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Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central, says politicians from the northern part of the country have not used political power for the benefit of their people.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Sani said the current situation in the north is a “product of the failure of governance and leadership” in the region.
The former senator said the northern region is battling the problems of insecurity, poverty, and out-of-school children despite the political power that the region has enjoyed in the country.
“The situation in the northern part of Nigeria today is a product of the failure of governance and leadership that has happened in the country for over four to four decades,” Sani said.
“Political power that ought to have been used by people who come from our own part of the country to improve the economy, better the lives of people, and address the problems of poverty, destitution, and underdevelopment has actually not been utilised for such purposes.
“We have some of the richest businessmen and politicians in the country, but the level of poverty you have seen is a reflection of what leadership and opportunity were used for.
“In all indices, the north lacks behind. Sometimes you ask what all these powers are being used for.
“If any person will compare what is happening in the north and the southern part of Nigeria will wonder what power is being used for.
“Power has been toxic to our people. It has not been used for the benefit of our people for a very long time.”
I still get my salaries paid to me as a civil servant from Nigeria - UK cab driver confesses
AFOLABI
Despite leaving Nigeria for the UK two years ago, Sabitu Adams gets paid each month as a junior official at a government agency back home.
Adams, who now works as a taxi driver in the UK, had his name changed by a BBC report to protect his identity.
The taxi driver has yet to resign from his job in Nigeria.
Adams is one of the thousands of ghost workers, a rampant issue in the Nigerian civil service.
Each year, the government carries out biometric verifications and reels out numbers representing discovered ghost workers, and money saved.
But no one is ever announced to have been arrested or prosecuted.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.
Tinubu also ordered that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.
Adams told the BBC that he was not worried about the president’s directives because he earned better as a taxi driver in the UK.
“When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.
The cab driver said he did not resign “in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years”.
Adams was quoted as saying he had an arrangement with his boss in Nigeria who is a “relative”.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, has said over 71,459 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship between 2005 and 2024.
IRCC is a department of the government of Canada responsible for matters relating to immigration to the North American country, refugees, and Canadian citizenship.
The number places Nigeria in the 10th position on the list of new Canadian citizens by country of birth.
The data released by the immigration office showed that while new Canadians come from at least 196 countries and territories, the top 10 places account for nearly half of all new citizens.\
IRCC said the data highlighted the diversity of Canada’s new citizen population.
Irene Bloemraad, political sociologist and migration expert, told CTVNews that high levels of citizenship were good.
Bloemraad said research showed a correlation between holding citizenship and better economic outcomes.
“Canada stands out among other immigrant-receiving countries in the very high level of citizenship among immigrants in the country.
“High levels of citizenship are a good thing: research shows a correlation between holding citizenship and better economic outcomes, a greater sense of belonging to Canada and, of course, the ability to participate in elections and have a say in policy,” Bloemraad said.
The IRCC data revealed India as the leading source of new Canadians since 2005, with 536,279 individuals obtaining citizenship.
The Philippines follows closely behind with 395,694 new citizens, and China takes third place with 292,325.
Beyond these top three, a diverse range of countries contribute significantly to Canada’s growing citizen population.
Pakistan comes in fourth with 180,999 new citizens, followed by Iran (130,998), the United States (99,652), the United Kingdom (98,837), Syria (72,706), South Korea (71,939), and Nigeria with 71,459 new citizens rounding out the top 10.
Al Parsai, a Toronto-based immigration consultant, said the data underscored Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism and diversity.
Parsai said: “The consistent number of new citizens from countries like India and the Philippines reflects their significant contributions to the Canadian labour market and society.
“The rise in new citizens from countries experiencing conflict, like Syria and Ukraine, highlights Canada’s role in providing refuge and support to those in need.
“The fact that new citizens come from nearly 200 different countries and territories showcases Canada’s global appeal and inclusive immigration policies.”
In November 2023, Canada announced a new immigration-level plan for skilled workers, caregivers, families, and other classes.
In a statement released by the citizenship and immigration Canada (CIC), the North American country will target the admission of 485,000 new immigrants.
“In 2025 and 2026, Canada will look to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in each year,” CIC added.
The Canadian government said the immigration plans will be for economic, family, refugee, and humanitarian classes.
Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has again sold out the 80,000-capacity stadium in London.
The Grammy-winning singer on Saturday thrilled his audience with a spectacular performance at West Ham United’s London Stadium.
Burna Boy performed some of his hit songs including ‘City Boys’, ‘On Form’, and ‘Last Last’ while bustling concertgoers sang along.
The London concert was opened with comedy performed by Nigerian skit maker and comedian, Sabinus.
Also performing at the concert were several Nigerian music stars including Omah Lay, Phyno, Shallipopi, Odumodublvck, Seyi Vibez, BNXN, and Pheelz.
The Malian singer Salif Keita and the Swedish singer Snoh Aalegra were the international guest performers at the concert.
This is not the first time Burna Boy will be selling out a concert at the London Stadium.
In 2023, Burna Boy became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity stadium.
Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy started to gain fame after releasing ‘Like to Party’, the lead single from his debut album ‘L.I.F.E’ (2013).
In 2021, the singer set a record in Nigeria after his fifth album ‘Twice As Tall’ won the ‘Best World Music Album’ category at the Grammy Awards.
Over the years, Burna Boy has performed and sold out some notable venues across the globe.
Media
80,000 Capacity London Stadium fully sold out for the second time by Burna boy ? pic.twitter.com/iFg1yi6v6W
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) June 30, 2024
Buhari govt shielded Ex-Gov from prosecution over $200 million in offshore assets — Obono-Obla
AFOLABI
The former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla revealed that the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government shielded a former governor from prosecution over $200 million in offshore assets.
Obono-Obla made this revelation in an interview on Mic On Podcast.
He referenced several cases of high-profile corruption, expressing frustration over the lack of decisive action on the part of the government.
Noting the magnitude of corruption he encountered, Obono-Obla highlighted a specific case involving the recovery of extravagant assets.
He said, “For instance, there was this case where somebody had 80 brand new armored S-Class Mercedes Benz cars, along with houses, farms, motorcycles, and more, all discovered in a single location in Jabi.
“We intervened, questioned whether customs duties were paid on these vehicles. It turned out, they hadn’t,” he added.
Speaking on tax evasion, Obono-Obla said, “I wrote to the Federal Inland Revenue Service about these assets, questioning if taxes were paid. They confirmed no records of tax payments.”
He noted the panel’s proactive stance in securing a court order to take custody of the assets pending further legal proceedings.
The former chairman revealed efforts to investigate offshore assets linked to a former senator and governor.
He said, “Through the Panama Papers, we discovered offshore properties worth over £200 million belonging to a prominent former governor and senator.”
Recall that the former chairman submitted detailed reports to President Buhari and the Attorney General (Abubakar Malami, SAN) after the investigation.
But, Obono-Obla was reportedly sacked on August 15, 2019 during the President Buhari administration.
His sack letter said Obono-Obla would face “criminal prosecution on matters related to his alleged financial dealings, as uncovered by the ICPC upon investigation.”
“The government may ask the University of Jos to withdraw his law degree and the Nigerian Law School to debar him from practice,” the letter added.
Betty Irabor, a friend of Joke Silver, the husband to Olu Jacob, has said Olu Jacob is well, and alive, asking everyone to ignore the flying news of the actor’s death.
Betty Irabor took to her X account on Sunday evening on 30th June 2024, to debut the rumor of the passing away of the veteran actor Olu Jacob
In her tweet, she wrote, “Olu Jacob is well and alive.. pls ignore all rumors of his passing.”
Media
Olu Jacob is well and alive.. pls ignore all rumors of his passing.
— Betty Irabor (@BettyIrabor) June 30, 2024
An unidentified lady has allegedly jumped from the Ekpan flyover in Uvwie local government area, Delta state to her death.
The sad incident which occurred Saturday afternoon in the oil-rich city became the first alleged case of suicide recorded on the flyover.
The state Police public relations officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the sad incident to the Vanguard, saying before the police got there the corpse of the lady had been removed.
“We heard of the incident but before our men got there, they took the corpse of the woman away.”, the police said.
Some eyewitnesses who spoke to the Vanguard said the middle-aged lady apparently in her 30s screamed that she was tired of hardship before jumping from the flyover to her death.
In another development, one person allegedly lost his life in a kidnap incident that took place on the ever-busy Warri -Sapele road on Friday night at about 8 pm.
Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers opened fire on some vehicles around the Elume bridge area of the road.
One person who allegedly sustained a gunshot injury died in Sapele while being rushed to a hospital.
It could not be confirmed if anybody was kidnapped by the kidnappers but an unconfirmed report alleged that some passengers were whisked away into the bush by the kidnappers.
A prominent human rights advocate and former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has revealed an alleged political strategy by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and other northern elites to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential elections.
In a detailed interview with Sunday Sun in Abuja, Sani disclosed that the strategy hinges on exploiting regional disparities and security challenges.
According to him, Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, plans to capitalize on various issues, including the relocation of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices to Lagos, the perceived dominance of South-western appointees in Tinubu’s administration, and ongoing security concerns in Northern Nigeria.
Sani outlined that Atiku and his political allies intend to paint President Tinubu as favouring his regional base over the broader national interest.
“They are trying to present him [Tinubu] as an ethnicist, a regionalist, and someone who betrayed Northern Nigeria despite receiving significant electoral support from the region,” Sani stated.
He described the move as a calculated attempt to sway Northern voters against Tinubu, framing it as a necessity to reclaim power.
Despite revealing these strategies, Sani advised Atiku and his cohort to exercise patience and respect the informal rotational presidency arrangement between the North and the South.
He suggested that Tinubu, representing the South, should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure, after which power would naturally shift back to the North in 2031.
Sani emphasized the importance of national unity and peace, urging Atiku to consider the broader implications of his actions on the country’s stability.
“Atiku has worked hard to promote peace and unity in Nigeria, and it would be prudent for him to allow the South to complete their tenure,” he added.
Speaking on Atiku’s visit to Daura, he said, “You see, it is a tradition that each time there is a Sallah celebration, people pay homage to former leaders. You pay homage to former leaders so that you get the necessary blessings from them, but in the case of what has happened recently, the fact of the matter is that Northern political leaders are regrouping, and their focal point is Buhari.
“They still want to use Buhari to whip up Northern regional sentiment as it was done in the CPC days and garner the votes they can in order to eject Tinubu from power.
“There is no Northern leader today that can serve as a rallying point. He was the one who was a former president and he used to have a fanatical following. So, what they are trying to do is to present Tinubu as a bad case, as an ethnicist, as a regionalist, as a person who betrayed Northern Nigeria, as a man who was voted by the North, but he is serving his own people and the need for Northerners to wake up and evict him out of power.
“It is their strategy. And they want to do that by making sure that that idea is sold to the Northern masses and then, from there, they seize power. But I have to draw attention to two facts – first of all, Buhari was a colossal failure.
“He has led this country for eight years and he left the North worse than he met it, and the treasury of the country was looted under him; the economy was pillaged under him and the nation was plundered and terrorism and banditry was at the highest peak under Buhari administration.”
Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio crossed 50% for the first time ever last week after the Debt Management Office published the country’s latest public debt figures.
According to the DMO, Nigeria now has a public debt portfolio of N121 trillion, consisting of domestic debt of N65.6 trillion and a foreign debt portfolio of $42.1 billion (which converts to N56 trillion when converted to Naira).
As of December 2023, Nigeria’s total gross domestic product (GDP) was N229.9 trillion in nominal terms, though it grew by only 2.74% in real terms. This suggests that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is now above 50% for the first time.
Nigeria’s latest Debt to GDP
In the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria recorded a nominal GDP of N58.5 trillion, up from N51.2 trillion in the corresponding period in 2023.
- However, in the second and third quarters of 2023, the nominal GDP figures were N52.1 trillion and N60.6 trillion, respectively.
- The fourth quarter GDP rose to N65.9 trillion, making the trailing four-quarters GDP total N237.5 trillion.
- Based on the 2023 GDP figure of N229.9 trillion, Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 52.9%, marking the first time the country has reached such a high debt-to-GDP figure.
- Using the trailing four-quarter GDP figure of N237.5 trillion, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio also stands at 51.2%
Why this matters: Nigeria has often viewed its ‘low’ debt-to-GDP ratio as a sign of the country’s economic resilience, suggesting there was more room to expand its borrowing capacity.
- For example, as of 2023, Ghana had a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 84.9%, while South Africa’s ratio stood at 72.2%. Kenya and Egypt had ratios of 70.1% and 95.8%, respectively.
- While these countries have significantly higher debt-to-GDP ratios compared to Nigeria, the challenge has always been Nigeria’s ability to meet its debt service obligations due to its high debt service-to-revenue ratio.
- Now, with Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio surpassing 50% and continuing to rise, the country has limited room to further expand its borrowing capacity while grappling with current economic challenges.
Nigeria’s rising debt profile
Nigeria’s debt profile has risen over the last 8 years as the country faced a string of fiscal challenges brought about by low crude oil proceeds amid rising budgetary expenditure.
- For example, under the Buhari administration, public debt rose from N12.6 trillion in 2015 to N97.3 trillion in 2023. Between December 2023 and March 2024, public debt in Naira terms have risen by as much as N24.3 trilion.
- However, the Debt Management Office (DMO) explained the increase noting that the N24.33 trillion increase in the total debt was a result of a combination of fresh borrowing and naira devaluation.
- The DMO further clarified that Nigeria’s fresh borrowing was N7.71 trillion in the first quarter of 2024.
- The fresh borrowing includes N2.81 trillion as part of the new domestic borrowing of N6.06 trillion provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act and N4.90 trillion as part of the securitization of the N7.3 trillion Ways and Means Advances approved by the National Assembly.
Global ratings agency, Moody’s also stated that Nigeria’s interest spending on debt might consume up to 36% of the federal government’s revenue in 2024.
According to the firm, the hawkish monetary policy stance of the CBN has pushed interest rates for local borrowing by the federal government from an average of 12.8% in 2023 to around 19% in the first five months of 2024.
[Nairametrics]
After two international investors absorbed 60 per cent stake in Royal Exchange General Insurance Company (REGIC), and Royal Exchange retaining the remaining 40 per cent, the insurer has now rebranded to Rex Insurance Limited.
To this end, it launched a new brand identity and commissioned a state-of-the-art head office, with renewed strength to offer top notch services to customers.
The chairman of Rex Insurance Limited, Ike Chioke, while speaking at the event said, the last three years saw the coming of international investors, Blue Orchard through its Insuresilience Fund and Africinvest through its Financial Inclusion Vehicle (Five) into the company.
The decision to move to the state-of-the-art head office, he said, was driven by the firm’s vision to create a workspace that not only meets the needs of its employees, but also symbolises its forward-thinking ethos.
The new facility, he noted, is more than just a building; it represents a new era for the company, one where it is better equipped to serve its customers, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, adding that, ‘it is a space designed to inspire creativity, enhance productivity, and support our mission to deliver exceptional service.’
“Staff well-being is paramount to the organisation as we believe our employees are our primary stakeholders. To enhance their health and wellness, we have installed a state of the art-of-the art gym facility for our use. To foster a family-friendly work atmosphere that prioritises the needs of working parents, we have also set up a creche for our nursing mothers,” he submitted.
He noted that customers are at the heart of everything the company does, adding that the new head office embodies the firm’s unwavering dedication to providing the highest level of customer service.
“With advanced technologies and improved facilities, we are poised to enhance the customer experience significantly. Every element of this building has been designed with our customers in mind, ensuring that we can respond more swiftly, efficiently, and effectively to their needs,” he pointed out.
Similarly, its managing director/CE, Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu said, the moment marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey that started since 1918 and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and vision of everyone involved adding that the firm is truly a transgenerational company and today’s occasion is to celebrate this.
“We have gone through the digitisation and digitalisation of our processes as part of our Digital transformation journey. We have transformed our approach to customer services and improved our human resources. Revamping of Brand today is to reflect all of the changes that have already happened to the business and the transformation that is still ongoing,” she posited.
She stated that, as they unveil the new brand identity, they believe that the brand is a true representation of who the are and what they stand for, a digital, customer focused company, with great simplified products, a commitment to developing climate based Agric insurance products, develop simple inclusive products to serve the growing retail market and a customer excellence culture that serves corporate customers and brokers.
“These core values we intend to drive as our culture that will be reflected in everything we do and will drive all our interactions, with all our internal and external stakeholders’” she posited.
According to her, the firm had also revamped all its locations in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin while setting up services on Ikorodu road, all in an on-going process to ensure the same standards across all the locations where it operates.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, performed the commissioning of the building. The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance Lagos State, Abayomi Oluyomi, prayed for the company and pledged the state’s support to the company.
[Leadership]
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The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, has ordered a clampdown on vehicles plying the roads with single or no plate numbers across the nation’s capital.
He also directed the arrest and prosecution of defaulters.
In a statement on Saturday by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, Igweh also warned car dealers against parking their vehicles in an unauthorised parking lot and driving beyond the stipulated time.
Adeh stated that the CP said defaulters would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The statement partly read, “The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, has given a marching order that vehicles plying the roads with a single or no number plate should be impounded, with the driver arrested and prosecuted. Also, he warns car dealers against parking their vehicles in an unauthorised parking lot and driving beyond the stipulated time, which is 6 pm., as defaulters will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Adeh noted that the command had observed motorists and car dealers driving cars with single or no plate numbers beyond the stipulated time.
She added that cases of “one chance” operators in the FCT had been linked to the practice, urging motorists and dealers to desist from such acts.
Adeh said, “The FCT Police Command has observed with serious concern how motorists and car dealers drive around the territory with single or no number plates and car dealers beyond the stipulated time, which is 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Section 25 (5) of the Federal Capital Territory Road Transport Regulation Act, 2005.
“It is no news that several recorded cases of armed robbery, popularly known as ‘one chance,’ are mostly associated with vehicles with single or no number plates. This unlawful act has pricked the attention of the populace, who have now begun to question the effectiveness of the police in addressing the menace.
“Also, he reiterates that in the effort to ensure the safety and security of residents of FCT, no motorists or car dealers who come in conflict with the substantive laws with be spared.”
[Punch]
Widespread violent protests in Kenya last week, instigated by attempts by the government to pass a new finance bill that would entail tax increases on some basic items illustrate vividly the delicate relationship among democratic governance, economic crisis, perceived corruption, deepening poverty and political stability in several African countries. The government of President William Ruto had won general elections in Kenya in 2022 and assumed power with a promise to uplift the lives of the poor and improve existential conditions for millions of the people. As is often the case, however, when actual performance of newly elected governments does not match the rhetoric of election campaigns, the Ruto administration was confronted with the grim realities of severe fiscal constraints, huge debts and the resultant incapacity to immediately begin to deliver on its mandate.
Indeed, the grim economic realities forced the government, last year, to utilise the financial bill to introduce a housing tax while also raising top personal income tax rate to the displeasure of large segments of the populace who resorted to open expression of anger, street protests and even in some instances, to court challenges of the government policies.
An attempt by the government to utilise the 2024 finance bill, which is usually presented to parliament before the commencement of a new fiscal year that spans from July to June, to expand the scope of new taxes, was responsible for the descent to chaos in no less than 35 of the 47 counties in the country where violence erupted. The public was responding to the passage by parliament of the financial bill, which raised taxes on items such as bread, vegetable oil, sugar as well as a new motor vehicle circulation tax fixed at 2.5 per cent of the value of a car to be paid annually. Also included in the new law was an “eco levy” on specified manufactured goods including sanitary towels and diapers, in addition to an increase in existing taxes on financial transactions.
Initial reactions of anger at these policies perceived as most likely to compound the already dire economic circumstances of millions of Kenyans were expressed on social media but soon exploded into violent protests on the streets. The angry citizens were apparently not persuaded by the government’s rationalisation that it had to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit and state borrowing. Moreover, confronted with liquidity challenges and difficulties in raising funds from financial markets, the Kenyan government had sought for help from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the latter insisting that the government raise more revenue through taxes before it could offer more funding.
The international financial institutions are urging the government to cut deficits, to obtain more funding while long-suffering citizens are protesting against economic difficulties. These technicalities understandably made little sense to large numbers of protesters, who forced their way into the parliamentary assembly complex after breaking the fence, harassed the legislators, tore up flags and made away with the ceremonial mace.
Later, other groups of demonstrations dressed in black T-shirts and reflectors attacked a night club, called Timba XO in Eldoret, reportedly owned by a member of parliament who is a close ally of President Ruto, destroying the property and looting alcohol. In a similar vein, another group of youths was reported to have overpowered security agents and invaded Chieni Supermarket in Nyeri town, which is linked to another member of parliament, Njoroge Wainana. These obviously targeted attacks against the properties of members of the legislature held responsible for what is seen as ‘punitive’ new taxes indicate that the people are sensitive to the perceived wide gulf between the standard of living of most members of the political class and the majority of the poor citizenry. Unfortunately, this is a scenario that is not limited to Kenya but is replicated in many African countries.
A 2023 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), indicates that about 30 per cent of the country’s citizens are unable to meet their food needs, with more rural than urban citizens living in hunger. It is estimated that one in every 17 Kenyans lives in abject poverty and a population of 2,879,000 classified as living in “hardcore/extreme poverty”. No less disturbing is the report on the situation of inequality in Kenya with less than 0.1 per cent of the population (8,300 people) owning more wealth than 99.9 per cent (44 million people). These statistics on poverty and inequality are generally reflective of what prevails across Africa, which makes the opulence in which members of the political class on the continent live even more scandalous and unjustifiable.
It is unfortunate that no less than 23 persons were reportedly killed and several others wounded in the confrontation between the police and the protesters. Even as we condemn the resort to violence by the protesters, law enforcement agencies, again not only in Kenya but across Africa, must learn to be more even-handed in handling such situations, to ameliorate both loss of lives and injuries.
Exhibiting commendable sensitivity to the feelings of the public on the contentious finance bill, President Ruto in a nationwide broadcast said he would not sign the controversial legislation into law. According to him, “Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said that they want nothing to do with the finance bill 2024, I concede. And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn”.
Beyond this, the President promised that he would start a dialogue with Kenyan youths and work on austerity measures, beginning with cuts to the budget of the presidency to help tackle the fiscal deficit. This surely is the way to go. If people in various African countries see their leaders and public officers showing the example in prudent, austere and disciplined lifestyles, it will be easier to convince them to tighten their belts and make sacrifices for the public good.
It has been reported that, despite President Ruto’s concession to the protesters, some of the latter are adamant and want the demonstrations to continue until the government collapses. This would be a most unwise course of action. For one, it may most probably engender a more than proportionate use of responsive force by government that could escalate tensions and cause further fatalities. Again, the protesters must be wary of not creating an environment for anti-democratic elements to derail the democratic system that gives the citizens the rights and opportunities to demonstrate against government policies in the first instance. Democratic governance provides for limited tenures for incumbents in power, and those who desire political change can always express their will through the ballot box in the next elections.
[TheNation]
A new data of comparative analysis of Nigeria’s three biggest music stars, Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid has surfaced online with Wizkid edging both Davido and Burna Boy.
Instructively, the estimates and figures used in the analysis are based on publicly available data and may not be entirely accurate.
Based on the numbers, Wizkid appears to have a slight edge over Davido and Burna Boy in terms of streaming numbers, concert revenue, and endorsement deals. However, Davido’s album sales and social media following are impressive.
Burna Boy’s Grammy win and critical acclaim for his albums suggest a strong artistic reputation. Ultimately, determining who is the “bigger” celebrity depends on individual criteria for success.
Here’s a comprehensive comparative analysis of Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy’s numbers:
Streaming Numbers:
– Davido: 4.5 billion streams on Spotify, 2.5 billion views on YouTube
– Wizkid: 6.5 billion streams on Spotify, 3.5 billion views on YouTube
– Burna Boy: 2.5 billion streams on Spotify, 1.5 billion views on YouTube
Concert Revenue:
– Davido: Sold out shows at O2 Arena (London), Accor Arena (Paris), and Barclays Center (New York) with average ticket prices ranging from $50-$100
– Wizkid: Sold out shows at O2 Arena (London), Rogers Arena (Vancouver), and Brooklyn Steel (New York) with average ticket prices ranging from $60-$120
– Burna Boy: Sold out shows at O2 Academy (London), Fillmore (Miami), and Terminal 5 (New York) with average ticket prices ranging from $30-$70
Earnings from Endorsement Deals:
– Davido: Estimated $1 million – $2 million per deal (MTN, Guinness, Pepsi)
– Wizkid: Estimated $2 million – $3 million per deal (Pepsi, Nike, Cîroc)
– Burna Boy: Estimated $500,000 – $1 million per deal (Star Lager, Glo, Pepsi)
Album Sales:
– Davido: “A Better Time” (2020) – 100,000+ units sold in the US, certified gold by RIAA
– Wizkid: “Made in Lagos” (2020) – 200,000+ units sold in the US, certified platinum by RIAA
– Burna Boy: “Twice As Tall” (2020) – 50,000+ units sold in the US, certified silver by RIAA
Awards and Recognition:
– Davido: 2 BET Awards, 2 MTV Africa Music Awards, 1 MOBO Award
– Wizkid: 1 Grammy Award, 3 BET Awards, 4 MTV Africa Music Awards
– Burna Boy: 1 Grammy Award, 2 BET Awards, 3 MTV Africa Music Awards
Social Media:
– Davido: 20 million followers on Instagram, 5 million on Twitter
– Wizkid: 25 million followers on Instagram, 6 million on Twitter
– Burna Boy: 10 million followers on Instagram, 2 million on Twitter
Net Worth:
– Davido: Estimated $20 million – $30 million
Wizkid: Estimated $30 million – $40 million
Burna Boy: Estimated $10 million – $20 million.
[Vanguard]
The death toll in the suicide bombings in Gwoza LGA of Borno state has risen to 18.
Barkindo Saidu, director-general of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the figure to NAN on Sunday.
Saidu said the victims comprise adult males, females and children.
TheCable had reported that the victims were returning from a wedding ceremony on Saturday when the first suicide bomber detonated an explosive near a motor park.
Another bomber, disguised as a mourner, also detonated an explosive as residents were preparing for the burial of those killed in the first attack.
Saidu said “19 people” were seriously injured in the attacks while 23 others are waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) clinic.
“I am now coordinating for a chopper tonight. I have mobilised emergency drugs to complement the shortage of drugs in Gwoza,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“The degree of injuries range from abdominal raptures, skull and limb fractures.
“I have also received a report that there is a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka,” Saidu said.
The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA in the wake of the attacks.
[TheCable]