National

In a historic visit, President Bola Tinubu received his Senegalese counterpart, President Bassirou Faye, at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday.

This marks Faye’s first official visit to Nigeria since assuming office last month. 

Faye, who arrived at 3:09 pm, was greeted by President Tinubu at the Villa’s forecourt.

The Senegalese president’s victory in a delayed presidential election in April made him the youngest president in Senegal’s history, securing over 54% of the votes. 

The State House was adorned with both Nigerian and Senegalese flags in preparation for the visit, which was announced by President Tinubu’s social media aide, Dada Olusegun. 

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations and exploring areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Senegal.

The visit is seen as an opportunity to boost economic growth and development in the West African region. 

Faye’s visit marks a significant milestone in Senegal-Nigeria relations, building on a long history of cooperation between the two nations.

The outcome of the meeting is expected to be announced soon, but the visit has already highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has issued a serious alert to Kano State residents concerning the impending danger posed by the possibility of flooding in 14 out of the state’s 44 Local Government Areas this year.

Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, the NiMET Kano/Jigawa Territorial Coordinator, disclosed the high risk of flooding during a Disaster Risk Management Stakeholders Coordination Meeting on Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook in Kano.

Abdullahi named the LGAs to include Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garum Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura, and Dala.

He added that five other LGAs—Karaye, Takai, Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa, and Makoda, were moderately prone to high-risk flooding.

Abdullahi said, however, that the remaining 25 LGAs were at low risk, naming them as Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Garko, Albasu, Gaya, Kiru, Rogo, Gwarzo, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Bagwai, Bichi, Kunchi, Danbatta, Minjibir, Gabasawa, Gwale, Fagge, Nassarawa, Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Ungogogo, Kumbotso, and Gezawa.

According to him, the meeting was to stimulate discussion and devise plans on the best ways to avert the predicted flooding across the state.

Abdullahi said, “The meeting, in collaboration with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), became necessary to remind stakeholders of their responsibilities regarding the impact of climate change and the expensive nature of environmental disasters.”

He lamented that women and children are the most affected persons during the rainy season, calling on the people in the flood-prone areas to take all necessary preventing measures before.

By Uzair Adam Imam and Aisar Fagge

Senator Rufa’i Hanga, representing Kano Central, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to introducing developmental programmes that will positively impact the lives of the less privileged in his constituency.

Senator Hanga made this declaration during a press conference held on Sunday at his constituency office in Kano State, expressing his strong dedication to serving humanity despite facing health challenges.

He stated that his empowerment initiatives for over two thousand women and scholarships for Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Kano State Polytechnic are just the tip of the iceberg. He emphasized his determination to undertake more impactful programmes through his 2024 constituency projects.

Despite battling illness since his appointment, Senator Hanga managed to achieve many programmes such as providing medical check-ups and free medication to the needy in their homes, sallah clothes for 2050 orphans, donating books to schools, securing jobs for some youths, thanks to his dedicated team.

Furthermore, Senator Hanga pledged to introduce a motion aimed at restoring the gradually eroded powers of traditional rulers and emirs in the state, as per the request of the Kano State Emirate Council.

According to Senator Hanga, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has urged him to present a motion in the senate to restore the authority of traditional rulers in the state.

“I firmly believe in their significance. Therefore, they should be endowed with constitutional rights to carry out their traditional responsibilities, which have been integral to the system for years,” Senator Hanga stated.

He emphasized that traditional rulers often utilize their influence to maintain peace and address security challenges, not only at the state level but also nationwide.

Senator Hanga also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Kano state, particularly his supporters, who stood by him with prayers during his challenging times.

He remarked that he is thankful to God for his ongoing recovery.

By Uzair Adam Imam

After enduring 17 years of chronic groin inflammation, a 72-year-old man in Switzerland finally found relief.

Doctors at University Hospital Basel identified the cause as a parasitic infection contracted through mosquito bites decades earlier.

The man, who remained anonymous, suffered significant swelling in his penis, scrotum, and left leg.

Doctors noted severe inflammation upon examination, with bloodwork showing double the normal levels.

Further investigation revealed microscopic worms responsible for lymphatic filariasis.

An antibody test confirmed the presence of Wuchereria bancrofti, transmitted through mosquito bites.

These worms hatch in the bloodstream, travel through the lymph system, and cause swelling.

Treatment with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole proved effective, with the man’s symptoms completely resolving within two months.

This case, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of seeking medical attention for persistent and unusual symptoms, regardless of embarrassment.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, recounts his harrowing near-death experience at a hospital in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Dalung reveals that he fell ill on Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital, where he lost consciousness shortly after undergoing doctor’s interviews.

In a post shared via X on Friday, Dalung recounted being admitted to the emergency ward but left unattended for over four hours due to non-payment of admission deposits.

He shared how he regained partial consciousness and managed to make the necessary deposit before receiving medical attention.

“I took ill on Wednesday, arrived at the hospital, and shortly became unconscious after doctor’s interviews.

“I was ferried into the emergency ward but abandoned for over four hrs due to non-payment of admission deposits.

“Regained partial consciousness and later did the transfer of deposit,” he revealed.

“After that,” he continued, “I fell into unconsciousness again for about seven hours.

“To God be the glory, I have been discharged after three days and recovering. Were it not for partial consciousness to pay the deposits, I would have been Mr. late.

“Many Nigerians have gone this way. Where is our humanity?” Dalung added, highlighting the urgency for better healthcare accessibility and compassion towards patients in need,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Amidst the devaluation of the Nigerian currency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a stern warning to embassies, instructing them not to demand foreign currency for goods and services within the country.

In a memo addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede emphasized the illegality of collecting any currency other than the Naira in Nigeria.

The memo, dated May 5, 2024, highlighted the violation of Nigerian laws and financial regulations by embassies invoicing consular services in United States Dollars.

Olukoyede underscored the significance of adhering to Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which designates currencies issued by the apex bank as the sole legal tender in the country.

The EFCC boss condemned the refusal of some embassies to accept the Naira for consular services, describing it as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and undermining its monetary policy and economic development objectives.

Expressing zero tolerance for this trend, Olukoyede urged the Minister to convey the Commission’s displeasure to all embassies in Nigeria, reiterating Nigeria’s expectation for their operations to comply with existing laws and regulations.

This move by the EFCC comes as embassies in Nigeria persist in demanding and collecting Dollars for goods and services, a practice detrimental to the local currency.

By Halima Ibrahim

Sheikh Ali Isa Ibrahim, also known as Pantami, a former Nigerian minister, called for a debate over his books. In response, Ibrahim Bello-Kano, a Professor of English from Bayero University Kano, called Pantami a “poor writer”. The rejoinder, as obtained by The Daily Reality, reads:

Now, I have a few points to make about Mr Pantami wishing or asking to debate his critics. But before my first point, let me say this. If the forwarded message on this platform is really from, or written by, Pantami, then it’s clear that he’s a poor writer and a shoddy thinker to boot.

Look at the poorly written prose and the ample indicators of the writer’s low critical thinking acumen.

So, back to my first point: millions of books and papers by living authors are reviewed across the writing and publishing world daily, but I’ve never heard of any serious writer or author asking to debate his or her reviewers or commentators on his or her book. Pantami’s demand to debate his critics is pretty odd for any sound academic or scholar.

Second, Reviews have a world of their own and are not personal or personalised pieces or responses.

Third, Pantami can respond to his critics in writing. This is quite acceptable. His quip that his critics should rather write their own books is powerful evidence of his being an alien to academic culture.

Fourth, the debate on skills versus degree qualification is an old one, since the 1950s. It was an old credo of American Pragmatism from William James to John Dewey (see, on this, Richard Rorty’s “Consequences of Pragmatism”, 1989). So, Pantami isn’t saying anything new. He’s, again, not conversant with the topic in Education, Pedagogy, or Teacher Training.

Fifth, Pantami is the typical semi-educated person who’s pained by ASUU’s rejection of his illegal Professorship and is desperate to soothe his badly bruised ego.

Sixth, his or the claim that his book is being translated into many other languages is either a lie or just an attempt to pass off his questioned erudition. Let him or his defenders mention or give evidence as to the languages that his book has been translated into. Just how many? It’s rare to see an author literally begging to debate his critics or reviewers in the immediate moment.

Finally, Pantami can have his dubious “bragging rights”, but that’s where his case properly belongs — bragging rights for a man whose ego and scholarly claims have been badly and justifiably bruised.

Indeed, the whole debate on skills and not just degrees was misconceived. Richard Rory in his book, “Consequences of Pragmatism” shows how skills as such and theoretical understanding or epistemic capacity cannot ever be separated. Pantami’s book was a cowardly critique of University academics in general. As a person, Pantami has had deep inferiority complexes relative to his more intellectual colleagues. That became worse after his illegal Professorship debacle, which was heavily criticized by many groups. The Latinate word TECHNE says it all. You learn to root knowledge in the very act of doing.

Conceptual thinking is always present, even in the so-called skills. Take a mechanic who has had long years of learning by doing. Yet that mechanic cannot now know about changes in technology in which one has to follow diagrams, instructions, and manuals to install an electric circuit or new nozzle equipment in a new model car. The best doctors or mechanics are those who keep abreast of theoretical or conceptual developments in their field. Skills are not enough. Theoretical understanding prepares one to adapt to a situation. Pantami is just flogging a dead worse.

Again, he’s not well versed in the very philosophy of action that he wrongly thinks comes before the episteme. Finally, what would Pantami say about a cutting-edge science called THEORETICAL PHYSICS?

By Sabi’u Abdullahi

Shaykh Isah Ali Pantami, an academic and author, has challenged the critics of his book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” to a debate at a location of their choice.
 
This challenge comes after some academics took to social media to criticise the book without reading it, according to a Facebook post by Yakubu Sani Wudil, a close associate of Prof. Pantami.
 
In the post, Wudil wrote: “Some indirectly criticise without reading the book and, ironically, also go ahead and make recommendations the same with the advocacy of the book.”
 
He added that Prof. Pantami is ready for an intellectual debate on any campus in Nigeria, saying: “The author will be available for the intellectual debate as early as tomorrow in sha Allah, if the venue is not too far from Abuja.”
 
Wudil invited critics to nominate three representatives for the debate, which will be coordinated by a team of academics including himself, Adeolu Akande, El-Bonga, Dr. Adamu Tilde, and Realoilsheikh.
 
He stated that the venue, date, and time will be chosen by the critics, as he was quoted as saying, “The floor is yours to choose the venue, the best among the critics to be adopted by the consensus of all of them, just specify the date & time.”
 
Prof. Pantami’s book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” is currently being translated into other international languages.
 
According to Wudil, “Praises and thanks are due to the Almighty. Among the 5 books authored by @ProfIsaPantami in the last 2 years, #SkillsRatherThanJustDegrees has been the most popular and impactful by far.”
 
The debate challenge has sparked excitement in academic circles, with many eagerly awaiting the intellectual showdown.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

In a decisive operation on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Benin expressway, the Ogun State Police Command has neutralized two suspected kidnappers in a shootout, as announced by Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson.

According to Ms Odutola, the suspects met their fate during a daring rescue mission executed by police personnel to liberate abducted Indian nationals. 

The successful operation, aided by local vigilantes, led to the safe recovery of the hostages.

Identified as Tejaram Chauhan, Kaduwal Pradhan, and Medani Kathiwada, the Indian nationals had fallen victim to abduction on Friday. 

Alongside their rescue, authorities seized a substantial sum of N7.9 million, along with 1,500 Indian Rupees, believed to be part of the ransom extorted by the kidnappers.

The ordeal began when the Manager of Breeze Company Nigeria Limited, situated on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway, reported an attack to the Divisional Police Officer, Mowe Divisional Headquarters. 

The incident involved gunfire directed at vehicles transporting the manager’s principals at Kajola junction along the Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta expressway.

While the police escort accompanying the first vehicle managed to repel the assailants and safeguard all occupants, three Indian nationals in the second vehicle were abducted. 

Prompt response from the anti-kidnapping section, in collaboration with local security units, initiated a thorough search of the area.

A fierce confrontation ensued in the forest along the Benin-Sagamu Papalanto route, resulting in the rescue of the hostages unharmed. 

Two of the six kidnappers were incapacitated during the exchange of fire, with authorities recovering two AK-47 rifles, a single-barrel locally made gun, a sword, cell phones, criminal paraphernalia, and 65 rounds of ammunition.

The deceased suspects have been transferred to the public mortuary while intensive efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

By Bala Idris

When, on 29th May 2023, against the advice of the Presidential Transition Council Inaugural Committee, you took to the podium at Eagle Square to audaciously declare an end to the corrupted fuel subsidy regime in your first speech as President of the Federal Republic, you most certainly did not envisage an instant bushfire effect – a rabid fuel scarcity which immediately ignited intense economic hardship and food crisis across the country – even before you stepped down from that platform. 

That singular phrase, “Fuel subsidy is gone!” reverberated harshly and pummeled the nation to a pulp, with prices skyrocketing and people’s modest earnings suddenly becoming unbearably meagre. This sparked an agitation for a new salary and minimum wage regime in the country.

The situation took a deeper dive when you announced the student loan scheme with all the attendant uncertainties, causing another spike in tuition fees across universities and concurrent student dropouts. Then, the Naira plummeted against the dollar, further tightening the noose of survival for everyday Nigerians. This effectively wiped out the middle class and created a situation where even basic commodities like Maggie, Oil, Toothpaste, and Garri, to mention a few, were no longer affordable to “ordinary” Nigerians, particularly Pensioners. 

All through this crisis, you have consistently demonstrated an abiding commitment to work harder to ensure that life eventually becomes easy and meaningful for Nigerians. This is in addition to obvious mitigation measures like the recent NGN200 Billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, effective monetary policies that made the Naira rebound in a record feat, and a review of the Student Loan Act with more enabling and lenient provisions, among other sustainable initiatives. 

These have demonstrated that it is clearly not in your character or policy to deliberately perpetuate hardship or deprive the labourer of their wage. 

As such, organs of government under your watch should not be used as a launchpad for inhumane onslaught by heads of agencies unilaterally degrading salaries and emoluments, particularly at a time of huge price increases in the middle of the most severe cost-of-living crisis in Nigerian history. 

Such is the situation that over 20yrs pensioners of Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASCL) in October 2023 woke up to, a shocking unilateral decision led by the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, to decapitate their emoluments by up to 33% under a “backend computation” pretext. 

In the wake of this onslaught, many woke up to payment alerts far below the existing minimum wage, more so when their pension was already not adequate enough for the comfortable last days of a nation’s senior citizens who have spent the better part of their useful lives in the service of their fatherland! 

This is also coming at a critical time when spiralling inflation has already degraded the emolument by many percentages, shrinking it to a sub-existence level. 

Mr President, it is important to point out that this inhumane act against our nation’s senior citizens by PTAD and its E.S. was carried out without any known authorising memo from its supervising ministry and without any known audit that points to the alleged discrepancies it claimed to have covered in the so-called backend competition that equally lacked relevant stakeholders input. 

While an existing court order has urged both parties to maintain the status quo, PTAD has continuously been in contempt of this order, still insisting on paying the degraded emoluments, which have been found to be fraught with monumental errors. As a result, PTAD agreed to an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to review the backend computation again with relevant stakeholders’ input. 

However, this has proven to be an exercise in futility as it appears PTAD is only interested in stalling the court case. It has not lived up to its promise by reverting to the normal pension regime as of the last payment in March 2024. 

Meanwhile, these pensioners are languishing in abject poverty, deprivation, hunger and some terminal ailments, mostly unable to feed their families, pay the bills, purchase essential drugs or pay for school tuition fees. 

Your excellency, sir, your intervention in this matter in not only ensuring their right dues are paid to them but also enabling them to benefit from upward reviews of salaries and minimum wage will bring a relief to which the pensioners will remain eternally grateful to you. 

You may wish to recall that about six months ago, Federal pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD) raised concerns over your re-appointment of Dr Chioma Ejikeme as executive secretary.

The pensioners also demanded a prudent audit of PTAD’s activities under her leadership, including the recovery of 163 million naira in monthly running costs, looted pension funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC), and the recovery of 9 billion naira in assets from Bots and insurance companies.

On this basis, Mr President sir, I call on you, as a compassionate father, to order the restoration to the normalcy of ASCL Pensioners’ monthly emoluments and urgently invite the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission to advise the Federal Government accordingly on the true interpretation of the pensioner’s emoluments. 

In other words, Mr President, sir, call PTAD to order, declare an immediate probe into the situation, order a reversal of the status quo, and follow due process. Let the “poor breath!”

Bala is a concerned citizen and public affairs analyst, he writes from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.