Author: user user

The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Abuja, has intensified efforts to promote early detection and prevention of breast cancer, emphasising that timely diagnosis remains critical to reducing cancer-related deaths among women.

The hospital noted that with greater awareness, improved access to screening, and prompt treatment, breast cancer survival rates can significantly improve.

The disease remains one of the most common cancers affecting women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.

As part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, AMCE said a 50 percent discount on mammogram screenings throughout October.

The initiative, according to the hospital, aims to make life-saving diagnostic services more affordable and accessible to all women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.

Dr. Gabriel Boules, Clinical Director of Oncology at AMCE, said early diagnosis remains the most effective tool in saving lives, ‘Early detection remains the most effective way to save lives from breast cancer.

‘A simple screening can make all the difference. At AMCE, we are committed to breaking barriers to access and ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to prioritize her health,’ he said.

He added that the centre’s goal goes beyond treatment to empower women through education and access, saying, ‘Our goal is not just to treat illness, but to empower women with knowledge and access.

‘By making screenings more affordable, we’re helping more people take control of their health because early detection saves lives’.

AMCE said the campaign aligns with its mission to deliver world-class, patient-centered healthcare while advancing cancer prevention and treatment across Africa.

He encouraged the public to take advantage of the initiative by visiting the African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja to book mammogram appointments during the awareness month.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja on Tuesday inaugurated legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas to tackle the menace of land grabbing in the ancient city

Noting that hard times await land grabbers who are giving Ibadan a bad reputation at the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan where the inauguration held, the monarch said the five-member committee of legal practitioners is charged with the task of tackling the problem of land grabbing from the legal perspective.

He urged the Committee to co-opt anybody from any profession, including town planning, survey, security agencies, the bar and bench who could assist in giving them sufficient greenlight to fight the scourge.

Barrister Musibau Adetunbi SAN was however absent during the inauguration.

Flanked by members of Olubadan-in-council, Oba Ladoja said the Oyo State Government, the Olubadan-in-council were on the same page in ridding Ibadan of the menace of land grabbing.

According to him, land grabbing is like an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that need to be unravelled.

The Olubadan said: ‘I know each of you very well. While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your responsibility, I have no doubt in my mind that you have the capacity to carry out the responsibility’

He told the Committee to hit the ground running, giving them 21 days within which to make their recommendations.

The Olubadan, however, clarified that the inauguration of the legal advisory committee was meant to strengthen the existing committee on land matters headed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori.

Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, corroborated Olubadan’s position, saying it had become desirable for Ibadan to take stringent action against the menace of land grabbing because it has constantly put the people in harm’s way.

He said, if it were possible, there should be the establishment of anti-land grabbing tribunals in all the eleven local governments councils in Ibadanland.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Chief Akintola expressed the members’ gratitude to Olubadan and Olubadan-in-council for giving them the privilege to serve their fatherland.

Saying their inauguration is a call to serve their fatherland, the committee sought the co-operation and support of state government and Ibadan people in checkmating the menace of land grabbing.

He noted that the government was not favourably disposed to land grabbing either, and as such, the anti-land grabbing advisory committee would strengthen the state government’s resolve to tackle the same menace.

The federal government on Wednesday cautioned the operators in the renewable energy space not to depend on importation for the provision of electricity.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s chief technical adviser, Adebayo Owoloniyi, made the warning in a panel session at the Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025 in Abuja.

The forum was organised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

According to him, providing access to energy with reliance on importation will deny Nigeria industrialization and job creation.

‘One thing we must not do is to drive the provision of access through importation because that would ensure that we are actually not industrializing and providing jobs for our people,’ he said.

He also said the provision of energy should be linked to industrialization, since people consume additional energy to add capacity.

The Chief Technical Adviser insisted that the energy must not only create jobs it must also increase income for the citizenry.

He revealed that the ministry focuses on local content with the Nigeria First policy.

He advised that the federal government’s electricity subsidy should be deployed to the kind of procurement that can advance industrialization and be beneficial to the people.

The Panel Moderator, Rumndaka Wonodi, had recalled that in 2024, there was a release of $2.1trillion investment in the renewable energy space from which Africa got only $40 billion, representing 2% of the total sum.

Wonodi, who was the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) company pioneer Managing Director, noted that Africa is still lagging behind with the deployment of 6GW since last year.

He called on the panelists to deliberate on how Nigeria can unlock its investment potential in the renewable energy sector.

He urged the panelists to brainstorm on how to take advantage of the energy gap.

‘Our forum is charting the course and prioritizing actions for the government. We are going to look at government coordination in the Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs),’ said the moderator.

On his part, the InfraCorp, Dr. Lazarus Aganzo, said there is a lack of equity in funding for local investors, adding that the inability to access funding in local currency portends danger, as funding through foreign currency is not sustainable.

‘So in essence, what Infracorp is really focused on trying to do across the different infrastructure verticals, not just the energy one, is to create a market support for sustainable investments in the infrastructure space.’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, said the house has done a lot on local content, manufacturing, and access to finance for renewable energy equity funds, credit guarantees, and consensual financing for manufacturers to have access to funds and the ability to pay for a long period of time.

He added that renewable energy courses will be integrated into the universities and polytechnics.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), and the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, have expressed concern over the slow pace at which courts determine corruption cases in the country.

Justice Kekere-Ekun, Aliyu, and Musa, who called for an urgent reversal of the current trend, argued that prompt determination of corruption cases will not only restore public confidence in the judicial process, but it could also deter those planning to engage in corrupt practices.

The three legal giants spoke in Abuja at a capacity-building workshop jointly organized by the NJI and the ICPC, with the theme: ‘Reinforcing effective management and trial of corruption cases.’

The CJN, who was represented by Justice John Okoro of the Supreme Court, decried the slow pace at which corruption cases are determined by the nation’s courts.

She argued that the development was capable of eroding public confidence in the Judiciary’s capacity to dispense justice and at the same time, embolden the criminals, who are neck deep in corrupt practices.

CJN said, ‘A major concern in the adjudication of corruption cases in Nigeria is delay. It is a matter of great regret that many corruption trials drag on for years, sometimes even decades, undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.

‘Justice delayed is, indeed, justice denied. Delay in corruption cases breeds doubt, fuels impunity, and creates the perception that corruption pays.

‘If the Judiciary is to retain the confidence of the people, we must devise and implement effective strategies to curb unnecessary adjournments, discourage frivolous interlocutory applications, and embrace robust case management practices that ensure trials proceed with speed without sacrificing fairness.

‘This calls for a renewal of our commitment to judicial courage and efficiency. Case management powers must be exercised firmly but fairly. Procedural loopholes must not be allowed to become the refuge of the accused.

‘At the same time, however, the Judiciary must never lose sight of its sacred duty to uphold the fundamental rights of all persons who come before it.

‘The balance between expeditious trial and fair trial is delicate, but it is one we must constantly strive to maintain,’ she said.

Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that corruption today is not what it was two or three decades ago, adding that ‘the advancement of technology, the globalization of financial systems, and the increasing complexity of commercial transactions have created new avenues for corrupt practices.

‘Money is laundered through elaborate schemes, assets are concealed across jurisdictions, and digital platforms are exploited to cover illicit dealings.

‘The judge, who must preside over corruption cases, cannot afford to remain static. Continuous training, exposure to emerging trends, and familiarity with both local and international instruments against corruption are indispensable.

‘Workshops such as this are vital; they serve not only as platforms for knowledge transfer but also as opportunities for introspection and re-commitment.

‘With courage, integrity, and steadfast commitment, the Judiciary can and must play its role in expunging corruption from our society,’ the CJN said.

Aliyu said the policy of the ICPC under his leadership, which prioritizes corruption prevention while maintaining a strong enforcement focus, has yielded commendable outcomes.

He said, ‘This strategic shift has already begun to yield positive results in 2024, with the commission blocking over 20 billion naira from reaching the pockets of ghost workers and pensioners.

‘Additionally, we initiated a programme, Accountability and Corruption Prevention in Local Government Councils in Nigeria, to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy.

‘In this programme, too, from May 2025 to date, across six states, we recovered more than N2.5 billion in outstanding remittances of tax deductions from ministries overseeing local government affairs on joint projects between local and state governments,’ he said.

Aliyu argued the effective administration of justice in corruption cases requires both vigorous law enforcement and scrupulous judicial oversight.

He noted that the recent developments in the fight against corruption necessitate this capacity building to enhance judicial officers’ ability to handle corruption cases with speed and consistency, because the cases were becoming more complex due to rapid technological advancement and societal challenges.

The ICPC boss explained that the expected outcomes of the capacity-building workshop were to enhance judges’ skills, knowledge, and professional ethics in handling corruption cases.

He added that the workshop is equally intended to strengthen institutional performance through practical application of anti-corruption laws and strategies, and foster greater collaboration and innovation between the judiciary and the ICPC, thereby promoting integrity, fairness, and public confidence in the justice system.

Justice Adejumo said the workshop became imperative in view of the deleterious effect of corruption on the nation’s development, noting that ‘corruption has remained one of the greatest impediments to our national growth and the consolidation of our democratic institutions.

‘Its deleterious impact touches every aspect of governance, the economy, and indeed the administration of Justice. For the Judiciary, corruption not only undermines our ability to deliver justice but also erodes the confidence of the very public we are sworn to protect.

‘For the fight against corruption to succeed, judicial officers must be properly equipped with the tools, knowledge, and ethical compass required to rise above challenges and discharge this sacred duty with courage and integrity.

‘To this end, this workshop is carefully designed to sharpen our skills in handling corruption-related matters.

‘It will expose participants to contemporary issues in case management, best practices in the trial of corruption cases, as well as emerging global trends that can guide our local experience.

‘Furthermore, it affords us the opportunity to reflect on the peculiar obstacles that impede the effective trial of corruption cases in Nigeria – including delay, procedural bottlenecks, technical objections, and ethical dilemmas- whilst collectively seeking practical solutions,’ Justice Adejumo said.

Senegal secured a runaway 4-0 victory over neighbours Mauritania to finish top of their qualifying group and reach next year’s World Cup finals.

Senegal were quarter-finalists in 2002 and also competed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.

Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.

Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, has launched the StartRight Entrepreneurship Development Support Programme for startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The initiative is designed to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to build sustainable businesses and thrive in today’s competitive economy.

The six-week hybrid training, which commenced with 50 startups and 200 businesses as pioneer beneficiaries, is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to build sustainable and competitive ventures

Speaking at the launch of the programme last Tuesday at the STO Resource Centre, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe described the initiative as a major step in advancing Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s vision of a Greater Lagos driven by enterprise, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.

Ajigbotafe explained that the StartRight Lagos Programme was conceived to help entrepreneurs and MSMEs establish solid foundations and adopt strategic approaches to ensure the sustainability and scalability of their ventures. He noted that it was no longer enough to start a business but important to start right, sustain right, and scale right, stressing that the programme reflected government’s continued investment in building future-ready entrepreneurs who would contribute meaningfully to Lagos’ economic growth.

The Commissioner reaffirmed that the Ministry remained committed to driving policies and initiatives that promote youth empowerment, skill development, business incubation, and access to finance, in line with the state government’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus development agenda. He commended the facilitators and development partners for their dedication to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and for complementing government’s efforts in building a productive and self-reliant citizenry.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, ESV Wasiu Adebayo Olayinka, described the StartRight Lagos Programme as another milestone in the state’s continuous drive to promote innovation, enterprise, and economic inclusion.

He emphasized that the initiative was designed to provide participants with the right knowledge, business ethics, and management skills to start, manage, and sustain successful enterprises.

According to him, the goal is to equip Lagos entrepreneurs with the right mindset and capacity to move from job seekers to job creators, adding that the StartRight Lagos initiative embodies that mission by providing practical learning, mentorship, and exposure to growth strategies. The Permanent Secretary appreciated the facilitators for their expertise, noting that the Ministry will continue to strengthen its partnerships with both public and private sector stakeholders to sustain the momentum of entrepreneurship development across the State.

Mrs. Lanre Oniyitan, a consultant and the Chief Executive Officer of W-Holistic Business Solutions, gave an overview of the StartRight Lagos Programme, highlighting its structure, objectives, and expected outcomes in supporting startups and MSMEs to establish sustainable business foundations.

The StartRight Lagos Entrepreneurship Development Support Programme is one of the flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, designed to enhance entrepreneurial capacity, stimulate innovation, and provide practical support for startups and MSMEs, in furtherance of the State Government’s economic inclusion and wealth creation agenda.

Residents of Chief Natufe, Babs Animashaun and Bode Thomas areas of Surulere, Lagos, have again protested a proposed cemetery in their neighbourhood, accusing the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development of attempting to force the project on them.

The residents alleged that the plan, promoted by businessman Olumide Amure, poses grave health and environmental risks, particularly to their borehole water- the only source of clean water.

Their renewed agitation followed a stakeholder’s meeting conveyed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at Eko Club, Surulere, yesterday.

According to the residents, notice of the meeting only got to them at midnight, and they could not mobilise their members since people left for their respective businesses and work places before dawn.

‘The notice for this meeting was sent at 12am. There was no way to inform the core residents and CDA executives. Many had gone to work by morning. The meeting should have been rescheduled and proper notice given,’ said Bayo Sanwo-Olu, one of the residents.

Similarly, Uche Umeweni, confirmed receiving the notice around midnight. ‘We got the message asking us to mobilise for a stakeholders’ meeting. By the time I saw it in the morning, people were already off to their businesses. It was clear the organisers didn’t want residents to attend,’ he said.

Umeweni expressed disappointment that Commissioner Olumide, ‘was making a case for the cemetery instead of listening to residents’ concerns.’

A community leader questioned whose interest the commissioner was representing, alleging that he appeared more interested in defending the developer than protecting residents’ welfare.

‘Governor Sanwo-Olu personally stopped this same project two years ago. When we protested in June, it was also stopped. Why is the commissioner now trying to revive it? Did he not see the schools, churches and houses surrounding the proposed site? Did he not hear that we drink from boreholes? A cemetery there will contaminate our water,’ lamented a CDA leader.

The residents also queried why Amure failed to honour invitations from the State Assembly but attended a meeting convened by the ministry.

A former CDA chairman, Olanrewaju Olaniyan, warned that the community would resist any attempt to reintroduce the project.

‘The developer should know the consequences of his actions. We will not allow him to pollute our land and water. We have lived here for over 50 years; many of us are elderly. Bringing a cemetery here is like inviting an epidemic. We are begging him to consider a business that will develop, not destroy our community,’ he declared.

Defending the proposal, Commissioner Olumide said the project was conceived to address the shortage of designated burial spaces in Surulere. He described it as part of the state’s broader infrastructure development plan to ensure equitable distribution of essential facilities across Lagos.

‘Lagos is growing rapidly within a limited land space. We must adopt creative and inclusive planning to meet public needs. The proposed site meets global standards, and its location is permissible under state guidelines,’ he said.

He urged residents to view the project objectively, saying it would benefit the entire local government area.

Supporting the commissioner, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, said the developer, under the company name Legacy Gardens, had revised the original plan to reflect concerns raised by stakeholders. These, he said, included underground water safety, drainage, security, and proximity to residences.

Town planners Risikat Bello and Sulaiman Raheem also made presentations explaining the criteria used in reviewing the proposal.

On his part, Amure said the cemetery would be equipped with modern management facilities, including street lighting, CCTV surveillance, 24-hour security, and a 20-metre setback from surrounding properties. He added that the design incorporates a strategic drainage system to prevent flooding or groundwater contamination.

At the close of the meeting, ministry officials announced that another stakeholders’ meeting would be held soon to allow for broader participation and further discussions on the contentious proposal.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said he got President Bola Tinubu’s permission to be absent during the Council of State meeting.

Prof. Joash Amupitan was nominated as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the meeting.

Wike stated this during the commissioning of the Access Roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, in Abuja.

He dismissed as false and mischievous reports that he deliberately boycotted the meeting over dissatisfaction with the appointment of the new INEC.

‘On Thursday, we had a flag off and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting.

‘I had already told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we had already put in place, and so, the honourable minister of state represented the FCT in that meeting.

‘We have to be careful when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. But in spite of those things, be focused; you will achieve your results.

‘They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken,’ he said.

Wike maintained that he works for President Tinubu and that his delivery of projects in the FCT has silenced the critics.

‘I work for Mr President. Mr President’s judgment, as far as I’m concerned, in this country has always been how to put this country in the right perspective.

‘Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics. Today they have nothing again to say,’ he said.

Wike also commended President Tinubu for providing the right leadership, which according to him paved way for the achievements made by the FCT Administration.

‘I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. President Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership.

‘People are talking about the achievements we have made. It is because we have the right leadership. When you have the right leadership, you get things right,’ he said.

The federal government on yesterday launched the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), a transformative initiative designed to enhance soil fertility, improve crop yields, and drive sustainable food production across the country.

The scheme, launched under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was unveiled by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi (CON) in Abuja.

According to the minister, the NFSHS is an ‘innovative, homegrown initiative’ aimed at tackling the challenges of low agricultural productivity and the high cost of production caused by indiscriminate fertilizer use.

‘Farming begins with the soil; it is the quiet partner in every harvest, the hidden force behind every good crop. But for many years, our soils have been working without rest, giving and giving, while we hardly checked how they were doing,’ Sen. Sabi said.

‘The Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme is here to help farmers understand their soil better what nutrients it has, what it lacks, and how to treat it right. It takes away the guesswork and gives farmers simple, useful advice to grow more, spend less, and care for the land.’

The minister explained that the NFSHS represents a major step in advancing scientific soil assessment and data-driven fertilizer application across Nigeria. By promoting crop- and location-specific fertilizer recommendations, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s goal of ensuring food sovereignty and revolutionising agriculture for sustainable growth.

Among the key deliverables of the scheme are the establishment of 774 soil testing laboratories across local government areas, issuance of personalized soil health cards for farmers, and the development of a digital platform the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) to consolidate soil data for evidence-based decision-making.

Speaking further, he said the NFSHS seeks to: improve soil health and fertility through targeted fertilizer application; increase agricultural productivity and food security; and promote climate-resilient and regenerative farming practices.

Expected benefits include optimised fertiliser use, higher yields, increased farmers’ income, environmental sustainability, and job creation particularly for youth and women engaged in rural laboratory operations.

‘By optimising fertilizer use, we minimize waste, prevent groundwater pollution, and enhance the safety of food for local consumption and export,’ the minister added.

He added that implementation of the scheme follows a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, ensuring collaboration across all levels of government.

The scheme’s structure includes a National Executive Committee, State and Local Committees, and partnerships with research bodies, development partners, and farmer organizations.

Development partners supporting the initiative include the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Bank’s ACReSAL project, Soil Values, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The minister highlighted the major milestones achieved so far from the inclusion of the NFSHS in the 2024 federal budget and stakeholder workshops to the creation of the Coalition of the Willing (CoW) platform and pilot soil assessments across eleven states.

He however emphasised that the scheme’s precision-based approach will revolutionize yields for key crops.

‘The results will speak for themselves. A farmer who currently harvests 60 to 80 bags of rice per hectare will now harvest 120 to 160 bags. Wheat and maize farmers will see their yields double, and onion farmers will go from 400 to 800 bags per hectare,’ he said.

He added that the government is targeting the collection of at least 1,200 soil samples per geopolitical zone annually, ensuring data accuracy and tailored recommendations for every region.

The minister reaffirmed that Nigeria, through this initiative, is already implementing the Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health, adopted by African Heads of State in May 2024.

‘Healthy soils are the foundation of agricultural resilience,’ he said. ‘By embracing the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, our farmers can finally double their yields, strengthen food sovereignty, and ensure a prosperous, food-secure future for Nigeria.’

The Road Not Taken, a 1916 poem by Robert Frost, is our necessary guide and guardrail as we navigate our way through the fork on the road to economic recovery. There was no easy way out of the economic abyss into which years of profligacy and misrule had led the country.

As the 2023 presidential election approached, different contestants suggested different roads to economic recovery. One contestant was touting unity and restructuring, while another was mouthing moving from consumption to production. Neither of them outlined a thorough path to the Utopia they sought to paint. Only one candidate had a coherent and convincing argument as to which road to take to recovery. It was encoded in a document, cod-named Renewed Hope 2023.

And the bus took off with Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the driver. Obviously, the riders were a little skeptical as shown on their faces, but the driver was confident, and the bus was steady in his hands. They went to the polls and made him President.

Tinubu knew that the road would be rocky, but it was the journey to redemption. Following who know road is putting one’s trust in the capacity of the driver of the vehicle. Using the fork in the road as an analogy of economic choices, Tinubu rightly deciphered that the old economic model had catastrophically failed to achieve sustainable development. A new route ‘the one less travelled’ must be followed. It would be the difference if we were to stabilize the economy, increase productivity, and lift millions out of poverty. He warned repeatedly that it would be rough at the beginning, and even for some time, which is why the passengers on the bus looked uneasy.

President Tinubu is trusted as the driver, because he has a proven record of accomplishments as a corporate accountant, a mentor of men and women, and a manager of resources. In conjunction with Wale Edun, Yemi Cardoso, and others, Tinubu used his understanding of the economy to reinvent Lagos.

It will be recalled that Lagos state went back to complacency, after the remarkable forward march under Governor Lateef Kayode Jakande (1979 to 1983). The Jakande years transformed the city of Lagos into a magnet. There was a massive influx of migratory and dependent labour from across the country, which came at a cost. There was pressure on every facet of social and economic life. If not contained, a combustible and possibly consuming social crisis was on the way.

Lagos State was fortuitously lucky. ‘Cometh the hour, Cometh the man’. The Tinubu administration in 1999 combined astute political maneuvering with a technocratic mien. It was a very productive combination. Very cleverly, they rebuilt trust in governance, by demonstrating the benefits of the state to the citizens through the creation of jobs and other political goods. There was a game changing perception of the role and function of the state, which led to a geometrical increase in revenue generation to the extent that even President Olusegun Obasanjo’s seizure of the Lagos state local government funds did not lead to the anticipated destruction of the fiscal stability of the state.

Tinubu managed to do this because he had constructed a shock absorber at a time other states had not, and even today have not done. It became a proven fact that fiscal strength and stability must underpin the long-term prospects of state viability

To be sure, Nigeria is not Lagos, but sound judgement prevails everywhere. This is what is now being done with the economic reforms at the national level. As stated in Renewed Hope 2023, the reforms stand on a tripod of (1) removal of fuel subsidy, (2) unification of foreign exchange, and (3) overhaul of the tax system. These were accompanied with other initiatives in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, and social protection. It is a desirable road to take. And in local patois – the man wey dey drive the bus sabi road. He had driven that route before with beneficial effects.

The faces on the New Nigeria Bus appear to show worry, but the driver’s face shows confidence, determination, and focus. A time of transition is bound to be rocky at first. If in doubt, look at the records of the Action Group government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region in the 1950s. The tax levy on all adult males was met with initial resistance. However, resistance later gave way to enthusiastic reception of the Universal Primary Education scheme launched in 1955 once farmers began to reap the rewards. But it took some time for these rewards to show up.

The federal government under Tinubu has a compelling historical duty to stick to the course. The man wey know road is already showing the efficacy of taking the road less traveled. It may take some time for the benefits to reach the kitchen table, but they are already showing up in improved terms of trade, rising export figures and, crucially, more fiscal stability. Inflation is falling, and prices are coming down here and there.

Yes, there are still bumpy rides in the short term, but in the long term, we will be participants in the historic journey to redemption and development. This journey is the obliteration of the failure of a process that led to underdevelopment and its attendant woes. Tinubu is determined to mend the potholes and uncompleted bridges on the road being taken so it could lead to sustainable development.

While we are still concerned about now, those who can look far into the future, including the World Bank, the IMF, and the WTO, found enough macro economic indicators to forecast a bright future, if the driver is allowed to stay the course.

The last verse of Frost’s poem with which I began this essay is very instructive:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Naija! Make una follow who know road o!

Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, a former Ondo Commissioner for Information, is Director of New Media and Corporate Services for the All Progressives Congress (APC)