You will not die now! A child of God is not supposed to die anyhow. Yes, when you walk in the knowledge of a functional covenant with God nothing is permitted to take away your life prematurely. Nothing! Be it disease, demonic powers, hardship, or whatever. Nothing and I mean nothing is permitted to terminate your life before fulfilling your destiny. Everybody has an assignment that brought them into the world. God did not waste his time and resources crafting a wonderful creature like you. Or haven’t you heard that you are wonderfully and fearfully made? Also look at all the things – the time, the resources, the emotions, the prayer, the love and sometimes planning and expectations put into the process of bringing a baby into this world. Like your parents coming together, the relationship, the expectations, your miraculous conception and formation in the womb, the preparations, your birth and your growth, etc. So much!

             Millions do not survive these stages. But you did! This clearly shows that there is a definite divine plan for your life. True. I recently overheard a respected gynaecologist / surgeon, a professor, a dean of a collage of medicine saying that nobody, not even experts have totally understood what God did in the process of conception and child-bearing. And immediately those words registered in my spirit. You can do all you know scientifically and medically, but it is only God that permits, perfects and natures life. I think it is also a standing belief in medicine and that is why the doctors will tell you that they care and treat but that it is only God that heals. Ask them. Every life must come from and end in him. Even when you are treating or praying for fruit of the womb, you must have it at the back of your mind that it is only God that can bring forth life. Yes, science can be helpful. Yes, medicine is great and always necessary, but it is still God that perfects the outcome. You can apply everything that you know and it will still not work. And you also may not do anything at all and still things will work out perfectly. It is God - that unseen hand. True.

It is not an exaggeration to opine that it is no more news that the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, November 16, 2024, clinched a clean sweep in the 2024 local government elections in Ogun State, winning all 20 local government areas and secured all 236 councillorship wards in the state.

Babatunde Osibodu, the Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, made this announcement early Sunday during a live broadcast at the commission’s headquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

According to Osibodu, the APC won in all 20 local government areas and secured all 236 councillorship wards in the state. He further revealed that a total of 613,156 votes were cast in the chairmanship elections.

In fact, the election saw participation from 19 political parties, including the Accord Party, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Labour Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party, among others.

While this triumph is undoubtedly a moment of celebration for the party faithful, it raises pressing concerns about the deep-rooted ‘winner takes all’ syndrome in Nigeria’s local government elections. It is a practice that, unfortunately, undermines the very essence of democracy, which should be rooted in inclusion and representation.

Recently, several local government elections in Nigeria have concluded with the ruling parties in various states sweeping all the available seats. For instance, in Kaduna State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured an absolute victory, winning all 23 chairmanship positions and 255 councillorship seats. The elections were conducted by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, and despite some controversies, the state government described the process as peaceful.

Similarly, in Kano, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which only recently gained power, won all 44 local government seats. In other states, such as Kogi, Sokoto, and Bauchi, the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also achieved complete dominance in their local council elections.

Critics, however, argue that the results were predictable, as ruling parties tend to dominate local elections due to their control over state electoral commissions. There are ongoing calls for reform to shift local government elections to be managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and curb the influence of state governors on the process.

In fact, the APC’s 20/20 victory in Ogun may appear like a show of political dominance, but it is more indicative of a systemic issue that has plagued local elections across Nigeria. It is hard to believe that in a state of diverse political leanings, every seat can be won by just one party, especially given the current economic and social challenges the people are facing. Such results are not unique to Ogun but have become a pattern in most states governed by dominant parties. Whether it is the PDP, APC, or any other party in control, the outcome remains the same: a clean sweep that raises more questions than answers about the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.

Unfortunately, there are consequences of ‘Winner Takes All’, given the fact that Nigeria is a democratic nation. The ‘winner takes all’ syndrome fosters an unhealthy political environment where power is monopolized by one party, leaving no room for alternative voices. This exclusionary approach stifles grassroots democracy, leaving the electorate with little to no genuine representation. It also alienates minority parties and dissuades them from participating in future elections, knowing the odds are heavily skewed against them. The long-term implication is that citizens lose faith in the democratic process, reducing voter turnout and engagement in subsequent elections.

Local government, often referred to as the closest arm of government to the people, should be a melting pot of diverse perspectives and solutions tailored to the needs of local communities. But when one party dominates the entire structure, it creates a monopoly that can lead to ineffective governance, lack of innovation, and a disconnect between elected officials and the people they serve.

The Ogun elections should serve as a wake-up call to review and reform local government electoral processes in Nigeria. For democracy to thrive, it must go beyond just holding elections; the process must be seen as free, fair, and representative of the people’s will. This involves allowing opposition parties a fair playing field and creating an electoral environment where every vote counts, regardless of party affiliations.

One way to address this issue is to explore the adoption of proportional representation at the local government level. By allowing seats to be distributed based on the percentage of votes each party receives, minority parties would have a voice in the decision-making process. This system is already in practice in several advanced democracies and ensures that local councils are more reflective of the electorate’s diverse interests.

Additionally, the establishment of independent electoral bodies free from state government influence is critical. The current practice, where state governors wield significant control over State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), has made local government elections mere formalities where the ruling party is almost guaranteed victory.

The goal of local governance should not be to entrench one party’s dominance but to foster development and provide essential services to the people. The exclusion of diverse political voices hampers accountability and hinders progress. In contrast, a competitive political landscape encourages elected officials to perform better, knowing that they can be unseated if they fail to deliver.

By moving away from the ‘winner takes all’ approach, local governments can become true engines of development where innovative ideas and diverse perspectives are harnessed for the common good. More so, it will empower citizens, knowing their votes truly matter and can shape the future of their communities.

As the dust settles on APC’s clean sweep in Ogun, it is time for stakeholders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and the electorate, to reflect on the state of local democracy in Nigeria. The dominance of one party in local government elections is not a sign of political strength but a symptom of a flawed system that needs urgent reform.

Ending the ‘winner takes all’ syndrome and fostering an inclusive, competitive, and transparent electoral process will not only strengthen democracy at the grassroots but also restore faith in the governance process. It’s high time Nigeria moves beyond the politics of domination and embraces a system that truly reflects the will of its diverse populace.

In a country where women continue to break barriers and shatter glass ceilings, one name stands tall as a symbol of courage, determination, and sacrifice, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first female combatant helicopter pilot. Her journey was not only inspirational but also a testament to the untapped potential that lies within the youth, especially young women, in Nigeria. Even though her life was tragically cut short, her legacy continues to inspire generations.

Born on December 13, 1995, in Kaduna State, Tolulope Arotile grew up with a fierce passion for aviation. Her dream of taking to the skies was not just a childhood fantasy but a goal she relentlessly pursued. She attended the prestigious Air Force Secondary School in Kaduna before enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy, where she excelled among her peers. Arotile’s hard work and perseverance led to her historic commissioning as Nigeria’s first-ever female combatant helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on October 15, 2019.

In a field traditionally dominated by men, Arotile not only held her ground but soared above the expectations. Her appointment as a combat helicopter pilot was a beacon of hope, signifying the strides women in Nigeria are making in the military and other male-dominated professions.

Within a short but impactful career, Flying Officer Arotile distinguished herself through several successful combat missions against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the northern regions of Nigeria. She piloted the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter, playing a significant role in the fight against terrorism. Her dedication and skill were instrumental in “Operation GAMA AIKI”, a mission designed to rid the nation of extremist threats.

However, her promising career came to an abrupt and heart-wrenching end on July 14, 2020, in a tragic car accident at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna. According to reports, she was accidentally hit by a car driven by an acquaintance who was reversing. The news of her death sent shockwaves across the nation, as Nigerians mourned the loss of a bright and courageous soul who had barely begun her journey.

Though her time was short, Tolulope Arotile’s achievements have left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s history. Her story is one of breaking boundaries and overcoming societal stereotypes, especially in a country where young women are often told their dreams have limits. Arotile’s legacy serves as a reminder that no dream is too big and no goal is unattainable, regardless of gender.

In her honor, the Nigerian Air Force has renamed several infrastructures and initiatives to immortalize her legacy. Among them is the “Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile Pilot’s Quarters” at the Air Force Base in Abuja, and the Kaduna Air Force’s Secondary School auditorium, which was renamed after her. These gestures are a testament to the impact she made within her short but remarkable career.

Tolulope Arotile’s story is one that resonates not just with young women but with every Nigerian striving to achieve greatness. Her legacy goes beyond her military achievements; it is a powerful statement about the capability of women when given the opportunity. She remains an emblem of bravery, strength, and dedication, encouraging young girls across Nigeria to reach for the stars and to believe in their dreams, no matter how audacious they may seem.

As a nation, the best way to honor her memory is by ensuring that her story continues to inspire a new generation of female leaders, pilots, engineers, and trailblazers. The Nigerian government, the military, and private organizations can play a role in achieving this by creating more platforms and opportunities for women in fields traditionally dominated by men.

The pain of losing such a promising young officer is still felt by many, but her story remains an inspiring tale of resilience. Tolulope Arotile not only made history as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot but also left behind a legacy that will continue to light the path for many young Nigerians.

In the words of the late Flying Officer Arotile herself, during one of her interviews, she said, “I want to do my best to leave a lasting legacy wherever I find myself.” Indeed, she achieved this and more.

As her legacy lives on, we remember Tolulope Arotile not with sadness but with admiration for her courage, her spirit, and her enduring legacy. She may no longer be with us, but the trail she blazed will forever remain a guiding light.

Rest in peace, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile. Your wings may be folded, but your legacy soars higher than ever.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has set its valuation at approximately $300 billion.

The valuation arises from the company’s latest share buyback program, offering investors $180.70 per share—marking a 12.9% increase from its previous buyback price of $160 per share in December 2023-Reuters first reported.

This is ByteDance’s third share repurchase initiative since 2022, as the company continues to provide liquidity to its investors in the absence of an initial public offering (IPO).

The prior buyback valued ByteDance at $268 billion, and the current program reflects growing confidence in the company’s financial performance and prospects.

The buyback comes as ByteDance reported a 30% increase in global revenue last year, reaching $110 billion, driven by the sustained popularity of TikTok and its expanding portfolio of digital platforms. However, the company has refrained from setting a timeline for a public market debut, according to sources.

The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. ByteDance has maintained that its buyback strategy offers investors a viable exit option while ensuring internal liquidity without the complexities of an IPO.

Despite these financial strides, ByteDance faces significant regulatory hurdles, particularly in the United States. A law signed by President Joe Biden in April requires the company to divest TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face a ban on the app within U.S. borders. The administration has cited national security concerns over Chinese ownership of the platform.

In response, ByteDance and TikTok filed a lawsuit in federal court in May, challenging the legislation and seeking to block its enforcement. The legal battle has cast uncertainty over TikTok’s future in its largest market by user base.

ByteDance’s valuation reflects a delicate balance of its robust revenue growth and mounting geopolitical risks. The company’s decision to proceed with the buyback, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, underscores its commitment to stabilizing investor sentiment amid external pressures.

While the $300 billion valuation highlights ByteDance’s dominance in the global tech landscape, its legal and regulatory challenges could influence future growth trajectories. For now, the company remains focused on maintaining its financial momentum while navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

What to know

Nairametrics reported in October that Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, had become China’s richest man, overtaking Zhong Shanshan, the bottled water magnate.

• Zhang’s rise to the top has been nothing short of extraordinary, considering his journey from a modest upbringing in Fujian Province to building one of the world’s most influential tech companies.
• Born in 1983, Zhang pursued software engineering at Nankai University, where his curiosity for innovation blossomed. After graduating, he gained experience at various tech startups, including Kuxun, a travel platform where he quickly rose through the ranks. This foundation would later shape his vision for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and Douyin.

Under Zhang’s leadership, ByteDance introduced a unique approach to content delivery powered by AI, redefining how users consume information globally. This ingenuity propelled the company to unprecedented success, making TikTok one of the most downloaded apps in the world and solidifying Zhang’s place among the tech elite.

[Nairametrics]

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the appointment of new and credible leaders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with short tenures to curb corruption and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University in Connecticut, USA, Obasanjo delivered a keynote address titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” where he described the 2023 general elections as a “travesty.”

The former president emphasized the need for comprehensive reform of the electoral system, including rigorous vetting of INEC officials to eliminate partisan influences.

“As a matter of urgency, we must ensure the INEC chairperson and staff undergo thorough vetting,” he said. “The process must yield impartial, non-partisan individuals with impeccable reputations.”

Obasanjo proposed appointing credible leadership at all levels—federal, state, and local—with limited tenures to prevent political interference and corruption.

He stressed that the INEC chairperson must be “transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Highlighting the importance of safeguarding democratic integrity, Obasanjo called for measures to prevent electoral interference and advocated for clear financial regulations to ensure transparency in political campaigns.

He also urged the need for robust mechanisms to protect election infrastructure, particularly the technologies used for collating, transmitting, and verifying results.

The former president criticized INEC for failing to utilize the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and election viewing portal (IReV) during the 2023 elections, which he said compromised the process.

“These technologies were praised for their potential to enhance transparency, prevent rigging, and build public trust,” Obasanjo remarked.

“However, INEC willfully neglected their use, leading to widespread irregularities. It was akin to inviting the fox into the henhouse.”

Obasanjo’s remarks underline the urgency of electoral reform as a cornerstone for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

[Leadership]

Former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, has urged Nigerians to stop fixating on the recent comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, and instead focus on the myriad of pressing issues facing the country.

Akande made this call during his segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Sunday, where he addressed the uproar over Badenoch’s remarks.

44-year-old Badenoch was born in London and spent part of her childhood in Nigeria recently remarked that she did not want the United Kingdom to mirror the situation in Nigeria.

Badenoch’s comments have sparked outrage among Nigerians.

“Our obsession with Mrs. Badenoch’s comments is entirely diversionary.”

“Instead of focusing on her, we should be attacking our real problems. Who cares what she thinks? The bigger issue is the state of our country — we should be putting pressure on our leaders to solve fundamental problems like fixing the national power grid,” he said.

During the segment, Akande commended the Supreme Court for its recent ruling that dismissed a lawsuit filed by 19 state governments challenging the constitutionality of key anti-corruption agencies. He described the case as a self-serving attempt to undermine the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“The 7-member Supreme Court panel unanimously dismissed the suit, labeling it ‘selfish,’” Akande said. “This ruling is a comforting rebuke against attempts to weaken our fight against corruption. It shows that while much has gone wrong in our country, redemption is not impossible if we remain steadfast.”

[DailyTrust]

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, will hold on Friday, November 22 in Morocco, DAILY POST reports.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced this on its official website on Sunday.

The Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Sale, Morocco, will host the draw ceremony.

Morocco will host the competition from July 5 to July 26, 2025.

Nine-time champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, are among the 12 teams that have qualified for the competition.

Banyana Banyana of South Africa won the last edition of the competition in 2022, which was also hosted by Morocco.

[DailyPost]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday left for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The President who left Abuja last night after rounding off his bi-lateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will attend the summit on the invitation of host President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The summit holds today and tomorrow.

The theme of the summit is  “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.”

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the gathering will bring together leaders from the world’s largest economies, alongside representatives from the African Union, the European Union, and key international financial institutions.

The summit’s agenda includes discussions on combating global hunger and poverty, reforming international governance structures, and advancing sustainable development and energy transition efforts.

These topics align closely with Nigeria’s long-standing advocacy for global institutional reforms and its aspirations for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral meetings to further Nigeria’s socio-economic reform agenda.

Accompanying the president is a high-level delegation, including Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Minister of Art, Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

Members of the G20 are: United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, , Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the European Union.

[TheNation]

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu for conferring the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Timothy Osadolor, the PDP's Deputy National Youth Leader, described the president's action as a misplaced priority. However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, argued that the president didn't do anything unprecedented.

The PDP's criticism comes after Tinubu conferred the award on Modi during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tinubu said the award was a show of appreciation for the partnership and bilateral relationship between Nigeria and India.

However, the PDP expressed disappointment, wondering why Tinubu chose to gift the second-highest national honor on the basis of mere friendship. The PDP National Working Committee member emphasized that though the president has the right to confer a national honor on anybody, there must be criteria to show why they deserve it.

Osadolor also wondered if the president asked the visiting PM and his delegation the right questions on investments and how Nigeria can borrow a leaf from the Indians to move the country out of the woods. He said, "Tinubu is not serious. He should leave out frivolities for bigger issues. Now that the Indian Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to visit Africa, yes, we have a significant and sizeable Indian community in Nigeria. But to what end can we maximize and leverage these businesses?"

On the other hand, Duru raised concerns that the PDP was not playing its role as a responsible opposition. He said, "I think the question to ask is whether there is a precedent in this. Then the next question is if it is within the confines of the power of Mr. President to confer such an award. If it is, is the process approved? Once all these questions are answered in the affirmative, it then becomes the discretion of Mr. President to confer such an honorary award on whom he pleases."

Meanwhile, Dr. Sylvester Okere, a United States of America-based Nigerian security expert, said the Indian-Nigerian partnership would secure the people's assets. Okere will speak on 'Indian-Nigerian Partnership in Securing People and Assets' at the 19th Security Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi.

“Bitterness is like holding a piece of burning coal in your hand and hoping that it hurts someone else” – Nelson Mandela, 1913-2013

SABOTAGE, deliberate and planned, is increasingly becoming the most important factor in the frequent grid collapses Nigerians are experiencing now.

Don’t get me wrong, the crimes committed against the people of Nigeria by governments since 1999 created the background against which the arsonists, embittered by the loss of presidential election are acting. Concentration of our public power supply in one grid has exposed us to all the calamities which every monopoly induce. We are in this situation because politics has always trumped sound economics.

LAGOS, AKWA IBOM, RIVERS AND OTHERS

“Ideas are capital; the rest is money” – Anonymous I attended the first eight Annual National Economic Summit Group, NESG, Conferences until it occurred to me that they had become hollow rituals whose recommendations, often repeated, were routinely ignored by military and civilian governments.

The first eight made the same recommendations regarding power and fuel supply; particularly about decentralisation of power supply and petroleum resources in two organisations – NEPA and NNPC. It was not until Jonathan became President in 2010 that a significant step was taken to break the power sector into three units – which now serve the nation worse than the NEPA they replaced.

Similarly, the call for the privatisation of the petroleum sector was not addressed until the Buhari administration got the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, passed during its second term. Procrastination is not only a thief of time. For Nigerian governments, delay in reforming the power and petroleum sectors served the vital kleptomaniac interests of those in power. Thus, when a seemingly appropriate bill, e.g. PIB, is passed, I have learnt to wait to see who is placed in charge of the implementation. That, invariably, betrays the intention.

“To live outside the law, you have to be honest” – Bob Dylan, US folk singer When Dylan first made that remark during the struggle for Civil Rights in 1968, I thought the Jewish-American popular singer was stretching the truth too far. Many instances in Nigeria are driving one to the conclusion that outlaws write and execute our laws.

The National Assembly is often full of people who, if properly investigated, should have been facing Justice Egwuatu – and not the kids. Even then, they probably would have secured bail terms likely to promote corruption instead of deterring it. A former governor found guilty of stealing hundreds of millions was once fined N500, 000 or go to jail for six months.

Obviously, foretold, he reached into his pocket and paid the fine. By my own estimate, the Federal Ministries of Power and Petroleum have accounted for almost half of all known and unknown cases of embezzlement of all public funds at Federal, States and Local Governments since 1970. One million Yahoo Yahoo boys and girls would have to work 1, 000 years to grab what is lost in a single year in the Petroleum Ministry alone.

In my book, PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED, available online, it was established beyond dispute how the Obasanjo government sabotaged the effort to give Nigeria a real giant leap forward by leveraging on two divinely provided opportunities. By 1999, it was already wellestablished that Nigeria is a gas producing country associated with oil.

That means that our gas far exceeded our crude oil potentials. A more proactive General Ibrahim Babangida’s government had launched the Liquefied Natural Gas Nigeria, NLNG, with Decree 39, 1990. It was a massive game-changer which carried the potentials of helping to diversify the Nigerian economy in many ways – especially in decentralisation of power production and distribution. Every other Federal Government, particularly Obasanjo’s (1999-2007) and Jonathan’s (2010-2015) had ignored the opportunities.

That is why we have national grid breakdown. All our oil producing states are sitting on trillions of cubic metres of gas which could have been used to establish gas-fed power stations in each state. They were all discouraged from venturing into the projects which would have decentralised our national supply. Two states’ – Akwa Ibom and Lagos — experiences with the FG, under Obasanjo’s presidency, will help to illustrate how we missed the boat on vastly increased decentralised power supply – allied with escape from sole reliance on a single national grid; which has never served our national interest.

Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom, 1999-2007, embarked on an Independent Power Project, IPP, which would have made the state selfsufficient in power supply – with 24/7 power supply guaranteed. All the IPP needed was the FG’s permission to source the gas from its own deposits. But, by then, Attah had already embarked on his struggle for Resource Control – which Obasanjo vehemently opposed. Thus, on account of toxic politics, Akwa Ibom – which could have exited the national grid – is still drawing power from it. Rivers State also had its IPP; but, once again, FG opposition aborted a great idea. Governor Bola Tinubu’s experience was just as illustrative of destructive politics sabotaging national interest.

Few people remember the attempt by the Tinubu administration to establish an IPP with ENRON. Despite the fact that ENRON turned out to be a great scam perpetrated by some Americans, Obasanjo’s hostility to the project probably made it impossible for due diligence to be carried out on ENRON. The idea of an IPP for Lagos State remains the best possible solution to our seemingly intractable power supply problems. However, before touching on how decentralisation would work, there is a need to understand where we are at the moment; and why we cannot get very far if we continue with business as usual – which is a sure route to self-destruction.

WHERE WE STAND NOW

“Serial grid collapses: FG orders overhaul as TCN fears more breakdowns” – Report, November 8, 2024 Nigeria has suffered more grid collapses this year than at any one point in history; with devastating effects on all aspects of our lives – especially production. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF, have consequently reduced our Gross Domestic Product, GDP, forecast to less than three per cent.

Thus, when the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, “fears more breakdowns”, it is akin to a mother telling the children that “the kitchen might be shut down again; go fend for yourselves”. Apart from the fact that this is a selfindictment of the national leadership, it has led to the obvious conclusion that the Ministry of Power is totally powerless and bereft of ideas concerning how to get the nation out of this dark hole in which we find ourselves.

Nothing proves the point better than the statement credited to the National Orientation Agency, NOA, quoted below: “Despite the 13,610MW generation capacity and over 8,000MW transmission capacity, the total active distribution capacity of the 11 DisCos in Nigeria is still hovering around 4,000MW, Just last month, on September 2nd, a peak generation in three years was achieved, but out the 5,313MW generated and wheeled out that day, the Discos rejected almost 1,400MW due to their systems fragility. These load rejections by DisCos contribute to the collapse of the national grid.”

The primary reason for establishing mental hospitals in every society has been to separate those whose abnormal behaviour constitutes a danger to the welfare of others. The first step is diagnosis; because some activities, examined closely, simply don’t make sense. The NOA has just described a situation which must be peculiar to Nigeria among all the nations of the world – including Banana Republics. Fortunately, the agency has indicated the way forward to us. First, analysis of the data provided by NOA reveals that the TCN can only accommodate 62 per cent of the 13,000MW the nation can possibly generate.

That maximum places Nigeria fifth among African countries and far behind South Africa and Egypt. It is scandalous that all former presidents have left the present administration with so little power generating capacity. Second, while the TCN drops 38 per cent of power generated, the DISCOS, selected by the Jonathan government, take up only 4,000MW or 50 per cent of what TCN offers and 31 per cent of power generated. The impression is given that the demand for power supply is less than 8,000MW.

That is totally false. Indeed, the entire transmission system needs to be overhauled. I work near a transformer and know the frequency of breakdown of that unit. The experience is not different from that near my Club and my home town. Sometimes, it takes up to ten days for fault to be corrected despite the fact that office and Club are within shouting distance of the EKEDC office. The demand is definitely there; supply is the problem. In fact, it is absolutely ridiculous to imply that consumers don’t want public power supply. Give us 24/7 supply and we will pay.

A MODEST PROPOSAL The FG and the National Assembly, NASS, should pass the bills necessary to enable oil and gas producing states to establish their own IPPs. In fact, a timeline should be given to ALL the states to set up their own power stations; after which they will be disconnected from the national grid. Fortunately, Lagos State is revisiting the idea of an IPP capable of satisfying its needs. Remove Lagos and the Niger Delta States from the national grid and there will be more power for the rest to share. Even uninterrupted supply might be achievable.