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On July 1, many Twitter users worldwide started the weekend—and a new month—by receiving a “rate-limit exceeded” notification on their personal feed page.
The effects of this were limited page scrolling, disappearing timelines, and an inability to retrieve, send out tweets, or even send a direct message.
Anyone else getting “rate limit exceeded” on their twitter? My spread isn’t updating at all This guy called Elon hmmm
— Nigeria 🇳🇬 Sarkodie 👑 (@Ponialbert1) July 1, 2023
But what was the cause?
This is due to a new temporary policy limiting the number of tweets people can read. According to Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter, verified accounts can only read 6,000 tweets per day, unverified accounts 600 tweets per day, and new unverified accounts 300 tweets per day until further notice.
To address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation, we’ve applied the following temporary limits:
– Verified accounts are limited to reading 6000 posts/day – Unverified accounts to 600 posts/day – New unverified accounts to 300/day
It has since been upgraded to 10,000, 1,000, and 500 tweets, respectively (after much backlash). According to Musk, this move was made to address “extreme levels of data scraping and manipulation.”
But what does data scraping even mean?
This is an automated process of extracting large amounts of data from websites or online sources.
According to the co-founder of legal tech startup Mustarred, Oyindolapo Olulesi, while this is useful for data analysts, it can also be a “powerful tool in the hands of bad actors”, which is why social platforms usually frown against it.
He also mentioned that there are other claims that Musk could just be using this to mask a bigger issue. “Some say Twitter is still owing AWS (Amazon); others say the platform probably had a cyberattack,” he says.
But beyond the discomfort of having to keep track of tweets, what impact does it have on the way Nigerians engage with Twitter? What does the future of civic engagement look like for the country?
For citizens, there are mixed feelings
We found many interesting responses in discussions among our Citizen Community members on WhatsApp.
Users like Acacia do not support the rate limit, as she fears missing out on important information.
She asked, “What if I see 600 tweets before a message by the Federal Government or maybe the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)?”
Acacia also added that social media platforms like Twitter have become “means of expressing one’s rights”, and its usage should be based on the “user’s discretion and discipline.”
An example is the 2020 #EndSARS riot, which kickstarted as an online movement against harmful practices by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
There is a growing lack of care about the issue as well. For users like Teekay and Kindred who shared their opinions with Citizen, the move doesn’t affect them as they do not frequently use the app.
However, in the nooks and crannies where the conversation about Twitter usage and its end is being envisioned, there are citizens who don’t care. Some people, like Teekay, believe Twitter is still “unserious” about the new policy, especially as his “more active friends” on the platform have yet to complain about these restrictions bitterly.
“It’s us going back to traditional means of sourcing stories”
For Senior Editor at TechCabal, Noah Banjo, the new policy, even though temporary, could make sourcing for stories a hard task as a journalist.
He explains, “In instances where someone has used a keyword many times, how would you know when your limit is about to be exceeded? This will make the process of finding stories even more difficult. Journalists will now have to settle for breaking stories and move on. In-depth stories that give insight into important stories are usually found in Twitter threads, but these threads could now be cut short. This affects the journalists and audience that need this information.”
Banjo added that the new policy could make the art of fact-checking claims difficult. This is because the policy encourages more users to pay for verification, making these people “the forefront of spreading misinformation that can get more visibility as a result of their verification.”
“Curtailment of Twitter would likely result in diminished levels of civic engagement”
Ufuoma Oghuvwu, a Senior Programs Associate at Enough is Enough, believes that the effects of “curtailment of Twitter would likely result in diminished levels of civic engagement.”
She also believes it will affect civic communication with the youth and governmental NGOs, which happen to be “the largest voting bloc in our electorate.”
According to Oghuvwu, solutions with intentional physical civic engagement are the way to go. “Drawing lessons from the recent elections, it is evident that substantial efforts are required to establish a strong connection between the virtual realm of political engagement and offline structures necessary to shape governance in our society.”
Have you ever wondered what the different codes on the plate numbers of vehicles in Nigeria mean? Also, did you know that there are different types of plate numbers that signify the vehicle owner’s class? You’ll learn all about it in this article, but first, here are some basic facts about Nigerian plate numbers.
They are issued only by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
The FRSC is an independent federal agency responsible for producing and issuing number plates in Nigeria; it also has a database to keep records of all registered vehicles in Nigeria. And to make the process of number plate collection more manageable, the agency has approved centres for number plate collection in all 36 states.
You can use any state’s plate number for your vehicles
You can use any state’s number plate for your vehicle, as no law restricts you to your state of residence or origin. However, the registration price for these plate numbers differs from state to state.
Our licence plate numbers, formally introduced in 1992, are based on and similar in shape and size to those in the United States. Other African countries use the European plate number format while Nigeria and Liberia are the only African countries that use the North American format.
Our number plates in Nigeria typically look like “ABC-324DE”; What do these abbreviations and numbers represent?
What’s the meaning of the codes on your number plates?
The first three letters on your number plate stand for the Local Government Area (LGA) where the vehicle registration was done, and the last two letters following the three digits are there for numbering purposes.
There are 774 LGAs in Nigeria, so we’ll be unable to cover all the plate number abbreviations across the 36 states, but here are some common ones and the LGAs they represent:
Abuja:
Abbreviation
LGA
ABC
Abuja Municipal Council
BWR
Bwari Area Council
KWR
Kwali Area Council
RSH
Karshi Area Council
Lagos:
Abbreviation
LGA
AAA
Lagos Island LG
AGL
Ajeromi Ifelodun
SMK
Somolu
JJJ
Ojo
FKJ
Ifako Ijaiye
AKD
Ibeju Lekki
EKY
Eti-Osa LG
GGE
Agege
LSR
Surulere
BDG
Badagry
Rivers:
Abbreviation
LGA
ABM
Akukutoru
BNY
Bonny
PBT
Opobo/Nkoro
NCH
Eleme
NDN
Andoni
Also, another thing you might have noticed is that plate numbers in Nigeria have different colours, and this is because we have several types of plate numbers in Nigeria. They are:
Private number plates
These are the most common types of plate numbers in Nigeria, as they’re used by private vehicles for personal transportation. These plates have a white background with blue letters and numbers.
Special number plates
These number plates, also called customised plates, are usually used by most Nigerian celebrities and famous people. Although it also has a white background and blue lettering, car owners can write what they want on their number plates; obscene or offensive words aren’t allowed.
Commercial number plates
These plate numbers are reserved for commercial vehicles transporting people or goods. These vehicles include school buses, taxis, mass transit buses, fire trucks, construction vehicles, and cargo vans. The red lettering on a white background distinguishes this plate number.
Armed Forces/Paramilitary number plates
The black letters on a white background make these number plates simple to identify. They are used by only members of the armed forces, i.e., the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, and paramilitary.
Government number plates
As the name suggests, these number plates are reserved for public office holders such as the president, governor, and other lawmakers. It’s identified by green lettering on a white background, and the number usually starts with “FG”, signifying that it’s a government vehicle.
The temporary number plates
Temporary number plates are issued when a vehicle is newly purchased to indicate that it was sold legally, and in this case, the plate number would be marked by “DLA”. Temporary number plates are also issued when the original number is missing or lost. An application must be submitted to FRSC with an affidavit and a police report before issuance. These types of plate numbers have white lettering on a black background.
Diplomatic number plates
These number plates are of three types:
Corps diplomatique number plates: issued to ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives It is distinguishable by its white lettering on a neon purple background.
The Corps Consulate number plates are distinctive due to their white lettering on a brown background, and they are only available to the consular corps of embassies in Nigeria.
The Corps Technique number plates: an easy way to identify these number plates is that they have white lettering on a navy blue background.
Welcome to the second half of the year, or H2, as people in the corporate world like to call it. Undoubtedly, the first half of the year had many highlights. Godwin Emefiele was Emperor in January as he undertook an ill-conceived naira redesign policy that affected many Nigerians. But by June, the Emperor found himself naked in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
As we enter the second half, we’ve decided to bring you things to look out for in July. So without wasting your time, here we go:
No public holidays
February and March were the only months in the year’s first half without public holidays. Between April and June, public holidays were springing up everywhere. April was on steroids as Christians and Muslims competed to see who knew how best to faaji. We received holiday alerts the same way the FG receives credit alerts from Abacha’s loot. But all that is about to come to a long pause. You’re not getting any holiday nkankan till September 27, almost three months away.
Price hikes
Let’s just be brutally honest here; times are tough. I was on a bus yesterday, and passengers complained about the transportation cost. The bus driver told us to enjoy the ₦300 fare he was charging for a 2km trip from Ikeja Under Bridge to Joel Osinnaike Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. “Tomorrow, it will increase to ₦400. As they’re doing their own, we too will be doing our own,” he said.
In a few days, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will release its June report on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or what we call inflation. In May, the inflation rate increased to 22.41%, its fifth successive bump. With the cost of living on the rise, the rise in inflation looks set to continue well into July. The World Bank has projected that inflation will hit 25% by the end of the year. We’re using this medium to beg President Tinubu to let the poor breathe.
Tribunal cases set to continue
Remember what we said earlier about how Tinubu’s presidential seat is highly controversial? That’s because the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) is still ongoing. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are challenging Tinubu’s claim to that seat based on the outcome of the fraught election.
They may also have a new morale booster, as the EU Election Observer Mission released its final report on the elections. The FG has been seething since the report came out. It has rejected it by calling the findings “a poorly-done desk job.” Below is an excerpt from the report’s executive summary:
Likely announcement of the ministerial cabinet
Mr “Hit the ground running” has made some sharp moves in his first month in office. Political analysts continue to speculate who gets a ministerial appointment. There is also an increased expectation that Tinubu will make his announcement soon. If all indications are right, expect a ministerial list in July.
Nigerian women take the world stage
It’s not all politics here, though. There’s one major sporting event to anticipate if you’re Nigerian. The Nigerian women’s national football team, fondly known as “The Super Falcons,” will participate in the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Nigerian women are the most successful African team, having won the domestic African Cup of Nations 11 out of 14 times. As the competition commences on July 20, you can take time to cheer them on and offer them support. We’ll be rooting for them on our end. Go Falcons!
What significance lies within a name? A great deal, we assure you. A name imparts a sense of identity and connection, especially when it pertains to a national symbol or landmark, such as an airport or stadium. Such names not only preserve history but also ignite inspiration, serving as touchstones for future generations.
Just like everyone else, we were astonished to learn that the President has approved the renaming of 15 airports in Nigeria, including the Port Harcourt International Airport, which has now been designated as the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport.
We acknowledge the current state of Nigeria, which has seen a significant increase in tribal influence since the 2023 general elections. However, we assure you that our appeal to the President is not based on tribal or linguistic factors. Allow us to present three reasons why we are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rename the Port Harcourt International Airport to Ken Saro-Wiwa International Airport:
To the Niger Delta, Ken Saro-Wiwa signifies selfless hope:
Many decades before the Global North began to throw around the terms “climate change” and “environmental conservation”, Ken mobilised Ogoniland and the peoples of the Niger Delta to speak out against the degradation of their land and livelihood—at a time when freedom of speech came at a cost and against an oil giant so powerful no one could confront.
It was a typical David vs. Goliath, but sadly, “Goliath” and General Abacha ganged up to kill David. Ken’s defiant hope is something we can all identify with in Rivers State, and it serves as a lesson to the Nigerian State in how it treats minority tribes. It is only be-fitting that his bravery be immortalised this way.
The Niger Delta is in dire need of positive role models:
Unlike the Western region of Nigeria, where Chief Obafemi Awolowo is from, and Northern Nigeria, where many stories account for role models to whom young people can aspire, positive role models are not uplifted as much here in the Niger Delta.
Years of violence have birthed many negative role models, and we believe the renaming of the Port Harcourt International Airport provides an opportunity to uplift a selfless role model for posterity to look to.
Ken-Saro Wiwa International Airport will be a reminder:
A reminder to everyone flying into the Niger Delta that more than 40 years later, the environmental degradation of Ogoniland and other oil-producing communities in the Delta has not ended.
It will be a reminder to the Federal Government to fulfil its promise to clean up the Niger Delta and restore the livelihood of community members who have been rendered poor while Nigeria feeds on the profits of crude oil sales. It will be a reminder to the world and the global community that indigenous people matter.
It is important to note that, we do not in any way, through this petition, seek to belittle the strides and contributions of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo to Nigeria and its existence. However, we believe that the Federal Government can identify several landmarks and monuments to immortalise this great man; however, for the sake of Rivers State and the Niger Delta, we believe that Ken Saro-Wiwa will be a better fit.
Also, as a policy organisation, we want to recommend that the Federal Government develop a Guide or Convention for naming national monuments and landmarks, ensuring that the wishes and thoughts of host communities are considered before final names are announced.
A national monument/landmark title is sacred and should not be reduced to a handout for friends; careful thought and consultation must go into it. Here is an example from Texas, a US State.
For Navigating Nigeria this week, Citizen speaks with Chukwuemeka, a Nigerian pilot who shares his story about his journey to becoming a pilot. He speaks about his motivations and challenges in navigating Nigeria’s aviation industry. He believes pilots deserve better pay, and you don’t need to be Stephen Hawking to fly a plane.
Editorial Note: Navigating Nigeria is a platform for Nigerians to passionately discuss the Nigerian experience with little interference from individual opinions. While our editorial standards emphasise the truth and endeavour to fact-check claims and allegations, we are not responsible for allegations made about other people based on half-truths.
How long have you been a pilot?
I finished flight school in 2015. So let’s see. That’s technically eight years.
That’s a complete Buhari tenure
Yeah, but then for three of those eight years after flight school, I wasn’t flying.
What happened?
I got sponsored to go to flight school by a company. The plan was that after flight school, I’d start flying with them. They had clients who were in the oil and gas sector. The company trained me to get a helicopter licence. Then oil prices dipped, and those clients weren’t producing as much oil anymore, so there was no reason to fly people offshore frequently. That meant they didn’t need as many pilots as before; it was a trickle-down effect.
I was on the ground for those three years, working in other parts of the company, which I enjoyed. By the beginning of 2018, I decided to get an aeroplane licence to be flexible with employment and open up more job opportunities for me in the aviation industry. The whole thing took about three months because I already had my helicopter licence and needed to meet some other requirements. In aviation there’s this thing called a type rating which is what allows aspiring pilots to navigate and operate larger commercial planes. It’s the standard you need to meet before operating a type of aircraft. You can’t just jump from one aircraft to another. There are lots of other technicalities and rules depending on the country, but I won’t get into them. But this was when I resumed flying aircraft commercially.
Interesting. Tell us, what were your motivations for becoming a pilot?
As a child, I was always fascinated when I looked up to the sky and saw a plane flying. I’d always wonder how the pilots did that. Then, in junior secondary school, JSS 2, I read this passage in an English comprehension book. The beginning of that passage stuck in my head. It went, “Fasten your seatbelts and announce the air hostess, please.” I can’t explain what’s so special about it, but it made me desire to fly a plane. From then on, if anyone asked what I wanted to be, I’d say pilot. Sometimes I’d switch to aeronautic engineer, astronaut, astronomer, or even astrologer lmao. I wasn’t even sure what they did exactly. I just knew I wanted to fly.
And fly, you did
During the holidays, I went to live with an aunt in Abuja. I enrolled in a youth camp. For the part about careers, we had to list ten career choices. The first seven were related to aviation, while I filled out the rest with the usual medicine, law and the like.
After school, one of my mum’s friends advised that I attend university first to have a backup in case my plans to be a pilot didn’t work out. I then pursued a closely related degree in aerospace engineering in Ghana. The first two years were tough. The engineering we did then was just so advanced. I knew there and then that being a pilot just had to work out because omo.
Lmao
Fortunately, some courses dealt directly with aviation, and I excelled there. But things were tough in the beginning.
What was life like during the pandemic?
Initially, there were no flights, but more flights happened when they introduced PCR testing. I flew helicopters during that period, so it affected me a bit. I worked in Port Harcourt, and oil companies weren’t flying often. But we still did some airlifting for a few companies. So I wasn’t grounded, but flights during that period were fewer.
Let’s talk about how you navigate Nigeria. Have there been any peculiarities about flying in Nigeria that are different from flying elsewhere?
So I’ve only flown in Nigeria and the US. Still, I’ll say the lack of basic infrastructure is glaring. You’ll see some things, and you’re like, “Nawa oo, why’s this not here?” or “Why are we managing this?”
For example, runway lights. I did not know that runway lights could spoil. They’re perishable, and since they’re electrical, they could develop faults. But throughout my training, it never occurred that runway lights could go bad, and I’d have to navigate the plane without them. Nigeria exposed me to that reality.
And we’re talking not days but months or even years where runway lights go bad without being fixed. Everyone accepts that these things aren’t working, and we’re just carrying on like that.
Wow
In Lagos, we have two runways; 1-8 left, which serves domestic flights, and 1-8 right for international flights. Both can serve either flight, but they were sorted that way because of their proximity to their respective terminals. You couldn’t land in 1-8 left at night for a long time because there were no lights.
So you’d have to land on 1-8 right then take a long taxi and then park near the domestic terminal for people to get off. Eventually, they fixed the lights. For the first week, things were working fine. The centre lights were fine, the headlights were fine, touchdown zone light was good. Next thing, half of the centre lights broke down, and the rest followed. Now nothing works. When you’re about to land, you have to start scanning for markings on the runway which are very faint because there’s no light.
I can land without the lights, but what would it take to fix and maintain the existing ones? We have international carriers landing every day, coming from places like Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow, and they see the state of our airports, which is pitiable. Meanwhile, when we go there, we see everything is in good shape.
We can’t go to some airports at night in Nigeria because they don’t have lights. We call them sunset airports because, after sunset, the lights go out.
Most of those have been fixed. Sometimes you see them when taxiing, and you must avoid them, but they fix them occasionally. So it’s not a permanent solution, but they fix them after a few weeks. I know I saw a notice about potholes in Enugu, but I have yet to experience one personally. I landed in Enugu yesterday and actively searched but didn’t find it, thankfully. Lagos and Abuja have frequent maintenance schedules where the runways are closed for resurfacing. The runway in Ilorin, though, whew. Sometimes you hear weird sounds and see cracks and grass growing on the runway.
What changes would you like to see in Nigeria’s aviation industry?
Generally, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) can do better with basic infrastructure. Sometimes you see some structures at airports, and you’re like, “Ok…but what purpose does this serve?” Some airports don’t have approaches, clear markings or adequate lighting. For example, there was a time I went to Port Harcourt. We were sitting on a ramp, waiting. All of a sudden, everywhere went dark. I was confused. They just took out the power, and we couldn’t see anything.
Pilots should get better pay. We think in dollars. A lot of training, travelling and so on are done in dollars, but we get paid in naira. And the naira isn’t even enough. Everything has finished by the time you convert to naira to meet your needs. When you compare what you earn by dollar conversion to your counterparts abroad, you’ll realise you’re not earning anything.
Have you considered relocating?
Oh yeah. That’s on my to-do list. I’m just trying to settle a few things first. Better pay and a better quality of life factor into my decision.
What advice would you give anyone who wants to go into aviation?
I get that a lot. People generally think you have to be Stephen Hawking to be a pilot. You have to be smart, but you don’t have to be Stephen Hawking smart to fly a plane.
One of my university lecturers, a flight engineer, said that you must be daft to be a pilot, lol. He’d say you’d be fine if you could read pictures.
Loool
But for real, you need to have the aptitude for it. You also need to work hard and want it. When I say “want it”, I mean it’s not just something you can skim through. It will show if you’re not putting in the work.
I know brilliant people that couldn’t cut it as pilots. It wasn’t because they weren’t smart. They just didn’t get it. You know how some people can’t dance no matter how they try or can’t move to a beat? Being a pilot is sort of like that. You have to have the aptitude for it. You have to want it and work hard. That’s the motivational side of it.
The other thing I’ll say is that flight training is expensive. Some can afford it, so no problem for them. But if you can’t afford it, you want to finish your training quickly. Because that would mean you’re paying less. Usually, flight school charges by the hour when you’re renting their aircraft. Your training is on you. You’re not giving that power to anyone, not even your instructor.
I mean, you have to be on top of it. You have to say, “This is what we’re doing today. I need to learn this before the next time.” That is, you’re putting in the work before putting in the work. That way, you’re not spending extra hours because extra hours mean extra flights, which means extra time. All that will add up because you’ll pay for accommodation, flights and fuel. I met some people in flight school still training after two years. Like, why?
So put in the work before the instructor comes. Stuff you can do on the ground, do it on the ground. Don’t wait till you get in the air. Own your training so you’re not spending more money than you need to.
How do you navigate life after graduate studies? How do you get jobs? These are questions that today’s feature on #AbroadLife answers with Grad School Buddy, a podcast and carefully curated digital companion that helps simplify the grad school application journey. She shared her migration journey into Washington, D.C., and her inspiration for the podcast with us.
How did you migrate to the United States?
While studying for my undergraduate degree in Economics back in Nigeria, I became very certain that I would study Development Economics. I believe that if the world is going to become a better place in the long run, we’ll definitely need to go through some policy changes. During my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I was posted to a primary school. I did a project to help sponsor kids who were out of school in Nigeria. These experiences then motivated me to look for the best places in the world where I could learn more about policy change.
Initially, I wanted to go to school in the United Kingdom. However, my friend then suggested Washington, D.C. This was because D.C. is a policy-centric location where I could meet with other policymakers and interact with organisations to get these policies done. So it was a step-by-step process. I first understood the course I wanted to study, and second was the location—where would I be most suited to study the course? I chose D.C. because of the people [policymakers], the jobs, and the exposure.
What was the process like?
So I applied on my own for my visa, admission, and all that because I had others who had gone through the same process, and they didn’t use agents. I had to do a lot of research. I had to check out which school in DC I wanted to apply to and why. How were the professors? What kind of funding does the school have, and what sort of funding do they have too?
Once I figured these out, I had to look at their requirements. I had to take the TOEFL to fulfil the language requirement and the GRE exam for proficiency. There was an analytical piece of writing where I was asked a policy-related question, and then there was also a Statement of Purpose (SOP) where I had to write about my own motivations for applying to the school. I also had to get my undergraduate transcript from my university, and I got a half-merit scholarship. I applied in 2018 and started in the fall of 2019.
Sweet! How was grad school for you?
So the first semester of my first year in grad school was all about focus. I really wanted to know more about the educational system and how to navigate life in America in general before water go carry me go. But by my second semester, I noticed that many students around me were “badass” and could do the things I was doing better, with brilliant projects. I also saw that some students had started having jobs since my first semester. I asked them more about their jobs and the professors they were working with, especially on impact evaluation across the world.
With this, I was able to start working in my second year as a research assistant, and I continued working with them until I finished. I had surveys, large data sets, survey designs, etc., which helped me get great internship or job opportunities outside school. Working gave me both the skills and the money.
How did you then get a job after grad school?
A lot of students abroad have probably heard of the use of networking to find jobs. It could be annoying and may be a bit out of my comfort zone, but I realised that this was something that had to be done if I eventually wanted an international career for myself. I had to meet people that I never knew to have coffee with me or meet somewhere just to get myself acquainted with them and keep me top of mind.
My first job was with a professor who I had worked with on a short-term project. After school, she introduced me to the very first job I got, which was a six month project. While working there, I was already looking out for the next job. I knew that I didn’t want to ask her for another job yet again.
So I started networking like crazy before I ended the project. I had to check organisations I wanted to work with and people in the sector I wanted to work in, as well as look at their previous projects to see if I had any affinity with them. I then asked my friends if they had emails on some of the people I had researched and started cold mailing them and setting up meetings with them. After these meetings, I only followed up with people that I felt I could work with.
Through these people, I was able to get recommended jobs from them. There were periods of rejection and tears. However, I had friends in my corner who served as a great support system for encouragement. I eventually reached a point where I could turn down jobs because there were so many.
What was your inspiration for the Grad School Buddy podcast?
So firstly, the Grad School Buddy is a podcast and carefully curated digital companion that helps simplify the grad school journey in an unconventional way. It started as a podcast, but now we have a newsletter and social media pages where we share information. What led me to start was that when I was going to grad school, I had people around me that had been through this process, including my siblings and friends. There was specifically one of my male friends who knew that I was very big on development economics in terms of education and financial inclusion policies. He was the one who made me start thinking of grad school beyond just the degree. But also about the importance of life after grad school. I had never really thought about what life after grad school entailed until he spoke about it.
Basically, I had knowledge of these things, but it wasn’t until I moved abroad to Washington, DC, and started school that people started to ask me questions about life after grad school. Then I realised that this information wasn’t accessible to everyone else out there. That’s how I got started. I wanted the podcast to encompass graduates from every walk of life, both the ones that paid tuition through scholarships, family income, or what have you. I also wanted to highlight alternatives to going abroad for a Masters. These included an online Masters or even having their Masters’ degree in Nigeria, how to get great internship opportunities, and so much more. If someone is trying to navigate problems surrounding their Masters’ degree and stumbles upon the podcast or newsletter, I’d love for them to get their answers via the Grad School Buddy Platform.
Why did you record your very first episode?
I recorded my first episode from a sad place. I was broke, and I needed an outlet to let out my feelings and thoughts. Then, I was starting to understand the process behind the “rejection before acceptance” process of getting job opportunities. I wanted other people who were like me also to experience what it felt like. There were friends who had different circumstances with grad school, and I felt like my friends and everyone else needed to share our grad school limitations and also share their solutions as well.
What’s the structure of Grad School Buddy like?
So, I initially started by myself, but now I have 5 people on the team. We plan the whole season to decide on a theme, then break down the topics and decide on profiles that could fit into these topics. For guests, it’s either have people call us requesting a feature or we contact them. We then interview them, and it gets to post-production where we edit the audio, send it to the guests for feedback, and once it’s approved, we start adopting and publishing it for different media.
Aside from this, Grad School Buddy also aims to get people of different nationalities, sexualities, and experiences to come together and share their thoughts. I would always like people to listen to the podcast or read the newsletter and find an episode or two that is for them.
What are your challenges with the podcast?
So I won’t necessarily call it a challenge, but I have noticed that some admission officers or counsellors request a fee when I reach out to them, and I feel that kind of demand doesn’t always serve the greater good. That’s the “challenge” in quote. Besides, Grad School Buddy is privately funded, and it’s not like we have the cash to blow. There are also the usual production glitches that I believe everyone else experiences, but there are always alternative episodes that we can always post in place to stay afloat.
What is next with the Grad School Buddy?
We are looking to launch Season 3 in October or November. I also hope to allow the team to handle more processes of the podcast in the long term as well as bring in more diverse voices.
If you have, you can relate to the eighteenth-century Benin Kingdom and how they must’ve felt when British soldiers invaded their land, looting over 2,500 artefacts and calling it an expedition.
But how did it all start? Let’s dive in:
The Benin-Britain Bromance
In 1553, British merchants sent out two ships to the Benin River under the command of Captain Thomas Windham.
A portrait of Thomas Wyndham in 1508 [Hans Eworth]
The then Oba of Benin, Orhogbua, welcomed them and agreed to sell pepper to them. However, almost 100 people in Windham’s crew caught malaria and eventually died between 1553-1556.
As a result, Queen Mary I prohibited all voyages to the Benin Kingdom.
Queen Mary I of England [The Print Collector/Getty Images]
Time passed, and voyages resumed, but only the crew of James Welsh could withstand the fever. From January to April 1591, they carted away valuable resources back to their country, including 589 servings of pepper, 82 barrels of palm oil, and 150 ivory tusks.
Thus began a prosperous British-Benin trade relation of trading pepper, gold, ivory, and later slaves, which lasted for many years.
But it didn’t last forever
Their breakup happened in several stages, which are all important to know:
A shaky trade agreement
The amount of power the then Oba, Ovoramwen Nogbaisi, had over trade in 18th-century Benin was, naturally, massive.
Ovonramwen, Oba of Benin [Edo State Archives]
The British needed his permission to use the trees in the village to collect palm kernels and tap rubber, which was a difficult process for them, and even export goods across the Benin River.
In 1892, Deputy Commissioner and Vice-Consul Captain Henry Lionel Galway tried to negotiate a trade agreement with Oba Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi to allow for the free passage of goods through his territory and the development of the palm oil industry.
The treaty was signed, and there was free trade for the British, but Ovonramwen still collected customs duties. Major Claude MacDonald, Consul General of the Oil River Protectorate, saw the tax as a hostile act.
To make things worse, Ovonramwen then halted the trade of oil palm produce to the British due to price fixing and the refusal of Itseriki men to remit the customs duties.
Britain, not used to being told no, did not like this. But it was one murder they piled behind.
The Ambush and Slaughter of Phillips’ Crew
In November 1896, Phillips, the Vice Consul of a trading post on the African coast, decided to meet with Oba Ovonramwen to discuss the customs duties discomfort.
He formally asked his superiors in London for permission to visit Benin City, claiming that the costs of such an expedition would be reimbursed by trading for ivory.
In late December 1896, Phillips got tired of waiting and took a crew of 18 men, 180 Jakri Porters, to carry supplies and 6 Kru labourers to Benin. He sent an envoy to discuss trade and demand entry into the territory, while bringing numerous gifts for the Oba.
At this time, the Binis were celebrating the Igue Festival, and strangers were forbidden to see the Oba. Oba even sent a message to Phillips saying he wasn’t allowed and would send word in a month or two. But for impatient Phillips, that was time that he simply couldn’t afford.
On January 4, 1897, Phillips and his entire party were ambushed on their journey to Benin City at Ugbine village near Gwato. This was done by Iyase, a warlord who saw the British advance as a slap in the face despite Ovonramwhen’s warning not to harm them.
1897 [Agefotostock]
That day, both British officers and African porters were slaughtered. Only two British survived their wounds, Alan Boisragon and Ralph Locke.
Within a week, news of the massacre had made it to London, and the colonial officers were filled with rage.
For Britain, they needed to teach the Oba and his ‘savages’ a ruthless lesson not to kill their own. This singular event led to the invasion of Benin, also known as ‘the Punitive Expedition’.
The Punitive Expedition
Towards the end of the first week of February 1897, about 1,200 men, including marines, sailors, and protectorate troops, were assembled and prepped for war. This was under the leadership of Sir Harry Rawson.
Admiral Sir Harry Rawson [Historic Houses Trust]
They aimed to “divide and conquer” by advancing on three fronts. The first column was to take Ogbologbo Creek; the second was to advance through the Jameson River Line up to Sapomba; and the third was to maintain a joint attack through Uguto Creek.
On February 9, 1897, the invasion started, and by February 18, the Benin Kingdom fell and ceased to be an independent entity. The Bini soldiers put up a brave front but were no match for Britain’s superior war weapons.
The Aftermath
The city was later set ablaze, although the British later claimed it was ‘accidental.’
Members of the ‘expedition’ surrounded by objects from the royal palace [British Museum]
Benin was later annexed to the Niger Protectorate.
Many buildings were also burned down, including the famous King’s Court. Oba Ovonramwen was deported and exiled to Calabar until he died in 1914.
Ovonramwen on board the Niger Coast Protectorate steam yacht, Ivy, while the Oba was on his way to exile [Jonathan Adagogo Green]
The Benin Native Council was established to replace the monarchy. It also helped to absolve the kingdom into the colonial rule.
The Looting of Benin
The British expedition force looted and carted away Benin’s precious artworks. An estimated 2,500 wooden, bronze and ivory artefacts were stolen.
A photograph of the interior of Oba’s compound being burnt during the punitive expedition, with bronze plaques in the foreground and three soldiers from the punitive force in the background [Reginald Kerr Granville c. 1912]
European and American art collectors sell most of these artefacts at auctions. It is also exhibited in Western museums, mainly in Germany.
Looted Benin Bronzes that Germany returned to Nigeria are examined during a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday. Nigerian officials said that more than 5,000 ancient artefacts are estimated to have been stolen from Nigeria, the majority by British colonisers. [Olamikan Gbemiga/AP]
Founded in 1977, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)’s slogan is “You Can’t Beat the Reach.” But NTA has been failing to beat its reach.
With President Tinubu’s new administration, NTA is experiencing a surprising revival in many people’s eyes. Notably, there has been a remarkable increase in its social media activity, establishing it as a trusted source for current government activities.
In a significant move as well, NTA recently joined other international media outlets in Saudi Arabia for the annual briefing of the minister for media ahead of the commencement of the 2023 Hajj rituals. NTA was the only Nigerian media platform present at the briefing.
Reclaiming its position as the government’s “mouthpiece,” NTA’s newfound activeness and engagement on social media in sharing updates, announcements, and breaking news have impressed many Nigerians. Some view NTA’s resurgence as a source of inspiration, believing that if NTA can “rise again”, dormant aspects of their lives can also experience a renaissance.
What did NTA look like before now?
During the early years of Nigeria’s democracy, NTA was respectable. Back then, in the absence of social media, tuning in to NTA’s network news at 9 p.m. was the primary way for Nigerians to stay informed.
NTA’s news presenters, like Eugenia Abu, Ronke Ayuba, Abike Dabiri, and Cyril Stober, became household names and gained popularity among viewers.
Cyril Stober on live television, NTA
Melony Ishola, a TV producer and presenter who has worked in the past with NTA as a freelancer, says, “The important thing is that at the time, when NTA existed before we had the digital media space, NTA monopolised the market. NTA was about the biggest and only, except, of course, AIT and a few others here and there, regionally and locally in states, were able to pull their weights, but as far as national media is concerned, it’s almost always been the Nigerian Television Authority.”
NTA has a network of over 100 stations across Nigeria, with its headquarters in Abuja. Among its branches, NTA International serves as the international station. NTA has expanded its reach in the digital age by introducing eight additional digital channels: NTA News24, NTA Sports, NTA Entertainment, NTA Knowledge, NTA Hausa, NTA Yoruba, NTA Igbo, and NTA Parliament. These digital channels enable NTA to cater to a wider audience beyond traditional terrestrial broadcasting.
Ishola considers this new digital revolution for NTA an opportunity to compete with emerging and innovative broadcast platforms like Arise TV and Channels, which have ears and eyes for the younger population of Nigerians whose major access to information exists on the internet, specifically social media.
Emeka Mba, former Director General of Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission, told Citizen that NTA initially lost relevance and market share because the government news network “lost its voice and became even more entrenched as a government mouthpiece rather than a public broadcaster.” He added that “its programming content became less relevant to the growing demographic of younger viewers.”
The “mouthpiece” is poorly funded
Both Ishola and Mba agree that one key reason we are seeing NTA active and creating new content formats or styles like a documentary on Nigeria’s political evolution and Tinubu’s rise to power is because the current administration understands the importance of media and the power of narratives and is positioning NTA as an authoritative source of information. Also notably, on May 20, 2023, NTA announced that it had won the Africa Union of Broadcasting’s Best Television Documentary Award.
With all these developments, Mba sees it as “a very wise strategic move to ensure ownership of narratives and, even more importantly, in the age of so much noise and clutter on social media,” to create a one-stop shop for disseminating approved government information.
Ishola also shares, “You will realise that NTA is poorly managed and poorly funded. And one of the biggest reasons for poor production, poor outputs, and poor perception would be that they were poorly funded.”
However, according to Ishola, one of the “major minuses” of NTA would be its role in shaping the perception of citizens about the government. In the last few decades, she says, “There has been an issue of whether or not we could trust their news, but with the fact that they have access to privileged information and whatnot, it means that most of the news we’re going to be hearing from them will be real and true.” Adding further, “We can now begin to debate the motive. And you know how it’s reported, especially if we think it’s more patronising than upholding the tenets and principles of journalism.”
While some people continue to praise NTA for its information dissemination as Nigeria began to shape its democracy and the government’s strategic role in enthroning democracy in Nigeria through the NTA, Mba says he can’t “justifiably” agree. “However, if we were to be charitable, during the [Olusegun Obasanjo] years of 1999 to 2007, NTA played a more active role in pushing government narratives than any other administration afterwards,” he shares with Citizen.
Is Tinubu the Tsunami?
Mba, whohad served for two and a half years as the DG/CEO of Nigeria’s broadcasting regulator, told us that “at the start of every new administration, it is the norm to see officials scurrying hurriedly to serve and please the incoming government as a sign of loyalty and lobby to keep their jobs or get better appointments.”
With Tinubu winning a controversial election and being lauded by some for waking NTA from the dead, and all agencies trying to impress and contribute to the new government’s vision, Mba says, “This is expected. Nothing new.”
NTA’s visible accomplishments shouldn’t be solely attributed to Tinubu; credit should also be given to the current NTA Director-General, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, who assumed office in 2022. We should consider that Dembos has maintained a reputation that has mostly not been tarnished alongside that of the previous administration, and this has contributed to NTA’s recent spotlight.
Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, current DG, NTA
On the other hand, many Nigerian media platforms and news producers hold reservations against Tinubu. During his presidential campaign, he criticised them, ignored media invitations and debates, and opted for interviews on international platforms. However, some believe that Tinubu now sees NTA as a new communication channel and recognises the importance of utilising authoritative government channels, despite owning his own media businesses.
Discussing Tinubu’s relationship with the media, Mba, who now runs Afia TV, an indigenous TV channel, states, “If anything, his investment in media such as TVC and the Nation newspaper, as well as the indirect support/influence of many media organisations in Nigeria, doesn’t suggest a man who has disdain for local media.” He believes that Tinubu understands the power of the media and expects him to utilise local channels more effectively in shaping positive narratives for his administration and political agenda.
While providing insights into the future of NTA, Mba forecasts, “Beyond the expected knee-jerk reactions from NTA towards any new incoming administration, if nothing is done to reposition NTA and structurally and appropriately redefine its role, the organisation would fall back to its [former] position,” adding strongly, “NTA would become even less relevant to the majority of the Nigerian audience and simply become a press release agency!”
If you’ve been following Nigeria’s financial news, you may have heard about another loan request that was recently approved. Understandably, given the country’s history with debt, this has generated some noise, so we decided to get into the gist of what it’s all about.
On June 22, 2023, the World Bank approved a new $500 million loan for the Nigerian government. The loan is for the Nigeria for Women Program Scale Up (NFWP-SU). According to Punch, this is the second loan the World Bank has approved under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The loan initially got approval on June 27, 2018, with part financing to the tune of $100 million.
[Nigeria for Women Project / World Bank]
So what’s the loan for?
The receiving agency for this loan is the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. According to the World Bank, the NFWP-SU programme will help ensure better economic opportunities for women, address gender inequality, guarantee better education, health, and nutrition outcomes for families, and build women’s and communities’ resilience to climate change.
This programme builds on the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP). Based on the initial $100 million tranche the FG received in 2018, the World Bank says it shows promising signs, which have led it to approve this $500 million loan.
According to the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, “NFWP’s model is helping to improve women’s livelihood opportunities, enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change, and participating in local administrations for policymaking related to community empowerment.”
He added, “Closing the gender gap in key economic sectors could yield between $9.3 billion and $22.9 billion,” and that the World Bank is optimistic that this scale-up will help Nigeria move closer to bridging this gap.
What else should you know?
In a recent press release, the World Bank disclosed that the beneficiaries of this programme are economically disadvantaged and vulnerable women in “Women Affinity Groups” (WAG). It says that since 2018, it has been implemented in six states across Nigeria. The World Bank supports over 427,887 WAG members by forming and strengthening 20,506 of these groups.
In approximately two years, the World Bank says these WAGs have saved about ₦4 billion ($8.9 million equivalent). It disclosed that a significant percentage of these funds are utilised as loans at any given time. So far, 835,573 community members have benefited from the NFWP through various interventions.
The loan was provided with support from the International Development Association (IDA).
However, a few things remain unclear, like the payback period and the loan terms. It’s also unclear who will head the new ministry to disburse the funds. So far, there isn’t a ministerial cabinet. Whoever that person is, all eyes will be on them.
For many Nigerians, public holidays are the best part of the year, so in this article, we’ll look at the various public holidays in Nigeria and the reasons behind the celebrations.
New Year’s Day
What better way to open up a new year than with celebration and resolutions that end up being abandoned mid-year?
According to the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Day is the first day of the year, January 1, and it’s the most widely observed public holiday as it’s celebrated worldwide, with Israel being the only exception.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD), also called “Armistice Day“, is celebrated on January 15. And it’s a public holiday for members of the armed forces only, i.e., the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Legion.
This day is used to commemorate the surrender of the Biafran troops in 1970 and honour the military officers who lost their lives protecting Nigeria. AFRD is usually celebrated with sales of the remembrance emblems; special prayers are held in military churches and mosques around the country; and a military parade and wreath-laying ceremony are organised in each state.
Easter
This is a Christian holiday usually celebrated in the first week of April. It’s observed nationally to mark the resurrection of Jesus. It usually starts on a Friday, called Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus, and ends with Easter Monday, which marks the day after His resurrection.
Many Catholics consider Easter to be the most important Christian holiday. They refer to that week as the “Holy Week.” On Thursdays, they celebrate the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus; on Fridays, dramas are conducted to re-enact the crucifixion; on Saturday, an Easter vigil is organised; and a mass is conducted on Sunday. Pentecostal churches also hold special programmes and services to celebrate Easter.
Eid-el Filtri
Eid-el Filtri, also called the “Festival of Breaking of the Fast” or “Small Sallah,” is an Islamic national holiday used to mark the end of a month of fasting popularly known as Ramadan. The dates for this celebration usually differ each year as it depends on local mosques’ sightings of the new moon.
During this celebration, many Muslims attend Eid prayers at their local mosque early in the morning, and it’s also customary to wear new clothes, give money to the children of the family, and make donations to charity.
Worker’s Day
Worker’s Day is commemorated on May 1 every year, and it’s used to mark the achievements of the labour movement.
This holiday, also called May Day or International Worker’s Day, is also observed in over 80 countries. In Nigeria, May 1 was first recognised and declared a public holiday by the Kano state’s People Redemption Party (PRP) in 1980, and it became a national holiday on May 1, 1981.
Children’s Day
Children’s Day is celebrated every year on May 27 in honour of children. It was first proclaimed in 1925 at the World Conference on Children Welfare in Geneva. This day is a public holiday for children in primary and secondary schools.
Inauguration Day
This day was formerly recognised as Democracy Day until former president Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 the new date to celebrate Nigeria’s democracy.
Now, May 29 is used solely to mark Nigeria’s transition to a new government.
Democracy Day
Before the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, this day usually served as a reminder of the flaws in our electoral system. 30 years ago, on June 12, 1993, MKO Abiola won the presidential election against Bashir Tofa in a landslide, but the election was annulled by then the military government led by Ibrahim Babangida.
However, on June 6, 2023, Buhari decided to honour the late Chief MKO Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR—the highest national honour reserved only for presidents and former presidents. And he also moved Democracy Day to June 12 to celebrate Nigeria’s democracy.
Eid-el Kabir
The Eld-el Kabir is the “Feast of Sacrifice”, also popularly known as “Big Sallah”. This festival is used to honour the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. This holiday is the second main holiday in Islam after Eid-el Filtri, and dates also differ from year to year.
Muslims start their celebrations with early morning prayers, followed by the slaughtering of rams, camels, cows, or goats. The meat from the animal slaughtered is shared into three parts: family, relatives and friends.
Eid-el Maulud
This is another Islamic national holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to observe the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The date for this celebration also differs annually, but it usually occurs in late September.
On this day, many Muslims are encouraged to embody the virtues of the Prophet Muhammad, i.e., love, tolerance, patience, and perseverance, and some use this day to give to the less privileged.
Independence day
Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated every October 1 to mark Nigeria’s independence from British rule in 1960.
Christmas Day
This is another Christian holiday celebrated worldwide every December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Common traditions on this day involve special church services, carol singing, and gift-giving.
It breaks my heart to tell you this, but the lynching of young Deborah Samuel in Sokoto is not the end of mob killing for blasphemy. Another case of blasphemy killing made the news, again.
On June 25, 2023, a local butcher, Usman Buda, met a sad and violent mob death in a Sokoto metropolis abattoir. Here’s how it happened.
The Murder of Usman Buda
Buda, according to eyewitnesses, made blasphemous statements against the Prophet Muhammad, and some young men challenged him to withdraw his statement. He refused.
The Sokoto State Police Command intervened, causing the mob to flee, with Buda being rescued and rushed to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital in Sokoto for treatment.
Sokoto Police Command arrive at the scene [Premium Times]
Unfortunately, Buda didn’t survive his injuries. He was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
But does the law say anything against blasphemy?
Let’s just say the law here is a bit…tricky. Especially when it comes to Northern Nigeria.
To understand this, we must first note that Nigeria operates two legal systems: common law and customary law. What is customary law depends on if you’re in the South or North (Shariah).
Because of this, some activities are treated as crimes under Northern Nigeria’s penal code that are not under the South’s criminal code.
The penal code (Sharia law) applies in the north, where there is a Muslim majority. The criminal code applies in the southern part of the country, where there is a Christian majority.
The Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal
When it comes to the issue of blasphemy, only Kaduna State approves of the death penalty for convicted offenders. This can be found under Section 406 of the Penal Code. Nowhere in Sharia Law does it approve of the masses taking life and death into their own hands via extrajudicial killings.
An excerpt of Section 406 of the Sharia Penal Code, with footnote 631 [Sharia in Africa.net]
However, this doesn’t mean that ‘blasphemers’ or people who ridicule the Islam religion get a jail-free card.
If you are convicted of the act under Section 402 of Sharia law, the offender will get either a two year imprisonment sentence, a fine of N20,000 or both. This also comes with a non-negotiable thirty lashes of the cane.
An excerpt of Section 402 of the Sharia Penal Code, with footnote 626 [Sharia in Africa.net]
What will happen next with this case?
The Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, reassured the public that the investigation is still on to bring the mob to justice.
But the Sokoto State governor, Ahmed Aliyu, sees Buda’s death in a different light. Through a statement by his spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, he vowed that “his present administration will not take the issue of blasphemy lightly.”
Ahmed Aliyu [Premium Times]
He also promised that “he will deal decisively with anyone found guilty of any act aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad… in line with the provisions of Islamic laws.”
For many young Nigerians, their first experience of premium shege probably starts when they sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), popularly known as JAMB.
However, with the latest development, on June 24, 2023, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced new cut-off marks set at 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.
What’s their reason for this?
Although JAMB has yet to state their reasons behind this, during a Policy Meeting on Admissions on June 24, presided over by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, JAMB’s registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, revealed that out of the 1,761,338 candidates who sat for the 2022 UTME, only 378,639 (21.5%) scored above 200, and about 520,596 (29.56%) scored 190 and above. With 48.97% scoring below 180.
However, Oloyede pointed out that universities can set their own cut-off marks. Still, they aren’t allowed to go under the newly agreed minimum marks of 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.
Nonetheless, this announcement has been met with many mixed reactions from young Nigerians, educators, and students.
Zikoko Citizen reached out to some of them, and they shared their thoughts.
What are people saying?
Yinka’s a teacher at a private secondary school in Lagos, and she believes that the new JAMB cut-off marks will affect our quality of education. “There’s no justifiable reason for what JAMB did. The quality of education has drastically dropped because of exam malpractice. We already see cases where university students are unable to write simple letters. And yet, admission cut-off marks are being further lowered, which shows that our level of education in Nigeria is gone. I’m not in support of it at all.”
According to the World Economic Forum (2017), Nigeria ranks 124th out of 137 countries in terms of primary education, and we’re also missing in the top ten education systems in Africa. A report by Businessday also revealed that the poor quality of tertiary education in Nigeria contributes to about 18% of yearly school dropouts.
OJ, who recently passed out of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, shares the same sentiment as Yinka. According to them, “If people educated by the government are struggling to meet 1/4th of the cut-off mark, it’s telling of the shambles our educational system is in. Cutting down the cut-off mark won’t change that; the whole thing is a joke either way.” They add that the government might be taking the easy way out and should instead focus on making policies and reforms that would benefit our educational system.
But not all reactions are negative about the new cutoff mark, as some students are excited about this announcement. Victoria, who sat for the 2022 UTME, says she’s happy with the news as she believes it’ll benefit her. She had 195 in the last examination and thinks the new cut-off mark will increase her chances of getting into her preferred course.
On the other hand, some people, like Reggie, question the relevance of JAMB altogether. He says, “The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and internal exams set by universities should be enough to screen prospective students. JAMB should be scrapped.”
In Nigeria, the agency tasked with combating the use and sale of hard drugs is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). It recently intercepted loads of “Colos”, a psychotropic drug rapidly gaining popularity among young people.
The United Nations marks today, June 26, as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The NDLEA is also on a national campaign to stop drug abuse, especially as it has become increasingly common to see videos of Nigerians, specifically young people, exhibiting erratic behaviour and losing control of their actions due to the influence of the drug known as Colorado.
Colorado has swept across the country with a street lingo known as Colos. We’ve explored a worrying trend with cocaine trafficking. In this article, we’ll look at Colos and what science says about it.
What is Colos?
Colos is a drug that comes from a synthetic mixture. It contains heavy metals laced with chemicals, with weed as a mixture. Colos is unsafe for human consumption.
Colos has other names like “Black Mamba”, “Potpourri”, “Arizona”, “Lamba” (when mixed with “Loud”), and “Scooby Snax”.
What are the health hazards of using Colos?
Colos is ingested to mimic the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana, which gives off the feeling of being high. However, it does more than that; it often sends users into a frenzy. The chemicals used in making Colos are banned substances smuggled into Nigeria.
Olabintan Odunola, a medical doctor and Team Lead at The Health City shared her insights on the drug:
“Using drugs, including the widely acclaimed Colorado, has been made to look cool, and therefore many young people are attracted to using them, consequences be damned. Health risks involved in using synthetic cannabinoids like Colorado include feelings of lightheadedness, dizziness, confusion, and tiredness; feeling excited, agitated, and aggressive mood swings; anxiety and paranoia; suicidal thoughts; memory problems and amnesia; nausea and vomiting; hot flushes; increased heart rate and blood pressure, which may cause chest pains, damage your heart, and even cause a heart attack; excessive sweating fingers, toes, or muscles; feeling numb and tingly tremors; seizures; and even death.
Today, on International Day of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the onus is on us to continue educating young people that drug abuse always comes with a price and is not worth the hype.”
On social media, there are several videos of Nigerian youths reacting violently after using the drug. In 2022, a special report by Punchrevealed a drug user going berserk by uncontrollably slamming his head against a plank. In 2020, Guardianreported that a teenager died after smoking the drug.
The potency of the drug is well-known and has entered street slang. The phrase “On Colos” means a person acting under the influence of drugs.
What else should you know?
Nigerian laws frown upon illicit drug use. Beyond that, however, it’s clear that Colos contains chemicals that can have long-term damaging effects. The safest recourse is to avoid it and other related banned substances entirely.
This year’s World Drug Day theme is “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.” If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance abuse, the NDLEA has provided an extensive list of NGOs focused on rehabilitation that you can contact. Avail yourself of this opportunity today, and let’s bring the Colos pandemic to a halt.
Why waste time revealing the answer to a question when a greater curiosity is waiting to be explored? A few of the many questions that often arise, especially among young people trying to understand Nigeria’s politics, are: What is Nigeria’s Fourth Republic? Who is Mr Fourth Republic?
With the release of the Citizen Election Report, the query delves into the heart of the country’s democratic journey. Before you move on, are you ready to learn about the identity of the influential figure(s) who played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s political scene during the Fourth Republic?
Get to know the man!
“Mr Fourth Republic” refers to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Nigeria’s fourth democratic republic began in 1999, and Obasanjo served as President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and was the first civilian president after several years of military rule.
During his tenure, Obasanjo implemented various reforms to promote democracy, promote economic development, and tackle corruption. He oversaw the establishment of institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), aimed at combating corruption, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), meant to ensure free and fair elections.
Obasanjo’s presidency marked a pivotal period in Nigeria’s democratic journey, and his influence extended beyond his time in office. His role in leading Nigeria during the Fourth Republic earned him the moniker “Mr Fourth Republic” due to his enduring impact on the country’s political landscape and his contributions to shaping Nigeria’s democracy.
Nigeria’s troubled history
Ethnic tensions, corruption, military rule, and economic downturns are just a few of the difficulties plaguing Nigeria throughout its troubled history. Amidst this backdrop, Nigeria’s elections’ significance cannot be overstated. The country has witnessed numerous troubled elections, each leaving its mark on the nation’s political fabric.
Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has transitioned through four republics. The Fourth Republic began in 1999 and is an ongoing democratic era where citizens elect their leaders. However, it is important to note that the Third Republic, which ran from 1992 to 1993, was short-lived due to political crises surrounding the annulment of Chief MKO Abiola’s presidential election victory.
Following the turbulent period under military rule, the Fourth Republic emerged, bringing forth a new wave of political parties and figures. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), founded by prominent individuals who stood against the Abacha regime, won the 1999 presidential election with Olusegun Obasanjo as its candidate. The Alliance for Democracy (AD) also emerged as a formidable opposition party during this time.
As the Fourth Republic unfolded, Nigeria experienced several elections, shaping the political landscape and the nation’s perception of its leaders. The presence of ex-military men like Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023) in politics raised questions about the true nature of civilian governance. However, with each election cycle, the number of ex-military contestants decreased, hinting at a potential shift in the future political landscape of Nigeria.
Join us as we explore Nigeria’s democratic journey, learn more about the mysteries of Nigeria’s “Mr Fourth Republic,” and delve into the pages of the Citizen election report, your go-to guide that provides cool insights into Nigeria’s political history and the intricacies of its democratic process.
Two stories about Nigeria caught my eye this week. They fascinate me because their disparity best captures the peculiarity of being Nigerian. Let’s start with the good stuff.
In what has been viral news during the week, a Nigerian, Ifeoma Amuche, studying at a Chinese university, went on to finish as the school’s best-graduating student. As the valedictorian, she delivered a speech over four minutes long in fluent Chinese. If it isn’t apparent, that’s a pretty impressive feat.
Another way to think of it is if a Chinese studied at a Nigerian university and finished as the best-graduating student—while learning in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo or any of the hundreds of languages spoken in Nigeria. Ifeoma’s feat typifies Nigerian excellence, setting an incredibly high bar.
And now, to the other story. People’s Gazette exclusively reported that two federal civil servants conducted a $76 million heist, the proceeds of which were kept in cold storage at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The story’s lede reads like vivid imagination—the kind one only daydreams about when struck by severe hunger pangs. Here’s a screenshot below:
The story has several interesting subplots, including the alleged involvement of the disgraced police officer, Abba Kyari, who was alleged to have received kickbacks. You can read the full gist at your own time.
When the story broke, it triggered several reactions, like this one:
Having read through the story, here are a few thoughts:
Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade was a farce
Muhammadu Buhari may be away from power for good, but his terrible legacy remains. He had the option of strengthening our institutions but chose to hinge his initial anti-corruption crusade around the force of his personality. The result? Public officers carted away millions of dollars from government coffers wantonly.
Stealing huge sums is easy. Spending it is hard
It’s one thing to hatch a plan to steal plenty of money. As the last administration showed, that happened a lot. But spending it without leaving a paper trail while still serving in government is very hard. White-collar criminals usually find their way around that by laundering money. We explained here why that’s bad.
They might have gotten away with it
The reason we know about the story goes like this, in summary. Some government workers allegedly stashed $76 million. A driver for one of them thought COVID-19 palliatives were locked up in storage and told his friends, who were scrap metal collectors. These guys came around hoping to get their share of Indomie—recall that this period was when government officials were hoarding palliatives. To their surprise, they broke in successfully and found that what they thought were packs of noodles were stacks of dollar notes. They managed to cart away $4 million, leaving $72 million behind, while the driver himself was unaware. As they say, there’s no honour among thieves.
The government officials found out. They could have chosen to forgo the $4 million but decided to involve the police to recover it. Maybe they feared that they could return to cart more loot. Police managed to recover around $2 million, but long and short, a paper trail had emerged. Would their heist have remained a secret if they’d chosen to count their losses instead? We’d never know.
Something has got to give
If you recall that Nigeria suffered a severe dollar shortage, you’d understand why having $76 million in cash is mind-blowing. But an even bigger question is how these government officials got their hands on it in the first place. This represents the first major corruption case that the current administration has on its hands.
How the investigation will proceed from here on is anyone’s guess. But it would also indicate whether this administration is serious about reforms or if things will remain business as usual.
If you closely followed the 2023 Nigerian election, you may have noticed Uju Ken-Ohanenye, the only female presidential aspirant from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite ultimately stepping down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the party’s primary election convention, Ken-Ohanenye’s campaign centred around a compelling message: Nigeria needs a mother to lead the nation.
Nigeria’s political scene has witnessed numerous significant milestones throughout its history. One such landmark moment was the emergence of Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril as the first woman to run for the presidency of Nigeria in 1992. Her courageous foray into the male-dominated political arena marked a crucial step towards gender inclusivity. It paved the way for future generations of women like Ken-Ohanneye in Nigerian politics.
Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril’s exceptional accomplishments shed light on an overlooked aspect of Nigeria’s political history and landscape, underscoring the need for improved discourse around our historical narratives.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s really cool and interesting political journey like this, every citizen should explore the Citizen Election Report.
Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril’s Trailblazing Candidature
Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril, a formidable force in Nigerian politics, etched her name in history by becoming the first woman to contest the Nigerian presidency. Her political journey began in 1992, when she ran as a candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). With her vision, determination, and passion for social justice, she captured the attention of the Nigerian electorate and inspired women across the nation. Despite the challenges and gender biases she encountered, Jibril fearlessly pressed forward, determined to break down barriers and create opportunities for women in Nigerian politics.
In 1998, Jibril again joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and vied for the presidency. Her candidature is one visible way women have challenged societal norms and expectations. While she may not have secured the presidency, her groundbreaking campaign left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape.
Jibril’s trailblazing efforts have paved the way for subsequent generations of women who have attempted to become the country’s president.
Hopefully, Nigeria’s highest political officeholder will be a woman one day.
Exploring Nigeria’s Political Journey
To gain a comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s political history and the strides made towards a more inclusive democracy, the Citizen Election Report is an essential resource. This comprehensive guide provides a thorough analysis of Nigeria’s political scene from 1999 to the present, delving into key events, electoral reforms, and the evolving political landscape. By reading this report, citizens can gain valuable insights into the challenges faced, the progress made, and the vision for Nigeria’s political future.
By understanding Nigeria’s political journey and the contributions of trailblazers like Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril, citizens can actively participate in shaping the country’s democratic landscape. The Citizen Election Report is a vital tool for empowering citizens, especially young Nigerians, to engage in informed discussions and make well-informed decisions regarding Nigeria’s political scene.
Did you know that there are several types of Nigerian passports that are differentiated based on the status and needs of the individual? In this article, we’ll discuss the different kinds of Nigerian passports and the requirements to get one.
Let’s delve right in:
Standard Passport
This Nigerian passport is the regular one, commonly known as the international passport. It is easily recognisable by its green cover and is specifically issued to the general public and everyday citizens.
The standard Nigerian passport is also a means of identification for Nigerians travelling abroad, with a total validity period of 10 years.
The requirements for applying for a standard passport vary depending on whether you’re a first-time applicant or requesting a re-issuance of a new one. For first-time applicants, the following documents are needed:
A completed passport application form
National Identity Number (NIN)
A copy of your birth certificate or age declaration
Local government letter of identification
A passport photograph
Letter of consent from parents (for applicants under 16 years)
A guarantor’s form is signed by a commissioner of oaths.
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Receipt of payment of passport fee
The requirements for a passport renewal include the following:
A completed passport application form
A recent photograph
A copy of the old passport
A Police Report that says the passport was stolen or lost
Receipt of payment of passport fee.
Official Passport
The official passport is distinguished by its blue colour. As the name suggests, this kind of passport is issued to government officials such as ministers, governors, permanent secretaries, top military and police officers, and heads of government parastatals.
The requirements for an official passport are:
A letter of introduction from the applicant’s ministry or parastatal duly signed by an official not below the rank of a director or secretary to the state government
A passport photograph
Receipt of passport fee
Diplomatic Passport
This passport has a distinctive red colour, and it’s issued to ambassadors, consulates, diplomats, and top-ranking government officials like the president, vice-president, senate president, and governors.
The immediate family members of diplomatic passport holders are also eligible to apply for a diplomatic passport themselves.
Unlike other Nigerian passports, the diplomatic passport comes with special privileges. Some of these privileges include:
Exemption from certain airport routines like bag searches and identity checks
Visa-free access to 69 countries
Exemption from paying tax on earnings that result from travelling by air or land
Permission to use diplomatic licence plates while driving in a foreign country.
The pilgrim passport has no specific colour as it changes yearly, and it is typically issued to people who want to embark on religious pilgrimages, for instance, to Mecca and Jerusalem. And unlike other Nigerian passports, the validity period of the pilgrim passport is 6 months.
Seaman Passport
The seaman passport can be identified by its maroon cover; it is issued to sailors and other maritime personnel.
It allows these sailors access to other countries by sea and shows their qualifications.
The requirements for applying for a seaman’s passport are as follows:
Local government letter of identification
Completed passport application form
Birth certificate
A passport photograph
The data page of a guarantor’s standard Nigerian passport
Guarantor’s driving licence or national identity card
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s #AbroadLife feature is an assistant audit manager who works for one of the world’s top accounting firms in New Zealand. He tells us how he got an amazing job opportunity and had to leave Nigeria. He is experiencing cultural shock that has shaken his views and stance on what morality truly is.
What inspired you to move to New Zealand?
So I didn’t have to leave; it was more of a work opportunity I could harness. Despite the economic difficulties, life was already good in Nigeria, and I consider myself lucky. In Nigeria, I worked for one of the biggest accounting firms in the country as an auditor. In September 2022, I saw an offer for auditors being able to work for the same firm in another country’s branch. I had already worked for this firm in Nigeria for three and a half years, so I said, Why not?
Nice! What was the process like for you?
So my migration path is different from others. My company had already worked everything out for me concerning my visa and other documents. I gained a work visa that allowed me to work for at most three years, and then I could apply for permanent residency. I came to New Zealand in February 2023.
However, there are different pathways. There are master’s scholarships and auditors that have now been included in the express pathway to permanent residency. If you know anyone in the audit line that can prove that they’ve been working in the field for at least three years, then they can apply.
Awesome! What would you say were your first experiences in New Zealand?
Because of the job pathway I came in with, settling in wasn’t stressful. My company already had mobile relocation experts that helped me settle regarding accommodation and immigration documents. I’d say the people there are extremely friendly, and the population there is only 5.1 million people, which makes it very small. The food here isn’t really great. I ate something during my first week (I don’t know the name of the meal), and since then, I’ve decided to stick with African dishes.
I can also say that you tend to see some crazy people on the street…
Crazy, how?
Well, I’d say the rate of gays, lesbians, and other people in the queer community is very rampant, like they are so open with their sexuality out there. I guess it shocks me more because I am a Christian. Anything goes here. The amount of people that take drugs here is crazy too. You can’t walk 100 metres without seeing a smoker of weed or other substances here in New Zealand. It’s impossible. Maybe it’s a normal thing out there.
Wow, are there any advantages so far in staying in New Zealand?
They have a structured economy in that even though you have a blue or white-collar job; you can rest assured that you’ll have a good quality of living. You don’t have to do too much to get food to eat, provided you work hard. With my NZ$10, I can feed for two days, more than you can get here in Nigeria. Over here, they pay workers’ wages by the hour, so you can make so much depending on how many hours you work. The value of the New Zealand Dollar is much better than Nigeria. Commodities seem readily available. The people I interact with, too, are amazing, as they have so much exposure.
What are the disadvantages?
In terms of raising kids, you don’t have so much control. You could be jailed in minutes if you spank your kids or chastise them in the smallest way. The kids here also seem to talk to their parents and act wayward. There seems to be a lack of a moral compass in that sense.
I would say my bills, too, are kind of high, but only because of the location I’m in. You pay rent weekly in New Zealand and can get a place for as low as NZ$300, like N120-150k in Nigeria. That isn’t bad at all. To live in nicer apartments, you must start paying NZ$700, equivalent to N400k in Nigeria.
With these disadvantages, do you see yourself settling permanently in New Zealand?
Well, New Zealand is not a bad place. It’s a very good place to start, but I’m not sure I want to settle down permanently in the long term. Maybe Australia or Canada perhaps. New Zealand can be very boring at times, and they also love travelling. Whenever public holidays come, the city is deserted because everyone has travelled to their villages for the holidays. It’s a great place to be, but one needs to manage the environment.
The use of social media has come with benefits and challenges. Combined with the explosive rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the last few years, it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell what is real from what is fake. The phrase “seeing is believing” is being tested now more than ever. The things we see and hear can now be digitally altered, thanks to technologies like Midjourney and Deep Fakes.
For instance, there’s a YouTube channel dedicated to telling jokes using AI-generated voices and the visuals of former US presidents. For the uninitiated, it looks genuine. See this short clip, for example.
In another one, a photo of the Pope in a white hoodie took Twitter by storm. It was later found to be AI-generated.
While it may seem harmless fun to some, fake images can have grave consequences. In May, a falsified photo of an explosion near the US Pentagon spooked financial markets and caused US stocks to drop in what some consider the first instance of an AI-generated image moving the market.
In Nigeria, leading up to the elections, fake images of presidential candidates and their allies made the rounds. Many of these made their way to WhatsApp groups and stoked ethnic sentiments that influenced how people voted.
For this week’s episode of Wait First, we look at ways to identify fake photos and how to protect yourself from sharing fake news.
How to spot fake photos online
Fact-checkers, Dubawa made a video identifying five ways to spot fake images. In summary:
Check the source. Look for the source of the photo. If it’s from a reputable organisation or a known photographer, it’s more likely to be authentic.
Look for inconsistencies. Check for photo inconsistencies, such as mismatched shadows, unnatural lighting, or distorted proportions.
Check the metadata. Most digital photos contain metadata that includes information such as the date, time, and location of the photo. Check this information to see if it matches the context of the photo.
Use Reverse Image Search. Use a reverse image search engine like Google Images, Tineye, or Yandex to see if the photo has been used elsewhere on the internet. If it has been used in multiple contexts, it may be fake.
Consult experts. Consult with forensic analysts, photojournalists, or digital forensic experts if you’re still unsure about the image’s authenticity.
What else should you know?
Besides the above points, Deutsche Welle (DW), the news agency, has also provided some tips to help shield you from falling victim to fake images.
Zoom in and look carefully.
Watch out for typical AI errors. AI-generated images tend to have one too many fingers. In the example of the Pope above, did you notice that his left fingers were unusually long and that there were only four of them? Also, look out for too many teeth or weird glass frames. The Random Face Generator is an AI tool that generates photos of people who don’t exist.
Check for unusual smoothing. If the hair or skin looks exceptionally flawless, there’s a good chance it’s fake.
Examine the background. Sometimes, the backgrounds of AI images tend to be blurred or have distorted objects.
If you encounter an image on Twitter whose authenticity you’re unsure of, you can tag the handle @hoaxeye. It does reverse image searches and can check if an image is real or AI-generated.
[Midjourney image of Will Smith. Note the blurry background]
Despite these tips, technology is constantly advancing, and AI is adapting to overcome its flaws. Ultimately, the best bet is to remain sceptical and apply common sense. Don’t be too eager to share a photo if it’s not verified. When in doubt, leave it out.
There’s hardly any sector today where women won’t be found doing amazing things. And in this article, we’ll look at a trailblazer whose resilience and passion broke the stereotypes in Nigeria’s aviation industry. Her name is Chinyere Kalu, Nigeria’s first commercial pilot.
What’s her story?
Chinyere is a native of Akwete, Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA), in Abia state. She was primarily under her mother’s care following her parents’ separation. She had her primary school education at the Anglican Girls Grammar School in Yaba, and for her secondary education, she attended the Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School in Surulere, Lagos. Initially, she wanted to become an air hostess, but along the way, she changed her mind and decided to pursue piloting.
Her decision to have an aviation career was met with the support of her family, particularly her aunt, who was the family’s matriarch. She attended the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Kaduna, to train as a private and commercial pilot, where she had to face different challenges.
What were the challenges?
It’s well known that the aviation sector is male-dominated, so she had to deal with self-doubts, especially as her male colleagues sometimes intentionally made it difficult for her. But aside from this, there was the constant tension of being dismissed as during her time in aviation school, letters of dismissal were sent out on Fridays to weed people out, but she managed to pull through.
In addition to her aviation college training, Zaria, she took other aviation courses in the United States and the United Kingdom. Here’s an overview of some of her training:
Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) Course, Bolivia Aviation, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Course, Federal Aviation Administration, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Flight Instructor’s Rating, Civil Aviation Authority, Oxford, United Kingdom
Commercial Pilot License (CPL/IR), NCAT, Zaria
Postgraduate Diploma, Transport Management and Logistics, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria
Airborne Collision Avoidance/T-CAS Training for Air Traffic Controllers Course
Pilots Human Performance and Limitations/Crew Resources Management/Human Factors Course
Chinyere Kalu received her licence as a commercial pilot on May 20, 1981, from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the rest, as they say, is history. She has gone on to receive many awards and recognitions. She was conferred a member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2006 and a member of the Nigerian Women Achievers Hall of Fame. Some of her other awards include:
African International Achievers Merit Award, 2007
The Rare Gems Professional Achievement Award, 2007
Nigeria’s 50 Greatest Women of Democratic Administration of Ghana 2012
She served as the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology’s rector and chief instructor from October 2011 until 2014, when Captain Samuel Caulcrick succeeded her.
Chinyere Kalu’s story is proof that when it comes to dreams, there are no gender boundaries, and she’ll continue to be a source of inspiration for many young Nigerian girls and women.
When discussing his plans for security when he gets into power, Tinubu once said, “To start chaos is easy”, but ensuring peace is a struggle. Given the events that have unfolded since he was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election, we can all acknowledge the challenge of maintaining peace with other political parties.
Many people are no longer following up on efforts to challenge Tinubu’s victory, but let’s revisit the purpose and significance of an election tribunal.
The Recap
An election tribunal is a place where a sole judge can determine the contests or petitions alleged against a candidate during an election by all candidates.
On March 21, 2023, four presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Solomon Okangbuan of Action Alliance (AA) and Chichi Ojei of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) filed petitions at the Presidential Elections Tribunal in Abuja, seeking to nullify INEC’s declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential elections.
The petitions claim that the presidential election results should be annulled for the following reasons:
At the time of the elections, Tinubu wasn’t qualified to contest, which would infer that he received “wasted votes”.
Kasim Shettima had a double nomination, one as APC’s vice-presidential candidate and the other for a senatorial seat in the National Assembly, contrary to what’s permitted based on Section 35 of the Electoral Act.
Tinubu failed to get 25% of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and engaged in corrupt practices that were non-compliant with the Electoral Act.
The last time we covered the election tribunals, they had just begun court proceedings, with the AA withdrawing their petitions and backing out of the race. But so much more has happened since then. Let’s fill you in:
A tussle over live broadcasting of court proceedings
In May 2023, Atiku and Obi had been pleading with the court to grant a live broadcast of events due to the “national import” or importance of the case. But the APC wasn’t having that at all.
Tinubu’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, says they are there for “serious business, not a parade ground”. Thus, there was no real reason for the proceedings to be televised.
Kemi Pinero, in defense said that they have responded to all subpoenas (including PDP’s) and that the LP counsel only wants to “stall the case”. She also said this had been a pattern of the LP for the last two weeks.
LP then tendered 18,000 blurred result sheets
On June 15, LP’s fourth witness, Eric Ofoedu, a mathematics professor who was commissioned to analyse election data in Rivers and Benue, claimed that INEC had uploaded 18 pages of unreadable data.
However, Mahmoud denied the claim. He added that the witness had sent in his statements only a few minutes before court proceedings for that day started.
How Ofoedu must have felt when his claims were dismissed
“There was no technical glitch as claimed by INEC”
Technical difficulties were a key reason voters could not view election results on the IReV (INEC Results Viewing Portal). That is, until LP’s seventh witness, Clarita Ogar, spoke on June 20.
Ogar is a cloud engineer with Amazon Web Services Incorporated (AWS), a firm INEC engaged in providing technical support. She claimed that AWS Cloud did not record any technical glitches in the country on February 25. Ogar brought six reports showing the status of the AWS dashboard of cloud services in 33 regions and certificates of compliance to back up her claims.
Tinubu’s legal team strongly disagreed with the allegation. They went to reference instances where the AWS software glitched in the past, e.g., MTN’s payment service bank in 2021.
Gideon Idiagbonya, APM counsel, said the party had analysed the judgement and intends to continue with the petition.
There was no objection from the court, as the panel noted that everyone is free to fight for their rights.
The PDP plans to wrap up by Friday
The PDP and Atiku have indicated they will close their case at the tribunal by Friday. But according to Chris Uche, his team had lost two of the 21 days allotted to them, with one being a public holiday,
The PDP legal team now has an extension of court. This means we should expect PDP presence for two more days.
Meanwhile, Obi is under pressure to give up the fight
A House of Representatives Member, Amobi Ogah, has asked Peter Obi and other parties’ candidates to support President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, “the election has come and gone. Now it is about governance. And whoever God has given that mandate to represent the people, you must respect that institution.”
But will Obi give up? Will shocking new evidence be uncovered? Let’s wait and see.
In January 2023, Nigerian comedian, Helen Paul, took to Google to ask, “Who is the owner of Nigeria?” Google’s response was to bring up Aliko Dangote, the billionaire businessman. Soon enough, it became a trending issue as other people confirmed the same result from the search engine.
Although it’s considered a Google algorithm error, it has brought up random answers to queries it has no specific answers to, like claiming Jack Ma was the owner of China or Agbani Darego being Nigeria’s ugliest woman.
Google may not always be your friend, but we won’t disappoint you like that. That’s why we want to give a definitive answer to the question: Who owns Nigeria?
Who owns Nigeria?
No one person “owns” Nigeria, not even the President. Nigeria is a sovereign state whose ownership is vested in the Nigerian people. As we’ve explained in a separate article, Nigeria is both a federal republic and a democracy. By federal, we mean that Nigeria is a federation of states—36 in all (excluding the Federal Capital Territory).
By republic, we mean a system of government where people choose representatives through elections to represent them in the public interest. In this sense, it differs from military rule or a monarchy. But it does sound very similar to a democracy, which also elects leaders. Like Nigeria, most democracies are also republics. Examples include the US and France.
A slight difference is that democracy is the government of the majority, which allows the majority to impose its will on the minority. On the other hand, a republic allows everyone—whether the majority or the minority—to have inalienable rights. The Constitution protects these rights in Nigeria.
Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, but only became a republic on October 1, 1963. Since then, we’ve alternated between Republican and military rule. Nigeria is in its Fourth Republic, which began on May 29, 1999.
What else should you know about Nigeria?
Nigeria is an ethnically diverse country comprising over 250 ethnic groups. Its largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. We already wrote about other ethnic groups you should know about.
Nigeria is also unique in its composition, being perhaps the only country with a roughly even split of Christians and Muslims.
Nigeria is an oil-rich nation plagued with many issues like poor leadership, insecurity, economic mismanagement, and corruption. However, Nigeria has historically excelled in sports and the arts and is a prominent force in the African tech scene. Below are five interesting facts to know about Nigeria.
Five fun facts about Nigeria
Nigeria is the originator of the team sport Loofball, which combines features of handball and volleyball. It began in 2017.
[Loofball / Wikipedia]
Nigeria is home to Igbo-Ora, situated in Oyo state. With 158 twin births per thousand, it has been described as the Twin Capital of the World.
[Nigerian Twins / Reuters]
Nigeria’s Nollywood is the second-largest film industry in the world. Nigeria is also the home of Afrobeats, championed by stars like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Tiwa Savage.
[Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa, Burnaboy / Intel Region]
Nigeria remains the only African country to have medalled in all categories in Olympic football, winning gold in Atlanta 1996, silver in Beijing 2008, and bronze in Rio 2016.
[Nigeria’s male football team at the 2018 World Cup / Sportskeeda]
Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. About 50.4% of its population is under 18 years old. Its commercial capital, Lagos, is projected to become the world’s most populous city by 2100.
We’ve all heard stories of how Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a major opps to the Nigerian military government. It’s been 26 years since his death, and we can’t expressly say that the country’s state has improved. We’re still recycling the same old leaders, and corruption is still the definition of normal.
I’ve often wondered what Fela would say or sing if he were alive to see us today, so I devised a means to talk to him.
Relax, I don’t have supernatural powers, but everything is possible with tech these days. I found an AI technology that lets you bring historical figures back to life, and here’s how my conversation with Fela went:
Fela: Hello, my people! It’s a pleasure to talk to you beyond the veil!
Tolu: Hello, sir. I just want you to know that Nigeria hasn’t gotten better since your passing o
Fela: Yes, my sister. It’s a shame that things haven’t changed much. But we must remember that change doesn’t come easily.
Tolu: Speaking of change, do you remember Muhammadu Buhari?
Fela: Ah yes, I remember him very well. Buhari was a military leader who governed Nigeria during one of its darkest periods. He was responsible for many atrocities and human rights violations.
Tolu: Ehm, despite his atrocities, Nigeria voted him as president in 2015, and he ruled us for another 8 years till 2023.
Fela: That is truly disappointing. It shows that our struggle for democracy and good governance must be continuous. We must remain vigilant in ensuring those in power are held accountable for their actions.
Tolu: Well said. Anyways, we have a new president. Guess who?
Fela: Hmm, I’m not a seer, my sister, but tell me, who is the new president?
Tolu: Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Do you remember him?
Fela: Yes, I do remember him. He was a prominent figure in Nigerian politics during my time and played a significant role in the return to democracy after years of military rule.
Tolu: You sound like a Tinubu fan
Fela: I’m not a fan of any individual politician o. My loyalty lies with the people and their struggle for democracy and social justice. Tinubu’s past contributions to Nigerian politics might be noteworthy, but it’s his present actions that matter the most.
Tolu: Well, during his inaugural speech, he finally removed fuel subsidy, and the suffering in Nigeria has increased.
Fela: Ah, the fuel subsidy issue has been contentious for some time. While it may bring short-term economic benefits, it’s important to consider the impacts on common people already struggling with poverty and hardship.
Tolu: I don’t understand your English. Are you in support of the subsidy removal?
Fela: No, I’m not. As an activist who always fought for the rights of the people, it’s important that policies put in place by the government better the lives of Nigerians as a whole.
Fela: Absolutely. It’s our duty to hold our leaders accountable and fight for our rights.
Tolu: You fought many times against police brutality, and we’re still experiencing the same brutality today. How can we stop this?
Fela: Ah, police brutality is an issue that has plagued our society for a long time. It’s not enough to condemn the actions of these police officers; we must address the root causes in the police system.
Tolu: Oh, ehen, did you hear that your last son, Seun, slapped a police officer?
Fela: Ehn? (laughs) My son Seun is a fighter like his father. But violence is never the solution to police brutality or any other societal issue.
Tolu: What’s your advice for Nigerian youths today?
Fela: Never forget your roots, and always stand up for what you believe in. Don’t be afraid to challenge those in power and demand justice for yourself and your fellow citizens. Educate yourself on our issues and work towards solutions that benefit everyone, not a select few. And above all, remember the power of music and art to inspire people to change. As I’ve always said, “Music is a weapon”.
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What else happened this week?
Civil Servants Suspended For Salary Padding
Corruption is a major problem in Nigeria that we typically blame our politicians for. However, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the amount of dishonesty and fraud present in ordinary citizens as well. On June 12, 2023, news broke of some civil servants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) who were suspended and under probe for salary padding.
An investigation revealed that an Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) desk officer in charge of salaries connived with these civil servants to pad their salaries by manipulating the IPPIS system. For instance, a level 7 officer whose salary should be ₦60,000 was receiving over ₦400,000—the salary package of a director. Apparently, this salary padding had been going on for a while before it was finally caught wind of.
Currently, steps are being taken to upgrade the IPPIS system, and the culprits will be handed over to the authorities for prosecution.
Question of the week
President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loan Bill on June 12, 2023. Is this a step in the right direction for the Nigerian education sector? And if you could change one thing about the Bill, what would it be?
On June 16, 2023, a burly man met Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, at the nation’s official residence — the Aso Villa. No one knows the nature of their clandestine conversation.
Bola Tinubu and “the mystery man” [Channels Television]
Older Nigerians may understand why his speech was so ‘inflammatory’, but the Gen Zs? Not so much. The biggest question on their lips has been: who is Asari Dokubo?
To answer this, we must time travel to when oil became Nigeria’s new gold up for grabs by foreign oil companies, causing a never-ending conflict in the oil-rich Niger Delta region and the rise of some indigenous ‘avengers’.
While they have existed under different tags, they are commonly addressed as the Niger Delta Militants.
Several militant groups in the Niger Delta have attacked oil facilities in the past [AFP]
And all this oil was coming from one region — the Niger Delta.
First test drilling for oil in Nigeria in Oloibiri, Imo State c. 1950 [Ukpuru]
Unfortunately, the vast wealth derived from petroleum didn’t trickle down to the masses in the Niger Delta, who suffer severe consequences due to oil exploration activities.
The region was severely exploited. This was since the 19th century with the discovery of palm oil and crude oil after Nigeria’s independence. Foreign oil companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron set up bases in oil-rich areas, notably the Ogoniland in Rivers State. Indigenes were uprooted from their homes forcefully as government made a profit from the evacuations.
The Ogonis and other minority groups complained about the forced evacuations and very little compensation. The government looked away. So did the oil companies.
Members of Nigeria’s Ogoni community protest against Shell in New York. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP
As all land belongs to the state and is held in trust by the government, the residents had little recourse under the law.
The law also prescribed that compensation for seized land would “be based on the value of the crops on the land at the time of its acquisition, not on the value of the land itself.”
For this reason, the Ogoni people became increasingly dissatisfied and soon formed one of the first Niger Delta agitation groups, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
Beginning in December 1992, the Ogonis started fighting for their land and lives, and the oil companies fought back, leading to escalation on both sides.
MOSOP issued an ultimatum to the oil companies (Shell, Chevron, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)) demanding some $10 billion in accumulated royalties, damages and compensation, and “immediate stoppage of environmental degradation”, as well as negotiations for mutual agreement on all future drilling.
What was the government’s response? Well, more agitation. They banned public gatherings and a declaration of disturbances made in oil production as an “act of treason.” But the protests seemed to work. Oil extraction decreased to a mere 10,000 barrels a day, and this got the government extremely pissed.
Several misunderstandings later, the Sani Abacha led military regime found its closure.
The Murder of the Ogoni Nine
In May 1994, nine activists from the movement who later became known as ‘The Ogoni Nine’, among them Ken Saro-Wiwa, were arrested and accused of incitement to murder following the deaths of four Ogoni elders (allegedly killed by a mob led by the Ogoni Nine).
Saro-Wiwa and his comrades denied the charges. However, they were imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and sentenced to death by a tribunal on November 10, 1995.
Many Nigerians expected the sentence to be commuted, especially as pressure rose from the international community.
“Ogoni Nine: The Encirclement Begins” [Archiv.ing]
The activists were denied due process and, upon being found guilty, were hanged by the Nigerian state.
The Ogoni Nine [Center for Development]
“Saro-Wiwa Hanged? Ogonis Wail and Mourn” [Archiv.ing]
The hanging was met with global criticism from human rights organisations and countries. Shell was also accused of bribing the military to silence Saro-Wiwa and the other activists.
However, we must also note that MOSOP and the Ogonis were not the only people tired of the empty promises of the government and oil companies. This is where we cue in a younger Asari Dokubo and the emergence of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
Asari Dokubo and the IYC
Tinubu’s guest, Asari Dokubo, grew up in the ashes of the Ogoni Nine murder, hating the Nigerian government for taking his home from him. We can trace his displeasure to 1998, when he founded the IYC —to make similar demands as the Ogoni Nine— and became its vice president.
In December 1998, it released the famous Kaiama Declaration, which demanded control of the Niger Delta’s energy resources. The declaration soon stirred the entire Ijaw population, and more than 500 communities supported it. This also helped Asari secure the position of organisation president in 2001.
During this period, however, Asari grew increasingly militant. His more radical agenda was at odds with the core leadership of the IYC. This made him to begin building a private militia organisation known as the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF).
The militancy of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF).
The NDPVF is seen to date as one of the major catalysts for the crisis in the Delta region. The NDPVF, a militant group, was largely funded by local and regional politicians who sought great profits from the region’s oil revenue.
They quickly escalated an armed conflict with a rival group, the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), who also sought to control the Delta’s oil resources. Combat was concentrated primarily in Warri and, soon enough, Nigeria’s oil capital Port Harcourt and areas to the city’s southwest. Both groups engaged in oil ‘bunkering’ and other illegal forms of local resource extraction.
A change in political ideals by the NDPVF caused the group’s former sponsors to withdraw their financial support and begin funnelling funds to the rival NDV. Asari’s NDPVF declared an “all-out war” against the Nigerian state.
The Effects of the NDPVF Activities
The threats to attack oil wells and pipelines by the NDPVF caused terror for oil companies operating in the area. They started to withdraw most of their staff from the Niger Delta. This resulted in a massive drop in oil production of 30,000 barrels per day. It also significantly pushed the price of petroleum worldwide.
Due to the crisis, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo called Asari and the leader of the NDV, Ateke Tom, to Abuja for peace talks. But unfortunately, these peace talks failed. After he refused to endorse the legitimacy of the Olusegun Obasanjo government, Asari was arrested and charged with treason by the Nigerian government.
On June 14, 2007, Asari was released on bail as part of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s pledge to try and bring peace to the Niger Delta region. He was also given $10 million a year from Abuja as a “federal pipeline security fee” to protect River State pipelines from banditry.
His old ‘crimes’ were overlooked as part of an extensive amnesty program across the Niger Delta region. This saw many of his followers lay down their arms as the government promised to provide jobs, protect the Niger Delta, and prioritise the people over profit.
The negative impact of oil theft on Nigeria
Now that you understand who Asari Dokubo is, you see why it’s ironic that he’s complaining about oil theft and pipeline (in)security. Here’s the reality of oil theft in Nigeria and how it affects you:
The stolen oil is sold on the black market. Since it doesn’t pass legal channels, it deprives the state of crucial income that could be used for public infrastructure, social programs, and economic development.
Oil spills and environmental pollution often accompany oil theft. Thieves use crude and unsafe methods to extract oil, damaging pipelines and infrastructure. These incidents result in widespread farmlands, water sources, and ecosystem contamination.
The proceeds from oil theft are often used to fund criminal activities, including insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of organised crime. This creates security challenges, particularly in the Niger Delta region, where most oil theft incidents occur.
Nonetheless, the impact of oil spillage and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region remains a concern, as millions of people can’t lead normal lives and are not catered for by the Nigerian state.
It’s customary for Nigerian presidents to retire security chiefs when they assume office, and yesterday was no different with President Tinubu. On June 19, 2023, the Presidency announced the immediate retirement of all service chiefs and the inspector-general of police.
However, new appointments have been made to fill these positions, and in this article, you’ll get to know the new Service Chiefs—consider this a brief profile of them.
Major Gen. Christopher Gwawin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Major Gen. Musa hails from Zangon Kataf, Kaduna state, and was born on December 25, 1967. He’s a member of the 38th Regular Course from the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps in September 1991 as a Second Lieutenant.
Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff also has an Advanced Diploma in Strategic Management from the University of Lagos and a Master’s in Defence Studies from the National Defence University in Beijing, China.
Maj. Gen. Musa is no stranger to fighting terrorists and has spent more than a decade of his military career doing so. He was the General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division, the Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, the Assistant Director of Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans, and the Infantry Representative/Member Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps. Additionally, he was the former Deputy Chief of Staff Training/Operations at HQ Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander of Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE, and Commander of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
Before being appointed the new Chief of Defence Staff, he was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.
Major Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
Major Gen. Lagbaja hails from Osun State and was born on February 28, 1968. He’s a member of the 39th Regular Course and was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992
Along with having a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from NDA, he also has a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. Maj. Gen. Lagbaja has been involved in several military operations in the course of his military career.
Some of them are:
Operation HARMONY IV on the Bakassi Peninsula, January 1996–June 2000
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2004–2005
Operation ZAKI, September 2012–July 2014
Operation LAFIYA DOLE, December 2015–January 2018
Operation MESA/ UDO KA, March 2021–August 2022
Operation FOREST SANITY, August 2022 till date
Before he was appointed the COAS, he served as the General Officer Commanding Division 1, Kaduna, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, and the Chief of Operations for the Army.
Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff(CAS)
The new CAS was born on September 11, 1970, and he’s from Shanono, Kano state. He’s a NDA 39th Regular Course member and was commissioned on September 19, 1992, as a Pilot Officer.
AVM Bala Abubakar has a Bachelor’s degree from the NDA and a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Some of the appointments previously held by the new chief of air staff include:
Rear Admiral A. Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral Ogalla hails from Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State. He was born on December 20, 1968, and graduated from the NDA 39th Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. During his graduation, he was awarded the Sword of Honour as the best naval cadet in his set and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on September 16, 1992.
Rear Admiral Ogalla has a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and he has gone on to serve on many ships such as the NNS, EKUN, LANA, DELTA, PATHFINDER, and many more.
He was on board NNS EKUN and participated in Liberia’s Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in 1996. He was also the Base Operations Officer on the NNS PATHFINDER, and during his time there, a significant drop in illegal maritime activities was recorded. Until his recent appointment, he was Director of Lessons Learnt at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The new Chief of Naval Staff is also a member of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the International Earth Rotation Services, and a fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association of the United Kingdom.
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence
Emmanuel Undiandeye hails from Obudu, Cross River State. He’s part of the Intelligence Corps of the Nigerian Army and was the Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.
As the new Chief of Defence Intelligence, he’ll be responsible for strengthening our defence sector, ensuring military cooperation with other countries, maintaining the territorial integrity of Nigeria, and, of course, protecting the lives of citizens.
Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector General of Police
Kayode Egbetokun left his lecturing role at the Yaba College of Technology and enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
This is not the first time he will be working with Tinubu. In 1999, he was appointed Chief Security Officer to Bola Tinubu when he served as the governor of Lagos state. Some of the other appointments held by Kayode Egbetokun are:
Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos
Squadron Commander, Mopol 5, Benin, Benin City
Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja
For many Nigerians, Nuhu Ribadu is a household name. He’s the first executive chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was also recently appointed as the Special Adviser on Security to the president.
Nuhu Ribadu was born on November 21, 1960, in Yola, Adamawa state. He studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and was called to the bar in 1984. After his National Youth Service, he joined the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). As chairman of the EFCC, he worked tirelessly against corruption and brought many offenders to book.
The new NSA is a recipient of the Inspector General of Police Awards of 1998, 1999, and 2000. He also received a special commendation from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 for the successful prosecution of cases relating to fraud and other economic crimes.
As Nigeria welcomes the new service chiefs, it is expected to signal a positive shift in our security situation. With their commendable backgrounds, it is hoped that they will bring new insights to address the nation’s security issues.
In Nigeria, it is no longer rare to hear news about the arrests and court cases of corrupt government officials turned criminals. Several of them are making the headlines these days, with the latest addition being an ex-JAMB registrar, Dibu Ojerinde.
What did Ojerinde do?
Dibu Ojerinde, former ex-JAMB registrar [Premium Times]
On June 16, 2023, Ojerinde and three of his kids were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for trying to sell off $150,000 worth of property in Accra, Ghana. This was even after it was forfeited to the Nigerian government.
Ojerinde, in particular, was also accused of incorporating six companies using forged documents and stolen identities.
Also, some of the offences were contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
As shocking as Ojerinde’s crimes are, it might shock you that this isn’t the first time the ICPC will hold him by the neck. In fact, he has multiple criminal charges in his closet.
Let’s get into some of them:
2017 – Ojerinde gets probed on JAMB remittance
2017 was the beginning of Ojerinde’s many criminal accusations.
According to ICPC Spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, there were also several allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion, and making false statements to public officials. This was during his tenure as JAMB and NECO registrar.
July 2021 – Ojerinde is arraigned over N5 billion fraud
On July 8, 2021, the ICPC arraigned Ojerinde on 18 counts of diversion of public funds during his tenure as JAMB registrar — now to the tune of N5 billion.
Ojerinde, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Later, he was admitted on bail of N200 million.
According to the constitution, the number of Special Advisers (SAs) appointed by the president to assist with his duties is prescribed by a resolution of the National Assembly. And on June 6, 2023, the Senate approved Tinubu’s request to appoint 20 special advisers, but this request didn’t state the specific names of the SAs.
However, on June 15, a list of eight out of the 20 special advisers was released. These SAs for the next four years will be instrumental in ensuring the success of this administration. The appointees are:
Dele Alake; Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy
Wale Edun, Special Adviser, Monetary Policies
Olu Verheijen; Special Adviser, Energy
Yau Darazo, Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs
Salma Ibrahim Anas, Special Adviser, Health
John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment
Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser, Security
Zacchaeus Adedeji. Special Adviser, Revenue
These new appointees are all experts in their various fields; however, in this article, we’ll spotlight the two women who made this list: Olu Verheijen (SA, Energy) and Salma Ibrahim Anas (SA, Health).
Who’s Olu Verheijen?
Olu Verheijen has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Long University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. At 46, she’s one of the youngest people on the list of special advisers, but she has proven to be a force in the field.
With about 20 years of experience in the energy and power sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa, she’s the founder and managing director of Latimer Energy. She is also an Advisory Council Member of the US Millennium Corporation for Energy at Growth Hub.
This isn’t the first time Olu Verheijen will serve the Nigerian government, as she has supported the formulation of policies and reforms to promote investment in gas infrastructure for domestic markets. She was Shell’s finance lead on the negotiations for Nigeria’s first World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee.
Additionally, she gives back to the people through her BFA Foundation, which offers scholarships for career advancement, particularly in the energy sector, for women and other disadvantaged groups.
Salma Anas, aged 57, has an exceptional record in the Nigerian health sector with over 25 years of experience. Born and raised in Maiduguri, she’s the daughter of a former police officer and deputy governor of Borno state, the late Ibrahim Anas.
Salma received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Maiduguri in 1989. Since then, she has served in both the public and private health sectors and has been instrumental in policy formulation and developing national, regional, and international health programmes. For instance, she has worked towards improving access to quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, and elderly health and nutrition services.
Some of the appointments previously held by Salma include:
Director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health .
Director of Special Projects & National Coordinator Health Sector Humanitarian Crisis at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Assistant Representative/Head of Reproductive Health/HIV, United Nations Population Fund, Nigeria.
National Team Leader for the Department for International Development – funded Maternal Newborn and Child Health project.
These two women have a wealth of experience and the expertise needed to serve Nigeria in their new roles. And more importantly, their remarkable achievements so far make them powerful role models for young girls and women in Nigeria.
It’s been three weeks since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, and Nigerians are getting a clearer picture of his economic plans for the country.
In May 2023, Tinubu’s Policy Advisory Council developed a report that wants to double Nigeria’s economy to become a trillion-dollar one by 2031. The 50-page report only became publicly available last week. We went through it to highlight some key findings.
Senator Tokunbo Abiru chaired the economic sub-committee that drafted this report. The committee also comprised Yemi Cardoso, Samaila Zubairu, and Doris Anite. The audit and advisory firm KPMG contributed to this report.
[Source: Policy Advisory Council Report, May 2023]
What are the highlights of the report?
The report identified five areas of focus that it wants to pursue to hit its big targets.
[Source: Policy Advisory Council Report, May 2023]
On the fiscal side, the government says it wants to boost revenue, lower expenditure, and refinance debt. It has moved to lower expenditure by removing the fuel subsidy, shifting the burden from the government to the people. To generate revenue, this government will aggressively focus on deepening tax collection. It will also “rationalise select government assets.” (A finance term that means reorganising assets to make them more efficient to boost a company’s bottom line.) This can be achieved by either divesting the assets or selling them off.
[Source: Policy Advisory Council Report, May 2023]
The government is also looking to address oil theft. It wants to achieve this by expanding security contracts in the Niger Delta. Taken at face value, this might explain Asari Dokubo’s visit to the villa last week, which in all likelihood, wasn’t just a courtesy visit but at the invitation of the President.
The report also speaks on boosting Nigeria’s oil production and making Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDA) more efficient by implementing the Oronsaye report to remove duplicity.
The monetary policy goal is to keep the exchange rate within ₦550-600 to the dollar and to bring inflation and interest rates to 13% and nine per cent, respectively. Currently, inflation is at 22.41%, and the interest rate is at 18.5%. We explained here why that’s bad.
[Source: Policy Advisory Council Report, May 2023]
There are also suggestions to extend the deadline for turning in old notes to December 31, 2024.
Under industry and trade, plans are to boost the manufacturing sector’s output to $50 billion annually. The agenda includes training 100,000 artisans annually, subsidising interest rates for manufacturers, creating a five per cent tax incentive, leveraging on a ₦9 trillion pension fund and passing a foreclosure law to “deepen credit penetration.”
The highlight for the capital market is to make data more accurate and eliminate multiple taxes that can put off investors.
There are also doubts about how workable these plans are. First, consider the growth numbers. Let’s look at Buhari’s numbers:
Tinubu is saying he’ll rebound the economy to grow at an average of seven per cent. Frankly speaking, pulling that off would be nothing short of a miracle. The plan to double our economy into a trillion-dollar one in eight years is just as incredible. It might be best to file that under wishful thinking.
For one, mathematics doesn’t support it. In finance, there’s a rule of thumb known as the Rule of 72. It’s a shortcut to calculate the time it takes for anything to double, be it an investment, the GDP, or the population. All you need to do is divide 72 by the rate of return.
That means that even if seven per cent were to happen, GDP wouldn’t double for at least another eleven years. KPMG, which consulted on the report, seems to agree, which is why it said earlier in June that Tinubu’s plan to grow the economy at six per cent on average in his first four years isn’t feasible. They said the best-case scenario is hitting 4-4.5%. Factoring in the devaluation of the naira, this revised estimate means it may take Nigeria even longer to hit the trillion-dollar mark.
The goal to create 50 million jobs is also questionable in light of Nigeria’s high unemployment rate. One observation about the government so far is that it asks for concessions from Nigerians without making any itself. Its palliative goals are, in its words, “non-cash”, like public transport vouchers, education, and healthcare support. But it’s silent on how it wants to do it, just as it’s silent on what the new minimum wage will be.
The plan to outsource the security of pipelines to “contractors” signals that it’s business as usual. We wish the government good luck in this venture.
The foreclosure law, which it plans to pass to deepen credit financing, needs clarity. This is vital. The government wants to encourage mortgaging as a means to access loans, following which, in the case of a default, the government seizes control of the property.
Final words
So far, Tinubu has hit the ground running as promised. Yet, in the face of growing pains coming from the subsidy removal and the high cost of living, the patience of Nigerians may quickly grow thin.
As political commentator Feyi Fawehinmi puts it in the Financial Times, “Tinubu’s early moves have all been plucking low-hanging fruits. But you still have to credit him for bothering to pluck them.
“The bar is incredibly low. Buhari did not bother to pluck any fruits, low hanging or not. Tinubu will eventually run out of easy wins; the test starts then.”
There’s a common saying that “tough times don’t last.” Nigerians from all walks of life will hope this saying manifests quickly, and why wouldn’t they? The new administration, led by President Tinubu, heralded its dispensation by removing the fuel subsidy.
The effect has been a marked increase in fuel costs, which has had ripple effects on the cost of living. On Thursday, June 15, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that inflation in May rose to 22.41%. The subsidy removal and the subsequent announcement of a unified exchange rate have led experts to suggest that inflation will rise even higher in June.
To gauge the current adaptation of Nigerians to the prevailing circumstances, Citizen interviewed some of them for this week’s episode of Navigating Nigeria. Here are their thoughts:
Ola, Analyst at a VC firm
I’m a naturally frugal person who works on a budget. Because I follow the news, I saw the fuel subsidy removal coming, and I understood its implications. I got a solar inverter in May, which powers electronics like my TV, refrigerator, and laptop. I charge the inverter with PHCN’s power supply and switch to it when the power goes off. I did this because I didn’t want to find myself in a situation where I’d have to queue to get fuel for my generator. I’m also a remote worker who has to be online almost 24/7.
Getting a solar inverter has been one of the best cost-saving measures I’ve done this year. I don’t have a car, so I don’t have to worry about getting fuel for that because I rarely ever go out except for groceries. Speaking of that, I do my shopping in bulk, so there’s no need to visit the mall frequently. My data subscription plan is also in bulk; I pay a yearly data subscription of ₦100k on MTN that gives me one terabyte covering my internet needs.
I don’t eat out either; I make my meals. This one isn’t because of the subsidy removal. I’ve always been like that. It saves cost.
Another way I’ve adapted is to reduce my propensity to order stuff from online vendors. The other day I wanted to get stuff from Instagram, and the vendor told me it cost ₦2800, which was fine. Then I asked for the delivery cost, and she told me it was ₦2200. She told me the high delivery cost was because of the subsidy. I backed out because it made no sense to me. So yeah, these are the measures I’ve taken to readjust to life after the government removed the subsidy.
Itome, Business Analyst
For me, there are some essentials I can’t do without. Data is one of them, and that’s a non-negotiable, and I always make provision for that
Because my cost of living has increased, I go out only when necessary. I only use Bolt for significant outings. I take public transport most of the time.
To manage fuel, I turn on my generator when I need to charge my laptop and turn it off once my gadgets are fully charged. That’s how I’ve been managing.
Juliet, Banker
Cooking your food saves a lot. It’s much cheaper to cook at home and take your food to work than to buy food regularly. Imagine if my hubby and I buy food at work every day, plus our children. It would be very expensive. I also buy non-perishable food items in bulk.
Ilamosi, Sales Manager
Going out is the only thing I’ve cut down on. I barely go out now. Before the fuel subsidy removal, I’d be outside and come to work frequently. But now, with the hike in cab prices, it’s hard to leave my house. I’m now an introvert.
The cost of living has turned me into a home buddy. I’ve even reduced the way I order food. Usually, you’d find me on Chowdeck. Now? I cook. Dem no dey tell person twice.
Eloho, General Contractor
Regarding data, I use Fibre One wifi. It’s still cheap at the moment. For food, I made some bulk purchases before the inflation kicked in. I’ve not made any significant purchases afterwards.
Transportation is one area I’ve felt the pinch. Prices just dey surprise me every time. I use buses more than before to cope and only use Uber when necessary. I’m no longer shy of asking for Uber fare if my stepping out is doing someone a favour. I calculate in advance to reduce unnecessary trips
Regarding electricity, yesterday was the longest we ever ran my generator, which was babe-motivated. (Not my babe o, my brother’s babe). So far, our devices are charged, and we don’t run the generator like before. Before now, we’d put on the generator at the slightest inconvenience of heat. I go to places with better electricity to work instead of burning fuel.
Generally, I now think more business-wise, figuring out how every relationship can become financially beneficial to everyone. I make myself more available and render help to anyone
On a personal note, knowing the principle of giving makes giving more conscious. I budget a little daily, as much as possible, and look for the needy. It’s not just because of love but as part of my financial strategy because by giving, you receive more (not from the person you gave to, lol).
Shola, Oil and Gas Worker
I didn’t care about the fuel price until the subsidy removal. Now, I don’t buy full-tank like before. I only buy enough for the week. It cost about ₦32k to fill my car’s tank. So, these days, I just buy half, roughly ₦15k.
I don’t do long-distance drives, only making exceptions like going to my friend’s wedding or linking up with my babe. I had a chef that came in once a week but stopped her for a while. But eating out is biting, so I had to bring her back again at a higher rate. I’m now in between a rock and a hard place. I increased my housekeeper’s pay and slightly increased transfer payments to dependents.
My last movie dates were on the mainland, compared to my usual Ebony and IMAX at Lekki on the island. It’s cheaper, but my babe isn’t feeling this mainland level. It’s still the same film they’ll show us on the island or on the mainland.
Niyi, Corporate Trainer
I’ve stopped going anywhere. Fuel to fill my car’s tank is now about ₦37,000, up from ₦14,000. So I only go out when I absolutely have to go out.
I’m also investing in more solar generation. The inverter I own relies on fuel and electricity to charge the batteries. More investment has gone towards increasing the number of solar panels to avoid relying on generators. It’s become unsustainable to use generators.
I also had to bring forward some purchases before the prices inevitably go up.
Essentially, I’ve done a lot to reduce reliance on fuel because it’s become too expensive to maintain the lifestyle I was living in, pre-subsidy removal.
William, Lawyer
I’ve been in Abuja for the last few months, and it’s considerably different from living in Lagos. In Lagos, you at least have alternate transport like bikes. Here, outings are either via Bolt or a cab. Their cabs are arranged in a way that five people can sit in them. There are no bikes or buses here.
For the cabs, the price of transport has doubled. What cost about ₦1000 before now goes for ₦1800. I now go to court less than before. I also cut costs by moving in groups so that my colleagues and I can split the bill.
Personally, food prices haven’t increased. I still buy things at relatively the same price as before the subsidy removal. In Abuja, we don’t worry much about electricity. I think ours is way better than Lagos’s. On average, we get around 18 hours of consecutive power supply daily. On some days, it could be as high as 23 hours. That means you don’t have to worry much about fuel for your generator. You also don’t need to worry about wasting electricity to pump water, as ours is pipe-borne. The government supplies water, which is fascinating and different from Lagos, where everyone drills boreholes to get water. Abuja is giving American vibes.
Prices of other things may still go up over time, but for now, transport is the only area where I’m feeling the pinch.
Nigeria’s national symbols include the national flag, the national anthem, the coat of arms and the national pledge. In this article, we’ll be looking at the history of the Nigerian flag, the symbolism behind it, and some facts you should know.
What’s the history behind the Nigerian flag?
It’s relatively popular that the Nigerian flag was designed by Micheal Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959 when he was a 23-year-old student.
However, prior to this, between 1914 and 1959, when Nigeria was a British colony, the flag of Nigeria was British blue with a green six-pointed star referred to as the Seal of Solomon. At the centre of this seal was a white Tudor Crown and the name “Nigeria”; the crown was later modified in 1953 to a St. Edward’s Crown, used for coronation ceremonies by the British.
In 1958, Nigeria started working towards becoming part of the big boys. We were ready to be an independent country, which led to the creation of a national planning committee. The national planning committee held a competition to select the national flag, with the winner chosen by popular vote.
There were about 3000 submissions, but in the end, Taiwo Akinkunmi’s design ultimately won. But did you know that the committee altered Taiwo’s original flag design? His original concept for the flag included a red burning sun in the middle of the white vertical stripe, with two green bands on both sides.
The sun symbolised divine protection and guidance, the green represents our natural wealth, and the white signifies peace.
However, due to Nigeria’s diversity, the committee decided it’d be better to have a relatively simple flag design. And on October 1, 1960, our new National flag was officially adopted and flown publicly for the first time.
Nonetheless, this isn’t all there is to the Nigerian flag. Here are some interesting facts that you should also know:
No flag can be placed higher than the Nigerian flag
This is significant sign of respect to the nation. When the national flag is in a room or hung anywhere, no other flag, symbol or emblem should be placed higher than it. Also, according to the Flags and Coat of Arms Act, an old or worn-out flag must never be displayed as it’s considered a sign of dishonour.
The National flag doesn’t sleep
The flag is expected to be erected and flown ceremoniously by dawn at 6:00 a.m. and lowered slowly at dusk by 6:00 p.m. If you’ve gone through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, you’ll remember that this happened regularly at the orientation camps.
Half-mast
The flag is usually flown at half-mast as a sign of respect and grieving during state funerals or memorials.
We have a presidential flag
As the name suggests, the presidential flag is reserved for the president only, and it bears the coat of arms in the centre of the white stripe.
The national flag on vehicles
You are not allowed to display the flag on your vehicle; this is reserved for notable dignitaries only, i.e., the president, vice-president, senate president, speaker of the house of representatives, state and deputy governors, the chief justice of the federation, and others permitted by protocol. The flag must be placed on the right fender of a vehicle or on the radiator cap.
Additionally, you should also know that some actions are considered offences against the national flag. These include:
Defacing or destroying the flag
Flying the flag without a licence from the Ministry for Interior Affairs
Flying the national flag on the same pole as another flag
Flying the national flag on the same level as any other state flag
Flying the flag for business purposes rather than patriotism.
However, offences relating to the national flag attract a fine of only ₦150 with no option of imprisonment.
In January, I packed two bags, hired a cab for ₦110k and moved to Cotonou with a friend. We’d had a couple of rough months and needed a break from Lagos. Lagos wasn’t a city interested in my needs. I needed electricity, it gave me an anorexic power grid. I asked for an apartment close to work, and I lost my rented apartment to new house owners. Lagos was like a lover who ghosted once you started to want things. I needed better. Enter Cotonou.
I would’ve gone anywhere – as long as I had electricity and the air was cleaner. But I chose Cotonou because it was four hours away by bus and I could finally use my dusty passport.
Cotonou offered me three things in the first week we moved: 24/7 electricity, a clean city, thanks to cleaners who wiped the city at 2 a.m., and an apartment by the beach for the same price you’d get a boxy mini flat in the heart of Lagos mainland.
At a party, weeks later, when I explained this to a new friend who asked why I was in her city, she contemplated my analysis for a few seconds, then said, “Nigerians used to come to Benin Republic for trade or school… now they just come.”
It was my turn to contemplate. She wasn’t wrong. Nigerians at Dantokpa market, the biggest market in West Africa, may have settled in Cotonou for trade, but I’d learnt about a growing community of Nigerians with mostly flexible jobs, who, like me, had just come. What were their reasons? How did they decide?
Jite, a friend of mine, is one of these Nigerians. She’d spent her 20s in Awka and Nnewi, and loved their “small-townness”. Cotonou reminded her of those places. Friendly, quiet, with a passion to do very little.
“That jet feeling you get in busy cities doesn’t exist. If you go buy something and they don’t have change, you better just stay and wait. If the woman selling fruits has three people buying something, she’d attend to each person one after the other, not at the same time. Everyone is fine with that.”
During a five-minute stroll the evening I arrived, she told me to tone down my “Lagosness”. We’d been tearing through the street as though we were being chased, and she’d realised she was starting to pant. We laughed about it.
In her late 30s, Jite’s priority was peace of mind. Since 2020, before the move to Cotonou, Jite had been considering moving out of Nigeria. She, however, knew she didn’t want to move to a “white people country”.
EndSARS, the protest against police brutality was the trigger. “Something broke in me,” she said. She’d been a managing editor at a publication in Lagos for three years, and she quit. Six months later, she was in Cotonou for a friend’s birthday party, where she fell in love with the city. When she did make the move, she settled in quickly.
Networks
To enjoy a city, you need to understand how it works, and Jite had lived in Cotonou long enough to build a network. She had a guy and hack for everything. A guy for changing money into her Mobile Money (MoMo) account, which she used for transactions in shops on the streets; she knew what fruit seller spoke Yoruba, the fastest way to get to Lagos and back, how much internet data would last the month (25k, 75gb unlimited, the data cap lasts two weeks at best).
In my first week, Jite pointed out places and people I should know to have a good time: Her group of friends with whom she met once a month and checked out new places with, KaleBasse for the sensual, soft, Kizomba classes (we never went), the restaurant by the beach with tasty Bissap and a grilled Barracuda that melted in your mouth. She reminded me not to dress like a hippie when we prepped for a night at the hotel rooftop where a Nigerian singer named Gracia hosted live sets. “If you are black, you need to look wealthy in certain places to avoid disrespect.”
Loneliness is a byproduct of relocation, and people find moving to new cities or countries difficult because of the distance it creates between loved ones. When I asked Jite how she stays connected to her friends and family in Lagos, she told me she saw them more now than when she was in Lagos.
Since Jite started as a comms manager in a hybrid company in February 2022, she has visited Lagos once a month; she only has to be at the office once a month, so she takes a boat ride from Porto-Novo to CMS. The trip is two and a half hours. On these trips, she visits her mum and friends.
On our first night at the hotel rooftop, Jite introduced me to Ade, and the first thing I noted was that he spoke French to the waiter when he ordered a Mojito. For a second, I wondered if I could trust Cotonou bartenders with a glass of Moji baby, but I gestured for a Beninoise instead. As we drank and listened to Gracia belt Adele songs, he told me he’d lived in Cotonou for three years and knows the best spots. I’d meet Ade at various times in the following weeks. Twice at Jite’s for an evening of enjoying her meals and once at Erevan, the biggest supermarket in Cotonou. On one of those meets, we planned to visit one of his favourite spots: La Pirogue.
27-year-old Ade didn’t find settling into a new place with no friends as simple as Jite. Born in Shomolu to a strict dad who didn’t allow him to spend the night at anyone’s house – friend or family — he was shocked by his decision to move to a new city. He’d visited Cotonou for a short trip, a four-day work retreat in September 2021, and on his first night, he fell for the city.
“The time was 11 p.m. and everywhere was alive. I got to learn about the culture. For example, how it’s completely normal to have kids before getting married.”
Ade wasn’t averse to big decisions. He dropped out of the University of Ilorin in 2016 because he hated his course, taught himself to create websites with a friend’s laptop, and started an unsuccessful coaching business. Moving to Cotonou would be the fourth biggest decision in his life.
When I asked why he came, his reason was that he felt alive in Cotonou.
“I remember the moment I decided to move. I returned for another work retreat in December and found myself extending my trip. It was supposed to be for a weekend, but I stayed for two weeks. One night at a Sodabi joint, I immediately texted my mum, ‘I’m moving here.’ She freaked out. Had I considered the language, people, all the barriers? I hadn’t, but I didn’t tell her this. In fact, I had just paid rent for my apartment in Lagos.”
Where to live in Cotonou was easy to figure out. His boss ran their office in his home, and there was space for Ade. But the next three months tested him.
Building new communities
The idea of moving to a new city comes with the daydream of choices unaffected by previous folly. Everything is fresh, exes are not one Friday night-out away from tearing open new wounds and the prospect of getting to know yourself some more is electrifying.
You meet new people, find new spots. There are decisions to be made about everything from your hair salon down to your biscuits.
In reality, all of this was work, hard mental work that Ade, who hadn’t stayed longer than two weeks in a different country, was unprepared for.
“My first week was great. I was excited, checking out everywhere, taking pictures of everything. Second week was also great. I was working with my colleagues face-to-face as opposed to using virtual conferencing tools. From the third week, I started struggling.
“I realised I had to make new habits. If I felt low or had to talk, who would I go to? Living at work also didn’t help me. Even when I was done with work, it felt like I was still at work — the office was four doors away from mine.”
The skill that proved most useful to Ade was his ability to just get into things. Just like he decided to move after a shot of hard liquor, once he knew he had to learn French, he spent time outside till it made sense; he wanted to try new food, so he did.
“I’d jump on a bike and tell him to move. He’d be like, “Quel quartier?” I’d say just go. If I saw a place with a lot of light, I stopped.
“Paying attention to how places made me feel also helped. I found Luxury Lounge, the beach restaurant that helps me when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I also made friends to help me with my struggles here. They have context about how the people here are like and can give me contextual advice when I need help.”
In three years, Ade now had a network of Nigerian friends he met at places like Jite’s rooftop, friends from work and an aunt he found had also moved to Cotonou. These people, finding new places to visit and work keep him grounded. It took Ade about a year to settle fully into Cotonou.
When Life Gives You A Beninoise Passport
27-year-old Eli was born in Cotonou and moved to Nigeria when his dad’s trading business started to fail. We were eating bowls of ice cream from Ci Gusta, the best ice cream spot in Cotonou when he told me about his parents, a dad who moved to Cotonou in the mid-80s to expand his business and a mum who moved with his dad to build a family. Eli’s voice was soft and measured, unlike mine which was loud, competing with the music playing above us.
Eli’s dad left his import-export business in Abia, a state in South Eastern Nigeria when the Benin Republic opened its ports in the mid-80s. This is the story Eli was told to explain his Beninoise passport. His dad imported fabric from Gabon to Benin Republic, then exported them from Benin to the Netherlands. His business grew, and he built a house. He switched to importing clothes, towels, and fabric from Europe and selling them in Benin. When Eli was two, they moved to Lagos, and a year later, his dad was back in Abia State to continue his business.
“It was too late to be ‘Nigerian’. I was already in love with Cotonou,” Eli told me. He was back at the Cotonou house every school break, and once done with secondary school, he decided it was time to return. Eli had a plan.
“I told my mum we should come back, and she agreed. She also missed the calmness of Benin, and we still had a house. She moved back with me.”
Eli loved the city and the opportunities his passport affords him. “It’s very easy to get admission into universities here. Once you have 5 C’s in your O’Levels, you pay for a form, fill it, and you’re in. The quality of education is good, but the discipline is poor. No one will tell you to attend classes or punish you for not attending. So the bright students are very bright and the dull students are very dull. It’s entirely up to the students to succeed.
“I was a serious student. I studied Economics, and now I want to do a Masters in Social Work. I’m trying to transition because I want to travel. I’d like to do social work in a clinical setting, vulnerable people – giving care to people who need it. I’m working in a clinic now so I can do that.”
Johnny Just Come
Most Nigerians I met in Cotonou are fond of Jite, and that’s because she’d either convinced them to move down or they tasted her cooking. Jite hosts a once-in-a-while hang-out on the rooftop of her house. I’m eating yam and palm oil sauce on this rooftop when I meet Runor, who’d been in Cotonou for three months and was house hunting. He told me he came for the quiet.
Runor preferred not to think about Lagos, where he ran his generator daily because his apartment belonged to the section of his estate with low current electricity, and he had to pump the entire compound’s water daily because no one else would do it.
From him, I found out how much it cost to get a place. “The way these people build their houses can be very funny.” We watched a video of an apartment where the restrooms are outside and there’s no roof from the living room’s door to it. “What if it rains?” He bends his mouth in disapproval, but his forehead isn’t creased. It’s almost like he’s been enjoying the hunt. Runor knew he was very picky, and also knew that was a privilege he could only have in this city.
“I found a 2-bed with a small bathroom for CFA 85k. I found a two-bedroom place with a balcony. It costs CFA 20k per month. CFA 1.4m a year. One agent sent me a 3-bedroom flat for the same ₦120k. They showed me a one-bedroom with the toilet and kitchen in the same space, so I don’t ask for a one-bedroom again.”
At the time, CFA 1k was changing for ₦850 at Ajali, Dantokpa market area.
Runor was waiting to settle down to really experience the city, and with the options he found weekly, he’d be ready soon.
There are many reasons to enjoy Cotonou during a two-day work retreat, a month or three years. Everywhere is 20 minutes away, there’s 24-hour electricity, and close to the airport is an Amazonian statue I never visit because what if it falls on me?
For me, it’s my apartment.
My apartment is a two-storey white building which houses tenants I don’t hear or see. Security is a man in his late forties with whom I practise my bonjour, bonsoir, a demain. Francis is also the cleaner, gardener, and upholsterer of things.
He tries to teach me basic French, and I fail most times.
“Bonsoir madame, ça va?” “Bonsoir…” “No no. You say “ça va bien, merci. Et tu?”
I repeat, and I’m rewarded with a smile, then disinterest. I cannot bear to fail him.
Two months of this, and I still stutter between je vais bien and ça va bien, et tu and et toi. I’ve been religious with Duolingo, but tongue-tied in actual conversation. I know what it means to be happy — contente — but have no idea what conversation would lead to me saying I was happy, and if anyone would be kind enough to place one word after the other so I could follow. Very unlike the Duolingo owl, I chicken out.
In the middle of March, a week after Nigeria’s gubernatorial elections, we have a soiree on Sunday evening. There’s poetry, clinking glasses filled with zobo wine, a charcuterie board by Lara, my landlady; and art installations to mull over. Runor tells me he’s found a place. My struggles feel a globe away, even though I could get to them in four hours by road and two and half by boat.
I contemplate the people in the room, some here to fill or assuage something, each looking for a sense of balance or just a space to dream — a space that fosters dreams. I wonder how long it’d last, how long just until the stain of being Nigerian became a difficulty they had to contend with even here. We focus on the lull of the beach, Dwin the Stoic’s “God Knows Where”. Now is not the time for wondering; it’s for being contente.
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The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
The subject of today’s Abroad Life is Rukayat, a senior financial analyst in the UK whose side hustle is to connect foreign immigrants with job opportunitiesthrough RKY Careers. She spills the tea on her journey into resigning from a senior position at a legacy bank to relocate to the UK for her Master’s Degree and eventually starting her employment franchise.
What inspired you to move to the UK?
Oh, I moved to the UK to be with my fiancé (now husband) in 2019. As I started early, I was then at a senior level at Guaranty Trust Bank (not an executive). But I also wanted to further my education and get a Master’s degree.
What was the process like?
Well, I first have to start with the anxiety. I had to work through the fact that I was leaving my senior role at the bank to start a new life in the UK. I first tried to come in as a tourist to test the waters, as I didn’t have as much information on the process then as I do now.
However, I was later denied for reasons I’m not aware of. At the time, there wasn’t a specified student visa that could enable me to stay in the UK after my studies, so the “student visa” I got only allowed me access to the UK, which expired immediately after graduation. It was in 2021 that it became effective. I got admission to study Financial Technology at the University of Stirling, shortly after the COVVID in 2020
That’s wonderful! What was your Masters’ experience like?
I had the experience of taking physical classes for six months or four months after the peak of the COVID period. The percentage of Nigerians or even other Africans among the whites was very low.
In fact, I and one other Nigerian were the only two self-paid students in my class. The remaining two Nigerian students were on a Chevening scholarship. I also had the opportunity to pay my school fees in installments for twelve months. I was able to pay through savings from my salary at the bank, plus I had the support of my husband.
At that period, I had to live in Stirling, Scotland. Stirling was what I needed at the time because it was a very quiet and humble place. However, I didn’t live with my husband in England, so I still had to pay 350 pounds for my accommodation.
I got married a few months after I came in, was pregnant throughout the time of my studies, and gave birth at the time of my dissertation, so I needed a calm environment. It was also a struggle getting part-time jobs in the beginning (from September to December) because of the influx of international students rushing into the country. However, I could live with my husband’s support, and I finally got a part-time job in January.
Fantastic! How did you then come about creating RKY careers?
Getting my first job after school in the UK also birthed RKY careers in 2022. Going into the job market at first was scary because of the issue of not accepting Blacks lower rate than other races. However, this wasn’t the case. God favoured me with job offers, and I got various calls on salary expectations. At some interviews, I got rejected. At times, this happened in my final stage.
I was applying for jobs based on my research and had no guidance. I eventually got a job as a Senior Finance Analyst. After a couple of months, I then started to help Nigerians, from close friends and family to people in my current work who also had struggles getting a job in the UK for the first time. I first named the page “Live Careers in the UK” as a career consultation and advisory page, where I could dish out advice for first-time immigrants on careers in the country.
In the process, I also started helping people create CVs as well as LinkedIn optimisation. Last year, we also started to work on training for career professionals who wish to transition.
How did you register?
I first went to the Companies’ House where I paid a bill of 13 pounds. You can register as a limited liability company or a sole entity, but mine was a sole entity. You must also be eligible for it, as not everyone’s visa allows them to own companies in the UK.
What have been the achievements and setbacks so far?
So I’d say our team has done a good job so far regarding achievements. We had over 150 success stories of people who got jobs in the UK and even Nigeria and were called for speaking events, and they are generally doing very well. We have also empowered people to live their dreams in whichever career opportunity they choose.
The challenge, I’d say, is dealing with people, as you cannot satisfy everyone with a peculiar style. You have to offer bespoke services. It is also uncommon for Africans to patronise their own people, and even if they do, they make so many demands. I think we need to do better to respect black owned companies.
Where do you see RKY careers in the next 5 years?
We intend to make more impact and help more people be an inspiration to many others. We also need to increase inclusion and diversity in the workplace, not just for Nigerians but for all Africans.
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Every year on June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) occurs to educate and sensitise people about the suffering and abuse inflicted on senior citizens. The WEAAD was officially recognised and established in December 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/127.
What is Elder Abuse?
According to the United Nations, elder abuse is “a single, or repeated act or a lack of appropriate action where there’s an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person”. In simpler terms, elder abuse is when older citizens are harmed by people they trust, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren, neighbours, or even carers.
Some of the earliest discussions around elder abuse started in the mid-70s, when British journals described it as “granny battering”. However, since then, attention has been given to checking this issue and protecting older people’s rights and quality of life, particularly in Europe and North America.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Africa. Despite many people praying to reach old age, we have many cases of elder abuse in Nigerian society. But before going any further, what are the types of elder abuse?
Physical abuse
Physical abuse occurs when pain is inflicted on an elderly person. Examples include kicking, punching, pinching, over or under-medicating, starving as punishment, or exposure to severe weather.
Sadly, Nigeria has many instances of this form of abuse; in March 2022, 25-year-old Naziru Magaji was arrested in Kano state for beating up his 80-year-old grandmother, killing her, and throwing her body into a well.
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Emotional or psychological abuse
This is a common type of elder abuse where insults, threats, and harassment are used to cause feelings of shame, stress, fear, or distress in an older person. This can range from name-calling, intimidation, or isolation as a form of punishment to giving them the “silent treatment”.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is any form of sexual contact not consented to by the elderly. Examples include inappropriate touching, browsing through printed electronic pornographic materials in front of an older person, or other unwanted sexual behaviours. It’s sad to say that this form of abuse is rarely reported due to the shame associated with it.
Structural abuse
This is the type of abuse perpetrated by the government. For instance, the marginalisation and exclusion of elderly people from development programmes, a lack of reliable healthcare systems and welfare packages, or even a delay in the payment of gratuities and pensions
A Vanguard report on June 8, 2023, showed that about 34 states owed a backlog of unpaid gratuities, and 27 states had unpaid pensions running into billions of Naira.
Cultural abuse
Cultural abuse speaks to the attitude of people towards issues in relation to aspects of culture. It’s not uncommon to see instances of family members accusing the elderly of witchcraft, which eventually results in stigmatisation and sometimes death.
In March 2020, a viral video showed the heartbreaking scene of a man flogging his grandmother because she was declared a “witch” by his pastor. In December 2021, some youths in Rivers State beat and stripped naked an elderly woman suffering from dementia over witchcraft allegations.
However, cultural abuse also includes forbidding the older person from wearing their traditional clothes or speaking their native language in an attempt to embrace modernism.
Financial abuse
This type of abuse involves illegally exploiting or using the funds and resources of an older person. This includes taking money under false pretences, forcefully taking over assets and properties, or forging documents for fraud.
Neglect
Neglect is a common form of elder abuse, and it’s the failure to provide for the elderly’s basic necessities like medication, shelter, food, clothing, or emotional needs. One reason this is a common type of elder abuse is the current state of the Nigerian economy itself. The children and family members of the elderly are barely able to cater for their own needs, making it almost impossible to offer additional help to the elderly.
In rural communities today, we see many cases of older citizens who are victims of neglect. We spent a moving moment with an elderly woman suffering from neglect and abandonment.
Meet Kemi Cole
Kemi is a woman in her late sixties who lives in an abandoned, run-down house in Shogunle, Lagos.
“I’ve had problems from the onset of my life. I had parents, but they died early. I worked as a housekeeper until I got married. My husband was a troublesome man who drank, smoked, and used drugs. It was getting to a point where I could no longer endure the marriage, so I ran from Ibadan to Lagos with my three children, where I stayed with a friend”, Kemi says when Citizen visited her for an interview.
Kemi had high hopes for her eldest son, believing he would bring relief to her troubles upon completing school. Despite graduating from university and becoming a headmaster in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, he tragically passed away at the age of 42. This devastating event shattered Kemi’s world, leaving her completely alone. Her other two children also left her following the death of her first son. For the past four years, she has been desperately searching for her second son, while her youngest child, after finishing secondary school, fell into the “wrong company,” adopted harmful habits, and has been neglecting his mother for the past three years.
“I usually run around trying to trace the movement of my last child from Oshodi to Lagos Island, but recently, I’ve not had transport money to look for him, and now, these days, it’s getting harder for me to walk around or even stand. Several years ago, I got into a motorcycle accident while taking my first child to school”. The moment with her was emotional; she broke into tears as she remembered her first son.
Source: ZikokoCitizen
Kemi shares her daily struggle to find sustenance. She eats whenever possible, often resorting to offering laundry services or even begging on the streets to feed herself. Unfortunately, her legs pose a significant challenge, making these tasks even more difficult. Stripped of proper attire, Kemi relies on the kindness of others, who occasionally provide her with their old or tattered garments.
“I now stay with my friend in Shogunle, but she moved away when the house started leaking. When her rent expired, I was asked to renew the rent, but I didn’t have any money to pay. I know my days are numbered in the building because the owners have said they’ll be coming any day now to completely renovate the house, expecting everyone to leave. I’m pleading with the government to help me however they can. I have nothing; I’m simply waiting for death.”
Photocredits: ZikokoCitizen
Kemi shares that the properties in the “Face-me-I-face-you” room belong to her friend who moved out. As witnessed, the room barely had broken ceiling boards and a roof, so Kemi faces frequent exposure to rain and sun. She also always puts basins on the bed when it rains to prevent it from getting soaked.
It’s glaring that there is an urgent need for effective government intervention to protect elder abuse victims and the rights of older citizens.
What has the government done so far to prevent elder abuse?
Former president Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Senior Citizens Act 2017 to provide social services, cater for their needs, and improve the quality of life of the elderly in Nigeria. Also, under this Act, the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) was established.
Additionally, the NSCC, in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), launched a toll-free line, 0800CALLNAPTIP or 07030000203, to report abuse or violence against older persons. MTN users can also dial *627#.
Trigger Warning: This story contains sensitive content that may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with caution.
Editorial Note: The names mentioned in this story have been replaced with pseudonyms to safeguard the identity of the person sharing their experience.
At 80 years old, Hannah from Nanka, Anambra State, has “lived two lives”—the life before the night of May 1, 2022, and the life that followed. Motherly love and betrayal represent these two lives.
That night, the first day of May, changed her life. Hannah experienced theft, harassment, and sexual assault by her carer, John, who ironically happens to be the son of her late best friend.
Hannah now battles insomnia and nightmares every night due to the incident with her carer. This is the first time she has found the strength to share what happened to her and the feelings that night left in her.
A ‘mother-son’ relationship
Before the tragic incident, Hannah and John’s relationship was not just that of carer and homeowner but also that of mother and son. “I paid this boy’s fees through secondary school and brought him up in his teenage years,” Hannah said.
“He was the one face I saw every day, and because of my relationship with Ada [late friend], I called him my son, and he called me his mother. He was always respectful towards me. I never believed in all my life that John would do what he did to me.”
“The night my caretaker sexually assaulted me”
Hannah’s eyes welled up with tears as she bravely shared her harrowing tale, the weight of that fateful night still etched in her memory. Her voice trembled with a mix of fear, anger, and resilience as she recounted the chilling details.
“I was surprised to see John there,” Hannah began, her voice quivering with raw emotion.
“He had the spare keys, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but his presence that night sent shivers down my spine. With a gun pressed against my face, he demanded that I hand over my gold jewellery, cash, and will. I couldn’t discern whether the gun was real in the moonlight with no streetlights. And at that moment, I dared not find out.”
Forced to act swiftly under the threat of violence, Hannah recounted the painful submission that followed. “I stood up as quickly as possible and handed him everything he requested. But John’s cruelty didn’t end there,” she revealed, her voice laden with anguish. “In a final act of degradation, he violated my most intimate boundaries. Since that night, I have slept with a bucket beside my bed because of the constant nausea that results from the nightmares. Speaking on the subject now will be my first step towards recovery and psychological healing.”
As Hannah’s voice faded on the video call with me, I could tell she was carrying a heavy weight of unresolved pain. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the underreported gender-based violence against the elderly and the physical and mental trauma that emerges.
Every year, on June 15, the world comes together to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is a crucial occasion that sheds light on a pressing issue affecting our society.
This largely depends on the country you’re in. In the case of Hannah, as a Nigerian, you should contact ARDA-DCI’s (a non-governmental organisation) toll-free line, 08000202020. The ARDA-DCI offer medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and important information on sexual and gender-based violence.
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On June 14, 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a press release announcing new operational changes to the foreign exchange (forex) market. These changes, in summary, mean the CBN wants a unified exchange rate policy.
Most of the press release is filled with jargon that might be difficult to understand. We went through it to explain the parts that matter to you. We’ve also looked at the winners and losers of this new policy.
What are the highlights of this new policy?
The CBN is abolishing segmentation. As financial commentator Shuyi Olutimi explains, we operated in multiple market segments, including the interbank market, where commercial banks trade forex. The CBN, being the regulator of the banks, fixed the price daily.
There’s also the Bureau De Change (BDC) which comprises institutions recognised by the CBN to trade currency. These guys typically profit by selling on the parallel market, commonly known as the black market. Then we have the Investors & Exporters (I&E) window, a market established by the CBN in 2017 that allows more liquidity (cash) in the forex market to settle more significant transactions quickly.
The CBN is collapsing all these markets into the I&E window under a model called “willing buyer, willing seller.” This means the CBN no longer sets an official rate—everyone trades freely on an open market. Business Travel Allowance or Personal Travel Allowance (BTA/PTA) applicants will no longer get special subsidies on the dollar, the same as foreign students. Oil marketers will also have to get their FX via this window.
One significant implication is that arbitrage—taking advantage of price differences in currencies to make fast money—will no longer be attractive. Financial institutions are not allowed to have a spread, or profit, of more than ₦1 in this market.
At the I&E window, the naira ended at ₦664.04 per dollar yesterday, according to the FMDQ Securities Exchange. This marks a significant 29% depreciation compared to Tuesday’s rate of ₦471.67 per dollar.
Who are the losers?
Not everyone is excited by this news. Beyond some mentioned earlier, here are a few people who would feel the pinch.
Aliko Dangote
Africa’s and Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is by far the runaway loser here. The announcement of the exchange rate unification caused the naira to lose value and Dangote’s wealth to tank considerably. Nairametric reports that the billionaire’s wealth fell by $3.12 billion to $17.8 billion in one day. You see? The rich also cry.
The FG and, ultimately, you
Remember how we all wailed that Buhari and his cohorts threw Nigeria into debt? Well, that debt just got even bigger. Before the reunification, the public debt stood at around ₦73 trillion. The CBN’s announcement and subsequent naira devaluation have shot the debt up to ₦82 trillion. And you know what happens when debt goes up? The government passes the cost down to you in various ways, including, you know, taxes.
Fuel price and you, again
Don’t kill the messenger; I’m just doing my job. According to Taiwo Oyedele, the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC, the unification would lead to a “possible impact on the pump price of petrol which could inch closer to the current pump price of diesel.” I know you think petrol is expensive, but have you seen the diesel price? Hmm.
Who are the winners?
The CBN’s announcement is excellent news for some people. Let’s run through a few of them.
Foreign investors
Following the campaign mantra of President Tinubu, foreign investors will have renewed hope in Nigeria. Knowing there’s a uniform exchange rate means investors don’t have to worry about repatriating their funds at a loss due to the disparity in exchange rates. Credit rating agencies may review our ratings positively. Foreign portfolio investment in Nigeria’s capital market will also rise.
The FG
Financial experts project that revenues to the federal government from government-owned enterprises will shoot up significantly with this news, rising by as high as 39%.
You—in the long run
The most crucial signal this policy sends out is stability. The average Nigerian will bear hardship in the short term, but in the long term, the Nigerian economy should become robust. That is, provided the FG follows through with implementing secondary policies that ease the burden passed on to ordinary Nigerians, such as unbanning the list of items prohibited for FX and an upward review of the minimum wage.
What else should you know?
The CBN set up the Naira4Dollar scheme in 2021. It was an incentive that gave ₦5 for every dollar you received to increase dollar inflow into the Nigerian economy. The CBN now says the “Father Xmas” promo will end on June 30. Do with that information whatever you will.
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Did you know that in the past week, the Minister of Aviation “launched” an airline that many Nigerians, including the House of Representatives, have discovered to be nothing more than a scam? I’m going to give you the full tea on this, and at other times, the government has tried to play a smart one on us.
If you recall, in July 2018, the federal government launched a national airline, Nigerian Air, which was to serve as the second national airline after the collapse of Nigerian Airways in 2003. But unfortunately, the whole thing turned out to be audio, as the only thing we saw was the logo of Nigerian Air and random pictures; no one ever saw an actual aircraft.
However, it looked like the wait was finally ending when, on May 27, 2023, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, unveiled a Boeing 737-800 aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. He also claimed it’d begin international and local flight operations before Monday, June 5. On a norms, this would be cause for celebration, but as you very well know, things don’t work normally here. A few hours later, news reports started pouring in that the unveiled aircraft was already over ten years old and actually belonged to Ethiopia Airlines. The plane was simply painted and presented to Nigerians as an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air.
A committee of the House of Representatives on Aviation carried out an investigation, revealing that the aircraft was chartered from Ethiopia and landed the day before. So far, the House has declared the entire launch of the national airline a fraud and has begun probing those involved. But like I said, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of situation.
In August 2022, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) management was asked by the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) to account for how ₦17.158 billion was spent. However, the NSITF couldn’t give a satisfactory explanation and claimed that the documents containing details of the expenditure were kept by the past management and had been beaten by rain and eaten by termites. And, of course, no one was ever penalised for this.
Do you remember the story of the money-heist snake? In 2018, a sales clerk at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Makurdi, Benue state, couldn’t account for ₦36 million made from the sales of JAMB scratch cards. She instead claimed that her household had spiritually stolen the money from JAMB’s vault with the help of a mysterious snake. At this point, we can say that Nigeria is fighting against power, principalities, and the animal kingdom.
A sad theme around stories like this is that they usually get swept under the rug. Nonetheless, we’re going to keep an eye out to see how the Nigeria Air story unfolds, and hopefully the perpetrators are justly punished.
What else happened this week?
Edo State Government Adopts Hybrid Work
Many Nigerians haven’t found adjusting to the recent fuel subsidy removal easy. But, the Edo state government is putting measures in place to make life a little easier for its people.
On June 6, 2023, in a statement, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Media Projects, Obaseki, announced that the government had reduced the number of work days civil and public servants would have to commute to the office to three and encouraged them to work from home twice a week until further notice.
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He also stated that steps had been taken to increase the state’s minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦40,000. Obaseki also announced that efforts were already being taken to improve the power supply to homes and the availability of fibre optic cables to aid remote work and reduce the cost of transportation.
Question of the week
Do you know “tapping” electricity and metre bypass is a theft that can earn you jail time in Nigeria?
Video of the week
President Bola Tinubu has announced the end of Nigeria's long-running, controversial fuel subsidy.
What does this mean for Nigerians? And how has this affected their day to day living? We explain in 60 seconds. pic.twitter.com/W3fIjaftAA
George Akume has been officially sworn in as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Who is he, and what does his job entail? Find the answer here.
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On June 12, 2023, a boat capsized and killed more than 100 people on the Niger River in the Patigi District of Kwara State. The incident was reported to have happened at 3 a.m., leaving people unaware of the mishap until dawn, hours later.
Boat mishaps are frequent in Nigeria. In October 2022, Punch Newspapers published a report on similar incidents where a minimum of 701 people lost their lives in 53 boat incidents across Nigeria from January 2020 to October 2022.
Photo to illustrate boat capsize
The people involved were wedding guests
The incident occurred as the victims, comprising men, women, and children, were returning from a wedding in Egboti, Kwara State.
According to Punch, 61 people who died were from Ebu, 38 were from Gakpan, four were from Kpada, two were from Kuchalu, and one was from Sampi, respectively.
There’s a possibility that wedding guests use the boat to travel because it’s a cheaper means of transport in the state. Residents shared that after the fuel subsidy removal was announced, they’d mostly considered water a cheaper means of transportation.
However, navigating the Niger River by peddling a boat during the current rainy season in Nigeria is also risky. This is due to the rising water levels, particularly during windy storms that occur on the water.
So far, at least one hundred people have been rescued, but death toll continues to rise
Okasanmi Ajayi, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police, says 100 people have been rescued. The search and rescue operation is ongoing. Ajayi has also shared with news platforms that the team might record more fatalities, consequently raising the overall death toll.
What’s the state government in Kwara doing about the incident?
Kwara State Governor Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman has expressed condolences for those who lost their lives due to the incidents and their families.
In a recent statement, the governor also conveyed his sincere sympathies to the affected communities as well as people from other states who are impacted.
Governor Abdulrasaq also assured that he would closely monitor the ongoing rescue operations in pursuit of potential survivors.
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Another year, another struggle for Ponmo lovers. It looks like the long-standing beef between the federal government and Ponmo won’t end anytime soon, and this time, it looks like the government has finally caught on to a good reason.
On June 12, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development released a statement advising Nigerians against consuming ponmo, bushmeat, and other smoked meat due to the recent outbreak of anthrax within the West-African sub-region. Although the disease isn’t contagious as it’s zoonotic, you can only get infected by consuming contaminated animal products. Common symptoms of an anthrax infection include cough, fever, and muscle aches, which, if not treated early, can escalate to pneumonia, lung problems, difficulty breathing, and death.
However, thankfully, anthrax is a bacterial disease, meaning it’ll respond to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy. Also, the disease can be prevented and controlled in animals with vaccinations.
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This news has created another health scare (depending on how you see it) among Nigerians. And information being spread across media platforms is that Ponmo could be the easiest route to getting the bacteria infection. Government health regulatory officials have specifically warned Nigerians not to eat one of their favourite additions to meals, especially local meals.
With the way other sources of the disease like bushmeat and smoked meat are being disregarded in this conversation, it makes us wonder, “What has Ponmo done to the Nigerian government?”
This isn’t the first time the government has advised or tried to discourage Nigerians from eating Ponmo. And trust us to tell you various ways the government might have shown that there’s a long standing beef with Ponmo.
Let’s take a look at some of these instances.
The proposed ban
In 2022, the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) proposed a ban on the consumption of Ponmo. There were two main reasons behind this:
Nigerians obsession with cowskin was negatively affecting the country’s leather industry
And that it no nutritional value
NILEST is still waiting for legislative backing from the Senate to effect this ban.
NAFDAC’s alarms over imported cowskin
In February 2022, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) released a general warning to the public when it intercepted 120 tonnes of imported industrial cowskin and animal hides being sold as consumable products—Ponmo. This imported cowskin was already pre-treated with toxic industrial chemicals for leather production. And they were being sold to the public for consumption, putting innocent buyers at risk of liver, heart, and kidney damage.
In August 2016, a Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Task Force team shut down the ponmo processing sections of the Oko-Oba abattoir and Lairage Complex in Agege. This was due to the health hazards from the unhealthy methods of ponmo processing. The processing methods usually involve burning tyres, which emit toxic smoke into the environment, ultimately harming human health.
While you might say the government should focus on more important matters to address than attempting to limit the enjoyment and delectable addition that Ponmo brings to many Nigerians’ meals, there are valid reasons why we should consider reducing our consumption of it.
It can be dangerous for your health
As mentioned earlier by the NILEST, cowskin itself has no nutritional value, and the methods involved in its production can put your health at risk.
For instance, the cows from which hides are gotten may have been infected or ill; also, the hides are pre-treated with toxic chemicals that can cause aplastic anaemia, cancer, and central nervous system toxicity.
It’s having an economic impact
You don’t need a prophet to tell you that our economy needs all the help it can get. Typically, animal hides are used in the leather industries to produce shoes, bags, and belts, among other things, but in Nigeria, our situation is different. A study by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group showed that our leather industry has the potential to generate $1 billion by 2025. However, due to the widespread consumption of Ponmo, the country loses about ₦585 billion in annual revenue to imported ones.
Hey there, young Nigerians! We’ve got some fantastic news for you. Zikoko Citizen is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our highly anticipated Citizen Election Report. Building off our 2023 general election coverage, we have much in stock for you.
With this report, get ready to dive into a captivating journey through Nigeria’s political history and gain a deeper understanding of our democratic process.
The Citizen Election Report is not your typical boring academic paper. We are making it immersive, engaging, and interactive.
Mark your calendars! The Citizen Election Report will be launched on Friday, June 16. We can’t wait for you to explore the captivating chapters that will guide you through Nigeria’s fourth republic elections and their potential for national change. We no dey disappoint.
Trust us to give you the best meats and serve you the best stews. We’ve been cooking this right for you.
Stay Tuned and Get Involved
The Citizen Election Report is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more updates and sneak peeks leading up to the launch.
Remember, your voice matters, and your participation in Nigeria’s democratic process is crucial. Let’s come together, make a difference, and believe in the power of our democracy.
Please share this far and wide. Speak of our name everywhere. Anticipate and sell this hot bread with us.
