I read with much appreciation and delight Festus Adebayo’s column on Abati and Davido as Cockroaches. 

I do not know how they did it but the Nigerian Tribune is justifying its longevity by giving our country the gift of great columnists. Every week I read with a sense of satisfaction these Tribune Columnists and feel grateful that the grand era of the Newspaper column has yet to evaporate. Peter Pan, Sad Sam, Ayekoto etc. brought light to darkness. The Tribune columnists flood this present darkness with exhilaration like the experience of the floodlights of Liberty Stadium brought us as children in the 1960s.

But I respond to Festus Adebayo’s thoughtfulness in that piece not as a once upon a time columnist myself but as a worried citizen on the one hand and as a social scientist concerned about the State in post colonial Africa, especially about how the nature of that state prolongs the misery of the poor and vulnerable, and how the world views Africa.

Identity politics and ethnic baiting captured in the metaphors of Cockroaches and ‘cut down the tall trees’ in the run up to Rwanda’s genocide are in my view the result of leadership failure. Why did America become a melting pot and divisive politics make Africa poster child state failure? One Ronald Reagan video tells that story well.

The so called Igbo/Yoruba divide building up, as Adebayo points out, with possibilities of terrible foreboding yet fully appreciated by their champions, is a classic example. I would like to speak to that as one who has been a cockroach in many seasons.

For one born in Kaduna, baptized in Jos, started school in Kano, witnessed the pogrom in Gusau in 1966, and part of the civil war, including the civilian massacre in Asaba in 1967 and 1968, I first got sensitive to the cockroach syndrome as an undergraduate at UNN in 1973/74. My horrific war experience did not raise my sensitivity as much the experience of 1974. May be becoming more mature made that so. 

Seeing all of the other four universities in Nigeria at the time shut down from protests on the anniversary of the Adepeju killing by police at UI, I became part of a group that challenge the SUG calling for action. A few students understandably distraught that they lost three years while colleagues at Unilag, UI, Ife and ABU carried on with their studies, shouted at me ‘you Yoruba boy go and read your book’. I was not a Yoruba boy but a citizen who placed a premium on human solidarity. 

Even with the wounds of the civil war then so fresh the typecasting of people on ethnic lines was nowhere as horrible as it is today. Surely my group of friends which included people like Folu Ayeni the 1974 valedictorian at UNN who many years later founded Tantalizers with his wife Bose, my classmate from High School in Loyola College Ibadan, Gbenga Sadipe, Idiat Adesanya, Ronke Ashaye and even current NAFDAC DG Prof Adeyeye. Did that make me Yoruba. Clearly not. But the experience points to the danger of typecasting people.

Twenty years later the elections of June 12 got annulled. With no thought to the ethnicity of Chief MKO Abiola I rallied professionals with an OpEd piece: We must say Never Again. Public court records suggest I survived two assassination attempts for the effort of the Concerned Professionals. 

Years later I was chatting with a young CEO of a multinational from my part of the country on an unrelated subject when he remarked that he was a final year student in the University when the CP protests took place. He said he was put off by the fact that of the 39 of us that signed a published petition only myself and two or three others were not Yorubas. I had no recollection of how many signed the petition nor had I ever given thought to the ethnicity mix of the protestors. 

Then my classmate from Nsukka Femi Kusa wrote a vitriolic bashing of Igbos. I responded with an expression of my surprise at what I thought was uncharitable ethnic bashing and baiting. That alarmed me to the nature of the poison being concocted.

From my work in political economy I have celebrated what American political scientists Robert Melson and Howard Wolpe called competitive communalism in which ethnic nationality groups competed on who would most bring progress to their regions at the birth of of self government in Nigeria.

It required political leadership to continue to harvest the benefits of Federalism and the competition doctrine without spilling into debilitating dislike for people of other ethnic nationality groups. 

I became acutely sensitive to the fact that political actors were exploiting the emotions of identity politics. This was getting so divisive I feared it would make for a narrative that would make Nigeria unattractive for investment for both Nigerians of some disposition to risk and foreigners.

Opportunities to do something about my concerns kept coming. 

When the Oba of Lagos was said to threaten to drown Igbos if they did not act a certain way and opinions went wild I called for calm as the Oba had no tools to effect such a threat but was probably joking as he often did. 

A few Igbo business men said to me that my intervention calmed nerves and nipped over reaction in the bud. On a visit to the Oba in the palace his daughter reminded him how she told him I saved the day.

Then the Reverend Ladi Thompson came to see me to proselytize his initiative on bringing Igbo and Yoruba elite together to discuss and shake hands. I told him I was chair of the board of trustees of Nzuko Umunna which had organized the Handshake across the Niger summit which brought many Yoruba leaders to Enugu for the first time. His ideas were in tandem and music to my ears. 

I accepted Thompson’s invitation to host the YIGBA meeting at my home in Lagos. And the heavy weights came. From the Yoruba side they included Ptof Akintoye, former Secretary of UPN, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr Christopher Kolade and dozens of other Yoruba prominent people. From the Igbo side came past and future presidents of Ohaneze like Prof Joe Irukwu and Prof George Obiozor, General Ike Nwachukwu and dozens more.

Prof Akitoye set the tone of the conversation by recalling a visit to Chief Obafemi Awolowo just before he passed. He said Chief Awolowo lamented that he did not manage to fix the Yoruba/Igbo rift and that he then charged both him and Chief Olaninwu Ajayi to make that bridging project top priority.

On my part I invited the Distiguished submitters to try reading Jared Diamond on the evolution of human civilization and migration in man’s birth place in Africa. I assured them they would find the Igbos and Yorubas were close cousins and words like those which identify body parts, as language developed, before some migrated further East on the West African coastline would be similar. So the fact that imi in Igbo is imu in Yoruba, enu in Yoruba is onu in Igbo and eti is nti should make these cousins better behave towards each other.

So how did we get here that me, the ‘Yoruba boy’ of yesterday receives a storm of insults from people who have either not read what I have written or interpreted every word from the prism of their bias because they identify me as Igbo.

When I listened to a senior US diplomat who monitored the elections in Lagos in March of 2023 recount his observations and being traumatized by it, two emotions flowed through. One was to think of Dr Michael Okpara and the details of his support for Adegbenro and company during the elections in Western Region and of my own half a century of bridging effort. I decided my time of being verged on waste. All these because a few desire power no matter the cost for sustained social advance, the peace of a people and history’s judgement.

I realize this is not a uniquely Nigerian problem. Jurgen Habermas finds democracy and modernity to converge around rational public conversation but the philosopher of the public sphere can probably see how politicians play emotion in many countries, giving people like Joshua Greene at the Center for Moral Cognition at Harvard much to study about ‘ emotion, reason and the gap between us and them.

Last month I participated in part of the Rwanda Genocide conference at California State University in Sacramento. As I bantered with the Atorney- General of Rwanda I could not but wonder why politicians have not thought it proper to call off the people they have unleashed on social media to spread hate.

The cost may prove devastating for all. The book I am currently working on looks at How politicians underdeveloped Africa. It is to put in perspective Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and not to question the merits of his thesis. Divisive plays on emotion constitute one way the politicians keep us poor. Whether they are conscious of it or not is another matter. 

As a cockroach baited from both sides through many seasons of angst I can feel the looming danger.

Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, is a Political Economist and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership

The entertainment industry in 2024 recorded a series of tragic events, and some celebrities narrowly escaped death, which was most recorded in Nollywood.

In this article, Naija News highlights some celebrities who survived ghastly accidents and recounted the experience on their social media pages.

1. Soso Soberekon: On January 4, the music executive survived a ghastly car accident at Okada University, Edo state, which left his car in bad shape inside the bush.

Due to the intensity of the accident, Sosoberekon’s airbags all burst, and some eyewitnesses claim that the car somersaulted before hitting a tree in a nearby bush.

2. BBNaija Chizzy: In a post via Instagram in January, Big Brother Naija star, Chizzy Francis, revealed that he survived a ghastly car accident.

Recounting his experience, the reality TV star stated that the incident was indeed a fatal one and appreciated God for giving him a second chance.

3. Shallopopi and Israel DMW: In Febuary, Davido’s logistics manager, Israel DMW, and singer, Shallipopi, were involved in a car accident in Abuja.

In an Instagram post, Israel said the crash happened while returning from Shallipopi’s concert in Abuja.

He expressed gratitude to God that neither he nor Shallipopi sustained any injury in the incident.

4. Phyna: Winner of the Big Brother Naija, ‘Level Up’ edition, Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, escaped a kidnapper’s attack in Delta State.

The reality star narrated her experience via social media, revealing how the kidnappers hijacked four cars in front of the vehicle she rode in and abducted the occupants.

5. Zicsaloma: In November, Nigerian skit maker Aloma Isaac Junior, better known as Zicsaloma, expressed gratitude to God in a social media post after he and his team narrowly escaped a disastrous accident at his house.

Zicsaloma shared a video of the aftermath of how a plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling collapsed in his sitting room.

The skit maker stated that no one was injured except for the ceiling fan, which was damaged, adding that one should always get good artisans for building construction.

6. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: A few weeks ago, veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde expressed appreciation to God after serving a life-threatening health scare.

In a post via her Instagram page, the movie star recounted the experience of undergoing emergency surgery after enduring severe back and chest pain, persistent vomiting, and debilitating stomach discomfort.

While describing her recovery process as a ‘fight for her life’, Omotola reflected on the importance of gratitude and the fragility of life, urging his fans and followers to join her in thanksgiving to God.

[NaijaNews]

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has directed its members to strictly operate within the business hours of 8 am to 6 pm or face disciplinary actions.

This follows an earlier important directive issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Security Agency (NSA) to licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operators that their operational business hours must be between 8 am and 6 pm.

This disclosure is contained in a memo titled, ‘CBN’s Directive On Opening and Closing Hours of Business’ issued by ABCON to its members on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, and seen by Nairametrics.

The order by the CBN may not be unconnected by its efforts to address some of the malpractices at the retail end of the forex market and create a transparent and well-regulated system.

Non-compliance will lead to penalties

While stating that the directive is with immediate effect, ABCON in its memo, warned its members that any deviation from these stipulated operating hours will result in sanctions.

• It also advised all licensed BDCs operating in airports across the country to abide by the regulations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on business hours.

The memo from ABCON read, ‘’We wish to bring to your attention on an important directive issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Security Agency (NSA) of the Directive that all licensed Bureaux de Change (BDC) must operate strictly within the operational business hours of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Nigerian time.

‘’This directive is effective immediately, and any deviation from these stipulated operating hours will result in penalties. It is crucial that all members comply with this new regulation to avoid any punitive measures.

‘’The BDCs operating in all airports are advised to abide by the NCAA regulations on Business hours.

‘’We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and expect full adherence to ensure smooth and compliant operations across all BDCs. Thank you for your cooperation.’’

What you should know

The CBN released revised guidelines for the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), signaling a major shake-up in the country’s FX operations.

• The updates, contained in a circular dated November 29, 2024, consolidate all FX windows, redefine the roles of market participants, and introduce stricter compliance and transparency measures.
• This latest move is part of the apex bank’s efforts to address long-standing inefficiencies in the FX market while creating a transparent, well-regulated system.
• A major focus of the revised guidelines requires that all FX transactions be priced through the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), a centralized platform that will also publish daily FX rates for public access.

Also, in the revised CBN guidelines, licensed BDC operators are allowed to purchase foreign exchange directly from authorized dealers, subject to a monthly cap set by the apex bank.

And for the BDCs, these changes mean more access to FX and stricter oversight.

[Nairameterics]

The United States Embassy has urged visa applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, to make at least two visits to the Consulate General in Lagos as part of their immigration visa process.

The US Embassy announced this directive in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday.

It reads: “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, you are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process.

“This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa.”

According to information on the embassy’s website, the first visit will include an “In-Person Document Review” with a consular officer.

“This review ensures that applicants are prepared for their visa interviews. The review allows applicants to retrieve any missing documents ahead of their visa interviews, helping to avoid delays in application processing,” the embassy explained.

“The second interview, on the other hand, is with a Consular Officer. The date for this interview will be scheduled for applicants by the National Visa Center (NVC).

“If you do not complete the In-Person Document Review before your visa interview, you will be required to reschedule your appointment.”

The embassy stated that these changes are intended to improve efficiency and minimize delays caused by incomplete documentation.

[Vanguard]

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has denied reports suggesting it is opposing President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills, describing the claims as “grossly misleading, false and malicious.”

RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu said that the commission is fully engaged in the reform process and is aligned with President Tinubu’s vision for an equitable and sustainable fiscal framework.

He also noted the importance of the proposed tax reform bills in addressing Nigeria’s fiscal challenges.

“We applaud President Tinubu’s strong commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s revenue base through bold initiatives. The proposed tax reform bills are a significant step towards integrating untapped revenue sources, enhancing Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, and positioning the country favourably among nations with high fiscal performance,” Shehu said during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shehu also spoke on concerns surrounding Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation and derivation and assured Nigerians of the Commission’s proactive involvement in ensuring that global best practices guide the reform process.

“As a responsible and patriotic institution, we have submitted a comprehensive memorandum that emphasises adherence to global best practices. This position aligns seamlessly with Mr. President’s vision,” he added.

Shehu condemned the spread of misinformation, emphasizing that the RMAFC has never opposed the bills but has instead provided professional advice to support their refinement.
He called on Nigerians to disregard baseless reports and urged the media to uphold ethical standards in their reportage.

“It is disheartening to note that, despite our explicit support for the proposed legislation, some individuals have chosen to peddle falsehoods for reasons best known to them,” he said.

“These inaccurate statements can undermine the ongoing efforts of patriotic Nigerians tirelessly working to support the President’s vision for the country.”

The Chairman further explained that the proposed tax reform bills are currently undergoing consultations, with inputs being sought from expert bodies.

He cautioned against misinterpretation or misrepresentation of professional advice during this process.

“The Commission is a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s fiscal framework, and we take our responsibility to provide expert advice seriously. We have been working closely with the National Assembly to ensure the proposed legislation is robust, effective, and aligned with global best practices,” he said.

He noted that the proposed bills aim to promote fiscal equity, reduce tax evasion, and increase revenue generation—objectives that align with the RMAFC’s mandate.

However, he acknowledged concerns about potential impacts on businesses and individuals, assuring stakeholders that the Commission remains committed to addressing these through constructive engagement.

Shehu stressed the importance of relying on factual information to avoid unnecessary controversies and called on all Nigerians to support the president’s bold fiscal reforms.

“At this critical juncture, the President needs the support of all Nigerians. Let us work together to support his vision for a more prosperous Nigeria,” he noted.

[Guardian]

The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the ongoing cash crunch in commercial banks across the country, calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address the situation, which has disrupted economic activities and imposed significant hardship on citizens.

The call by the House is coming on the heels of the directive by Vice President Kashim Shettima to the CBN and commercial banks in the country to swiftly resolve issues of cash scarcity and arbitrary charges by point-of-sale (POS) operators.

The CBN last week issued a directive mandating Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to prioritise efficient cash disbursement to customers both over the counter and through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The directive, which took effect on December 1, 2024, forms part of the apex bank’s continued efforts to enhance currency circulation and address cash shortages across the nation.

In a motion brought under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Uguru Emmanuel, the House highlighted the economic and social implications of the cash scarcity, which has left many Nigerians unable to access funds even for basic needs.

Hon. Emmanuel noted that while economic growth relies heavily on consumer spending and business investment, the persistent cash shortage has become a major impediment to these activities.

The lawmaker recalled that the CBN, in its policy directive of December 21, 2022, set cash withdrawal limits of N500,000 for individuals and N5 million for corporate entities.

However, he observed that commercial banks have largely disregarded this policy, often limiting cash withdrawals to as little as N10,000 or nothing at all.

He further raised alarm over the apparent disconnect between commercial banks and Point of Sale (POS) operators, who seem to have unlimited access to cash, often selling it at exorbitant rates.

The lawmaker warned that unless the CBN takes immediate action, the situation could worsen, especially with the approach of the festive season, leaving businesses frustrated and citizens plunged into deeper economic hardship.

In its resolution, the House mandated the Committee on Banking Regulations to investigate the cash crunch in commercial banks and report back within one week.

The House directed the CBN to urgently address the cash scarcity if it is not responsible for the shortage.

Our correspondents report that Nigerians are increasingly finding it difficult to get naira notes for their daily transactions.

The situation is more severe in rural communities, where access to banks and other financial transaction platforms is limited.

In towns and cities, Point of Sale (POS) operators have gone overboard by charging customers more than expected to give them naira notes.

“I paid N500 to get N10, 000 at the Jabi Park,” said Jennifer Samuel, a civil servant.

“I need cash to pay for transportation to Mararaba because the taxi drivers don’t accept transfer, but it is not fair for me to pay N500 just to get N10, 000,” she said.

Abdulmumini Ibrahim, a businessman, said he paid N800 to POS operator in order to collect N20, 000 cash.

“It is true that cashless society is the way forward for any society that wants to grow but Nigeria is not ripe for that.

“Government must invest in infrastructure in order to convince people to accept the new norm. For now, they should make more cash available,” he said.

Apex bank tightens noose on fintechs

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fined two of the country’s most prominent unicorns, Moniepoint and OPay N1 billion each in the second quarter of 2024, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told TechCabal.

The sources also confirmed that several other fintech companies were penalised, but that the two firms were the hardest hit, following a routine CBN audit of the fintech sector, which revealed compliance issues.

Daily Trust could not independently verify the claim despite many efforts.

When contacted, OPay said no such levy has been imposed on it.

Two sources familiar with the development told TechCabal that at least four other fintech companies were similarly penalised, though the details of these fines remain unknown.

The CBN has increasingly relied on fines to enforce regulatory compliance.

In 2023, Nigerian banks paid a combined N678 million in penalties. In October 2024, the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed a N1.5 billion fine on ten commercial banks, including Zenith and GTBank, for various infractions in the first half of the year.

Until recently, Nigeria’s rapidly growing fintech sector largely operated without CBN interference. However, the rapid expansion of fintechs like OPay and Moniepoint, which now serve millions of users, has invited greater scrutiny.

OPay, for instance, claims a customer base of around 40 million, while Moniepoint, which processed N5.2 billion transactions in 2023, does not disclose specific customer numbers but is similarly large.

According to the report by TechCabal, beyond licensing, the CBN has also expressed concerns about the fintechs’ compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.

In April 2024, the central bank imposed a two-month ban on customer onboarding for several fintech companies, including Kuda Bank and Palmpay, citing non-compliance with KYC standards. The ban forced fintechs to overhaul their onboarding procedures and commit to improving their compliance measures.

In a statement to TechCabal, OPay said: “We categorically refute the claims that OPay Digital Services was fined by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of N1 billion for regulatory infractions. These claims are entirely false.”

When Daily Trust reached out to the North-east Regional Manager of Moniepoint, Alamin Jamil, he said: “I have seen the story on some online platform and it appears false to me. I don’t have all the details but I don’t think it is true.”

He promised to get back to our reporter once he gets the true position of things.

However, a senior management source with Moniepoint who prefers anonymity confirmed the fine but was uncertain about the actual amount.

CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi Ali, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

[DailyTrust]

The National Assembly has hinted at its plans to amend the 2023 Electricity Act.

It said the amended act will seek to recognise the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency as the sole regulatory agency to enforce technical standards and regulations in the power sector.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Eyinnaya Abaribe, disclosed this plan at the fourth Edition of The Stakeholders Roundtable for the Enforcement of Technical Standards, Regulations, and Mandates held on Tuesday in Abuja.

Recall that last year, President Bola Tinubu assented to the 2023 Electricity Act as a replacement for the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.

The act approved the de-monopolization of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity at the National level and empowered states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

It also enabled the states to issue licenses to private investors who can operate mini-grids and power plants.

However, against the law, some states approved the establishment of technical and safety standards carrying out technical enforcement in NEMSA’s areas of specialisation.

But speaking in his goodwill address, the senator representing Abia South, said the amended law will explicitly prevent states from enforcing technical standards.

He stated that the 2023 Electricity Act (2023 EA) does not grant states the authority to enforce technical electricity standards.

Abaribe stressed the need for federal law to supersede state law in this area, warning that a clear legal framework is necessary to prevent individuals from arbitrarily setting technical standards.

He said, “The national assembly wants things to be better in the power sector and I don’t think any Nigerian would be very happy with the power sector as it is.

“It’s our pleasure to be here at this critical roundtable that is focused on optimizing executive, legislative and judicial rule in enforcing technical standards and regulations in the power sector. This roundtable has been organized by NEMSA at a time when the use of substandard and very inadequate electrical equipment is considered one of the major culprits for frequent grid collapse in Nigeria.

“But I think to answer the issues, there is nowhere in that law that gives states the right to enforce standards of our electrical equipment, supplies, and everything. There is none.

“And so we think that, and I think we discussed it with the legal community last time, that we may need to, in trying to amend the 2023 electricity act, make it far more explicit that just like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, that for a question of safety, Nigeria must have one standard. We cannot have multiple standards and NEMSA will be in charge.”

He further said with the decentralization of electricity regulatory responsibilities ushered in by the enactment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.17) Act and the Electricity Act, 2023, the challenge of enforcing electrical standards and safety at the sub-national levels of Government may even become more daunting for NEMSA.

“And so to make sure that state government don’t mischievously go to set up their standards and then we have a conflict, we will make sure that it will be stated explicitly in the law. And as you know, it’s an idea that a federal law would often supersede a state law.

“The centralisation of the regulatory responsibilities that were ushered in through the enactment of the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria in 1999 and the Electricity Act now poses a big challenge to everyone, and especially NEMSA.

“What is the nexus between you and the standard organizations of Nigeria? But we already continue having all these types of issues, and I think that this roundtable should focus and look at how we can actively contribute our insights into how to make sure that everyone will adopt a particular standard,” he added.

Abaribe said that given the enormity of NEMSA’s mandate in enforcing electrical standards and ensuring safety in the NESI, the regulator, contractors, operators/licensees, customers and other critical stakeholders need to support NEMSA to deliver on this mandate, hence the justification for this multi-stakeholder roundtable.

The Senator also promised strict regulatory oversight to ensure the implementation of safety measures in the sector.

In his welcome remarks, the NEMSA Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir highlighted the indispensable role of the legislative and judicial arms in shaping and upholding regulatory frameworks for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

He emphasized that NEMSA’s core mandate, established under the NEMSA Act 2015 and the Electricity Act 2023, revolves around enforcing technical standards, inspecting and certifying electrical installations, and ensuring the safety of lives and property.

“Our mission is to guarantee that electrical materials, equipment, and installations meet the required quality, standards, and specifications to deliver safe and sustainable electricity across Nigeria,” Engr. Tahir stated.

Tahir stressed that robust legislative oversight, judicial interpretation, and stakeholder engagement are critical to addressing the proliferation of substandard electrical materials and ensuring compliance across the power sector.

“The safety of lives and property within grid and off-grid networks hinges on strict adherence to technical standards,” he noted.

He also called for active participation and innovative contributions from attendees to resolve legal and regulatory challenges impeding progress in the sector.

This event reaffirmed NEMSA’s commitment to maintaining the highest safety and technical integrity standards while ensuring a reliable electricity supply for all Nigerians.

“Together, we can build a safer and more resilient electricity industry,” Engr. Tahir concluded, expressing gratitude for the ongoing support of the Legislature and Judiciary.

[Punch]

In an interview with Time newsmagazine in 1975, abrasive Italian journalist, Oriana Fallaci, was accused of sometimes fabricating quotations that she attributed to her interviewees, for which she was derogatively nicknamed “Oriana Fallacious!”

In her response to the Time magazine interviewer, Oriana retorted that the accusation was vulgar, because it was untrue, saying, “It’s ridiculous. If I have the tape (recording) with the voice, how can they claim they never said what they did?”

Though Oriana Fallaci may not have been a fabricator of lies reported in the form of news, the phrase, “Oriana Fallacious”, has probably become a metaphor for journalists, mostly on online platforms, who fabricate stories, or fake news, usually to serve some purposes.

In Nigeria, some of these media houses and amateur citizen journalists, who are usually armed with cellphones, are paid to spread fake news, or outright lies, to deceive the public or publish hate speech that puts unwary victims in the line of physical or verbal attacks or discriminations.

Sometimes they spread falsehoods to mislead people. At other times, they report a true and accurate story, but in a manner that could be inimical to the subject of the story. This is common during political campaigns that mostly resemble war propaganda.

Perhaps the vilest lie told in recent times about the obviously “sexed up” story of possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction against Iraqi strongman, Saddam Hussein, by European and American superpowers under America’s President George Walker Bush, Jr., and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Weapons of Mass Destruction imply chemical and biological weapons of war that include nuclear-grade missiles with launch ranges exceeding the extent imposed by the United Nations. Some of the chemical weapons that Iraq was said to possess included mustard gas, sarin, cyclosarin and VX.

After prosecuting a devastating war against probably bewildered citizens of Iraq, American G.I.s ferreted Hussein out of an underground bunker, after which, he and his Minister of Defence, Ali Majid “Chemical Ali” al-Tikriti, were hanged in a Bagdad prison.

But later, Prime Minister Blair expressed “sorrow, regret, and apology” for the needless war and accepted “full responsibility without exception or excuse, for the consequences of the war”. But he neither confirmed nor denied that Iraq truly had WMD, beyond saying that there appeared to be mounting evidence of WMD.

In explaining the real he joined America in prosecuting the war, a partially repented Blair said “…because I thought it was right”, and, in the mode of Captain America, wanted to set the Iraqi people free from the tyranny of despot Hussein.

Such a good and generous heart. The spokesman and Director of Communications and Strategy of the Tony Blair Administration, Alistair Campbell, who denied that was a “sexing up” of intelligence reports, however, said that the issue would haunt Tony Blair till his dying day.

The phrase, Weapon of Mass Destruction, has become so notorious that America’s Lake Superior University describes it as the height of aggression, before banishing it into its list of terms of “misuse, overuse and general uselessness”.

Lately, to convince their citizens of the need to send military hardware to Ukraine, the West invented the story that Russia was about to invade the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance of North America, Western and Central European countries.

NATO conveniently omitted to add that Russia, led by Mikhail Gorbachev, only agreed to the pulling down of the Berlin War in 1989 for the unification of Germany in 1990 on the condition that NATO would not expand eastwards towards Russia.

Ukraine, the theatre of the Ukraine-Russian War now wants to join NATO, like Poland, another member of the defunct Warsaw Pact nations led by Russia. Russia strongly objects to that because of its common border with Ukraine. America’s Secretary of State James Baker, during the second term of President Ronald Reagan, had promised that NATO would expand “not one inch eastward.”

Just 11 days before America’s 2016 presidential election, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, unnecessarily told the American electorate that the FBI was looking into newly discovered emails of Hilary Clinton, who was contesting to be America’s President.

She lost the election because the disclosure might have affected voters’ assessment of her integrity. In 2019, four years after the deed had been done, America’s State Department reported that “None of the emails at issue were marked as classified!”

Take a look at recent incidences of outright lies peddled as the truth in Nigeria, starting from the hoax on social media that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was dead. Understandably, Obasanjo, who wondered why anyone would wish him dead, had pronounced, “Those who harbour such thoughts will not escape such tragedy themselves.”

This is a reminiscence of the rumour of the death of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first (ceremonial) President of Nigeria in 1989. A committee of friends was even formed for his burial. Just as Obasanjo had done, Azikiwe cursed those who had spread the rumour, and two prominent members of his political family involved in that perfidy predeceased him.

A local stakeholder, lacking knowledge of the technicalities of the operation of a petroleum refinery, came on TV to declare a hoax, the announcement by Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited that the smaller Port Harcourt refinery was now operational. People believed him because of numerous false claims of the refinery rehabilitation by NNPCL.

A professor of medicine, who appears to be a lobbyist of Sahel nations, is suggesting that France is cosying up to Nigeria to establish a military base in Northern Nigeria, obtain rights to Nigeria’s mineral resources and obtain petroleum and gas concessions. The Chief of Defence Staff denied any plans for a French military base in Nigeria.

While many were wondering if Seyi, the son of President Bola Tinubu, indeed wanted to be Governor of Lagos State in 2027, it took a swift announcement to debunk the fake news that was already taking the shape of the holy grail.

The semblance of fake news is turning up even in unexpected places, in the defamation tango between two attorneys, nonagenarian Afe Babalola, and civil rights activist Dele Farotimi, who published a book with content that Babalola thought was a defamation of his character and reputation.

Farotimi alleged that Babalola got the Supreme Court of Nigeria to reverse its judgment by correcting what amounted to a clerical error, which Farotimi, lawyer to one of the other parties, probably considered to be a substantially corrupt variation of the earlier judgement.

The police probably charged Farotimi to court on criminal grounds by relying on the article, “When False Publications May Amount to Criminal Libel”, wherein Babalola was said to have argued that, apart from civil claims, “a publication of false and misleading information can give rise to criminal prosecution”.

Though Babalola acknowledged that “defamation is a dual-nature offence, and it can be a civil wrong as well as a criminal act”, the Ekiti State Police Command may want to stretch and test the efficacy of criminal sanction that the Cybersecurity Act prescribes for online defamation.

One thing is clear: The outcome of the criminal suit will help define fake news and its consequences, as one wonders if the defamatory act attributed to Farotimi was his way of getting justice after a judgment.

…As Seadogs frowns at increasing abuse of human rights

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned on a 16-count charge of defamation against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ where he accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The police prosecutor requested his remand in prison custody pending further investigation, while his counsel argued for bail on liberal terms, citing the presumption of innocence.

Counsel to the police, Samson Osobu, said Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who is the lawyer of the defendant, said a SAN does not have the right to appear as a representative of the defendant.

He reminded the court of the Magistrate’s Law of 2014 (as amended), citing a case of Abiodun Bamigboye vs COP with Appeal No CA/IP/2256C/2021, where an agreement was reached that no SAN has the constitutional right to appear or file any process in an inferior court.

On his part, Olumide-Fusika cited the Oyo Magistrate’s law, which explained that any qualified lawyer can appear in the court majorly if the matter is related to criminal cases and any suspect or defendant is entitled to any legal representative in court.

However, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, asked Olumide-Fusika to step down. At the same time, another lawyer, who is not a SAN proceeded, while the court decided based on the argument afterwards.

Taiwo Adeniji, who took over from Olumide-Fusika, applied for bail of the defendant, saying the defendant’s offences are bailable, according to section 36 (5) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended) and Act 6 of the African Charter and People’s Rights. He said the bail application is based on hearsay and lack of facts.

Osobu urged the court to review the bail application submitted before the court, stressing that the defendant doesn’t merit it and that the application is incompetent and irregular.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun adjourned the bail application to December 20 as a result of a prolonged disagreement between the two counsel and the lawyer of the defendant.

Support groups clash within court premises

Shortly after the court proceedings, some support groups clashed outside the courtroom, alleging the court of violating the rule of law.

While a pro-Afe Babalola group confronted the opposing party not to constitute any nuisance, Farotimi’s side pledged to stage the protest as soon as they get to Lagos state for the release of the human rights activist.

Farotimi’s plight poignant reflection of Nigeria’s pervasive impunity—Atiku

Reacting to the ongoing travail of Dele Farotimi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, described it as a sad reminder of Nigeria’s pervasive culture of impunity.

He said there was no better time to remind our leaders at all levels of their oaths of office, part of which is to protect the constitutional rights of citizens.

Atiku, who wrote on his tweet on his X (formally twitter) handle, said: “Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and tireless advocate for human rights, now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power.

“His only offence lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.

“More troubling still is the fact that he is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State.

“His plight serves as a poignant reflection of the pervasive climate of impunity and the blatant violation of citizens’ rights that has become all too common in Nigeria.

“Yet, perhaps the most alarming of all is the weaponization of the cyberbullying law, which is being used as a tool to harass, intimidate and silence dissenting voices in the opposition and the press.

“On this solemn occasion of International Human Rights Day, let us take a moment to remind our leaders at every level of government to honour the oaths they have sworn to protect and uphold the constitutionally enshrined rights of the people. Only through this commitment can we hope to nurture and strengthen our democracy..”

Seadogs Confraternity frowns at increasing abuse of human rights

Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs and Pyrates Confraternity, Dutse Deck have frowned at what they termed as heightening cases of human rights abuses in Nigeria and called for the government’s urgent actions in protecting the rights of citizens.

The confraternity particularly mentioned the arrest and detention of Dele Farotimi as well as what it termed a harsh bail condition given to him, saying such is a case of human rights abuse.

Marching through the highway in Jos, Plateau State in celebration of this year’s World Human Rights Day, the association sensitised citizens on their rights as human beings.

Speaking during the procession, Chairman of Typhoon Blasted Seadogs Forum, Jos Chapter, Charles Uwechia, said: “We are here to sensitise citizens about human rights because a lot of people don’t know their rights and how they are being abused. Our organization is humanitarian and issues of human rights abuses are coming up. A typical example is the issue of Dele Farotimi.

“The National Association of Seadogs believes that his rights are abused, putting him in chains; he is not a criminal; the matter is a civil one, and the bail condition of N50 million is outrageous. Governments should renege on some of these abuses and make some changes in the human rights approaches in the country.”

[Vanguard]

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has appointed Ademola Adeyemi-Bero as the chairman of its board of governors for 2025.

Adeyemi-Bero was also appointed as Nigeria’s OPEC governor for next year.

Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said Adeyemi-Bero’s appointment was confirmed at the 189th meeting of the OPEC conference.

In a statement by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, the minister hailed Adeyemi-Bero’s elevation as a testament to Nigeria’s active contributions to the global oil industry.

Lokpobiri added that the appointment provides Nigeria with a vital platform to advocate for balanced energy policies that benefit oil producers, consumers, and the global economy.

The minister also appreciated Gabriel Aduda, permanent secretary of the federal ministry of women affairs, who is also the outgoing Nigerian OPEC governor, for his exemplary service. 

“Ambassador Aduda played an instrumental role in advancing Nigeria’s interests within OPEC and ensuring the country’s influential presence in global energy discussions,” Lokpobiri said.

According to the statement, OPEC also appointed Adeeb Al-Aama as governor of Saudi Arabia for OPEC, and as the alternate chairman of the board of governors for 2025.

“The OPEC conference brought together representatives from member countries to address significant issues, including reports from the secretary-general and the Economic Commission Board (ECB), and to deliberate on critical internal matters,” Okafor added.

“The conference also extended the tenure of His Excellency Haitham Al Ghais as OPEC Secretary General for another three years, effective August 1, 2025.

“Member nations commended his exceptional leadership and the Secretariat’s unwavering commitment to the organization’s objectives.”

At its last meeting, OPEC had extended Nigeria’s oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels of crude per day (bpd) to 2026.

The oil alliance also extended the level of overall crude oil production for OPEC and non-OPEC participating countries “in the DoC as agreed in the 35th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, as per the attached table until 31 December 2026”.

[TheCable]