THE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration likes to psychologically anesthetize Nigerians who are grieving from the hurt of its economic policies (petrol price spike, electricity tariff hike, devaluation of the naira, etc.) by saying Nigerians are only undergoing transitory pains in the service of a forthcoming permanent prosperity.

I have repeatedly called this an intentional lie. I have done so from the benefit of my knowledge of the outcomes of such policies in other countries, including in Nigeria from 1986 to 1993 when Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida implemented a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as dictated by the World Bank and the IMF, which is similar to Tinubu’s “reforms.”

I have also made recurrent references in the past to countries that have made progress precisely because they defied the economic template Tinubu is implementing now. I highlight the case of Malaysia in the late 1990s.

Let’s start with SAP in Nigeria. In 1986, self-described military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was persuaded by the IMF and the World Bank to “restructure and diversify” Nigeria’s economy.

The restructuring and diversification led to the removal of subsidies on petrol (all past regimes called petrol price spikes “subsidy removal”), devaluation of the naira (now it’s known by the fancy term “floating of the naira”), deregulation (that is, allowing market forces to regulate the economy while the government takes the back seat), privatization (i.e., selling off of Nigeria’s national patrimony to a few moneybags), etc.

The immediate aftereffect of this IMF-endorsed “restructuring” (Tinubu calls his “reform”) of the economy was a never-before-seen inflationary conflagration, which eroded the purchasing power of the average Nigerian. It produced widespread hardship similar to what Nigerians are going through at this moment.

Petrol price spike and privatization led to job losses and a deepening of the unemployment crisis. Reduction in government spending, particularly on social services, led to declines in healthcare and education quality. Poverty rates also increased as a direct consequence of the removal of subsidies for fuel and basic services.

I distinctly remember all the rhetorical maneuvers that officials of the IBB regime used to fray nerves, and they are awfully similar to what honchos of the Tinubu regime now use: it will get worse before it gets better, there is light at the end of the tunnel, there is no gain without pain, Nigeria simply can’t afford to fund subsidies, our economy would collapse if we don’t restructure the economy, the current system is unsustainable, we’ll all smile and appreciate the wisdom of this temporary sacrifice when the gains start coming, etc.

By 1993 when IBB left power, Nigeria became firmly secured in the economic toilet. Manufacturing collapsed, social unrest rose, and brain drain (which is now called “japa”) started and blossomed, and hopelessness was democratized.

Someone very close to IBB who nonetheless opposed his IMF-backed economic “restructuring” told me he asked one of IBB’s IMF/World Bank-appointed finance ministers a few years ago what happened to the “gains” they promised would replace the “pains” people underwent between 1986 and 1993?

He reported him as saying the gains didn’t materialize because the “restructuring” wasn’t implemented faithfully. Meanwhile, thousands of people died, and millions of people were destabilized because of this “restructuring.” I can bet that Tinubu and his defenders would give the same excuse when they dig Nigeria deeper into the depths of despair at the end of their “reforms.”

In a 1995 report titled “Structural Adjustment and the Spreading Crisis In Latin America,” we see the same scenario repeated throughout the developing countries of South and Central America. Everywhere subsidies were removed, currency devalued, and so-called market forces given a free reign, the result is always the same: devastation, poverty, hopelessness, death of the middle class, etc.

The report instructively noted: “Mexico is one of many cases worldwide where adjustment and the free market have not only failed to alleviate poverty, but have further polarized the country and led to disaster, economic and social. World Bank and IMF officials continued to say — right up to the current crisis — that adjustment’s attack on poverty would take time, but, after more than a dozen years of adjustment in Mexico, things have never been worse than they are today, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There must be a point at which these institutions acknowledge that their strategy has failed and needs to be abandoned, and that a new, more democratically determined approach to the country’s development has to be taken.”

But it’s not inevitable that governments in developing countries should follow the IMF/World Bank’s ruinous prescriptions. Many countries with leaders who have guts and who care for the welfare of their people resist these institutions. And it often turns out that the only countries that are witnessing inclusive growth and development are countries that have chosen to depart from the hell-paved path created by the IMF and the World Bank.

For example, in 1997, when Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea faced economic headwinds and turned to the IMF and the World Bank for financial bailout, they were offered help with the usual conditionalities attached: budget cuts, subsidy removal, currency devaluation, etc.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed rejected the conditions. He said they would choke off economic growth, bankrupt companies, and cause massive unemployment in his country.  So, he went counter to the counsel of the IMF. Instead of budget cuts, he increased government spending. Instead of currency devaluation, he defended the ringgit, Malaysia’s currency, by fixing it to the US dollar. Malaysia recovered from the economic crisis faster than its IMF-obedient neighbors.

During “A Meeting of Minds” dialogue organized by Forbes magazine in 2009, the magazine’s chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, Steve Forbes, asked Mahathir how and why he bucked the IMF and did better than countries that slavishly obeyed it.

“Fortunately, I am not a financier,” he said. “I know very little about economics, so I do things which are not quite off props. When people tell me that the right way to handle a crisis like that is to obey the IMF and the World Bank, I thought otherwise. I actually examined their prescriptions, and I found that those prescriptions would actually make matters worse, so I didn’t see why I should be following them.”

I am glad Mahathir attributed his success in standing up to the IMF to his not being a financier and knowing “very little about economics.” It’s as if he was talking about Nigeria’s gaggle of slavish, brain-dead, self-impressed, IMF-controlled know-things who pass themselves off as “economic experts” and who have popularized the aggravating idiocy that subsidies are bad and must be removed because they are supposedly bad for the economy and don’t benefit the poor.

Now we know the truth. We need more people who “know very little about economics” and a lot about commonsense to make economic decisions for Nigeria.

The questions people with lots of common sense and very little knowledge of “economics” should ask are, what does it profit a national economy if a government increases the cost of production for manufacturing companies through sharp spikes in the cost of petrol and electricity?

What benefits does a country derive from a policy that causes mass pauperization, which ensures that everyday citizens can’t afford the basic things of life, not to talk of discretionary spending?  Recession kicks in when people have no money to spend.

How does a country get light at the end of the tunnel when its policies trigger inflation and a once-in-a-generation cost-of-living crisis because it devalued its currency under the instruction of far-flung economic institutions notorious for instigating mass misery in developing countries and that are concerned more for “their loans, not on growth,” as Mahathir once put it? How can a country surrender its economic sovereignty to a foreign entity and tell its citizens to expect a bumper harvest in an undefined future?

The only benefit of the ongoing “economic reforms,” according to Tinubu and his officials, is that it is bringing in more money for the government. And what does the government do with the money? Fritter it away in frivolities while people starve and die.

Even if the money will be used to build or renew infrastructure—we all know it won’t—if this is achieved at the expense of pauperizing the great majority of our people, it is still worthless.

Only people who are alive and healthy use infrastructure. The time to know very little economics and have lots of commonsense is now because the lofty “tomorrow” Tinubu’s IMF economic policies are promising will never come. It never came for countries that implemented similar policies.

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has berated Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to recognise the court judgment on his reinstatement to office.

Naija News recalls that the duo have been at loggerheads over issues regarding the governorship election in the state.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Shaibu said he was asked to be Obaseki’s deputy to add political value to the party’s ticket because the Governor was not a politician.

Shaibu also stated that it took former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, three months to convince him to support Obaseki to become governor.

He said, “Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki.

“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, he did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him.”

[NaijaNews]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised a significant reduction in deductions from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Aviation Agencies from 50 per cent down to 20 per cent.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that aviation unions had threatened to commence a nationwide protests over the 50 percent deduction from the IGR of the agencies, a policy the workers said undermined operational efficiency and financial stability.

The protests were expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrated their frustration and called for the policy reversal.

However, in a statement shared by one of the aide to the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Saka Gbenga, the reduction showed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the Aviation sector.

According to Saka, the President will  thoughtfully address workers’ demands by seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.

“This move aligns with the minister, Festus Keyamo’s assurance to workers’ unions and other stakeholders that President Tinubu is deeply committed to enhancing the Aviation sector. The President aims to thoughtfully address their demands, seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.”

However, earlier in the day, the minister on his verified X handle said the concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact the deductions had on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.

“We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry. The ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.

“The minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.

“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all. We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.”

[Leadership]

Barely 10 months after a court overturned $11 billion damages against Nigeria in the controversial Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) deal, the federal government is facing another legal battle involving a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, which is seeking to enforce a $70 million arbitration award against Nigeria. 

But does the federal government stand a chance of emerging as the victor in the current case? 

Seasoned analysts weighed the odds in what they described as a mismanaged deal in separate interviews with Weekend Trust on Friday. 

Zhongshan recently got an order from a court in France to enforce the award following an aborted contract between the company and the Ogun State Government, which was initiated in 2007. 

The order, which authorised the seizure of the three presidential jets under maintenance in France, has since been validated by a United States court, dismissing Nigeria’s sovereign immunity defence to the enforcement of the $70 million award.

The Ogun State government and Zhongshan have been at daggers drawn over the management of an export processing zone in the Gateway state.

In 2010, Zhongshan Fucheng, through its parent company, Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun State, Nigeria.

In 2011, Zhongshan established Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE, to manage the project with the Ogun State government’s permission.

In July 2016, Zhongshan accused the Ogun State government of attempting to terminate its appointment and install a new manager for the free trade zone. 

Zhongshan initiated an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria under the bilateral investment treaty between China and Nigeria (China-Nigeria BIT).

The arbitrators ruled in favour of Zhongshan, awarding approximately $70 million in compensation. In January 2022, Zhongshan sought enforcement of the arbitration award.

In addition to the seizure of the presidential jets, a court of appeal in the US has authorised the Chinese company’s final charging orders over two residential properties owned by Nigeria.

The development worsens a crisis that the Nigerian government has been attempting to manage in Europe and prevent from spilling to other jurisdictions. 

Nigeria had pleaded state immunity against the arbitration but was denied by a United Kingdom High Court judge, Sara Cockerill, who noted Nigeria’s abuse of the timeframe for appealing arbitral awards. 

In the majority judgement issued by Patricia Millett and Julianna Childs, the US court held that the final arbitration award is enforceable under the New York convention since the dispute is between “persons” that share a legal commercial relationship. 

The court ruled that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) arbitration exception stripped Nigeria of sovereign immunity in the arbitration award case.

However, in the dissenting judgement, the third judge, Gregory Katsas, argued that when the New York convention was drafted, the word “persons” did not include a sovereign nation.  

Katsas held that the action of Ogun State cannot be attributed to Nigeria, adding that the arbitration award “arises solely out of Nigeria’s sovereign acts governed by public international law.” 

Meanwhile, the Presidency had accused Zhongshan of attempting to take over Nigeria’s offshore assets through subterfuge. 

“The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge. 

“The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government,” a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday read in part.

Also speaking on the development on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said Nigeria has initiated both legal and diplomatic steps to ensure the release of three seized presidential aircraft in France and Switzerland. 

In the statement by his spokesperson, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Attorney-General said its efforts were grounded in the principle that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for sovereign purposes, and therefore immune from attachment.

“The Offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation, have already set in motion both legal and diplomatic steps to ensure the discharge of the inappropriate orders against the aircrafts, which are covered by sovereign immunity,” it said.

The government also maintained that the interim orders against the aircraft were inappropriate, given their status under sovereign immunity.

Trade zone dispute mismanaged – Lawyers 

Some lawyers have criticised the handling of the dispute with the Chinese firm that resulted in the confiscation of the country’s presidential aircraft. 

Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) bemoaned Nigeria’s tendency to breach international agreements of this nature, urging the federal government to opt for a settlement. 

He said, “If there is a dispute and one side has evinced a view for settlement, I think it is important to explore that option, irrespective of the court or arbitration panel that heard the matter. 

“The more reason we should opt for settlement is because they are producing what we cannot on that land mapped out for the FTZ.” 

In his view, Nkem Okoro Esq, called for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of officials involved in the mishandling of the contract to show that the government of Nigeria is not complicit in the breach and to avoid soiling its image further. 

“The only honourable thing for the Nigerian government to do now is the payment of the sum awarded against it by the arbitration panel. At least this way, Nigeria can reassure would-be international investors of the safety of their investments in Nigeria. 

“Nigeria breached the agreement it had with the Chinese company; an arbitral award was made against Nigeria, and Nigeria has refused to do the most honourable thing: pay and atone for your shortcomings.

“The seizure of Nigeria’s assets is a colossal and unmitigated embarrassment to the federation, already. To think that rather than paying, Nigeria will be looking for ways to defeat the award is also exacerbating the situation against the international image of Nigeria,” he said. 

He said there is no doubt that Nigeria is a party in the dispute because free zones in Nigeria are managed, controlled, and administered by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, which is an agency of the federal government.  

A human rights lawyer, Nkereuwem Akpan, Esq, also called for a diplomatic approach to resolving the dispute.   

He, however, cautioned that under international law, sovereign states enjoy sovereign immunity from execution, and as such, it would be improper for one state to seize the assets of another, which could lead to chaos if it leads to tit for tat.

Nigeria’s image, foreign investment drive at stake  

The Zhongshan matter brings to mind earlier cases of P&ID arbitration ruling over Nigeria tardiness in a failed gas supply and processing contract.   

Similarly, in 2019, an Irish engineering firm was awarded $9.6 billion in damages against Nigeria by a UK court over a failed gas project. The firm instructed lawyers to identify Nigerian assets worldwide that could be seized to enforce the record-breaking arbitration award. 

A former foreign Affairs Minister and professor of political science, Ambassador Bolaji Akinyemi, said there is a provision in international law which provides that where a nation is involved in commercial activities, its agency will not have diplomatic immunity—an exception to the general rule that states enjoy diplomatic immunity.

He said, “In this particular case, Ogun is not a sovereign state. It is Nigeria that is recognised, and so property belonging to Nigeria is now exposed to this exception to diplomatic immunity. 

“I don’t know who the lawyers of Ogun State were when this case came up; the last judgement we had was decided in the United States Court of Appeal. And the judges ruled by a vote of two to one that the Nigerian property does not enjoy diplomatic immunity. This is bad for our image and position internationally. It should never have been allowed to get to this stage.” 

Commenting on the development, Dakuku Adol Peterside, former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said the development raised fundamental issues worth interrogating.

He said, coming after the Dangote saga, this is one too many, and the global perception of our country is not good. 

“At the time we thought we are beginning to see some increase in foreign direct investment inflow, suddenly, the government is giving out false signals. We already have economic policy challenges; we have foreign exchange volatility and there is a general clout of negative perception about the strength and health of the Nigerian economy.

“Right now, there are institutional weaknesses that investors are grappling with, including the fact that our judiciary doesn’t give people a lot of confidence. Added to all these challenges is the Nigeria-Ogun-Chinese company crisis. There is no way it will not significantly impact investors’ confidence.

“It (the confidence) will weaken, and this is not good for us. Government needs to understand the place of signalling. Perception means a lot to investment. Investment will not go to where it is not safe,” he stated.

Peterside contended that the case reeked of the untidiness that has characterised Nigeria’s international contracts.

He said states and even private companies had found ways of roping in the federal government into their untidy deals.   

“In the process, our national reputation has even further cheapened,” he added.

Options available for FG 

Prof. Akinyemi urged the federal government to warn all state governors about cancelling contracts signed by their predecessors, whether the agreements involved foreign or domestic companies.

“To me, it is arrogance of power on the part of the Ogun State government. Governors come in and just decide to do anything. They have ruined a lot of domestic companies whose contracts have been cancelled like that,” he added.

Prof. Akinyemi, who is the chairman of the National Think Tank, also admonished the federal government to approach the Chinese government and Chinese companies doing business in Nigeria.  

“The Chinese government should call the Chinese company and put pressure on it to settle out of court with Nigeria. That is the important proposal, so that Chinese interest in Nigeria will not be adversely affected by what is going on,” the diplomat said. 

On the way forward, Peterside said Nigeria could not continue to be seen as a country whose transactions are opaque and not respectful of contracts, saying these perceptions could deter foreign investors from having anything to do with the country. 

Peterside, who is also a former House of Representatives member, advised that the office of the Attorney General of the federation should take a closer look at international contracts entered into by states to insulate sovereign assets from culpability. 

Nigeria has a strong case 

–Agbakoba

However, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has insisted that Nigeria has a strong defence on two grounds. 

He said in international law, there is a compelling reason to argue that attachment of property belonging to a sovereign state such as Nigeria is free from attachment under an order of court.

“In this case, evidence that the aircraft are owned by Nigeria and are strictly used for diplomatic purposes, is in my view a good ground for Nigeria to successfully recover the aircraft from attachment.  

“The second strong reason would be that the attachment of the aircraft is said to be in respect of a debt owed by Ogun State, which is a wholly different political entity from the sovereign state of Nigeria. The attached aircraft would, in those circumstances, be unjustified and I think it is reasonable to presume that Nigeria has a very good chance of success,” he stated. 

Chinese firm mulls negotiations, releases seized jet 

Meanwhile, Zhongshan has said it is open to negotiations with the Nigerian government over the matter. The company was quoted in a statement reported by Premium Times on Thursday that it only sought to assert its rights under international law and was confident in its case.  

“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing,” the statement said. 

On Friday, the Online Newspaper quoted a Zhongshan spokesperson as saying that the company had released one of the confiscated aircraft. 

“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making. 

“It (Zhongshan) has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week. 

“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip. 

“Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly,” the official said.

[DailyTrust]

The ousted Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi of planning to hijack the party in the state to fight President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Okocha, however, vowed never to allow Amaechi and his alleged stooge, Emeka Beke have their way against Tinubu.

He spoke to journalists in Abuja while reacting to the court judgment that sacked his committee on August 15.

A High Court in Port Harcourt had sacked the Okocha-led caretaker committee while reinstating Emeka Beke as the APC Chairman.

However, Okocha said: “We imagine how a person of low academic qualifications can preside over a meeting that some of us would attend but the APC leader then said they wanted somebody who had a street boy mentality.

“But the truth was that he wanted a surrogate, a stooge who would do his bidding. We fought but the APC leader was then a minister and his vestiges were here as leaders of the party.

“At the presidential primaries of the APC, Beke was the person who led the Rivers delegation of 56 delegates to vote for Rotimi Amaechi. That was how they scored 56 from the state.

“There is an intention to throw up Amaechi’s man and then he (Amaechi) becomes the APC leader and then uses the APC to fight Mr President in 2027. We will never allow that.”

[DailyPost]

The Police Command in Benue said yesterday that  no fewer than 20 medical students from University of Jos were kidnapped in Otukpo on Thursday evening.

Benue Police Public Relations Officer Sewuese Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday by telephone that the incident happened at 5.30 pm.

Anene said that the students who were traveling to Enugu for their annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students convention were ambushed and kidnapped in Otukpo.

“A report was received that medical students from Jos were on their way from Jos to Enugu and were kidnapped around Otukpo.

“No fewer than 20 students were ambushed and kidnapped around Otukpo. They are coming from Jos,” she said.

[TheNation]

It’s typical for the average Igbo man to think his life is incomplete without a male child.

Read this man’s message to me on the matter:

“A friend of mine is in a mess. His problems started when his wife left him. They had been having issues because, according to him, the woman was cantankerous, and he often dreaded their bedroom because she had a habit of stripping herself naked to lay curses on him and those she claimed were enabling him to break their home.

“She would do this while walking around with flaming-coloured candles in hand. It got so bad that he rented a small apartment where he often stayed to relax. In no time, he found himself a companion in a young lady he had assisted in the past.

“Meanwhile, his wife had to travel to her hometown with their son (who has special needs). Some days later, he was told that the boy (aged 15) accidentally drowned in a swimming pool.

“His wife came back, accused his lover of being behind their son’s death, packed her belongings, and left their matrimonial home. The boy was their only son; the others are girls.

“The lady now occupying his rented apartment had been pregnant for him a few times but had miscarriages. One day, the same lady returned from a prayer outing and told him it was revealed to her that due to the curse his wife placed on him, he would never be able to get any woman pregnant again.

“He said he was so disturbed (because he truly wanted a son) that he took a break from the lady for a while. Around that time, he met another woman (a one-night stand) but found himself really drawn to her, and in no time, he rented an apartment for her.

“The long and short of it is that this new lady became pregnant around the same time he realised his other lover was also pregnant. Both women have since given birth. The second lady had a baby girl, but the one living with him had a boy. He is planning to marry her, but he doesn’t have the support of his family.

“According to them, the person his wife accused of killing their brother’s son shouldn’t become part of their family. He actually likes the second lady more but is grappling with guilt concerning the other lady.

“He claimed she has gone through a lot trying to give him a son. Otherwise, he has a lot of complaints about her. For example, he said she nags as much as his first wife.

“And their space has become a home to her lazy siblings and their mother. Almost all of them live in that house now, and all they do is eat and watch television daily, as none of them work.

“He also said this lady does not work, yet she has very expensive tastes. According to him, none of the hair she buys is less than N350,000. She also defrauds him by inflating household expenses.

“He said it’s actually in the space of the other lady that he finds a semblance of peace, coupled with the fact that she is very clean and a good cook. What’s your advice to him? He is an Igbo man.”

From Oby

If male children were destined to play more important roles in your life, life would have given them to you. But if all you have are daughters, know they are the ones you will need in your life.

God knows what He is doing, and what He is doing is something that only time will reveal. It took my parents’ old age for me to understand this Igbo adage, “nwanyi bu nwa” (a daughter is worth it).

At a certain point in a parent’s life, it won’t matter which child is male or female. What will matter is which child cares.

So, the child life has given you is exactly who you will need in your life.

If this man conducts a DNA test on those newborns, he may be shocked that one or even both do not belong to him because he is dealing with desperate women who see him as a meal ticket and would do anything to latch onto him for economic survival.

I hope he has done a complete check on his health status!

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps, says it has demobilised 54 illegally mobilised graduates of the University of Calabar, to prevent the award of Certificates of National Service to unqualified persons.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Scheme’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, on Friday night.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, adding that the illegal graduates would be prosecuted accordingly.

He said of the 54, nineteen of them initially registered online for mobilization, have been prevented from service, while four (4) Certificates of National Service for other culprits, were not produced by the Scheme. 

Recall that the NYSC had earlier on Monday, invalidated the Certificates of 101 illegally mobilised graduates of UNICAL, who were part of the scheme between 2021-2023.

Following the invalidation of the certificates, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), commended the Scheme for exposing fake graduates who were fraudulently mobilised, pledging to take action against staff involved in the mobilisation of fake graduates from the institution.

The NYSC DG disclosed that a bread seller had been illegally mobilized from the University, while commending the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, for hinting the NYSC about the illegal mobilisations.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list and they ought not to have been there. She checked the list the school gave us and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated. I give kudos to the Vice-Chancellor.

“Previously, a bread seller was mobilised on the graduation list from the same institution, there are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates”, the DG said.

He stated further that the Scheme would intensify its collaboration with Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and relevant stakeholders in the country to stop the menace.

Ahmed added that any failure in the mobilisation process from any school falls on the integrity of the management of such an institution, stating, “Those who are responsible for imputing the data of graduates should be people of integrity.”

He called on all employers of labour in the country to verify the authenticity of Certificates of National Service being presented for job placement from the NYSC.

[Punch]

Cacophony fills the Nigerian sports space. 

From the ashes of the country’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games springs the shrill of anger and condemnation. In the past one week, Nigerians have collectively vented their anger and frustration at those they perceive to have caused the country’s failure to return from Paris with a single medal. They are baying for the blood of sports officials, especially that of the Sports Minister, because the buck of the calamitous ‘failure’ of the athletes stops at his desk. They ask: How can a country of over 200 million people that expended N12 Billion Naira fail to win a single medal? 

Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Movement, will be quivering in his grave: since when has winning medals become a matter of size of a country, or population, or amount of money spent on the eve of the event, or wishful thinking, or unearned expectations? 

Fundamentally, every country goes to the Olympics with all the athletes that achieve the qualifying standards through pre-Olympic competitions, and not on their likelihood to win medals. That’s why Nigeria went with 82 qualified athletes. Of this number, how many, realistically, were expected to win any medal? 

In Paris there were 10,500 athletes from 205 countries. How many can win the 329 medals at stake? Are the other over 10,000 athletes failures? 

To win any medal is not a stroll in the park. It is earned on the fields of competition. To even get to the Olympics is a painstaking ‘journey’. The 100 metres finals will last only 10 seconds. What is required to get to that point is training hard for 6 to 9 hours every day for several years; surviving health, fitness and unforeseen challenges; competing against hundreds of the best athletes around the world for those many years; securing funds to train, hire personnel and compete in high level events; securing the services of experts to successfully navigate the athlete through the treacherous terrain leading to ultimate success; to be self-motivated and to be favoured by the elements. Which of these did Nigeria do to prepare its sprinters and earn the right of expectation to win a medal? 

At the end of all the above, those that successfully navigate the minefields and win medals, hardly ever do so coming from the blues, or by accident. They pass through the crucible of fire. 

Sentiments aside, in all facets of life, including sports, Nigeria should be one of the leading lights of Africa, providing leadership that will steer away from under-development into the bright light of success. The evidence of this possibility has always been there, a musical tune that has been played for decades in the corridors of international sports. It is only unfortunate that successive Nigerian governments have been deaf to the lyrics of the song. 

Meanwhile, we must not confuse the little incidents that happen during every Olympic Games to all teams as any measure of their success or failure. Administrative lapses will always occur. Without accepting or embracing them as normal, what we should never do is use them as a basis to throw away the baby with the bath water, or to smear the performance of the athletes with that tar. These issues must be separated, each bearing its own responsibility. We have history to take lessons from. 

In attending the 1980 Olympics, Nigeria went with the best set of sports administrators in the history of the country – a Sports Ministry and an NSC complete with Isaac Akioye and that whole generation of stakeholders and seasoned administrators. 

The world was embroiled in a crisis that rendered the Moscow Olympics one of the worst in history. Nigeria did not even qualify in many sports but were invited to take part at the last minute. 

The country did not win a single medal despite having a crack number of great athletes in several sports that were to blossom in latter years. 

Yet, what dominated the media on return to the country was a ‘sex scandal’ that never happened, an imaginary relationship between an athlete and an official of the National Sports Commission created by a journalist gathering information from the Olympic Village through the telephone from his hotel room in Moscow. 

That report fuelled the anger of Nigerians and was attributed for the country’s failure to win any medal. The country went into a frenzy, calling for heads to roll. 

Heads eventually did roll. A judicial panel of enquiry was set up headed by a respected legal luminary. Many innocent administrators were fired and the whole sports architecture of Nigeria, well-founded and running well, were dismantled and destroyed. 

Till date, Nigeria has not found its feet again in sports administration for proper sports development.

Since then, Nigeria has been groping, unable to pick the pieces of that moment of madness, seeking answers to the perennial failure, since then, of the sports sector. 

Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by any deliberate policies, or program. People forget easily that even the ‘Dream Team’ that mesmerised the world and created Olympic history went to the Games in administrative shambles. That team was the assembly of some of the most gifted footballers in Nigeria’s history. That’s why they eventually won. 

Nigeria’s first ever individual Gold medallist came from the blue, in a totally independent pursuit by a lady wronged and condemned by the system and the country. Chioma Ajunwa was not a product of Nigeria’s successful program. 

Nigeria’s sprinters of that generation, both male and female, had for years been demonstrating individual capability on the international circuit prior to the Olympics – Onyali, Ogunkoya, Olopade, Alozie, Egbunike, Ezinwa Brothers, Sunday Uti, and several others, talented athletes that came through the web of Nigeria’s limited development programmes, hinged mostly to training in America, through self-help or federal government scholarships. 

Nothing was properly structured before and after 1980 to produce a steady stream of the best sprinters embedded in our genes. That’s why 2012 in London was another perceived ‘failure’. Nothing had changed. 

That’s why, as a bona fide member of Nigeria’s pool of Olympians, over 700 strong throughout the country’s history, I appreciate how only a handful have Olympic medals around their necks to show for their place in history. Yet, we all lay claim to being ‘successful’ Olympians. 

We must be humble and appreciate all Olympic athletes. Even on the Nigerian Olympians platform, I read strident condemnation of officials and athletes considered ‘failures’ as a result of administrative lapses. These are distractions from the main issue, clouds that hide the real culprit of Nigeria’s failure – a country that does not take sports as seriously as it should. Throwing money at the last minute without a solid development program, not making sports a priority area for the government’s attention, and just hoping that medals will be won, are wishful and unproductive.

Lets step back from what happened at Paris 2024, look again at where the country stands in the area of producing a rich and consistent line of world class athletes, encourage the great performances (even without medals) that some of the athletes put up in some of the sports (recognised by the rest of the world but not Nigeria), do the things we should have done that we know but lack the courage to confront, stop the lamentation and move on to the next steps along the path to deserved success.

The Nigerian government must wake up and take sports very seriously. 

The country must demonstrate this by declaring a State of Emergency in the sector. 

The President should sign the bill that brings back the National Sports Commission immediately, separating the Ministry of Sports Development from the Commission with clearly defined roles. 

A board of the Commission should be constituted comprising tested, experienced and qualified stakeholders, technocrats and private sector players. 

Amongst other things, the National Sports Lottery initiative should be re-jigged as a major means of raising funds for Nigeria’s sports development. 

The constitution of Sports Federations should be amended under the supervision of the Sports Development Ministry to reflect Nigeria’s best sports interest and needs, with a clear and achievable development agenda. 

Nigerians are angry. They have a right and justification to be, but they should not vent their angst against the wrong persons, or for the wrong reasons. 

Quote: Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by dint of any deliberate policies, or program

Chelsea’s new coach Enzo Maresca has a Premier League baptism of fire when champions Manchester City visit on Sunday as the Italian scrambles to form a cohesive team from another chaotic transfer window for the Blues.

In keeping with Chelsea’s transfer policy since a takeover two years ago, fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, the London club have embarked on a spending spree focusing on promising young talent.

Winger Pedro Neto’s £54 million ($65 million) move from Wolves is the standout from nine new arrivals for an estimated £160 million.

But after splashing well over £1 billion on signings over the past two years, Chelsea’s website lists 43 first-team players and over 50 are still contracted to the club when those on loan are included.

Many have been sidelined from Maresca’s pre-season training to focus on finding moves before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

“At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing,” Maresca said on Friday.

“(Co-sporting directors) Paul (Winstanley) and Laurence (Stewart) they are there in charge of finding solutions for these kind of players. I’m not the guy in charge of finding solutions for loan players, otherwise they have to pay me double!”

To add to Maresca’s task he has to win over a discontented fan base.

Many in the Chelsea support were craving some stability as Mauricio Pochettino turned around a poor start to finish strongly and climb up to sixth in the Premier League.

Instead, the club’s hierarchy had more change in mind as Pochettino departed after just one season in charge.

Supporters are also unhappy at seeing players that have come through the club’s youth system sacrificed to balance the books.

Conor Gallagher is not available for selection on Sunday despite the collapse of his move to Atletico Madrid.

Maresca has been handed a five-year contract following his success in leading Leicester back to the Premier League in his only season at the King Power.

– A ‘double squad’ –

The 44-year-old’s only other senior managerial role was a short-lived stint at Parma in 2021, but his time working alongside City boss Pep Guardiola was also crucial in helping him land the Chelsea job.

“All the managers need time,” said Guardiola on Friday.

“I don’t know if Chelsea is the place to do this but give him time and it will work.”

Despite working at some of the world’s richest clubs, Guardiola’s preference has always been to work with a smaller squad to maintain harmony among his players.

And he has sympathy with the situation Maresca inherits.

“When you see a double squad, yeah it’s a lot!” Guardiola added. “But the reason why they do it is not my business.”

The last time Chelsea beat City was in the 2021 Champions League final.

Just over three years on and only Reece James and Ben Chilwell remain from the Chelsea team that night in Porto.

Maresca believes the Blues are now on the right track to eventually get back to challenging City for the Premier League title.

“The big difference in this moment between us and other teams that are dominating English football, is just a matter of time,” he said.

“Clubs that have worked with the same manager nine years, eight years. We’re working with the same manager for one month.

“For sure with time, we are going to close the gap. Hopefully it can happen very soon.”

The question looming over Chelsea’s season, though, is whether Maresca will get that time to come good given the club’s history of trigger-happy owners.

[Vanguard]