By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The BUA Group, despite recently slashing cement prices, has quietly increased the prices of sugar, flour, and spaghetti products, according to a recent market survey conducted in Kano.

Previously, a bag of sugar was sold at N44,000, spaghetti at N8,100 per carton, and flour at N32,500 per bag.

These prices have surged to N47,500, N9,000, and N34,500, respectively. 

Local shop owners confirmed the sudden price hikes, indicating that the increases followed the company’s announcement of reduced cement prices.

A BUA Foods dealer revealed, “They notified us about the increase this week. All these prices are company prices.” 

This unexpected shift has left consumers puzzled, as they had anticipated lower living costs after the cement price cut.

The BUA Group has not commented on the situation, leaving many awaiting an official response to understand the reasoning behind these price adjustments.

Mele Kyari, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), revealed that the corporation has once again become the exclusive importer of petrol in the country.

Kyari stated that private companies are unable to import petrol due to difficulties in accessing foreign currency caused by shortages. 

“We are the only company importing petrol into the country. None of them can do it today. For them, access to foreign exchange is difficult. We create foreign exchange (FX), therefore we have access to FX, while their access to FX is limited,” Kyari said. 

This revelation has sparked discussions among experts, with oil and gas analyst Kayode Oluwadare unofficially confirming the return of the petrol subsidy in Nigeria.

Oluwadare highlighted that the move contradicts the initial purpose of deregulation, which aimed to enable independent marketers to import petrol independently. 

Oluwadare explained, “The government is gradually bringing back the conditions of the fuel subsidy regime. We are now back to the status quo. In the coming days, the petrol pump price will remain the same. We may also see the petrol pump price slightly coming down, with the current global trend, we are not likely to see an increase in petrol pump prices.” 

This development marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s energy landscape, raising concerns about the country’s economic stability and the implications for consumers in the face of global fuel market dynamics.

By Kamal Alkasim

In these tough economic times in Nigeria, young people, your ideas are more valuable than you think. They can be your ticket to success if you present them well. You can start small or go big, online or offline. Don’t start a business without knowing the ropes. Here’s some straightforward advice: Begin a small business, regardless of your education. Education helps but doesn’t limit you.

If you want to make it, learn from the experts in your field. Avoid diving into something you don’t understand. Ignorance won’t get you far. Remember, being a job creator is better than being a job seeker.

Procrastination is your enemy. Act on your ideas quickly. As Pastor Reno Omokri wisely said, “Your mind is your supercomputer.” Believe in the power of positive thinking, as Islamic Scholar Malam Ibrahim Khalil noted: “A rich person grows through investments, and a poor person through positive thoughts.”

Don’t believe opportunities are scarce. Every day is a chance to work on your ideas wisely and diligently. Even the slightest idea can lead to something great. Small steps pave the way for significant achievements.

Always remember that your ideas hold immense potential. The choice is yours: build on them or let them go to waste. Your future is in your hands. May God bless the brilliant young minds of Nigeria as they turn their ideas into reality!

Kamal Alkasim writes from Kano via Kamalalkasim17@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the release of funds to settle overdue registration fees for students sponsored by the state at Bells, Igbinedion, and Al-Qalam Universities. 

The decision aims to alleviate the burden on students who have faced eight years of neglect by the previous administration, enabling them to finally receive their graduation certificates. 

Governor Yusuf, emphasising his commitment to education, announced the move via his official Facebook page. 

The timely intervention has been met with relief and gratitude from students and their families, ensuring a brighter future for these deserving scholars.   

By Ibrahim Isa Wada

When the current administration was advised by some economic experts to withdraw the subsidy on fuel and allow the Nigerian Naira to find its own value in the international arena, I got so much worried for fears of what would be the outcome. Being a nonexpert on economics, banking or finance, but only a bloody retired broadcast regulator with a fair understanding of day to day current issues, I decided to drop this piece and I hope it will be carefully considered by the experts. All I know is that, life is so hard for all of us since the Naira decided to take a flung and the fuel prices shoot up.

Sadly, some of the experts disappeared while others started to blame the past administration and/or their village people for making our lives so miserable.

Defending the value of the Naira amounts to defending the Tinubu/Kashim administration, and surely the interest of the Nigerian people.

How can any government, businesses or persons successfully plan and execute meaningful projects; how can Nigeria join economic groups, like the BRICS, with such a rickety currency?

I understand that the value of the Nigerian Naira is a function of her balance of trade. That is for the Naira to be strong and stable, the total value of goods and services Nigeria imports must be the same or less than the value of goods and services Nigeria exports over the period of time.

In the present circumstances, we tend to import almost everything including PMS, and even charcoal for smoking Shisha! While we export gold and dollars in cash etc, to safe havens. To be frank, any Nigerian leadership that wants to succeed must have a strong and stable Naira to begin with, which can be achieved by taking the following measures, among others:

1) Bring back the policy of Export Promotion and Import Substitution of the late 70’s.

This should be done with vigour. Any product that could be manufactured in Nigeria shall not be easily imported into the country, while all products that can be exported should receive a boost from the government.

There are means and ways to manuver around international trade politics, like the WTO, to achieve that.

2) Formalise all international transactions, including our transborder trade with ECOWAS and other African countries. Currently the Nigerian Central Bank serves as the unofficial African Central Bank, providing the foreign exchange requirements for many African countries that route their trade through Nigeria.

The trade formalization entails the systemic deployment of adequate personnel and infrastructure that would make international trade between Nigeria and other countries smooth, yet documented.

3) The CBN, Commercial Banks and Bureau De Change operations should have a joint universal forex transactions software that will ease, unify and speed up forex trading.

4) From 3 above, all foreign currency transfers including PTA above $250 must be in digital form.

5) Also from 3 above, the commercial banks and BDC Forex Operator window should capture a basket of about seven major foreign currencies that Nigeria transacts in, i.e Dollar, Yuan, Euro, Pound, CFA, Saudi Riyal and Dirham.

Therefore the BDC operators should have multiple currency accounts with their banks to receive and transfer funds in digital form.

6) The Nigerian government should be bold enough to block all foreign exchange leakages, in form of waivers and favours to individuals and institutions.

7) Develop key institutions targeted towards the elimination of Forex Guzzlers thus:

a) Establish more private universities to reduce students high foreign exchange remittances.

b) Establish more world class hospitals to save foreign exchange from medical tourism.

c) Establish companies for the local fabrication of low technology agricultural and industrial machinery to reduce foreign exchange outflow.

d) Fuel imports should stop at the shortest possible time, by developing more modular refineries, privatising existing ones and ensuring the early take up of the Dangote refinery.

8) In line with the Export Promotion and Import Substitution Strategy, invest heavily in agriculture to reduce food and dairy products import, as well as encourage the exports of cocoa, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, beef, etc.

This is my political perspective of the basic economic issue, because if the politicians fail to defend the value of the Naira and the poor, they will fail utterly in politics.

Ibrahim Isa Wada, writes from Kano, Nigeria. He can be reached via; ibrahimisawada@gmail.com

By Muhammad Aliyu Gombe

The Centre for Reading, Research and Development (NCRRD) Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, has organized its Fourth National Conference on the promotion of reading culture among students and researchers. The event which took place at Ɗangote Business School, New Site, (BUK) was a 5 day even which included a Pre-Conference Workshop which aims at sensitizing the participants on the new methods of improving teaching especially from the basic level. The theme of the conference reads ‘Children’s Books and The Teaching of Early Grade Reading in Nigeria.’

The Director of the Centre Professor Talatu Musa Garba, during her speech, says that, as part of the mandate, of the Centre, it “had instituted the annual conference in 2019 to provide a platform for teachers, researchers and other educationists to share ideas on the best practices for the promotion of teaching of reading in Nigeria.” The Director, together with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, commissioned the Centre’s resource room which is named Rebecca Rhodes Resource Room. The room has a modest collection of books and e-resources. It is open to researchers, teachers and students as a reference library.

It has been noted by various participants during the occasion that reading culture is past dying not only in Nigeria but across the globe. There is a huge need to revive it through practical methodologies which will guarantee and assist young readers to be taken right from the tender age.

Some of the participants, especially students and other invited guests, showed their appreciation and happiness with these gigantic efforts which the center is putting to revive reading culture in Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Arsenal emerged victorious in a historic match against reigning champions Manchester City, ending their eight-year wait for a Premier League win over the Citizens.

The decisive moment came in the dying minutes of the game when Gabriel Martinelli’s shot, deflected off City defender Nathan Ake, found the back of the net, securing a dramatic 1-0 win for the Gunners. 

This long-awaited triumph sparked wild celebrations among Arsenal fans, marking a moment of sweet redemption after enduring 12 successive league defeats against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Arsenal’s victory, coming just four minutes from the final whistle, lifted them two points above third-placed City into second position, trailing behind leaders Tottenham on goals scored. 

This win holds significant weight for Arsenal, as it signifies their first top-flight success against the treble winners since December 2015.

Although Arsenal had previously defeated City in the Community Shield in August, this victory holds greater importance, positioning them as serious contenders in the title race. 

Manchester City, on the other hand, faced their second consecutive league defeat following their 2-1 loss against Wolves the previous weekend.

Coupled with a League Cup defeat against Newcastle, City have suffered three defeats in their last four games, raising concerns about their form and stability.

By Ismail Obansa Nimah

Theodor Herzl must be restless in his tomb for what is happening in Palestine. He must have forgotten to remember that even though he succeeded in creating Zionism to champion his vision for a Jewish state in the heart of Palestine, the territory he uprooted people from and where he currently rests was never really his. In it were millions of good-hearted people, living a beautiful life in their homes, farms, families, freedom, peace and prosperity. Until all they had was brutally taken away by the entity Herzl created, the state of Israel.

The Jewish homeland chanted by Herzl since the first worldwide Jewish conference in 1897 and seen by thousands of Jews as their God-given right and as “a land with no people for a people without land”, is for the first time since its creation up in an unprecedented amount of flames.

The West championed the Balfour Declaration after the First World War. It gave the territory of Palestine to a foreign occupation to establish the apartheid state of Israel in total injustice and disregard for the basic human rights of the indigenous people of Palestine.

After the Balfour Declaration,  the Zionist movement gained momentum and confidence. Jews worldwide, particularly in Europe, began to migrate and seek refuge in Palestine. The Palestinians welcomed and gave refuge to the Jews escaping persecution, particularly during the second world war and the Holocaust by Nazi Germany. But to the Palestinian’s dismay, their kind gestures were met with a very painful backstabbing.

 Following the Second World War, the Israeli Declaration of Independence, formally the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, was proclaimed on 14 May 1948. That declaration triggered resistance from the Palestinian and neighbouring Arab states. It questioned how people’s lands and homes could be stolen from them that easily.

The resistance led to the first armed confrontation between Palestinians and the newly founded state of Israel, together with their allies, resulting in the 1948 Nakbah, which not only saw  78% of Mandatory Palestine become illegally occupied by Israel but also saw the expulsion and flight of 700,000 Palestinians, the subsequent depopulation and destruction of over 500 Palestinian village and geographic erasure, the denial of the Palestinian right of return, the creation of permanent Palestinian refugees in their lands, and the “tyrannical destruction of the Palestinian society, all of which has continued till date.

The events of 1948 uncovered fierce resistance across occupied Palestinian territories and other Muslim nations—one that gave birth to the likes of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian resistance fighters.

Since 1948, Israel has continued expanding its occupation and settlements in the Palestinian Territories. It thrashed the two-state solution and violated almost every international law in its systemic oppression, tyranny and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. It has carried out numerous indiscriminate attacks and killings of innocent Palestinians. The apartheid regime in Israel has illegally demolished thousands of Palestinian homes, destroyed heritages, desecrated religious sanctuaries, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, murdered countless unarmed civilians, including numerous children, women and the elderly and denied Palestinians basic human rights, including their freedom.

At the heart of the Palestinian resistance is the Gaza Strip (the headquarters of Hamas), which has endured decades of Israeli terror, bombardments and siege. The Gaza Strip is a densely populated area with a land, sea and air blockade by Israel since 2007. It is basically a prison.  Israel has carried out countless inhumane, unprovoked attacks across the strip, with the most deadly being in 2014 and the most recent occurring just five months ago. On average this year, 2 Palestinians have been killed daily by Israel across its occupied territories.

The hypocrisy of the Western powers fuelling the Israeli regime for decades has allowed successive generations of Palestinians to take bold and brave initiatives, like what is currently unfolding, to defend and resist the Israeli apartheid occupation. And it appears that the more fight they put to resist, the better they get at it. One may ask, what makes the Palestinians so different from the Ukrainians?

 With the seeming cowardice stance of the Arab Nations in their pursuit of a normalisation agenda at the expense of the Palestinians, it became increasingly clear that if the Palestinians would achieve anything at all, then they would either have to fight bravely and indeed as they currently are or die trying but retaining their honour and dignity with them.

This recent attack has sent a clear message to the world that if peace and stability must be achieved, then attention must be paid to the oppressed and not the oppressor. A man who has already lost so much would not mind throwing all that is left to defend his honour and dignity. The Palestinians have been stretched too thin, and they, more than anyone, have all the right to defend themselves in this war that the creation of Israel started.

Ismail Obansa Nimah wrote via nimah013@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari 

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned Nigerians to prepare for flooding in the country. 

The Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, disclosed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum Meeting in Abuja on Saturday. 

The agency disclosed that 13 states might be affected by the scheduled release of waters from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon. 

The agency has also disclosed that over 28 people have been killed, 48,168 individuals displaced, and 159,157 persons affected by flooding in Nigeria this year. 

Ahmed further stated that there has been an upsurge of water along the flood plains of the River Benue, which he said will greatly affect states like Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Nasarawa, and Bayelsa. 

He added that there has been a sudden increased inundation of riparian communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours. 

Ahmed further stated that the agency has directed the activation of all emergency response units to be ready for any emergencies as the flooding will be increasing as the days go by. 

“As a result of the unfolding situation, I want to use this opportunity to alert authorities of State and Local Governments along rivers Niger and Benue basin areas to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that will arise due to inundation of communities by flood waters,” he added.

By Mukhtar Jarmajo 

It is a tragic reality that Nigeria has been plagued by the incessant collapse of its national grid for the past few years. The nation has never been capable of generating, transmitting, and distributing sufficient electricity to its vast population. Daily life in Nigeria is synonymous with power outages, leaving citizens in perpetual darkness. The country’s electricity infrastructure is not only old but woefully inadequate to meet the needs of its growing population. This dire situation calls for immediate action from relevant authorities.

For years, Nigeria has been grappling with its power crisis. The nation’s outdated and insufficient infrastructure has failed to keep up with the times and the growing population, perpetuating the ongoing power outages. This has led to frustrated citizens and even more frustrated businesses. With the current state of the economy, power outages only worsen matters. The sector’s neglect and waning attention have only contributed to landing Nigeria in an unenviable situation.

The impact of Nigeria’s power crisis has been felt in every sector. It has taken a toll on schools, which cannot provide the quality of education necessary for the future generation. The constant blackouts also put lives in danger in hospitals as equipment fails and medical procedures abruptly halt. Businesses and industries are hit worst, struggling to remain productive amidst the darkness. Countless jobs are lost each year because of this lack of reliable infrastructure.

It is high time the authorities take these vital issues seriously and collaborate to develop solutions for the ailing power infrastructure. There needs to be a concerted effort towards investing in modern and efficient technologies, rehabilitating existing power plants, and improving power transmission and distribution systems. The current situation only highlights the pressing need for diversification in the sector, with greater emphasis on alternative and renewable energy sources.

The government must adopt pragmatic policies that attract investment in the power sector and provide incentives for clean energy solutions. It is a long-term solution that should not be underestimated and goes beyond serving the immediate needs of citizens but ensures the country’s future development.

Nigeria has the potential to generate power from a wide range of sources, including solar and wind power. Investing in these sources of energy promises considerable benefits for the nation in the long term. Efforts to tap into these sources must be expedited, and plans must be established to incorporate them into the existing power infrastructure.

Nigeria’s power crisis must be resolved today rather than tomorrow. The authorities must act urgently and focus on implementing long-term solutions that address Nigeria’s power needs. Efficient technologies and infrastructures should be prioritised to usher Nigeria into an electrified future. Only then will the country be able to realise its full potential and offer a brighter future for its people.

Jarmajo writes from Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.