‘Waiting for Godot’ is a play by Irish playwright, Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting the titular Godot, who never arrives. This play, according to Wikipedia, in a poll conducted by the British Royal National Theatre in 1999, was voted the “most significant English-language play of the 20^th century.” The play portrays the political, religious, philosophical and socio-economic perspectives to solutions of life challenges, but all end up as mere chimera—a charade.

As in the ‘Waiting for Godot’ play, Nigeria and its people have been fantasizing about the imminence of an Eldorado—economically—especially since the commencement of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration some nine months ago. Apparently playing to the gallery or in total submission to the dictates of the Bretton Woods institutions (The World Bank and IMF), the administration adopted and applied (market-led) economic policies that have caused so much disruption to the economy. This reality, though unexpected, has since bogged the administration with grappling with the negative consequences and fallouts of its economic reforms so far.

Thus, more than anything else, the government has been preoccupied with packaging and re-packaging of palliatives for the citizenry to (merely) assuage the fast-spreading and deepening poverty, hunger and anger in the land. The latest dimension of the degenerating social order is sporadic upheavals in forms of public protests in many towns and cities across the country. Public angst and cries against spreading hunger, spiking cost of living and deteriorating insecurity are pervasive.

For close to nine months since the inauguration of the current Tinubu administration, every economic indicator has been moving in the wrong direction. Whether it is inflation rate, exchange rate of the Naira, level of unemployment, public debt, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or the external reserves—all have been heading in the wrong direction. For instance, while the headline inflation rate was 21.84 per cent in January 2023, one year after, end-January 2024, it has shot up to 29.90 per cent; and will surely maintain the trajectory—going forward.

Paradoxically, while several internal and external factors will keep sustaining this hyperinflationary trend, the government keeps wishing for a magical decline of the figures. This accounts for why the 2024 Federal budget is predicated on an inflation rate expectation of 21.24 per cent. Yet, the impact of the fuel subsidy removal by end-May 2023 has pushed the prices of all goods and services through the roof. Particularly, food inflation has risen phenomenally—as food supply and agriculture (especially, faming) remains threatened by worsening insecurity in the land.

Although by mere pronouncement, the government has declared a state of emergency on agriculture, the wide-spread insecurity across the country has kept most farmers off their farms. Ironically most of the areas usually referred to as ‘food baskets’ of the country are now more like ‘war zones’ as farmers in their communities, villages and hamlets are daily being overrun and displaced by terrorists, bandits, brigands and other armed gangs. Most of the surviving farmers are in their new-found-abodes—Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps—in various locations across the country. This state of affairs puts the lie to the intentions of the so called state of emergency on agriculture.

One of the upshots of this—which is lingering food scarcity—sustains the spiking food inflation trajectory. Also, in more ways than one, the peremptory floatation of the Naira and its kindred policies (as contained in the CBN’s circular of 14 June 2023 to Deposit Money Banks, DMBs) have kept the local currency on the tailspin. The sharp and sudden crash of the Naira vis-à-vis the dollar and other hard currencies has translated to very high and rising cost of importation of all items. And for the highly import-dependent economy (that Nigeria is), prices of all imports have practically gone through the roof. This is ‘transferred’ to the ultimate consumer by importers of raw materials, machineries and sundry intermediate goods.

Right from the outset, the intention of the Government in the Naira floatation policy was to attain a sustainable unified exchange rate in the foreign exchange (forex) market in Nigeria. However, for upwards of nine months now, the policy is a woeful failure. Rather than achieving a single forex rate, the official and ‘black market’ windows have kept waxing stronger—with the Naira collapsing in both of them. In fact, in the past few days, the local currency has been losing more strength in the official than parallel window. Specifically, Naira to dollar exchange rate in the official window has hit N1500/$, while it remains slightly below this in the ‘black’ market.

The upshot of this scenario has been persistent uncertainty for all economic agents, but particularly for businesses. This pervading uncertainty has been at the root of recent (almost daily) hiking of the exchange rate for cargo duties charged by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The exchange rate (for duties) which was N952 per dollar in December 2023, has been raised several times in a matter of weeks, to now stand at about N1500 per dollar. And the hike has not stopped.

Already, several reports show that many importers have begun to abandon their cargoes at the ports because of the huge sums the NCS expects them to pay as duties. These cargoes are also accumulating outrageous demurrages; and all these scare the importers. Not a few of these importers have since resorted to using the port facilities of neighboring West African countries. And this is a huge loss to Nigeria. Not a few persons, too, have resorted to smuggling—rather paying through their nose to import into Nigeria—with crashing consumer demand/weak purchasing power.

As all these are playing out, the Organized Labor (OL) remains in a ding-dong with the Federal government, over deteriorating life of Nigerian workers courtesy of the recent economic policies. For the umpteenth time since June 2023, the OL—represented by the Nigeria Labor Congress and Trade Union Congress—have threatened calling out Nigerian workers on protests/strikes. While the imbroglio lingers, the standard of living of the Nigerian worker keeps declining—essentially because of the collapsed Naira and rising inflation.

This deplorable fate of the Worker has become such that the NLC is now known to be proposing one million naira as the minimum wage that it would table before the Federal government-constituted Minimum Wage Negotiation Panel. The NLC says it would index its proposed minimum wage to the high and rising inflation as well as the deteriorating Naira exchange rate: issues that have practically left the worker impoverished and hapless.

From another plank, the fuel subsidy debacle is yet lingering. Driven by the collapsing Naira exchange rate, cost of importation of refined petroleum products (especial, Premium Motor Spirit, PMS) has kept rising too. With the soaring landing cost of PMS, importers of the product have been ‘pushing’ to transfer the high cost directly to the pump (price of PMS). However, even as reported by the IMF and the World Bank, the Nigerian Government has been ‘covertly’ paying some subsidies to these PMS importers. It therefore means that like the Naira floatation initiative that failed, fuel subsidy removal policy also has not succeeded.

So, as the President Tinubu administration is about to enter the last quarter of its first year, Nigerians, and indeed, the world is waiting for the direction of the Nigerian economy. How soon will the Government move from dishing out palliatives to effectively begin to churn out policies that stimulate the economy? How soon will these failed policies be ‘reformed’ to begin to leapfrog the economy of Nigeria. Or, are we ‘waiting for Godot’?

• The author, Okeke, a practising Economist, Business Strategist, Sustainability expert and ex-Chief Economist of Zenith Bank Plc, lives in Lekki, Lagos. He can be reached via: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Nigeria Police has arrested the officers attached to the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja and their accomplices responsible for the extortion of a member of the public of the sum of N30,300,000.

In a statement Friday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrest of the officers followed the recent notice brought to the attention of the Force via the X (Twitter) Platform.

“Following the recent act of extortion by some officers of the Nigeria Police attached to the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja who extorted a member of the public of the sum of Thirty Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N30,300,000), which was brought to the notice of the Force via the X Platform, the Nigeria Police wishes to reveal and announce that significant progress has been made in apprehending the officers and their accomplices responsible for this unprofessional conduct as the squad who initially escaped upon commencement of investigations have been arrested and are currently in custody,” the statement reads.

According to the Force PPRO, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun as part of his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force ordered the commencement of disciplinary proceedings to ensure that justice is served swiftly and decisively.

“These disciplinary measures underscore the zero-tolerance stance of the Nigeria Police Force towards any form of misconduct or corruption among its ranks.

“The IGP also emphasized the imperativeness that those found to have violated the trust placed in them by the public face the full consequences of their actions, as such behavior not only tarnishes the reputation of the Force but also undermines the collective efforts to maintain law and order in our country.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its quest to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. As guardians of public safety and the rule of law, we are deeply committed to ensuring that all officers adhere strictly to ethical conduct and demonstrate staunch integrity in the discharge of their duties.

“The NPF recognizes that transparency and accountability are paramount in maintaining public trust and will continue to take decisive action against any misconduct within our ranks.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new heads for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) limited.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

“With the reconstitution of the management teams in these agencies, President Tinubu anticipates that these seasoned professionals will deliver excellent service to elevate the impact of the digital economy sector on the socio-economic development of the nation,” the statement added.

The agencies are the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC)

(1) Abraham Oshadami — Executive Commissioner, Technical Services

(2) Rimini Makama — Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management

(3) Opeyemi Dele-Ajayi — President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute

NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE (NIGCOMSAT) LIMITED

(1) Abiodun Attah — Executive Director, Technical Services

(2) Aisha Abdullahi — Executive Director, Finance & Administration

(3) Jaiyeola Awokoya — Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development

GALAXY BACKBONE (BB) LIMITED

(1) Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju — Managing Director/CEO

(2) Mohammed Sani Ibrahim — Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services

(3) Olusegun Olulade — Executive Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing

(4) Olumbe Akinkugbe — Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services.

Also, President Tinubu approved the appointment of a new management team for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Ngelale noted that: “The President expects unflagging dedication, professionalism, and dutifulness from the new appointees so as to ensure that the operations of AMCON are more efficient, transparent, and in consonance with his determination to sanitize the nation’s financial system to maximize value and enhance investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.”

Those appointed include:

(1) Gbenga Alade — Managing Director/CEO

(2) Aminu Ismail — Executive Director

(3) Adeshola Lamidi — Executive Director

(4) Lucky Adaghe — Executive Director

[NaijaNews]

The Federation revenue rose to N2. 068 trillion in January out of which the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.149 trillion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils.

This was contained in the communique issued at the end of the FAAC meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) said the meeting was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun.

The N1.149 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N463.079 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N391.787 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.922 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N279.028 billion.

Total deductions for cost of collection was N78.412 billion, total transfers, interventions and refunds was N639.926 billion and savings was N200.000 billion.

Gross statutory revenue of N1,151.808 billion was received for the month of January 2024. This was higher than the sum of N875.382 billion received in the month of December 2023 by N 276.426 billion.

The gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in January was N420.733 billion.

This was lower than the N492.506 billion available in the month of December 2023 by N71.773 billion.

The communique indicated that from the N1.149 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N407.267 billion, State Governments received N379.407 billion, while the Local Government Councils received N278.041 billion.

A total sum of N85.101 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

From the N463.079 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N216.757 billion, the State Governments received N109.942 billion and the Local Government Councils received N84.761 billion.

The sum of N51.619 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

The Federal Government received N58.768 billion, State Governments received N195.894 billion and the Local Government Councils received N137.125 billion from the N391.787 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.

The N15.922 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was shared as follows: the Federal Government received N2.388 billion, the State Governments received N7.961 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.573 billion.

The Federal Government received N129.354 billion from the N 279.028 billion Exchange Difference revenue.

The State Governments received N65.610 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N50.582 billion.

The sum of N33.482 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

The balance in the ECA was $473,754.57.

Google, owned by billionaires Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is not shutting down Gmail, as the email platform asserted, “Gmail is here to stay,” in response to a viral hoax tweet claiming the platform would halt its email feature.  

Additionally, the tech giant, under its parent company Alphabet, did not officially issue any statements announcing the purported “Gmail shutdown” on its website or through any press release statements for its 1.8 billion users. 

How it all started 

A screenshot circulating on social media platforms alleged that Google plans to phase out Gmail entirely by the end of this year, suggesting the service would no longer support email functions starting August 1. The screenshot, gaining over 1 million views across various accounts, claimed that Gmail would cease facilitating the sending, receiving, or storing of emails.  

• The email, titled “Why Gmail Is Sunsetting,” outlined Google’s purported shift in focus towards developing communication technologies and platforms.  

• The fake news release, supposedly addressed to Gmail’s 1.8 billion users worldwide and posted on social media, stated, “After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close.” 
• The misleading notice specified August 1, 2024, as the date until which Gmail users will “be able to access and download all your emails.” 

This statement, which carried with the company’s logo, surfaced shortly after Google announced the suspension of its text-to-image AI tool Gemini.   

• Earlier, screenshots circulated online showed Gemini-generated images with misleading racial depictions in historical contexts. Elon Musk criticized the feature as “woke” and “super racist” in a series of posts, prompting Google to release a statement acknowledging the need to “improve these kinds of depictions immediately.” 
•  Chris Bakke, X Product Lead known for posting humorous content, shared the screenshot, playfully claiming to be the senior vice president of product at Google.  

Bakke jokingly stated that he was instructed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai to terminate the company’s Gemini team but mistakenly fired the entire Gmail team. 

What we know 

In the aftermath of the rumored Gmail shutdown, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, witnessed a more than 1% increase in shares, concluding at $145.32. 

 Furthermore, Larry Page and Sergey Brin saw a boost in their net worth, with an addition of $1.18 billion and $2.49 billion, respectively, by the close of Thursday’s market trade. Both billionaire founders, controlling approximately 51.4% of the company through class B shares, now boast a combined net worth of $256 billion. 

Since its launch in April 2004, Gmail has held a significant position in the email industry, contending with competitors like Yahoo and AOL.

Last year, Google disclosed plans for the gradual phase-out of Gmail’s HTML version, commencing in January.

The HTML view aims to provide users with quicker load times and enhanced connectivity, particularly beneficial on slower internet connections. 

[Nairametrics]

The rising cost of living in the country assumed another dimension on Thursday with an attack on a truck carrying food items in Suleja area of Niger State.

This is just as hundreds of residents of Dikwa town in Borno State protested and raised serious concern over hunger, threatening to join terrorists in the state.

The developments come amid the nationwide hardship that has triggered protests in different parts of the country.

Early this month, there was a protest in Minna, the capital of Niger State, in which a group of women blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu roundabout to express their grievances over the rising cost of food items, which has made access to three square meals per day to become increasingly unattainable for millions of people. 

In what look like another turn of events, soldiers had to open fire yesterday when some youths attack trucks loaded with foodstuff in the Suleja area of Niger State. 

Alhassan Abdullahi, a witness, told our correspondent that many trucks from Abuja and heading for Kaduna were blocked by the hoodlums, who burnt tyres on the road. 

He said many bags of assorted foodstuffs, especially rice, were stolen before soldiers arrived at the scene. 

“It took the intervention of soldiers who arrived at the scene and started firing gunshots in the air to scare the hoodlums away. But even at that, many of them went away with bags of rice and cartons of spaghetti and other food items. 

“We learnt commercial motorcycle riders are also planning a protest. They would have done it since yesterday but we didn’t know what stopped them,” he said.

Police stop protest against hunger in Jigawa

Meanwhile, police operatives yesterday blocked protesters from staging a peaceful demonstration against hunger, social and economic difficulties in Jigawa State.

The protest was organised by civil society organisations and political associations.

Dozens of riot police operatives were stationed at various locations around Dutse, the state capital, to block the protesters from marching on the streets.

According to the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Shisu Lawal Adam, the protesters did not obtain permit.

He said the police saw the announcement of the protest on social media, adding that there could be total breakdown of law, order and public peace if allowed to hold. 

He said the police had obtained intelligence that some miscreants had planned to hijack the demonstration to unleash mayhem.

When contacted, Chairman of SAWABA Initiative for Humanitarian Development and one of the organisers, Comrade Bashir Alkasim said less than 10 hours to the commencement of the protest, the police invited them for “a discussion”.

He explained that the state police commissioner requested them to postpone the demonstration due to some security issues, saying they were prevailed upon to withdraw the plan. 

Comrade Alkasim said they wanted to hold the peaceful demonstration to draw the attention of federal, state and local governments to the current hunger, social and economic difficulties in the country, adding that it was also to stress the need for the authorities to do the needful to rescue the situation, which kept degenerating day by day. 

“Since the removal of fuel subsidy, the government  claimed to have got more money and shared it with  other tiers of government, but what only reflected in the lives of civil servants and the  common man on the street  were increased hardship, poverty, hunger and other social and economic difficulties. 

“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu to review his economic policy to align it with the needs and the welfare of Nigerians than foreign interests. We want local government financial autonomy to be revisited and granted fully,” he said.

“In Jigawa, we are calling on the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi to increase the workers’ wage award from the proposed N10,000 to N30,000, which  should be paid before Ramadan.”

Dikwa residents march on streets

Also, yesterday, hundreds of residents of Dikwa town in Borno State have protested and raised serious concern over hunger and their inability to feed their families, given the recent nationwide hike in prices of commodities. 

Daily Trust correspondent had obtained some videos showing hundreds of women and children lamenting on the streets, saying “Hunger and thirst are killing us.”

According to an eyewitness, they described their problems as double tragedies due to lack of access to farmlands and severe shortages of foodstuff.

A top government source said Dikwa town is suffering from severe food shortages as a result of the collapse of livelihoods since the Boko Haram crisis paralysed economic activities in the ancient town.

“It is sad that things have gotten to this level; the women are threatening to join the insurgents due to lack of food to feed their families. You can agree with me that our governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has been trying his best, distributing food and non-food items to cushion the effects of the hardship; but the situation is overwhelming.

“President Tinubu should urgently intervene; this is beyond what the state government can handle. We need special intervention as soon as possible to cushion the effects of hardships that our people are going through presently,” he said.

Another resident expressed fear that the current situation might jeopardise the peace restored over the past years.

“As you’ve seen in the video in the morning, the residents threatened to collaborate with, as well as move to Boko Haram camps, as they said they cannot withstand the severe hunger anymore.

“The government must understand what is going on, and take immediate action to avert this looming catastrophe from happening,” he said.

The insurgents in the adjoining bushes were said to be luring the residents with incentives to cross over to their side as a way to address their food problems.

NEC outlines initiative to ensure food security, affordability

The National Economic Council (NEC) has taken steps to put an end to the economic challenges confronting the nation, including making fertilisers available to farmers and the establishment of agro-rangers to tackle insecurity in the farms. 

The decision was reached yesterday during the 139th meeting of the Council held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The vice president said that with collective efforts in developing a clear and actionable roadmap through short, medium, and long-term strategies, Nigeria will overcome its economic challenges.

Following a presentation by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on food security, Vice President Shettima directed a meeting of the federal government with major fertiliser producers in the country, including Indorama, Dangote and Notore.

NEC noted that fertiliser is a major ingredient of agricultural productivity which the government is striving to attain, and urged the state governors to embrace modern agricultural practices to increase food productivity.

The vice president also lamented that Nigeria had been a victim of strong averseness to evolving and keeping up with the changing global economic order, leading to a situation where making difficult decisions to maximize its potential has become inevitable.

Delivering his opening speech titled, “It’s Time to Speed Up Our Prosperity Quest,” Shettima told council members that it is President Tinubu’s desire that they all stand together to collectively proffer solutions to safeguard the nation’s economy from imminent implosion.

Noting that the citizens are only keen about tangible results, the VP stated that while economic experts foresaw this transitional phase on our journey to a flourishing future, it is crucial to recognise that the ordinary citizen on the street is not concerned with any economic theory. Their daily concerns are anchored in the tangible.

“They are more invested in the price of maize than the predictions of GDP. So, as we deliberate on intricate economic strategies today, let us remain attuned to the heartbeat of the nation. We must ensure that our decisions resonate with the aspirations of the common man and woman who entrust us with their hopes and dreams”, he stressed.  

Acknowledging that the country is in the midst of a pervasive emergency, VP Shettima implored state governors, ministers and other NEC members to align their minds and actions with the reality on ground.

In his presentation, the minister of agriculture also called for action against dollarization of locally produced commodities like urea, which is impacting negatively on fertiliser prices and agricultural productivity.

 [DailyTrust]

Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi, has given away his latest Ballon d’Or trophy only months after he won it controversially ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Last October, Messi was crowned the best player in the world for a record eighth time, after he led Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 36-year-old was handed the award almost seven months from winning the one major honour that had eluded him throughout his career.

It left some fans and pundits furious, as they felt Manchester City’s Haaland was more deserving.

However, four months on from the award win, Messi has given away his latest individual prize.

According to Spanish journalist, Miquel Blazquez, Messi has donated his Ballon d’Or trophy to Barcelona despite not winning it with his old club.

This will allow Barca to place their all-time-great former player’s eighth award alongside the other seven that are in their club museum.

Messi cemented a legacy as arguably the greatest player in soccer history at the Nou Camp, winning 10 Spanish titles and four Champions Leagues while scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.

[DailyPost]

A law firm, Chris Ogunbanjo & Co., has announced funeral arrangements for their esteemed Managing Partner, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo (OFR), who died on February 9 in California, USA.

According to a statement released by the firm yesterday in Lagos, series of events have been planned to honour Ogunbanjo.

A service of songs and night of tributes will hold on February 29, followed by a funeral service on March 1 at the Church of the Nativity, Parkview. Private interment follows at The Anchorage, Erunwon. The family has requested privacy “during this difficult time.”

Otunba Ogunbanjo was not just a leader, but also a revered figure known for his wisdom, integrity and dedication to legal excellence. He served as a guiding light for individuals within the firm and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the Nigerian legal landscape.

“He was more than just a leader; he was a guiding light, a mentor and a symbol of legal excellence,” said the firm.

“His absence leaves a significant void not only within our firm, but also across the legal and business communities in Nigeria.”

Ogunbanjo’s legacy extended far beyond the courtroom. He was a passionate advocate for professionalism, innovation and entrepreneurship, values he instilled within the firm and inspired others to adopt.

He was also a role model, embodying the timeless values of the firm’s founder, the late Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, OFR, CON.

The firm expressed their commitment to upholding his legacy and carrying forward his vision with unwavering determination.

“As we reflect on Otunba’s remarkable contributions, we are determined to honour his memory by rededicating ourselves to the pursuit of excellence that he championed,” the statement said.

Abimbola Ogunbanjo was the Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) from 2021 to 2022.

Read Also: Train girls to lead, says Tinubu’s aide, governor’swife

He played a crucial role in shaping NGX Group, and his strategic acumen and dedication were instrumental in shaping NGX Group’s transformative journey.

Prior to this, he served as the President of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from 2017 to 2021.

Ogunbanjo was a distinguished legal practitioner, serving as Managing Partner of Chris Ogunbanjo LP (Solicitors). He had extensive experience in commercial law, with a particular focus on capital markets, shipping and mergers and acquisitions.

He was also on the boards of several multinational corporations and non-profit organisations, including Beta Glass PLC and the Advisory Board of the University of Buckingham Centre for Extractive Studies.

[TheNation]

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Thursday, described those clamouring for a coup d’état as enemies of Nigeria, saying the military remained resolute to protect the nation’s democracy.

This was as the Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that the mastermind of the August 2021 attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna was eliminated by troops on Wednesday.

The CDS, who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, warned coup mongers in the country.

The economic hardship in the country, which has seen Nigerians trooping to the streets in protests against the rising cost of living has precipitated the fear of military intervention, more so as three member states of the Economic Community of West African States have fallen into the hands of military juntas.

However, the Nigerian military has consistently maintained that it had no interest or plan to take over power, saying it remained loyal and committed to the democratic government.

Restating the military stance in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Musa said, “Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.

“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria. And they should be very careful because the law will come after them.”

The CDS urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the Federal Government, saying efforts being made would soon result in improved conditions of living.

He said, “We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes, we are going through trying periods, but in life, nothing is one hundred per cent; everybody goes through a trying period in life, but it is what you do with them.

“You can see the government putting in efforts to ensure that we come out better. And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so we are going through our trying period,  but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better.

“What is needed is for all of us to put our hands together to ensure that we defeat those enemies of the government, those enemies of this country that don’t want us to succeed.

“We will surely succeed and the Armed Forces are here to support the government in ensuring that we develop, we succeed and to see that there is peace in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday in Kaduna, Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Aruwan, said troops on Wednesday intercepted a notorious bandit, Boderi Isyaku, who is believed to have masterminded the August 24, 2021 attack on the Afaka campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, which claimed the lives of two soldiers.

[Punch]