Opinion

By Alkasim Harisu Alkasim

The challenges of marriage are common knowledge within and outside Nigeria. To sensible people, marriage is a keystone of luxury life. Yet, although marriage sometimes falls short of happiness and peace, personal uprightness and esteem still accompany and embellish those in the industry.

The marriage industry is chaotic. It is now commonplace to see overaged women competing for the love of a single male person alongside younger ladies. This explains how choked the industry is. Marriage, as an institution, demands a lot from us. To excel in this business, one has to school himself in patience, courage and determination. Otherwise, one will do a lousy job, and things will go south. 

In today’s materialistic world, what we call true love is lacking. Money buys love. A person can date a highborn woman even if he is lowborn. What allows him to do so is bucks. In cultures such as Indian, there is what they call a “caste system” that stratifies the society whereby one marries from within one’s caste. Interclass marriage is an abomination and, thus, a bad omen. Excessive expenses usher marriage.

In northern Nigeria today, to marry means a lot. One has to break the bank to afford marriage and multitask to afford to run a family. The trousseau he will gather robs him of too much money. If not loaded, one will feel like breathing his last while readying himself for this Sisyphean task.

Many a great family pressure prospective male spouses a lot to the extent they feel compelled to compensate their colossal expenditure by undertreating the girls they wed. The sight of the girls bores them; as a result, they start to mistreat them. This also purges them of the hate they hold for these exploitative families.

Poverty is raging, and the employment industry is becoming more competitive. Degree holders swarm places looking for well-paying jobs. As a result, some graduates are now resorting to low jobs that discredit scholarship and the status they are beginning to build. Some, willy nilly, accept works that break the back and pay low, thanks to the devastating nature of Nigeria’s economy.

Telling a greedy girlfriend that your wages or salary is not handsome implies losing her.  It once happened to my friend whose name I won’t mention here, for I feel that should be private. This happened when his family went to the girlfriend’s place. His father honestly told them about the level of income of his son. This bitter truth opened for my friend Pandora’s box. The relationship had since then staggered. In short, the two lovebirds have parted ways.

What hardens the issue of marriage in the North is our belittling the effort of even the hardworking people. We neither accept what our sons-in-law present nor study the situation on the ground. We need to wise up on this. But, unfortunately, some circumstances press people to do only those things that top their priorities.

It is worrisome that many families capitalise on their children’s beauty to milk boys of all their money. Such homes allow their daughters to tryst (zance) with more than a person at a time. In some houses, queues are made every day for a single girl. Boys take turns. Sometimes, some inpatient boyfriends cut in on the conversations of their co-suitors. What a world! The girl is seen as a moneymaking machine. Likely, after cashing in on her suitors, the girl will go out of fashion. Her beauty and charisma will decrease. As she puts on age, her boyfriends vanish, and the likelihood to marry a dream husband reduces. Now it is her younger sisters’ time. When it salaams at their home, the sendee will mention the name of her younger sisters instead. It will take time before she gets dated by somebody. Indeed life is a roller coaster. 

The social commerce between a girl and a boy worsens when the girl’s family pressure the boy for money. As he feels absolutely tired of lifting the girl’s responsibilities, he looks for a way to benefit from the dealing. The social intercourse between a girl and a boy does not stop at the former’s house as the duo rendezvous at their chosen spots. Now, the love glue between them starts to grow stronger. He will undeniably feel the urge to do the unlawful with her to the level he begins bedding her.

The groom has to pay dowry that a time costs him much. There is an amount which, if he pays below, he will have his money returned or hotly debated right at the place where the thing of the knot is occurring. In some instances, such disagreement plants in the groom’s family some disregard for the bride’s home. A bride needs to be lodged and fed. And if the groom doesn’t have his own house, he will have to find a place to sleep with his wife. Today’s brides come with vast furniture; the groom has to look for a house that sleeps like five people to contain his wife’s belongings. 

Believe it or not, the complexion of our societies has changed; we are not aiming at uprightness. We are after money and money-related things. If you are monied, you are everything. You can marry who you want. One can be immoral and still have a choice wife. That is why the deep-pocketed hire people to fake it as their parents/relatives. A bastard, in the world of today, betters a son borne in wedlock. Therefore, to be virtuous is to be well-endowed.

Allah Ka gyara ma na. Amin.

Alkasim Harisu Alkasim wrote from Kano. He can be reached via alkasabba10@gmail.com.

By Dr. Bello Shehu Abdullahi

Success in this life, be aware, is never accidental. You might have been told that you can’t succeed by your hard work. Of course, everything is fate-driven and all things are presupposed by the divine will of our creator. However, let me tell you that the requirements to succeed in whatever thing you do cannot be by accident. Even those born with silver spoons put a number of things into action, if not themselves, at least, their parents have. As such, one crucial thing to be warry of in relation to success attainment is the need to put in place the four inter-dependent entities below.

You might be curious to know these ways to success, or you have even been battling with a way to get yourself successful in your career with ease? While there may be no easy way to success in life, getting the below points borne in your mind could make you achieve it with super ease.

• Determine
Simply put, I’ll define determination as ‘the penchant to get something done.’ Your ability to get this attribute stuck into yourself or get yourself engulfed with a very high will to succeed in your endeavours is the very first step you need. Fate apart, if you have no determination to get something done, it is only in rare illogical and mysterious cases that something—whether good or otherwise—comes your way. With this awareness, then, you need to be determined in achieving that principal or minor goal of yours. Your ability to be determined will not only make you get prepared for the ups and downs of the process but would also—even at the very least—enrich your mental dexterity to be psychologically self-sufficient in your dealings.

Let’s say you’re a high school or college student and you’ve been informed of the complexities of your course of study and the extensive research rigour one needs to excel in it. These got you scared and stuck in self-doubt. ‘Can I really make this?’ you have asked yourself. One thing I’d tell you is to imbue a very strong determination to achieve that acclaimed unachievable feat while erasing the very first self-doubt in you. With this, you set a rigid way forward to success for yourself. Do you know what you need next?

• Dedicate
Determination to achieve a feat—perhaps a ground-breaking one—isn’t sufficient. While you determine to achieve a certain goal, you as well need to dedicate yourself to the very requirement to achieve such a goal. For a student, needless for me is to say you need to study hard and get acquainted with both the theoretical and practical aspects of your course of study. Your own case might not be for education, but business. You too need dedication. See, the very first time you start your business, highly probable it’s that you might experience some kinds of cons than pros. The ability to dedicate your time and identify the cause of this would eventually give you joy. Your feasibility study might be weak, or even the analysis of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of your business might be unstably inaccurate. If this happens, then, dedication sets you free from these ilks of economic worries. While you’re dedicated, you also need this.

• Persist
Persistence, the ability to bear every adventure and discovery you’re exposed to in the course of doing something, is what you need next. In pursuit of success, you find yourself at a level where no one else can convince you not to quit. Some even have committed suicide due to a lack of persistence. If your adventures and discoveries are life-threatening, the spirit to persist gives you a perpetual fruit you could never have imagined. In your experience as a student, tests, assignments, seminar and class presentations, sleepless nights, etc. are all that you battle with and make you result in quitting. See, if you quickly make that wrong decision, you don’t only waste your spent time and resources, but also ruin the very near success you have determined to have and have dedication for. So, while you’re determined and dedicated, make sure you persist with all the hurdles of your career. Don’t forget you want to achieve this.

• Succeed
Yes. This is exactly what you want to achieve. Success. You strive and tirelessly sacrifice to be determined in order to be successful. You don’t only get determined, you also dedicate everything you have for success. In fact, despite your experience of many trials and hurdles, you persist in that lane. And, now, this is SUCCESS. This is the end product of the tireless agitation. Largely, if you ever dream to be successful in life, one thing I’d want you to bear in mind is these things above. You determine, dedicate, persist and so you succeed.

By Marzuq Ungogo

I have read Barack Obama’s A Promised Land for the past five months. I started with an E-book and bought the hard copy, hoping to speed up my reading. While I have read dozens of books this year, this 751-page book is the most impactful I have read.

Obama started with a summary of his life and his foray into politics while trying to avoid repeating details present in the Dreams from My Father and Audacity of Hope. After that, in an impressively comprehensive style, Obama described the chronology of events in the Democratic Party nomination.

One thing was clear that in addition to the fact that he was well prepared, Obama happened to be in the race just in time when there was a need for a fresh voice, a different perspective at the face of the failure of the familiar. His informed opinion about the Middle East and Afghan war, the American economy and the plight of ordinary citizens, have endeared Obama to many. Notably, Obama put forward an agenda for national unity using stories that revealed how much reality and fate Americans share beyond racial and demographic characteristics. The fact that he was running against a respected woman, Hillary Clinton, with a track record of excellence and dedication to family made the competition for the Democratic candidature very tough. However, it did not come as a surprise when Obama won the candidature, making history as the first black person to go that far.

However, the race even got hotter as Obama faced the Republican candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin. But he was ready! Obama was able to speak in a language young people, progressives, people of colour, minorities, anti-war, affordable healthcare advocates, and environmentalists could understand. Benefiting from a coordinated network of internet-savvy young volunteers, Obama’s message ‘Yes, We Can’ spread far and wide, growing number of supporters and currying more dollar donations. Knowing fully that many of his potential voters, the youth and minorities, were not registered to vote, a part of his campaign was dedicated to ensuring new voters were duly registered.

As Americans went to poll in November 2008, victory was well in sight for the 47-year-old contestant. Barrack Hussain Obama won the seat of the 44th President of the United States of America following a victory in both electoral college and popular votes.

Going forward, the book dedicated some chapters on how Obama assembled his cabinet and staff. There were two key priorities, economy and security. Unfortunately for Obama, he won the seat when a recession was ripe, arising from Wall Street and other financial malpractices. Sadly, the Bush administration underestimated the whole situation and its impact on average citizens who lost both their mortgages and jobs. Therefore, Obama and the new team started working on injecting and stimulating the economy before his inauguration. Given his promise to minimise America’s troops and funding in the Middle East and Afghan war, strategic appointments related to security were also carefully made to ensure that.

Obama was not economical with words on his proud The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This detail provides outsiders like me with a deepening explanation of the American senate and house politics in a straightforward language. Factors and concepts such as the filibuster, lobbying, the categories of republicans and democrats, and the arts of political compromises were alive throughout. The project involved injecting 800 billion dollars into the account through multiple sectors. This big money was hoped to halt the worsening of the recession, build consumer and investor confidence and at the same time drive some infrastructure development.

At last, the bill was passed to the relief of the economic team. As Obama would claim later in the book, the project has tremendously contributed to putting the US economy in shape. In addition, Obama worked towards a bill that protects consumers against future recklessness of the banks and other financial institutions. A similar level of detail was used to describe the politicking around Obamacare Act and decarbonisation agenda, and so on.

In a dedicated section of chapters ‘The World as it is’, Obama narrated his global political agenda, actions, visits, and collaborations. Obama generously educated his writer about the structure and place of Iraq and Iran in the scheme of Middle East geopolitics, of course, through the American lens. The writer did the same epistle on Russia, China and other world political players. He narrated his famous visits to Russia, China, Egypt, Japan and other countries in an attempt to promote world peace and extend a handshake with America’s perennial rivals. Although there were some futile attempts at balance, the writer didn’t hesitate to black paint Iran, Russia, and China in that typical American cliche. Nevertheless, ‘A promised land’ provides an interesting short course on global politics.

Another part, ‘In the barrel’, was dedicated to an exhaustive account of Obama’s life as the US President and other day-to-day internal affairs. Disasters, damage control, action, response, bills, acts, and politics all sandwiched in a maze that keeps the president of the USA exhausted. This was followed by the last part, ‘On the High Wire’ centred around the fight against terror and yet again the complex international politics. Notably, Obama proudly gave a detailed account of the Abbottabad raid that led to the successful neutralisation of Osama Bin Laden in 2011. The book was carefully terminated at that point, amplifying victory against evil and a sense of fulfilment for the families of victims of 9/11.

Obama tried not to go into details on the politicking process for the 2012 presidential election. This suggests that the stories were saved for another day, likely packaged currently in a different book.

The author’s mastery of language, the gift of oration, interesting sense of humour and occasional sarcasm have beautified the book in a manner that captures the imagination of the reader.

In summary, the writer successfully highlighted lessons in politics of principles, the audacity to dream the ‘impossible’, the perseverance to push against all odds and the smartness in utilising modern technology and the resource of young people. The book also extolled the virtue of intense preparation for aspiring leaders. In addition, this book highlighted the achievements of Obama’s first presidency, especially the control of economic recession and creation of jobs, better access to healthcare, decarbonisation efforts, international alliance and fight against terror.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Hisbah, particularly that of Kano State, has become a constant subject of controversies. All thanks to social media, which provide platforms for the proliferation of information channels, expression of dissents, scrutiny and analyses of actions of agencies of government and organizations. Sadly, Hisbah is at the receiving end of online trolls, and the relative goodwill it enjoys is plummeting downward. The irony of Hisbah’s dilemma is her complicity in her woes. 

Generally, Hisbah is saddled with upholding community morals based on Qur’anic injunctions. However, in the case of Kano, it is a creation of the “Hisbah Board Law of 2003”. This became a child of necessity owing to the reluctance of the police to enforce the Sharia Penal Code.

In countries around the world where moral policing with the resemblance of what is obtainable in Hisbah is practised, like Pakistan and some Islamic countries, human rights violations are always prevalent. So, it is not surprising that people express their dismay when liquor bottles conveyed in trucks are confiscated. People believe their rights and the rights of others to do liquor business are being trampled on. For example, it’s alleged that the Kano State Hisbah Board recently invited Shatu Garko’s parents because she participated in the contest that led to her emergence as Miss Nigeria. Although Hisbah denied it, it did not sit well with liberal Muslims who argued that Miss Garko’s apparel aligns with Islamic teachings.

Another possible reason people are probably tired of Hisbah is how the organization dwells on trivialities amidst the many challenges that beleaguer today’s North and the country in general. This, no doubt, has reduced Hisbah to a comical sensation in some quarters. It is laughable that in a society where many of her youths are abusing drugs and coteries of substances, an organization for upholding moral values would focus its energy on the nudity of mannequins. In today’s North, many moral concerns of overwhelming importance are left unchecked.

A Hisbah’s top commander was reported to have been found under suspicious circumstances with a married woman in a hotel room. This was no doubt a clear case of a hunter being hunted. The organization did the needful by relieving him of his job. But the incident had doubtlessly left a dent on their image. I am not saying Hisbah members are angels that cannot violate the same ideas they seemingly defend and hold others accountable for. Still, just like how police in Nigeria are often viewed with suspicion, Hisbah would not be far from such if it keeps having corps with untamed libidinal desires.

Moreover, Hisbah has been selective in her moral crusade. The powerful and their children do not always answer for what Hisbah will term morally wrong if the ordinary man did it with no power. Not everyone can be summoned; the commoner with no voice is always the victim.

A Hisbah director recently tried to explain discrimination on who is invited for questioning and counselling. He opined that in Islam, leaders are not publicly chastised for their wrong actions. He is correct, however, does this rule extends to their children? With my modest understanding of Islam, it is not. It was rather a ridiculous excuse for what they can not do for obvious reasons. Although many see his excuse as hypocrisy, I do not see any difference either. Hisbah should not operate on the parlance of some animal farms where some animals are more equal than others. That way, it loses its credibility, goodwill and legitimacy.

Ahmad Deedat Zakari is an undergraduate at the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He can be reached via ahmadzakari111@gmail.com.

By Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani

I begin this piece with what may strike the readers as a puzzling title. Perhaps it is. But I write this is in respect of the festive period and a matter closely associated with it. It is that time of the year where organisations, newspapers, magazines, groups, and even individuals sit to award, eulogise their heroes and heroines, or write about their persons of the year. A tradition that commenced in 1927 in the United States, Time magazine. 

According to a Wikipedia entry, ‘The tradition of selecting a “Man of the Year” began in 1927, with Time editors contemplating the newsmakers of the year. The idea was also an attempt to remedy the editorial embarrassment earlier that year of not having aviator Charles Lindbergh on its cover following his historic trans-Atlantic flight. By the end of the year, it was decided that a cover story featuring Lindbergh as the Man of the Year would serve both purposes.

Since then, this has continued with different labels, such as Man of the Year, Woman of the year, until the current and apt denomination: Person of the Year. I write today in the euphoria of the moment. But not so engrossed with it, as I had never subscribed nor joined those who partake in awarding their persons of the year, which has become prominent on social media recently by this time of the year. I relish seeing people excel in life. Although, I had never felt the urge to engage in the voguish celebration by an avalanche of people who issue this award chiefly on social media. 

But experts say to every rule; there is an exception. Although, I am not joining the trendy giving of awards or rather announcement of one’s person of the year. I have to acknowledge one of the most disciplined, rational, affable, and respectful Nigerians I have ever met. At this distressing hour of our history as a nation, I believe it is only fitting that patriotic people who have exhibited unique understanding in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, sharply divided country like ours are honoured, encouraged, or at least merely mentioned as a mark of appreciation for their selfless contributions to our nation. Through the prism they behold our country, this country stands any chance of overcoming its insurmountable challenges. I am in awe of whoever has proven beyond any iota of doubt to be of a commendable grasp of the intricacies of our diverse society. Hence, I am writing this to recognise a man who has served this country meritoriously and honourably retired. 

While I applaud all these, it is in the basics that hold our communities today that this distinguished Nigerian has been more actively involved and has magnetised me to him. The simplest things build our society. They hold the fibre of our communities closely knit. Even though this is lost on many, I comprehend the importance of nation-building, starting from the communities. 

Nigeria as a whole has been sitting on a powder keg. This makes it extremely easy for disgruntled elements or even criminals to make capital out of it. So, whoever stops those from exploiting this deserves every reverence they can get. However, my person of the year, a man of impeccable character, has mastered the art of living in peace with others in a diverse country like Nigeria, especially the state he comes from: I am glad to hail from the same state as him. Yes, he comes from my state. He is Baba Augustine, commonly called Baban Ella in our neighbourhood, while we both refer to each other as Kawu, Baban Ella being a Jenjo man. 

I will, for this reason, address him as we usually call each other. Kawu lives in our Sabon Gari neighbourhood in Jalingo. More people don’t profess the same faith with him in our street. Muslims mainly own houses. Kawu is a Christian. It is now a time Muslims and Christians find themselves jostling to relocate to neighbourhoods predominantly occupied by those who worship God the way they do in fulfilment of the polarised realities of our country majorly resided by adherents of the two faiths. But as I was reliably informed, Kawu has resisted countless times the pleas to transpose by those who have accepted the new order of doing things. They believe it is safer to live in places inhabited only by members of their faiths. However, there is only a semblance of security in some instances, even in these types of neighbourhoods. 

The nitty-gritty of the matter is not that he has flagrantly refused to move into another place. But he has continued to relate with people from all social strata with unmatchable grace, sincerity, dignity, and esteem. Moreover, the way he attends to society’s problems is refreshing, laudable, and gratifying. Wedding ceremonies, naming ceremonies, burial ceremonies, community meetings; name them, he is there and participates fully with the families of those involved in any of these regardless of their faith.

While I don’t necessarily fancy awards, I get excited seeing worthy awardees being awarded or even merely celebrating people who have distinguished themselves by living exemplary lives irrespective of their pockets, which draws many awards to personalities rather than refined manners that help nation-building. 

Nigerians must celebrate worthy people like Kawu. But, Nigerians should not only stop at that. They should go further to borrow a leaf from them and apply it in the arduous task of nation-building, which must begin with one being a better person before influencing the next person, the family, the next-door neighbour, friends, colleagues, and the country as a whole. 

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

By Ahmadu Shehu, PhD.

The comments by the Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari encouraging local populations to rise and defend themselves have mixed reactions. Governor Masari’s comments betray the frustration of state governments in curbing the incessant killings, kidnappings and wanton terrorism that has overtaken most parts of northern Nigeria, especially the northwest. This also portrays the disgustingly shameful inability of the current administration to secure the lives and properties of its citizens.  

In my opinion, Masari’s call to self-defence is the only option left for defenceless citizens who their governments leave at the mercy of terrorists. After many years of terror and horror, it is now apparent that Nigerians can no longer rely on the government for security and protection. As a result, Nigerians are in constant fear and uncertainty at home, on the road, in hotels, awake or asleep.

For one, the Nigerian police are grossly understaffed, ill-equipped and unmotivated to deal with the least of crimes in our society. Secondly, our last line of defence, the Nigerian armed forces, are overwhelmed. Despite its historical doggedness and glory, the Nigerian army has fallen victim to the Nigerian endemic corruption, nepotism and malfunction.

This, coupled with the fact that the country has been continuously militarized for decades, has oversaturated and weakened the numerical, financial and material strength of the armed forces. From Baga to Yenagoa, Seme to Mubi, Port Harcourt to Sokoto, the Nigerian military struggles with one threat or another within our borders.

Facing serious national threats such as IPOB and Oduduwa separatists, terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Ansaru, etc., rampant and rampaging bandits and kidnappers, have disorganized, disoriented and crippled the efficiency and efficacy of the Nigerian armed forces. There is certainly a limit to strength and power.

The Nigerian judiciary, which should have been a deterrent to criminals and the last resort for the masses and the poor, has been an easy, cheap tool for the wealthy. The weak, vulnerable citizens have mostly been on their own. They have resigned to fate and forsaken the course of justice, hoping only to get justice in the hereafter.

While the above is an absolute truth, Gov. Masari’s call is misplaced, ill-timed and counterproductive. My disagreement is not in the principle of what he said but in the approach and implementation. Masari is simply calling for absolute anarchy.

Now that the nation cannot deal with a few unorganized armed zealots, how do we imagine a situation where citizens are armed to the teeth? America, the world superpower, is consumed by this law of necessity. How much more of a country which cannot prosecute the smallest of its criminals?   

How would Gov. Masari deal with thousands of unemployed, illiterate, impoverished youth with arms and ammunition at their disposal? If all communities are armed as the Governor envisages, who will be the law in the state? Does Masari think that people with uncontrolled access to firepower equate to an organized police force? Does he understand that the only difference between the current bandits and yet-to-be-bandit youth is access to weapons and freedom from the law? 

I do not know who is responsible for educating our political leaders about the relationship between poverty, illiteracy and poor governance with the current situation in the north. But, still, whoever it is, they must be doing an awful job.

The simple truth is that most of our youth populations are idle, uneducated and miserably poor. Another fact is that the alternatives to gainful employment, hope and prosperity is despair, criminality and social crises.

There is still Katsina government house where the Governor lives in peace because the majority have no access to lethal weaponry. That scarcity is because of the restraint ensured by the law and order that is still in place.

While I disagree with Masari’s approach to this solution, I still believe that this is our only option to ending this madness in the short term. But, to succeed in this, there must be a workable framework.

First, the federal government must decentralize our police force. Secondly, each community must be led by the officials of our security forces to establish a community-based security outfit responsible for securing the immediate and broader community. Finally, all weapons must be registered and deployed through the security personnel in each community.

All participating community members must be registered with biometrics accessible to all Nigerian security agencies. In addition, all participating individuals must be given a short training on the use of firearms. The local and state authorities must provide ammunition, and all participating individuals must be assessed and be accessible to security and local authorities.

When this collaborative network of locals and state security forms a cohesive, functional security outfit, these devils will doubtlessly be defeated in no time.

However, the essential requirement for this to happen is a national leadership capable of mobilizing the citizens to confront local and national threats. Until this is achieved, all solutions are hanging on the balance. The Fulani say “hoore nastii hooraare, Allah yidoo gite”.

Dr Ahmadu Shehu is a herdsman, a social commentator, and passionate about the Nigerian project. He can be reached via ahmadsheehu@gmail.com.

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Unless proactive measures are put in place and fully implemented, otherwise the commitment made by Nigeria at the just concluded 26th annual edition of the Conference of Parties (COP26) Summit on climate change in Glasgow, United Kingdom, to end deforestation by 2030 and equally attain zero-net emission in another 30 years later, will continue to remain a mirage! This is evident if one looks at the country’s unprecedented hikes in cooking gas prices, not to even talk of diesel and kerosene.

Many people will resort to cutting down trees for fuel, leading to increased emission, deforestation and fewer flora communities to absorb methane gases being released to the atmosphere occasioned by human activities. What a setback?

Due to the volumes of greenhouse gases being continuously added to the atmosphere triggered by humans, it was observed that the earth is now 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer compared to the pre-industrial level. The impacts of climate change are now evident worldwide, ranging from wildfires in Greece and Algeria to flooding in Germany and Turkey to drought in Australia and Northern Nigeria.

There is also the crisis of extinction of land and ocean species, rising sea levels, and increased drought. Like Nigeria, these issues lead to increased food shortage, animal migration, health risks, poverty, and displacements for developing countries. In 2020, the 10-highest climate change-induced disasters occurred in some of the poorest parts of the world. It cost over $130 billion, killing thousands and displacing millions. These costs are escalating every year.

According to the latest version of National Security Strategy 2019, a document released by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), climate change has contributed to excessive flooding across the country, causing enormous human and economic losses. Additionally, it has led to seasons of drought, which affected agricultural activities and caused shelter losses. In 2019, the National Emergency Management Agency revealed that floods had displaced approximately 1.9 million Nigerians.

Research by scientists from Europe, US and China predict that by 2070, a third of the global surface would be unsuitable for human life as the global temperature rises. The prediction included West and Central Africa, which will force the majority of the people to migrate to a suitable region. It is estimated that about 81% of Nigeria’s population would suffer from these extreme temperatures. Despite our preference not to relocate, the extreme temperature may drive many people to do so.

Nigeria has outlined measures and plans toward combating the effect of climate change over the years. These include establishing a national youth climate innovation hub to harness climate innovation ideas from young Nigerians and include them in decision-making processes. The country has also approved the national action plan on gender and climate change to ensure that women, men, youth, and other vulnerable groups optimally benefit from climate change initiatives, programmes, policies, and funds. Nigeria has also developed a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) — which aims to build a framework for climate change adaptation, planning and governance, and an adaptation communication that would highlight adaptation activities and efforts in the country.

It is heartwarming to learn that President Muhammad Buhari signed into law on Thursday, November 18, 2021, the climate change bill passed by the national assembly. In signing the law, the president has made Nigeria join an elite group of countries that have enacted emissions-target legislation aiming to eliminate carbon emissions. This is a big deal for an oil-dependent nation also ranked as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change.

The main objective of the climate law is to provide an overarching legal framework for achieving Nigeria’s long-term climate goals, including a net-zero carbon emission target, national climate resilience, an adequate volume of climate finance, and the mainstreaming of climate change actions into national development priorities. In addition, the bill places climate change action in the broader context of efforts to achieve inclusive green and sustainable economic development for the most populous black country in the world.

Nigeria has long maintained that it wishes to use its climate policies as part of wider measures to achieve low-carbon, resilient, and equitable economic growth. Therefore, the act seeks to facilitate the intensive and complex cross-ministerial coordination of climate change action and the involvement of businesses and the civil society needed to achieve long-term climate objectives while also promoting climate-resilient social-economic development in the country.

The act also sets out to establish a systematic approach for the country to identify the significant climate risks and vulnerabilities facing the country and how to strengthen existing capacities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

With this current development of enacting the climate change act, it is apt to say that Nigeria is on the right course towards averting the dangers of climate change.

Nonetheless, individuals should also, on their own, help in projecting this campaign by abstaining from activities that cause environmental exploitation, especially illegal cutting down of trees, which ultimately trigger climate change.

With the pledges made by the affluent nations and private institutions during the Glasgow COP26 to collectively provide a minimum of $100 billion annually by 2023 in order to achieve the mandates of reducing climate change, getting financial guarantees for Nigeria will not be difficult. However, it must adopt climate action as fast as possible because scientists keep telling us that the planet is burning. Therefore, our lives literally depend on this global joint effort that COP 26 in Glasgow has represented.

Mukhtar Madobi wrote from Kano. He can be reached via ymukhtar944@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

Nigeria is burning. We have to stop it. We can’t afford to lose our dear nation. But who can be of help? The media has a critical role in extinguishing the fire before it goes out of hand.

Information is power, thereby making the media a powerful tool for sending persuasive messages. The more the messages flow in our societies, the higher their ability to shape public discourse. Media is a powerful tool used in shaping public opinion and thereby changing the way people behave, think, and even live sometimes. Unfortunately, the power elites often use it to achieve their aims. In present-day Nigeria, where things are still falling apart, are the media organisations playing a positive or negative role? 

The media has the role of information dissemination, which is accurate, factual and unbiased to a large and scattered audience. Terrorism and insecurity information is not an exception. Therefore, the media should accurately inform the people about future threats, chaos and fear of terror attacks and how to avert them, should they occur.

Also, the media plays a critical role in every society by holding leaders accountable, especially in times of crisis. However, it should be noted that it is not lawful in any way for the media to undermine national security in the process of discharging such responsibilities. 

 Furthermore, it is no gainsaying that the media have to build a nation and not destroy its existing pillars. The media, in other words, can be said to be fire extinguishers and not fire fuel. Through this process, the media can only promote national security and harmony. 

The media can give several contributions to national growth and development if properly managed. However, when the reverse is the case, they will contribute to national underdevelopment or worse.

It is evident in Nigeria today that some media houses have been diverted from their role to being used to spread hate speech and fake news, which may result in violence or more troubles than the one Nigeria currently battles now. Supporting violence, sensationalism, and hatred will do nothing but add to the already burning fire in this country. However, these are not the responsibilities of the media, and hence, they should take heed.

A veteran journalist, Kadarai Ahmed, said, “Despite numerous examples that exist which have proved, including not too long ago in Rwanda, that the conduct of the media can help in, starting, promoting and perpetuating violence and ethnic strife, we have turned a deaf ear to pleas to not become a tool that enables hate. But we have failed to heed these warnings.”

“We have given platforms to the worst among us, the extremists and the bloodthirsty. We have turned militia leaders and criminals into champions. Instead of us to lead a calm and rational discussion on the existential challenges we face with a view to promoting actionable solutions, we have succumbed to hysteria and the next exciting clickbait headline.”

Therefore, the media can positively contribute to the prevention of terrorism, insecurity, and other threats by specifically portraying how other nations responded to such scenarios and how it yielded positive outcomes without bias. In other words, it is known as development journalism.

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a multiple–award–winning journalist, fellow AIJC 2020, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com.

By Aliyu Nuhu

The federal government of Nigeria announced free rail tickets for Nigerians during the holidays, for ten good days. But the following day, all tickets went into an ambush of corruption, and people had to buy them at very exorbitant prices. As a matter of fact, people would have fared better if FG had not made the free offer. What went wrong?

As usual, with the shambolic government approach to issues, the process was left for corruption to dictate who gets and who doesn’t get the tickets. In addition, railway workers racketeered the process, leaving harpless Nigerians at their mercy. Government has its own problem, but we are our own worst enemies. We are wicked even to ourselves.

Even though not free, the airlines’ tickets are all being bought in advance by racketeers. You can’t book online. All flights have been booked, and you have to go to the airport and buy on the spot from touts and corrupt airline officials. A plane ticket from Abuja to Kano goes for 95,000 instead of 30,000. The worst is that the tickets are not bearing people’s names. So in the event of an accident, the families of victims will have serious problems with airlines and insurance companies. It also compromises internal security.

The federal government wanted to give rice millers N10m loans each as a loan. But right from the onset, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) itself sabotaged the process through corruption. NIRSAL was the disbursing agency. CBN appointed a vendor to receive the money and give the millers equipment worth ten million naira. But the vendor supplies goods that are only worth six million in the market. He makes cool four million doing nothing while the millers are saddled with ten million debt. This is Nigeria. Corruption finds official approval, and the rest of Nigerians keyed in.

This country is beyond redemption. No one can save Nigeria. We are too wicked, too lawless, too selfish and just too corrupt to allow our country to work. We corrupt everything!

Aliyu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Aldelghaffar Abdelmalik Amoka

When I was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University School of General and Remedial Studies (SGRS) in the 1992/1993 academic session, I registered with the intention to study medicine after the one-year remedial program. During the program, I started having a second thought on medicine and was considering Engineering. But by the end of it, I was offered Physics. I was like “what will I do with physics?”. This is a subject you can hardly find a qualified teacher to teach in secondary schools. So why physics? I wanted to change, but transfer rules changed that same academic year, and changing courses, especially to the so-called professional courses, became difficult.

I had two choices at the end of my first year when it was obvious I can’t change from physics. It was either I carry on with my studies or leave. So, l chose to stay but without any love for the subject. That continued till my final year when we were taught Solid State Physics by this Professor, an Indian, that changed my mind about physics. He made us see the beauty of physics. He made us see how basic physics is changing the world. He told us how physics concepts like the total internal reflection in optics have revolutionalised medicine and telecommunications. He was an inspiration. What he taught us in 1999 came to my mind when I had a shoulder operation in the UK in 2011 that was done without a visible scar on my shoulder.

That interaction in our final year made me desire I do my final year project under his supervision. I eventually returned to do MSc Physics under his guidance to tap more from his wealth of knowledge and personality. He introduced me to the field of dielectric physics, the field that opened the opportunity to my travel to some countries and has made me meet great minds. At the end of the MSc program, his recommendation got us a job in the department in 2005. I was walking towards the ABU North Gate when Prof’s call came in: “Amoka, where are you? Congratulations, the VC has approved your appointment. Please inform Tajudeen”. The best news for an unemployed graduate.

I was employed as an Assistant Lecturer under his guidance, registered for PhD in ABU in December 2005, and the work on dielectric physics continued. In August 2007, I informed him of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) scholarship opportunity that my brother told me about. Like he knew he had not more than a year to live from then, he encouraged me to apply. He followed it up till I submitted the scholarship application with the full PhD proposal that I was working on under his guide. A few weeks later, I was returning from Italy on a 2 weeks workshop trip in October 2007 and I called to inform him that I had arrived in Lagos when he informed me that he was sick and on his way to the airport. He got to India and was diagnosed with Cancer of the Colon. I became scared.

In January 2008, I received a handwritten note from him with a prayer request to make it through the cancer treatment. From the handwriting, I could figure out he was weak. I prayed hard that he get well and return soon. It was a shock when I made that call to India that early morning on Thursday, 17th April 2008, and I was informed that Prof was no more. The Giant was gone. He gave up that morning after about 6 months of battle with Cancer. I was broken. I have never seen anyone as humble as him. He has regard for everyone and he finds it so easy to relate with everyone including the cleaner. As the Head of Department, he made me realize that with proper management and financial discipline, which we lack these days, you can achieve a lot with little.

While I was still wondering how to proceed with the PhD without the only person that could supervise research work in material physics in the department, I got an email from IsDB of an award of scholarship for PhD under their Merit Scholarship Award for High Technology. The scholarship application was successful. It was unbelievable. Then the University of Leicester offered me admission for PhD in engineering research. That was how I met the famous Prof. John C. Fothergill, another Giant that I am standing on his shoulder.

Prof. Fothergill was such an amazing supervisor and shared similar characteristics with Prof. Hariharan. The 3 years 3 months with him was an amazing one with lots of memories. He doesn’t just bother himself with your personal development and the progress of your research but also your welfare. As he commends your efforts so do he point out the weakness to work on. With his tight schedule and the head of the department, I was always on his priority list.

Even after the PhD, John was concerned about my career development in my home institution. He sends to me any materials he finds useful to help my career growth and development. His notification and recommendation for a postdoc job in Norway got me the 2 years job. The postdoc job introduced me to partial discharges in power equipment components. He inspired me to start a lab. I did not just learn how to do dielectrics and electrical insulation research from Prof. John C. Fothergill, the British Professor of Engineering also taught me the benefits of writing in simple sentences. The Giant is still there for me to this day.

In my struggle to survive as an academic with all the peculiarities in our Universities in Nigeria, my path crossed with another Giant on whose shoulder I am standing. Academics are trained critics. They are also expected to have leadership skills. While I enjoyed being a critic right from my university days, I run away from leadership responsibility till I got a phone call in May 2020 during the ASUU strike about a letter for me and I told the caller I will pick it up when I get to the university later in the afternoon.

I opened the envelope and it was an appointment letter. I didn’t see that coming and could not run. The Giant found me worthy to lead (head) a Unit of the University. I was confused and scared as I have always had this feeling that critics hardly make good leaders. I later took it as a chance to see the other side of just being a critic. It has been tough but an amazing experience and have made me learn a lot. A colleague jokingly told me that I am an expert in reviving dead areas. I hope I will be able to live up to that expectations.

I think I am really lucky to have got many Giants on whose shoulders I am standing to see farther. If I have ever inspired or impressed you with my little efforts as an academic in the university, it was because God made it possible for me to meet these Giants in my life. They among other people paved the way for me to get here.

As the 2021 calendar year comes to an end in a few days, I wish to appreciate Prof N.I. Hariharan, Prof. John C. Fothergill, Prof. Kabir Bala, and all the giants on whose shoulders I am standing.

©Amoka