Danielle Trenney, a 39-year-old project manager from western Pennsylvania, is so anxious about Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election that she decided to put up a Christmas tree early this year to distract her family.

Trenney said she knew of other families doing the same in Bellevue, a Pittsburgh suburb and an electoral hotbed prized by  Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, rivals in a race that analysts say will go down to the wire.

Bunecke, 68, a retired graphic designer who plans to vote for Trump. Bunecke is so sick of the anger, the constant calls from pollsters and the campaign ads bombarding her in the battleground state of Pennsylvania that she would instead tune out completely.

In recent days, Reuters correspondents spoke to more than 50 voters across the seven competitive states that will determine the next president. They encountered an electorate on edge: worried about how the country would look should their preferred candidate lose, worried the other side would make trouble, and worried the political divide would only grow deeper.

Some turn to religion, others to yoga, swimming or lifting weights. Some follow the news closely, while others have shut off their TVs and smartphones to lose themselves in books or take long walks outdoors.

“I wish my smartphone were smart enough to know I’ve already voted,” said Lynn Nicholson, 72, a Harris voter in Marietta, Georgia, who has found refuge from the deluge of campaign ads through walking, gardening and photography. “It’s overwhelming.”

Todd Harrison, 49, of Canton, Georgia, a pest control specialist leaning toward Trump, said he has stopped watching sports on TV because of the barrage of political ads.

“The closer I get to the election, the madder I get,” Harrison said.

Many voters worried about what could happen after the election, especially if Trump lost. They fear a wave of lawsuits and court hearings, demonstrations, and even violence.

Trump claims the only way Democrats can win is by cheating. Harris has said she is ready to confront Trump if he prematurely declares victory.

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a 57-year-old Harris supporter in Detroit, said she is concerned about what Trump’s incendiary rhetoric could provoke.

“It’s like he’s igniting a base of violence in advance,” she said. “It’s scary.”

However, Lillian Hall, a 68-year-old former teacher and retail store owner from Hendersonville, North Carolina, and a Trump supporter, said she was scared there would be rioting if Harris lost.

“I think there’ll be anger like we’ve not seen yet if Trump wins,” Hall said.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last month found widespread worries that the U.S. could see a repeat of the unrest that followed Trump’s 2020 election defeat when the then-president’s false claim that his loss was the result of fraud prompted hundreds of followers to storm the U.S. Capitol.

Some 74% of registered voters who responded to the Oct. 16-21 survey said they were concerned extremists would commit acts of violence if they were unhappy with the election results. Democrats were most likely to think that: 90% agreed, compared with 64% of Republicans and 77% of independents.

A few voters said in interviews they were trying to channel their anxieties by helping to get out the vote for their candidate.

Shirley Easton, an 85-year-old Tucson, Arizona, resident who described her mental state as “scared out of my mind,” said she had been mailing postcards to persuade people to vote for Harris.

Easton said she feared for the future of her seven granddaughters after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 reversed its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide.

“For my grandchildren, I’m terrified,” she said.

Lisa Fields, 60, a marketing professional, was so concerned that she travelled from her Manhattan home on Saturday to knock on doors for Trump in Delaware County, a critical suburb of Philadelphia.

She hopes Trump will bring peace to the Middle East and the country will become more unified regardless of who wins.

“We need to come together for the greater good. And I’ll focus on that the day after because while I disagree with people voting the other way, they’re entitled to, and that’s the beauty of America,” Fields said.

Other voters said they were trying to disengage from the election as much as possible.

Jean Thomson, 63, an executive coach in Marietta, Georgia, who voted for Harris, said the dozens of political flyers that arrive in the mail go straight into her trash.

“I don’t even look at them,” she said, adding she was meditating and spending more time in nature to cope with her stress. Only some people were headed to the woods.

When the results start rolling in on Tuesday, “I will be watching with my Xanax and my bottle of Sauvignon Blanc,” said Gillian Marshall, a 55-year-old Lyft driver in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Marshall, a Democrat who said she voted for Harris, echoed a sentiment nearly universal across political divides: “I just want this nightmare to be over.”

Source: Reuters

Housing deficit is causing untold hardship on the people of Kogi State amid the present economic hardship in the country, DAILY POST reports.

Kogi, which shares boundaries with about 10 states in the country, is hosting the popular River Niger and River Benue.

The strategic location of the state has made people settle down quickly since it was created in 1991 under the then Military regime of General Ibrahim Badamisi Babangida.

The issues of housing before now were a little bit fair for both the indigenes and civil servants working with the Federal and the State governments.

Unfortunately, it is now a nightmare for people who do not have their own house to get accommodation.

Some governors built houses for civil servants to ameliorate their sufferings.

Recall that during the then military administration of Colonel Paul Omeruo, (9th December 1993 – August 22 1996), he built Adankolo Estate, Colonel Augustine Aniebo, (August 1998 – May 1999) built what is now known as Aniebo Quarters, which is housing more than 300 Civil Servants both serving and retired in Kogi State.

Additionally, during the Civilian regime of Late Prince Abubakar Audu, (May 29th 1999 – May 29 2003) workers heaved a sign of relief concerning accommodation problem as his administration built first and second 200 housing units, Lokongoma Phase one, and two, Workers village, legislative quarters, while Ibrahim Idris, (May 29 2003 – 6th February, 2008) built 500 housing units and Captain Idris Ichalla Wada built flood estate for people affected by the 2012 flood in Kogi State.

The immediate past administration did not build housing estate for workers.

DAILY POST observed recently that a single room that used to be N40,000 depending on the area now goes for N80,000 to N100,000.

Also, one room and parlour self contain that is usually given out by landlords for N120,000 to N150,000 is now going for N350,000 to N450,000.

House rent for two and three bedroom flat is above N600,000 which is out of the reach of civil servants and other low income earners in the State.

Residents Lament

Some residents, including civil servants, disclosed that the skyrocketing rent, if not checked immediately by the State Government, could lead many residents into depression.

Abdullahi Umar, a resident of Adankolo said, “it is alarming the way landlords are increasing the prices of house rent.

“In Nigeria today, we are faced with hardship, many of us can’t send our children to school again. Now, house rent has hit the roof. Who did we offend in this country?

“Kogi State is even worse because the landlords don’t have pity on Kogites that are managing to earn a living.

“Imagine that I was paying N35,000 for one room, but I woke up one morning and my landlord said the house rent has increased to N90,000 without doing any renovations.

“This is the height of wickedness. We barely feed two times in a day and we are still battling with rent wahala. This must stop”.

Another resident, who identified herself as Hajia Mulikat Adomu, averred that the government should come up with a policy that would checkmate the excesses of landlords in the state.

According to her, some landlords were deliberately frustrating and inflicting pains on their tenants.

“Just because we don’t have any option, they keep treating us like rags.

“Government should please come to our aid. I believe when the government builds housing estate for residents and civil servants at a subsidized rate, it will ameliorate the sufferings of the masses and stop the consistent exploitation of the people by landlords,” she opined.

Landlords prefer renting houses to Yahoo Boys – Estate Manager cries out

Mr Peter Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer, Good Trust Estate Management Limited, says many landlords in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital, now prefer to rent their houses to suspected advance fee fraudsters (Yahoo Boys), as tenants.

This, according to him, is because the yahoo boys can afford such exorbitant rent at the detriment of tenants running legitimate and genuine businesses.

In a chat with journalists recently, the estate expert, who appealed to the state government to urgently check the excesses of the landlords, noted that their action meant exploitation of genuine potential tenants.

Suleiman argued that the unhealthy development encouraged crime in the state.

He also expressed concern that as the landlords charged exorbitant rent, they failed to add value to their houses to make such structures conducive for the tenants.

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that landlords in Lokoja and its environs prefer to give their houses to yahoo boys instead of law abiding citizens.

“Just recently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, apprehended some yahoo boys in Lokoja.

“Since they now know that staying in a hotel will expose their nefarious activities, they now prefer renting houses.

“When they approach these landlords, they can pay a higher amount.

“If you approach these landlords for house, they will open up to you that if you are not a yahoo boy, they won’t give you their house, because they are not sure if you can pay the next rent. Also, they will insist that you pay for two years.

“The essence of them insisting on Yahoo boys is that they know these guys will not complete their duration before exiting.

“What is now the hope of the common man who is doing genuine business? This is promoting cyber fraud.

“Everybody cannot do cyber fraud or yahoo yahoo as they all call it.

“The Kogi State Government should as a matter of urgency, come up with a policy to checkmate the excesses of these house owners in Lokoja, and other parts of Kogi State.

“This is necessary before all our children see advance fee fraud as the best line of making money,” he said.

Suleiman also lamented the prevalence of fake house agents operating in the state.

“These fake house agents masquerading around are the people deceiving the landlords by bringing Yahoo boys who will pay heavily for house rent.

“Kogi State is a civil service state and does not deserve this level of exploitation amid this harsh economy.

“Recently, I was managing one house, the landlord called me that he has jerked up his rent from N150, 000 to N600,000.

“I now asked, what are the modalities for this sudden increase when there is no renovation in the house?

“He told me openly that in the compound next to him, an agent brought some boys that paid N700,000 for house rent, and that do I expect him to still retain the old price?

“This is barbaric, satanic and should be stopped.

“If not urgently addressed, Kogi State will be snowballing into a hub of cyber fraud simply because of the mindset of these landlords who want to amass quick wealth for themselves without considering the implications,” he said.

Meanwhile, Suleiman has proposed 1000 housing units for civil servants in Kogi State.

In a statement sent to DAILY POST on Monday, he noted that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will be writing his name in gold when he builds the housing estate for civil servants to address the issues of housing deficit.

The Estate developer said “Things are very hard as we speak. Nigerians generally finds it difficult to feed themselves daily, aside paying exorbitant house rent.

“This 1000 proposed house units will cushion the suffering of civil servants in term of accommodation.

“It will save them from the consistent exploitations of landlords.”

Kogi govt. warns landlords against patronizing Yahoo Boys

Meanwhile, the Kogi State government has cautioned landlords in the state against renting their houses to internet fraudsters, popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys.

The State Security Adviser, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), gave the warning during an interactive session with journalists in Lokoja.

He warned landlords that their houses risked demolition if they continued to give the apartments to Yahoo Boys.

According to him, “Security agencies will soon go after houses and hotels used by Yahoo Boys.

“Appropriate sanctions will be handed to affected landlords and hospitality facilities”.

He revealed that the government, in partnership with security agencies, had identified houses built with proceeds of criminal activities and those housing men of the underworld, insisting that such houses would soon be demolished.

Omodara urged residents to assist government and security agencies with necessary information to arrest internet fraudsters in the state.

[DailyPost]

Scores of terrorists roaming the area where Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line is located have been killed by the troops of the Nigerian Air Force who were deployed to provide cover for electricity workers repairing the line.

It was learnt that the terrorists, who were planning to wreck more havocs on the critical facilities and possibly kill the electricity workers were neutralised on Friday when the fighter jets of the force rained airstrikes on them.

Daily Trust had reported how 17 Northern States were thrown into darkness for more than one week following destruction of electricity towers, a major conduit supplying electricity to the North the area by the adversaries.

But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and the Service Chiefs to order troops to provide cover for electricity workers to enable them to carry out necessary repairs on the damaged infrastructure.

Giving an update Monday night, the spokesman of NAF, Olusola Akinboyewa disclosed that the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions carried out by the service confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters in the area.

Akinboyewa, an Air Commodore, explained that they were converging to disrupt the repair of the transmission line, adding that the terrorists were subsequently engaged and several of them were killed in the process.

[DailyTrust]

The Federal Ministry of Works has directed Julius Berger, the contractor handling Section One rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, to evacuate the project site.

This followed a 14-day final termination notice issued to the company on Monday, dismissing any possibility of further negotiations.

The ministry said the termination was based on non-compliance with the reviewed cost, scope, and terms, stoppage of work, and refusal to remobilise to the site, as directed.

It noted that negotiations had been ongoing for several months without any significant progress.

A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, disclosed this information on Monday in Abuja, stressing that the decision was reached during a management meeting of the ministry at its headquarters.

Recall that the works ministry had in the last 13 months been in constant talks with the company, in order to reach an amiable position on the said alignment but to no avail.

The latest development follows an earlier threat by the minister to revoke the contract that was awarded to the company in 2018 when former President Muhammadu Buhari was in power.

While the Kaduna-Zaria section has been completed and the Zaria-Kano section is almost done, the Abuja-Kaduna section has recorded 27 per cent progress in six years.

At an event penultimate week, Umahi accused Julius Berger of playing politics with the highway to make the current administration look bad.

Despite these efforts, an agreement was not reached between both parties, with the construction company not attending the scheduled meeting on Monday.

The statement read in part, “Based on non-compliance with the reviewed cost, scope, and terms, stoppage of work and refusal to remobilise to the site, as directed, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day Notice of Termination to Messrs Julius Berger Plc for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna),  today, November 4, 2024.

“Nigerians may wish to know that the Contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which was divided into three Sections was awarded to the company on December 20, 2017, and flagged off by the former Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola at an initial sum of N155.75bn on June 18, 2018. Sections II (Kaduna – Zaria) and III (Zaria – Kano) were partially completed and handed over during the twilight of the administration of former President  Muhammadu Buhari.

“Since then it has been one variation and augmentation or the other and finally, the present Minister of Works directed the redesigning and re-scoping of the Section I of the contract. The alignment was divided into two with one phase redesigned to be on continuously reinforced concrete pavement, while the remaining with asphaltic pavement.

“Approval for Section I, Phase 1 for a length of 38km on the concrete pavement was given to Messrs Dangote Industries (Nig.) Ltd, while the remaining 127km remained with the substantive contractor. Phase 1 was flagged off on October 17, 2024, with a 14-month completion period.”

Mohammed further explained that a request to rescope the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council but the contract’s terms were not agreed upon by the contractor.

He added, “Due to the stalemate of the contract and, most importantly, the desire of President Bola Tinubu, as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda infrastructure initiative, to see to the completion of this laudable project, also to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians plying the road, the ministry re-scoped it and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

“The award for the Re-scoping and Downward Review of Contract for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) in favour of Messrs Julius Berger Plc from the sum of N797.26bn to N740.79bn was granted by FEC on September 23, 2024, and conveyed to the company on October 3, 2024.”

With the latest development, this means the Works Minister, David Umahi has revoked 11 contracts in 16 months.

[Punch]

Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,  Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has asked politicians and traditional rulers in the country to lead with the fear of  Almighty God.

Cardinal Onaiyekan gave the charge in his homily at a mass in the chapel of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State in commemoration of Saint Charles Borromeo, the Italian Cardinal often described as the “loving reformer.” 

He said leaders in various positions of authority should be conscious that the Almighty God gave them such leadership responsibilities, adding that they should lead in accordance with the will of God.

At the service were His Royal  Majesty Emmanuel Sidedo, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, his chiefs and others.

Onaiyekan said he was elated that the monarch and several others in his kingdom were Christians.

He said: “Saint Charles Borromeo lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and had a hand in the reform of the whole church during the final years of the Council of Trent.

“Although he belonged to the Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, Charles desired to devote himself to the Church. In 1559, when his uncle, Cardinal de Medici was elected Pope Pius IV, he made Charles cardinal-deacon and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan.

“At the time Charles was still a layman and a young student. Because of his intellectual qualities, Charles was entrusted with several important offices connected with the Vatican, and later appointed secretary of state with responsibility for the papal states. The untimely death of his elder brother brought Charles to a definite decision to be ordained a priest, despite his relatives’ insistence. Soon after being ordained a priest at age 25, Borromeo was consecrated bishop of Milan.

“Charles took the initiative in giving a good example. He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury, and imposed severe penances upon himself. He sacrificed wealth, high honors, esteem, and influence to become poor.

“During the plague and famine of 1576, Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. To do this, he borrowed large sums of money that required years to repay. Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city, where he ministered to the sick and the dying, helping those in want.

“Work and the heavy burdens of his high office began to affect Archbishop Borromeo’s health, leading to his death at the age of 46.”

[Vanguard]

A military officer who served as Nigeria’s aviation minister between 1985 and 1993 during the Ibrahim Babangida years once remarked that air travel was a luxury not meant for the poor. At the time, this comment sparked public outrage for its apparent insensitivity. Yet, more than thirty years later, that statement has proven eerily prophetic, as air travel has become increasingly inaccessible to most Nigerians.

In Nigeria, the significance of air travel is even more profound. With an underdeveloped transportation infrastructure and the risks posed by road and rail travel, air travel has become both convenient and necessary. Despite this importance, soaring ticket prices are reversing decades of progress, making air travel a luxury for the wealthy again. The soaring costs threaten the accessibility of air travel for the average Nigerian, restricting mobility and posing a barrier to economic inclusion.

This problem cannot be delayed for another day. It demands immediate attention and action. This reality is compounded by Nigeria’s unique economic and infrastructural challenges, which have made alternatives to air travel scarce, unsafe, or unreliable. As air travel becomes increasingly out of reach, so do the social and economic benefits it brings, from tourism to job creation. To restore air travel as a widely accessible service, Nigeria must address its infrastructural, regulatory, and economic challenges with targeted reforms and strategic investments. These investments, if made wisely and with a long-term vision, could transform the current state of air travel in Nigeria, making it more affordable and accessible for all.

The limited alternatives to air travel make Nigeria particularly reliant on its aviation sector, especially given the poor state of the country’s road infrastructure. According to a 2023 report by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, approximately 60% of the nation’s roads are classified as “poor,” with many roads riddled with potholes, lacking signage, and without proper maintenance. These conditions are not only inconvenient but also dangerous, as travelling on these roads can lead to vehicle breakdowns, accidents, and exposure to kidnappings and banditry.

Between January and July 2024, over 500 cases of kidnapping were reported along Nigerian roads, highlighting the severe security challenges that plague ground transportation. Rail infrastructure, though expanding, remains limited, covering only 3,500 kilometres compared to India’s 65,000 kilometres, a stark illustration of Nigeria’s lag in connecting its vast geography. Water transportation is similarly underutilised, with infrastructure inadequacies and safety concerns making it an unreliable option for most Nigerians. Air travel holds unique importance in this environment as a safe and efficient means of connecting people and goods across the country.

However, the cost of air travel in Nigeria has surged in recent years, making it unaffordable for most Nigerians. For instance, the price of a one-way flight between Lagos and Abuja has risen from around ₦75,000 (approximately $47) in 2020 to over ₦170,000 ($100) today, effectively pricing out the average citizen.

Several factors are responsible for these soaring prices, with currency exchange rates playing a significant role. Since most aeroplane spare parts are priced in US dollars and airline operations are generally denominated in US dollars and other stronger currencies, the declining naira means that Nigerian passengers must pay more. Aviation fuel, which now constitutes 40 percent of airline operating costs, has seen a price increase of over 300 percent since 2020 due to limited refining capacity and global oil price fluctuations.

Additionally, Nigerian airlines are subject to over 15 separate taxes and regulatory fees, ranging from value-added tax to passenger service charges. These fees significantly increase the cost of doing business for airlines, ultimately passing on the burden to consumers. Inflation, which has remained above 30% in recent years, compounds these issues, reducing Nigerian consumers’ purchasing power and further limiting air travel access.

These rising costs have profound implications, particularly for a nation where freedom of movement is vital for economic and social inclusion. The aviation sector is not just a mode of transportation but a key driver of economic growth and social mobility. Affordable air travel enables Nigerians to access jobs, markets, and opportunities far beyond their immediate surroundings. When air travel is reserved for the wealthy, it limits social mobility and restricts the benefits of a connected society. However, if made affordable and accessible, air travel can promote social inclusion by providing access to remote and underserved regions, improving living standards and supporting poverty alleviation. This promising vision underscores the importance of restoring affordability and accessibility to air travel in Nigeria.

Given these challenges, Nigeria must adopt a comprehensive approach to restore affordability and accessibility to air travel. First, substantial investment in alternative public transportation infrastructure is essential. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships. Expanding and maintaining long-distance roads and rail networks would relieve demand pressure on air travel and provide more affordable options for Nigerians. Nigeria could look to countries like India, where extensive railway networks connect rural and urban areas, providing a reliable and low-cost alternative to air travel. Improving water transportation could also offer new solutions, as Nigeria has over 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways that could be leveraged to move goods and people efficiently. Developing these alternatives would improve mobility and foster healthy competition within the transportation sector, potentially driving down air travel costs and opening new economic and social development opportunities.

Another critical issue is the insecurity that has plagued Nigeria’s transportation network, particularly on roads and waterways. Banditry, kidnapping, and piracy make these modes of travel dangerous, prompting more Nigerians to rely on air travel for safety, which increases demand and, consequently, costs. By addressing security concerns in road, rail, and water travel through increased policing, surveillance, and enforcement measures, the government can make these alternatives safer and more viable. This would reduce the demand for air travel, creating a more competitive environment that could lead to more affordable fares.

The government’s role in this process is crucial, and its intervention is necessary to restore affordability and accessibility to air travel in Nigeria.

Regulatory reforms are essential for creating a more efficient and less costly aviation sector in Nigeria. By streamlining administrative and regulatory processes, we can reduce airline operational expenses, leading to lower consumer costs. Countries like South Africa have demonstrated the benefits of streamlined regulations, where simplified frameworks reduce costs without compromising safety standards. In Nigeria, reforming the aviation sector to reduce bureaucratic hurdles could enhance affordability. Tax reform would also provide significant relief. The government could reduce airlines’ operating costs by reducing aviation-related taxes, potentially lowering passenger ticket prices. In the long term, these changes could stimulate the aviation sector, boosting job creation, economic activity, and increased connectivity. This potential for positive change should inspire us to push for these reforms.

Competition within the air travel market is another vital component of affordability. By promoting the entry of new airlines, Nigeria can foster a competitive environment that generally leads to lower prices for consumers. For example, competition between national carrier Kenya Airways and local airlines has created more affordable options for consumers in Kenya. Nigeria’s recent signing of the Cape Town Convention, an international agreement facilitating aircraft financing, presents an opportunity to attract new airline entrants and encourage a more dynamic aviation market that benefits travellers.

Minister of aviation Festus Keyamo is critical in spearheading efforts to make air travel accessible and affordable for all Nigerians. To reduce air travel costs in Nigeria, the minister of aviation can adopt several strategies targeting taxes, fuel costs, competition, infrastructure, and innovation. Reducing aviation taxes, fees, and redundant charges would lower airline operating costs, allowing for more affordable fares. Subsidies on aviation fuel or investment in local fuel production could stabilize and reduce fuel costs, a significant airline expense. Additionally, establishing a foreign exchange window for aviation could mitigate currency volatility.

Encouraging competition is also essential. Lowering entry barriers and incentivizing low-cost carriers would make more affordable options available. Bulk procurement of essential airline parts, collective insurance, and fuel-efficient operations could further decrease airline costs, benefiting consumers. Establishing strong infrastructure alternatives, like high-speed rail, road, and water transport, would relieve demand pressure on the aviation sector, thereby driving down prices.

Regional collaboration, such as Open Skies agreements with neighbouring countries, could increase route options and affordability. Supporting local maintenance and training programs could reduce dependence on foreign expertise, lowering labour expenses. Lastly, encouraging digital solutions and a subsidized frequent flyer program for low-income travellers could make air travel more accessible.

Beyond infrastructure and regulatory reforms, establishing an online complaint mechanism for passengers could improve transparency and accountability within the aviation sector. A similar initiative in India, called AirSewa, allows passengers to submit grievances directly to authorities, ensuring faster response times and promoting a consumer-focused airline industry. Implementing a similar platform in Nigeria would empower passengers to voice their concerns and encourage airlines to improve service quality.

These initiatives, combined with streamlined licensing, local skill development, and efficient operations, would reduce air travel prices and foster excellent connectivity and economic growth in Nigeria. Such a comprehensive approach would make air travel more affordable and accessible for a more significant population.

Nigeria’s aviation sector faces complex challenges, but with targeted reforms and strategic investments, air travel can once again become a service for all rather than a luxury for a select few. Addressing infrastructure, security, taxation, and regulation limitations will require commitment and vision, but the potential benefits are vast. By making air travel accessible, Nigeria can enhance its connectivity, create economic opportunities, and ensure that all citizens benefit from a modern, mobile society. Restoring air travel as a bridge to opportunity will open economic possibilities and solidify Nigeria’s commitment to equal access, inclusion, and national growth. Through these efforts, Nigeria’s aviation industry can take off, empowering millions and supporting the country’s journey toward a more connected, prosperous future.

Forget former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Forget Representative Adam Schiff. I’m Trump’s enemy within. I accept it as a badge of honour.

Lucky you if you are not one of us. I envy you.

Maybe you are not one of us today. But you will definitely join our ranks tomorrow. It is just a matter of time.

You will join us when you feel he has gone too far. And you show any desire for a bit of restraint, just a tiny bit. He will see your repulsion for his excesses as a sign of weakness.

You will get this “enemy within” badge of honour when you think enough is enough. It will happen when you disagree with any aspect of his vision of America.

He wants to use the military to intimidate me. He will try. Some of you will cheer him on. Some of you will make excuses for him. And some will explain away his stab at the heart of the American creed. But he will not win.

He won’t win because he does not know the US military. He sees the commissioned officers. He does not see the non-commissioned officers like us. We obey the commander-in-chief’s orders under one condition – that it does not go against the Constitution of the United States of America, which we swore to defend.

I bet you he doesn’t know that part. Nobody has told him that his power ends where the power of the Constitution starts.

We will tell him when the time comes.

Forget the Haitians and the insult he threw at them about eating dogs, cats, and pets. Forget the Congolese he accused of sneaking out of their prisons in Kinshasa and entering a raft for a 10,000-kilometer journey to the United States. Forget the Venezuelans he accused of taking over estates in the suburbs. Forget the Porto Ricans, whom his people at their love fest at Madison Square Garden in New York said came from “an island of floating garbage.” I’m on Trump’s list of those poisoning the blood of America.

He will want to deport me. He will want to deport you. He will want to deport any of us whose ancestors came not from his grandfather’s part of Europe. He will try, but he cannot wipe off our footprints on the beaches of Virginia.

He will try to separate the air we breathe in and out from the stream of American air, but the air will not obey him.

Let me be loud, just this time. I don’t want you to say nobody told you. I don’t want you to say that you didn’t hear.

The phenomenon of Trump is not a new character in America. We have seen characters like him before. And more are coming.

They typically crawl out of their dark holes during significant national changes and social and economic distress. They disappear when the sunshine reappears.

Trump has already changed America in more ways than we care to count. When the publishers of the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post newspapers fear endorsing a candidate in the US presidential election, you know this is no longer your grandfather’s America.

America will survive another four years of Trump.

The wound will heal. But the scars may never disappear. Like an ugly ring on the bark of a tree, it will remain a reminder to generations yet unborn of that time when Americans became so small they allowed fear to win.

History assures us that progress does not follow a straightforward path. Its road is zigzag. But in the end, humanity advances.

Like the stock market, we will survive the crashes and keep moving up. We will leave behind, inside abandoned graves, those who are allergic to change and the ones who defy the natural course of evolution.

One hundred years from now, the children and grandchildren of the Haitian people in Springfield, Ohio, who Trump accused of eating dogs, cats, and pets of the people who live there, will become governors in Ohio and presidents of the United States of America.

Americans living then will read stories of our time and shake their heads in disbelief. They will declare our era the Dark Ages.

So, fear not. You can be sure that we, the people, shall prevail in the end.

Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo teaches post-colonial African history, Afrodiasporan literature, and African folktales at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is also the host of Dr. Damages Show. His books include “This American Life Sef” and “Children of a Retired God.” among others. His upcoming book is called “Why I’m Disappointed in Jesus.”

As Governor Godwin Obaseki prepares to leave office on November 14, 2024, Edo State residents, political analysts, and stakeholders are reflecting on his administration’s impact. While Obaseki’s tenure has been marked by efforts toward economic reform and infrastructural projects, opinions remain split on whether the state is genuinely better off after his leadership.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to opine that this article examines the successes and shortcomings of Obaseki’s administration, weighing its achievements against the challenges it encountered. Therefore, it will not be out of place to look at areas of significant progress, ongoing concerns, and the legacy that Obaseki leaves behind for Edo’s future.

Governor Obaseki’s background as an investment banker and economist shaped his approach to governance. Early in his tenure, he championed economic policies aimed at creating job opportunities and improving the business environment. One of his flagship initiatives was the “Edo State Skills Development Agency” (EDOJOBS), which sought to equip young people with skills and connect them with employment opportunities. EDOJOBS reportedly trained thousands of youths, helping reduce unemployment in the state.

In addition, Obaseki launched the “Industrial Park Project” in Benin City, designed to attract investments and boost local manufacturing. While this ambitious project held promise, it faced delays and funding issues that hindered its impact on the state’s economy. Critics argue that though the governor had a clear vision for economic transformation, some of the initiatives have yet to fully materialize, making it difficult to assess their long-term value.

Education became one of Obaseki’s core priorities through the “Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST)” program, a flagship reform initiative aimed at revamping the quality of education. Under EdoBEST, the state witnessed improvements in infrastructure, teacher training, and classroom technology, especially in primary and secondary schools. Leveraging technology, the program provided digital teaching aids and tablets to help teachers deliver lessons effectively, raising hopes for a generation of well-prepared students.

The results of EdoBEST are visible in improved student performance in the state. Parents and educators have praised the program for giving students in Edo State access to better educational resources. However, critics argue that rural areas were not equally impacted, as schools in remote regions received fewer resources, which left some children behind. Nevertheless, EdoBEST is viewed as a hallmark achievement of Obaseki’s tenure and sets a strong foundation for the incoming administration to build upon.

Infrastructure development was another major pillar of Obaseki’s governance. His administration invested heavily in road construction, bridges, and drainage systems, especially in the state capital, Benin City. The “Benin Stormwater Project”, initially designed to tackle perennial flooding, stands as a significant, albeit controversial, infrastructure project. Although there were delays and cost overruns, the project has improved the situation in some flood-prone areas.

Governor Obaseki’s urban renewal efforts also extended to restoring cultural and historical sites in Benin City. However, while infrastructure investments were commendable, they were often criticized for their uneven distribution across the state. Areas outside Benin City, such as Esanland and Edo North, sometimes felt neglected, with citizens in those regions arguing that they saw little benefit from the infrastructure projects. 

In health, Obaseki launched the “Edo Health Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP)”, an initiative aimed at providing universal healthcare coverage for residents through the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme. With a focus on upgrading healthcare facilities, the scheme aimed to reduce the financial burden of medical services on low-income families and make healthcare more accessible.

While Edo-HIP was well-received by health professionals and the public, it faced challenges in terms of implementation and funding. Some healthcare facilities reportedly struggled with resource constraints, leading to limited access for patients. Furthermore, critics point out that healthcare funding remains below the recommended levels, raising concerns about the sustainability of the improvements initiated under Edo-HIP.

The rise in crime rates in parts of Edo State posed a significant challenge for the Obaseki administration. His government’s response included efforts to strengthen local security forces and increase police presence in hotspots. Through the “Operation Wabaizigan Initiative”, Obaseki worked to address crime and improve collaboration between local law enforcement and community vigilantes.

Despite these efforts, insecurity remains a concern, with kidnappings and armed robbery incidents reported in rural areas and major highways. Some citizens feel that security has not improved substantially and argue that Obaseki’s administration could have done more to tackle the root causes of crime. As a result, security remains one of the most debated aspects of Obaseki’s tenure, with some seeing it as an area where expectations were not fully met.

Obaseki’s tenure was also marked by political controversies. From his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to disagreements with political allies and rivals, his administration faced considerable political friction. Obaseki’s move to the PDP in 2020, after falling out with former APC godfather Adams Oshiomhole, stirred the political landscape and created divisions among Edo’s political elite.

Public perception of Obaseki has also been mixed. While some view him as a visionary leader who attempted to shift Edo’s developmental trajectory, others argue that his political entanglements distracted from governance. This perception is further complicated by Obaseki’s conflicts with lawmakers and other politicians, which often resulted in legislative delays and stalled projects.

As Governor Obaseki prepares to exit office, the question remains: Has he truly left Edo State better than he found it? His tenure undeniably saw significant strides in education, economic reform, and infrastructure. Programs like EdoBEST and EDOJOBS have laid a foundation for future growth, while urban renewal efforts have modernized parts of Benin City and its surroundings.

Yet challenges persist. The success of economic reforms, healthcare improvements, and infrastructure projects largely depends on their continuity and the incoming administration’s commitment to building on Obaseki’s policies. If these programs are sustained and expanded, Obaseki’s legacy may well be one of progress and lasting reform.

For Edo State, the next steps are crucial. With a new administration set to take the reins, citizens hope that the positive changes made under Obaseki will be preserved, and the gaps left behind addressed. Ultimately, whether Obaseki leaves Edo better off is a question that history will answer over time, as the effectiveness of his reforms will be measured by the state’s future trajectory.

In fact, Obaseki’s time in office has been a mixed bag of achievements and unfulfilled promises. While his economic and educational reforms have been transformative, questions remain about their reach and sustainability. His administration’s focus on infrastructure has made strides, but critics argue that these efforts were limited to specific areas, leaving others feeling marginalized.

As Edo State looks to the future, it will be up to the next governor to continue the momentum and address the lingering challenges in healthcare, security, and equitable development. Only then will it be clear whether Obaseki has truly left Edo State in a better condition than he found it. For now, his legacy is a work in progress, and the judgment of history awaits.

I lived in Eastern Africa for about 16 years, 11 of which were in Kenya but working on Somalia. My Kenya years were very impactful. I learned a lot. Even though I was lazy on language, I was a big observant of the country, including its fauna. Many a time, I drove within the Kenya National Park in Nairobi and went beyond to Amboseli, Nakuru, Maasai Mara, etc.

I had observed carnivorous animals chase and subdued weaker herbivorous animals. As A Y O dot, my friend tells me an Impala or a Gnu a.k.a. Wildebeest, which are herbivorous animals, have no chance of making a plea to the Lioness not to kill them for food when they really never hurt any of the members of a Lion’s pride. Once the Lioness has zeroed in on one, it is a case of snuffing life out of another living animal. There could be a thousand Wildebeest, once one is grabbed, the others flee. A similar situation is it between Crocodiles and Wildebeests, as the latter, in droves, annually cross the Mara River from Tanzania into Kenya to forage until time to instinctively all return to Tanzania. Zebras et.al. join in the annual crossing. Once a Crocodile grabs a Gnu, the hundreds of crossing Zebra, Gnu, etc., do not look back. The strength in number was never to be deployed in these situations.

The feeling was unmistakable – a sense of helplessness, like a Zebra caught in the jaws of a Lion or a Wildebeest pulled under by a crocodile. This was exactly how I felt as I descended the Third Mainland Bridge going in the direction of Ibadan on October 30, 2024, at about 17:00 a.k.a. 5 pm. I left a 70th birthday party of a friend I grew up with that held at Ebute-Metta. It was a great opportunity to not only felicitate with the celebrant but also a reunion with old friends, especially Olusesan Ekisola. There is so much campaign to keep old social networks for longevity. We left the party at the same time for fear of traffic and its accompanying vicissitudes.

All of a sudden, I had several bangs on my car that was slowed down to about 5 km an hour. It was not stand still. It was moving. Three or four young men were hitting my car with their fists, indicating that they were hungry and I must feed them. It was a command and nothing near a plea. I shouted back, asking why was I responsible for their feeding. The one in front grabbed the mirror part of the rear-view mirror casing, indicating to me that he would pull it out if I don’t immediately provide money for food.

I remembered what my son said happened to his car on March 5, 2024. He had a meeting on behalf of his company with some foreign investors. The foreigners had another meeting on the Marina, and he asked his driver to drive them there instead of using Uber. This was the type of hospitable behaviour I expected of him. As the driver and foreigners descended Eko Bridge towards joining Marina, some guy came begging for “feeding money”. He was ignored. He yanked off the mirror of the rear-view mirror. It cost my son an arm and a leg to replace.

I had posted the experience of my son on a WhatsApp platform that I belong to which also has highly placed Nigerians, including at least one minister, several advisers and those we refer to as Awaiting Office or Awaiting Contracts in the current government of Nigeria. There were some expressions of sympathy for my son and Nigeria with the thinking that those foreigners would not invest here. To my dismay, a friend dismissed it – this was just daily life in Lagos. But I now know that he was saying the truth. Another truth was that those foreigners would invest in spite of their experience if the returns would be good and their investment reasonably secured by all sorts of insurance, including sovereign guarantees in some cases with the interests of senior officials.

I was in the fastest lane that was moving at the speed of the tortoise, meaning at least more than the snail. Here I was, living that same “daily life,” wishing the cars around me would notice my plight. I am sure they did but could not be bothered. I thought of crashing into the car next to mine in the middle lane as everyone drove on as if nothing was happening. I thought about the cost to repair two or more cars if I behaved instinctively. I could see the Governor Sanwo-Olu installed CCTV cameras ahead and wondered about the deception that those cameras would boost our security as people are supposedly watching over us 24/7. But realistically, even if someone was indeed watching at a control centre, what could have been done? Deploy armed drones or helicopters of the Rapid Response Squad as would be the case in situations of governments that indeed govern? So much on the ruse on how the deployment of drones would sniff out kidnappers, who are known and given chieftaincy titles and digitalisation would reduce corruption, etc. A decadent and problem of lack of values and consequences for criminal behaviour cannot be solved by corrupt deployment of technology.

I beckoned to the guy viciously holding onto my mirror as I drove on, and he jogged along to ask the other guys to stop following us so I could find something for him. He instructed them, and they complied. It was not easy to grab my wallet from my tight Yoruba “Sokoto”. My favourite late nephew had insisted to my wife that his tailor must sew my dresses and I should stop looking older than my age. He had joined all in my family to insist that I should no longer be driving myself. But that I rejected, insisting that I would stop driving only when my body gave me the message.

My hands were shaking. I was being violated even without a matchet or guns as I later learned that others do. I grabbed N500, which my special adviser said he learned as being called a Figo when he once faced the exact experience at Ketu a while back, and he did not even bother to tell me. He had also been cut with a matchet in Abuja in the past for daring to walk a short distance in search of salvation on a Christmas Eve. I wondered about what food a Figo could buy since we got the renewed hope government of Nigeria with its whopping devaluation. He was looking at me as I fiddled, my wallet dropped, but I had grabbed another N500. He was patient with me; he knew he had subdued me, and like the Impala, all other drivers would not assist me. I was literally on my own.

I had learned from my days in the conflict zones that I had some level of protection while remaining in my car, more so a moving car even if slowly without any opportunity to bolt without damage to my car. I knew I was about to expose myself by handing the N1, 000 over. I wound down a bit to the extent of allowing only the notes to slip through as we continued in motion. He left my mirror and grabbed the naira notes and expressed gratitude and said: “Baba, go on, you are free”.

As I drove on for about half a kilometre, I saw a policeman walking towards me. It did not occur to me to waste my time in spite of the constant reminder that the police were my friend in many advertisements. And I cannot blame the underfunded and under-staffed Nigeria Police Force. However, it is also important that even the few available police officers are deployed to help those with real money to move around and live a life of no fear from hoodlums. When they were not doing this more lucrative service, they were chasing vehicle particulars from motor drivers, crimes that should be ignored as unimportant in the face of the anarchy that is brewing in our country. This is more so as the Sanwo-Olu CCTV cameras have been catching those whose car papers had expired but still on the road, slamming them with huge sums as penalties. Your guess is as good as mine as to why the police, the vehicle inspection officers, the Federal Road Safety Corps, etc., are respectively busy checking car papers.

I related my experience to a bosom friend who told me that his wife had been accosted at the same spot I was at and successfully robbed twice. Each time she was driven, she normally fretted at that same spot, scared that she would be attacked again. She had seen other people being attacked and moved on as I would have done. But her husband made a significant point. It is those of us in cars that never react when one of us is getting the treatment of an Antelope from a Lioness or a Crocodile. He noted that dispatch riders on motor-bicycles would stop if anything untoward was happening to any of their own and rescue the one under attack from any criminal or even law-enforcement not to talk of an unfortunate car driver that knocks one of their own down.

I had to drive the same route on the following day while returning from a panel discussion at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, I chose to move not later than 2 pm when traffic was lighter. I realized that I had been psychologically affected, maybe not to the extent of using the word traumatized. Even moving at about 40kms an hour, I was thinking the boys may surface again.

I share this story not out of optimism but to underscore the sad reality we face: a country where security is an afterthought, where leadership is so corrupt, and where the roads are made safe only for those in power. For the rest of us, survival has become a matter of luck and, sometimes, a thousand-naira (One Naira as nicknamed by Agberos in Lagos) compulsory gift for “freedom.”

On a larger note, the signs of things getting to this point, especially in Lagos, have always been there. The increasing presence of unemployed, unproductive, very hungry young men easily deployed as tools of political oppression and destruction in any society should not be left unattended to. The security menace they constitute only became more harrowing since we got the renewed hope government of Nigeria.

– Prof. Badejo is a legal practitioner and professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta. Nigeria.