Muhammadu Sanusi II, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has commended the Federal Government for making tough decisions, stating that such actions are essential to salvage the country's economy, which has been mismanaged for a decade.
Delivering his keynote speech at the second day of the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, Sanusi said the reform of any economy required taking difficult decisions.
He said such decisions might be painful and unpopular but were necessary to save the future of those experiencing the temporary hardship.
Sanusi said politicians interested in reflections were always fond of running away from taking such difficult decisions and called on Nigerians to be realistic about their expectations.
Insisting that there was no other way to salvage a decade of mismanaged economy apart from taking tough decisions, the former CBN boss advised the citizens to wait a little while to see the turnaround of the economy.
Sanusi said: “At this momentum in our history when the country is desperate to chart a new course in economic thinking opting for a paradigm shift that seeks to harness our vast potential and propel us towards sustainable growth and prosperity, the decision to centre government around economic development and investment promotion is a very thoughtful and brave decision by the government of Rivers State.
“This is more so because the reform of an economy whether of a state or a federation at large requires difficult decisions. It involves policies that may be painful and unpopular which don’t usually go down well with politicians who need a reelection.
“But that is the only way to guarantee a better future for same people it will be hard upon. And at this point it is important for us as Nigerians to be realistic. The mismanagement of the last ten years will not be undone in six months or one year.
“And we need to understand that some of the difficult decisions that are taken will take time to work through the economy. It will take a little while for us to see a turnaround. But those decisions are absolutely necessary in order to save the economy.
“We always knew we have to go through this process if we did not change course. And we have seen this movie in Zimbabwe. We have seen it in Venezuela.
“We have seen it in Argentina and it is a movie we do not want to be part of. I do hope that we will make this transition a short one and go back to economic growth. But it is the right thing to do”.
Sanusi said as the second largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos, Rivers State had a big opportunity to emerge as a beacon of progress in the face of hopelessness by building a resilient dynamic modern and effective system that fostered economic development and prosperity.
He said: “With rich arable land, abundant oil and water resources as well as the strategic location of the state, Rivers can be one of the investor’s paradises not just in Nigeria but in West Africa if the right things can be done.
“The recent boom in mechanised agriculture, international trade, transportation, tourism, real estate and ICT that are being witnessed in the state are evident that development is not too lofty a dream to achieve and they are testament that Rivers is ripe for investment and growth”.
The Emir, however, contended that sustainable development could only happen through deep thinking, deliberate and strategic actions as well as the political will to perform and achieve it .
He said: “Rivers is blessed with abundant resources. However sitting on oil or any natural resource is not enough for economic development. I have said that if we are to dig out all the oil that is under Nigeria soil and sell it and share the money among all Nigerians, we will at best be a lower medium income country.
“Oil is a resource but not enough to make us a wealthy country. To achieve development it is important we take some specific steps that transcend natural resources, to diversify and institutionalise foundational economic frameworks. To fully reap the blessings of oil itself chiefly because it is not wholly controlled by the state there is a need to consider its viability and risks.
“To ensure a prosperous future, we must embrace innovation and reforms to make the state attractive for investment and capable of realistic growth. It is the capacity of state institutions to ensure quality in thinking and skills of the population that will be critical to the delivery of results.
“Japan and Singapore do not have any mineral resources neither do Germany, Switzerland, Australia or Rwanda to give a few examples. By no means however, will anyone compare the standard of living, life expectancy or any other development benchmark in these countries with most of the countries with plentiful mineral resources such as Nigeria.
“Again, despite having abundant of mineral resources countries like Russia, the UAE, Norway and others have developed not only by those resources given to them by nature or providence but by successful and deliberate vision to diversify through the quality of their governance, institutions and people”.
Sanusi maintained that resources could be a blessing or a curse but said the choice belonged to the leaders insisting that the leaders we had were the curse and not the oil.
Sanusi said: “Human capital and good governance are why countries that are complex in their characteristics such as India, Brazil, China and the USA have developed through innovation, intellectual property education and strong public institutions.
“If we are serious about development we have to stop expecting oil to do everything for us. Everyone in Nigeria talks about investment, infrastructure and development. But few actually considered that no investors will simply deploy resources in the name of investment unless they see that the environment is prepared to accommodate their business, make it proper and protect it.
“Capitalism does not flourish and create wealth for everyone by the number of bridges and office edifices that the government built but by strong fiscal and trade institutions that create a level playing field and incentives to ease business.
“Your roads and bridges will eventually decay and you have to either borrow to build new ones or become helpless. With an easy business environment and a skilled population, economies have transformed and grown to mega cities”.
The Emir said it was not enough to want to bring investors or achieve economic development in Rivers without laying the requisite foundations for the economy.
He said Rivers must develop required human capital, design education and skilled training that were for for the century.
Sanusi said: ”We have to lay some foundations for the economy to stand on. For this we must emphasise human capital and design education and skilled training that are fit for this century such that the IOCs for example don’t have to bring expatriates to work on their offshore and onshore.
“The state education system should create a skilled population that is fit for the requirements of any investor to safeguard employment of your citizens. The standards of the civil service have to implement investor friendly policies that will attract and regulate these investments.
“The judiciary must be independent and judges must be seen to rise above any suspicion of corruption. The laws should be such as to protect investments and our taxation system should not be an extortional system”.
In his recommendations to prepare the ground for investment, Sanusi asked the state government to Invest in the people saying that Rivers needed robust education and skilled training programme aimed to prepare the youths to be the future workforce.
“You need innovators and entrepreneurs that will supply services across all value chains and industries, and it is important to raise the quality of schools by investing in teaching capacity, learning tools and pedology that will nurture a culture of creativity and problem solving.
“It is critically important to invest in vocational training and apprenticeship to close education gap, aligning with the needs of our economy”, he said
He said the state must carry out institutional reforms to foster a business friendly environment adding that Rivers must evolve an efficient legal and judicial system as well as invest massively in strategic infrastructures.
Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who earlier spoke at a cocktail party at the Banquet Hall on Wednesday night vowed to sustain the drive at mobilising critical stakeholders with attractive investment portfolios in the business community to join forces with his administration to chart an economic growth trajectory of the state.
Fubara told the captains of businesses that the economic summit would provide salient data that would assist his administration to draw up economic roadmap for the state.
…says Justice Ministry got 235 judgements, 250 convictions
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Friday, disclosed that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration faced a total of 625 court cases in the past 12 months.
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The AGF, who made the revelation when he presented the scorecard of the Federal Ministry of Justice as part of activities to mark the first year of Tinubu’s administration, said the legal actions were instituted before States, Federal and ECOWAS Court.
He said the Ministry had after it was served with copies of the suits, responded accordingly, stressing that effective justice system is measured not only by the number of cases that were successfully disposed of, but by strategic measures that were adopted to avoid litigation.
According to the AGF, using a combination of effective defence strategies to cases, arbitration, mediation and diligent prosecution of appeal cases, the Ministry succeeded in saving the country from huge debt liabilities.
He said: “In the reporting period, a total of 625 (Six Hundred and Twenty-Five) cases instituted against the President, Federal Government and its Agencies, before States, Federal and ECOWAS Court were served and responded by the Ministry.
“The Ministry also received and treated 593 requests for legal advice and Petitions from May 2023 till date.
“In all, the Ministry obtained 235 judgements from May, 2023 to date,” he added.
Besides, the AGF further disclosed that through prosecution, the Ministry secured 160 convictions for criminal offences, 87 convictions for terrorism cases, 3 novel convictions for extremist terrorism actors involved in the radicalization of children and violence against women.
“I am pleased to report that following the Ministry’s intervention for the upgrade of facilities designated for trial of terrorism cases, the Ministry has resumed trials of terrorism cases in conjunction with the Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights Commission and other stakeholders.
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“The percentages of Terrorism Cases initiated and Corruption Cases concluded within the reporting period has been significant.”
Fagbemi, SAN, said the Justice Ministry, in furtherance of President Tinubu’s priority of improving governance for effective service delivery, made concerted and collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders in the justice sector which culminated in significant gains and achievements.
“Within the period, the Ministry vetted/reviewed 485 Contracts and PPP Projects to ensure value for money, eliminate corruption and ensure adequate protection of FGN investments.
“A total of 574 Legal Opinions were also proffered during the reporting period.”
On some of the recoveries that were made, the AGF, said the Asset Sharing Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Bailiwick of Jersey was signed in February, 2024 for the return of £2,125,944 proceeds of corruption.
“This has been approved by the President to be utilized for continuation of works on the Abuja-Kano Road project.
“The Ministry on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on April 25, 2024 concluded negotiation of a Settlement Agreement with Glencore International A.G. wherein Glencore is expected to pay the sum of $50 million USD as penalty and compensation for certain activities in Nigeria,” he added.
Reeling out some of the activities and achievements of agencies under the Ministry of Justice, the AGF, said the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, NLRC, is working with the Ministry in reviewing legal instruments that were affected by the recommendations of the Oronsanye Committee report and white papers on restructuring and rationalization of the Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions, 2012 and 2022, respectively.
Noting that the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, through ongoing advocacy and collaboration efforts, handled a total of 2,849,203 complaints from the public on various human rights issues, the AGF, said the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, secured 65 convictions comprising 57 perpetrators of human trafficking and 8 offenders who were prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Act.
“The Agency also rescued 1,600 victims of human trafficking, out of which 340 victims were empowered with various skill acquisitions, with 90 victims enrolled in school for educational empowerment.”
Whereas the National Legal Aid Council, according to the AGF, handled 5,081 number of cases involving indigent citizens, from May 2023 to April, 2024, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the past 11 months, recorded seizure of approximately 959,917.30 kg of illicit drugs, arrested 13,798 suspected drug traffickers, and secured the conviction of 3,247 drug offenders.
“A total of 7,586 individuals with drug abuse problem were counselled, while 1,337 others were successfully rehabilitated, reflecting the Agency’s dedication to providing holistic care and support for affected individuals.
“Additionally, over 3,188 public enlightenment programmes were conducted to raise awareness in schools, places of work, worship centres, markets, motor parks and communities about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking,” the AGF stated.
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi is “unfit” to lead Nigeria.
Soyinka stated in an interview with Noble Eyisi on Thursday.
Recall that Obi finished third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.
Soyinka said he hopes that Obi does not vie for the presidency in the 2027 election.
He said, “I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader, if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers.
“I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces,” he added.
The Nobel prize winner added that dishonest political leaders are encouraging the “divisive actions of the group.”
He said “one of these days, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson”.
Soyinka said, “It has to do with education. I didn’t read all these insults from Obidients but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were being manufactured.
“I know that there is a relay mechanism, which is triggered into action by those who control what we call the trolls of the internet, and so my disgust and contempt.
“I just went about my business, you know, because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks they can stop me telling the truth as I see it needs to have his or her head examined. It’s as elementary as that.
“But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, that kind of attitude in the youth.
“And my mind went to the expression: ‘They don’t know what they’re doing’. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.
“One of these days, they would be astonished, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.
“And so, my attitude was very blasé but it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-textured (society) — different religions, different ethnic groups, different worldviews — who actually want to preside over such a group as one.
“It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity.”
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka has again taken a swipe at the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, who he says is ‘’unfit'' to rule Nigeria.
In a recent interview, Soyinka claimed that Obi encouraged his followers addressed as ‘Obidients’ to attack him and others with opposing views online in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
When asked what he thinks about the movement, he said;
“It has to do with education. I didn’t read all these (insults by Obidient Movement) but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were ‘being manufactured’.
“When I read these things, I was disgusted. There’s no other word for it. I really was disgusted and I know that it was orchestrated.
“I know that there is a relay mechanism, which is triggered into action by those who control what we call the trolls of the Internet, and so my disgust and contempt. I just went about my business, you know, because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks they can stop me telling the truth as I see it needs to have his or her head examined. It’s as elementary as that.
“But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, that kind of attitude in the youth. And my mind went to the expression, ‘They don’t know what they’re doing’. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.
“One of these days, they would be astonished, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson. And so, my attitude was very blasé and it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead multi-textured (society)- different religions, different ethnic groups, different worldviews - who actually want to preside over such a group as one. It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity.”
Speaking further, Soyinka added;
“I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers.”'
'I won’t vacate office on June 16, If dem born you well, show your face' - Rivers LG Chairman dares governor Fubara
AFOLABI
The Chairman, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, has dared governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying he will not vacate his office at the end of his tenure on June 16.
Nwanosike directly addressed the state governor in a video, stating his intention to remain in office beyond the stipulated date.
He cited an extension of tenure by state lawmakers under the leadership of Martin Amaghule as justification due to the state government’s failure to conduct local government elections.
Nwanosike asserted that he would continue in his role and warned that the people of Ikwerre LG would resist any attempt to remove him from office.
He declared, “Let them come and try to remove me if they dare. The countdown begins—23 more days to go.”
He added, “Who are you to say Martins Amaewhule is not the Rivers House of Assembly Speaker? If Amaewhule says that because the governor of Rivers State failed in his duty to conduct local government elections.
“And that, I, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, whose tenure by the oath of office I took and the certificate of return I was issued when I contested my second tenure election should remain in office. So shall we remain in the office in Rivers State!
“We are sending a message to those who are threatening them to wear their jeans – do like this, don’t do like that. We don’t wear jeans in Ikwere local government. We wear white, we tie wrapper we wear Ogbakata. Come and disobey the law, we will wait for you. The law of Nigeria is the law passed by Martin Amaewhule. If dem born you well, show your face. Thank you.”
“Don’t do anything to my baby you are carrying” – AY Makun tells BBNaija’s Alex amid pregnancy claims
AFOLABI
Comedian AY Makun has finally addressed the swirling rumors that he is expecting a child with BBNaija ex-housemte Alex Unusual, setting the internet ablaze.
The rumors, which spread like wildfire, alleged that AY and Alex were having an affair and that she was pregnant with his child. These claims surfaced shortly after AY and his wife, Mabel Makun, publicly came out clean their marital issues.
Following an extended break from social media, Alex Unusual broke her silence in a compelling video posted on her page.
Although she didn’t directly confront the rumors, her response was anything but subtle. In a clever and sophisticated manner, Alex indirectly dismissed the allegations, underscoring the importance of facts over fiction.
The BBNaija star went a step further by reciting Nigeria’s cybersecurity laws, reminding everyone of the legal repercussions of spreading false information online.
In a swift and unexpected move, AY Makun ignited a social media storm by dropping a bombshell comment on Alex Unusual’s post.
He cheekily instructed Alex to take good care of “his baby” she was rumored to be carrying, alluding to the swirling rumors. Adding a razor-sharp edge to his remark, he mentioned that they must entertain the idle minds concocting these fabrications online.
Ay wrote;
“Above all. Please don’t do anything to my baby that you are carrying. We must entertain all the jobless people on social media”
SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW
This comes in the wake of an unconfirmed report by gossip blog Gistlover, alleging that Alex Unusual was carrying AY Makun’s baby, had a miscarriage, and then became pregnant again.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos State, has adjourned the child custody proceedings between Queen Mercy Oyekanmi and Promise Anagbogu, aka Lord Lamba, to July 18 for hearing.
This comes after the skitmaker allegedly failed to show up in court on Thursday, May 23.
It was gathered that his lawyer, who was also absent, sent a representative, who told the court she had no idea why the skitmaker was a no-show.
According to a source:
“Today was the court hearing and Queen was there but her baby daddy didn’t show up. His lawyer didn’t come; instead, he sent his assistant to represent him. Because he didn’t appear in court, his lawyer requested a new date, so it was adjourned to 18th of July for hearing.”
It was earlier alleged that Lord Lamba filed a child custody petition without giving Queen Mercy Atang’s notice.
Allegedly, the matter had been presided upon twice, without Queen Mercy Atang’s knowledge. Upon investigation by her Lawyers, Queen Mercy Atang was made aware of the court date, and Lord Lamba didn’t show up.
The drama between Lord Lamba and Queen Mercy Atang first unfolded, when she made the news of her engagement public.
Shortly after Queen Mercy Atang’s engagement announcement, Lord Lamba posted pictures of himself and their daughter on Instagram, for the first time ever since she was born in 2022.
Lord Lamba’s post raised a lot of brows, with netizens calling him out for being jealous over Queen Mercy Atang’s engagement.
After he made the post featuring his daughter, Queen Mercy Atang posted a skit featuring herself and Nasty Blaq. The storyline of the skit looked similar to her current situation, and this left netizens baffled.
The drama with Lord Lamba didn’t stop Queen Mercy Atang from marrying her U.K based husband. It was a huge hit in the media, and it had a lot of coverage on social media.
During her wedding, a lot of BBNaija alums showed up and supported her. It was a glamorous all-white event that featured a lot of reality television stars.
The huge show out during her wedding proved just how much influence Queen Mercy Atang held in her hands.
Despite the fact that she’s influential, the drama with Lord Lamba is one of her first and only public spats. Queen Mercy Atang has maintained a low profile that has kept her out of trouble.
Grammy award-winning singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has revealed the reason behind the delayed release of her debut album.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, Tems shared that a “serious illness” caused her to postpone the scheduled release of her debut album in 2021.
According to her, the illness led to her undergoing surgery and six months of recovery, forcing her to put her album on hold.
Instead of her debut album, Tems stated that she decided to release her sophomore extended play, ‘If Orange Was a Place’.
She revealed that during her recovery journey, she found inspiration for her new music, describing it as a reflection of embracing life as a warrior.
Tems said:
“Being a warrior is about not giving up,” she said. “Even if they cut your leg, you walk on your knees, you fight on your knees using what you have — and that’s good enough.”
Tems’ much-anticipated debut album, ‘Born In The Wild’, is set to drop on June 7.
In addition to her album release, Tems will also kick off her first headline world tour in June.
In another story, South African singer, Tyla reveals how Tems opened doors of global recognition for African female artists.
In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh UK, Tyla confessed that collaborating with Tems on her debut album was an absolute delight, citing Tems’ extraordinary talent and great energy.
According to Tyla, Collaborating with Tems was an incredible experience, noting that her talent knows no bounds.
She said:
“Working with Tems is amazing. She is so talented. She is literally a force. I’m so honoured to have worked with her. She has opened so many doors for us (young African female artists).”
Tyla and Tems joined forces on the hit single “Number 1” from Tyla’s self-titled debut album, released earlier this month.
Tyla gushed about their collaboration, saying, “We made such a beautiful song with such a beautiful message. It is a song for the girls and it is made by the girls.”
Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie has once again voiced her discontent, this time targeting actresses involved in amorous relationships with married men.
Through a series of Instagram story posts, she hinted at revealing names of actresses who sleep with married men and still have the guts to drop comments on their wives’ pages.
Angela, who has faced criticism for her outspoken nature, stated that she’s often misunderstood and unfairly maligned.
She urged her followers to be patient as she prepares to expose the truth and dismantle what she describes as the “stronghold of the devil.”
Having previously criticized fellow actors, Zubby Michael and Mercy Johnson, Angela claimed she possesses substantial evidence against them and others.
She confidently asserted that they cannot challenge her due to the proof she holds.
In her words:
“All this actresses self una Dey sleep with people husbands still Dey comment for the wife page. I don’t know how y’all do it but realness no go gree me live that kind life kaiii. I Dey come first I won go chop basmati rice first.
“Y’all might think I like trouble but this muderfu*kers been given me bad name for a long time,evil, atrocities,hate, Lies Have been done unto me. So this period make una manage me cos I am ready to pull down every strong holds of the devil
“Zubby no fit deny anything or mercy J Proof yakpa I no kuku send anybody. Their left yansh their nonsense people.”
Refer to her posts below:
Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of Kano has expressed his revulsion at the abject lack of developmental goals, foresight and nationalistic consciousness among Nigerian politicians.
He noted that the leaders have become a thing of a curse to Nigerians seeing how they can’t harness the rich extractable minerals Nigeria is endowed with by nature for the betterment of the people.
Sanusi expressed his dissatisfaction with the troubling and parlous State of the nation and the uninspiring mentality of Nigerian politicians when he spoke at the 2024 Rivers State Economic Summit.
He explained that human capacity development is key to Nigeria’s economic development, noting that the country’s crude oil is not a curse but the leaders are.
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According to him, to achieve development, it is necessary to recognise the need to take some specific steps that transcends natural resources to diversify and institutionalise the foundation of the economic framework.
Sanusi said Nigeria could not depend solely on oil to grow its economy and ensure its prosperity.
“I have said it over again: if we are to take all the oil in Nigeria, sell it and share the money among all Nigerians, we will be a lower-income country. So, oil is a resource but not enough to make us a wealthy country,” he said. “Japan and Singapore do not have any minerals, neither do Germany, Australia, or Rwanda, just to mention a few examples. By no means can anybody compare the standard of living and life expectancy of any other developed benchmark in these countries to that of Nigeria.”
Sanusi added, “In spite of having an abundance of mineral resources, countries like Russia, the UAE, and Norway, among others, have developed not only by those resources given to them by nature or providence but successful and deliberate vision to diversify through the quality of their governance institutions and people.
“Resources can be a blessing, and resources can be a curse. The choice is left to the leaders. Oil is not a curse. The curse is the leader. We have the choice to make it a curse or a blessing. The choice that you made is yours.”
According to Sanusi, human capital and good governance are why countries with complex characteristics, such as India, Brazil, China and the U.S. have developed through innovation, intellectual property, education and strong public institutions.
Sanusi said Nigeria must invest in renewable energy.
“This is to ensure sustainable and reliable energy sources driving industrial growth, especially with the current electricity act that empowers states to generate and distribute electricity,” Mr Sanusi said
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Chief Olabode George, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed deep concerns about the state of Nigeria, stating that the country’s fortunes plummeted under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
George, noting that one year is too short to evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urged the President to communicate the nation’s true status transparently. Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, George criticized successive governments for failing to address the country’s issues.
“This crisis became complicated between 2015 and 2023 during the administration of my oga President Muhammadu Buhari. The Nigerian state almost collapsed because many Nigerians will agree that that eight-year era was probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960 when we got our independence,” he emphasized.
George expressed dissatisfaction with those blaming the current administration for the nation’s woes, arguing that one year is insufficient to judge Tinubu’s performance.
“Pitiably, some Nigerians have resorted to a blame game. We must be careful in this country because Nigeria is not for any individual, group, or region. Nigeria belongs to everybody. It is through cooperation and unanimity of purpose that we can lift the country up. They are now blaming the Bola Tinubu administration, which has spent about one year in office,” he said.
However, he called on Tinubu to revamp his economic team, citing the deteriorating standard of living due to high living costs.
“Tinubu should also come out and tell Nigerians the true position of things in the country. This is not the time to play party or regional politics. Nigerians have suffered enough, and they want fast results. Nigerians are also saying loud and clear that the skewed political power structure constitutes a huge hindrance to national development,” he added.
George stressed the need for true federalism, arguing that the concentration of political power hinders national progress and stifles individual state growth and development.
“This is the time to listen to the voice of reason because real progress lies in true federalism and good governance. We have been operating this constitution since 1999, which has taken us nowhere. It is only a fool who will be doing the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result,” he concluded.
In an assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office, a one-time member of the House of Representatives and elder statesman, Dr Usman Bugaje, accused the administration of lack of progress in addressing the nation’s pressing issues.
During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Bugaje was asked about the government’s decision to mark Tinubu’s first year in office with a low-key approach, without any fanfare.
In his response, Bugaje said, “Well, as Citizens and as people who have been in government, clearly the last one year has been a tragedy, simple. There is not one problem they have been able to solve, so I cannot see any other than low-key.”
Bugaje attributed the low-key approach to the administration’s recognition of the public’s frustration and anger.
“I mean, I give them the sense that they are feeling the pressure, they can see the faces of Nigerians and so perhaps they trying to see how can they assuage this anger because the people are angry,” he said.
Expressing concern over the government’s inability to address the country’s challenges, Bugaje stated, “Since this Administration came one year ago, I’ve not seen one problem that they have solved. If anything, the policies they started with have created far more problems than they found, and in this one year, they are clearly groping in the dark without very clear [direction].”
Bugaje emphasised the need for the administration to seek help from experienced individuals, regardless of their political affiliations.
“This is the time really to admit and to then seek help from those who know, and Nigeria is full of people with the experience with the expertise, they may not be in your party, they may not even be in politics, but this is the way many countries have been able to get out of the problem they have found themselves,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of measurable metrics in evaluating governance, Bugaje expressed disappointment and accused the government of a lack of a baseline established.
“We as a nation should have by now developed metrics for evaluating governance. In the academic cycle, there are, and there are statistics. Every government should have come up with a baseline. After one year, they will be able to say scientifically this is the production in terms of Agriculture, what we found in 2023, and this last season we have improved by a number of metric tons. In the field of security, these are the figures we would have improved.”
Bugaje cited the recent kidnapping of 20 people in Dawaki, an estate in Abuja, as a reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the country’s capital, questioning the government’s ability to ensure the safety of its citizens.
“So my point is really what I’ve had so far are empty rhetorics that have not spoken to the problems on the ground,” Bugaje noted.
He further called for tangible solutions and a willingness from the government to seek assistance from experienced individuals outside the government’s circles.
On Tuesday, about 20 residents of Dawaki, a community near Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, were kidnapped.
The attackers were said to have raided houses on Frank Opara Street before security operatives responded to distress calls.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has declared that ‘exploitative’ hikes in the prices of commodities are illegal in Nigeria, reiterating its commitment to protecting consumer rights and maintaining fair market practices.
This is as the Commission also launched an investigation into the recent hikes in the prices of commodities in Bauch State with a view to identify and address unfair practices affecting consumers.
Speaking at a market survey at the Muda Lawal Market, the Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, said a survey carried out in market places showed that the food chain and distribution sector, including wholesalers and retailers, are allegedly engaged in conspiracy, price gouging, hoarding and other unfair tactics.
He condemned the acts, adding that the development has contributed to a rise in the cost of living.
“We are engaging market associations, traders and customers so we can know the factors affecting the prices of goods. At the end, we will address uncompetitive and make recommendations to the Federal Government,” he said.
Abdullahi, who was represented by the FCCPC coordinator for North East Zone, Dauda Waja Ahmadu, added that “FCCPC’s surveillance efforts suggest participants in the food chain and distribution sector including wholesalers and retailers are allegedly engaged in conspiracy, price gouging, hoarding and other unfair tactics to restrict or distort competition in the market, restrict the supply of food, manipulate and inflate the price of food in an indiscriminate manner. These obnoxious, unscrupulous, exploitative practices are illegal under the FCCPA.”
According to him, FCCPC has been engaging in fact-finding interactions with traders’ associations and marketers to ascertain factors responsible for the continuous hike in food prices.
He stated further that the fact-finding inquiry is an investigative mission to gather information directly from the sources and stakeholders in major markets, particularly executives, market unions, sellers and consumers.
“The Commission’s priority remains to unlock the markets and address key consumer protection and competition issues affecting the prices of commodities in the food sector,” he said.
He said after the market survey, the Commission would develop “a concise report of its inquiry and make recommendations to the government in accordance with Section 17(b) of the FCCPA and initiate broad based policies and review economic activities in Nigeria to identify and address anti-competitive, anti-consumer protection and restrictive practices to make markets more competitive while also ensuring fair pricing for consumers.”
Meanwhile, traders at the Muda Lawal Market have attributed the recent hike in commodity prices to their suppliers, pointing to increased wholesale costs as the primary cause.
The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Thursday, said a lot of first class graduates can’t get a job because they lack the right skills.
Sanusi recalled telling Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State that he has hundreds of Curriculum Vitae, CVs, of first class students who lack requisite skills.
He spoke at the ongoing Rivers Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.
According to Sanusi: “The key to economic development is human capital. Investing in people is paramount. Rivers State needs robust education and skills training programmes that essentially aim to prepare youths to be the future for us.
“I was speaking to the governor today, telling him that I’m sure he, as I do, and all of us, have hundreds of CVs of young people who have first class degrees.
“Unfortunately, they cannot do anything to get a formal job because they have not been equipped with the right skills for this economy.”
The just reinstated Emir of Kano applauded the governor for seeking to chart a new path for growth and prosperity in the state.
Sanusi said as an oil-rich state, the natural resource was not enough to turn the fortunes of Rivers around but such a feat could be achieved through purposeful leadership.