Month: November 2021

By Abdullahi Adamu

Rape is dishonourable, immoral and sinful to humans and must be outrightly condemned by all. Everyone has a woman in their life – mother, wife, sister, niece, or daughter. We should understand that rape is a crime to the existence of humans and must be kicked out of this nation now.

It is dishonourable because it takes away the victim’s pride that has been raped and her skin engraved in a deep wound that may take years to heal.

It is immoral because society frowns at it as it goes against the general acceptable way and conduct in any given community. It is also sinful because it goes against the dictates of the creator and amount to stealing from the other person, the victim.

We have heard the government of Nigeria speak against it but with no pragmatic line of action. Instead, we have seen the hand of the law taking a long but slow road to this issue.

One of the challenges of rape is the low level of prosecution despite the high number of media-reported cases. As a result, some victims agree to ‘settle the matter’ with the active connivance or encouragement of law enforcers. Although the Penal Code of Nigeria (Section 282), the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (Section 258), and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (Section 1) all present rape as a serious offence.

One unconfirmed report states that there have been only eighteen convictions in Nigeria! Most rape cases are never reported. Even some ladies find it difficult or impossible to tell their parents or guardian

Government should declare a national crisis on rape. Women and children safety must be paramount across Nigeria. The security agents should wake up and take a necessary measure on the issue of rape in the country and stop keeping mute like a  dog that cannot bark.

As a woman, you need to take it upon yourself to resist the societal attempt to objectify yourself. Your “womanness” is not by how good you conform to the stupid societal standard of you being an object. You’re a woman, and that alone validates your “womanness”

And as a man, you need to understand that the idea of being “a dog who respects no fair play in the game” only puts you on the same pedestal as animals. Your real trophy will come from the number of women you choose to treat strictly as “women” and not “objects” like society implores you to do. You’re a man, not a dog!

Rapists are criminals and should be prosecuted and convicted. Victims identities should be protected. Known rapists should be named and tagged. A special anti-rape police unit should be created in the Nigeria Police dominated by trained women.

Abdullahi Adamu can be reached via nasabooyoyo@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Nigerian government has directed federal civil servants from Grade Level 12 and below to resume full duties on Wednesday December 1, 2021.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, gave the directive in a circular on Friday in Abuja. Dr. Yemi-Esan, further said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the vaccine mandate policy to all Federal Government employees.

The new development follows a recommendation by the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, urging workers to resume full working hours and days.

Thursday, November 25th, 2021, former Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar turns 75 years old.

An opportunity to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee is a rare gift from the Almighty Allah- few humans celebrate it in good health with vigor and in a privileged status in the society. Atiku is one of the blessed Nigerians in that regard.

Atiku is a true democrat and a true Nigerian, a leader in the North, a shining example from the Northeast, and the beloved son of Adamawa state- Adamawa people and Jimeta-Yola citizens, in particular, are appreciating the Waziri Adamawa for bringing more development to Adamawa state. We appreciate Atiku for bringing productive employment to Adamawa youths and stimulating the local economy- Faro bottling company, American University of Nigeria (AUN), ABTI Printing and Publishing, Rigo Gado Farms, Gotel TV and Radio, AUN Hotels, Standard Micro Finance Bank, the Woven Sack Plant and Shrink Laminate Plant of the Prim Group, Chicken Cottage and the foundation for the less privilege in the society including several philanthropic ventures

At 75, Atiku’s politics, energy and synergy are waxing stronger- he is the candidate to beat for the PDP 2023 Presidential Ticket- so far, it appears, like 2019; 2023 PDP presidential ticket is Atiku’s. Love or hate him, Atiku has an immense war chest and enjoys a vast political network and connections nationwide. Atiku is adventurous in politics, a lover of democracy and a promoter of new ideas for the development of human capital

One salient thing about Atiku’s 75th birthday is, so many individuals from Atiku’s immediate constituency, the North and Adamawa state are celebrating with him, this is showing how more and more people are supporting Atiku

Happy Birthday, Waziri Adamawa

Musa Garba, President Madugu Group of Companies, wrote from Yola, Adamawa state

By Muhammad Sabiu

A National Youth Service Corps Member by the name Sani Umar Yakubu has on Thursday 25th November 2021, or in fulfillment of his community development service commissioned renovated twin toilet facility in Community High School Afaha Obong, Abak Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

While commissioning the renovated toilets, Umar who hails from Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, said the facility represents his contribution to fight against open defecation, citing the United Nations Statistics of over 47 million individuals practicing Open defecation in the country.

He added that the gesture follows a successful sensitizations to about five schools namely: Government Technical College, Abak, Comprehensive Secondary School, Ediene; St. Mary’s Practicing School, Holy Family Secondary Schools, Church of Jesus Christ Atai Otoro, market etc on the negative implications of open defecation.

The corps member, who encourage other corps members to embark on similar project, said that it will ensure development of their host community for legacy during the service year and that the project was executed with support from his sponsors Engr. Inyeneowo Umanah of Lean On ME Nigeria and Muritala Mujjib, a business man in Abak market also commended the support of Elder Umah T. Udiong, principal Community High School Afaha Obong.

While commending the effort, the principal community high school Afaha Obong Elder Umah T. Udiong appreciated the corps member on the project, noting that their students will make adequate use of the facility and ensure cleanliness. “This project comes at a time that I was under pressure to provide a good toilet facility, most especially to the staff of the school.

“When the project manager walked into my office to indicate his interest to renovate the toilet facility, the joy inside me knew no bunds. I still do not understand why he chose this school for this project, given that this is not his place of primary assignment but one thing I know is that God works in a mysterious way”, he said.

The Honorable Commissioner for Education Akwa Ibom State Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet who was represented by Dr Aniete Ikot commended the corps member for his staginess and passion to the service for his fatherland stating that if every corps member is determined to execute a project that will impact their host community positively, the entire country will be a better place.

Kaduna state government announced its decision to restore telecommunication networks in some parts of the state which were cut off due to insurgency. It can be recalled that due to the current security threats faced by many Northern states, the Kaduna state government decided to cut off the telecommunications operations in some areas of the state on the 30th of September.

In a press briefing by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna, announced the restoration of telecommunication network services. Below is the full excerpt:

“My dear colleagues:

I am here to inform you that the Kaduna State Government has contacted the relevant federal agencies to effect the immediate restoration of telecommunication services which were suspended in some local government areas.

Security agencies had requested the shutdown in October 2021, among other measures, to assist ongoing operations against armed bandits and other criminals. The security agencies have now notified the government that telecoms services can be restored.

Along with the other measures in the security containment order, the telecoms shutdown had helped the security agencies to achieve some results, which the security forces will reel out soon. The prolonged application of this measure was always out of the question, due to its impact on the legitimate activities of citizens and businesses.

Residents are advised that the restoration of full services in the affected areas may unfold over a few days, as the service providers mobilise to power and boost their transmission systems accordingly.

The Kaduna State Government regrets the inconveniences residents of the affected LGAs may have encountered as a result of the shutdown. The state government wishes to commend the sacrifices made by residents while this temporary measure lasted.

Notwithstanding, the government wishes to reiterate that the other measures announced as part of the security containment orders remain in force. These include the prohibition of motorcycles all over the state, the ban on weekly markets, transportation of cattle, and the prohibition of sale of fuel in jerrycans in specified local government areas.

Thank you for your kind attention.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

A lecturer with Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Ibrahim Bello Kano (aka IBK), has described the Nigerian universities as entirely unsuccessful and unproductive, adding that both the lecturers and students are good plagiarists who solely depend on online resources.

Prof. IBK raised this argument on November 25, 2021, at the 3rd Social Sciences Public Lecture organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Bayero University, Kano.

However, the lecture generated responses, which eventually led to a debate among the audience. While some of the audience members agreed with Prof. IBK, others disagreed with him.

In response to the debate, IBK lamented, “Some professors never bother to read new information in their declared research field of interest. Only very few among our colleagues keep their head above the stagnant academic pool.”

He added that in Nigerian universities, some lecturers give lectures to the students, who pretend to take down notes. “When it is time for class tests, the assignment or examination, the students migrate en mass to online searches for relevant information,” he stated.

IBK, who seemed to have been speaking from his heart, described how sad he feels seeing lecturers and students openly plagiarising online academic materials.

“Students openly plagiarized online academic materials and pass them off as their own hard, independent research. Some of the lecturers are in relatively the same situation.” He lamented.

The lecture had many influential personalities both within and outside the university in attendance. Some of them included: The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, represented by Dr Musa Auyo; Prof. Abdullah Uba Adam, former Vice-Chancellor, National Open University, Prof Ahmad M. Tsauni, among many others.

I support the removal of fuel subsidy with conditions attached for the government. I have known that fuel subsidy is giving corruption a legal garb. But IMF didn’t tell government the whole truth. For government that cares for its people, removing fuel subsidy should only be done after the following conditions are taken care of:

1- Repair the refineries. As long as the refineries are working, petrol will come at reasonable price to Nigerians. The transport, NPA, custom duty and throughput components of the price will be taken care of.

2- Stop importation of petrol- fuel subsidy is not the only way government wastes money. Fuel importation in the most corrupt and wasteful venture of the government. As at June 2021, Nigeria spent N1.09trn on fuel importation. It is the cause of the deteriorating value of the Naira and Nigeria’s biggest import, the cause of our balance of trade and current account deficits. In fact fuel importation is the major cause of Nigeria’s economic crisis. As long as Nigerians will buy fuel without subsidy, they will be subsidizing government corruption and inefficiency.

3- Address the macro-economic crisis facing the country especially exchange rate and food inflation. Life is unbearable for Nigerians and removing fuel subsidy that will increase price of petrol will add more hardship to Nigerians. Fuel price increase has negative multiplier effects on cost of rents, transportation, school fees and prices of goods and services. When Nigerians are down with excruciating economic problems why add more hardships on them by jerking up the price of fuel?

4- Provide effective transport system like rails, good roads and bus services. In Nigeria, only Lagos has public transport system, even at that Lagos does not have rail system. Abuja has no public bus system and the light rail only covers a small fraction of the town. You can live in Abuja for months without seeing the train because it covers few stops. Other Nigerian cities don’t have public transport system.

5- Improve salaries of workers. Even without fuel price increase inflation has made Nigerian workers paupers. Without commensurate increase in salaries people will be working for nothing.

6- Solve the deliberating security situation affecting the roads and villages. People have no livelihood because they can’t farm. People cannot connect with towns and do business because of insecurity. Bandits have overrun most states in the Northeast and Northwest and people can’t till their lands or rear livestock.

7- Reduce cost of bureaucracy. The minister of finance said government did not budget anything for fuel subsidy for year 2022. But ask her, how much does the government budget for maintaining political appointees and you will know that the government thinks of itself not the poor Nigerians. According to former CBN governor and former emir of Kano State, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at least 70% government revenue is spent on officials.The money to be spent on the president, vice president, ministers and CEOs of parastatals and members of house of assembly is far more than the fuel subsidy they are talking about. That covers fat salaries, allowances, estacodes, new expensive cars and even planes. But they will not touch their welfare. It is the same at state levels.

If the government can address these it can go ahead and remove fuel subsidy, otherwise it will be punitive to make life unbearable for Nigerians. Even the rich are crying in today’s Nigeria.

Aliyu Nuhu: is a social analyst, he lives in Abuja.

By A. F. Sesay

As young Africans, we grew up thinking if you are violent then you are evil. Yet, we have been victims of violence, right from the time of our forefathers. In fact, the majority of the global armed conflicts in the latter part of the last century and the early 21st century took place in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Now, note that I used “third world” and I also  used “sub-Saharan!” You already know that those words by their very nature are creative acts of violence meant to contain a people or even a race.

But the trillion dollar question is why are the most violent also the loudest about the evils if violence. And very quick to identify violence in others.

There comes the place of Philosophy! The people who move and shake civilizations know that such force and power rise and fall on violence. But then, if this knowledge is accessible to all,  life becomes brutish (not British), nasty and short. So, in order to win, conquer and dominate with violence you have got to refine it, and make it sophisticated. It has to be loaded with focus, force and formula. It has to be short lived(if possible) yet ruthless. And it must leave a bitter taste for centuries for maximum impact. Think Hiroshima and Nagasaki!

So, for the historically violated and oppressed to break free from  the fetters of poverty and disease, they must teach their children how to eschew emotion-driven violence for strategic and creative violence in words and deeds.

This will require revisiting  the curriculum and approaching such topics as Survival of the Fittest and the life of Carnivorous animals from a new lense.

Caveat: I am not violent, but you can’t help but admire the impact of strategic violence on the world as we know it today.

By Aliyu Nuhu

The Boeing Business Jet, currently the one used by president Buhari, cost $80M, while the other jets favoured by other private individuals like Dangote and Adenuga are the Gulfstream (400-500 series) which cost $45M.

Other planes used by our elites are Hawker Siddley, Bombadier Challenger 600 series, Global Express, Embraer Legacy and Falcons; all depending on the deep pockets of the buyer. The least price of this category is $35million.

Forbes magazine claimed that Nigerians spent $6.5Billion on planes in the past five years. You will probably need a scientific calculator to get the Naira equivalent of that amount.

As the Nigerian leaders successfully abandoned, destroyed and completely killed our – National Carrier – Nigerian Airways, they become obsessed with private jets. Between 2007 and 2012 demands for private jets by the Nigerian class of the rich rose by 650 per cent. In the year 2000 Nigeria had 20 private jets shared among the presidency, NNPC, Shell and a few individuals. That time President Obasanjo and EFCC would sniff the accounts of any politician and businessman that ventured to buy a plane.

This number has increased exponentially in many folds as corruption and easy money gained ground during President Yar’adua administration and the President Jonathan government that showed no interest in fighting corruption. The result was an avalanche of expensive jets parked in the sun as status symbols of Nigeria’s greedy and boisterous elite.

In early 2015, the Guardian reported a total number of private jets at 200 and still counting with new orders placed in US and Canada. The figure is ten times the combined number of commercial aeroplanes in the country. There are presently only 20 operational commercial air crafts servicing the entire 200 million Nigerian public!

According to reports released by Bombardier Corporation of Canada, Nigeria is only behind the US, China and the UK in the placement of orders for private jets. We can excuse US and China at least they are the world’s biggest economies and China has 300 billionaires and over 15000 millionaires, the highest concentration in the world. All of them made their money through real-time investments and hard work. Corruption in China attracts the death penalty while the US punishes corruption with long jail terms. Both countries’ laws respect no status. However, Nigeria, since Obasanjo’s time, has stopped punishing people with corrupt cases. Poverty and unemployment are at epidemic and unacceptable levels now in Nigeria.

While the Federal Bureau of Statistics put the graduate unemployment figure level at 50%, the Federal Ministry of Labour put it at 45%. We don’t know who to believe, but it is well known that Nigeria is notorious for inaccurate statistics.

The World Bank however put the national unemployment figure at 56%, meaning that a population of 167million Nigerians will translate to 60 million jobless on count, the equivalent of the combined population of the entire countries in the sub-continent, lumping Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory coast together. I think World Bank is being modest, as the actual unemployment could well be 80 per cent.

Nonetheless, they are grim statistics and a real threat to growth and national security. Because our rich elites have no regard for cost-saving, they care less about the monumental waste of maintaining a plane. A private jet is a huge liability, costing money even when parked on the idle ground.

It cost 20 times 1st class commercial jet ticket to travel to London compared to a single trip on a private jet. Private planes are not like cars that you can just enter and drive off to your destination. To fly a plane you need all sorts of permits, ironically you cannot even taxi out of the hanger without permits which usually cost money. Servicing a plane is something that needs an entire life saving to carry, usually done out of this country which takes weeks to complete and is highly regulated.

To service a plane you need checking, removal and replacement of components, usually plugs, oils and hydraulics, replacement of tires, plates, cylinders, compressors that must all conform to stringent regulation and a certificate must be issued to back it up. Also, there are the routine A check, B check, C check and D check depending on the aircraft cycle.

In the case of D check which happens every 5 years, the entire plane is taken apart and is comprehensively subjected to rigorous overhaul that involved checking the entire fuselage metal skin and possible replacement of engines. This takes 40,000 man-hours calculated at a huge cost. No cost of aircraft maintenance is calculated in Naira here!

So why all the trouble?

The answer is pure ego trip and the Nigerian mentality of personal competition and the usual inferiority complex. The trajectory here is both wicked and ungodly to own a private jet in a land where frustration is written (in CAPITAL LETTERS) on virtually everyone’s face.

Warren Buffet who owns the largest plane manufacturing company in the US flies economy class in commercial airlines and has been known to drive a 2014 Cadillac XTS.

Bill Gates does not own a plane and drives a 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera, Porsche 930 and a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe. When he came to Nigeria with his wife Belinda he flew a commercial economy ticket. So what is wrong with the Nigerian rich?

I don’t expect this kind of modesty and humility from the crop of leaders we have and the elite in Nigeria. They are undoubtedly easy money bags and hyenas that call themselves rich. Most of them were unemployed and in rags 15 years ago. They killed all our ways to Nigerian Airways. They now shamelessly fly in corruption.

Aliyu Nuhu is a social commentator and an expert in socio-economic and political commentary. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria.