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Tag: Benjamin Kalu

  • Women occupying only 64 of 1460 seats in Nigeria parliament, says Reps Deputy Speaker

    Women occupying only 64 of 1460 seats in Nigeria parliament, says Reps Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said that out of about 1,460 legislative seats in the country, only 64 we’re occupied by women. 

    Kalu said while women occupy 19 seats (4 in the Senate and 15 in the House of Representatives) in the National Assembly out of the 469 available seats, they occupy a paltry 45 out of the 991 available legislative seats in the 36 Houses of Assembly.

    The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at a roundtable on the reserved seats for women bill organised by The Osasu Show (TOS) with support from the Switzerland Embassy, said the dismal number of women representation makes the bill inevitable as it will provide for gender inclusion in governance space said that it is not born out of sentiments but current realities to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

    He informed the parliament is expected to vote on the special seats bill alongside other crucial constitutional amendment bills they resume from their annual vacation while emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy for the Special Seats Bill. 

    He called on the women groups to massively reach out to all the relevant stakeholders and influential people in the country. 

    He said: “As the sponsor of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, I want to make this abundantly clear: this bill is not born out of sentiment. It is born out of reason, out of evidence, out of the stubborn facts of our current reality. It is rooted in the belief that justice delayed is democracy denied.

    “Nigeria is a nation of over 220 million people, and nearly half (49.3 percent) of this population are women. And yet, the number of women who sit at the table of power in this country is painfully low. In the current 10th National Assembly, only 19 out of 469 legislators are women (just 3.8 percent). 

    “In the House of Representatives, there are only 15 women out of 360. In the Senate, only 4 out of 109. Across all 36 states, we have not a single female governor. And in our State Houses of Assembly (out of 991 seats) only 45 are occupied by women. That’s a mere 4.5 percent.

    “Keep the advocacy alive. Keep doing it, keep lobbying, there’s no time. We don’t have time. It’s our desire to vote on these constitutional review provisions once we are back from recess. That’s to show you there’s no time.

    Read Also: Benjamin Kalu’s failed ‘Indigeneship’ Bill

    “The people you’re talking to must be people who have influence over those that will vote or the voters themselves. So tell your religious leaders, political big players, the wives of the parliamentarians and so on.

    “The language of advocacy should change too. Appeal to them. Reach out to prominent women in this country. Let them come on board. Reach out to influencers, there’s no time. Barely 60 days remaining”.

    Kalu who said the bill aligns with the legislative agenda of the House and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appealed to the political parties, the media and Nigerians in general to support the bill, adding that his office is always ready to give the needed technical insights.

    “The 10th House of Representatives, under the purposeful leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCFR, has placed inclusion at the centre of its legislative vision. This commitment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which anchors national development on equity, justice, and opportunity. 

    “Through progressive policies and appointments, the President has shown a clear intent to disrupt entrenched norms. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is a reflection of this shared resolve and the 10th Assembly is proud to be the legislative catalyst advancing it.

    “To our partners in civil society, the international community, and the development sector: your role is indispensable. Join us in equipping, mentoring, and amplifying the voices of the women this bill seeks to empower. Your expertise, advocacy, and collaboration remain vital.

    “To political parties: reform must begin within. Open your ranks. Prioritise women not merely as supporters, but as candidates and decision-makers. The strength of our democracy depends on the strength of our internal democratic institutions.

    “To the media: shape the national conversation. Tell this story not as tokenism, but as transformation. This bill is not a favour, it is a framework for equity. A nation cannot fly with one wing.

    “And to the Nigerian people, men and women, young and old, this is your bill.

    Support it. Speak for it. Stand behind it. Because when women rise, nations do not merely progress, they prosper. When women lead, societies heal.”

  • Benjamin Kalu’s failed ‘Indigeneship’ Bill

    Benjamin Kalu’s failed ‘Indigeneship’ Bill

    Last Tuesday, House of Representatives deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, withdrew the Indigene Status by Birth Bill (HB.2057) sponsored by him and some six other lawmakers. He anchored the withdrawal on concerns raised by the public and intervention by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) which identified contradictions in the bill. It is unlikely the bill, popularly referred to as Indigeneship Bill, will ever be presented again. Not only was it not well thought out, in a country still contending with the vestiges of unitary system bequeathed Nigeria after the 1966 coup d’etat, it also attempted to take the bitterly controversial unitary system a notch higher. The controversy the bill stirred was so intense that some sceptics described it as a bill primarily designed for a hostile takeover of Lagos. Hon. Kalu did the sensible thing by withdrawing a thoroughly bad bill flexing notoriety.

    The Bill had hoped to create a pathway for any Nigerian to claim indigene status of a state as long as he had resided in that state for 10 years and paid tax, or was born in that state, or had been married for five years to an indigene of that state. Had the bill sailed through, it would have amended Section 31 of the 1999 Constitution. The sponsors initially defended their action by suggesting that the bill hoped “to promote national unity, equity, and inclusiveness among all Nigerians, regardless of where they reside.” Even though it was not indicated, and no one voiced it, the bill probably drew inspiration from the political sociology of the United States. The sponsors were, however, guilty of tunnel vision. Nigeria’s turbulent history, including its long-lasting resistance to every effort to legislate and coerce unity, should have restrained the sponsors from their exuberance. The US is not a good example at all, and in any case, that country is now mired in ‘birther’ controversies and jousting with birth tourism. Indeed, rather than get more multicultural, the world appears to be relapsing into far-right nationalism.

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    The Bill was irredeemable from the outset. From the First Republic to the Fourth, most Nigerians know that Nigeria’s founding paradigm was untenable. Everything ancestral and cultural about Nigeria violently wars against the bill. In addition, even if the bill had passed, it would not have created the utopia the sponsors dreamt. The problem assailing Nigerian unity is too deeply structural and cultural to yield to simplistic palliatives. Decades of military rule have merely worsened the crisis, and all panaceas, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, have not made any dent on it. Indeed, whether intended or not, the bill would only have rewarded ethnic groups with proclivity for migration. Nigeria is already deeply embroiled in a contest of wills between indigenes and settlers in many cities and states, especially over economic and political rights, and so far there has been no lasting solution. To design a bill that legitimises and encourages those migrations is to ignore the tragic lessons of other countries.

    Rather than derive inspiration from the US where longtime residence opens political doors – not even indigene status – Hon. Kalu should have studied why the social and political engineering of Yugoslavia failed, why Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium have struck a delicate ‘ethnic’ balance in their constitutions, why Russia and Ukraine are at war, and why Nigeria’s former colonial master, Britain, bequeathed a constitution that did not seek to obliterate Nigeria’s cultural dividing lines or create pathways for ambitious ethnic irredentists to the appropriation of other people’s ancestral lands. And since unfortunately the 1966 coup imposed a unitary system upon Nigeria through a half-baked political engineering supposedly designed to promote unity, the country has reeled from one existential and structural crisis to another. During the decolonisation process, Britain recognised that it was attempting to do the impossible by welding together vastly differing nations that were at different stages of civilisation. Most of them shared little in common. To defuse tension and address concerns, the colonisers built a number of safeguards into the Independence constitution. Since those safeguards were obliterated following presumptions that what Nigeria needed was more ‘unity’, the country has not known peace.

    Hon. Kalu and his co-sponsors did not do their homework well. Like the 1966 coupists, they assumed that what Nigeria needed was more unity rather than structural equilibrium based on ethnic nationalities. They thought less about the fears of communities burdened by heavy migrations from obtruding cultures attempting to superimpose their ways of living on host communities, and aggressive groups not averse to supplanting or dominating their hosts. It was those fears Hon. Kalu overlooked that triggered the controversies around the ‘Indigeneship’ Bill. If the deputy speaker had done his homework well, he would have abandoned the fool’s errand he sent himself and applied his skills to more rewarding lawmaking. In the end, the bill had no redeeming virtue at all. He might have meant well, as his supporters said, and might have genuinely wanted to find a solution to the ethnic distrust and animosity seething below the surface. But he almost naively exacerbated the problem by adopting a one-dimensional approach probably influenced by his background to tackle a fundamental problem affecting the country’s superstructure.

    History has shown that racial or ethnic nationalism follows cycles. Whenever it rears its head, it engenders chaos or, in extreme cases, war. Suggesting that ethnic animosity fully explains the resistance to migration, political miscegenation, or cultural dilution is counterfactual. Nationalism reared its head in World War II, and is again suffusing the politics of Eastern Europe and the United States. Nationalism undergirded and shaped Brexit, and at different times and different places had led to horrific genocides and pogroms. Rwanda, Argentina, Yugoslavia, and Belgian Congo (DRC) are typical examples. Nationalism is a volcano. If it is dormant today, there is no proof it cannot erupt on a hypothetical tomorrow. As many historians know, the story of humanity is one of migrations, supplantation, domination, and wars and genocides, sometimes interspersed with extraordinary but brief eras of development and discoveries. Few regions or continents have enjoyed centuries of unbroken peace and development.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, Nigeria’s political titans engaged in recriminations over ethnic domination until a civil war broke out. Decades later, neither the anxieties that triggered war nor the political recriminations that fouled ethnic trust have abated. It was, therefore, bad timing, especially in the context of the tension generated by the 2023 polls, that Hon. Kalu sponsored a bill interpreted as a deliberate machination for ethnic domination. He should have been more sensitive. And in the light of stirrings in some parts of Southern and West Africa, where nationalism is on a gentle but steady and invidious rise, it is urgent to develop systems, structures and solutions that address the country’s national question rather than resort to knee-jerk legislative or political responses that deepen the country’s contradictions.

  • Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu withdraws Indigeneship Bill

    Reps Deputy Speaker Kalu withdraws Indigeneship Bill

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has withdrawn the Indigeneship Bill he submitted before the parliament.

    The Bill had generated some controversy in recent days.

    In a statement last night, Kalu said the withdrawal became necessary in view of the concerns and constructive feedback various stakeholders had expressed over the Bill.

    He explained that the Bill’s analysis, which was forwarded by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), also made it imperative for him to step down the Bill at this time.

    Although the Bill was meant to promote national unity, equity, and inclusiveness among all Nigerians, regardless of where they reside, part of the report stated that states’ Houses of Assembly should make laws that enable settlers in different states to enjoy the same rights and privileges by the indigenes.

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    “States should make laws that would allow settlers to enjoy the same rights and privileges enjoyed by indigenes without any form of discrimination, as rightly provided for in the constitution.

    “Though the Bill seeks to achieve some commendable objectives, however, this can be achieved through the enactment of a law. If this Bill is passed, it would pose challenges over time, especially on the issue of double or multiple indigenship,” the report stated.

    Kalu, who is also the Chairman of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, said he remained committed to ensuring that every legislative proposal reflects the wishes of the people.

    “As leaders and Representatives, we remain committed to ensuring that every legislative proposal reflects the aspirations of the people we serve.

    “The Constitution Review process remains an open, inclusive, and participatory exercise, and no provision or proposal will be pursued without adequate dialogue and consensus-building.

    “I, therefore, call on citizens to continue engaging constructively with the House Committee on Constitutional Review as we work together to build a more just, united, and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

  • $3B Eastern Rail line: Tinubu unlocking prosperity of South East – Kalu

    $3B Eastern Rail line: Tinubu unlocking prosperity of South East – Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said on Thursday the allocation of about $3 billion for the completion of the Eastern Rail line was part of efforts of the Tinubu government to drive economic development and improve the lives of people from the South East and Nigeria generally. 

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday at its plenary approved the President’s request for the funding of the project. 

    The Deputy Speaker said in a statement that the Eastern Rail Line is a critical infrastructure project aimed at boosting economic growth and regional connectivity.

    Kalu said that through the gesture, the President has underscored the action-oriented nature of his Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrating a clear commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the South East. 

    He assured the President that Ndi Igbo will reciprocate his goodwill at the appropriate time to reflect the region’s deep appreciation for his efforts to foster growth and prosperity in the South East. 

    He said: “I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to the development of the South East region. 

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    “He has again demonstrated his love for the people of the South East region by this bold step of completing the Eastern rail line which is expected to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and economic growth once completed. 

    “The rail line is projected to unlock about ₦50 billion in annual trade, linking Aba and Onitsha hubs to the markets in the northern region. 

    “We can’t but show our immense gratitude to the President for this initiative to upscale the infrastructure in the South East. 

    “Indeed, the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is not in words but in action especially for Ndigbo and at the right time, we will reciprocate this kind gestures. We are so grateful, Mr. President.”

  • $3bn Eastern rail line allocation proof of Tinubu’s commitment to southeast — Kalu

    $3bn Eastern rail line allocation proof of Tinubu’s commitment to southeast — Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has hailed the allocation of $3 billion for the completion of the Eastern Rail Line as a bold step by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to boost economic development in the South East and across Nigeria.

    Kalu, in a statement on Thursday, said the House of Representatives’ approval of the President’s funding request on Wednesday reflects a major push to revitalise critical infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity.

    Describing the Eastern Rail Line as a transformative project, Kalu noted it is expected to unlock ₦50 billion in annual trade by linking key commercial cities like Aba and Onitsha to the northern markets.

    He said the initiative is a demonstration of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” in action and not just words.

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    “I commend President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of the South East,” Kalu said. “This rail project will significantly boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and accelerate economic prosperity in the region.”

    The Deputy Speaker assured that the people of the South East will reciprocate the President’s goodwill at the appropriate time, describing the move as a sign of genuine love and commitment to inclusive national development.

  • WAFCON Finale : Deputy Speaker Kalu rallies support for Falcons

    WAFCON Finale : Deputy Speaker Kalu rallies support for Falcons

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Benjamin Kalu , said that Nigerians believe in the ability of the Super  Falcons to bring home the coveted trophy at the ongoing 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)  in Morocco.

    Kalu congratulated the senior  women’s national team on their hard-fought 2-1  semi-final’s victory over South Africa to secure their spot in the final of the WAFCON.

    He extolled the team’s determination, skill, and teamwork, saying that their impressive performance on Tuesday has made the nation proud.

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    Kalu in a statement ,urged the team to stay focused, maintain their form, and give their all in the final match against Morocco on Saturday.

    He further  told the Falcons that they have the full support of all Nigerians.

    He said: “Congratulations, Super Falcons. Your impressive performance has made the nation proud, and as you prepare to face Morocco at the final on Saturday, I have no doubt you will display exceptional and unwavering dedication to bring home the coveted trophy.

    “The nation is behind you, and we believe in your ability to bring home the glory. Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the final outing. Bravo, Super Falcons.”

  • Africa loses over $88 billion annually to illicit financial flow, says Reps Deputy Speaker

    Africa loses over $88 billion annually to illicit financial flow, says Reps Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the Africa continent loses over $88 billion annually to Illicit financial flow which is almost twice the amount it receives in official development assistance.

    The Deputy Speaker who wasnspeaking at a meeting with a Member of European Parliament, Fabio De Masi on the sidelines of his working visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium advocated for what he called debt-for-development swaps as a debt cancellation mechanisms to alleviate Africa’s debt burden.

    Kalu also advocated for the renegotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and support African industrial policy and reducing non-tariff barriers.

    He said there was the need for a parliamentary cooperation for the creation of a joint working group on illicit financial flows (IFFs), with a focus on African asset recovery, BEPS compliance, and EU transparency obligations. 

    He also advocated for unconditional climate finance and joint EU-AU monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency and effectiveness in climate project implementation. Despite being the continent most vulnerable to climate change, Africa receives only 3% of global climate finance.

    Leading the Monetary & Financial Affairs Committee of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to European Parliament to discuss key issues affecting Africa’s economic development, Kalu highlighted the growing need for a more equitable and just partnership between Europe and Africa, focusing on economic justice, fair trade, and climate justice.

    He said, “This partnership offers a timely and transformative opportunity to reshape EU-Africa parliamentary relations through the lens of justice, equity, and structural change, a relationship built on the foundation of mutual respect, sustainable development, and shared values.

    Read Also: How knack for problem solving earned Nigerian accolades at Ghana varsity

    “Our key areas of collaboration will also focus on EU-AU joint advocacy for debt cancellation mechanisms, including debt-for-development swaps, and parliamentary oversight on the African countries either in debt distress or at high risk of it, signalling the urgent need for reforms in global debt governance.

    “Reform trade architecture by aligning EU-Africa Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with AfCFTA, supporting African industrial policy, and reducing non-tariff barriers.

    “With only 15% of Africa’s trade being intra-continental, while staggering 80% of its exports remain raw commodities (AfDB, 2024), it is imperative to emphasize the renegotiation of these EPAs to incorporate value chain localisation, intellectual property

    protection, and industrial policy space.”

    Other issues discussed include tax justice, climate finance, migration, and inter-parliamentary cooperation as they affect the continent.

    Kalu also said that Africa must be positioned as a key partner, not a passive recipient, in the green transition.

    “Parliamentary cooperation for the creation of a joint working group on illicit financial flows (IFFs), with a focus on African asset recovery, BEPS compliance, and EU transparency obligations. Africa loses over $88 billion annually to IFFs, almost twice the amount it receives in official development assistance.

    “We advocate for unconditional climate finance and joint EU-AU monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency and effectiveness in climate project implementation. Despite being the continent most vulnerable to climate change, Africa receives only 3% of global climate finance.

    “Africa must be positioned as a key partner, not a passive recipient, in the green transition. This includes prioritising African-led energy

    solutions and technologies tailored to local contexts in EU-Africa climate dialogues.

    “There is an urgent need to scale up investments in solar energy infrastructure. Although Africa holds 60% of the world’s solar energy potential, it receives less than 1% of global solar investment—a stark imbalance that must be rectified”, he said. 

    Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker also insisted that the EU Green Deal must align with Africa’s Agenda 2063, with particular focus on climate adaptation, renewable energy access, and the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund.

    He maintained that localised development remains the most practicable solution to irregular migration to Europe. 

    “These alignments are crucial to delivering climate justice and fostering a

    resilient, low-carbon future for Africa. Localised development is key to Africa’s industrialisation and offers long-term solutions to curbing irregular migration flows to the EU.

    “Empowering local economies will reduce the economic push factors

    that drive migration. There is an urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration, including conflict, youth unemployment, and climate-induced stress.

    “A holistic approach must address these underlying drivers while expanding safe and legal pathways for mobility. Balancing border security with humanitarian commitments is critical. Policies should reflect both the need for managed migration and the EU’s longstanding values of solidarity and human rights.

    “Expand talent mobility initiatives, such as Erasmus+, digital nomad visas, and intra-company transfers, to create structured channels for legal migration and skills development.

    “Ultimately, creating high-value jobs in Africa, particularly in emerging sectors like digital services, green industries, and manufacturing, offers the most sustainable and dignified alternative to irregular migration”, Kalu said. 

  • Lekki deep sea port to generate $201 billion, says deputy speaker, Kalu

    Lekki deep sea port to generate $201 billion, says deputy speaker, Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said on Thursday that Lekki Deep Sea Port is designed to generate over $201 billion in revenue for the federal and state governments and create more than 169,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

    Speaking at the commissioning of Lekki Deep – Sea Port Access Road, Section 1 and other key projects in Lagos by President Bola Tinubu, Kalu highlighted the significance of the projects in connecting the country and fostering economic development.

    He said the Lekki Deep Sea Port Concrete Road is not just concrete and tar; it is the spine of economic transformation. 

    He said, “This vital artery connects one of West Africa’s deepest and most advanced seaports to Nigeria’s logistics and industrial backbone, unlocking the potential of Africa’s largest oil refinery and repositioning Nigeria as a hub for global maritime trade. 

    “With the capacity to handle 1.2 million TEUs annually in its first phase and up to 2.7 million TEUs as it scales, this port is not just a national asset; it is a continental gateway. Its ability to accommodate vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs marks a new era in our port capacity and trade competitiveness.

    “More than steel and scale, the port embodies strategy. It is expected to generate over $201 billion in revenue for the federal and state governments and create more than 169,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

    “This is not conjecture; this is the blue economy in motion. A functioning, efficient, and automated deep-sea port like Lekki reduces port congestion, enhances turnaround time, and positions Nigeria to reclaim maritime business previously lost to neighbouring countries. 

    “This is the infrastructure of vision, not only aligning with Nigeria’s Blue Economy strategy, but also reinforcing our obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This is how we build prosperity—one road, one port, one coordinated policy at a time. 

    “These roads connect Borno to Lagos, Kano to the South-East, and Katsina to the Middle Belt. In a nation sometimes tugged by the currents of division, infrastructure is a glue that binds. A well-paved road is also a well-paved path to national cohesion.

    “Let us remember: Nigeria’s greatness is not in isolation of its regions, but in their integration. When we invest in roads, we are investing in unity. When we open up ports, we are opening up possibilities for every Nigerian child, regardless of whether they are from the north or the south. 

    “Mr. President, thank you for your vision and people-centred leadership. To the ministers, thank you for execution. To the Nigerian people, these roads are yours; use them, protect them, own them”, he said. 

    The Deputy Speaker pledged the commitment of the House to supporting initiatives that uplift Nigerians’ livelihoods and strengthen the economy

    “As the People’s House, we have passed the highest infrastructure capital allocation in a decade. Through the House Committees on Works, Appropriations, and National Planning, we have ensured oversight that promotes value for money. Our recent legislative support for the Federal Roads Authority Bill and the National Infrastructure Development Fund is proof that we are committed to sustainability, not just ceremony.

    “Let future generations say that in our time, Nigeria moved not just physically, but purposefully, toward prosperity.

    Let the roads rise to meet us, and let our unity rise even higher”.

    The Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of infrastructure development in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and unity, adding that besides this particular road, the Tinubu led administration has also executed other strategic infrastructure projects around the country. 

    Specific projects include the Kano-Maiduguri corridor, spanning over 500 kilometers. 

    Kalu said: “The roads being commissioned today are arteries of national integration that connect not only places, but people and farmers to markets, youth to opportunities, and communities to the heart of the nation.

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    “The Kano–Maiduguri corridor, spanning over 500 kilometres, is crucial to more than 60 million Nigerians across six states. It is a lifeline for trade between Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

    “The Maiduguri Ring Road will enhance urban mobility, decongest traffic, and accelerate the ongoing post-conflict recovery in Borno State. The Kano Northern Bypass is a strategic decongestion route, facilitating trade flows for over 1,000 trailers daily, many bound for the Niger Republic and Chad.

    “Only recently, Mr. President also commissioned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway, the Nembe-Brass Road, and the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin corridor—affirming that no region is left behind in our march toward connectivity and shared prosperity.”

    While saying that infrastructure is crucial for national integration and unity, Kalu cited the World Bank’s finding that every 1% increase in road density reduces rural poverty by 0.2% in low-income countries, underscoring the impact of infrastructure development on poverty reduction.

    “According to the World Bank, every 1% increase in road density reduces rural poverty by as much as 0.2% in low-income countries. Infrastructure is not expenditure, it is investment in dignity, development, and destiny.”

  • Tinubu’s reforms yielded ₦3.42 trillion trade surplus in 2024, says Reps deputy speaker

    Tinubu’s reforms yielded ₦3.42 trillion trade surplus in 2024, says Reps deputy speaker

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the reform efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu increased the nation’s trade surplus to N3.42 trillion ($2.25 billion) in the fourth quarters of 2024, driven by increased exports.

    Kalu, who spoke at the inauguration of over 20,000 new members of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, said that the administration has also unified the FX market, reduced arbitrage, while boosted investor confidence. 

    He commended the President for the Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting significant achievements in economic revitalization, social welfare, security, and national development, adding that agenda is not just a slogan but a comprehensive blueprint for Nigeria’s progress. 

    He said under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria has recorded notable achievements, including a 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024, with annual growth rising to 3.40% in 2024 from 2.74% in 2023.

    Kalu also said that inflation has dropped from 34.6% to 23.71% by May 2025, with food prices declining by over 25% in the first quarter of 2025. 

    He said: “Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has implemented bold reforms and policies that are already reshaping Nigeria’s future. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan; it is a comprehensive blueprint for economic revitalisation, social welfare, security, and national development.

    “The removal of fuel subsidies has freed up resources for critical sectors, resulting in a 50% reduction in petrol importation and a doubling of government revenues to over N9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.

    “The unification of the FX market has reduced arbitrage, increased transparency, and boosted investor confidence. Nigeria’s economy recorded a 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024, with annual growth rising to 3.40% in 2024 from 2.74% in 2023. Through targeted interventions, inflation has dropped from 34.6% to 23.71% by May 2025, with food prices for staples like rice, maize, and sorghum declining by over 25% in the first quarter of 2025. 

    “The launch of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) with over N200 billion in funding is set to bring consumer credit to 50% of Nigeria’s working population by 2030, empowering citizens to access essential goods and services. Nigeria achieved a trade surplus of N3.42 trillion ($2.25 billion) in Q4 2024, driven by increased exports.

    “International agencies Fitch and S&P Global upgraded Nigeria to a Stable B outlook, reflecting growing global confidence in our economy.

    “In infrastructure, over 260 new road projects worth N208 billion have commenced, with major works ongoing on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway. The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund supports these transformative projects. The Renewed Hope City and Estate project also aims to deliver 100,000 housing units nationwide, with special attention to the needs of low and middle-income Nigerian families”, he said.

    Kalu said the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) is a long-awaited initiative that marks a new era of inclusion and progress for the region.

    The Deputy Speaker urged the newly inaugurated Renewed Hope Partners to play a crucial role in sustaining the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda and carrying the message of progress to every community.

    “For the South East, this moment marks the end of a long wait. Nearly 50 years since the civil war, we can now say with pride that the federal government has finally made good on its promise of inclusion. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the South East Development Commission has not only been established but is fully operational, with a confirmed board and leadership at its helm.

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    “Today, as we inaugurate over 20,000 new Renewed Hope Partners, we are empowering a formidable network of grassroots ambassadors. You are the bridge between government and the people, the voice of the Renewed Hope Agenda in every ward, community, and polling unit across Abia State and beyond.

    “Your mandate is clear: deepen grassroots engagement and ensure that the benefits of national reforms are felt in every household; serve as champions of unity, inclusion, and national development; mobilize support for the Renewed Hope vision as we prepare for the future, including the 2027 elections.

    “The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a distant vision; it is here, it is real, and it is now. The progress we celebrate today is born of collective sacrifice, visionary leadership, and the enduring faith of the Nigerian people.

    As we move forward, let us remember that hope is not a wish; it is a decision. 

    “Progress is not an accident; it is the result of unity, resilience, and courage. Our task is not finished, this is just the beginning. So let us go forth together, united in purpose, unwavering in hope, and unyielding in our resolve to build a Nigeria where every dream finds a place, and every citizen shares in the promise of prosperity”, Kalu said. 

  • Reactions to: Taking the wind out of Benjamin Kalu’s indigeneship Bill

    Reactions to: Taking the wind out of Benjamin Kalu’s indigeneship Bill

    Iwrote the above-referenced article, published on these pages Sunday, 4 May, ’25 out of the anxiety that Yorubas may soon find themselves  standing between

     a rock and a hard  place if we do nothing about Igbo’s plan to capture Lagos – TAKE LAGOS, as they describe it –  so they “can lock us up and put us (Yorubas) in jail”.

    Surprised at that?

    Please read my original article to hear the discussion, first hand, and understand the entire macabre plan, in addition to hearing what Igbos actually think of their Yoruba hosts, not only in Lagos but in the entire Yoruba land where many of us would stupidly think nothing of selling ancestral lands to them, to be paid for from monies whose sources they dont know. And that is when they actually don’t tell you that Lagos is a no man’s land.

    Add that scenario to murderous Fulani herdsmen having already completely over ran Southwest  forests and it becomes obvious we cannot afford to stand akimbo,  doing nothing.

    While we were fortunate that the less educated, but abrasive of Igbos exposed their plan via an on- air dialogue, the more coy, like their highest ranking member of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon, freshly minted, Dr Benjamin Kalu, who was more discerning dropped the innocuous Indigeneship Bill on the House of Representatives, presenting it as a bill to unify Nigerians, thus confirming the Yoruba saying that: ‘oro ta ni ki aditi ma gbo, enu were lati ngbo – meaning that secret you are keeping away from the deaf, he will hear from the mad man.

    Hon Kalu should please tell us how many Nigerians( from other parts of the country) are likely to take advantage when his bill becomes Law to become a citizen of any Southeastern state, 10, 20? Compare that to the millions of Igbos in Lagos and other parts of Yorubaland.

    As should be expected the article generated considerable reactions, some of which are published below.

    The first is from a younger, very close friend of mine, whose articles I have severally got published on these pages. He is a distinguished Professor of Igbo extraction.

    He wrote:

    “Good morning dear uncle.

    I have read your well scripted article (as usual) and I find it quite amazing.

    Kindly permit that I make two observations, perhaps three :

    1. The article reminded me of Mien Kampf, one of those great literary works that changed the direction of the world almost a hundred years ago. It’s exceptionalism  still endures.

    2. By my character and upbringing, I do not accept the blanket ascription of the “Igbo’s inexplicable, and totally uncontrolled, desire to own things which belong to others, especially land”.

    It is just not for me.

    3. I had thought that the greatest danger facing southern Nigeria today is the presence of armed Fulanis in many forests across the south, especially the south west. And I have often wondered about their intentions and their mission.

    However, looking at the real and present danger revealed in your article, the Fulani menace pales into insignificance, a child’s picnic more or less.

    This is because a humongous plot by the Igbos to take over Lagos and drive the indigenous population into the lagoon (via an obscure whatsapp group) have been uncovered. May God help us all.

    Dear uncle, I once penned a personal message where I tried to explain a bit of myself to you. I said, among other things, that I see myself as a human being and I see the next person the same way.

    I stand by that, whatever happens, even though many will see me as naive, even foolish. But that is my choice and I am comfortable with it. What’s more, I will keep it that way to the end, irrespective of what happens around me. That is where I derive my peace”.

    The second from the owner of Tel no: 0806 – 78 – 689 reads:

    “If not because of covetousness, I am baffled about why or how you can claim to be an indigene of a place simply because you have lived there for 10 years or because you are married to an  indigene of the place? That is if the person has not changed his/her indigeneship over the years.

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    Both my parents were from Ode-Rẹ́mọ in Ogun State under Rẹ́mọ North Local Government. I was born in Ibadan where I lived for 17 years in different local governments before I moved to Lagos State where I’ve lived for 52 years. In Lagos State, I lived for 12 years in Ajegunle under Ajeromi Local Government. I lived for 5 years in Ijeshatedo. I lived for 17 years in Ejigbo under Oshodi-Isolo Local Government. I now live at Isheri-Oshun under Alimosho Local Government (Ìgandò/Ikotun LCDA) for the past 18 years. Please let the sponsor of the bill tell me which indigene I am and under which local government.

    I am very proud of my ancestral origin. I have no intention of claiming indigeneship of any other place than where I am a native by my parents (with all the ìjẹ̀bú-Rẹ́mọ DNA in me), even as I have not resided there continuously for up to two years at a time. Even as my visits there most of the time were usually short stays. This is what I have filled as my origin in all my documents all my life (National Identity, Census, Driver’s License, Employment form, etc). This is also the case with my children, even as their mother is from a different place from me.

    Why should an Ohafia man from Abia State wish to jettison his ancestral indigeneship for that of Ọ̀jọ́ local government in Lagos State when he is not a bastard of his original place? Is he ashamed of his origin? Or being an intrepid traveller (onyi ije), is he going to be toggling in his claims between all the places he has lived for over ten years in Nigeria? Why do some people like to cause confusion because of inordinate desires?”

    The 3rd, from @Lawrence Ibe,.

    was not sent to me directly but  forwarded to me by one of those I regularly forwarded my articles to.

    It is, however, being published because it is authored by a honest Igbo and patriotic Nigerian.

    It reads as follows:

    “I am a full blooded Igbo man but I believe the Yoruba’s need to rise up and defend their identity, land, and culture. It’s unfortunate to say this but the truth needs to be said by someone. We the Igbo’s can no longer continue to be territorial in another mans land. We go to a place, they welcome us with an open hand, we establish there and prosper and the only way to show appreciation to them is to declare their land a “no man’s land” How is this possible? Every land has indigenes.

    What the Yoruba’s are tolerating even we the Igbo’s will not tolerate in our land.

    Why is it possible I can move to Lagos or any Yoruba land and willfully acquire any choice land at any part of Yoruba land as long as I have the means yet we cannot accord the same opportunity and privilege to Yoruba’s in Igbo land? In my place no matter how much a Yoruba man is willing to buy land, that land will not be sold to him.

     There is a serious need for equity from all sides. The Yoruba’s must be accorded what they accord us. The Yoruba’s must demand what is theirs. In Igbo land, Igbo’s speak with one voice and foreigners cannot Influence things in our land. If we have Eze Igbo in Yoruba land, why then can’t we have Oba of Yoruba in Igbo land?  Yoruba’s must stand up and defend that which is theirs. The liberality of the Yoruba’s must be reciprocated by others.

    You can easily be a house of assembly member in Yoruba land even as an Igbo man or Akwa Ibom person but can we say the same in Igbo land? 

    You people must rise and defend what is yours. Elections in your land cannot continue to be decided by foreigners. It cannot happen in my place, so why would you Yoruba’s allow it? Being too nice is foolishness. Defend what is yours now or forever lose it.”