Author: user user

The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) described the outcome of the recapitalisation exercise as a significant milestone for the industry, commending the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for implementing what it called a fair, transparent and well-structured recapitalisation process.

Speaking in a statement on Thursday, NIA Chairman, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, said NAICOM’s clear regulatory guidelines, systematic verification process, defined timelines and effective supervisory oversight provided operators with a credible framework to successfully navigate the exercise.

She said the recapitalisation marks a new phase in strengthening the financial capacity, stability and competitiveness of Nigeria’s insurance industry while reinforcing public confidence in the sector.

‘The successful outcome of this recapitalisation exercise is a major win not just for regulators and operators, but for policyholders, investors and the wider Nigerian economy,’ Mrs. Nwachukwu said.

‘A well-capitalised insurance sector is better equipped to honour obligations promptly, underwrite complex and large-scale risks, and serve as a reliable pillar of national economic growth.’

The Association congratulated the 43 insurance and reinsurance companies that met the new minimum capital requirements, praising their resilience, professionalism and commitment to aligning with evolving regulatory standards.

Nwachukwu also expressed confidence in the eight insurance companies currently undergoing final verification and regulatory review, noting that NAICOM’s 14-day verification window demonstrates its commitment to due process and regulatory fairness.

She reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to supporting all member companies throughout the transition, stressing that the NIA would continue to provide a platform for advocacy, collaboration and constructive engagement with the regulator.

According to her, the industry is emerging from the recapitalisation exercise significantly stronger, more resilient and better positioned to deepen insurance penetration, inspire consumer confidence and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development.

Muslim women have been encouraged to play more active roles in leadership and governance as part of their Islamic responsibility to promote justice, accountability and the welfare of society.

The Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, Dr. Lateefah Sowunmi-Kolapo, made the call during the inaugural summit of the Egba Muslim Women Forum (EMWOF) held in Abeokuta.

Addressing participants, Sowunmi-Kolapo stressed that although the forum must remain non-partisan, Islam encourages believers to be actively engaged in promoting the common good and supporting righteous leadership.

‘Leadership is an amanah (sacred trust), and Muslim women should be prepared to serve with integrity in education, healthcare, public institutions and other sectors where they can positively impact society and contribute to the growth of Islam,’ she said.

She noted that responsible civic engagement, advocacy for justice and support for accountable leadership are consistent with Islamic teachings, adding that Muslim women should understand public policies and contribute to shaping a society founded on moral values.

Sowunmi-Kolapo described the inauguration of the Egba Muslim Women Forum as the beginning of a movement to empower Muslim women to become agents of positive change within their homes, communities and the wider society.

She urged Muslim women to embrace unity above personal, organisational or political differences.

The PDP deputy governorship candidate also identified growing social challenges-including drug abuse, cybercrime, cultism, declining family values, the negative influence of social media and economic hardship-as issues requiring greater attention from Muslim mothers.

She urged Muslim women to nurture children with sound Islamic morals, integrity and discipline, emphasising that strong families are the foundation of a righteous and prosperous society.

Also speaking, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described the inauguration of the forum as a significant step toward strengthening the collective voice and influence of Muslim women across Egbaland.

She said bringing together women from different Muslim organisations under one umbrella would foster unity without erasing their individual identities.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Deputy Director at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Mrs. Rasheedah Ibrahim, also called on Muslim women to rise above organisational differences and work together in the interest of the Ummah.

‘We want to rise above organisational differences and embrace collective responsibility. Let us speak with one voice on matters affecting our community,’ she said.

Nile University of Nigeria hosted the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia, Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, as part of a National Universities Commission (NUC)-coordinated study tour to strengthen institutional learning and knowledge exchange in higher education.

Selected as one of the universities for the official engagement, Nile University provided the Gambian delegation with first-hand insight into its approach to academic delivery, innovation, digital learning, entrepreneurship and student development.

The Gambian delegation was led by Hon. Prof. Gomez, accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Isatou Auber. Also participating in the visit were Engr. Suleiman Adebayo, Deputy Director/ Team Lead, University-Industry Linkage Division at the National Universities Commission (NUC), alongside other officials from the NUC.

In his welcome speech, the Vice-Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Dilli Dogo, FNAMed, DFMC, described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen collaboration among African higher education institutions and strengthen the exchange of knowledge and practices capable of advancing the continent’s university system.

‘We are honoured that Nile University was selected as one of the institutions to host this distinguished delegation. Universities have an important role to play in Africa’s development, and that requires us to look beyond our individual institutions and countries to build partnerships, exchange knowledge and learn from one another. We welcome opportunities such as this to contribute to the continued advancement of higher education across the continent,’ Professor Dilli Dogo said.

The visit built on longstanding educational ties between Nigeria and The Gambia, strengthened over the years through academic exchanges, scholarships, capacity development and the contributions of Nigerian academics to The Gambia’s university system.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Prof. Gomez described Nigeria as a longstanding and valued partner in The Gambia’s higher education development, acknowledging the significant contribution Nigerian academics have made to the country’s university system. ‘It is always good to come back to our roots because Nigeria has been a trusted partner in our educational journey for many years. Most of the faculty members in our universities are Nigerians, and the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia was also Nigerian. That reflects the depth of the relationship our two countries have built over the years,’ he said.

He added that the study tour was designed to enable the delegation to examine institutional systems and practices that could provide useful lessons as The Gambia continued to strengthen its higher education sector.

A key part of the visit was a guided tour of Nile University’s facilities and learning ecosystem. The delegation visited the University’s state-of-the-art Virtual Reality room, which supports experiential learning in business, leadership and decision-making.

The tour provided insight into the University’s integrated approach to teaching and learning, executive education, digital learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, and student support, as well as its continued investment in creating an environment that prepares students for the evolving demands of the workplace and society.

The visit also provided a platform for broader discussions on institutional development and the evolving role of African universities in strengthening academic quality, expanding research and innovation, embracing technology-enabled learning and equipping graduates with the knowledge and capabilities required to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.

By hosting the delegation, Nile University reinforced its commitment to advancing higher education through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnerships that extend beyond institutional and national boundaries, while strengthening its contribution to developing future-ready graduates and the wider transformation of higher education in Nigeria and across Africa.

The delegation, before departure, solicited cooperation and collaboration with the Education Sector in The Gambia and promised to forward workable proposals for MoUs towards the advancement of the newly established University of Science and Innovation and Technology in The Gambia.

They believe Nile University has what it takes to support a workable partnership with the University of The Gambia

Today, I sat in a hall filled with the finest of Yobe society , traditional rulers, clerics, politicians, technocrats, and ordinary citizens from all walks of life and I watched something rare unfold. It was not just an oath-taking ceremony. It was a masterclass in leadership, trust, and the quiet power of mentorship. The occasion was the swearing-in of Dr. Mohammed Goje as the substantive Secretary to the State Government of Yobe State, with His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, himself presiding. And what I witnessed today will stay with me forever.

Let me begin with the Governor. His Excellency took the podium and spoke about Dr. Goje in a manner I have rarely heard a leader speak about an appointee. This was not the language of political convenience or routine endorsement. This was the voice of a master who had nurtured an offspring from scratch , who had watched him grow, who had tested him in the crucible of complex assignments, and who had now arrived at an unshakeable conviction: this is the man. The Governor’s words carried the weight of years of observation, of quiet mentoring behind the scenes, of countless moments where Goje was given a task and he simply delivered. As I listened, I thought to myself: this is what it looks like when a leader is not insecure, when he does not fear the brilliance of his protégé, but instead polishes it until it shines so brightly that everyone can see. Standing there, administering the oath himself, Governor Buni was not just fulfilling a constitutional tradition , he was publicly sealing a bond of trust forged over years.

And then there was Goje himself. Standing before the Governor, hand raised, reciting his oath with a calm that can only come from deep preparation. He did not need to prove anything today because his work had already done the proving. I have known him for years ,as a sound and intellectually formidable mind, a true technocrat in every sense, yet remarkably down-to-earth, responsible, and unfailingly reliable. He is that rare listening friend who combines deep international networking with genuine grassroots sensitivity. Today, as the hall erupted in celebration, I could not help but reflect on the journey. This is the man who transformed the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency into arguably the most successful agency in the state, navigating complex humanitarian crises with skilful foresight. This is the same man who, as Head of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum Secretariat, drove the actualisation of pivotal regional programmes with diplomatic finesse and data-driven precision that earned praise from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and beyond. A Harvard Kennedy School and London School of Economics-trained professional, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health , yet so deeply rooted to his people.

Today’s ceremony was the public confirmation of what those close to the administration have long known. Since 2019, Governor Buni has shaped Goje’s professional growth through strategic leadership mentorship, blending formal academic brilliance with practical, high-level governance experience. Every assignment was a lesson. Every challenge was a test. And today, the Governor stood before the world and said, in essence: ‘I have trained him, I have tested him, and I am confident.’ Watching the Governor administer that oath, I saw a master watching his protégé step fully into destiny and the pride in His Excellency’s eyes was unmistakable.

The event itself was a testament to Goje’s broad acceptance. From traditional rulers to political heavyweights, from civil servants to youth groups, the cross-section of attendees told a story of a man who has built bridges across every divide. The atmosphere was not merely celebratory; it was affirmative. There was a palpable sense in the room that Yobe State had just locked in one of its finest minds for the long haul, and that this moment was bigger than any one individual , it was a statement about the kind of leadership this administration values and rewards.

What excites me most about this moment is what it signals for the future. Governor Buni has not only appointed a competent SSG; he has built a pipeline of generational leadership that will outlast his tenure. He has demonstrated to every young technocrat in Yobe State that loyalty, discipline, and excellence will be rewarded ,not with empty praise, but with real responsibility. In Goje, the Governor has found a round peg in a round hole, an executor who understands the machinery of government and shares the Governor’s vision of a Yobe that works for everyone. When the master trusts the protégé this completely, the state wins twice over.

To my brother and friend, Dr. Mohammed Goje, I say congratulations once again. The journey from acting to substantive SSG, sealed today with an oath administered by the Governor himself, is a validation of everything we who know you have always believed. You have Yobe in your heart, and now you have the full mandate to serve with even greater impact. The entire Lake Chad Basin region has benefitted from your brilliance; now your home state will benefit even more.

To His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, I say thank you. Thank you for showing that mentorship is not dead in Nigerian politics. Thank you for proving that a leader’s greatest legacy is not the buildings he erects but the leaders he builds. Today, as I watched you preside over that oath with such visible pride and confidence, I felt profoundly proud to serve under you. You have once again reminded us that true leadership is about seeing tomorrow and preparing for it today.

Today was a good day for Yobe State. A very good day.

Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori is the Honorary Special Adviser on International Relations and Investment to the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon (Dr) Mai Mala Buni CON; and Technical Advisor, Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum and also Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Food Corporation;

The dangerous practice of travelling on top of trailers from the southern part of the country to the North and vice versa is becoming a fast-growing habit among some carefree Nigerians, many of whom are young people. Such persons are frequently seen sitting on trailers fully loaded with cattle or other goods as they travel to either the North or the South. This practice has resulted in the loss of many young lives.

Notably, most of those who engage in this practice are cattle sellers, commercial okada riders, or operators of various petty businesses who travel to the South to carry out their activities. Apparently, the desire to reduce the financial cost of such journeys drives them to recklessly use trailers as a means of transportation.

It is clear that those who, for instance, travel from Sokoto to Port Harcourt and vice versa on top of trailers expose themselves to grave danger. Their continued indulgence in such reckless behaviour demonstrates the extent to which many ordinary Nigerians have, regrettably, continued to undervalue their own lives.

Furthermore, the persistence of this dangerous practice indicates both a tendency among such travellers to violate existing transportation laws and the failure of relevant authorities and operators within the transport sector to enforce those laws. It is the combination of passengers’ recklessness, the greed of trailer drivers, and the complicity of some officials of traffic regulatory agencies that has allowed this hazardous practice to persist.

Daily Trust not only condemns this practice but also calls for the immediate adoption of effective measures to bring it to an end. Public sensitisation and strict enforcement of transportation regulations are undoubtedly necessary steps in this regard.

We, therefore, urge relevant government agencies, as well as transport associations and unions, to consider this unwanted practice as a challenge that requires urgent and sustained attention. Concerted efforts by these agencies and organisations will certainly help to eliminate this ugly trend.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in particular, as the agency mandated to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and ascertain the roadworthiness of vehicles, should regard the widespread use of trailers for passenger journeys as a serious challenge requiring immediate action. Few violations of transportation laws demonstrate as clearly the failure of enforcement as the continued sighting of passengers on top of trailers.

Similarly, organisations such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) must ensure that their members comply with the laws guiding transportation. Restoring sanity to our roads and, by extension, the transport sector, can only be achieved if these bodies play their roles effectively.

Another important way to facilitate the movement of persons, cattle, and goods is the expansion of the rail transport system, which remains too limited to meet the country’s critical economic needs. The absence of an efficient and extensive rail network has made the use of trailers and other heavy vehicles for transporting cattle and goods an attractive option.

This newspaper recognises the immense benefits of a functional railway system to the national economy and, therefore, calls for the rapid transformation of the existing network to meet the demands of a modern Nigeria. Rail transport is arguably the most suitable means for hauling cattle and heavy goods because of its capacity to accommodate large volumes.

The safety and convenience provided by rail transport make it highly suitable for the movement of cattle. Significant financial costs, security challenges, and other risks associated with long journeys can be reduced if trains become the preferred means of transporting animals and heavy goods.

Meanwhile, even before the rail system is adequately upgraded, travelling on top of trailers must be completely banned. The FRSC should collaborate with all relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure that this dangerous practice comes to an immediate end.

The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry into a major export-driven sector, identifying Cross River State as a strategic hub capable of supplying the South-South region and international markets.

Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Muktar Maha, disclosed this during a visit to Cross River ahead of the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum in Ikom Local Government Area.

Maha said the facility, the first of 12 planned along Nigeria’s international borders, is designed to strengthen livestock health certification, prevent the entry of diseased animals into the country and enhance confidence in Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

He said the Federal Government was determined to build a modern livestock economy capable of creating thousands of jobs while boosting non-oil exports, noting that Nigeria’s red meat export market is valued at about $3.4 billion.

According to the minister, Cross River is strategically positioned to become the country’s livestock export gateway because of its coastal location, proximity to Gulf markets and ongoing investments in transport infrastructure.

‘We believe Cross River can dominate the red meat industry in the South-South. With Calabar’s access to the coast, we are only a few hours away from Gulf markets,’ he said.

Maha disclosed that the ministry plans to establish a modern abattoir ecosystem in the state capable of processing about 500 cattle daily, a project expected to generate about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs through meat processing, transportation, cold-chain logistics, feed production and other value chain activities.

To address supply challenges in the poultry sector, the minister announced plans to facilitate the importation of about 60 million hatchable eggs as a short-term intervention while licensing more operators to reduce delays experienced by livestock farmers.

He also urged investors to explore opportunities in commercial fodder production, including Napier grass, alfalfa and ryegrass, saying demand for quality animal feed remains high in Gulf countries.

He added that the proposed Obudu livestock facility would incorporate cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and a dairy centre in partnership with a university.

Maha further disclosed that the ministry would inspect the Obudu Ranch and other livestock assets during the visit to evaluate investment opportunities and accelerate the development of the state’s livestock sector.

Responding, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Odey, reaffirmed the state’s readiness to partner the Federal Government.

He said the Obudu Cargo Airport, now about 85 per cent completed, together with ongoing investments at Obudu Ranch, would support livestock exports and position the state as a major agricultural and trade hub.

The Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum is expected to play a critical role in safeguarding animal health, facilitating cross-border livestock trade and supporting the Federal Government’s broader economic diversification agenda through agriculture.

To buttress the point permit me to share the words of Mr. Kio Amachree, a Stochkholm-based Nigerian writer.

On 13th July he wrote the following on X.

‘I do not know a Nigerian who would sell his soul the way the anti-immigrant mobs of South Africa have done this past month. Every unreconstructed apartheid nostalgist is laughing behind his locked gates at how easily these movements were turned against their fellow Africans, doing the dirty work of division for free and making the power grab of others so much easier’.

He added:

‘Ask the obvious question. Who is writing the cheques? March and March charters buses across provinces, prints shirts by the thousand, stages press conferences and floods social media with coordinated campaigns, yet its own public crowdfunding raised barely thirteen thousand rand. Researchers at Wits University say plainly that this is not a grassroots movement of the unemployed, that there is external funding. A Stellenbosch professor calls the movement inorganic, coordinated and amplified by people with a political agenda, with money moving in ways no one can trace. Former President Thabo Mbeki calls it what it is, a funded counter-revolutionary project that does not come from the people. Somebody with deep pockets is bankrolling the spectacle of Black South Africans hunting fellow Africans, and every day the financiers stay hidden, the beneficiaries of a divided, burning South Africa sleep more peacefully behind their locked gates. Follow the money and you will find the true authors of this shame’.

He added:

‘The movement is led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a former radio presenter enjoying her fifteen minutes of fame, flanked by Zulu regiments and regional agitators like Mthokozisi Gumede in KwaZulu-Natal. This is not patriotism. It is a political project wearing the stolen clothes of liberation. Stockholm Syndrome is too weak a term for what ails this movement. Its foot soldiers appear to have been taught to hate themselves, and they have no regard for the sacrifice of the thousands of freedom fighters, many sheltered and armed by the very African nations they now terrorize, who gave them the right to breathe as free men and women’.

He concluded with the following:

‘Meanwhile those who dreamt of the good old days of white rule watch Black South Africans do to fellow Africans what apartheid once did to them, and they could not have scripted it better themselves. Every burnt shop, every checkpoint, every whip raised against a Zimbabwean domestic worker or a Nigerian trader is a gift to those who always said Africans could not govern themselves. The freedom fighters who died from Sharpeville to Soweto did not die for this. South Africans deserve to know whose money is buying their liberation back from them, rand by rand’.

Amachree is right.

South African Minister of Justice, Mamoloko Kubayi hit the nail on the head when she said ‘foreign entities are stoking unrest in South Africa’.

The truth is we do not have to dig too deep to know just who those foreign entities are when we consider the words of an essay written by Israeli columnist Grant Arthur Gotchin that was published on January 2nd 2026 in the Times of Israel in which he argued that ‘Africa must fragment and South Africa must be the first to fragment’.

The objective is clear.

It is an imperialistic and neo-colonialistic design and construct whose purpose is to destroy, divide and rule us ALL.

Outside of that permit me to ask Minister Ntshaveni and those that think like her the following questions.

Are the majority of Nigerians in South Africa not properly documented, hard working, responsible, decent people who have major investments there?

Is it fair for you to suggest that the majority of Nigerians in South Africa are undocumented and illegal immigrants, drug dealers and criminals who ‘live in shacks’ when you know very well that this is not the case?

Is it Nigerians that bring drugs into your country through your ports and borders?

Is it Nigerians that manufacture drugs there?

Is it Nigerians that make up your police force, customs and law enforcement agencies that colluded with the drug dealers to bring drugs in and sell them?

Is it Nigerians that consume drugs in your country or force others to consume them?

Are Nigerians the only ones that are involved in the drug trade in South Africa?

Are 98% of the people in South African prisons South Africans and not Nigerians?

Is it not a fact that, as South African Minister of Correctional Services Dr. Pieter Groenewald recently confirmed, there are only 28,000 foreign prisoners in South Africa and that less than 300 of them are Nigerians?

Does this not torpedo the absurd notion that all Nigerians that reside in South Africa are criminals, scammers and drug dealers?

Have any Nigerians been implicated or accused in the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry which is probing allegations of corruption and drug related crimes or is it only South Africans including South African law enforcement and Government officials?

There was a 2 billion rand (120 million USD) drug bust in South Africa recently which involved South Africans and nationals of a South American country. There were no Nigerians involved.

The two former Heads of the South African Police that were prosecuted for drug trafficking and the suspended head of the South African Police that is under investigation for drug trafficking and corruption today are NOT Nigerians but South Africans.

All these events and facts speak volumes and clearly point to the fact that the commission of crimes in South Africa and elsewhere are not the exclusive preserve of Nigerian nationals.

There is no doubt that there is a drug and crime problem in South Africa in which some Nigerians are involved and we hold as much contempt and disdain for them as you do for indulging in such heinous crimes that brings so much misery to South African families.

We urge you to deal with such criminals decisively within the confines of your laws and we will assist you in this in any way that we can.

To however allege or imply that ALL Nigerians and ONLY Nigerians are involved in such criminality is disingenious and false.

Was a South African woman who was carrying her three year old child not arrested at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos in early July smuggling large amounts of cocaine into our country?

Was another South African not caught smuggling 7.5 kilograms of heroine in Thailand a few days later?

Does this mean that all South Africans are drug dealers?

Surely not!

Did the South African Ministers that treated Ireti Bakare Yusuf with such contempt and accused her of being rude and disrespectful simply because she asked Minister Ntshaveni whether she thought she ought to apologise to Nigerians for suggesting that we were all drug dealers do the right thing?

Was treating a female journalist that asked a legitimate question in that way and even subjecting her to threats of being thrown out of the hall and being manhandled by aggressive and hostile security officers not unacceptable?

Is this the way to build bridges between our two countries and does this attitude and behaviour towards a respected Nigerian journalist reflect the fact that many in South Africa, including some in Government, view our people as nothing but criminals?

There are thousands of documented Nigerians in your country lawfully who are doing a great job in numerous responsible professions and spheres of human endeavour, who are adding immense value to your community, who are employing and providing essential legal, medical and academic services for your people and who are hardworking, proud and law-abiding citizens.

Many have even married South African nationals and are raising their children in your country.

They are indeed your guests and we expect you to treat them as such and not set them up for persecution and villification by referring to them as drug dealers and criminals.

I take strong objection to this mischaracterisation of our citizens and it is indeed painful that a country of 250 million people that contributed so much to your liberation struggle and that has opened its markets and borders to your companies and nationals for so many years can be referred to and treated in this way.

I call for caution and restraint.

Permit me to add the following.

Some have tried to frame the hostility, violence, challenges and insults that black African foreign nationals, including Nigerians, are facing in South Africa as a consequence of a ‘migration problem’.

I respectfully disagree.

According to census figures the number of documented and undocumented foreigners living in South Africa is 3 million.

3 million out of a population of 64 million can hardly be described as a migration crisis.

The problem that South Africa has is one of wealth creation and distribution and not migration.

The migrants are simply the scapegoats for what is essentially the failure of the state to effectively fight poverty and better the lives of its citizens.

The sooner the poverty problem is solved the sooner Afrophobia and the murderous hate and violence that goes with it will cease.

That should be the focus and objective of South African Government officials and the South people and not the demonisation and mischaracterisation of Nigerian nationals, or any other African nationals, that reside in their country.

We want to have a productive and mutually respectful relationship with South Africa which will enhance trade and strong strategic relations with our country and not one of disrespect and recriminations.

As a Nigerian that has immense respect and profound admiration for the struggles and sacrifices of your heroes past like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo, Walter Sisulu, Steve Biko, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Govan Mbeki,

F.W. De Klerk, Desmond Tutu, Alan Boesak, Tokyo Sexwale, Joe Slovo, Winnie Mandela, Jessie Duarte and so many others I sincerely hope and pray that we can achieve this.

Wisdom and diplomacy insists that sovereign nations must treat one another with respect in order to strengthen and build strong bilateral relations.

This is especially so when there is so much at stake.

Thankfully for every repugnant expression of racism, arrogance, ignorance and hate from the likes of Jacinta Ngobese- Zuma and others we have expressions of fraternity, understanding, appreciation and Pan-African solidarity from seasoned and experienced South African leaders and diplomats like Minister Firoz Chachalia and Mr. Zane Dongor and therein lies the hope for the future.

Extremists and racists that are working for a foreign power and that have a hidden agenda from both sides of the divide shall not prevail and shall not set us apart.

Whatever our challenges and our concerns about one another may be we will sit down, work them out and stay together all for the sake of our respective nations and the benefit of Mother Africa.

As High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa it is my primary duty to strengthen ties between our two great nations and ensure that our relationship remains strong, respectful, mutually beneficial and cordial.

In addition to that I have a duty to protect the interests of every Nigerian in South Africa that is properly documented and that abides by the law.

I shall not fail in these duties or be found wanting.

Responsible diplomacy and law enforcement is the way out of the challenges that South Africa are facing with illegal migration and drug related crimes and not the blanket villification of a fellow African nation.

This is especially so given the fact that that African nation offers nothing but support and good tidings for the Government and people of South Africa, a country we have loved and respected for many years.

(END OF PART 5)

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Minister of Aviation and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to South Africa)