The founder of Stanbic IBTC and ANAP Foundation, Atedo Peterside has described the Federal Government’s N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj as a setback for the nation’s economy.

Peterside stated this in an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

Recall that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, said the Federal Government subsidised this year’s hajj pilgrimage with N90 billion.

He stated this while flagging off the 2024 inaugural flight of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, the move has a political undertone ahead of the next 2027 general elections.

He said, “This is not about religion but about politics. We are mixing religion and politics.

“So, what do we now expect Christians to do? To say they want their own share of this subsidy?

“How are you going to refuse them? This is all about politics. Perhaps someone feels that ‘it is time for me to score some cheap political points’.

“You now come and send the wrong signal about our economy at a time when our economy is in deep trouble. We need to bring ourselves out of the hole. 

“Each time you turn around and do something insignificant like this (hajj subsidy) and throw away N90 billion, you set back the process by which investors and others can take you seriously.

“For me, it is not just about religion and pilgrimage. It is the setback of the economy by sending the wrong signals. The government should stop sending the wrong signals.”

Forex saga

Speaking on the depreciation of the naira against the dollar, the economist asked President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take steps for the local currency to rebound.

He warned President Tinubu’s administration that hurrying to make the currency gain strength wouldn’t work out.

According to him, the best approach would be for the central bank to stabilise the naira to a level where they can sustain it for some time and gradually build the reserve.

He said, “I will be fair to this government. They inherited the exchange rate problem and what they have been doing is trying to manage it.

“Recently, I would have thought ‘let’s get some stability around N1,300 or N1,400’. Don’t be in a hurry to appreciate the exchange rate.

“Going to sell dollars to bureau de change at N1,000, N1,050; those guys will turn around two weeks later and sell it at N1,400, N1,500. And they will go away laughing. What’s the point of that?

“It’s better to have some stability they can sustain. Keep between N1,300 and N1,400 which looks to be the natural equilibrium band today. Keep it there for a while, and build up your reserve to let confidence come back.

“So stop trying to appreciate the naira in a hurry. It’s not going to work,” he said.

Vanguard News

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has filed an amended four-count charge against Binance Holdings Limited and its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on alleged tax evasion.

FIRS lawyer, Moses Ideho, made this known on Friday before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Ideho informed the court that following the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla from lawful custody, the agency deemed it necessary to amend the charge to properly reflect Anjarwalla’s position in the instant charge, as being at large.

“We apply to substitute our charge dated 22nd of March, 2024 with an amended charge dated 17th of May, 2024.

“We apply that the charge be read to the 1st and 2nd defendants (Binance and Gambaryan) in order to take their plea,” he prayed.

But counsel for Binance, Chukwuka Ikwuazo, SAN, who also appeared for Gambaryan, opposed to Ideho’s application that the fresh charge be read to his clients.

Ikwuazo argued that the charge was just being filed this morning and he was yet to see it in order to consult with his clients so as to prepare for their defence.

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter until May 22 for arraignment.

Earlier, the judge, in a ruling, ordered that the FIRS to serve the company (1st defendant) through Gambaryan (2nd defendant) the charge in the matter.

Justice Nwite held that Gambaryan, being the Binance Chief Financial Compliant Officer, ought to be served with the charge as the company’s representative in Nigeria in accordance with the law.

He discountenanced the argument of Ikwuazo that Gambaryan was neither a director, secretary or chief agent of the crypto-currency firm.

The court had fixed their arraignment for April 4.

However, the arraignment could not proceed due to inability of FIRS to effect service of the charge on the defendants..

The defendants are being charged on a four counts bordering on alleged tax evasion in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024.

In the charge dated and filed March 22 by the FIRS, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence on or about Feb. 1.

Count one alleged that while involved in carrying and offering services to subscribers on their platform, known as Binance, failed to register with the FIRS, for the purpose of paying all relevant taxes administered by the service.

The offences are said to be punishable under Sections 8 and 29 of the VAT Act of 1993 (as Amended), Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007 (as amended) and under provisions of Section 94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended) respectively.

[TheCable]

Agora, a policy think-tank, has advised the federal government to increase funding for public tertiary institutions while implementing the student loan policy.

President Bola Tinubu enacted an initial version of the student loan policy in June 2023 to grant interest-free loans to students.

The scheme was to commence in October 2023 but implementation was repeatedly deferred until a re-enactment in April 2024.

The National Education Loan Fund (NELFund) recently scheduled the opening of the loan application and issuance portal for May 24.

But Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister for youth development and sports, has advised the federal government to rethink the priorities.

Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions currently grapple with perennial strikes occasioned by protests over below-par remuneration, poor infrastructure, and quality assurance issues.

Contributing to the subject matter in Agora’s latest policy paper, Abdullahi said it is not wise to expand access to tertiary institutions through the student loan policy without adequately increasing funding to address subsisting inadequacies.

“Expanding access without expanding funding for the higher institutions undercuts their capacity to deliver quality education,” the policy analyst said.

“Loan or tuition does not substitute for government allocation. But the funding system should be based on per-student costing which should also reflect changes in operating costs on an annual basis.

“Using the per-student costing approach will ensure that our higher institutions have adequate funding to deliver quality education and greater value to the students and the country.”

PAST FAILURE OF STUDENT LOAN SCHEMES

Ghana is reported to be one of the first African countries to introduce a student loan scheme in 1971 and later Kenya in 1974.

Nigeria, in 1972, promulgated Decree No. 25, establishing the Nigerian Students Loans Board (NSLB).

By 1991, the NSLB had awarded loans amounting to about N46 million, of which only N6 million (13 percent) was recovered.

Joseph Chuta, former executive secretary of the board, had said the defaulters exploited “loopholes” in the decree to evade responsibility.

He said the NSLB could not meet administrative obligations as the perception of the loan as “national cake” became a disincentive for repayment.

To address these inadequacies, Decree No. 12 of 1988 was promulgated to decentralise the process of award and loan recovery by establishing zonal offices in Bauchi (north), Akure (west) and Port Harcourt (east) to support the NSLB’s headquarters in Abuja.

Academic institutions were further required to confirm an applicant as a “bona fide student” before loans could be granted, suggesting that non-students had at some point successfully accessed the loan.

The administrative changes yielded little results as no evidence showed the loan scheme functioned any better in recovery, Abdullahi wrote in the Agora paper.

The idea of an education bank was proposed to rid the scheme of undue political influence and give the NSLB a corporate outlook.

However, it is documented that the bank never took off. Administrative, legal, and political hurdles thwarted the student loan scheme.

Abdullahi, a one-time commissioner for education in Kwara state, said there are indications that the proponents of the new student loan scheme may be overlooking past mistakes.

RELIVING THE MISTAKES

He said the avalanche of applications that will ensue for the student loan policy could become challenging to deal with.

“In 1972, there were only six universities in the country, which increased to 27 (federal and state) by 1988, with a total enrolment of 159, 677 students. Yet, it was difficult to manage the number of applications to the student loans board,” Abdullahi said.

“Today, with a total of 91 federal and state universities and enrolment estimated at close to two million.”

The analyst said legal loopholes for defaulting that existed in the 1972 student loan policy still exist in the 2024 version of the policy.

“Section 3(b) allows the board to waive repayment for anyone deemed to be incapacitated. If the borrowers of student loans under the military could view it as a national cake, those borrowing under a democratic regime would also see it as dividends of democracy,” he said.

“When and if the government seeks re-election, the temptation becomes higher for people to treat the loans as political largesse.

“Also, making repayment contingent on employment is the right thing to do. But whether it is the sensible thing to do in a country where graduates are likely to be unemployed even after acquiring additional degrees, is a different question altogether .

“It is difficult to imagine that a university graduate would not find a job in the 1970s. Yet, an overwhelming majority of those who took the loans did not pay them back. This suggests that employment or lack of it is not the main factor in repayment.”

‘WEAKNESSES IN PRESENT STUDENT LOAN SCHEME’

Abdullahi said the student loan policy is still replete with loopholes that open it to abuse at both award and recovery levels.

“These weaknesses should be addressed at the policy implementation level. Making the loan available to everyone potentially disadvantages those who actually need it,” he said.

“Some kind of means-testing instruments need to be developed to ensure that loans are targeted at those who need it most and recovery is also tailored to their realities.

“Student loan is a cost-offsetting instrument. It should therefore be tied to the need to increase funding to higher institutions rather than for merely expanding access.”

Federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have long maintained a tuition-free approach to tertiary education.

Abdullahi said Nigeria must formalise tuition or other fees for public institutions to minimise discretionary charges.

“Loans should be combined with merit and need-based grants to make it more effective and equitable. A deliberate policy of positive discrimination needs to be adopted to reflect the needs of gender, disability and the priorities of the country,” he added.

“The scheme needs to be driven by a robust communication strategy to ensure that those who are culturally averse to loans are not excluded and to drive messages that could aid recovery.”

[TheCable]

Each time some Christians pray against 666 or the mark of the beast, I laugh! If God has said it will happen, it will happen; prayer or no prayer! Otherwise, we make God a liar! The best anyone can do is, read the prophecy with understanding and chart a course for yourself! What can we do to escape it? And in the event that we fail to escape 666, what remedy is there for us to still make good our salvation? Praying that the prophecy shall not come to pass appears to me like if anyone had prayed that the prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah should not come to pass. Trying to abort the occurrence of the mark of the beast will, in my view, be as futile as the efforts of Herod to abort the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of his Messianic assignment.

Tell me, in today’s Nigeria, if the Beast suddenly emerges with a pyramid of bags of rice behind him and piles of Naira notes on his left and right hand side, will Nigerians not throng him to receive the mark so as to get a piece of the action? The rapid advancement of technology also makes it imperative that the coming of the Beast may just be around the corner. Who would have thought it possible, in 1960 when Nigeria got its Independence, that one can send or withdraw money without entering the banking hall? Or that banks without buildings were possible? Today, we can withdraw cash from ATM machines with our fingerprints! How far away are we from 666?

The awesome advancement in technology should convince anyone that anything is possible. We now drive cars that carry no engine and that do not run on petrol or diesel. We have robots that look like humans – unless you were told, you may hardly notice the difference. These robots have an IQ that competes with humans and can perform human activities more efficiently. Ask ChatGPT and such other platforms any question and you will be amazed at the response you get.

I began to ruminate on these a few days ago when I got the information about the formation of a National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners of Nigeria (NAAIP). Formed on April 29, 2024, NAAIP has Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, the immediate past vice-chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as its foundation president. NAAIP’s press statement speaks for itself:

“The National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) was founded… as a high point of the graduation ceremony of 931 participants drawn from the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria, that participated in a 13-week rigorous training on the use of Artificial Intelligence to support teaching, research and community engagement. The NAAIP drew its membership from the graduates of the course as the recognized chartered members of the Association.

“On the 6th of May, 2024, the pioneer executive officers were democratically-elected in a keenly-contested election (and they) will steer the (affairs of the) association toward its mission of advancing AI education and practice across Nigeria… Most of the foundation officers are former or serving Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and other highly-placed officers in the Higher Education sector…”

Ogunbodede, during the ceremony, expressed deep appreciation to the Visioner and founder of NAAIP, Emeritus Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola (OFR), who is also the Facilitator-General of the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE) that conducted the AI course that produced the Charter Members of the Association. He added that the establishment of NAAIP is another testimony to the giant strides taken by Okebukola as he continues to contribute meaningfully, on many fronts, to the development of education globally. Okebukola was a one-time Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Speaking further, Ogunbodede said the use and dominance of AI has become unstoppable. “As it continues to evolve, its effect will shape the future of the global economy and Nigeria has been put at an advantage with the inauguration of NAAIP”. He pledged the support of the Association to the Federal Government in its bid to establish a national strategy and develop a road map to harness the potentials of AI for the overall benefit of the Nigerian society and the economy. He called on the Federal Government to aim at positioning the country as a leading AI hub on the continent of Africa.

“NAAIP will support the Federal Government in its noble objectives and will also support researchers, educators, developers and AI enthusiasts to collectively provide quality service that will increase production and productivity of governance in all sectors of the economy”, he said, adding, however, that “as promising as AI technologies are, with its myriad strengths and opportunities, it has weaknesses and threats (and) to ameliorate these negative attributes, NAAIP will promote the ethical practice of AI and ensure its responsible use in our society”

NAAIP, he said, would promote advocacy and policy development to shape regulations and guidelines that promote the responsible and equitable use of AI, support research on AI matters, and strengthen education at all levels in the country. It will also enhance the provision of educational resources to accelerate understanding of AI technologies and their impact on the society; develop ethical frameworks and best practices to guide the development and deployment of AI systems in a manner that prioritizes safety, fairness, transparency, and accountability, collaboration and networking among AI professionals, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to foster innovation and knowledge exchange.

My interest was further aroused when the NAAIP press statement by its publicity secretary, Professor Nkechinyere Nwokoye, hinted that membership was open to individuals, organizations, and institutions “committed to advancing the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies”. He listed the benefits to members to include continuous capacity development, networking opportunities and access to educational resources. The Association will work hand-in-hand with the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE) for its training programmes; it will also engage in National and International collaborations with organizations having similar aims and objectives.

I feel a compelling need for a wider section of the Nigerian literate community to be aware of the formation of NAAIP and the limitless opportunities of AI now brought to our doorsteps. Reading a portion of the press statement where Okebukola was quoted as describing the establishment of NAAIP “as another veritable evidence that Nigeria is the leading country in Africa in terms of educational development”, I paused and took a deep breath! Describing NAAIP as “a veritable vehicle that WOULD help make Nigeria the leading country in Africa (and beyond) in terms of educational development” is a more believable proposition!

A video somehow caught my attention two nights ago. The video in which a lady speaks eloquently and with undoubted grasp of the subject cannot be timelier. The subject is diabetes. It is a disease ravaging our world today. Centuries-old researches to eradicate it have not gone beyond the borders of relief, albeit commendable, though. Eradication or total cure seems farfetched as things stand now. I want to believe I can take Professor Oyeku Oyelami’s generous liberty to be a pretender to the throne by making copious references to his book on this all-important matter. Come to think of it, this column attempted to delve into the subject in these pages 32 years ago. At the time, it was already afflicting mankind, and was a sufficient cause for worry. It was not at the alarming rate and spread of these times.

As the lady states in the very instructive presentation, “Diabetes is a fairly modern disease. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease.” She reminds the world: “Hypocrites, the father of medicine made no mention of diabetes in his writings. Quoting Newton’s Law of Motion, she says: “Newton’s third Law of Motion states that to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” She speaks about the place of pancreases in our body system. “Why is it the pancreases are not working? That is the question we should be asking. One of its main roles is to release two hormones—one is insulin bringing down sugar level and the other glucagon which gets the sugar level supply up.” With the two working in harmonious hormonal collaboration, the sugar level is regulated. Generous protein, legumes and grains give the guarantee of protection after necessary processes.

Professor Oyelami of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, who has done an extensive study on the disease, states in his book, ‘A Clinician’s Experience With Herbs That Heal’: “It is estimated that about four million Nigerians may be suffering from the disease; and given the increasing Westernized lifestyle, the number is bound to rise. More than two million people in the UK have the condition, and up to 750,000 are believed to have it without realizing that they do. More than three-quarters of people with diabetes have what is called Type2 diabetes mellitus. This used to be known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity onset diabetes mellitus. The others have Type 1 diabetes mellitus which used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The difference is that in Type 1, the body is unable to produce any insulin. This usually starts in childhood or young adulthood. It is treated with diet control and insulin injections. In Type2, not enough insulin is produced or the insulin that is made by the body doesn’t work properly. This tends to affect people as they get older, and usually appears after the age of 40.

“Under normal circumstances, the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas, carefully regulates how much glucose is in the blood. Insulin stimulates cells to absorb enough glucose from the blood for the energy or fuel that they need. It also stimulates the liver to absorb and store any glucose that is left over. After taking food, the amount of blood glucose rises and this triggers the release of insulin. When the glucose level falls, for example during exercise, insulin levels fall, too. Another hormone manufactured by pancreas is glucagon. It stimulates the liver to release glucose when it is needed and this increases the level of glucose in the blood.”

The lady in the video goes to list as scientists are wont to do foods we should avoid such as refined grains, refined sugar, pasta, pizza, cakes, indeed also bread, foods that come under the umbrella of carbohydrates. These are what are predominant in the modern-day menu. In 1992 when this column delved into the subject, it drew attention to the warning of diabetics that Nigerians should soft-pedal on soft drinks thought at the time to be the main sources of refined sugar that is consumed.

As nothing has changed and indeed, the modern lifestyle that is the trigger, has gone worse, I have decided to point to the column again part of which  reads as follows, breaking it down to ordinary day language: “Diabetics, like soft drinks, today hardly requires any introduction. They are people whose bodies are unable to dispose of sugar in their blood. When the sugar becomes too much for their bodies to bear, they collapse and may even die. So, to prevent that, diabetics must inject themselves everyday with insulin which burns off the sugar but which their bodies, through disease, either can no longer produce or, when it does produce it, cannot pump into the blood stream at all or in an adequate measure or quantity. A daily routine of insulin injection is not funny; it is certainly not a life to joyfully look forward to. Not with those painful needle sores all over the body and that inevitable new prick at the sight of an old festering sore. It can cost a lot of money, too, stockpiling insulin injections against the rainy day, the day of shortages and price hikes. And unending test appointments, blood tests, sugar level tests and hypertension examination. Much money is tied down that could have been spent more beneficially, more so in these days when money has lost its reputation, and pull as hard as you may, the ends, as if by conspiracy, just refuse to meet. Perhaps the worst psychological torment for the diabetic is when he just cannot find insulin injection to buy, or it is beyond his reach, and friends and relations long overburdened, begin to keep safe distance.

It is the wish of the Nigerian diabetics that other people don’t go through their experiences which makes them deserve our gratitude, also for their timely warning as the Lagos wing of the Nigerian Diabetic Association. The same cannot be said of the Nigerian doctor of the mid-70s who appeared to look the other way when the Lagos water supply system was overrun by sea water and, for months, Lagos public water supply was heavily saline. The glass of tap of water then tasted so saline that hardly could it taste clean even after boiling and then cooling or cotton fabric filtration. Consequently, those dependent on public water supply looked for borehole water or took recourse to soft drinks. Many travelled in their cars beyond Lagos to the outskirts, neighbouring communities and towns to fetch water. At the time, soft drink market was booming and the argument of salesmen to those who were ill-at-ease and therefore tried to hold themselves in check was that all carbohydrate foods end up in the body as sugar. It was argued that there is sugar in orange, banana, pineapple, rice, gari, in fact, in any starchy food and that whoever would have diabetes cannot blame sugar for it. It must be enheartening, indeed, that research is being scaled up to determine where the verity lies for believers that sugar is an agent of diabetes or the doubting Thomases who say sugar, natural or denatured can kill or cause diabetes, howbeit  under certain circumstances.

If we may give the floor to Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, authors of Fit for Life: From their research, “Over two hundred million soft drinks are consumed in this country (US) each year. Actually, they are anything but soft on your body, except for your teeth. Dr. Clive McKay of Cornell University showed that soft drinks can completely erode enamel and make teeth as soft as much within two days (as described in “The Poisoned Needle by Eleanor McBean). The ingredient that is the culprit here is a horrific concoction called phosphoric acid. These drinks also contain malic acid, carbonic acid and crythorbic acid among other things. The malic and citric acids to be found naturally in fruits and vegetables are of a nature that turns alkaline in the system. The ones to be found in soft drinks, Dr. McKay claims, remain acid because they are fractionated and usually extracted with heat. Your pH balance can be thrown into turmoil just by reading the label of a soft drink! There are other harmful ingredients in these drinks as well, plus refined white sugar about five teaspoons per eight-ounce serving. The only difference between regular and diet sodas is that instead of sugar, a substitute is used, so harmful that each container has to have a warning on the label just like cigarettes. Plus most sodas have as the old nemesis, caffeine. Some of the additives used are coal-tar derivatives, another carcinogen. When soft drinks are taken with food, it leads to fermentation instead of good digestion. Aside from tricking the body into thinking they taste good, there are no benefits.

The caffeine should be reason enough not to give the beverage to children. It is increasing that most parents won’t allow their children to drink coffee, but they condone caffeinated soft drinks. You may be wondering why caffeine is added to these drinks. According to Dr. Royal Lee of Foundation for Nutritional Research, Cola is loaded with habit forming caffeine so that once the victim becomes accustomed to the stimulant; he cannot very well get along without it. There is only one reason for putting caffeine in soft drink to make it habit forming.’

The researchers say If you can cut down on this non-nutritious, empty calorie conglomeration of acids and cancer causing chemicals , by all means do. There are many carbonated waters that although not ideal (because of high salt content and inorganic minerals) are far better.

“In the process of refining sugar, every vestige of life and nutrient is stripped from it. All the fibre, vitamins, minerals, everything is virtually removed, leaving only a deadly remnant. Sugar makes people fat because it supplies only empty, low calories and excessive carbohydrates that are converted to fat. This causes a person to over-eat to obtain needed nutrients.”

The manufacturers have shot back saying a meta-analysis has showed no link between soft drinks and other sweetened, sugary beverages and cancer as well as diabetes. A school of thought believes that they must have their own laboratory to determine what amount of ingredients goes into what. Also drinking must be done in moderation, anything taken in excess is harmful. The manufacturers have a boost, according to Reuters, from U.S. regulators that have said soft drinks from PepsiCo Inc and Coca-Cola Co posed no health risks. Consumers, themselves have said the soft drinks they buy are safe.

Typical of matters of this nature, the other party is saying that sugary soft drinks contain no vitamins, minerals or fibre and regular soda is full of calories. It shows that counter standpoint does not go away and it is that people who consume sugary drinks –one, two cans a day or more – have a 26 per cent greater risk of developing Type2 diabetes than people who rarely have such drinks. Harvey and Merilyn Diamond can go on and on. So can other researchers. One research finding has even linked sugar with hypertension. Another implicates it in dementia or loss of memory. In the case of dementia, the argument is that sugar does not contain thiamine or vitamin B1. Carbohydrates or starchy foods become glucose in the body. And glucose is the main food of the brain. But it cannot be useful in the absence of thiamine. When added with processed sugar as in soft drinks, the body borrows from its reserves kept in the muscles or the heart. These weaken the organs over time. When it becomes dangerous to borrow, the body stops borrowing and stops using glucose, as in the case of the brain. In this situation, the brain becomes malnourished in the midst of plenty, loses its vitality and may even die. Thus victims lose memory altogether, and forget how to do certain things, especially as muscle co-ordination may have been impaired.

The bottom line of the message of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria unarguably is: “Let’s be natural.” Therein lie health and greatness. Out of Nature has the human body emerged. And out of Nature has the nourishment it requires come. Nature gives the body the nourishment homogenous with its make-up not only in component texture but in healthy balance as well. Man disarranges the texture and balance of nutrients. As the Revised edition Chambers 21st Century Dictionary puts it: Being natural means “relating to Nature, or parts of the physical world not made or altered by man.”But the earlier edition, 20th Century Chambers Dictionary, puts it, in my view, more comprehensively and better: Being natural means “pertaining to, produced by, or according to Nature, not miraculous; not the work of man; not interfered with by man.”

ABIODUN’S LAME EXCUSE

The deplorable state of the road linking Abeokuta township with Wole Soyinka Train Station was brought to the attention of Ogun State Government last year. The road is said to connect about 40 committees, among them Idi-Aba renowned for its age-long educational institution and not too long ago, playing host to Federal Medical Centre, as their main link to the railway station.

From the 20s, with the peak in the 50s and 60s, owned by the Baptist Mission, Idi-Aba founded in 1910, provided secondary school opportunity to girls. The State Government is aware of the horrible and shameful condition of the road and the law-abiding governor, His Excellency, the one and only Prince, not wanting to gate-crash into a property that is not his, and incur the wrath of the Villa in Abuja, asked for permission to fix the road. He has just gotten the nod to go ahead fixing Lagos-Ojokoro- Sango Otta, Ifo- Ewekoro-Abeokuta two-carriage Road –an exceedingly strategic road, economically, politically, historically and socially. It is the main road linking Lagos with Abeokuta. But it was allowed to degenerate into hell of a road.

The importance of the road is hinted at by the mere linking of iconic Professor Wole Soyinka, a citizen of the universe, to the train station. The Federal Government named the train station in Wole Soyinka’s name. It ought not be a case of a prophet that is without honour among his own people. Here is also an axis that promises to be booming economically. It will awaken entrepreneurship instinct inherent in Ogun State people and bring prosperity to the state capital and by extension to the state once it gets the necessary infrastructure.

The State Government says of the road in its official post: “This is a matter close to our hearts. Enhancing this route holds promise of rendering train travel more enjoyable. Yet we tread cautiously, refraining from vocalizing our concerns, lest it be misconstrued as making excuses. Debates ensue, tangled in bureaucratic intricacies, as this particular stretch, albeit short, falls under the purview of the Federal Government, responsible for its upkeep. To embark on reconstruction, the state government requires permission from the Minister. However, obtaining such authorization proves a sluggish ordeal, hindered by bureaucratic inertia. It is note-worthy that the station complex was conceptualized to coincide with the development of its surrounding arteries, an integral part of the overarching scheme.”

Methinks that once there is foot dragging in receiving approval, all the state government need do is to notify the Minister in writing that further to the government request on the road project, you would like to go ahead with it waving the cover of anticipatory approval. The reconstruction is urgent.

I wonder if it is being suggested that if the state government had embarked on fixing the road, Bola Tinubu was going to dispatch Kayode Egbetokun, the IG accompanied by fierce-looking men, armed to the teeth, to halt the work and bring the insolent Dapo Abiodun, the Governor to Abuja for discipline! It is a lame excuse.

t is a lame excuse, Your Excellency, with due respect.

Let us be categorical from the outset. There is no constitutional or statutory significance to the first 100 days of a governor or president’s term, which, nevertheless, seems to have become a tradition. In fact, the origins of the concept is hazy and its import remains a subject of debate.

Some historians trace its origins to the second reign of French Emperor Napoleon I, beginning on March 20, 1815, when he retook his throne after his exile to Elba. However, that triumphant return ended July 8, 1815, when King Louis XVIII was restored to the French throne, a total of 110 days. Within five days of Napoleon’s return, the European powers at the Congress of Vienna declared him an outlaw and committed to increasing military troops on the ground in order to end his rule once and for all, a decision that led to a series of battles fought between the French Army of the North and the Anglo-Allied and Prussian armies, which culminated in the decisive Battle of Waterloo (June 15 – July 8, 1815) and the ultimate vanquishing of Napoleon.

The phrase les Cent Jours (the hundred days) was said to have been first used by the prefect of Paris, Gaspard comte de Chabrol, in his speech welcoming King Louis XVIII back to Paris on July 8, 1815.

But like most political concepts, the idea was popularised with the coming to power of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fact, in the first 144 years of America’s democracy, no one made a big deal about the 100-day mark. But elected in the heat of the Great Depression and inaugurated on March 4, 1933, Roosevelt in his first 100 days in office took breathtaking actions, both legislative and regulatory, that Americans hailed as setting the governance bar very high.

For instance, it is on record that in those 100 days, his administration unfurled its New Deal agenda by declaring a bank holiday which stopped the disastrous run on the U.S. banks, took America off the gold standard, passed groundbreaking legislation for farmers, homeowners and the unemployed and also passed amendments to the hated Volstead Act which had created prohibition – actions promoting economic recovery and putting Americans back to work through federal activism in the face of the severe global economic downturn that affected many countries across the world.

So, while the concept is an artificial milestone with lots of attention but no significance in some quarters, it has increasingly become popular since the FDR era and in many countries, including Nigeria, it has become a standard fare to do leadership assessment after 100 days in office.

While one school of thought believes that 100 days is too short a time to gauge the performance of a governor or president who has four years – 1461 days – as it is the case for instance in Nigeria, to stay in office, those who believe in the old saying that morning shows the day aver that the first 100 days in office could actually be a pointer as to which direction an administration is headed.

So, while 100 days may be a short time to make an assessment, yet, to any chief executive who prepared to hit the ground running, it is enough time to make a loud statement. Abia State governor Dr. Alex Otti has validated that point with his performance in 100 days and beyond. Emeka Ihedioha also made the point in Imo State with his stellar performance before the Supreme Court threw a spanner in the works.

So when Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, did a self-appraisal of his stewardship in 100 days, that ordinarily shouldn’t have raised any eyebrows.

But it did.

Why? If anyone is still in doubt whether the quality of leadership in Nigeria has gone to the dogs, Ododo’s self-appraisal erases such doubt. It is a proof that the country is in dire leadership straits.

Ododo was sworn in as governor on January 27, 2024 after winning the November 2023 offseason Kogi State governorship poll and on May 5, 2024, he clocked 100 days in the office.

To commemorate the milestone, the 42-year-old governor in a flyer shared across his social media handles, with a banal caption: “We will continue to do more for the good people of Kogi State. God Bless Kogi State. God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” listed meeting with Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA, as his star achievement in his first 100 days in office.

Those who think that was ridiculous may have cause to change their minds after reading what amounted to a drivel, because the achievements’ which are in five major categories – governance, agriculture, education, health care, and general information – also included a reception organised for him in Okene, his home town, participation in the meeting of Progressive Governors Forum in Abuja, first courtesy visit by Ife-Olukotun Community in Yagba East Local Government Area, and participation in a joint meeting of the governors of Kogi, Ondo and Taraba with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.

Now, how on earth could these perfunctory duties be termed as achievements? What manner of low self-esteem would make an elected governor consider a meeting with an appointee of the president a privilege? That is sheer neurosis because even a meeting with the president cannot be considered an achievement for a governor. In the same vein, how can his participation in a meeting of fellow governors be celebrated as a big achievement in his first 100 days in office? To say the least, Ododo’s self-advertised achievements is a scandal. It is a sign of low self-esteem for someone to consider a parley with peers an achievement worth celebrating and every well-meaning indigene of Kogi State should be worried.

Aside being mortified by such pedestrian outing in the name of celebrating a non-existent milestone, the question that should concentrate their minds is: What kind of transformative vision can a governor who records first courtesy visit of a community as an achievement have for their state?

But is anyone surprised? How did Ododo become governor? His political ascendancy speaks to the faulty leadership recruitment process that has bedeviled the country since 1999. Ours is a democracy where power does not belong to the people. Ododo is Kogi State governor today because his predecessor, the fugitive Yahaya Bello, wanted him to be, the same way the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike made Sim Fubara governor of Rivers State.

The faulty recruitment process is responsible for the gross delinquency we are celebrating in the name of governance across the country.

But there are more pertinent questions. Where are the Nigerian people in all this mess? Why are the people still cutting these misfits in positions of authority some slacks? Why are there no popular revolts against the prevalent idiocy in high places?

Sadly, this is a country that used to have leaders as Dr. Michael Okpara, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Dennis Osadebey as regional premiers. Even in the Second Republic, we had governors like Sam Mbakwe, Jim Nwobodo, Balarabe Musa, Abubakar Rimi, Lateef Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo, Michael Ajasin, etc. Can anyone imagine any of these great statesmen and tested leaders listing a meeting with President Shehu Shagari’s NSA as achievement?

While it is true that 100 days may not be long enough time to appreciably evaluate the capacity of a governor or president and while it is also true that some leaders are slow starters who end up finding their rhythm with time, the truth is that any governor who consciously listed those frivolities as achievements and who believes same to be true as Ododo obviously does, will end up a spectacular failure. Ododo, without any iota of doubt, will prove that truism four years hence.

Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights attorney, emphasized yesterday that the police and other security services are powerless to detain, arrest, and bring charges against Nigerians for cyberstalking.

Falana noted that the ECOWAS Court of the Economic Community of West African States had ruled that Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 was unlawful. Falana urged for the withdrawal of all ongoing cases pertaining to this section of the act.

He said that the Federal Government had also been ordered by the ECOWAS court to change the clause in order to comply with Nigerians’ right to free speech.

“It has become illegal to arrest journalists for cyberstalking, insult, causing annoyance, offensive message, and criminal intimidation,” the rights activist stated in a statement.

“Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 had criminalised ‘cyberstalking’, ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’ ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’. Specifically, section 24 provided as follows: (a) Any person who, knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter using computer systems or network that (a) is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or (b) He knows to be false for causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7million or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“However, in the cases of Laws and Rights Awareness Initiative (Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/53/18) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (Suit Laws and Rights Awareness Initiative (Suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/09/19), the Ecowas Court declared section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 illegal and directed the federal government to amend the section to make the law conform with the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens to freedom of expression guaranteed by section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“In line with both judgments of the Ecowas Court, the Government of Nigeria has repealed section 24 by removing the provisions relating to ‘cyber stalking’, ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’ from the Cybercrime Act 2015 and replaced same with Section 5 of the Cybercrime Amendment Act which provides as follows: Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter using computer systems.

[OpinionNigeria]

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has recently disclosed the distribution of N1.208 trillion to different government tiers for the month of May 2024.

This allocation, derived from several revenue streams such as statutory allocations, Value Added Tax (VAT), and Electronic Money Transfer Levies (EMTL), originates from the revenues collected in April 2024.

This latest disbursement marks an approximate 8% increase from the N1.123 trillion allocated in the previous month, signaling a modest but notable rise in government revenue flows.

According to a statement from the Office of the Accountant General signed by its Director (Press and Public Relations), Bawa Mokwa, the figure was disclosed in a communiqué issued by FAAC after the May 2024 meeting. 

The N1.208 trillion total distributable revenue consisted of N284.716 billion distributable statutory revenue, N466.457 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, N18.024 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue, and N438.884 billion Exchange Difference revenue.  

About 55% of revenue made was shared among three tiers of government 

The total revenue available for April 2024 was N2.192 trillion. After deducting N80.517 billion for the cost of collection and N903.479 billion for transfers, interventions, and refunds, the remaining amount was distributed among the three tiers of government. Approximately 55% of revenue made in April was shared among the three tiers of government by May 2024. 

• From the N1.208 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received N390.412 billion, the state governments received N403.403 billion, and the local government councils received N293.816 billion. 
• Additionally, N120.450 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was allocated to the oil-producing states as derivation revenue. 

Revenue Details and Distribution 

• The gross statutory revenue for April 2024 was N1.233 trillion, an increase of N216.282 billion compared to the N1.017 trillion received in March 2024 
• However, the gross revenue from VAT decreased to N500.920 billion in April 2024, down by N48.778 billion from March 2024’s N549.698 billion. The Federal Government received N69.969 billion, the state governments received N233.229 billion, and the local government councils received N163.260 billion from the N466.457 billion distributable VAT revenue. 
• For the N284.716 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N112.148 billion, the state governments received N56.883 billion, and the local government councils were given N43.855 billion. From this, N71.830 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared among the oil-producing states as derivation revenue. 
• The N18.024 billion EMTL was allocated with N2.704 billion to the Federal Government, N9.012 billion to the state governments, and N6.308 billion to the local government councils. 
• From the N438.884 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received N205.591 billion, the state governments received N104.279 billion, and the local government councils received N80.394 billion. An additional N48.620 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was allocated to the oil-producing states. 

The communiqué highlighted significant increases in oil and gas royalties, companies income tax (CIT), excise duty, petroleum profit tax (PPT), electronic money transfer Levy (EMTL), and CET Levies for April 2024. Conversely, import duty and VAT recorded notable decreases. 

The Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance stood at $473,754.57 as of the end of April 2024. 

[Nairametrics]

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has temporarily suspended new licence issuance to operators in three categories.

Naija News reports that the NCC made this known on Friday in a statement via its X handle, signed by the Director of the Public Affairs Department, Nigerian Communications Commission, Reuben Muoka.

The categories suspended include Mobile Virtual Network Operator Licence, Interconnect Exchange Licence and Value Added Service Aggregator Licence.

The NCC said the suspension is in accordance with its powers under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to grant and renew licenses and promote fair competition.

The commission noted that the temporary suspension is to enable a thorough review of several key areas of market saturation, competition level and current market dynamics.

However, it noted that the new directive does not affect pending applications, which would be considered based on merit.

The statement titled “Temporary Suspension Of The Issuance Of Communications Licences In Three Categories” read,

“In line with its powers under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to grant and renew licenses, promote fair competition and develop the Communications Industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (The Commissions) hereby informs all stakeholders of a temporary suspension on issuance of new licenses in the following categories, Interconnect Exchange License, Mobile Virtual Network Operator License and Value Added Service Aggregator License.

“This temporary suspension is necessary to enable the commission to Commissionthorough review of several key areas within these categories, including the current level of competition, market saturation and current market dynamics.

“The public is invited to note that during the suspension period commencing on 17th of May, 2024, new applications for the aforementioned licenses will not be accepted. This is without prejudice to pending applications before the Commission whiCommission considered on its merits.

“Any enquiries of clarification in respect of this Suspension Notice should be forwarded to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”

[NaijaNews]

House of Representatives has urged the federal government to suspend the introduction of new Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops in the country, pending the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation by its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara) at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Shagaya noted that genetically modified crops, commonly known as GM Crops, are plants used for agricultural purposes whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering methods.

The lawmaker said that the recent introduction of genetically modified crops in Nigeria has raised concerns and questions about safety.

He said concerns have also been raised on regulatory oversight and the potential impact on the country’s biosafety and ecosystem following the introduction of GMOs.

“Aware that genetically modified foods can be created to contain almost anything, including genes which have higher levels of toxicity and negative long-term effects on human health.

“Introducing these crops has led to public outcries, with serious concerns about the potential risks these GM crops may pose to human health, environmental degradation, and food security.

“The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has been accused of approving the introduction of GM crops into Nigeria without following due process and scientific protocols.

“Concerned that these GM crops are being introduced into Nigeria at a time when the said crops have been banned in several countries like France, Russia, Germany, China, India, and a host of other countries in Europe due to safety concerns,” he said.

According to him, the introduction of genetically modified crops could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s food security and could potentially transfer control to foreign biotechnology companies which are primarily driven by profit and cost reduction.

He said that GMO crops’ long-term impact on human health remains uncertain, prompting precautionary measures due to potential health risks including cancer, antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions, and reproductive issues.

Shagaya said there is a need to prioritise public health, biodiversity, and traditional farming practices due to uncertainties surrounding the long-term impact of GMOs on health, the environment, and food security.

The green chambers urge the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to cause the already introduced GM foods and crops in Nigeria to be properly labeled to safeguard consumers.

In his ruling, the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu mandated the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the introduction of GMOs by NBMA.

The deputy speaker mandated the committee to assess the potential health and environmental risks associated with genetically modified crops and report back within four weeks and mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

 [Leadership]