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By Muhammad Sabiu

The Kano branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set to educate business owners in December on its policies and how they can venture into various programmes initiated by the apex bank.

This is contained in a letter dated November 25, 2021, and signed by H.S. Mohammed on behalf of the Branch Controller, CBN Kano.

The letter was addressed to the Students’ Union Government president of Bayero University Kano, requesting the student leader to mobilise 50 of his union members at the sensitisation event.

The letter partly reads: “The Central Bank of Nigeria intends to sensitise manufacturers, traders, farmers, banks, artisans, cooperatives and the general public on the various policies and programmes of the Bank which they can key into.

“Consequently, the Bank is cordially inviting you and your members to in-depth presentations from 9:00 a.m daily on Wednesday, 1” and Thursday, 24 December 2021 at Afficent Event Centre, No. 4 Magajin Rumfa Road, Opposite DTSV Office Nassarawa, Kano.”

Explaining what the event is all about, the Bank wrote, “The ‘CBN Fair’ is a harmonised sensitisation program on all the Central Bank of Nigeria’s initiatives (Real Sector Financing and Interventions, Payment Systems Initiatives, Consumer Protection, Clean Naira Note Policy, Financial Inclusion and Consumer Rights) with a focus on the recent e-Naira initiative.”

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.