, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba a.k.a. MohBad, woke up last Sunday to the sad news of his untimely death. The circumstances surrounding his tragic end at age 27 have ignited a flurry of speculations, with accusing fingers pointing towards some of his colleagues, including the owner of a record label responsible for the release of some of his songs.
The Genesis
As at 2019 and at the age of 23, MohBad was already an online music sensation, but he was still struggling and looking forward to making it big on the Nigerian music scene. Unknown to many, he was formerly known as 2Black but got his popular moniker MohBad after wowing a music producer who said his verses were mind-blowing.
Many of his short videos had gone viral owing to his well crafted and acceptable use of words and the weaving of Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s indigenous languages, into his songs. In the same year 2019, the owner of the record label aforementioned was arrested in connection with an alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering.
After the record label’s ordeal with the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), MohBad reached out to him on Instagram to seek collaboration on one of his songs. The conversation however drifted away from a duet to getting MohBad signed on to the record label. Thus MohBad was officially signed on to the record label in December 2019.
The Good
As it turned out, all through 2019 till October 25, 2022 when MohBad’s management announced his exit from the record label, it was all smooth and rosy between him and the owner.
While the good times lasted, MohBad worked tirelessly, releasing many singles with at least five of them becoming hit songs of the Afrobeats movement. From ‘Ponmo’ to ‘Feel Good’ and ‘KPK (Ko Por Ke),’ MohBad churned out hits under music label and worked with notable music producers including Rexxie, P.Beat and Austin Sinister.
From the Headies Awards to The Beatz Awards, MohBad’s fame knew no bounds and he churned out songs that produced an EP entitled ‘Light (Imole)’ in 2019 and ‘Peace’ in 2022.
Despite releasing many feel good songs to the delight of fans and music lovers, Imole, as MohBad became known after the release of his first EP, started having cracks in his relationship with the owner and other executives of the record label.
MohBad
It is alleged that the discord between Mohbad and the owner of the record label stemmed from the artiste’s refusal to participate in alleged drug peddling operations. According to reports, while the relationship that existed between the owner of the record label and MohBad appeared smooth on the outside, darker secrets lay beneath the surface.
Various reports claimed that part of the obligations of all music acts signed to the record label in question include alleged initiation into drug peddling and taking an oath of secrecy. Mohbad’s reluctance to partake in these activities reportedly triggered a bitter feud that ultimately led to his exit from the record label.
MohBad’s management later announced his exit from the record label while his legal team released a statement asserting that his exit was as a result of the constant attacks orchestrated by the label’s owner as well as unpaid royalties since 2019.
The ugly
Things grew from worse to ugly between MohBad and the executives of the record label with videos of physical assault and harassment viral on the social media in the second and third quarters of 2022.
The once rosy relationship that existed between the music act and his one time record label degenerated so badly that even after parting ways with the record label, Mohbad repeatedly raised the alarm over threats to his life allegedly originating from its owners.
Adding to the grim narrative, videos circulating online featured Mohbad lamenting how his life had taken a downward spiral since his return from an NDLEA (Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency) operation. Notably, the agency had conducted a raid on the residence of the record label’s owner in February 2022 and arrested Mohbad and others associated with the record label after recovering illicit drugs and cannabis in the house.
Subsequently, MohBad alleged that executives of the record label and their aides were frustrating his efforts of growing in the music industry at different times on his social media accounts.
As if his battles with the record label were not enough, MohBad’s health deteriorated so much that in October 2022, the singer took to social media to reveal a startling diagnosis – he had been identified as an emergency hypertensive patient at just 26.
In a tweet, he expressed the gravity of his health condition, denying any involvement with drugs or alcohol and pleading for support.
“I’m not intoxicated, but l have just been diagnosed as an emergency hypertensive patient. I’m not on drugs or drinks and my life is at stake. I’m still getting threats,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite his health conditions, he was again assaulted by men believed to be acting under the instructions of the boss of the record label with which he had had a running battle. In a petition dated June 27, 2023, Mohbad formally sought the intervention of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) after he was assaulted during a music video shoot with another music act, Zlatan Ibile.
In his petition, Mohbad cited threats to his life and detailed how some individuals stormed and disrupted the video shoot, causing damage to the set and equipment.
MohBad narrated how he was assaulted by a singer and music promoter believed to be a close associate of the record label’s owner together with 15 others.
Until his death, the record label’s owner and MohBad could not make up as they avoided each other like a plague.
Family and struggles
While it is public knowledge that MohBad’s father, Joseph Aloba, is a clergyman, not many are aware that the late singer’s music artistry was one of the traits he picked up from his dad. Unknown to many, Aloba senior was a talented singer in his heyday and was popular as a member of a few choirs before he moved on to start a church he leads as the shepherd.
After the singer’s death, his father claimed he had a premonition but thought the battle had been fought and won in his dream.
Narrating his premonition for MohBad’s death, he said: “I had a dream about him, two days before the incident. In the dream, I saw someone trying to shoot me. I thought I escaped the bullet, not knowing something like this would happen to me.”
MohBad’s battle as a young boy growing up with a single dad spurred him into working hard for every penny. He was closer to his father, who raised him and his siblings.
Interestingly, in the midst of his battles, MohBad and his lover of many years, Omowunmi, welcomed their first and only child, Liam. The partners welcomed Liam in May 2023.
When Ahmed Mohammed bid his wife, three year-old-daughter, sisters and brothers’ wives goodbye as they headed for their farms in their old settlement across the River Niger last Sunday morning, he had no inkling that he was seeing them for the last time.
But midway into the journey between Jebba and Kanji Dam in Gbajibo Ward, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, the boat in which they were travelling capsized after running into a water snag.
The boat, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), had 100 passengers on board when it capsized on Sunday.
Speaking with newsmen during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, Ahmed said the incident was still a nightmare he was praying to wake up from, adding only God could understand how he felt about it.
He said: “My wife, my daughter, my brothers’ wives and all my sisters were inside the boat. I cannot say much. I leave everything to God.
“I don’t have any explanation, because if I want to ask for an explanation as to what happened, who will give me the explanation?
“My mind is always going to them. I feel bad because since I came into this world, I have never experienced anything as bad as this.
“The way I am feeling, it is only God that can understand.”
Mohammed’s mother-in-law, Hajiya Kashi Mokwa, who also lamented the death of her daughter, grandchildren and other members of her family in the boat accident, described the incident as a severe disaster and great loss to the family.
“We are devastated by the mishap,” she said.
“Losing 16 members of your family is a severe disaster and it has happened to us. It has been a traumatic experience for me and the rest members of my family.
“When you lose 16 members of your family at once, how easy is it to bear the tragedy? We want government to come and help us. These boat mishaps are becoming too many.”
Mokwa explained that water transportation is the main means of transportation in the community as they always have to pass through the water to get to their farms and major markets.
Members of the affected communities accused the government of non-chalance in the provision of life jackets, calling on the government to stop making political statements regarding its availability.
They insisted that the number provided were far from adequate compared to the huge number of residents who must travel on water from time to time.
No fewer than 24 bodies were recovered on the first day of the rescue mission on Sunday, while six other bodies were recovered afterwards, bringing the the death toll to 30.
On Wednesday, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) declared that there were no more bodies to look for as no one else had been reported missing.
The agency declared that 100 people were on board the boat when it capsized.
The Chairman Mokwa Local Government Council, Jubril Abdullahi Muregi, said during a condolence visit to the affected families that the incident would have been avoided if safety measures had been adhered to by the drivers and passengers of the boat, adding that the government would need to clear the underwater snags responsible for repeated boat accidents on the river.
Muregi said: “One of the things that the government should do quickly is to embark on an operation to clear these trees that are under the river so that the incident would not repeat itself.
“It is an avoidable situation. There is need for every passenger using water transportation to use a life jacket.
“We will have to come up with a clear government policy that will prescribe punishment for anybody who fails to use their life jackets when embarking on water transportation.”
The Council Chairman moved from house to house to condole the bereaved families and gave an undisclosed amount of money for funeral expenses.
Ocean encroachment ravages area, pulls down buildings, displaces inhabitants
Ancestral shrine, cemetery, electric poles, others washed away
Questions trail multi-billion naira ecological funds received by state
Odioama, a coastal community in Brass Local Government area of Bayelsa State, is back in the mournful mood it found itself in 2005 when it was invaded by a Joint Task Force team on a reprisal mission. At the end of the invasion, many inhabitants lay dead while the community was left in ruins. Today, Odioama is suffering a worse form of invasion at the hands of nature which had previously beautified the area. The community is being ravaged by ocean surge that has pulled down many houses, including cemetery, ancestral shrines and other cultural landmarks. Fears are rife that the area and adjoining communities may soon be swallowed up if nothing urgent is done to check the fury of the ocean. INNOCENT DURU reports.
Ladstone Amabebe, a prominent member of Odioama, a community in coastal area of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, suffered a debilitating loss recently when his exquisite one storey building was pulled down by a rampaging ocean surge that has ravaged the area.
Like every other house owner in the area, Gladstone had laboured hard and spent a fortune to complete the structure as it costs much more to build in the coastal area than plain land.
“I owned a very big building at the seashore area that was pulled down by ocean surge,” he said as he began to relive his ordeal.
The house, Gladstone said, was almost about 200 metres from the sea when he built it, adding: “Just within my line, about 70 buildings were washed down by the sea encroachment.
“We lost virtually everything to the incident. We didn’t expect that the incident would happen in the manner it did.”
He added: “Many people have been displaced. Just within my compound, over 15 people were displaced. It is difficult to explain how much other victims and I have suffered as a result of the incident.
“It is not easy to cater for the family now. The challenge is biting us seriously and there is nobody to run to.”
In spite of his predicament, Gladstone was glad that nobody was trapped in the incident. “The only luck we had was that nobody was trapped inside. That was the only saving grace. The children were inside the house playing and shortly after they moved out, the whole one storey building went down.”
Recounting how the incident happened, he said: “We didn’t know that it (sea encroachment) was digging from the under. We thought that when the wave comes, the water will just flash in and when the tide goes down it will dry up. We didn’t really know that it was digging from inside, causing the building to collapse.
“If nothing happens between now and let me say in the next two years, I don’t think the community will continue to exist.”
He further feared that the history, culture and everything about the community will be wiped away if it goes into extinction as he expressed concerns about the loss of livelihood by the community’s inhabitants.
“The main occupation of the community is fishing. There is no hope for the fishermen if the encroachment continues the way it has been coming. The sea is 10 times more ferocious than it used to be and the waves are getting stronger and coming close to the shore.
“It is going to be worse this rainy season. Nobody will even go fishing. The tide is going to be higher and there will be nothing like fishing again.
“Some will go to the creeks to fish, but those who usually go to the ocean will not be able to do so.
“Most of them are leaving for other areas.”
The menace often referred to as oceanification evokes fears in the minds of the people. The sight of it sparks anxiety. The thought of it pierces the heart and shatters the soul. The sight of the people standing with arms folded and helplessly watching the tide menacingly invading their buildings to wreak untold havoc forces tears down the eyes.
The Secretary of Odioma Council of Chiefs, Chief Ambrose Alfred Akierite, described the ocean surge as devastating and its impact on the community as unfortunate.
He said: “When we were younger, where the sea shore is right now, used to be far away from the community.
“But right now, because of the unprecedented sea encroachment on the land, places that used to be bushes are now part of the community, and it has eaten deep into the centre of the community.
“If nothing is done in the quickest possible time, the community will go into extinction.”
Asked about the fate of vulnerable members of the community, Chief Ambrose retorted: “I will consider everybody in the community vulnerable. The effect is not only on pregnant women or on the aged or the less privileged; it is on everybody.
“One of the best buildings in the community was washed away. The owner, by any standard, is not a poor man. The effect is on the whole community.”
Following the huge losses suffered by the people, the Odioama Council of Chiefs’ scribe said: “At a time, people were even considering relocating the entire community, but that is going to be very capital intensive. How long will that take and how long will the government agency handling that put up structures that will move people away from the community.
“What I think is the best bet is what I think the state government is considering doing, probably in partnership with the federal government and other international environmental bodies.”
In spite of the terror constantly unleashed on the community by the ocean, Chief Ambrose does not have any fears that the yearly flooding that has to do with the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon would compound their woes. “You can see its signs but not in the seriousness with which it ravages other areas,” he said.
“It could be because we are at the bank of the ocean. Maybe the water filters into the ocean and it doesn’t always rise to that level where it gives us concern.
“The one that is really disturbing us is the ferocity from the ocean itself. It is possible that there could be some reaction due to climatic changes and all that.
“We think that as the sand is being washed away, it is being deposited somewhere.”
We are afraid of what could happen in the next 10 years – Council of Chiefs Chairman
Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Marlean Walter Omieh-Munafa, told The Nation that the challenges posed by the ocean surge are so many.
“You know the ocean has washed away about 200 metres of our land that hosts some residential buildings.
“We have lost many residential buildings to the ocean encroachment. Part of the cemetery too has been washed away. Electric poles, parts of tarred roads and other things, including a juju shrine, have also been washed away.
“The encroachment of the ocean is continuing. We are afraid of what could happen in the next 10 years about the challenge we have.
“The challenge started about 10 years ago but no life has been lost to it.”
Many displaced people, according to the chairman, are squatting with their family members in the community.
“Some have left the community to live in Yenagoa,” he said.
The chairman also noted that the incident has affected the education of the children. “Like I said before, some of the people have packed to Yenagoa. They must have gone with some of their children that are schooling here.
“They may have financial problems looking for admission for their children.
“That is how it can affect the education of the children, because the menace has not washed away any school within the community.”
He added that no corpse or casket was washed out when the surge swept through the cemetery. “It is an old cemetery,” he said. “You cannot see the caskets. The only thing you would see are bones.
“Because of the encroachment of the sea, people now go deep inside and not nearer to the sea to bury their loved ones.”
As a community, the chairman said, “we have been making a lot of efforts on how to solve the problem.
“Last year, one of our community members attended many seminars and even travelled to one of the west African countries to represent the state on this.
“We are hoping that the federal government will do something, but that is not yet forthcoming.
“After the state governor came here, our matter was presented in the House of Assembly.
“They said the piling is too much for them but that they will do the dredging. That is the promise they made to us. That is how far we have gone on the issue.”
Tracing the history of the community, he said: “Ours is one of the oldest communities in Nembe Kingdom. We don’t know the first phase of our history, but the second phase dates back to when the Portuguese were exploring the West African coast.”
Ex-CDC chairman makes clarification between Odi and Odioama
Making a distinction between Odi and Odioama, the Community Development Committee Chairman, Samson James, said: “Odi is quite different from Odioama. Odi is in Kolokuma Local Government while Odioama is in Brass Local Government. Odi invasion was in the 90s or so but ours was in 2005.
“People were killed, houses were razed and the community was totally burnt down then. It was after that, that the community started rebuilding to the standard we find ourselves now. The rebuilding was done through self help.”
After the invasion, he said a committee was set up and it was headed by former Senate President David Mark.
“They said the government had made money available to us but we didn’t get any money,” he said.
The CDC feared that “what happened to Koluama in 1950 may happen to our community if urgent steps are not taken. Koluama is a community in Bayelsa. It was eroded by ocean surge. We would have to migrate to wherever nature says we should if our community is eroded.
“There is no hope as the government does not intervene.”
He noted that the problem confronting the community is beyond the state government, and called on the federal government to come in to help, especially the interventionist agencies like NDDC, Ecological Fund and others.
“When the one storey building fell, it was as if somebody had died. The community gathered around it crying and appealing to God and the government,” he said.
Menace also ecological, not just environmental – Activist Alagoa
Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and head of ERA Resource Centre in Yenagoa, Alagoa Morris, said the significance of the ocean encroachment, just like desertification, cannot be overemphasised from the point of the economic importance, health, and psychological wise.
His words: “The issue is not just an environmental issue. It is equally an ecological issue. The last time I visited Odioama, I saw a number of trees that had been going down because of the ocean surge as it encroached on the land.”
Recently, he said, “we saw houses going down and building houses in those places isn’t cheap. Building a house in such coastal area is not easy as they are far from the city.
“It takes so much courage, financial and other resources such as time for people to put up good buildings there.
“Watching such buildings go down is very frustrating. The problem is beyond any community’s power to deal with from any perspective you want to view it.
“The people’s properties, ancestral graves, forests, land, and so on are washed into the ocean, and it is still raging day and night.
“The prowling waves of the Atlantic Ocean come to hit the shoreline and go back every now and then.
“It is worse when the tide is high. It is a very big blow when you talk about the environmental and ecological impacts.
“It is ecological in the sense that it can cause relocation.”
Continuing, Alagoa said: “The last time I was discussing with some natives, they were worried because Odioama has another river behind them. In front of them is the ocean and at another side is the St Nicholas River which is also very big and fearful to cross.
“St Nicholas empties into the Atlantic Ocean and where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean is where Odioama is settled.
“It is a very tough situation and it is even leading to relocation of some persons. People are now apprehensive to build houses because houses that were about 1,000 far away from the sandy shoreline have been washed away.
“The ocean encroachment is not abating. It is not like the wind that comes and goes; it is constant. For 24 hours you are hearing the roaring sound of the Atlantic. It will deny them of that environment if nothing is done to address the problem.
If nothing is done, they may lose that community in the not too distant future.”
Speaking on the psychological effects of the challenge on the people, the environmentalist said: “The psychological effects on the people are better imagined than experienced.
“There is a community in Sagbama Local Government called Anibeze; an Isoko speaking community in Bayelsa. It is located at the bank of River Forcados.
“We had a very shocking bad news there. A certain man had left his community for a while but by the time he retired home, this coastal encroachment occurred and washed down his house.
“Immediately, he got paralysed and eventually died. That is the kind of psychological impact on the people who are losing their properties when there is no hope of getting a replacement.
“As we speak, other communities are also suffering the problem along the rivers and creeks of Bayelsa State. One of them is very close to the Government House in Yenagoa.
“The way the erosion is eating up that community is faster than one can imagine. Just within a space of a year, a whole football field is gone.”
Looking at the relationship between the menace and climate crisis, Alagoa said: “The climate change phenomenon cannot be over emphasised. We hear that the ices are melting and the sea level is rising.
“In some areas, there are more rains and in some drought. It is very disturbing that it appears that the sea level is rising.
“In Lagos, around the Bar Beach, they experienced this kind of thing in the past and they were able to do some kind of containment.
“The rising level of the sea is part of the problem. When God created the world and talking about the ocean, in the scriptures, it is said that God asked the prowling waves of the ocean not to go beyond their bounds.
“They were supposed to stop somewhere, but now they are going over their boundaries and wreaking havoc just as it is happening in Ayetoro community in Ondo State.
“Climate crisis cannot be absolved from what is happening along the coastal areas in connection with the ocean surge. The sea is getting warmer, according to scientists, and getting more voracious.”
In spite of the magnitude of the challenge, he assured that all hope is not lost. “With proper scientific interrogation and application of science and financial resources with expert knowledge, Odioama can be saved.
“There is hope if there is the political will to deal with communities like Odioama, Tom Brass, Sangana and others on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Failed promises by successive governments
Checks showed that failure of past governments in the state to keep to their promises has been largely responsible for the crisis in the community.
According to Gladstone, “The encroachment was happening gradually. From 2013, we started seeing the approach. It continued in 2014. In 2015, we saw it coming and complained to the state government.
“Then, the former governor, Seriake Dickson, came for his campaign and I think that was the campaign promise he made.
“He said he was going to call the federal government to come because it was not something the state government alone could do. 2015 passed and the whole administration passed without any action taken.
“We later started approaching international oil companies because we are also an oil producing community, we wrote a series of letters to the NDDC and the federal ministry of the environment but nobody listened to us.
“We also did a series of appearances on television but nobody listened to us but … I don’t know, … it is gone, it is gone.”
Going down memory lane, Chief Ambrose said: “In 2005, the community was destroyed and a committee of enquiry was set up and some recommendations were made towards the rebuilding of the community. I think about N2 billion was recommended by the commission of enquiry.
“Unfortunately, nothing happened. I led the delegation to the National Assembly with a petition and the resolution was passed. The money was not paid.
“The community was destroyed as a result of military invasion. There was an allegation that some youths of the community carried out a dastardly act where some persons were killed along the waterways. They pointed fingers at our community.
“The then governor, the late Alamieyeseigha, invited the joint task force and they entered the community. You know what happens when the military enters a community.
“I am sure you may have been told that the governor recently visited the community, and seeing things for himself, has made promises that the state government will do something about it. We are hoping and praying that it should not be one of those political gimmicks where promises would be made and nothing would happen. Although not too confident we want to say that we are relieved because the governor has made promises.”
Questions trail utilisation of ecological funds received by state
Following the crisis faced by various communities in the state, there have been questions about what the government does with the ecological and other funds, including the 13 per cent derivation it receives from the federation account.
Checks showed that the state has received about N1.2 billion in the last three years as ecological funds. Between 2021 and 2022, it received N1.2 billion and N700 million in 2023.
Failure of some state governments to alleviate the plight of their citizens when there was flood disaster last year triggered heated debate about the utilisation of the ecological funds.
The immediate past government of Muhammed Buhari had challenged states to give an account of how they spent amounts in excess of one trillion naira, allocated to them from the ecological fund to tackle floods and other ecological problems.
Roughly N1 trillion, representing 2.2 per cent of the total budget for 2018, 2019 and 2023, was budgeted for ecological and disaster management.
In 2018, 2.2 per cent of the estimated N9.120 trillion budget, amounting to N198 billion was set aside for the Ecological Fund. In 2019, 2.2 per cent of the budget of N132 billion was allocated to the fund, while in 2023, 2.2 per cent of the N21 trillion budget indicated N462 billion allocation for ecological funds.
No meaningful result came from the House of Representatives probe last year into the utilization of the funds for the past 10 years.
Diri allays residents’ fears
The state governor, Douye Diri, on August 8 visited the community, promising the people that the state government was going to make immediate intervention to prevent further damage to infrastructure.
The governor noted that the scope of work was beyond the state government but said “we must take our destinies into our hands.
“There is hope for our people. The sea encroachment, which is the perennial problem of Odioama will now begin to have a solution from your state government.
“Be rest assured that your government will be shoulder to shoulder with you to tackle this encroachment that is hitting our land and our houses.
“So we call on all our developmental partners to join the state government to keep Odioama safe. And not only Odioama, we have the same instances in Koluama, Sangana.
“So we have so much to do, which is beyond the scope of the state government.”
105 communities at risk -Don
Prof. Ambily Etekpe of the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, in 2021 raised the alarm that about 105 coastal communities in Bayelsa State could face extinction in the next 30 years if nothing is done to halt the rampaging effects of ocean encroachment.
Etekpe noted that oil exploration activities of some multinational oil companies have moved too deep into the sea, with their attendant negative impacts on the environment.
His words: “Desertification is equivalent to oceanification. But while nobody talks about oceanification, desertification is attracting not only national but international interest.
“Oceanification has thus become very important because the effects of ocean encroachment in Bayelsa in particular and other states that are also very close to the ocean generally are more devastating than those of forest encroachment.
“Most of where we used to have towns and communities have been taken over by the ocean. So, the towns and communities continue to shift and you find that the extreme end of that shifting is another river.
“If something is not done, in the next 30 years, a lot of our towns and communities will be taken over by the ocean.
“In Bayelsa, we have more than 500 communities out of which 105, representing 46 per cent, live near the ocean, and if they are disorganised or dislocated, where else can they go?” he queried.
When starting a new relationship, there are things or actions one needs to carefully observe to know whether your partner is fully into you.
Here are five red flags to note:
Boring conversation
It’s important to always have lively conversation. They should be your friends first in the talking stage. And the only way to achieve that can be from the frequent conversation When the conversations goes like “Hey” “How are you?” “Fine” “Have you eaten?” and you have nothing else to say. When conversations are boring, it’s a sign there is a huge lack of compatibility and commitment.
Conversation shouldn’t always be about S3x
The s3xual attraction between the two of you is important, but if that is the driving point of your interactions with each other, then you need to jump ship. If, on the first interaction, they are solely focused on having s3x with you, the most likely thing is that it’s only s3x they are interested in. Plus, introducing s3x so early might cloud your judgment; if the s3x is so good, you might ignore the other red flags.
Everyone else is a villain in their story. When they talk about their exes or family and friends, is everyone else wrong and they are perfect? This is a sign that they lack emotional intelligence and evade responsibility. Be on the lookout for people who talk about how good they are; this is a form of emotional manipulation. Look at how they treat others, like drivers and waiters—are they always complaining?
Indecisive
Whenever they are indecisive. You don’t even know if they like you or not. Today they call you for hours, but you don’t hear from them for the next two days. You can tell them how you notice they are indecisive, if they don’t change but make a lot of excuses, just leave them alone
Faking busy
Even if they spend all their day saving lives, they should never be too busy for you. This is the stage where you both want to talk and get to know each other. If they don’t talk to you often and their excuse is that they are busy, just know they are not interested. We are on our phones almost all the time, and if he or she can’t pick up the phone to call or reply to your texts, call it a quit
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Ndifreke
My precious Ndifreke,
While congratulating you for your resolution, I must say you have missed absolutely nothing not engaging in s3x all the while! I can say that at least half of the world have been damaged and derailed by ungodly s3x such that even their sense of reasoning and mindset is warped! A lot of girls are unfortunately finished even before they’re 21, having the devil take over the reins of their life and drive them to trouble, confusion and slavery! I thank God for your stand and pray for you with all my heart that God’ll give you speed to catch up with and even overtake those who have long gone ahead of you in Jesus mighty name! I love you my sweet!
My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian sisters,
I’d like to ask – if a good number of men took a piece of you, what would be left of you to shine in life? Believe it or not, there’s always an addition and subtraction during every intercourse! Let the truth be told, you may also take it or leave it, the more you engage in s3x outside marriage, the more you disintegrate your “original” and fragment yourself! Yes! You can’t imagine what goes into your life from multiple s3xual partners your present partner has slept with and in particular WHAT GOES OUT OF YOUR LIFE during and after every intercourse! The transaction during s3xual intercourse could be life-altering and life-transforming! It could break you into pieces and destroy your entire existence. Of course, it could also add to you positively! S3xual Intercourse is spiritual exchange, spiritual union – (1 Cor.6: 16) THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER!
Hmm….may you not wake up completely emptied of what should make you shine in life by the time you are 21! Please be patient! Wait, wait, wait till your wedding night! You don’t want to know, least of all experience the horror some of your mother’s mates are going through as a result of ungodly s3x with multiple partners! It’s crazy- just like setting your destiny ablaze!!! May God empower you to wait till your wedding night and give you a GREATER VERSION OF YOUR DREAM MAN IN JESUS NAME! PLEASE COOPERATE!!!
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Photography artist, Aize Muhammed Paul is set to hold another art exhibition in Tribal Gallery Loresho Ridge, Nairobi, Kenya. between June 16 and 25.
Titled Erèn oghè okhaza – Èkpo oghè ulè obaba (A safe place to find a purpose for your story), flares of Enthusiasm, Dash Between, Paul described the exhibition as one way to create a sustainable channel for the artist and the market.
He further explained that the ethos of his art as self, a means to navigate one’s life purpose, with a mission to inspire individualism to creatively encourage humanism on a global scale.
“The flares of enthusiasm – represents the uninhibitedness of your soul prior to birth. Clueless, as you drift fragily in forms of the most liberated versions of yourself you will ever witness, just as you precede your unrequested entry into a life-form. The dashing hopes, dreams, and ideal possibilities of 280 days before you get to be introduced to the dash,” said Paul.
“Dash – As your story segues into a whole identity embodied in this life-form. The dash between is you, here, right now. Your life – awareness of it, questions from it, expectations of it. Your hopes, dreams, aspirations, youthfulness, definitive moments, saddest moments, life purpose and your innate fear of the inevitable – death. Aize Muhammed Paul Esq. captures these experiences as a dash in 99 photographs. The 100th photograph is your interpretation of it.“
Speaking on the exhibition, he said “The exhibition talks about life and death; this means we get to be born and we get to die. It is a life purpose kind of exhibition. This exhibition is a five-part series. This is called 99 images. It’s a dash between life and death. The 99 images expresses every form, reaction, action, omission, feelings, hurts we as humans feel while we are here on earth. “The 99 images depicts happy, sad, joyful, mothers, playing kids, a wondering boy, amongst others. These all express every stage you go through as a human here on earth.
I weep writing this because I know God is all out for me. This would be the first time I’m coming across your post and I’m broken already, it’s not easy staying chaste in today’s world! Is it the insults from one’s age mates and even juniors, the downgrading, gossiping. I’ve lost so many people I called friends because I’m a virgin however, I DON’T REGRET MY DECISION. It’s just not everyday virgins get the encouragement they need. I pray that every girl out there who’s getting discouraged comes across you or someone God sent like you so they look back form the plough. God bless you so much ma for reaching out to my generation. I weep when I look at how much the devil has captured my gender but people like you make the devil weep and I pray that whenever we shall hear from you it shall be good news always. Wherever the devil and his cohorts will mention your name and that of your family may the Rock of Ages represent you. I pray that every of your work to depopulate hell will be successful in Jesus name. May you never work in vain in the name of Jesus and after all these YOU WILL NOT BE A CAST AWAY AMEN. Never relent ma and never get tired, Jesus will always meet you at the point of your needs and don’t worry when men are not available to help, he will send the ravens to deliver. We love you ma and I’ll be praying my small prayer for you from my end.
Bethel Osemudiahmen
Dear ma,
Thank you for raising more powerful women for God. Through your content, I have been inspired and it has helped my sexual purity journey. I am a testimony. Ever since I decided to remain chaste, my business has really been moving, I don’t struggle to get clients or make sales. God has been giving me direction concerning my life and I am more closer to God now. I felt inner peace.
Though I am not in any intimate relationship, I have decided to love God, do his will, make more money and impact lives. I will be 24 this September, still a virgin and I am really proud of this sexual purity journey. I just want to encourage the younger women that sexual purity is the best decision you can ever make for yourself. Stay pure, serve God and pursue your goals. At the right time, the right man will come. Thank you so much ma. This is my testimony. Please keep reminding us ma. We love you so much!
Mary Owolabi
Dear Mummy Temilolu,
I really want to appreciate God in your life ma. I want you to share my little testimony. I have learnt many things from your articles and I must say you are truly a mother. It’s good to stay loyal and faithful to God irrespective of the tribulations and persecutions around. God never fails. Never sleep on the bed of immorality as a young girl because the consequences is greater than it’s enjoyment. To the glory, grace and mercy of God I will clock 22 on the 22nd of this month without having any boyfriend from the beginning and celebrating God’s faithfulness as a virgin. I will also be signing out of the university in few months time and I never had any relationship in school throughout my 5yrs in the school. Mummy keep asking for more grace over my life as your teaching has moulded my life. May God increase your wisdom and understanding mummy.
Opeyemi E.
Dear Mummy Temilolu,
I have abstained from sex for almost two years now. And I must confess these are the best years of my life. God gave me a man after his own heart that loves me unconditionally. We have dated for almost two years without him even asking to see any part of my body. He supports me with his resources and loves me in ways I have never been loved all my life. God has blessed me in more ways than I can explain since I decided to keep myself.
Ada
My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian sisters,
I thought to share a few of the messages in my box! Don’t let the world fool you, don’t let some finished people who love to wallow in darkness and great servitude because they can’t help it- who can’t imagine you not joining them in that abyss finish you! Yes! This may sound harsh but how else can you exemplify those who’ll attack posts on virginity/righteous living and outright mock virgins to their faces? How can you think anything good of giving up your peace of mind, your stand before God, opening up your life to demonic invasion by people you can wake up tomorrow and wish you never met when you stand the chance to having the world at your feet and commanding life to your wish? Haaaaa…..may we not be unfortunate! There’s so much more to come on this!
To be continued
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The Project Management Institute (PMI) has produced the best project managers in digital transformation, health care, aerospace, construction and defence industries globally.The President of its PMI, Nigeria Chapter, Mr. Paul Omugbe, sees the country as a shining star of the global economy though it faces inflation and supply chain disruptions and other challenges making implementation of projects difficult to attract more overseas investments. He sees tremendous scope and potential for good quality infrastructure in sectors such as roads, railways and waterways, which are going to lead the growth of the economy. He shared his thoughts on factors limiting execution of infrastructure projects with DANIEL ESSIET.
What is your perspective on the economic outlook of Nigeria?
Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with over 200 million people. The country is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, traditionally the backbone of its economy. However, Nigeria has faced several challenges in recent years, including falling oil prices, high inflation, and a depreciating currency. These challenges have led to declining economic growth and increased poverty rates.
Despite these challenges, there are reasons for hope in Nigeria’s economic outlook.The government has implemented several economic reforms, including diversifying the economy and reducing its reliance on oil exports. In addition, the country has a large and growing youth population, which could provide a strong foundation for future economic growth.
Furthermore, Nigeria has made progress in recent years in improving its business environment and attracting foreign investment. The country has also made strides in improving infrastructure, including transportation and energy, which could support further economic development.
While Nigeria faces significant economic challenges, there are reasons to be hopeful about its economic outlook. The country has the potential to leverage its natural resources and youth population and improve the business environment to drive future growth and development.
Are you satisfied with the national budgets in the last five years with regards to boosting economic prosperity?
The Federal Government has released several budgets in the past five years, with varying funding levels and priorities. Some of the key priorities in these budgets have included infrastructure development, social services, and job creation. One significant challenge affecting these budgets’ impact on Nigeria’s economic prosperity is revenue generation. Nigeria relies heavily on revenue from oil exports, which can be volatile and subject to global price fluctuations. As a result, the government has recently struggled to generate sufficient revenue to implement its budget plans fully.
Also, there have been concerns about the effectiveness of spending in previous budgets, with reports of corruption and mismanagement. This has hindered the government’s ability to realise its budgetary plans’ potential benefits fully. Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments in recent budgets, including an increased focus on non-oil revenue sources and a commitment to invest in infrastructure and social services. If properly implemented, these measures could help boost economic prosperity in Nigeria.
Overall, while there have been challenges and concerns with Nigeria’s national budgets in the past five years, there is still potential for them to contribute to the country’s economic growth and development if they are effectively implemented and properly managed.
What steps should be taken to advance the government’s fight against poverty, illiteracy and poor health standards and to improve the enabling environment for businesses to generate employment?
Addressing poverty, improving the social sector, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to generate employment are complex and interrelated issues that require a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government.
Nevertheless, I would recommend some concrete steps that could be taken to advance the government’s fight against poverty and improve the social sector while also supporting economic growth. First, I will suggest more investment t in education and skills training. Education and skills training are critical for reducing poverty and improving the social sector.
The government could invest in education and skills training programs that equip individuals with the skills they need to find employment and contribute to the economy. The second is quality healthcare.The government should increase funding for health care and invest in programmes that will enhance access to health care services, particularly in rural and remote areas. No advanced economies have recognised accelerated growth without access to reliable infrastructure, such as electricity, water, and transportation. There are essential for economic growth and job creation. I will urge the government to invest in infrastructure projects. This will help to catalyse economic growth and job creation, particularly in areas that are underserved.
Like other developing nations, Nigeria has been confronting corruption which has proven a s a significant barrier to economic growth and poverty reduction. The government could take steps to address corruption, such as strengthening anti-corruption measures and increasing transparency in government operations.
Then, also, empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are a critical source of employment and economic growth. The government could create policies and programmes that support SMEs, such as access to financing and technical assistance.
Above all, a good business environment is essential for attracting foreign investment and supporting economic growth. The government could create policies and programs that create a favorable business environment, such as reducing bureaucratic hurdles and improving the ease of business.
Social protection programmes such as cash transfers and insurance can help reduce poverty and improve the social sector. These are just a few steps that could be taken to advance the government’s fight against poverty and improve the social sector while also supporting economic growth.
However, it is essential to note that these steps will require sustained effort and collaboration across multiple sectors and stakeholders.
Would you say the economy is suffering from a lack of strategy and vision for infrastructure development?
Infrastructure investment is critical to long-term economic growth and progress in Nigeria. But, unfortunately, the country has lacked investment in its core infrastructure assets for many decades. The challenges transporters face, including congested roads, fatigued rail tracks, and water shortages, are symptoms of this underinvestment.While the government has made commitments to invest in infrastructure, there are still significant challenges to overcome.
One of the biggest challenges is the large gap between the committed funding and the total cost of the projects, making it challenging to implement the planned infrastructure development fully. In addition, there may be a lack of strategy and vision for infrastructure development in Nigeria.
Without a clear strategy and vision, it can be challenging to prioritise projects and ensure that they align with the overall economic and social goals of the country. However, it is essential to note that infrastructure development is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government and collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders. It is not enough to invest more money in infrastructure; there must also be a clear strategy and vision for how that investment will drive economic growth and social development.
Overall, while there may be a lack of strategy and vision for infrastructure development in Nigeria, it is clear that investment in infrastructure is critical to the country’s long-term economic growth and development. However, it will require sustained effort and collaboration across multiple sectors and stakeholders to overcome the challenges and fully realise the potential benefits of infrastructure development.
At what levels should the local governments be involved in funding infrastructure and essential services?
Local governments are essential in funding and providing infrastructure and basic services in Nigeria. As the level of government closest to the people, local governments are responsible for providing services such as primary healthcare, primary education, and maintenance of basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and sanitation.
On funding, local governments in Nigeria receive a share of the Federal Government’s revenue through the Federation Account. In addition, they are expected to generate revenue from their sources, such as taxes, fees, and fines. However, local governments often face challenges in generating revenue, which can limit their ability to fund infrastructure and essential services.
To address these challenges, it is crucial to strengthen local government capacity in Nigeria, particularly on revenue generation and management. This could involve providing training and technical assistance to local government officials, improving governance and accountability at the local level, and creating a more enabling environment for local economic development. In addition, there may be opportunities to explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, to fund infrastructure and essential services at the local level.
Local governments can leverage private sector expertise and resources to help fund infrastructure and basic services by partnering with the private sector.
Overall, local governments should be involved in funding infrastructure and essential services in Nigeria, as they play a critical role in providing these services to the people.
However, local government capacity and revenue generation must be strengthened to fund and deliver these services effectively, and innovative financing mechanisms should be explored.
What role has project management in this regard?
Project management is critical in helping government and industry embrace innovation across the infrastructure project lifecycle. Project management involves the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, monitor, and control project activities, to achieve project objectives on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards.
In the context of infrastructure projects, effective project management can help to promote innovation by providing a framework for identifying and evaluating new ideas, technologies, and processes. By incorporating innovation into project management, infrastructure projects can become more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable. Project management is critical in helping government and industry embrace innovation across the infrastructure project lifecycle.
By promoting innovation, improving project performance, enhancing collaboration and communication, mitigating project risks, and fostering continuous improvement, project management can help to ensure that infrastructure projects are delivered in a manner that meets the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Nigeria faces a $30 trillion investment gap by 2030. Do you think that the country can meet its infrastructure demands?
There are many examples that demonstrate how public-private partnership models (PPPs) can effectively fund and facilitate the delivery of major infrastructure projects. While Nigeria faces a significant infrastructure funding gap, PPPs can be crucial in delivering infrastructure projects. To create more opportunities for private investment in infrastructure projects through PPPs, the government can develop a pipeline of bankable projects, provide an enabling legal and regulatory framework, facilitate access to financing, enhance transparency and accountability, and strengthen institutional capacity. With these measures, Nigeria can continue to drive PPPs and meet its infrastructure demands. So far, the government has made progress in driving PPPs across different infrastructure sectors. However, there have been challenges in implementation, including delays in project execution and contract renegotiations.To address these, the government can work with private sector partners to address potential risks and uncertainties, including regulatory and policy changes, currency fluctuations, and project delays.
What relationship do PMI have with the national infrastructure and concession commission and other government agencies?
PMI Nigeria, as a professional association for project management practitioners, can work with government agencies and other stakeholders to promote best practices in project management, including PPPs. PMI Nigeria can share its experience and knowledge of PPPs with the government as a priority and, in doing so, help the nation bridge its infrastructure gap.This can involve providing training and capacity-building programmes for government officials and other stakeholders on PPP procurement and management and offering technical assistance and advice on project planning and execution. Moreover, PMI Nigeria can work with government agencies to develop a pipeline of bankable projects and provide guidance on project feasibility, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. By collaborating with the government in this way, PMI Nigeria can play a critical role in driving PPPs and supporting the delivery of essential infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
What can be done to fill the current infrastructural data gap in the country?
To fill the current infrastructure data gap in the country, several actions can be taken. Firstly, there is need for a concerted effort to gather and maintain accurate data on infrastructure projects. This includes tracking project performance and asset management to ensure projects deliver the expected benefits. In addition, the Nigerian government can work with development partners and private sector organisations to improve data collection and management practices. The e government can encourage private sector investment in infrastructure projects by creating an enabling environment that supports investment. This includes reducing regulatory hurdles, providing fiscal incentives, and implementing transparent procurement processes. When investors see a reliable and transparent system in place, they are more likely to invest in infrastructure projects. Lastly, the government can collaborate with international organizations to access technical expertise and financial support. This includes working with organizations such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme to improve project management and data collection practices. In summary, improving the quality of infrastructure in Nigeria requires a concerted effort by the government, private sector, and international organizations. By implementing best practices, improving data collection and management, and creating an enabling environment for investment, Nigeria can attract more investments in infrastructure and achieve sustainable economic growth and development.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a presidential panel of enquiry to investigate the allegations that over 149 million barrels of crude oil are missing, as documented in the 2019 audited reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
SERAP also urged President Buhari to ensure effective prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for the plundering of the country’s oil wealth and the full recovery of any proceeds of crime.
According to the 2019 audited report by the Auditor-General, over 107 million barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document or tracing. NEITI also reported 42.25 million barrels of crude oil missing in 2019.
It said that the proposed panel should be headed by a retired justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, and its members should include people with proven professional record, and of the highest integrity that can act impartially, independently, and transparently.
SERAP, in the April 22 letter signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, argued that investigating the allegations, naming, shaming and prosecuting those suspected to be responsible for it would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators
The letter reads: “SERAP notes that you have repeatedly promised to combat corruption. As you go into the final weeks of your term of office, the missing crude oil allegations present yet another opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and to uphold your oath of office both as President and Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The value of the naira has continued to slump against major currencies of the world, especially the US dollar. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prostar Global Energy Group Limited, Chief Hyman Udemba, says the Federal Government should prioritise revamping local manufacturing to earn foreign exchange. He stresses the need to revisit development plans at the federal and state levels as it was done during the First Republic. LUCAS AJANAKU met him.
How would you assess the performance of the economy? We are running an under-performing economic system courtesy of the glaring poor living conditions of the majority of the citizens. The fact that one can see many more waste bin scavengers in the neighbourhood speaks volumes. However, the real status may be determined by looking at the economic derivatives that inform performance of any economy with reference to comparable periods. Economically speaking, the most standard determinant of the function of any economy remains the per capita gross domestic product (GDP), which is the total output of goods and services shared by the population. This could be further explained as the success of the inter-relationship among the economic activities within the country, economic diversity, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and improved individual quality of lives emanating from those activities which could be assessed from the GDP per capita. A World Bank source for example showed Nigerian GDP in 2014 stood at $546.7billion with a population of about 176.4 million, and GDP per capita of about $3,000, which fell to $432.3billion and $2000 per capita respectively in 2020 with a population of 206.1 million. This shows a drastic drop in quality of life. It could be deduced, therefore, that the economy is under-performing with increase in GDP and increase in population comparably to 2020. Available statistics from World Bank and Statista revealed that the GDP rose slightly to $440.8billion or about N173.5 trillion in 2021. And according to Trading Economics, it is projected to reach about $445b in 2022. Considering the GDP in 2014 and the projected GDP this year with the accompanying growth in the population, there is no doubt that the economy is not doing well. Other indices exist confirming the economy in its knees begging for resuscitation. In the current globalised world, nations’ economies may not be assessed or examined in isolation as economies are interdependent through certain economic variables like the currency exchange rate, balance of trade, among other nations. There is no day that passes that discussion on the Nigerian economy will not be found in every media outlet. And one of the most discussed and of which the effect is observed in the national daily lives is the weakening of the nation’s means of exchanging goods and services, that is the naira. The naira has never levered against other major currencies since the last four decades and could be traced to continually weakened economic activities through economic mismanagement and unproductive national life. Take, for example, the Naira exchange rate in December 2014 was N185 to 1USD with an average of N165 to 1USD for the whole 2014. Compared with the average for the first half of 2022 at N645 to 1USD, it shows the economy going from better to worse with no sign of improvement in sight. The country is beset with revenue problem, how can this be fixed? Unless Nigeria is managed like a corporate organisation, the prevailing dwindling economic fortunes may continue unabated. Revenue sources abound for the government to leverage, but lack of political will to do the right thing at the right time may continue to stagnate every good effort for progress. The problems are myriad, but with the approach of corporate management, reducing waste to increase profit may be the game changer. The latest introduction of automated revenue remittance may have been a good step in a good direction, helping to cut wastes through diversion of revenues to private pockets, but lots still need to be done in ensuring greater compliance in remittances by revenue-generation agencies through investment in human resources for improved service delivery at all levels. The vast Nigeria economic base remains untapped as Nigeria already has diverse resources waiting to be tapped. This has been drummed for many years and refocusing in the area once neglected may be one of the ways available for the government to improve its revenue generation. Investment in agriculture, returning Nigeria back to its past glory of agricultural sustainability should not be paid lip service. Mandating regions to produce economic development plans for competitive endeavours in their areas of comparative advantages may see the country getting out of its current situation earlier than ever imagined. Need not to mention the waste in the stealing of the Nigerian crude oil by the privileged class. Plugging the loopholes will go a long way to improved revenue generation. These steps could be attained within months, show direction for sustainability and give hope to the citizens. The continued dependence on the centre for the funding of state governments’ functions is unacceptable with the current realities of failing Federal Government revenue sources. The Federal Government’s monolithic income source through dependence on crude petroleum has been a tragedy. With the zero remittance from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to the Federation Account sometime last year, there is no doubt that the outcry of the 36 governors of the federation over inability to pay salaries may happen this year. However, the proverbial stitch in time saves nine, may involve the government plugging all sources of wastes, entrench transparency in all transactions as a matter of urgency, and end the crude stealing since the sources are known. These efforts would go a long way in redirecting the ship of state from drifting. How can the naira be strengthened to improve the economy? The strength of a nation’s currency has a proportional dependence on the volume of her commodity exports. Unfortunately, Nigeria imports most of her needs and exports extraordinarily little comparatively. And with oil revenue at its lowest ebb, being the highest foreign exchange earner, this leaves Nigeria exposed to be seen as a failed nation. Nigeria has crude oil as its major export to have inflow of foreign currency, have had operational challenges meeting up with the production quota because of wastes resulting from oil thefts, pipeline vandalism and other criminal practices at the finance and management levels of the petroleum governing bodies. There is no doubt that the way out of the currency scarcity remains to fix the faulty governance system and manage the available resources with high level prudence. And it is only by increasing our exports that more foreign currencies could be earned with consequent leverage in exchange with the naira at advantage. What is the place of regular power supply in the economy? No country could make any meaningful development without regular availability of electricity in the current globalised world. Nigeria had for so long been enmeshed in electricity underproduction for more than four decades. Lots of investments have been made in the power sector without success. With current maximum installed capacity of 12,500megawatts (Mw) from both hydro and thermal plants, only roughly maximum of 6000Mw could be harnessed for reasons ranging from low water levels for the hydro units, shortage of gas supply to the gas-powered plants, and failure of the national grid to evacuate the generated power to consumers. It is critical to recognise that from National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) records that 74 per cent of the generated power to the grid comes from the gas-powered stations with 26 per cent from hydro powered stations. Unfortunately, the gas-powered stations are bedevilled with the gas supply shortages which could either be from non-payment for the gas or gas pipeline disruptions. The same could be said about the hydro-powered plants that depend on seasonal high-water levels for optimum power generation. With these monster variables, it will be impossible to generate optimum power from the installed capacity. Successful and reliable evacuation of the generated power to the areas and regions of need is made possible through transmission and distribution lines organised into a looped network called grid, otherwise known as a system of interconnection of more than power generation stations. While the transmission lines distribute generated power in high voltage across regions, the distribution system delivers the power to the consumers at comparatively lower voltage for industrial and domestic uses. Under normal conditions, the arrangement allows for uninterruptible power supply nationally even when one or two power generation stations or network linkages fail or when the grid is opened from a portion of the grid loop. Unfortunately, this rarely happens for reasons ranging from weak grid, vandalism occasioned by sabotage, bush fires and erosions that destroy transmission and distribution lines. The consequence of any one of the generation power failures or grid cut would usually have a consequential feedback effect to loads on the network and or other generating plants. The situation is most times better managed when the incident of grid disruption is anticipated or planned, like may occur during power shading, or relocation of transmission lines under threat of erosion or constant wildfires. In this case the grid failure and resuscitation would be well coordinated. In most advanced countries, defects from the transmission lines are usually caused by bushfires or other natural weather effects, whereas in Nigeria and indeed most developing countries are caused by human sabotage by way of vandalism of the fixtures of the transmission lines leading to emergency situations that cause longer periods of blackout. Effects from breakdown in the transmission lines and or generation stations would most times lead to load shedding which may cause load rejection, arising from generator overspinning and high frequency mismatch at generation plants. All these occurrences and their effects are complex and form the malady of the Nigerian power sector. It might be disheartening to know from NERC records that Nigeria had had partial and total collapse of the national grid for at least 152 times since 2010 and for about seven times between January and September 2022. This reveals a practically non-resilient grid system. Addressing the power sector would need government’s sincerity in tackling known issues which are linked directly or indirectly to the plagues of the sector. Would that include cancellation of the privatisation process as being pushed for by labour and others? This certainly does not include the cancellation of the privatisation process of the sector already finalised, unless for proven reasons of incompetence. Instead, let the parties review the terms of engagement with the IPPs and seek for more investment in the sectors’ infrastructure and human capital development with the consequent improvement in efficiency of the power generation, transmission, and distribution. It is obvious that the issues plaguing the power sector are complex, though the most obvious remains the grid collapse that simultaneously cripples every aspect of the economy affecting everybody at the same time. Addressing the problems of the power sector requires holistic re-engineering of the three legs of the sector- generation, transmission, and distribution. Sufficiency in power availability may start with considerable installed capacity by building more power plants with maximum capacity surpassing estimated maximum demand. This will enable stable electric power release from redundant generators whenever any of the generating plants fails or needs maintenance. It has been suggested at various discussions that the existing grid is weak to the extent that it cannot withstand the installed capacity evacuation to the areas of need. I, however, disagree with such insinuations believing that the primary thing would be to have available installed capacity and to release power as the need arises. The grid could be made more resilient by systematic upgrading of the fixtures, which include strategic and gradual replacement of the transmission wires to higher gauges. Improved networking may be achieved by increasing the number of transmission high voltage transformers to reduce pressure on the transmission wires resulting from voltage drop over a long-distance transmission. And expanding the network by inculcating additional web of transmission lines will make the grid less vulnerable as break in any part of the network could be circumvented very rapidly from a nearby close loop. Nigeria has a peculiar problem of vandalism on the transmission network and installing monitoring systems along all the transmission routes may curb the problem of vandalism of the grid. Besides, the monitoring will help to detect encroaching erosion that usually fell the transmission poles and open the grid. And bush burning which most times damages the poles may also be curbed by continual bush clearing along the routes of the transmission lines. The distribution aspect of the power grid is another area that requires attention. Distribution transformers and low voltage distribution wires are currently weak because of overloading resulting from poor environmental planning and load growth forecast, besides aging. Proper planning of the domestic and industrial areas will enable rated and balanced load distribution across installed distribution transformers. Other areas of concerns in power generation and evacuation which need to be addressed for improved power delivery may include protection of the gas pipelines for gas delivery to the power plant turbines, reorientation and retraining of the power generation, transmission, and distribution workers for more efficient power delivery services and restructuring of the power distribution system in load distribution planning matched with long term planning rated distribution wires and transformers. Private sector pioneered captive or private generating plants with excess to feed the grid at attractive rates should also be encouraged. Unfortunately, all these require time and financial input, and time is running out for the current government to achieve anything meaningful further in this respect. The incoming government may wish to set strategic plans to achieve all these by installing a mental increase in installed capacity of generating plants, expanding the transmission network and improving the existing transmission distribution network based on the current growth and long-term development pattern.
What is your take about energy mix?
Solution to the electric energy sector revitalization is a long-term and continuous project because of its technological complexities and huge financial requirements. However, for sooner relief on the pressure in the sector, government divestment in renewable energy mix is sufficed. And for sustainable development in this regard the tinkering on energy mix must be backed up with long term planning and balanced legislation in the form of policy and regulatory frameworks. It could be recalled that government had earlier established Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) by Act No. 62 of 1979, and the Act amended 10 years after by the Act No. 32 of 1988 and act No 19 of 1999 when the body was saddled with the statutory mandate for the strategic planning and coordination of national policies in the field of Energy in all its ramifications including renewable energy. In the like manner, in order to increase local content in renewable energy products development the federal government established a research institution like National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in 1992. Government effort in this direction has been progressive since 2015 as could be reckoned through the establishment of National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (NREEEP) for the establishment of a viable framework. For speedy take-off of the initiative, the government became interested in inquest into the cost and quality for acquiring renewable energy component parts for implementation of renewable energy projects. And that led to the modification of the import tariffs through Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) operational procedures to include the concerns in the renewable energy sector development on quality certification. In spite of all these moves, gaps still exist in actualizing the policy directives to logical conclusions because of administrative challenges and political will from the respective apex bodies, and lack of clear direction from the executive arm of the government. There is no doubt that sustainable policy frameworks matched with private sector and financial institutions participation could drive a speedy development in renewable energy of which private homes and rural communities could benefit immensely, with the tendency of relieving the national grid and allowing more power to be supplied to the industrial sector to enhance speedy economic growth.
What are the challenges of deploying renewable energy in the country?
One of the major setbacks in the deployment of renewable energy globally is the initial cost of the solar panels and the accompanying balance of systems including the storage batteries. Different countries devise different methods of delivering the alternative power to her people depending on the comparative advantages of the methods. In Germany which doubles as a consumer of the new energy and manufacturer of the component parts, the government initiated a program called 1000 roofs on solar in 1991, which success led to the expansion of the new German program to 100,000 roofs on solar on January 1, 1999. The government had a very clear objective. They aim to create a total energy-generating capacity of 300MW within six years and the cost of the program to the federal budget was 1 billion DM. The photovoltaic project was ranked the highest in the world and attempted to introduce PV to the national energy mix. All the participants had PV subsidy and long term of payment for the respective installed capacity. Other countries implemented only subsidized costs or both subsidies and much longer payment periods. Some also had carbon credit, a United Nations Carbon Offset Platform, an e-commerce platform established by Un to enable corporate organizations, individuals or private citizens purchase units to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions by installing photovoltaic systems, aimed at supporting actions on climate. All these add up to enhance take off renewable energy in so many countries benefiting both manufacturers and users greatly and driving down the cost. Similar program can be initiated by the new federal administration by collaboration with some financial institutions to facilitate support to the private sector in establishing renewable energy components manufacturing and supporting both private and corporate bodies to deploy solar energy at long term payment plans at subsidy for some lower income earners, especially the rural dwellers. A new policy could be promulgated to allow estate developers to inculcate solar systems in some percentages of their structures and sell or rent as complete with solar power. And to ensure the policy succeeds, the cost of the solar energy in the purchase of the structure also must be spread for the beneficiary.
The massive deployment of the solar system will not only enhance living conditions, but it will also help to generate employment as many factories will spring up and many technicians trained to ensure professional installation and maintenance of the installed systems.
