Opinion

Opinion

Celebrating Governor Bala Mohammed at 63

8 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments
By Sulaiman Maijama’a

What aspect of life deserves celebration, and what parameters do people use in deciding whose life is worthy of celebration? Becoming a celebrity? No! Obtaining a university degree? No! Getting married? No! Accumulating wealth? No! To give you a clue, who cares to celebrate a person whose life has no impact on their fellow beings? Only people of thought who see beyond the surface; whose life is inspiring and motivating; whose track record speaks volumes, deserve this celebration!

It is not how much but how good. Not the quantity but the quality. It was, however, narrated in an authentic tradition, our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said that “the best of human beings is the one whose life is elongated and his deeds are good, and the worst, on the other hand, is the one who is privileged to live long, but his works are bad.”

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has had a good fortune to join the cadre of the chosen few, spared to witness sixty-three (63) years of existence on earth and, most importantly, serving humanity throughout the journey. This is, coincidently, coming few days after the Federation of Nigeria celebrated her 61st  independence anniversary.

Born on October 5th, 1958 in Duguri to the royal family of the District Head of Duguri in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, little Bala Mohammed, as it is with tradition in Northern Nigeria, was enrolled in Qur’anic school where he was well trained, given strictly regimented orientation germane to Islam, in order to toughen him up to face the realities of life early. He, after that, had his primary education in Alkaleri from 1965 to 1971 and started his secondary school from 1972 to 1976.

Coming from a Royal Family, Bala Mohammed began to exhibit leadership traits in his teenage age by being so dutiful to his elderly, generous to people, and affectionate to younger ones. His selflessness in serving humanity, devotion to duty and sense of humour made him beloved to his family, friends and all people, thereby making him attractive like a magnet, and his name echoing in their village.

In 1979, Bala Mohammed went to the famous University of Maiduguri and obtained his First Degree, graduating with BA in English in 1982. Upon graduation, in 1983, he worked as a journalist with The Democrat as a reporter and later News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). After that, he rose to the pinnacle of journalism as the editor of The Mirage Newspaper.

Mohammed later quit journalism and joined the civil service as an administrative officer from 1984 to 2000. He bowed out of public service as Director of Administration in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. He then took a Political Appointment as a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Isa Yuguda from 2000 to 2005. He was also Director of Administration at the Nigerian Railway Corporation from 2005 to 2007.

Bala Mohammed ventured into partisan politics in 2007 when he was elected to the Senate representing Bauchi South Senatorial District under the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). As a lawmaker, he was among the pre-eminently vibrant members who stood firm to ensuring that positive policies and programmes were made in the interest of their constituents.

In 2010, Senator Bala Mohammed put party politics aside for the country’s interest and moved the “Doctrine of Necessity” motion on the floor of the Senate, which gave way for the then Vice-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to emerge as Acting President. Bala then was a senator under a defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), but he stood for Jonathan, who was in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Consequently, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite being a member of the ANPP.

As FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed brought extensive reforms to the FCT. He sanitized the land administration of the FCT and expanded the airport roads of Abuja. He built many roads, including the Kubwa expressway expansion. He also built the rail track from Abuja to Kaduna and Idu rail station from the $500m loan that the Nigerian government secured from China. In addition, he introduced the land swap policy that used the land as a resource to fast track infrastructural development in the FCT.

In 2018  Senator Bala Mohammed emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for Bauchi State and was elected as the governor in 2019.

Ever since he came on board as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, the state has been undergoing an extraordinary and unprecedented metamorphosis in infrastructural development, health, education, agriculture, among other sectors.

In the area of infrastructure, Bauchi State has witnessed what could have taken others long to complete within the two years of Bala Mohammed’s led administration. The governor has completed over twenty (20) road projects with an aggregate of 286.7 kilometres long. This excludes the recently awarded massive projects across the state. Today, Bauchi State is a gleaming new city with roads and 12-hour uninterrupted streetlights.

Beyond constructing roads, the governor has procured 251 vehicles and 1000 Keke Napep through Kaura Economic Empowerment Project. This has greatly impacted positively on the transportation industry in the state.

As the saying goes, “health is wealth” Senator Bala has renovated 126 primary health care centres in less than two years, constructed 12 new world-class hospitals and a primary health care centre in Dorawar Dillalai, Bauchi. Additionally, many general hospitals across six local government areas are currently under renovation. The governor also actualized a Molecular Laboratory in the State for testing of COVID-19, Lassa fever, Yellow fever and other hemorrhagic diseases.

In Education, Governor Bala Mohammed, in less than two years, has constructed over 270 new classrooms and renovated over 405 across the state. In addition, these projects were expanded into hard-to-reach areas of the state to ensure that quality education isn’t the prerogative of only urban dwellers.

On the other hand, in July 2020, under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State became the first and only state in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria to domesticate the VAPP Act since it was enacted. The VAPP Act is the single law that transcends the criminal and penal code in guaranteeing justice and protecting the rights and properties of victims of sexual and gender-based violence across the country.

Please show me your Governor; here is mine!  Dear my Governor, do not relent, do not give up and do not listen to predators and political gladiators who do not mean well for our state, whose aim is to distract you from taking the state forward. The sky is not your limit; even the orbit is limitless.

Fatan alkhairi, Allah Ya qara tsawon kwana da rayuwa mai albarka, ameen.
Opinion

Nigeria at 61: A giant with challenging crises amid opportunities

7 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments
By Terhemba Wuam, PhD

As Nigeria marks its 61st anniversary of independence, its citizens are stuck in general anomie of despondency. This is due to general insecurity in the country, rising unemployment and high cost of living.

It is also an age of anxiety, with many measures of Nigeria’s socio-economic progress painting a picture of a nation in great distress. Nigeria’s economy has been stagnant, growing at less than 1% cumulatively during the past six years, far below population growth of 2.6%. It also has about 40% of the population of about 200 million living below the poverty line.

The country is equally beset by security and political challenges. Boko Haram insurgents still operate in the North-East. In the North-West, bandits are overwhelming the security forces. In North-Central Nigeria, deadly clashes between farmers and herders continue. And separatist and irredentist agitations resonate in the South-East and the South-West of the country.

Despite these problems, Nigeria has made substantial socio-economic progress, at least since 1999 when it returned to democracy after decades of military rule. It is also a country with huge resources that have yet to be fully tapped. The biggest of these is Nigeria’s educated citizens. The country had a literate population of less than 5% at independence. Now, more than 60% of the population is literate. Also, enrolment into tertiary education keeps increasing.

The past 60 years
A review of the past six decades shows that the Fourth Republic, which took off in 1999, has been Nigeria’s golden era in terms of economic and social indicators. This reality is, however, a difficult one to present to the millions of unemployed who are out of work and struggling to cope with inflationary pressures on food and other basic livelihood requirements.

Since 1999, Nigeria’s economy has grown more than sevenfold. A big chunk of this is explained by the rebasing of the economy in 2014. It was found that the economy was 60% bigger than previous estimates.

Before 2014, Nigeria had been using the 1990 prices and the composition of the economy to determine its size. Yet, a lot had changed since then. For example, telecommunications had grown substantially with the introduction of mobile telephony. Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry, has also expanded and morphed into a more professionally organised and run sector.

Nigeria moved from lower-income to lower-middle-income status, based on national income per head of population, during the Fourth Republic. That’s based on World Bank rankings. Other countries in this category include Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, India, Iran and Ukraine.

Economic difficulties
Nigeria’s economic difficulties started in the mid-2010s. Nigeria’s economic fortunes are closely aligned with oil prices which showed a sharp decline between 2014 and 2016.

The World Bank has described the 70% drop during that period as one of the three biggest declines since World War II, and the longest lasting since the supply-driven collapse of 1986.

In response, Nigeria’s economy, which had recorded an average growth rate of 6.68% between 1999 and 2015, has plunged in and out of negative figures since 2016. Within this period, it entered recession twice. Cumulative growth since 2016 has averaged below 1%.

Nigeria has taken steps to reduce its reliance on oil. These measures include the revival of the agricultural sector as well as reducing government reliance on oil revenues by tax revenue from other sources. These have yet to pay off. And the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the economic downturn, plunging more people into unemployment and poverty.

Nigeria’s government has invested in agriculture and has articulated economic programmes for other sectors, progress has been hampered by inflationary pressures, low oil prices and a weak currency. The government’s inability to arrest the security crises in several states has also affected agricultural productivity. Other factors include the government’s inability to articulate a clear economic agenda for the country. In addition, its monetary and fiscal policies favouring dual exchange rates, and restrictions on foreign trade through border closures have limited recovery and growth.

A national call to action
Nigeria requires a national leadership with the understanding and capability to set the tone and direction for national growth and development. This must incorporate all citizens, irrespective of ethnic or geopolitical affiliations in a grand vision of collective dynamic growth.

A lack of such political leadership denies the country the possibility of meaningful growth and critical citizenry.

Nigeria remains a country of great potential. Her fountain of possibilities can be found in its growing population of educated citizens. The population of the educated at this very moment in the country’s history is at the threshold or point of national acceleration. An example is the country’s burgeoning tech ecosystem largely driven by young people. It is at a point conterminous with those of the Asian Tigers before their rapid transformation to the developed world and high-income status.

All the fundamentals are indicative of a country at the point of a great leap forward, the role of an enlightened and well-educated population is crucial to that process.

Despite limitations in the education sector, Nigeria has more than 190 universities, the largest university and tertiary education sector in Africa. The country churns out millions of graduates annually, creating the most educated workforce on the continent.

This growth represents both a challenge and an opportunity. It will be a challenge and a huge economic burden if productive opportunities are not found for their engagement. Gainfully employed, these educated millions can be harnessed to drive Nigeria’s economic growth, thus promoting social stability.

Political leadership
Nigeria challenge is not that its political leadership has been corrupt, but that it has had limited ability to govern the country effectively. Nigeria needs a modern political administration where the state is not about maintenance of the status quo and the mere allocation of existing economic values for project and self-aggrandisement.

The state should be reoriented and directed purposely towards a more expansive interpretation with a focus on rapid economic growth and the provision of public goods that empower citizens to become meaningful actors in the overall positive transformation of their society.

Such purposeful action by the national leadership, who must be clearly reformist, is required to alter the trajectory of poor economic growth. It is also required to foster sustained productivity gains in the country’s economy to generate growth to average 6%-10% annually. Such growth is what will enable Nigeria to triple and possibly quadruple its economy within the next 10-15 years in a repeat of the first 20 years of the Fourth Republic.

Inevitably, a growing economy represents the best pathway toward addressing many of the social and economic challenges Nigeria now faces in its seventh decade of independence.

Dr Terhemba Wuam can be reached via terhembawuam@yahoo.com.
Opinion

That essay, Cornflakes for Jihad!😃

6 October 2021 Admin 1 Comments

By Ibrahim A. Waziri

To most non-Muslims researching and writing about Boko Haram, the problem generally begins with Muslims and Islam in Northern Nigeria and, to some degree, across the globe.

To them, BokoHaram is synonymous with the issues of ontology and epistemology of Islam. That is why their narrative of it can encircle Shehu Dan Fodio, Late Sheikh Mahmud Gumi or even Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, the Premiere of Northern Region, during Nigeria’s first republic. They also do find its bits of ideological nuggets in the earliest of the Islamic literature!

But to most Muslims or their sympathisers, Boko Haram is a persistent story of fringe, rebellious elements among the larger Muslim population across history. These elements are primarily rigid and resistant to any contemporary interpretation of the Islamic canons, which goes with the present circumstances and gives maximum peace, harmony and cooperation among Muslims; and between them and non-Muslims.

The non-Muslim researchers generally point to Islam as the source of the problem. The Muslims point at Khawarijism (rebellion) against any Muslim broad social consensus (like Nigeria as it is presently constituted), at a particular point, as the problem.

The non-Muslims argue that the problem is profoundly historical. So they travel back the archives and exhume positions, at one time, of individuals, such as Sheikh Daurawa, Sheikh Gumi, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sheikh Auwal Albani, Sheikh Jaafar Mahmud, etc., to drive home their points.

While the Muslims are inclined to reject such a notion, arguing that social consensus is a transitional thing by nature, and Muslims embody the concept of Transition Personalities most. [Transition person as a concept is sufficiently delineated by Stephen Covey, in his, The Seven Habit of Effective People].

That, it is embedded in Muslims traditions and part of their essential social jurisprudence, that what is a norm today may not necessarily be the norm tomorrow. And that, the internal problem of the Muslim communities are those fringe elements who do not reflect the power of transition and acknowledge the value of consensus building, with new variables that new situations always present.

The very recent article by a certain David Hundeyin making waves through social media, Cornflakes for Jihad, also reflects the usual sentiments identified with many non-Muslims types of research about BokoHaram.

Apart from the basic factual errors it contains – which Abdulbasit Kassim diligently pointed out – it also concluded with logic barren childish conspiratorial arguments that send us millennia backwards in our struggle searching for the appropriate problem definition, analysis and solution recommendations on the issues of BokoHaram.

Contrary to the essay’s claims against Ahmed Idris Nasiruddeen (NASCO), Nasiruddeen has lived a life of a pious Muslim who was using his wealth to help Muslim friends, associates and organisations.

Of course, as any other friend or associate one might have helped, they too are naturally transitioning personalities (not necessary in the positive sense) living in a transitional world. One can help a person or an organisation, for a specific general reason or objective, only later in life for them to shift their objectives, metamorphosing into something different.

The fact that the NASCO conglomerate was once allegedly accused of financing terrorism (by whoever) does not mean it intentionally did that. Likewise, Sheikh Yakubu Musa was once allegedly accused of funding terrorism (by whoever) does not mean he is guilty.

Until we begin to look at the ontology and epistemology of issues around BokoHaram in this kind of light, our analysis about it will always leave undesired dangerous results born of misdiagnosis. We may begin to indict people like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Abdussamad Isiyak Rabiu (BUA) because we are likely to find that the Imams, Mosques or organisations now or in the future they have once helped are enmeshed in terror wave of related accusations. Then we will begin to write warped essays like Cement or Sugar for Jihad.

Writing informed public commentaries or being a sound public intellectual is beyond the ability to flawlessly and flowerily write essays, making endless references to a large swathe of literature and records. No. It requires multidisciplinary insights, a great deal of patriotism, a deep sense of intuitive social measurement, appreciation of people and cultures from both etic and emic perspectives, history, and sound ability in social system projections.

Indeed, one cannot have a Nigeria of great value today or in future if they have a large heart sufficient enough to accommodate Ahmadu Bello, Sheikh Gumi, President Buhari, BokoHaram founder, Muhammad Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau, lumping them as the same people, who worked or are working, to turn Nigeria into an absolutely imaginary Islamic state.

Ibrahim A. Waziri writes from Zaria, Kaduna.
Opinion

On the culture of disrespect and disregard for term limits

6 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Mujahid Ameen Lilo

 

When in 2015, the then incumbent president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, called to congratulate his opponent ahead of the announcement of the election winner, it was hailed as a heroic act. The act further cemented the country’s democratic maturation and avoided the imminent disintegration of the country had the president not accepted defeat. Moreover, it ensured a stable and successful government transition in a country on the brink of war.

 

The former president of the Niger Republic got the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership because he respected term limits. Yet, nobody was found worthy of the award for eight years, which points to African leaders’  disgraceful culture of disregard for term limits and bastardising of democracy. What’s more annoying, though, is the culture of celebrating the few ones that respect the term limits.

 

When we understand that it’s the moral imperative of our leaders to bow to the people’s will, to respect the constitutional authority that put them there and dictate their term limits. Until then, we wouldn’t rush to make a big deal of it and lionise them, present them with awards, among other things. We tend to forget and forgive their misrule. The great disenchantment with the previous administration’s sadistic leadership style made Nigerians ready to go to any lengths to vote out that party. People were prepared for war if the election got twisted. So it’s the morally and politically correct thing to do, that is,  handover.  Most of these leaders leave behind enormous debts, worsening insecurity, cases of corruption and so on.

 

The recent coups in Guinea and Chad and the foiled one in Niger indicate the frightening facts that the West African countries are far from political stability. Military intervention hardly change matters. It shouldn’t be the response to a faulty democracy. The West African subregion should thoroughly shake itself off the yoke of any military powers. The democratisation of the whole subregion would go a long way in stabilising it. Not that democracy is perfect per se (what with her so-called upholders violating one of the fundamentals: periodic election), but that we can and should practice it most purely, quite distinct from the military system. There should be an atmosphere that’ll facilitate proper reforms of democracy.  A stable system of government will guarantee peace and also bring about the desired developments.

 

It’s on this premise that I’d now address another factor that is damaging to our democracy, threatening what little peace and stability is left in the region: electoral processes.  In my country Nigeria, once it’s time for elections, people who live away from their states of origin start rushing back to their hometowns because elections have been synonymous with violence leading to the death of many people. There should be peace for people to exercise their fundamental right of voting. Instead, thugs are paid to violate the process. Many people believe in the quote that ‘our votes do not count; otherwise, they wouldn’t let us vote’.  However, that is not where the problem lies.  I believe that we’re capable of holding free and fair elections as we’ve done in the past. We can cite many examples with Nigeria as a case study. The fourth republic election in Nigeria that put Chief Obasanjo into power was relatively free and fair. The two elections that put Buhari into power were also pretty free and fair. We cannot forget the annulled election of June 12, 1993.

 

I was born in the early 2000s. My generation is called the ‘golden generation’ because the Nigeria we’re born in is democratic, free from colonial and military powers. But my generation suffers from a collapsing education system (most have to attend private schools because the government ones are total craps), from frequent strikes in universities to insecurity devouring our lands like an inferno. This semester, I was looking forward to fieldwork we are supposed to go on in a literature course but have to resort to what our lecturer calls ‘mental research’ because nowhere is safe. This generation is so angry – a wave of anger manifested in the Endsars protests.

 

On days like this, independence day, I sit and reflect on the happenings in my nation while my fellow teenagers are out having fun, draping their bodies in the country’s colours and posting things like ‘happy independence’ on social media. Yet, the ghost of Achebe and Gimba surrounds me as I struggle to intellectualise my thoughts, building it on Achebe’s dictum (the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership) and the Gimba’s theory that differs from Achebe’s.

 

I am a lover of columns. As a child, I was very socially and culturally conscious, reading my dad’s dailies. On my shelf, I have a collection of columns: Gimba’s Why am I Doing This, Tundes’s Nigeria: A Thousand Cries, A Thousand Laughs, Nda Isiah’s Nigeria: Full Disclosure, and Victor’s Excuse Me. The writings there span Nigeria from Obasanjo’s first tenure to the eventful short tenure of Yar’adua and Goodluck’s tenure. Presently, I read Kakanda, Bulama and Abubakar,  whose columns are about the present administration. All through, there is rage. There is a disappointment. These essays echo in my conscience, making it hard for me to celebrate not only Nigeria’s birthday but those supposed champions of democracy, that after much damage, step aside and respect term limits. Like Jonathan. Like Niger’s Muhammdou, winner of Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

 

Mujahid Ameen Lilo is a winner of the Wole Soyinka Essay Competition and a student at the Department of English, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Education Opinion

World Teacher’s Day: Nigerian students send wishes, prayers to their teachers

5 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

Compiled by Aisar Fagge

Today, October 5, is designated as World Teacher’s Day. Students across the globe are celebrating the day with their teachers by sending them flowers, cards, taking them out for dinner and writing goodwill messages on various social media platforms.

The Daily Reality collects some opinions of Nigerian students about this day. Here are some:

Umar Haruna Tami

“Teachers are the nearest alchemists within our reach. The good students they produce are the result of patience, perseverance and dedication to the service. They don’t prioritize what’s in it for them. May their spirits never lose shape.”

Adamu Kazaure

“Without the hard work of Nigerian teachers, the level of illiteracy will have been unmeasurable. We are ever grateful to all the Nigerian teachers. You all deserve to be celebrated.”

Hafeez Kiido

“Uncle Ishaq, who taught me in my elementary school, Maitama Yousuf. He was the first person who had inspired me to read and be courageous when giving it back(public speaking in debates). Malam Sanusi was the second person who usually exempted me out of many applauding my doings. That motivates me, though.

Prof. Tijjani M Naniya of BUK (well-known historian), from whom I retrieve raw knowledge of history. I also emulate some of his positive and solid character. For example, he once told us to be self—defendants and not to part in sectarianism, as sectarianism was solely built upon politics, not religion.

Late Malam Sanee taught me Quran in my early childhood stage (Allah ya gafarta masa).

Last and not least was Malam Abdullahi Abba, who was my Project Supervisor at Kano state Informatics. I will never forget his kindness and guidance towards our studies. May the brim of blessings of Allah flood them all.”

Sohaib Infinity

“Teachers are the reason for what am I today; I always respect them, and my love for them is immeasurable.”

Abdullahi Idris Tikau

“We know we don’t have a Kobo, Naira, or Dollars to pay you. So your (teachers) reward is in heaven. May Allah be your helper and protect you from the trials of this Dunya. May Allah bless your excellent work for humanity. Long live Nigerian teachers. Your good work will not be in vain.”

Jamila Umar

“Teachers are community builders. I can recall when a teacher in primary six once told me about vision 2020 (2005) that all the academic, health challenges etc., we are facing in Nigeria will become history. Since then, I have been dreaming of this dreamland. He speaks sincerely with hope for our future, but upon reaching 2020 now, the result is ‘irony.’ I still have hope for the future generations to come. May Allah reward our teachers.”

Harun Muhammad Yakasai

“Teachers are the angels who enlighten our lives with the light of knowledge and wisdom. Wishing you immense joy, happiness and prosperity because teachers like you deserve the best. Happy teacher’s day to you all.”

Sani Muhammad

“My best regards to both my Islamic and western education teachers as they have really impacted on me in relations to honesty, dedication and many more.”

Dan Ladi Hausawa 

“I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to my humble teachers who guided me on how to become a useful person among the people. God bless our teachers.”

Auwal Mukhtar

“Today is the teacher’s day. Teachers are the bedrock of any sane and progressive society without which any society can only live in room and gloom. They perform lofty and noble acts which go unnoticed and adequately compensated. My utmost regards to my teachers, who helped to shape and mould my thinking. Who always taught me the act of self-sacrifice and selfless living. My sincere appreciation to Mrs Beatrice Okoro, Mr Yemi Odedokun, Mr Nkuma, Late Atemken Achanga, Mal Abdullahi Musa, Mal Yusufu, Mal Nura Khalid ( digital Imam), Ass. Prof Bappa M Abubakar, Ass. Prof Manir Kamba, Prof Lukman Diso, Dr  Abdulkadir Idris Ahmed and many others too numerous to mention.”

Karama Jamila Sani Yaro

I will forever be grateful to my teachers. My parents were my first teachers. Both Islamic and Western School teachers I attended. And the entire teaching staff of Al-Manaahil Academy. You all are much appreciated.”

Yahanasu Ibrahim Isah

“Dear teachers, it is because of you I became a good student. Thank you, all, that you have done for me. I wish you a delighted teachers day. If knowledge is the light, then you are the guiding stars that give us this light. I celebrate you all. Happy teachers day. Proud to be one. I celebrate us all.”

Hassan Mujtaba
“I was inspired by many teachers, and you are included. The way teachers inspired me is to be a hard-working student. Alhamdulillah. I took their advice. I always work hard. I rather fail and fail than cheat in any exam. I believe deep down in me that this is a very good thing and am proud of it. Above all am proud to be among your students, sir. Am still seeing it as a favour. May God bless all our teachers.”
Education Opinion

Teacher’s Day

5 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments
By Muhammad Rabi’u (Bin Isah)

 

IN MOST CASES, we look at many successful people without remembering those people that held the lamp for them. Teachers are the light-bearers of success, the beacons of progress and the building blocks of a good generation. “Islamiyya teachers” at the top, and the Boko teachers; they all hold lamps for us. But they are less assisted, remembered and appreciated.

Of all people, teachers are the most selfless segment of the society that derive pleasure not in failure but in the success of their students and people in general. Whether doctor, engineer, lawyer, administrator, etc., a teacher stands behind you in support. They feel delighted when students learn and understand, take and pass their tests, and when they hear that one of their students has made a remarkable achievement in life. After exhausting their energy in bringing light in person, they are now fully assured that their effort has not been in vain.

Teaching, as the essential task of teachers and the most fundamental component of education, can never be achieved without teachers. Education, the art of imparting knowledge, skills and experiences to learners, will lose its meaning without the help of teachers. Because education, which we now equate with schooling, taking schools as the vital places of learning, where socialization takes a decisive form, is not effective without teachers’ sacrifices.

The system of our organizations, whether governmental or non-governmental; the processes of our public and private enterprises; the modalities and mechanisms of our modern state of affairs; the leaders that serve the workers that run our world and us; all are not but the manifestation of the work of one selfless, good-loving and a charitable individual called a teacher. But this teacher is not appreciated, and they don’t care as long as the world stays educated, sane and developing.

Whatever we may say about teachers, we can never elucidate the merits of their services in their deserved way. Words can never capture the splendour of their roles and works in man’s development and wellbeing. Teachers love nothing more than the feeling of being successful in putting life into a place where death has taken an abode.

Teachers can be forgotten, but in every word spoken and any letter written, and in any sense made and any problem solved, the teacher takes credit, and particularly the teachers, at the primary levels of our learning, who have helped us learn how to read and write, understand and play with numbers in order to have eyes, hands and tongues to communicate with the world.

You can say “Thank You” to your teachers, and you’re still less thankful for the life they have breathed into you. Perhaps, by excelling more and being a good member of society, the teachers will feel better appreciated. And you can still never pay them. And nobody can ever pay them. Indeed, their reward is in heaven.

Thus, I say, a happy #WorldTeachersDay.

Muhammad Rabi’u (Bin Isah) writes from Bauchi State.
Opinion

High rate of stealing and its possible solutions

3 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Nasiru Tijjani

 

Doubtless, stealing is one of the social problems bedevilling the peace and stability of almost all human societies. Therefore, stealing means taking something away from a person, shop/store, etc., without permission and without intending to return or pay for it. The problem, needless to say, is known to every reasonable person who cares to look and discuss their societal issues. Quote me anywhere that no society can fully develop and excel in all spheres of life if its members are thieves, burglars or robbers. For clarity, thieves are persons who steal things, especially secretly and without using violence. Burglars usually get into a house, office, etc., especially by force, to steal stuff, while robbers steal property from a person or public place, especially using violence.

 

The rampant cases of stealing are gradually becoming a new normal in our society. The culprits are always employing different strategies to safeguard themselves against an unwarranted arrest by the security agencies and other community volunteers. The community members gradually become helpless and equally lose hope about when to live in peace and comfort with their property. I don’t need to justify anything here for you, or your brother might

 

Since time immemorial, stealing has been discouraged by Islam and Christianity. The duo has strongly warned their followers through a significant portion of scriptures that they should shun the attitude of taking someone’s property without the owner’s consent. Apparently, the act has been classified as taboo and unethical that can only be committed by the mannerless, heartless and idle good-for-nothing person whose faculty of reasoning is abysmal. The effects of their (thieves) actions negatively affect the peaceful co-existence of the entire society either by crippling the welfare of the people or creating an unresolved hatred and enmity.

 

What comes first on the list has to do with parents. To me, they should not be left blameless, for they have a role to play in the proper upbringing of their children. They have been saddled with the responsibility of meeting the needs of their children, right from appropriate education to marriage. Nowadays, children are left to stand on their own feet in all walks of life. Parents are gradually disowning the mandates of their children as enshrined in the religious and cultural provisions.

 

Coming next after the first is peer-group influence. Children usually commit crimes under the influence of friends. This is because they typically get to know the attitude of each other better during their friendship. Psychologists have identified imitation as one of the stages of cognitive development. Therefore, children effortlessly emulate the behaviour of their friends. A friendless child is safe for not associating with rotten eggs, for he is less likely to be influenced by peers.

 

It is a known fact that the care of children is being placed firmly within the domain of their parents. Therefore, they (parents) should ensure that they fulfil all the mandates saddled on them. They must be answerable for their children’s failure, either for poor upbringing or anything for that matter.

 

The influence of some films that are of no character-building is equally associated with the topic under discussion. For example, with the recent release of Kannywood seasons, youths learn different tactics of stealing and other unwanted behaviours. “A Duniya“, a new Hausa season produced by Tijjani Asase, is a classic example of such a film. Recently, the Kano State Censorship Board has cautioned its makers and asked them to reshape the season’s activities considering the negativity of some scenes.

 

The human being is a social animal that cannot live in isolation without associates. However, children/ youths should not be left under the control of friends. Instead, they need to be guided/assisted in choosing or deciding on whom to befriend/mingle with.

 

Besides, people should reduce their quest for materialism. For instance, youths should regulate their strong desire to possess smartphones, among other things. Parents and security personnel may begin to ask the owners to account for the source, originality and anything to do with the suspected phones or any other property.

 

In conclusion, stealing is a correctable problem like all other social vices. I can attest without any iota of hesitation that the above-stated recommendations will surely bring a lasting solution to the unwanted act if taken into consideration. Meanwhile, I fancy the idea of not forgiving the doers of the action, for they know not the purpose of being human.

 

Nasiru Tijjani, Gwaram Tsohuwa, Jigawa state. He can be contacted via tijjaninasiru@gmail.com.

Opinion

Zoning or merit: what path Nigeria?

3 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani

 

Nigeria, the most populous African country: endowed, cerebral, and should have been one of the most promising countries in the world has democracy as its form of government.

This has not always been the case for a country that will be celebrating her 61st anniversary as an independent country on October 1, 2021. Nigeria’s path to Independence was rather long,  laced with procrastination, and unlike most of her fellow African countries. Some of them getting Independence earlier than Nigeria, even when Nigeria was more prepared to handle the travails of life in a newly independent country.

Some of the founding fathers of Nigeria, especially from the northern part of the country had a hand in how this panned out. So many accounts point to the fact that they did all that to protect the interests of our compatriots from the north, who were lagging behind in education, what is referred to as western education, especially in northern Nigeria to differentiate it from the Islamic education, which the north was already well established as a region, with the Kanem Bornu empire having a documented history of more than a millennium in Islamic scholarship.

Thus, some of the founding fathers thought that having independence at one point in time would have affected their region in managing the affairs of an independent state. They worked and took their time in preparation for having what it took to run self-government, which in the end delayed our independence from colonial rule. I hold no brief for any of them despite the fact that I will always have utmost esteem for all of our founding fathers’ because of their contributions to our dear country.

Six decades after Independence. We have tested disparate forms of government and systems. In these periods, Nigeria has seen what it means to be under any of these. It has taken us a long time to settle for what we today practise: democracy. Having experienced many civilians and military regimes in Nigeria. This civilian, democratic dispensation has lasted longer than any in our quest for true nationhood.

When on May 29, 1999, Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo mounted the podium to take the most sacred oath of office, as the President and Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian armed forces. It was not only in fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations of Nigeria for a sound democratic country but also the inherent freedoms, respect for rule of law, justice, and all ensuing benefits of living in a country where a much-revered document, the constitution explicitly guaranteed all rights that preserve as well as uphold the dignity of all citizens irrespective of faith, region, gender, age, social status, etc.

22 years afterwards we are yet to decide on even the most salient of issues, which deciding who governs the country forms a big part of it at any given time. Since the zoning lexicon was introduced in the 2nd republic by the iconic Dr K.O Mbadiwe, zoning has taken centre stage throughout. Becoming more prominent by every electioneering even when it has been assumed erroneously to become less crucial. In fact, zoning in Nigeria is like the proverbial cat with nine lives that has refused to die.

Zoning of positions has taken an integral place in the political office sharing formula prior to elections and endorsements among political power cycle whether subtly or glaringly. It has reached a point where zoning has almost become a norm. Even though, it is not enshrined in our constitution or clearly stated in the constitution of any of the major political parties in Nigeria to the best of my knowledge. But there seems to be an unwritten rule vividly engraved in the minds of most of the major political actors, followers, average politicians, political pundits, etc. It is a stark reality that there is a gentleman agreement that drives agitation for zoning in the political sphere of Nigeria. This has continued to lead the quest for power at all levels: regions, zones, states, local governments, districts, wards, villages, etc.

Yet, we have failed as a nation to give zoning the priority it deserves in our political discourse. As far as Nigeria is concerned, we are living in self-denial as regards zoning. Zoning is abhorred, cherished, and even discussed when political interests are at stake on many occasions without the pure intent of the interest of the masses at heart. Examples abound in many states of Nigeria where people could study and comprehend zoning. I will dwell more on the presidency, which today is the focal point of strong proponents of zoning who have resolved to ride on the back of it to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the Nigerian President’s official workplace and residence.

‘The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region,’ said in a communique issued at the conclusion of the meeting of governors of Southern Nigeria at the Lagos State Government  House, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Monday, July 5, 2021, Nigeria.

While the same journey to the coveted  Aso rock villa has invited the wrath of the sudden champions of merit over zoning, or any political consideration, the problem is that one doesn’t just grasp anything when zoning is the topic of discussion. For the same proponents of zoning today who believe it is the flawless solution to our difficult decision of the leadership of our country at any given time, most of them were the people who were absolutely against it and clearly asserted that it impedes our progress as a country. They believed only the best deserved to lead this country.

‘The Forum observed that some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three Geo-Political Zone in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the Nation. Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemn the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South. The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall:- score the majority votes; score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation. In the case of run-up simple majority win the election,’ one of the resolutions of the Northern States Governors’ Forum meeting with Northern Emirs and Chiefs held on Monday, September 27, 2021, in Kaduna.

Today, the views remain astoundingly the same but the majority of those who shared them have seamlessly changed positions from Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria, which has sizeable influence in the political scene. Afenifere pan Yoruba socio-political group. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex Igbo socio-political group. Northern Elders Forum, Southern Governors forum, an avalanche of powerful politicians from all over the country, and just recently Northern Governors Forum followed suit, etc.

When former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan succeeded his boss, late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua I could vividly recall the north was against his candidacy, especially the  PDP chieftains from the north who said it was the north’s tenure. I recounted the national press is awash with news that concentrated on the candidacy of the then occupant of the Presidential Villa, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. I remembered one of the popular songs then, which was urging him to contest. ‘Run, Goodluck, Run,’ which the amazon Onyeka Onwenu MFR recorded and released in 2011 in support of the former President’s electioneering.

Most of the people who are ardent supporters of zoning today are from the south and they were blatantly against it then and had the unconstitutionality of zoning as their chief reason. Of course, because it didn’t favour them. While those who are mostly antagonistic about it today, are amazingly from the north and have similar motives like those, who were against it then, certainly because it doesn’t favour them too now.

 As it is President Muhammadu Buhari who hails from Katsina State, the northern part of the country finishing his last tenure. Should the next President come from the south, we would be back to this same situation in eight years time, if the needful is not done now. That is if we don’t make zoning constitutional now. We have to tackle this issue once and for all.  If we fail to do it now, the northern and southern parts of Nigeria will simply change stance without any shame let alone remorse whenever it suits them. What country do we want to bequeath to our children and the future generations indeed, that is if we survive all these self-defeating and self-destruction onslaughts against the country?  We must ponder on these things.

It must be noted some of these organisations I have mentioned above are not directly political in nature while others are.  But they all have joined this discussion with all vigour, tenacity, and everything they have. This obviously shows that the issue of zoning in Nigeria has transcended political membership and affiliations. It has gone far beyond that.

Take the two different governors fora whose members come from different parties namely: the leading, All Progressives Congress, the main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance. This speaks volumes for anyone to understand that zoning is what should be thoroughly discussed. For it is what the politicians talk about all the time and reject it only when others are to benefit from it. It is laughable,  worrisome, and unfortunate. But it is the most consistent thing about zoning I have painstakingly observed over the years in Nigeria. Take your time, follow, observe, and study Nigerian politics with an emphasis on zoning you would arrive at my point. Nigerians must not shy away from discussing zoning. We have to talk over it with a view to finding lasting solutions.

Over the years, I have constantly advocated for merit over zoning. I have remained consistent on that with copious evidence. But I think there is a need for acceptance of a little change or even outright in my position with the benefit of insight.  Time and again the idea of zoning remains constant in Nigeria, while politicians decide what the masses support more often than not without the people having a clue that they are being sacrificed on the altar of self-serving political goals.

Yes, to be fair to them there are quite a number of politicians who are genuinely interested in the sincere and fair sharing of power at all tiers of government. This is a huge reason for us to push forward for a critical discourse that treats this matter frankly with the ultimate goal of eventually completing this seeming personal jigsaw that has refused to fall in place or more correctly we haven’t done much as Nigerians as regards to this.

‘As I ponder on today’s event, I remember with great euphoria that one striking beauty of democracy is the glamour and solidity of majority rule in which the greater number of the people participate in the decision-making process of the system. Hence, de-emphasizing majority rule is a strong negation of democracy and an attempt to deprive the society of that unalienable privilege. However, there is also, the other side of the coin in this discourse…’ because the classical democracy oversimplified its essence to the exaltation of the tyranny of the majority and to the chagrin of the oppressed minority. Thus it is the effort to diminish the tyranny of the majority that people came up with various ideas of which consensus democracy and zoning of political power, etc. are part of.

‘Nigeria’s multi-faceted problems can be encapsulated into economic, cultural, religious and political, but I am of the opinion, that if we can be able to get our politics right, the others will follow suit, this is because, no Nation can be able to achieve meaningful national development if the polity is corrosive, structurally imbalanced and defective, no matter the amount of abundant resources at its disposal,’ Senator (DR.) Ben Ndi Obi CON said, in a seminar organised in 2017 on zoning in Anambra State, Nigeria by Anambra State council of traditional rulers.

Nigerians have to comprehend the peculiarities of their country. It is a unique, complex, diverse, sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines country. If you are a Nigerian full aware of these and all the consequences of these, how best do you advocate that we address this? Do you think after seeing this issue arising over and over again that the best way is to remain static and gloomily speculate that things will change on their own?  This is apparently not the best route to take.

Nigerian lawmakers must make new laws or enact ones that will make zoning constitutional until we hopefully reach a point where Nigerians comprehend that only the best or those we believe to be the best based on their proven records of excellence service regardless of region, faith, gender, etc deserve to lead us. I pray that time comes in our lifetime. I hope we all match prayers with great efforts to see it through.

For now, we must address this issue based on the urgency, the state of our polity, and our realities permit. I propose that zoning be institutionalised in Nigeria. This should be made by amending the Nigerian constitution to incorporate zoning into it. But this idea should experiment within some specific years. There should be a well-defined scope of the zoning. I suggest it should be first among regions and then geo-political zones. Regions here means the north and south. Geo-Political zones here represent the northeast, the north-central, the north-west, the south-east, south south, and south-west.

 Everyone must be carried along if we must close loopholes that politicians exploit. What is good for the north should definitely be good for the south. What is bad for the north should surely be bad for the south vice versa. If this country should thrive, we must eschew all sentiments and pursue causes that aid the whole country. We must have mutual respect, understanding, and love for one another. It doesn’t help any of us being acrimonious.

So many Nigerians may not agree with what I proposed. As I earlier stated, I was not a supporter of zoning. I still prefer merit to it. But in a country like Nigeria with the level of ethnic tensions, misunderstanding, mistrust, mischief, polarisation, evil machinations, etc: it is for the best that we make sacrifices, test new ideas, or old ones we have shied away from in our aim to get a workable solution for the country we all love.

Nigeria needs an accommodating, more inclusive, and better polity that gives room for everyone, even if it means getting it turn-by-turn. With time, we could reach the level where Nigerians will decide that we do away with zoning. Our level of understanding, maturity and development will warrant that one day. Policies, legislation, laws, and whatever are there for the purpose and time they best serve. Once they are no longer fashionable, they don’t address issues they were made in the first place to; amendments or new ones outrightly will be employed.

 Nothing is too complicated, overly strenuous, inconceivable, or even impossible to explore in the quest of building that truly great nation that will be the envy of other nations and a clear example of the incredible success that could be achieved when we get it right. I work and I long for the day we will get it right as a nation. Happy 61st Independence anniversary Nigeria. God bless Nigeria.

Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani wrote from Turaki B, Jalingo, Taraba State. He can be reached via abdulrazaksansani93@gmail.com.
Opinion

What independence do we celebrate?

3 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Mubarak Ibrahim Lawan

I still wonder about the “independence” that people celebrate on Social Media. Are we independent? Anyway, that’s a topic for Postcolonial theorists. However, I pity the barely Nigeria-educated boys and girls who blocked our roads yesterday shouting with fanfare about that “Independence”. Are they celebrating the blessed geographical entity called Nigeria or the non-working national system that was poorly set on the landmass exactly 61 years ago?

I for one find no reason to celebrate these years of bloodletting, corruption, political prostitution, misgovernance and economic mismanagement that destroy education, healthcare, transportation and hope. To respond to some commenters, I do not I receive “free education” from “Nigeria” nor pay very low tax. We all receive the education we pay for and also pay the tax that is barely seen in government’s projects.

We all pay school fees. One may argue that it is low compared to what is paid in other countries. However, the quality education that students receive in those countries is commensurate with what they pay. Here, we pay less money and get less, poor education. I believe he is sick in the head whoever thinks that parents should pay huge amount of money to enroll their children into the highly dilapidated public schools that have no toilets, no seats, no chalkboard let alone marker board; no teachers, no laboratories, no security and any academic aura.

Similarly, do we get electricity, roads, hospitals, schools, etc, from the little tax we pay? What we pay is even bigger than the little they give in return. Whatever subsidy that a government puts in place to ease the life of citizens does not exist in Nigeria. Yet some people tell you that Nigeria is the best country to live in. I pray may God heal their hearts!

The Peace and Unity that end our National Anthem are never true to the nation today. No region is peaceful or united from within let alone with other regions around. Everyday dozens of people die like fowls; tens are kidnapped and billions of Naira are embezzled and misappropriated. Still we lie to ourselves about the nation and even celebrate it’s “independence” day.

What is it to celebrate in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Borno and other places where thousands of women are made widows and their children orphans, still, running into thousands in IDPs? As such, is the celebration not a betrayal of our humanity? Are we truly celebrating this independence that equips bandits, kidnappers and other terrorists with more state-of-the-art weapons than the Nigeria Army?

We are not well-meaning Nigerians by mere celebrating independence day and sharing the “un-presidential” speech of the president who has been cocooned from the real world for years. Poor opportunists! We are not well-meaning Nigerians until we share the tragedy of every Nigerian. Similarly, we could only be Nigerians by fighting injustice, misgovernance and insecurity in every possible way.

Mubarak Ibrahim Lawan is a socio-political analyst. He writes from Kano, Nigeria.

Opinion

Nigeria and the need for food security

2 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

 

The right to sufficient food is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international law. Food security is regarded as a situation whereby all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life.  Food security is ensured when food becomes available, affordable and accessible.

 

However, it is good to note that food security is not simply having sufficient quantities of various staple foodstuffs. It also entails access to the entire citizenry to these food items at affordable prices. It further means that we must not only engage in mass food production but also ensure that Nigeria has sufficient purchasing power to acquire food items that guarantee good feeding and nutrition.
Food security has to do with the absence of threats of hunger or malnutrition people face in their lives. In a broad sense, it entails safety from basic physiological needs. The lack of safety will be manifested in chronic hunger or starvation and malnutrition.

The majority of the rural populace depends on Agricultural related activities for their livelihood. The appraisal in the past showed that successive administrations in Nigeria had initiated programs towards ensuring food availability and accessibility for the teeming population in the country.

These include; the National Accelerated Food Production Program (NAFPP) by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) by Murtala/Obasanjo Administration; River Basin and Rural Development Authority (RBRDA), Green Revolution and World Bank-funded Agricultural Development Project (ADP) by Shehu Shagari and Babangida’s Directorate for Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) among others.

Despite these efforts, Agriculture has been constrained by numerous challenges such as rural-urban migration, insufficient infrastructure, poor agricultural inputs, reliance on oil economy, over-dependence on rain-fed farming, environmental degradation, inadequate funding, poor socio-economic status of farmers, poor mechanization, climate change, corruption and poor commitment to the implementation of agricultural policies.

Yet, the most grievous bottleneck facing the agricultural sector today in Nigeria is the mass abandoning of arable land by farmers due to security challenges. These security threats include but are not limited to insurgency, banditry and kidnappings, killings and farmers-herders’ clashes. Consequently, all these turmoils lead to a deficit in agricultural production.

Nigeria still has the potentials to be food-secure through the adoption and implementation of strategic measures for the peasant farmers to operate in their farming activities through ensuring rural development, provision of easy access to basic farm inputs, adequate budgetary allocations to agriculture, particularly to the food crop sub-sector, enunciation of appropriate policies for food crop sub-sector, political stability, reduction in rural poverty, and peasant farmers’ education among others.

In response to that, the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated multiple agricultural programs aimed at ensuring food security in the country. Notable among them include the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) that commenced in 2015, which provides farm inputs both in kind and cash to smallholders farmers to boost the production of agricultural commodities. Tremendous success stories were achieved through this program, especially with breakthrough rice production in Kebbi State. The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) was launched in 2016, a partnership between Nigeria and Morocco to make fertilizer available to the farmers. In addition, farm Youth Lab (FYL) is another Initiative of the Federal Agricultural Ministry to train Nigerian youths on livestock production and sustainable urban agriculture.

Additionally, the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative (PEDI) was also launched in 2017 to support the revival of moribund industries, especially agro-processing ones, through facilitating investment, reducing regulatory bottlenecks, and enabling access to credit.

Moreover, in March 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the National Food Security Council (NFSC). The council was mandated to develop sustainable solutions to farmers and herders clashes, climate change, piracy and banditry, as well as desertification and their impacts on farmland, grazing areas, lakes and rivers. All these efforts are aimed towards increasing food production in the country.

The latest version of National Security Strategy 2019, a document released by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Retired Major-General Babgana Monguno, noted that with the drastic reduction of food importation, the government would continue to develop agricultural potentials to attain self-sufficiency in food production as well as exportation. “The government will further consolidate investment in agricultural mechanization, irrigation and infrastructure to mitigate the risk and uncertainty occasioned by seasonal rainfall. In addition, modern techniques will be adopted to improve beef and dairy production and consolidate strategic food reserves to ensure that the nation is prepared for major emergencies and shortages”.

The latest Federal Government directives on the establishment of farm estates in 109 Senatorial districts across the nation deserves an accolade. This mandate is to be realized by the recently resuscitated National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), which has already commissioned its first integrated farm estate in Katsina and other states. Across the country, each farm is expected to engage in the rearing of poultry, fish and livestock, apiculture, crop farming, packaging and processing, respectively.

With this development, it is hopeful that the country will achieve food security and self-sufficiency in food production within the near future.

Nonetheless, even if all the policies mentioned above are implemented unless strategic measures are put in place to curtail the rising security challenges bedevilling the country, otherwise, the wish of the country to become a food-secure nation will never be realized.

Thus, peaceful environments should be created for farmers to resettle and muster more strength towards cultivating the vast abandoned arable lands in order to boost agricultural production in the country.

Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi writes from Kano. He can be contacted via ymukhtar944@gmail.com.

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