Mr ‘Folabi Lawal, of blessed memory, told me this fascinating story sometime in 1998. He was the THISDAY bureau chief in Abuja, officially designated as deputy editor, nation’s capital. Mr Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman and editor-in-chief, had asked Lawal to send a document to him in Lagos “by the next available flight”. But when Lawal got to the airport, the last flight had left. Unlike now, flights were few and none operated beyond 5pm or so because of a lack of capacity to manage late flights at the local airports. Distraught because he knew how important it was to get the parcel across, Lawal returned to the office and gave the chairman a call to deliver the not-so-pleasant news.

‘Chairman, I tried my best but there was no flight,’ he said, subdued.

‘You mean there was no flight at all?’ Obaigbena asked him, clearly disappointed.

‘None, chairman,’ Lawal replied.

‘Not even a presidential jet?’ Obaigbena replied, apparently without batting an eyelid.

Lawal laughed. Presidential jet was not an option anybody who loved himself would consider. Nigeria was under the iron grip of Gen Sani Abacha, as citizens — including journalists — were being arrested, detained, disappeared, or simply assassinated over mere suspicion of being sympathetic to the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which was at the forefront of the opposition to his military regime. Bombs were going off and NADECO was being held responsible. How would some journalist approach the pilot of the presidential jet and hand over a parcel to him to deliver to Lagos at the height (and in the heat) of the Abacha dictatorship? It was unthinkable. It was impossible.

But that is how to get the best out of Obaigbena. Tell him something is impossible and you are challenging him to prove that impossible is nothing. Otherwise, he would not have started THISDAY in 1995. It was unprecedented that anyone would start a newspaper in Nigeria without first investing in a mammoth printing press. That was the first law. And that was the most expensive capex item which discouraged many would-be publishers from pursuing their passion. You needed a sugar daddy to start a newspaper. THISDAY successfully entered the newspaper industry without owning a printing press and soon enough, many daily publications started coming on stream. It was possible.

When THISDAY was about to roll out in 1995, I was working with the TEMPO/TheNews group. Mr Eniola Bello was the deputy editor of PM News, an evening newspaper published by the group. He reported for work one day and told us that Obaigbena — reputed for publishing the defunct THISWEEK, Nigeria’s first all-colour, all-gloss weekly newsmagazine — was about to start a newspaper and that he had decided to join the pioneer team. It was greeted with scepticism: some of his colleagues doubted it would be a success. Bello, who would become THISDAY MD in 2005, never looked back. And when THISDAY started coming out, initially at weekend, it was an instant hit.

Abacha, in one of his moments, had shut down The Guardian, Concord and Punch in 1994. In those days, journalists didn’t need to commit any serious offence to be hammered by the military junta. The military guys were so, so power drunk. They were walking on our heads as they liked. Not only was The Guardian shut down but its head office was also bombed. And as if that was not awful enough, the late Mr Alex Ibru, its publisher, was shot in broad daylight at Falomo, Lagos, by Abacha’s killer squad in 1996. He narrowly escaped death but lost an eye. Abacha had dropped Ibru from his cabinet in 1995, apparently because he failed to turn his newspaper into a mouthpiece for the junta.

When the major newspapers were shut down, THISDAY and a couple of others came in to fill the gap but were not expected to survive the re-opening of the established newspapers. That is not the kind of thing you tell Obaigbena. You are only challenging him. In fact, you are provoking him. By the time the newspapers were re-opened, THISDAY had carved its own share of the market in such a manner that if it was not your first choice, then it would be your second. It did not set out to be the newspaper to be read by every Danladi, Emeka and Babatunde. It set out to be the unputdownable newspaper among the rich and the powerful in business, politics and the diplomatic community.

Whereas you might not see THISDAY in Kabba or Kaura Namoda, you would see it in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt — the power houses of Nigeria. You might not see THISDAY in Kainji, you would see it in Kakawa, Lagos, which serviced the biggest corporate offices in Nigeria. The strategy was very clear. It became the newspaper that leaders in business and politics wanted to clutch, the newspaper that befitted their status. It was the newspaper every office worth its salt wanted to buy for its executives, the newspaper they desired to advertise in, the newspaper in which they wanted their stories and photos featured. Those who said THISDAY would soon die ate their words. Impossible is nothing.

How did THISDAY do it? I did not join the newspaper until August 1997. But from the outside, there were many things I liked about it. One, it served readers the best stories in business and politics. The stories were well-sourced and authentic. I would never forget how it broke the news of the death of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, foremost nationalist, at a time nobody was ready to touch it. He had been falsely reported dead in 1989 in one horrible moment that left the Nigerian media with egg on the face. Although THISDAY did its home work before reporting the Great Zik’s death in 1996, it was not an easy decision. But that authenticity perhaps finally accentuated THISDAY’s authoritativeness.

Two, THISDAY treated breaking news stories with such flair and speed like no other newspaper did. It usually devoted the first two pages to what it called “Behind the News”, exploring various details and angles in bits and pieces. Moreso, the weekend editions of THISDAY were so well packaged that the weekly newsmagazines coming out on Mondays were left with mostly crumbs. There are those who believe that THISDAY did things so well that it effectively killed the weekly newsmagazines which specialised in in-depth treatment of news. I have to say here that no study established a causal link between THISDAY’s robustness and the demise of newsmagazines. It is just an educated assumption.

Three, Nigerian newspapers used to dedicate their back pages to sports, general news and cartoons. THISDAY broke the tradition by doing daily analysis, with business taking the space on Mondays and politics dominating the other days. The analyses were accompanied by Business Notes and Political Notes, which gave short and sharp takes on developments in those sectors. Over time, the back page transformed to a space for regular columnists. THISDAY back page became the page of choice for many readers and it started churching out a new class of columnists. The variety across political, ethnic and ideological lines was something that marked THISDAY out and so it has remained till now.

Four, THISDAY reported business like no other newspaper did, and this uniqueness might have raised the bar too high for business-only publications. The newspaper had a partnership with the Financial Times of London and ran the Management Series, which was as good as attending a business school. This was a must-not-miss for many in the business community. The newspaper also pioneered reporting the daily transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (now the Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX) with the table of the share prices of all quoted companies, not just the top gainers and losers as was the easy thing to do then. It was a logistical nightmare but, remember, impossible is nothing.

Five, THISDAY established its foothold on the media landscape by going colour. Let me clarify here that it did not pioneer colour newspapering in Nigeria — that distinction goes to Sunray of Port Harcourt. However, THISDAY was the first to publish colour on a daily basis. Newspaper managers who sniggered at it and said THISDAY would soon die later jumped on the bandwagon. The first colour pull-out, I think, was a THISDAYStyle publication on Princess Diana’s funeral in August 1997, edited by Jamin Ohwovoriole. That was also the month Mr Eziuche Ubani recruited me for THISDAY and, along with my late pal Emeka Enechi, we started the all-colour pull-out, SportsXtra, on Sundays.

There are several things that have marked THISDAY out in the last three decades which I cannot write within this space. For instance, Nigerians used to read different versions of a Lagos/Ibadan-based newspaper same day. The first edition with stale news was for far-flung places. The second edition with fresh news was for the south-west and Abuja. THISDAY broke the jinx in 2000 with simultaneous printing in Lagos and Abuja. There was a price to pay, though: THISDAY often arrived late on the newsstands, so much so that frustrated vendors branded it as an evening newspaper. Nevertheless, every newspaper worth its salt started producing a single edition nationwide with fresh stories.

Sure, not everybody has the same feelings about THISDAY. That is the way life goes. For me, I have only fond memories. I left the newspaper in 2012 after two spells, during which I was appointed features editor at the age of 25, Saturday editor at 29 and editor of the daily newspaper at 34. Credit to Obaigbena for birthing his vision and sustaining it with constant innovation. Credit to all the members of staff — past and present, dead and alive — who tilled the land and toiled day and night to help build the THISDAY brand. Credit to those who have supported the business over the years. At 30, THISDAY deserves its flowers for revolutionising newspapering in Nigeria. Impossible is nothing.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

DAWN OF A NEW ERROR

President Donald Trump is back! Not one to do anything without drama, he started season two of his tragicomedy right at his inauguration on Monday, hitting out at his predecessors (who were in attendance) and promising that America was going to be great again with his return. To keep touch with his base, he signed bundles of executive orders (EOs) that created the impression that the so-called Free World is now being led by a medieval emperor. Trust the American system to keep him in check, though. A court has already suspended the EO that abolished birthright citizenship. My sense is that most of those EOs are useless, but at least they will keep his gullible fanbase happy. Cruise.

DUMBER PLATE

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the federal high court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from impounding vehicles with faded number plates. Mr Chinwike Ezebube, a legal practitioner, filed the suit against the FRSC in February 2024. Ordinarily, this judgment should have been made summarily — in 10 minutes if possible. FRSC is the sole designer and producer of the number plates. If the ink fades, how can it be the fault of the vehicle owner? Please help me understand. Yet, motorists have been fined for the defective number plates. That is the sort of oppression the Nigerian state subjects us to. It is hard to understand. It beats logic. Absurd.

IT IS POSSIBLE

My friends always ask me why I still believe Nigeria can be great despite all the glaring defects and decay. Here is another answer. Barely a week after the wife of Mr Hakeem Odumosu was kidnapped, police rescued her, killed two suspects and arrested two others. You know why? Odumosu is a retired assistant inspector-general of police (AIG). That is why. If it was Citizen Tamedun Lakasegbe that went to report to the police that his wife had been kidnapped, it would be a different matter altogether. What this tells me is that the capacity is there but it is only used for the rich and the powerful. When ordinary Nigerians begin to matter in our system, our greatness will begin to explode. Unstoppable.

NO COMMENT

On Friday, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the senate committee on interior, made a startling statement: that retired military generals are behind illegal mining activities in the country. “The ongoing illegal mining across the country is being carried out by retired generals, and we know them. They use helicopters to cart away gold, making billions of dollars, while the country suffers,” he said. He said he even wrote to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue years ago. I find this very exciting. I believe the security agencies should engage with Oshiomhole so that he can help them with investigation. He seems to have the master list of the illegal miners. Wonderful.

Erling Haaland scored one and assisted another as Manchester City came from a goal down to defeat Chelsea 3-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The fixture delivered excitement on a day Chelsea handed Trevoh Chalobah a starting place on his return from loan, and Pep Guardiola started defender Abdukodir Khusanov and striker Omar Marmoush, his latest mega-signings.

It was however Haaland who won the game for the hosts with a well taken strike after Noni Madueke and Josko Gvardiol had exchanged goals in the first half.

Defending has become a nightmare for Man City this season and the visitors took full advantage to take the lead on three minutes, following new boy Khusanov’s defensive mistake.

The 20-year-old nodded the ball straight to Nicholas Jackson who squared for Madueke to slot into the net, handing Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

The EPL champions recovered from the early setback to dominate the game. Marmoush had the ball in the net from a rebound but it was ruled out for offside.

City eventually got their reward three minutes before the interval through Gvardiol who slotted into an empty net on the rebound after Roberto Sanchez saved Matheus Nunes’ shot and both sides went into the break level at 1-1.

City continued to push for the winner and it came on 68 minutes from a long ball towards Haaland, as the big Norwegian striker shook off Chalobah before executing an excellent lob over the onrushing Sanchez from 18 yards for 2-1.

Foden scored the third goal, clinching a well-deserved victory for Man City on 87 minutes.

Victory sends Man City into fourth position with 41 points from 23 matches, six points behind second-placed Arsenal who won 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in a match both sides finished with ten men.

Liverpool, runaway league leaders, strolled over Ipswich 4-1, with Cody Gakpo scoring a brace.

Nottingham Forest were pummeled 5-0 by an in-form Bournemouth side, while Everton eased their relegation troubles with a 1-0 win at Brighton.

Southampton, on the other hand, remain deeply rooted to the bottom after surrendering a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 to Newcastle United.

RESULTS

• Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea
• Bournemouth 5-0
• Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Arsenal
• Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich Town
• Southampton 1-3 Newcastle United
• Brighton 0-1 Everton

[TheCable]

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has sparked a mix of reactions globally, with many wondering what this means for democracy and leadership. To understand the implications, let’s dive into some key takeaways from Trump’s victory. From the outset, Trump’s presidency has been so far defined by the mainstream media as what looks like chaos, controversy, and a relentless pace of news.

But in just five days, Trump’s presidency has generated enough headlines and news cycles to fill a typical president’s entire first term. This breakneck pace has left many in the media and the public struggling to keep up, with opinion writers’ conclusions likely reflecting the sense of exhaustion and overwhelm that’s become all too familiar in the Trump era. Trump’s just five days in office is indeed feeling like a full term and this carries some significant weight.

The world is beginning to see a reflection of the unprecedented nature of Trump’s presidency and the ways in which it’s defied conventional norms and expectations. As the news continues to unfold at a dizzying pace, one thing is clear: with Trump in the White House, every day feels like a lifetime.” Yes, America is a beacon to the world and election of its president has remarkable consequences all over. The world is beginning to see the strong man in charge of this self-styled beacon who campaigned boldly with a mantra, “Americanism, not globalism” will lead the way. And he reiterated that five days ago in his inaugural address: part of his words in the second paragraph of the inaugural address: 

“…From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world.  We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.  During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first…”

Hurricane Trump has been rehired at a time the value of US global influence is under question, regional powers are going their own way, autocratic regimes are making their own alliances, and the devastating wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere are raising uncomfortable questions about the value of Washington’s role. But like it or not, America matters by dint of its economic and military strength, and its major role in many alliances. The mercurial leader isn’t a friend to so many politicians and leaders around the world. But even as we ponder over a brand new world order under Trump in the next four years, we need to reflect on some salient lessons from the politics and strategies of this man who survived two assassination attempts during last year’s election campaigns. Yes it is a time for reflections on the global consequences of this very remarkable election that returned Trump to power. Let’s face the facts: 

Trump’s return to power has been influenced by various factors, but it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact impact of his emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values. We can explore and learn how his messaging and policies resonated with his supporters and contributed to his return. We now have a great deal to learn from Trump’s campaign strategy, inaugural address and subsequent executive orders, which highlighted his focus on “America First” policies, energy dominance, and economic growth. These themes aligned with his interpretation of the Founding Fathers’ values, emphasising self-reliance, limited government intervention, and American exceptionalism. Where are the politicians in Africa’s most populous nation who will focus on Nigeria first at this time? 
 
When last did our politicians and leaders here have the grace to remember our Founding Fathers from the North to the South? By tapping into this narrative, Trump appealed to his base, who saw him as a champion of traditional American values. His rhetoric on energy independence, for instance, resonated with voters in states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where the energy industry plays a significant role.

One of the key areas where Trump’s emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values influenced his return to power was in his approach to energy policy.  On day one, Trump signed executive orders aimed at boosting oil and gas production, rolling back environmental regulations, and promoting American energy exports. These moves were seen as a return to the country’s founding principles of self-reliance and economic growth. After more than 25 years of unbroken democracy, what are the legacies of our leaders including the current ones who have imposed the most unbearable energy prices on the citizens and businesses?

Moreover, Trump’s focus on energy dominance and economic growth helped him win over voters in key battleground states. His policies aimed at increasing domestic energy production and reducing reliance on foreign oil resonated with voters who saw energy independence as a matter of national security and economic stability. Where are the Nigerian leaders and politicians who will see energy independence and subsidy as a matter of national security and economic stability?

Yes, we are good at blasting Trump’s style everywhere we talk and write. However, it’s essential to note that Trump’s return to power was also influenced by various other factors, including his populist appeal, the Republican Party’s mobilisation efforts powered by recourse to the values that put God first as reflected in their currency: ‘In God we trust’, a value the globalists and indeed liberal democrats have been trying to remove from their currency.

Trump’s recourse to “In God We Trust” and the Christian foundation of American conservative values played a significant role in his return to power. Trump’s strategy involved portraying himself as a champion of Christian values and a defender of America’s religious heritage. During the campaign, he promised to “bring back God” into the public square and restore the country to its former glory, which he claimed had been eroded since he left office. Let no one tell me that God had no place in your business ethics and political development.

What is more, let our leaders reflect this weekend on this: while it’s difficult to quantify the exact impact of Trump’s emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values on his return to power, it’s clear that his messaging and policies resonated with his supporters and contributed to his victory. By tapping into the narrative of American exceptionalism and self-reliance, Trump was able to appeal to voters who saw him as a champion of traditional American values. When will those who intend to take over from Tinubu appeal to voters as champions of traditional Nigerian values of hard work, resilience, boldness, brilliance, etc that built the bridges and business districts in Lagos, Cocoa House, first television station and even stadium in Africa in Ibadan, Northern Nigeria Development Company in Kaduna, world-class enterprise spirit in the East, solid universities in Ibadan, Ile Ife, Zaria, Lagos, Nsukka, Benin, Jos, Maiduguri before the current crop of selfish dealers who call themselves leaders?
Other key takeaways for leaders:
Adaptability is crucial: Trump’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and pivot when necessary has been a key factor in his success.
Emotional connection matters too: Trump’s campaign successfully tapped into the emotions and concerns of his base, demonstrating the importance of emotional connection in politics.

Institutional resilience is vital: The US democratic system has faced significant challenges even during Trump’s first presidency. The resilience of institutions and the rule of law have been essential in navigating the their challenges. The United States can be proud of their strong institutions and knowledge development, civil competence power to debate issues of serious concerns. Fears about Trump’s tyranny are unfounded in the face of strong institutions we don’t have in Africa. That is a great lesson: nations need strong institutions of governance to make democracy safe for economic development. Ultimately, the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency offers valuable lessons for leaders and democracies around the world. As we move forward, it’s essential to prioritize adaptability, emotional connection, and institutional resilience.

Trump and never-say-die spirit in politics
Trump’s presidency has been a testament to the power of resilience and a never-say-die spirit in politics. Despite facing intense opposition and criticism, Trump has continued to push forward with his agenda, often using unconventional tactics to achieve his goals. He just achieved that with a big win.

While Trump’s presidency has been polarising and even controversial, there are still lessons that can be learned from his resilience and politics for development. Here are a few key takeaways:

Trust yourself: One of the most important aspects of Trump’s resilience is his ability to trust himself and his own instincts. This self-confidence has allowed him to stay focused and motivated, even in the face of intense opposition.

Find your tribe: Trump’s connection with his base has been a key factor in his resilience. By finding and mobilising a dedicated group of supporters, Trump has been able to maintain a sense of momentum and energy.

Be willing to challenge norms: Trump’s willingness to challenge traditional norms and institutions has been a key aspect of his resilience. By doing so, he has been able to create a sense of uncertainty and disruption, which has often worked to his advantage.

Stay focused and adaptable: Trump’s ability to stay focused and adaptable has been key to his success in politics. By being able to pivot and adjust to new circumstances, Trump has been able to stay ahead of his opponents and maintain a sense of momentum.

These are some attributes our politicians and emerging leaders should imbibe instead of piling up money to rig elections and then ask opponents to go to courts where they are sure of victory by only a few judicial ‘voters’. 

So, leaders who would like to put Nigeria first should mobilise all machinery of governance to ensure that energy costs to people and businesses are brought down to affordable level.

Those who would like to put Nigerianism above politics and self-interest would not encourage constant borrowing for consumption and expensive and insufferable personal emoluments including inexplicable retirement benefits for political and military officers. Those who would like to put Nigeria first would want to fund higher education robustly as quality in education is the only weapon of country and global competitiveness. Leaders who would like to put Nigeria first would restructure the civil service to prevent the public enemy number one called corruption instead of celebrating a few officers caught after successful looting of the treasury. And so, for us in the most populous black nation on earth, when shall we be blessed with leaders who will borrow from the brilliance of President Trump whose only five days in office appear to be convincing enough that leaders need to put public interest above life-long ambition nurtured only by personal interest? When will our leaders begin to put Nigeria first? When shall we the people too develop civic competence to demand this responsibility from our leaders? 

If President Tinubu is to wind up on the positive side of history, the various measures his government is taking now to lighten the economic burden of lowly placed Nigerians must succeed. The ongoing efforts to harmonise taxation in such a way that the current regime of multiple taxation (including ad hoc unreceipted levies collected on the highway by local government thugs, must be a thing of the past. 

One major aspect of the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly is the exclusion of those earning less than one million naira per annum from taxation. Nigerians have overwhelmingly endorsed this aspect of the proposed legislation in order to let the poor breathe.

But it seems the new thinking of reducing the people’s burden has not permeated the generality of top operatives of the government who still have a carryover of the traditional practice of each agency levying the people under one guise or the other to generate funds which constitute their own gravy train.

IG’s Prerogative?

Every Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has always come with one scheme or the other to generate funds outside the federal budget appropriation which the police big wigs then deploy in whatever direction they deem fit.

At a time in this country, the police criminalised the issue of tinted glass on vehicles. I remember the harrowing experience of negotiating how to get the tinted glass permit from the police headquarters. It was an ordeal but it was clear that some people were smiling to the bank.

When it seemed that the tinted glass ruse had been sucked to a pulp, another IG came and introduced what he called a computerised tinted glass permit to replace the old one. We went through the rigmarole all over again, parted with some money and shrugged.

But those were, with hindsight, relatively buoyant days when the naira still exchanged for 280 to the dollar. Now that the naira is lying prostrate and the economic downturn has negatively affected the populace to the extent that most people are going about with very short fuses, any government agency that resorts to the old trick of creating another avenue for milking the old cow, runs the risk of making enemies for the government.

The government cannot harmonise taxes and reduce the number of levies that business people pay on the one hand while the police are levying their own taxes in the name of a computerised Central Motor Registry certificate on the other. Unless there is a disconnect, the police falcon must yield to the Tinubu falconer.

CMR Bogey

A press release issued in the name of IGP Egbetokun last year stated that the police were poised to start the enforcement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) specifically on the 29th of July, 2024, to rejuvenate and digitalise the motor vehicle registration system. It described the e-CMR as an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Each motorist is expected to cough up N5,375 (five thousand, three hundred and seventy-five naira) for the e-CMR.

Nigerians had heard those words before. They know it is but a ploy for the police to return to the road blocks where the real action is. The motoring public know how the game works— create an excuse for reinstalling the usual police checkpoints all over the federation. Anyone in doubt about what usually transpires at those road blocks should check Youtube for all sorts of exposés.

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law immediately sued  Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun over the directive on the issuance of the Central Motor Information System for vehicle owners across the country.

The plaintiffs contended that no provisions under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act, or any other law gave the Nigeria Police Force, under the command and authority of the IG, the right, power, or authority to maintain a motor registry or issue certificates of identification or proof/evidence of ownership called the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate (or in any other name called) to Nigerians.

They also held that the Nigeria Police Force was not a revenue-generating agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and as such, lacked the right to fix and collect fees for the issuance of the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate from Nigerians.

There is no prize for guessing why all uniformed government agencies want to maintain a presence on the road. It is an unofficial toll gate. In some parts of the country, you have as many as four checkpoints per local government. Commercial vehicle operators would tell you the financial implication of driving through each checkpoint.

If the police just concentrate on doing their statutory duties well, the society will cooperate with them. But when they keep looking for windows of opportunity to return to road blocks or arrest people for not having some phoney documents, the gulf between them and the society they are sworn to protect widens.

Anyone familiar with Abuja roads will testify that the VIO had become a menace in the city until recently when a court order forced them to return to their offices. Still, once in a while in the outskirts, you still find a few VIOs trying to fleece commercial motorists. But for their greedy quest for extra money, VIOs can do all their duties from their offices without stepping on the road.

NBA

The intervention by the Nigerian Bar Association led to the suspension of the planned enforcement of the CMR. in a statement, ACP Adejobi, said IGP Egbetokun had ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR, adding that the suspension was aimed at giving ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

But the truth is that the IGP had no business whatsoever imposing his unilateral tax on Nigerians. As noted by Daily Trust:

“By law, the police lack the authority to keep a central database for vehicle registration in the country. They should use registration documents available with relevant agencies to combat the incidence of car theft. The NBA-SPIDEL made a case where, in its submission, it reminded the IGP that the NPF is not a revenue generating institution. If the police have challenges of underfunding, the citizens should not be subjected to multiple taxations to provide operational funds for the NPF. While we encourage the NBA-SPIDEL to remain proactive in intervening for Nigerians in matters that infringe upon their collective rights, Daily Trust calls on the IGP to discard the e-CMR policy and look elsewhere to bridge funding deficit.”

The IGP is not alone in this sneaky business of trying to smuggle in legislation into the public sphere without going through the constitutional route of the National Assembly. For too long, government appointees have become islands of legislation on their own. Many have got away with corralling billions of naira into their private coffers without reference to any higher authority. Now that the Tinubu administration is harmonising taxes to reduce the burden on the common man, the police are on their own if they think they can smuggle in a new levy through the back door.

We already have too many unofficial ‘toll gates’ as it is. One more will break the camel’s back.

Have you encountered officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency lately? They appear to have turned a new leaf! Is it a make-believe or is it for real? Is it fleeting or is it what the Lord has done, which that Christian song says shall be permanent? "It shall be permanent/Oh yes/It shall be permanent/What the Lord has done for me? It shall be permanent". In times past you would not find a government agency so uncouth, so rude, so unruly, so insensitive, so corrupt, so uncaring, so unkempt, so audacious, so ill-mannered, so bad tempered, so oppressive - in fact, so anything bad and negative - as LASTMA. It is like they were consciously selected, specially trained, and specifically charged to make life miserable for commuters.

 They had scant regard for anyone and no respect for the law they were supposed to enforce. It was like their assigned duty was to fleece the people at every turn and whosoever felt bold enough to raise an eyebrow was to be inflicted with pains that would last for a lifetime. The “T” in their acronym no longer meant “Traffic” but now stood for “Terror”. Each time I came across them on the road - the way they carried themselves as Lord of the Manor, oblivious to anyone that might see their atrocities, I concluded that these ones, too, have immunity and can do no wrong! But all that appears to have changed now!

LASTMA officials appear to have seen the light and have turned a new leaf. They have repented from their evil ways and are now born-again. Maybe I am wrong! Maybe that is not your own experience! But these days they look better dressed and well behaved. Both male and female. They greet you warmly. They flash a smile. If you are in difficulties and beckon them, they respond promptly. They put you through. In the past, it was their Devil-given opportunity to jump in your car, threaten you, call you names and begin to bargain with you on how much you must part ways with or they confiscate your car and take you to their station. They were quick at bringing out their phones and making make-believe recordings of you and your car before pretending to make calls to tow your vehicle to their station at your own expense. These days, they help and radiate joy as they greet you while you drive past.

Imagine! LASTMA officials now sir you! Good morning sir! Good morning Ma! And with a toothpaste smile that refreshes your day - especially from some of their ladies that are ravishingly beautiful. LASTMA has a lot of them manning the roads these days. Were they carefully selected? They must have learned a lesson or two from the banks where most tellers and customer service staff are pretty ladies. At first, I spurned the LASTMA new face as PR gimmicks that would now last. But it has been on now for months on end. 

Again, I thought it was “fine bara”. But they would not ask you for money - except you, on your own, beckoned them to “come, take”. I hope - and pray - that this good news about LASTMA continues! Times are hard and hapless Nigerians need whatever relief they can get; not the piling of miseries upon miseries. But how am I sure that my own experience is a replica of that of other Lagosians? So, let’s hear from you!

Feedback mechanism is a barometer that helps the media to better gauge the pulse of the people. That is what we call public opinion. It also serves the important purpose of letting the government know how they fare with the people they purport to serve. Most times those in power are “imprisoned” in their cozy offices, totally cut off from reality. “Their feet no touch ground”, as they say. We do our own bit by giving them the opportunity to know what the people say or feel; leaving them to hear and act or turn a deaf ear like the proverbial dog destined to get lost in the forest that would not listen to the hunter’s whistle. 

Often, it is what is bad and negative about the government and its officials that is reported; their good deeds are under-reported or are deliberately swept under the carpet. This is understandable but is not good at all. In journalism parlance, the dog bites a man is not news but a man biting a dog is! Out of their incessant and persistent bad experience, many Nigerians have adopted biblical Nathaniel’s mindset of “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1: 46). Says Mark Anthony, in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “The evils that men do live after them, the good is often interred with their bones…” We must begin to move away from that mindset and not let cynicism take over the public space from us.      

Another reason why I am saluting LASTMA today is my wife’s encounter with some (FRSC) Federal Road Safety Commission’s officials last week in Lagos. Their refrain at the Lagos State Television (LTV) where I feature regularly is: "If you see something, say something and do something!" If we do, we shall soon make this country a better place for all of us. The “Japa” ill-wind will cease and, in its place, a “Japada” benevolent wind will blow from all the four corners of the world; and we would care less what a malevolent Donald Trump does in - or with - his America.  

My wife was coming home from work when she was accosted by some FRSC officials at Apapa on account of what they called “faded number plate”, which many usually wrongly call “plate number”. She called me and I forwarded to her a recent Federal High Court judgment that says the FRSC should not accost any motorist on account of faded number plates. When she told them that, they added another “offence” of what they called “Fire Extinguisher violation”. She had recently purchased a new fire extinguisher when she was told the previous one had expired. Both were in the car but her explanations fell on deaf ears as the officers were bent on collecting “something” from her, which she witnessed them do right, left, and centre with other motorists.

When she made efforts to record their nefarious activities, they tried to snatch her phone from her. All the same, she managed to snap the photographs of two of them - L. U. Uka (female and the head of the team) and S. Singdep (male). They issued her a ticket and insisted they had impounded her car. My wife sent this message to me from the scene: “She wanted to snatch my phone as she observed I was going to snap her… He (the man) kept shouting on me and harassing me as I was trying to pack off the road. I was almost run over by a tipper lorry carrying sand. The first thing he said was that I was driving a car with a faded number plate. They checked everything in the car - the brake lights, trafficators, C-caution, jack, extra tyres, fire extinguisher (which were two) and I explained to them that I was told that one had expired; so I recently bought the second one but they complained that they were both bad. I told them I never used them…”

My wife, a Level 17 Lagos State Government official, is civil and courteous to a fault - a child of God, without being immodest. I told her to surrender the car to them and avoid their harassment. I immediately called two of my lawyer-friends. On second thought as a senior citizen and a doyen of the journalism profession, I got the details of the FRSC Lagos State Public Relations Officer from my colleagues at Eko FM 89.7 station where I also feature regularly and reported the matter to her. Her response calmed frayed nerves. Few minutes ago (Friday evening), she still told me she was on the matter. Very well!

 I strongly believe that the issue of so-called faded number plates should stop being a gold mine for corrupt officials, be they FRSC or others, especially in these austere times. My conviction in this regard was further reinforced by a publication in PATHFINDER NEWS of Thursday, January 23, 2025 where a cross-section of Nigerians applauded the Federal High Court judgment earlier mentioned. Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) was quoted as wondering why the FRSC should confiscate/impound cars and impose fines on motorists “for the fading of the number plates it (the FRSC) produced (in the first place!)”. That tallies with my own reasoning.

Mr. Forster Obi of DFCNews was also quoted as saying that since motorists were not the ones producing the number plates but “in this case it is the FRSC… it is unjustifiable for the FRSC to arrest drivers or motorists as offenders in this matter… Most people allege that those involved (in the production of the number plates) collect enough money to produce genuine and quality number plates but end up using cheap materials... They now turn round to arrest drivers when the plates fade”. His opinion, again, tallies with mine.

 I don't even think the number plates of the car in question has sufficiently faded to warrant the confiscation of my wife’s car. I can bet it that most right-thinking Nigerians will condemn some FRSC officers’ high-handedness on the matter of faded number plates.

As I conclude, let me give reasons why I chose to come this far. One is that some overzealous law enforcement officers are taking undue advantage of the conflicting court rulings on this matter to feather their corrupt nests. Time to have a final court decision on the matter is now! 

Two: Perhaps, this affords the government another opportunity to take a hard look at the Steve Orosanye report on rationalization of the Federal Government’s sprawling bureaucracy that trumps efficient service delivery, escalates cost of governance, and spews corruption and oppression all over the place. 

Three: This may be a wake-up call on the FRSC to emulate LASTMA. I suspect that it is not spirits or angels that descended from the sky to engineer the remarkable transformation I have witnessed in LASMA. The “S” in FRSC means “Safety”; it should not be Shamelessly and Scandalously reduced to Scavenging for bribes on our highways. Someone in the Commission should stand up, dust up its history and restore its faded glory (of the Wole Soyinka/Maja-Maja Days in old Oyo state), instead of running after so-called faded number plates on Lagos roads.

Scripture says in Songs of Solomon 2: 15: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines”. The little foxes spoiling the vines of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration are those elements - public servants especially - that, for selfish motives, pollute the system and poison the mind of the generality of the people against the government. In doing that, they make the yeoman’s efforts of those doing the right thing not to count - the likes of the Works Minister, David Umahi; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; Solid Minerals Minister, Dele Alake; Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo; Blue Economy Minister, Gboyega Oyetola; Tunji Bello at the FCCPC; not to talk of the heroics of the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede; the NDLEA boss, Mohamed Buba Marwa, and the efforts of the president himself and other silent achievers working hard to make this country a better place for us all.

But we must watch it! Unable to find work and selling fruits at a roadside stand, Mohamed Bouazizi had his wares confiscated in the same manner those FRSC officers confiscated my wife’s car; frustrated and miffed by the oppression, Bouazizi set himself ablaze on 17 December, 2010 in Tunisia, igniting the Arab Spring that spread to Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries, toppling regimes and sending presidents packing. 

There is a limit to human endurance!  

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services.

The President has also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).

President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organisations, emphasising that their positions are non-executive.

All the appointments take immediate effect.

1. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

- Hon. Hillard Eta Chairman (Cross River)

2. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

- Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman (Lagos)

3. FEDERAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA, MINISTRY OF AVIATION

- H. E. Abdullahi U. Ganduje, Chairman (Kano)

4. NATIONAL SUGAR DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

- Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola, Chairman (Osun)

5. NIGERIA BULK ELECTRICITY TRADING COMPANY

- H. E. Sulaiman Argungu, Chairman (Kebbi)

6. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR GREAT GREEN WALL

- Sen. Magnus Abe, Chairman (Rivers)

7. NATIONAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE

- Barr. Festus Fuanter, Chairman (Plateau)

8. NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION (NBTI)

- Raji, Kazeem Kolawole, Director-General (Oyo)

9. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

- Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, Chairman (Rivers)

10. TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA

- Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Chairman (Adamawa)

11. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND

- Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Chairman (Gombe)

12. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

- Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa, Chairman (Abia)

13. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX

- Sen. Abubakar Maikafi, Chairman (Bauchi)

14. FEDERAL MORTGAGE BANK OF NIGERIA

- H. E. Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman (Kano)

15. NATIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND PROMOTION

- Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Chairman (Lagos)

16. NIGERIAN POSTAL SERVICE

- Chief D. J. Kekemeke, Chairman (Ondo)

17. NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY

- Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, Chairman (Sokoto)

18. NATIONAL STEEL COUNCIL

- Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Chairman (Nasarawa)

19. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

- Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, Chairman (Kaduna)

20. NATIONAL BIO-SAFETY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

- Mu'azu Bawa Rijau, Chairman (Niger)

21. NIGERIAN BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

- Hon. Durosimi Meseko, Chairman (Kogi)

22. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, GOMBE

- Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim, Chairman (Taraba)

23. NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION

- Dr.Kayode Isiak Opeifa, Managing Director (Lagos)

24. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, IDO-EKITI

- Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole, Chairman (Ogun)

25. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ABEOKUTA

- Mr Abdullahi Dayo Israel, Chairman (Lagos)

26. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ASABA

- Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile Idele, Chairman (Edo)

27. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, LOKOJA

- Nze Chidi Duru (OON), Chairman (Anambra)

28. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI

- Hon. Emma Eneukwu, Chairman (Enugu)

29. CIVIL DEFENCE, IMMIGRATION AND PRISONS SERVICES BOARD

- Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Rtd, Secretary (Kano)

30. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, UMUAHIA

- Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke, Chairman (Ebonyi)

31. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA

- Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka, Chairman (Delta)

32. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA

- Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel, Chairman (Jigawa)

33. DAVID UMAHI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, UBUHU, EBONYI STATE

- Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, Chairman (Imo)

34. NATIONAL OIL SPILL DETECTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY

- Chief Edward Omo-Erewa, Chairman (Edo)

35. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA)

- Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Chairman (Kaduna)

36. NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE

- Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Chairman (Borno)

37. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SHIKA, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE

- Hon. Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)

38. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE KATSINA

- Dr. Abubakar Isa Maiha (Chairman)

39. RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RMRDC)

- Isa Sadiq Achida, Chairman (Sokoto)

40. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE BIRNIN KUDU

- Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan, Chairman Zamfara

41. NATIONAL BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

- Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa, Chairman (Nasarawa)

42. SOKOTO-RIMA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

- Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno, Chairman (Sokoto)

43. AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL

- Augustine Chukwu Umahi, Chairman (Ebonyi)

44. FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP BOARD

- Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede, Chairman (Ekiti)

45. NIGERIAN SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND

- Hon. Shola Olofin, Chairman (Ekiti)

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

Meta Platforms, Inc. has announced plans to invest up to $65 billion in 2025 to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

According to a Reuters report, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to strengthen the company’s competitive edge against rivals such as OpenAI and Google in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, emphasized the transformative potential of these efforts, stating, “This will be a defining year for AI. This is a massive effort, and over the coming years it will drive our core products and business,” in a Facebook post.

As part of the investment, Meta plans to accelerate hiring for AI-focused roles, construct a data center with over 2-gigawatt capacity capable of powering a significant portion of Manhattan, and expand its fleet of Nvidia’s high-demand AI chips, aiming to exceed 1.3 million graphics processors by year-end. Additionally, the company intends to bring approximately 1 gigawatt of computing power online by 2025.

The $65 billion capital expenditure represents a significant leap from Meta’s estimated $38 billion to $40 billion expenditure in 2024

Workforce optimization measures 

In a related development, Meta is also taking steps to optimize its workforce as part of its strategy to achieve these ambitious goals. The company plans to reduce its workforce by 5%, targeting underperforming employees.

• CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined this decision in an internal memo and emphasized Meta’s focus on advancing transformative technologies like AI, smart glasses, and social media while ensuring top talent drives the company’s ambitious goals.

Zuckerberg further emphasized the company’s intent to “raise the bar on performance management” and accelerate the process of managing low performers in 2025 with the intention of backfilling the roles.

• The company’s AI assistant, currently available across its services, is expected to serve over 1 billion people by 2025, a sharp increase from the 600 million monthly active users recorded last year.
• Meta’s open-source approach with its Llama AI models has further differentiated it from competitors, allowing consumers and businesses to leverage its technology for free.

AI investment surge 

Meta’s investment comes on the heels of significant developments in the AI sector.

• U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled the Stargate Project, a landmark $500 billion initiative to bolster AI infrastructure across the United States. Partnering with industry leaders like OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, the project aims to enhance U.S. AI capabilities, create 100,000 jobs, and secure a competitive edge over rivals like China. The first phase, involving data center construction, is already underway in Texas.
• Microsoft, in a parallel move, has announced an $80 billion investment for fiscal 2025 to expand its data center infrastructure. This initiative seeks to meet surging demand for AI computing power and maintain the company’s momentum in AI innovation.
• Amazon.com is also making a bold statement with plans to surpass $75 billion in AI-related spending by 2025. The investment is focused on enhancing AWS cloud services, optimizing logistics through AI-driven automation, and driving innovation in consumer products.

Meta has emerged as a big player in the AI race with its AI chatbot, Ray-Ban smart glasses and open-source approach.

[Nairametrics]

Naija News understands that the meeting, which involved a delegation from Ogoniland, focused on discussions about the resumption of oil production in the region.

A source at the meeting who spoke with Vanguard, revealed that despite posing for a group photograph with the President, Wike and Fubara avoided exchanging pleasantries or engaging with each other.

“Though both of them posed for a photograph with the President, they did not exchange pleasantries. No hug. No greetings. Everybody went straight for the meeting with the President, and after that, we all left,” the source disclosed.

Wike reportedly left the Villa immediately after the group photo to inspect and commission projects.

According to the source, the meeting was strictly a business parley to address the economic and developmental issues in Ogoniland.

“As a minister from Rivers, Wike must, as a necessity, be present whenever the President is meeting with a delegation from the state. The meeting was not a platform for the discussion of the Rivers political crisis. It was strictly a business parley,” the source clarified.

When asked if President Tinubu attempted to mediate between the two leaders, the source noted that there was no such discussion during the meeting.

“The President only engaged Magnus (Abe). He told Magnus that he had not been seeing him for some time, and Magnus replied that he had been around with the FCT Minister. At that point, Wike confirmed that Magnus had been working with him,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has initiated efforts to broker peace between the two political heavyweights.

The group has established a peace committee headed by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, to mediate the conflict.

“This is yet another golden opportunity for both of them to end the fight and make up for peace so that Rivers State can move forward. The crisis is not doing the state any good. They must end this fight and utilize the opportunity offered by PANDEF,” a source close to the forum remarked.

[NaijaNews]

The federal government has called for more stringent penalties on airlines to curb frequent flight delays and cancellations, which continue to frustrate passengers across Nigeria.

Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, made the appeal during a performance review meeting in Abuja. She urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, alongside the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to take tougher actions to ensure passengers are better protected.

This is as the managing director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, said that 17 of Nigeria’s airports’ runways have exceeded their lifespans and needed urgent reconstruction.

Highlighting inefficiencies in the sector, Bala-Usman criticised the 224-day timeline currently set for resolving passenger complaints, describing it as both impractical and inconsistent with global best practices. She stressed the urgency of revising the system to prioritise quicker dispute resolution, which would significantly enhance passenger confidence.

In response, minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, acknowledged the concerns raised and praised the Consumer Protection Directorate for its commitment to addressing passenger issues.

Keyamo pledged to improve service delivery by enforcing stricter compliance measures and initiating reforms aimed at transforming the aviation sector.

The government’s renewed focus on protecting passengers and holding airlines accountable comes as a result of growing frustration over service failures in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Kuku, who made these declarations in an interview on Television Continental (TVC) on Thursday, said to forestall unforeseen situations, improve safety and ultimately, passenger experience, the runways must be urgently rehabilitated.

She, however, clarified that the N580 billion earlier mentioned for the reconstruction of the runway also includes perimeter fencing, in-roads, and apron expansion projects of those airports.

”I believe I’ve also just received messages following our outing yesterday at the National Assembly. So I’d like to clarify two things. We have several runways in Nigeria today. So we have mentioned to you that 22 airports are owned by the federal government. We also support some airports that are owned by the state.

“I did make a specific reference to airports which had runways that had exceeded their lifespan. The average lifespan of a runway is about 20 to 25 years. A lot of our runways in Nigeria have exceeded that time, meaning that we’ve had them for 30 plus 35 years. And what it means is that we need to reconstruct those runways.

“The reconstruction of those runways, the N580 billion that I initially mentioned, is actually for over 17 runways. And it’s not just the runways, It includes the runways,  including some perimeter roads. It includes fencing.

“So, I’ve seen some commentary where people are saying, what do they need all of this money for? I encourage you, please just check Google if you’re in the construction business or in the aviation business to try and understand what it means to build runways, taxiway links, apron expansion and of course, to make sure that we put a safe environment together for everything that happens on the air side.

“Now, the reference that the Minister made while we were at the National Assembly yesterday was specific to the second runway project that is happening in Abuja, that project was initially awarded to some consultants and contractors by previous administrations. I believe that from conversations with the ministry, the scope of that project has changed. There’s also been price variations, of course, which is affected by the scope and, of course, FX fluctuations. There’s some additional information that has come on, which the minister has and which, of course, provides him with a lot of discomfort around the numbers that has been provided to him and to that effect, he has largely come out to say, instead of accepting a figure that has been provided to him, he needs to provide more oversight and more scrutiny.  I believe the question is, what is happening with that, who’s handling that project? The project was initially being handled by the ministry, of course, with support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, which we have had several engagements with, and we will continue to have that in the next coming weeks, so that there’s some clarity around that project,“ she said.

Kuku disclosed that a lot of facelifts had been given to the airports, especially the international airports in the last one year.

“I think the first thing is to block some immediate gaps, and we did that with minor rehabilitation works at a lot of our airports. I’m sure that if you’ve been a travelling passenger over the last 90 days, you will see that the airports are cleaner, they’re friendlier in terms of the atmosphere, we’ve lit up some of those airports a lot more and it’s more spacious in certain areas. That is just the minimum that we can do in terms of interventions, at least, to make sure that while we focus on the larger infrastructure projects and, of course, rehabilitating some of the facilities.

“If you fly through the domestic airport in Abuja, you would notice that there’s a lot that has been done. If you came into that airport about six months to a year ago, it was dark. It was almost like the Hall of Doom. We’ve lit up that airport tremendously, we’ve opened up the space, the seating arrangements, in terms of the facility, and of course, what we hear everyone complain about, which is the conveniences, easy access or better access for people with disability, making sure that some of the elevators and the escalators are functional, making sure that things like the toilets are also functional, and focusing on a lot of expansion works across that airports.

“The same thing goes if you go into the North, if you go into the South or the Southeast, you will see similar projects and similar progress that is being made,“ she added.

On airports’ viability, the FAAN boss noted that the Authority is focusing on four critical areas to boost the economic status of the gateways.

“So, one is to increase economic activity around the airports. Our commercial and business development team, as well as myself, obviously, with the guidance of the Minister, have worked very closely with some of the state governments in terms of what they can do. One is largely around cargo.

“I think cargo is a sweet spot for us in the market. States like Kano, Plateau, and Ogun state, even though it is not our airports, are looking to drive cargo effectively as well, but it’s not just about building the infrastructure or investing more in the infrastructure on the ground, it’s making sure that there’s a feeder system that starts from the bottom of the value chain to drive cargo,” she stated.

[Leadership]