Author: user user

How economy can get its groove back

Addressing the House this week, Henry Musasizi, the Finance minister, admitted to the fact that the Ugandan economy is under pressure.

‘Our concern is not only the depreciation of the Shilling, but also its speed and impact on prices, businesses and household welfare,’ he said.

With the central bank having drawn on a range of monetary policy tools in an attempt to return to a semblance of normality, lawmakers like Karim Masaba were keen to find out if borrowers are facing an existential threat.

How, asked the Industrial Division, Mbale City, lawmaker, will borrowers with floating-rate loans be shielded from effects of a 225 basis points rate hike? Above all, how will the anaemic economy be revived? Does the blood bank include a review of taxes, particularly the excise duty on fuel? The price of a litre of diesel has already breached the Shs7,000 mark. That of petrol is also well and truly on its way.

‘Uganda remains committed to a market-determined exchange rate. This allows the economy to adjust to changes in external conditions,’ Mr Musasizi reassured, adding, ‘Our objective is to preserve price and financial stability and support orderly market adjustment. We are not committing public resources to defending a particular exchange rate.’

For Ugandans struggling to put food on the plate, this rings hollow. Dr Paddy Mugambe, a senior consultant in finance at Uganda Management Institute (UMI), emphasises this to them.

‘Growth may be concentrated in capital-intensive sectors such as oil and gas, construction, mining, gold exports and large public infrastructure, benefiting those who own productive assets more than wage earners and subsistence farmers,’ Dr Mugambe says.

‘Consequently, the key concern is not simply whether the economy is growing, but how broadly the benefits of that growth are distributed across regions, urban and rural areas, and income groups,’ he adds.

Proposals

Dr Mugambe thus proposes several measures that could help make economic growth more inclusive. First, infrastructure that supports production has to be developed. Second, intentionally escape the raw-commodity trap that increases ‘the trade deficit as high-value imports are matched with low-value exports.’ Agro-processing can prove to be handy here. Third, restore fiscal discipline, with Dr Mugambe pointing to borrowed funds that remain unutilised even as government continues to incur interest payments.

Ms Sarah Bireete, the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, says low agricultural productivity, expensive credit, high business costs, weak public services, corruption and inequality are preventing economic growth from translating into higher household incomes and improved living standards.

‘The government should transform agriculture through irrigation, storage, agro-processing and improved access to markets, while supporting manufacturing, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the creative and digital economy,’ she says.

‘The cost of doing business should be dramatically reduced. The government needs to address the high and unreliable costs of electricity, transport, finance, taxation and regulatory compliance. While the government has expanded infrastructure, more needs to be done to tackle high operating costs, multiple taxes, bureaucracy and expensive credit,’ she adds.

Dr Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo, a lecturer of Economics at Makerere University, reckons Uganda’s economic growth is not generating enough jobs or broad-based improvements in household welfare. ‘Uganda continues to face persistent unemployment and poverty, while the middle class remains relatively small. This is reflected in recent statistics from the National Social Security Fund, which show that only about 823,000 accounts were active, underscoring the limited reach of formal employment and social security coverage.’

Dr Twinoburyo says the situation is also reflected in the banking sector, where more than 29 million deposit accounts had balances of less than Shs1 million as of December 2025, accounting for less than two percent of total deposits. He says this is a telling indicator of the limited financial capacity of a large section of the population.

The latest Purchasing Manger’s Index captures just how grim the status quo is. The index fell from 55 in August to 53 in September. Despite all this, Mr Musasizi insists that ‘fundamentals are robust’ and hitting the panic button is self-defeating. Dr Twinoburyo nevertheless advises the government to look beyond its robust fundamentals and institute structural reforms, particularly in the way public resources are allocated to sectors capable of generating more inclusive growth.

Mr Timothy Chemonges, the executive director of the Centre for Policy Analysis, says the central problem is that Uganda is growing, but productivity and incomes are not growing fast enough for the majority of citizens. He says GDP grew by 6.4 percent in the 2025/2026, but unemployment remains 12.2 percent, youth unemployment is 17.9 percent, and only 44.7 percent of the working-age population is employed.

‘I would target electricity, transport, credit, taxation, licensing and regulatory delays. Uganda cannot expect small businesses to create jobs when the formal cost of operating is high and access to affordable capital remains difficult,’ he offers.

On the ground, the robust fundamentals that Mr Musasizi purrs over are not quite tangible for Ms Juliet Nyaketcho, a teacher, who questions whether ‘businesses can access affordable capital and young people can find productive employment’.

Mr David Isabirye, a businessman, notes that while Uganda has fertile land, favourable weather and millions of people engaged in farming, many farmers remain poor because they have ‘little control over [the] price [of their produce]’.

When freedom of worship turns into exploitation

I wanted to avoid the ongoing debate on pastors and fake miracles until I read about Kenyan pastor Paul Mackenzie, who was recently convicted for starving his followers to death and the murder of 190 children. As commentators, we have an obligation to drive public discourse on critical issues such as faith, culture and religion that shape society.

Lately, the East African social media space has been awash with stories of Mackenzie in Kenya and the feud between Ugandan pastors and businessman Frank Gashumba over the authenticity of miracles.

We cannot ignore these stories because lives are at stake, to the detriment of spirituality, morality and religion.

The debate started when the maverick pundit called pastors out over claims of healing patients without professional medical treatment, and promises of overnight wealth.

For the first time, netizens across all divides united behind Mr Gashumba and like minds to challenge stage-managed healings.

Amid the applause, I noticed retaliation from some pastors and Pentecostals against calls for transparency and accountability.

In my view, the abuses and curses directed at Mr Gashumba were uncalled for and beneath the ‘men of God’.

I expected restraint and intellectual engagement. They could have taken the biblical path of turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), or demonstrated a public healing as in Mark 2:11, where Jesus told a man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home’ to silence the Pharisees and sceptics.

Failing to respond with logic, civility and spirituality, some pastors cited infringement on freedom of worship guaranteed under Article 29(1)(c) and Article 37 of the Constitution.

Article 29(1) (c) states that a person shall practice, belong to, or participate in the practices of any religious body in ways consistent with the supreme laws of the land, while Article 29(1) (b) guarantees freedom of worship and association.

However, Article 29 (1) (c) is increasingly being manipulated, which contravenes the Palermo Protocol, the United Nations instrument that was designed to protect human beings from all forms of exploitation.

By rejecting constructive criticism and accountability, these new reformation leaders are turning freedom of worship into freedom of exploitation.

Some neo-Pentecostal and oneness pastors have exploited Christianity for personal enrichment and power, tactically extorting money and property from the poor by promising jobs, better living standards, healing, travel opportunities and marriage partners.

Offerings and tithes were traditionally voluntary in Catholic, Anglican, Adventist, Orthodox and Islamic faiths until some new evangelical denominations began coercing congregations to give fixed, large amounts to earn blessings and miracles.

Yet no scripture shows God putting a price tag on miracles, mercy, forgiveness and blessings.

Lest we forget, Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 21:13, ‘My House shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves’, and in Matthew 7:15 warned, ‘Beware of false prophets that will come in my name.’

Can you imagine a prominent city Pastor promising energetic young men that they will become billionaires in just 90 days through sprinkled water? The irony is that the Pastor himself is not ranked among Africa’s billionaires.

Exploitation goes beyond empty financial promises. It is also psychological and becomes physical when some self-proclaimed men of God sexually harass young boys and girls, while others fuel faith and gender-based violence that breaks marriages and families.

I saw a viral TikTok video of a pastor in Zimbabwe purporting to be calling God directly on cell phone while a prophet in Kenya claimed to chat with God on WhatsApp during church service. These are no longer drama skits but pure deceit, intellectual insults and blasphemy.

And anyone who tries to hold them accountable is quickly reminded that, ‘Touch not the Lord’s anointed’ (Psalm 105:15)

Many African countries have not only refused to regulate the multimillion-dollar sector, but have gone ahead to religious leaders, firearms, bodyguards, monetary support, and public land.

Quote me well: there are genuine religious leaders who perform genuine miracles, but the idea of turning miracles into an attraction for followers has lured many pastors into faking miracles, thus turning the freedom of worship into exploitation.

It turns into exploitation when the public cannot hold perpetrators accountable.

When freedom of worship turns into exploitation, the spiritual pact is broken, the church becomes a fiefdom of pulpit merchants obsessed with wealth accumulation, and followers become slaves.

Nigeria needs 100000MW electricity to achieve economic growth – Nnaji

Former Minister of Power and Chairman of Geometric Power Group Professor Bart Nnaji has said Nigeria needs at least 100000 megawatts of electricity to achieve significant economic growth and compete with emerging economies such as Brazil and Indonesia.

Nnaji who expressed concern over the country’s persistent power crisis attributed the sector’s poor performance to irregularities in the 2013 privatisation exercise mounting government debts inadequate gas supply and the absence of investment guarantees.

He spoke on Friday while delivering the keynote address at the Lagos Country Club Business Forum 3.0 in Ikeja Lagos. The forum had the theme ‘Energy Costs and Business Survival: Driving Profitability amid Nigeria’s Power Crisis.’

According to him Nigeria has the capacity to generate about 13000MW of electricity but only between 4000MW and 5000MW is available on the national grid partly due to the deteriorating transmission infrastructure.

He said the country’s ambition to become a major economic power would remain unattainable without massive investment in electricity generation transmission and distribution.

‘Nigeria needs at least 100000MW to become a higher-medium economy. This is my figure by looking at countries that we like to compare notes with such as Brazil and Indonesia’ he said.

Nnaji maintained that the required investment could only be mobilised through private sector participation supported by an enabling government environment.

He criticised the circumstances surrounding the privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) arguing that the exercise was driven largely by investors seeking immediate and excessive returns rather than a commitment to developing the electricity industry.

According to him some prospective investors had wrongly assumed that acquiring electricity assets would yield returns comparable to those recorded during the telecommunications boom.

‘The strong desire for immediate and humongous profits from the sector led to the enormous abuses the nation witnessed during the privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria assets in 2013’ he said.

In his welcome address the President of Lagos Country Club Seyi Adewunmi outlined five strategic priorities for building a sustainable electricity market.

He said the country must strengthen electricity generation through reliable gas supply adequate infrastructure proper maintenance of existing power plants and investment in a mix of gas-fired hydroelectric and renewable energy sources.

Adewunmi also called for accelerated investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure including power lines substations transformers and modern grid management to address bottlenecks and reduce technical and commercial losses.

On decentralised electricity solutions he said the Electricity Act 2023 provided a framework for greater participation by state governments and private investors in electricity markets subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

He cited the Aba Integrated Power Project associated with Nnaji as an example of how integrated power solutions could serve specific economic communities.

‘Our objective must be simple: electricity that is reliable affordable and sustainable whatever its source’ he said.

Adewunmi further called for commercial discipline transparency and accountability across the electricity value chain noting that electricity companies needed adequate revenue to maintain infrastructure while investors required predictable returns and consumers deserved fair bills and reliable supply.

He advocated transparent tariffs and service obligations improved metering an end to estimated billing and measures to tackle electricity theft and avoidable losses. He added that subsidies for vulnerable Nigerians should be properly targeted and transparently funded.

The club president also urged businesses to make energy management a strategic priority by adopting energy-efficient technologies smarter building designs and renewable solutions such as solar power and battery storage to reduce operating costs.

He said resolving the power crisis required a collective national commitment with government providing consistent policies regulators protecting consumers financial institutions funding long-term infrastructure and energy companies improving operational performance.

‘For the true measure of power sector reform is not the megawatts announced in speeches but the reliable electricity delivered to our factories our offices and our homes’ he said.

Address me simply as ‘Mr Governor’, Oyebanji cautions supporters against praise-singing

EKITI State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has cautioned his supporters and political associates against excessive praise-singing and the use of grandiose political appellations, urging them to address him simply as ‘Mr Governor’

The Governor maintained that all praises and accolades belong to God Almighty and that no political leader should be accorded attributes reserved for God.

Governor Oyebanji gave the admonition on Friday evening at the October edition of the monthly Evening of Praise and Worship programme held at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

He said the period of political campaigns and elections had ended, stressing that the State had entered a new phase focused on governance, service delivery and the fulfilment of promises to the people.

Emphasising the need to avoid elevating political leaders to a status comparable to God, the Governor specifically disapproved of appellations such as ‘Jinx Breaker’, ‘Owi Bee, Se Bee’, ‘History Maker’ and ‘Back to Back’, among others.

He said: ‘I think we have to put an end to all these appellations. Election is over, and from today, just address me as Mr Governor. I don’t want to hear all these appellations such as ‘Jinx Breaker’, ‘History Maker’ and all the rest.

‘I permitted them because it was an election season. Election is over now, a new government has been sworn in, and we are in the era of governance. Politics is over. I don’t want anybody to equate me with God or give me an appellation that is an attribute of God.’

Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji attributed the relative peace, stability and development recorded in Ekiti State, particularly over the last four years, to the grace of God.

He said the achievements of his administration and the peaceful atmosphere across the State were testimonies to God’s faithfulness and continued intervention in its affairs.

The Governor expressed confidence that the same God who had guided the State thus far would continue to sustain it, urging residents to remain steadfast in their faith and trust in God for greater accomplishments.

‘I love the theme of this month’s edition because this is the first Evening of Praise and Worship since this new administration was inaugurated, and the theme is apt. We are just here to praise God, and I know that as we praise God on behalf of Ekiti State, He will speak to us and also step into our situation,’ the Governor said.

Dignitaries at the programme included the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo; and President, Baptist Convention, Ekiti State, and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, among others.

He was in the room: Sanwo-Olu’s testimony and the untold story of Hamzat

There are political endorsements and there are testimonies that seek to place history on record. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s address at the unveiling of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s governorship manifesto in Lagos on Friday October 30 2026 belonged substantially to the latter category.

The governor had come ostensibly to identify with his deputy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate presented his development agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Instead he took his audience into the private chambers of government revisiting moments in which decisions were made crises confronted and the foundations of public projects laid.

His most consequential declaration was also one of his simplest: ‘He was in the room.’

It was a recurring expression but hardly a casual one. In those five words Sanwo-Olu attempted to establish something that conventional campaign speeches seldom provide: an insider’s account of a candidate’s participation in the actual business of governance.

The governor began with an important distinction. ‘Anyone could read Hamzat’s curriculum vitae examine his appointments or list his achievements. What such records could not easily reveal was how he conducted himself when the cameras had disappeared and the burdens of office had become personal.’

For 2711 days Sanwo-Olu said he had shared those private spaces with Hamzat.

The number was significant. It represented the period between their assumption of office on May 29 2019 and the manifesto presentation. By invoking it Sanwo-Olu situated his testimony within a defined period of shared executive responsibility rather than a passing personal relationship.

He recalled the arrival of Nigeria’s first confirmed COVID-19 case in Lagos and the extraordinary decisions demanded by the pandemic.

‘He was in the room’ the governor said.

He proceeded to October 2020 describing it as the hardest week of his administration. Although he did not mention the #EndSARS protests directly the reference was an apparent allusion to that troubled period when Lagos became the centre of a national crisis.

‘Again Hamzat was in the room.’

These were not ordinary historical references. They took the audience beyond ceremonial accomplishments to moments when political leadership was tested under intense pressure.

They also introduced an important distinction between occupying an office and participating meaningfully in its responsibilities.

Sanwo-Olu was presenting Hamzat not simply as a deputy who attended meetings but as a participant in decisions taken during some of the most difficult circumstances of the administration.

That distinction however invites further examination. Being present at difficult moments is evidence of proximity to power; it is not by itself conclusive evidence of the quality of decisions taken.

Particularly concerning October 2020 the historical record remains sensitive and contested. Hamzat’s participation therefore establishes a basis for scrutiny as much as it provides material for political commendation.

Yet that is precisely why the passage is historically interesting. Sanwo-Olu has placed on record his account of an executive partnership whose internal workings have largely remained outside public view.

The speech also departed from a familiar Nigerian political tradition in which deputy governors are sometimes treated as ceremonial appendages to the governor’s authority.

Sanwo-Olu described a relationship in which responsibility was shared and political confidence sustained.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect was his insistence that he had never needed to question where Hamzat stood throughout their years together.

In a political environment where relationships between governors and deputies have sometimes deteriorated into public hostilities that assertion carried institutional significance beyond the personalities involved.

For the campaign the implication is clear: Sanwo-Olu has supplied a particular account of Hamzat’s experience that can be examined against the administration’s record.

That was how the governor changed the character of the manifesto presentation. Rather than merely applauding the promises being unveiled he introduced the history of the man expected to pursue them.

The expression ‘He was in the room’ may consequently outlive the occasion itself. It has become a convenient summary of Sanwo-Olu’s testimony but it also places the candidate within the circle of responsibility for the decisions achievements and shortcomings of the outgoing administration.

For Hamzat that is both an inheritance and an obligation. He cannot easily claim participation in the successes of the last seven years without accepting the public questions that accompany them.

And for the campaign the significance of the speech lies in that new frame: not simply what Hamzat promises to do but what his years in government can tell Lagosians about how he might approach the responsibilities of office.

How Zulum is turning the tide in Borno’s health sector

Following the destruction of more than 270 health facilities, killing of scores of health workers, abduction of many and desertion of several others from Borno State at the heat of the 17-year-long Boko Haram insurgency conflict in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states hope for a stable life in Borno was almost gone.

Interestingly, the recently built Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital has demonstrated the resilience of Borno people and is adjudged to be a game-changer in the country.

BusinessDay Sunday findings revealed that during the occupation, the terrorists destroyed virtually all public service facilities like hospitals; at least 270 hospitals and primary healthcare centres were destroyed in Borno State between 2013 and 2017, which include 248 primary healthcare centres and 20 general hospitals, most of which are in 21 local government areas of the state and were captured by Boko Haram terrorists in 2014 for nearly three years.

For Governor Babagana Zulum, education and healthcare service delivery are not just policies; they are a bedrock of development and the long-term antidote to violent extremism. The Zulum administration has employed nearly 2,000 health workers in the past two years to address workforce shortages and improve healthcare delivery across the state. Evidently, the recruitment of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals has helped reduce staffing gaps in the state’s healthcare system.

On October 23, 2026, once again in Borno State, it rewrote the narrative of its healthcare service system with the multi-billion-naira Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, described as a masterclass and the biggest hospital in the West African sub-region, equipped with the most advanced equipment, built by Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration.

Looking at the event, Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, while speaking at the inauguration of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital in Borno State. He described investments in healthcare and education as essential to economic productivity, national development and the recovery of communities affected by insecurity.

The Vice President stated that the true measure of public service lies not in the privileges of office but in the institutions established and the opportunities created for future generations.

According to him, ‘Someday, and that day is nearer than we imagine, we shall be judged by what survives our time in office. The offices we held, the aides who surrounded us and the length of our convoys will have surrendered their importance. What will endure are the institutions we built, the roads we constructed and the lives made better because we served.

Commending Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for prioritising healthcare and education, Shettima said the newly commissioned facilities demonstrate how purposeful investments can translate into practical benefits for citizens.

He noted that the teaching hospital would bring specialised healthcare closer to communities, reduce the burden of travelling outside the state for treatment and strengthen medical training and research.

‘For a family already burdened by illness, the cost and anxiety of travelling outside the state can compound their suffering. This hospital offers the prospect of expert attention nearer home,’ he said.

On education, the Vice President observed that rebuilding schools in communities affected by insurgency was fundamental to restoring hope, expanding opportunities and preparing the next generation for productive participation in the economy.

‘In a state the communities of which have endured the disruption of insurgency, a classroom carries a particular significance. It restores the expectation that tomorrow can be planned for,’ Senator Shettima stated.

Drawing from his experience as a former Governor of Borno State, the Vice President acknowledged the challenges of delivering development amid insecurity and praised Governor Zulum’s determination to sustain investment in critical public infrastructure.

‘To improve lives and livelihoods in a state that has withstood such a climate of insecurity demands uncommon fortitude. I know the weight of that responsibility. As the street language goes, I have been there and done that,’ he said.

He conveyed President Tinubu’s felicitations to the government and people of Borno State, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the state’s reconstruction, peacebuilding and human capital development efforts.

‘Our investment in human capital proceeds from the conviction that a healthier, better educated population can produce more, earn more and contribute more. The Federal Government will continue to support Borno’s efforts to consolidate peace, rebuild communities and expand opportunities for its people,’ he said.

The Vice President noted that Borno’s reconstruction experience offers valuable lessons in rebuilding communities emerging from conflict, particularly through the restoration of essential public institutions.

He commended the state government, healthcare professionals, educators, contractors, development partners and security personnel for their contributions to the projects.

Shettima, however, stressed that the success of the facilities would ultimately depend on their ability to deliver quality services to the people.

‘The responsibility now is to keep these institutions worthy of that faith. Their value will be measured in the care patients receive and the education children acquire,’ he said.

The Vice President stated that the true measure of public service lies not in the privileges of office but in the institutions established and the opportunities created for future generations.

This is a game-changer in health sector – Analyst

Commenting, Abubakar Mohammed Kareto, a Public Affairs analyst, maintained that for years, Borno bore the brunt of a devastating insurgency, suffering billions of naira in destroyed public infrastructure and managing a lean internally generated revenue base.

He alluded that the recent commissioning of the 400-bed Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) in Maiduguri marks a decisive turning point in Borno State’s journey from conflict to recovery.

‘For over a decade, residents faced a severe shortage of advanced medical care, forcing families to make long, dangerous trips to Kano, Zaria, or Abuja for basic scans and surgeries. This lack of facilities drained household savings and cost lives. By delivering a modern tertiary hospital directly to the people, the state has moved beyond emergency relief to build a lasting public health institution that serves not just Borno, but the entire Lake Chad Basin.

‘What makes this milestone remarkable is the fiscal context in which it happened. Yet, while wealthier littoral states and oil-rich counterparts receiving hundreds of billions in monthly federal allocations and 13percent derivation often struggle to complete secondary clinics or keep diagnostic machines running, Borno has quietly outpaced them.

‘By committing over 15percent of its annual budget to health-meeting the benchmark set by the African Union’s Abuja Declaration, which over 30 Nigerian states consistently miss-the state proved that developmental outcomes depend on political discipline and fiscal hygiene, not the size of a treasury.

He opened an on-site medical oxygen plant to remove the supply bottlenecks and vendor price spikes that crippled many healthcare centres across the country during recent emergencies, and ensuring continuous care for critical patients.

‘Equipped with a 1.5-Tesla MRI machine, a 160-slice CT scanner, digital mammography, and modern ultrasound suites, the facility matches the standard found in top tier-one centres in Lagos and Abuja. These tools end the long wait times that often turned curable illnesses into terminal conditions, allowing complex neuro-trauma and cancer cases to be handled close to patients’ support systems.

‘This landmark project is not an isolated achievement; it builds on seven years of steady healthcare investments under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. Since 2019, the administration has constructed and refurbished over 70 solar-powered Primary Healthcare Centres in resettled communities, bringing maternal and child care to the grassroots. At the secondary level, general hospitals in towns like Gwoza and Monguno were upgraded, alongside the expansion of the Biu General Hospital into a 400-bed Specialist Hospital for southern Borno.’ He commended.

It will reduce medical tourism in the country – Zulum

However, Governor Zulum said the teaching hospital stood as one of the most tangible expressions of his administration’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare facilities for the people of Borno State.

He explained that the teaching hospital was not merely another building but a centre of learning, a provider of specialised healthcare services and a facility that would bring hope to millions of people across the North East.

The governor said the facility would serve as a clinical training centre for the College of Health Sciences of Kashim Ibrahim University, providing training for medical students, resident doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals.

Governor Zulum assured that the Borno State Government would continue to invest in the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, saying, ‘We have recruited and we will continue to recruit qualified healthcare professionals. We will provide equipment, utility infrastructure and an enabling environment for the hospital to function at the highest standard.’

Also, the Pro-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, said the commissioning of the teaching hospital represented a remarkable achievement and a milestone in the collective commitment to providing quality healthcare services, medical education, research and professional training.

He expressed optimism that the hospital would strengthen healthcare delivery in Borno State and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of people across the North East.

On his part, the Chairman of the Governing Board of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, described the hospital as a landmark project of unprecedented significance in the state.

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ibrahim Musa Kida, said the greatness of the hospital would be determined not merely by its buildings and equipment but by the quality of its personnel and the dedication of its staff.

On her part, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Prof. Fatima Kyari, assured that the Council would facilitate the accreditation of all relevant medical science courses at the institution.

This hospital is designed to reposition Borno as a leading state in quality healthcare delivery and medical training in Nigeria, the 400-bed teaching hospital comprises 13 specialist departments, including General Outpatient, Accident and Emergency, Radiology, Medical, Surgical, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Physiotherapy, and a Simulation Centre, among others.

It’s stagflation, stupid

The Marcos administration has waged a credible war against corruption that has resulted in some big fish, senators included, landing in jail. The same administration has also done a credible job of bringing corrective remedies to flood control projects. There have also been serious attempts to bring assistance to those suffering from hunger and extreme poverty.

In spite of all these and other attempts to help a poverty-stricken population, the performance approval rating for this administration remains very low. Several attempts are being experimented to try and achieve a much higher approval rating. For example, the administration’s trouble shooter Vince Dizon, who was assigned to correct the DPWH problems, has now been moved to the transportation sector to ease the transport woes of the ordinary commuter.

I predict that all these will not attain its objective of improving the administration’s trust ratings. I think this administration needs to learn a lesson from the administration of past US president Bill Clinton. During Clinton’s campaign for the presidency and his term as president, his administration had only one directive which was summed up in the slogan, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’

The President must realize that if the economy continues in its present state, his approval rating will never increase significantly. This is the reason that the overwhelming majority of the population, especially the lower class, will continue to ignore even impeachment trials and corruption scandals, with their attention focused primarily on how the state of the economy is affecting their lives. The problem of the economy right now is not simply ‘concerning’ but is actually approaching a critical period.

One of the most serious challenges that any economy can experience is stagflation. This is particularly dangerous because it combines three economic problems: rising prices, slow economic growth and increasing unemployment. Under normal circumstances, inflation is often associated with a growing economy where consumers have more money to spend and businesses are expanding their operations. However, stagflation creates a different and much more difficult situation.

Prices continue to increase even when economic activity becomes weaker and people’s purchasing power declines. For developing countries like the Philippines, the threat of stagflation could lead to an economic depression. The Philippine economy depends heavily on imported petroleum, food commodities, raw materials and other essential products.

Consequently, international conflicts, oil price increases, supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation and global economic uncertainty can directly affect domestic prices and production costs. The important question is not simply whether the Philippines is experiencing inflation but whether the country could enter a long period in which inflation remains high while economic growth slows down.

Understanding stagflation can help the Philippine government develop policies that can protect businesses, workers, consumers and the overall economy. Stagflation is a combination of two terms: stagnation and inflation. It refers to a situation where economic growth becomes weak or nearly stops. Businesses experience declining demand, investments become limited, production slows and employment opportunities become fewer. Inflation, meanwhile, refers to the continuous increase in the general prices of goods and services, reducing the purchasing power of money.

This combination called stagflation means people are experiencing a more expensive cost of living while the economy is failing to create enough opportunities for them to improve their financial or livelihood situation.

Stagflation is a very rare economic situation. Among the historical examples when this happened was the 1973 oil crisis when the oil embargo was imposed by oil-producing countries. However, this is not a common economic occurrence.

The average Filipino is having difficulty looking for a decent job while at the same time is suffering from the continuing increase of prices of basic commodities. The government must take some immediate action to alleviate the lives of the average Filipino. One way of stabilizing or increasing the value of the peso is to either convince or mandate wealthy Filipinos to bring back their funds from foreign countries to the Philippines. If the wealthy business sector refuses to bring back their money, then the government must take drastic measures.

The business sector is urging Congress leaders to remove insertions in the proposed 2027 budget. This is a laudable proposal. But the business sector must also put their money where their mouth is and show their patriotism and love of country by bringing back their foreign-based funds and investing in productive enterprises in the Philippines.

During its remaining term, this administration must take the following steps: it must expand irrigation and agricultural modernization; improve farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities; increase renewable energy investments; improve access to financing for small and medium sized enterprises and it must somehow eliminate corruption, especially in government procurement and implement anti-corruption measures.

Instead of raising taxes, additional funds can be raised by eliminating corruption in revenue-generating agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

The Philippines must not wait before stagflation becomes a full blown economic crisis before taking action. Prevention, responsible economic management, stronger domestic industries and public accountability are far less costly than recovering from a prolonged period of economic stagflation.

 John Arcilla seeks probe into dumped pet remains in Bulacan

Actor and pet owner John Arcilla called for an investigation after reports that remains of pets entrusted to a crematorium were instead dumped in a vacant lot in Bulacan.

The award-winning actor took to social media on Sunday to call for accountability and an investigation into the incident.

Arcilla shared that all 11 of his dogs that died of old age or illness had been cremated.

He said pet owners who pay for cremation services deserve to know whether their pets received the services they paid for.

“KAILANGAN ma-investigate lahat ng pet crematoriums at ma-double-check ang kanilang facilities kung able and capable ba silang mag-operate as crematoriums. Kung hindi at kahina-hinala ang kanilang operations, DAPAT IPA-CLOSE ITO, at ipakulong ang mga sangkot dito,” Arcilla wrote.

He stressed that pet owners spend significant amounts on such services because they consider their pets part of their families.

“HINDI ITO OVERREACTION. We pay a good sum for these services. For the love of our pets, whom we consider members of our families,” Arcilla said.

The actor also tagged animal welfare groups, including the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which has called on affected pet owners to pursue legal action.

2027: Lagos governorship debate to hold November 8

The Nigeria Debate Consortium has announced November 8, 2026, as the date for the Lagos governorship debate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The debate will give governorship candidates the opportunity to present their plans and explain how they intend to address the challenges facing Lagos residents.

The announcement was made in a statement jointly signed on Sunday by TVC News Director of News, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, and Channels Television General Manager, Kingsley Uranta, on behalf of the consortium.The debate will begin at 7 p.m. at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, Plot 18, Providence Road, beside Keystone Bank, Marwa, Lekki, Lagos State.

The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, Punch Newspaper, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper. It said the Lagos debate would be the first in a series of electoral debates ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, the debate will provide a fair and independent platform for candidates to present their plans, explain their policy choices and answer questions on issues affecting Lagos residents.

The discussion will focus on key areas, including transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, job creation and economic growth.

The consortium said the debate would allow voters to examine the candidates’ plans, priorities and readiness to govern the state.

It said all participating candidates would follow the same rules, speaking times and moderation standards to ensure a level playing field.

Experienced journalists would moderate the debate, which would be broadcast to national and digital audiences through the participating media organisations’ platforms.

The consortium urged Lagos residents, especially eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional groups and business leaders, to follow the debate and assess the candidates’ plans for the state.

The Nigeria Debate Consortium is a partnership of five Nigerian media organisations working to promote democratic participation, electoral accountability and informed public discussion through credible and non-partisan debates.

Senior journalists others fault call for media to declare winners of elections

The growing call by some political actors for media organisations to declare election winners has been faulted and described as an invitation to anarchy.

Speakers at a forum in Abuja which included media executives and representatives of civil society organisations said media houses CSOs and others should participate in collating election results but must not assume the role of announcing winners.

The forum tagged ‘Dialogue session with media executives on compliance with the national peace accord’ was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) with support from the European Union (EU) the International Press Centre (IPC) the Kukah Centre among others.

The Executive Director of the IPC Dr Lanre Arogundade argued that it was wrong to ask media organisations to declare election winners while noting the divergence in media allegiance in the country.

Arogundade who warned about the confusion such a practice could cause said ‘If we do that we will have Kenya 2007 in our hands.’

The IPC’s ED who spoke on the topic ‘The media as a partner for electoral peace and accountability’ said the media has the capacity to contribute to efforts to promote national unity peace and cohesion and mitigate violence during the 2027 elections.

He however noted the media will do better in this regard if society assumes responsibility for creating a peaceful atmosphere during this election season.

Arogundade added ‘Crucially too the media needs the support of the rest of the society to get it right during the elections adding that it has now become the responsibility of all to defend journalists’ rights to adequate protection welfare and resources while they perform their responsibilities.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) Dr Akin Akingbulu argued that contrary to what people might be saying ‘my take would be that because elections are counted and documented in the appropriate electoral forms the appropriate institutions get copies of these results.

‘Copies are also passed at polling units. Polling officers agents of parties and other relevant officials get copies. So the results are already in public space. So anybody can tell such results.

‘In my opinion it is constitutionally right for people to collate results especially if they were present in those polling units’ he said.

Akingbulu added that any political party that participated in any election but did not collate results cannot be regarded as a political party.

He said ‘What I did not support which is not lawful is the declaration of results because the Electoral Act 2026 gives that function to the election management body that is INEC. My expectation is that yes whether it is civil society whether it is the observers or other groups as they get the results why not? You can collate.’

He however stressed the need for people to be vigilant and ensure they are up and running in the months left before the next set of elections in the country.

A former National President of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Wahab Odusile noted the key role of the media in sustaining societal peace and urged media owners and journalists to commit to promoting peace during elections.

‘The media too should be held accountable for the need to promote peace. We are called Nigerian journalists because we have a country called Nigeria.

‘We should be committed to peace. We should not use our pen to bring the country out of existence’ he said.

The Executive Director of the Kukah Centre who is also a member of the NPC Reverend Father Attah Barkindo said the event was intended to involve the media in his organisation’s efforts to promote peace during and after electioneering in the country.

Barkindo argued that creating a peaceful atmosphere during electioneering activities is not solely his group’s duty but a collective responsibility shared by everyone including political players and the media.

He blamed relevant state agencies for failing to prosecute politicians who violated peace accords after signing.

He said ‘The peace accord has been annotated to link it with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act but people still violate it.

‘In the past we have collected data on people who have violated the peace accord. We have information and data on violations of the Electoral Act and violations of the Constitution in relation to elections.

‘We handed this data and information to INEC and the police who are paid with taxpayers’ money; they don’t do anything. But people keep coming to the Peace Committee.’