Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen investor confidence and transform Nigeria’s capital market into a globally competitive environment.

Speaking at the 2025 Customer Service Week celebration in Abuja with the theme ‘Building the Market of the Future, One Interaction at a Time,’ Dr. Agama said the SEC is embracing digital innovation as a core part of its service strategy to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility across all market operations.

He noted that recent advancements, such as the digitisation of SEC processes, deployment of new online service portals, and enhanced engagement with market stakeholders through digital platforms, were designed to simplify regulatory interactions and make the market more user-friendly.

According to him, ‘The digitisation of our processes, the launch of new portals, and our enhanced engagement on social media are all steps in the right direction.

‘They are designed to make our market more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly’.

While acknowledging the transformative power of technology, the SEC boss stressed that human engagement remains central to building trust.

He explained that ‘technology is only an enabler,’ adding: ‘The heart of excellent service is the human connection-the ability to listen, understand, and provide solutions that make every stakeholder feel valued.’

Dr. Agama pledged that the Commission would continue to invest in digital infrastructure, continuous staff training, and tools that empower frontline officers to deliver superior service to investors.

He described customer-facing staff as the ‘true heroes’ of the capital market, whose work directly shapes investor perception and confidence in the system.

He stressed that the SEC’s vision is to build a deep, vibrant, and technology-driven capital market powered by efficient service delivery and sustained trust.

‘Let every day be Customer Service Day at the Nigerian SEC and across our capital market.

‘Let us continue to build this market of the future, not with grand pronouncements alone, but with one successful interaction, one resolved complaint, and one satisfied stakeholder at a time,’ he stated.

Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has berated the Federal Government over what he described as its ‘shamefully political and dangerously unserious’ response to Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis.

Hashim said the government’s reaction to growing terrorist and bandit attacks has been driven more by propaganda and partisan considerations than by a genuine commitment to protect citizens.

‘This government treats the blood of innocent Nigerians like a campaign statistic,’ Hashim lamented in a statement at the weekend. ‘Instead of confronting terrorists and bandits, they are busy issuing statements and blaming imaginary enemies. Governance is not propaganda.

The APC is more interested in securing PDP governors ahead of 2027 than securing Nigeria. Rather than uniting the country, the APC is pitching the South against the North.’

The Global Energy entrepreneur said the recent move by the United States to consider placing Nigeria on a watchlist of countries of concern over religious and security issues was a direct consequence of the government’s ‘failure to protect its citizens and confront terrorism with sincerity.’

‘While Nigeria does not have a state policy of genocide or persecution against Christians or any particular group, the levity with which the government has handled terrorist activities should worry every decent human being , not only Americans,’ he said.

Hashim warned that if the current trend continues, terrorist networks could establish parallel governments in parts of northern Nigeria before 2027, with the North Central zone becoming their main battlefield.

He accused the political elite of being consumed by the race for 2027 elections instead of working to stabilize the country.

‘Too many politicians are dancing around 2027, ignoring the fire already consuming the nation. If this continues, the context for elections may not even exist when the time comes,’ he cautioned.

Turning to the economy, Hashim faulted the Tinubu administration’s fiscal direction, especially what he called ‘the endless imposition of taxes and levies on already suffering citizens,’ warning that such policies were worsening poverty and insecurity.

‘When people can’t eat or live in dignity, social violence becomes inevitable,’ he said. ‘You can’t tax hunger out of poverty, you only create more chaos.’

Hashim urged the Federal Government to urgently reform the national security architecture, tackle the economic roots of violence, and unite Nigerians around a genuine plan for peace and development.

‘We must save Nigeria now. Delay is dangerous. This is not about politics anymore, it is about the survival of our nation,’ he concluded.

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike beginning from Monday, 13th October, 2025, to further press for the resolution of their long-standing demands by the Federal Government.

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike beginning from Monday, 13th October, 2025, to further press for the resolution of their long-standing demands by the Federal Government.

President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, who announced this on Sunday at a news conference in Abuja, ordered members of ASUU in all its branches to withdraw their services with effect from midnight (12.01 a.m.) on Monday.

This followed the expiration of the two-week ultimatum the Union gave the Federal Government to meet their lingering demands.

He noted that the meeting with the government side on Friday was nothing to write home about, noting that ASUU would soon present its response to the government offer.

According to him, what the government offered ASUU was nothing to stop the proposed strike action.

He said: ‘It goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14 days notice given on 28th September, 2025,

‘Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight (12.01a.m.) on Monday, 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,’ Piwuna stated.

Some of the demands of ASUU include the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of universities, an end to the victimisation of ASUU members at Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), among others.

The two-week warning strike was declared despite an appeal by the Federal Government for the Union to shelve the planned strike action over unmet demands, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, said have lingered for over 15 years.

Speaking on Wednesday last week, before the meeting of the high-level committee on FGN/ASUU 2025 proposed agreement in Abuja, Alausa assured ASUU members that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was ready to resolve all the lingering issues in a comprehensive and holistic manner.

Alausa said Tinubu had directed that the proposed strike be averted, affirming the commitment and political will of the President to resolve all the contending issues that would be mutually acceptable and respectful to all the staff unions.

He said there was no basis for ASUU or any other staff unions in territory institutions to embark on industrial action, stressing that the directive of the President is clear, ‘strike must be averted for Nigerian children to be in school’.

Recall that ASUU had two weeks issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face industrial action. The decision was reached at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 28 at the University of Abuja.

The Minister has noted that the meeting was a technical working group to finalise components of the condition of service for university workers and a counteroffer to ASUU.

He disclosed that by Thursday last week, the Yayale Ahmed-led Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiating Committee would have met with the leadership of ASUU to present the government’s offer to them.

The Minister noted that the government had commenced the implementation of the demands of the lecturers and other staff unions, saying the current administration of President Tinubu released N50 billion Earned Academic Allowance some months ago.

He added that N150 billion was allocated in the 2025 budget as revitalisation fund for tertiary institutions while the issues of promotion arrears would be captured in 2026 budget.

Ajadi Rescue Movement, a fast-growing socio-political and humanitarian initiative founded by Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has launched its Gombe State Chapter in a colourful ceremony that brought together political figures, community leaders, and youth groups from across the state.

The inauguration, held in the Gombe State capital on Saturday, was a vibrant display of culture, unity, and purpose. The Fasaha Cultural Troupe opened the event with a lively Hausa traditional performance, symbolising the movement’s deep respect for Nigeria’s diverse heritage and its commitment to inclusivity.

The programme began at 11:00 a.m. with prayers from both Islamic and Christian clerics – Imam Adamu Usman Manzo and Reverend Nuhu Nadabo – reinforcing the organisation’s message of religious harmony and peace. Attendees also rendered the national anthem and the Ajadi Anthem, led by the Zonal Coordinator of Gombe South, Mr. Amatiga N. Yila.

In his welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator of Gombe Central, Mr. Mahmud Usman, praised Ambassador Ajadi’s ‘visionary leadership and unwavering dedication’ to social justice, youth empowerment, and national rebirth. He also acknowledged Northern Coordinator Comrade Shuaibu Ibrahim for his ‘unrelenting grassroots mobilisation’ across the region.

Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Shuaibu Ibrahim described the Ajadi Rescue Movement as a people-oriented platform devoted to empowering the underprivileged.

‘Ajadi Rescue Movement is not a political family business – it is a national service platform,’ he declared. ‘Ambassador Ajadi’s mission is not driven by politics, ethnicity, or religion, but by a genuine desire to rescue humanity from poverty, ignorance, and neglect.’

He urged the people of Gombe to identify with the vision of the movement, assuring them that its positive impact will soon be felt nationwide.

The highlight of the event was the formal unveiling of the Gombe State Chapter, led by State Coordinator Comrade Abubakar Kalagar Muhammad. He lauded Ambassador Ajadi as ‘a God-sent reformer whose compassion and patriotism have birthed a movement of hope across Nigeria.’

‘Leadership is not about power but purpose – the purpose of serving others,’ Kalagar stated, while unveiling the newly appointed state executives and local government coordinators.

Goodwill messages followed from dignitaries, including CSP Muhammed Baba Ali and Prince Zaidu, who represented His Highness, the Hakimin Shengete. Both commended the movement’s leadership and prayed for Ambassador Ajadi’s continued strength and success.

During an interactive session, participants discussed the movement’s goals, structure, and long-term sustainability. Their concerns were addressed by Hon. Ibrahim and Comrade Kalagar, who reaffirmed the movement’s transparency and commitment to grassroots empowerment.

In her closing remarks, Gombe State Women Leader Hajiya Mairo Adamu, alongside Youth Leader Engr. Aeron Maidoma, Secretary General, expressed appreciation to all attendees. They pledged to take the ‘message of hope, unity, and empowerment’ to every corner of Gombe State.

The event ended with closing prayers from Reverend Nadabo and Imam Manzo Adamu, followed by a group photograph led by Hon. Ibrahim. Participants dispersed joyfully at about 1:45 p.m.

The inauguration of the Gombe Chapter marks another milestone in the expansion of the Ajadi Rescue Movement across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Since its inception, the movement – under the leadership of Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi – has inspired Nigerians with its vision of social inclusion, youth development, and national renewal.

In this report, VINCENT KURAUN reassesses the implementation of speed limit cameras in Lagos, highlighting residents’ demands for improved and clearer awareness, aiming to promote a safer driving environment through collaboration between the government and the residents.

THE introduction of speed limit cameras on Lagos roads has transformed the urban landscape, igniting discussions about safety, law enforcement, and the evolution of urban mobility. For several months now, these cameras have become a ubiquitous part of the driving experience in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, standing watch meticulously along selected routes.

Lagos, home to roughly 20 million residents and a steadily growing population, grapples with significant traffic management challenges. The appearance of speed limit cameras signifies a proactive approach by the authorities to tackle the rampant issue of reckless driving.

These devices serve a twofold purpose: they aim to deter drivers from exceeding speed limits while also fostering a safer environment for both motorists and pedestrians.

According to the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), the initiative is designed to combat the alarming rates of road accidents and fatalities that have long plagued the city. Overspeeding, recognised as a leading cause of traffic-related incidents globally, has warranted immediate action in densely populated areas like Lagos. It’s essential to understand that the primary intent behind these cameras is not to generate revenue, but rather to augment public safety.

How the speed cameras operate

Speed limit cameras are pivotal in modern traffic enforcement, taking on the responsibility of closely monitoring and regulating vehicle speeds along the roads.

These cameras utilise advanced technology to measure vehicle velocity, capturing photographic evidence of any infractions.

When a driver exceeds the established speed limit, the speed camera records vital information, including images of the vehicle and its license plate, timestamped data of the offense, the speed at which the vehicle was traveling, and precise location details.

These modern speed cameras leverage high-resolution digital technology to ensure the accuracy of the images captured. This meticulous documentation proves invaluable in legal frameworks, providing a transparent basis for any subsequent penalties.

While many Lagos residents continue to commend this initiative, the advent of speed limit cameras has not come without its share of controversies. Numerous drivers caught in violation have expressed frustration over hefty fines, raising concerns about the perceived fairness of the system.

‘I was driving home late at night when I received a notification for speeding,’ recounted Emmanuel, a Lagos resident. ‘I was only slightly over the limit, but the fine was exorbitantly high. It feels like just another way for the government to make money.’

Such sentiments echo throughout various communities in Lagos, where residents deliberate on the state’s intentions.

Another resident, identified as Henry Obidike, in a brief interview with the Sunday Tribune expressed his indignation regarding the cameras, arguing that the imposition of hefty fine is akin to extortion.

According to him, it is clear that these practices ignore tribal differences, adding that it affects everyone equally, regardless of background.

‘The Lagos State government seems to be engaged in practices aimed at extorting money from its residents and it is important to note that this form of extortion disregards tribal affiliations, affecting everyone equally regardless of their background,’ he remarked.

The challenges of awareness and enforcement

Insights gathered from frustrated drivers reveal a concerning trend, including a lack of awareness about speed limit regulations among Lagos motorists.

They noted that as of March, there was a notable lack of awareness among motorists regarding the speed limit regulations in place.

But this absence of information did not deter the government, however, as they continued to record vehicle details and issue fines to drivers without addressing this gap in knowledge.

Alarmingly, these penalties were not processed until a full four to five months later, raising red flags surrounding transparency and efficiency within the system.

Despite the government’s claims that the primary intention behind these fines is not to generate revenue but rather to serve as a warning to drivers about the dangers of speeding, motorists in Lagos believe there may be other ulterior motives at play.

For instance, some claimed that it seems that some individuals took it upon themselves to review the recorded camera footage months later, perhaps as a means to increase government income through these fines.

One of those with such thoughts, Jimoh Adebayo, while sharing his experience, stated: ‘I visited the website and entered my car plate number, and to my surprise, I was fined N50,000 for a speed limit violation that occurred in March.

‘It wasn’t processed until August, leaving me questioning the integrity of the enforcement process.’

Numerous others voiced similar frustrations, highlighting discrepancies between the timing of their alleged infractions and the subsequent fines issued.

‘I found out about my fine on the 4th of this month (October), even though the incident happened on March 20th,’ said Peter Abiccuss, who also expressed his anger and frustration.

Another individual, Isaiah Olukuewu, who received a fine, noted that his incident, dated March 19th, wasn’t recorded on the website until July 12th.

‘I had to pay quickly because the Vehicle Inspection Officers can be strict on the road,’ he added.

Moreover, residents like Theo Enubuzor have challenged the rationale behind the penalties: ‘A 1km over-speed shouldn’t warrant a fine, and yet it does. It seems absurd.’

Others, like Temitope Ibrahim, voiced their bewilderment regarding the financial implications, pondering why one should pay a substantial fine when they could invest that money elsewhere.

‘It happened to me as well on March 24th and they generated the fine on the 19th of August. How am I going to pay N50,000 when I can easily add a small change to get another number plate,’ he questioned.

As these voices resonate in public discourse, many Lagos residents view the penalties associated with speed limit violations as overly harsh and disproportionately high, leading to a growing sentiment that the government is prioritising revenue generation over public safety.

These fines, which can amount to substantial sums, often come as a shock to some drivers, particularly those who may have been unaware of their speed.

Residents have voiced frustrations about the lack of transparency and communication regarding speed limits and the criteria for issuing fines. As such, questions continue to arise about the consistency and fairness in enforcement, which, many residents argue, have unfairly targeted them.

This has contributed to a broader narrative that the government is not acting in the best interests of its people but rather exploiting them financially.

Engaging with the authorities

In an effort to address these concerns, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Bolanle Ogunlola, outlined the specific speed limits enforced by the cameras to include 80 kilometers per hour on major thoroughfares like the Third Mainland Bridge, Alapere, and Ogudu roads, while other routes such as Nitel at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way mandate a limit of 60 kilometers per hour.

She stated that, ‘Lagos speed limits which are set in kilometers per hour, km/h are on Third Mainland Bridge, Alapere and Ogudu roads at 80 kilometers per hour and on NITEL, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way at 60 kilometers per hour.’

She emphasised the importance for vehicle owners to closely monitor their speedometers, as many vehicles display speed in both kilometers per hour (km/h) and miles per hour (mph), often leading to confusion.

She also provided a clear conversion guide with the aim to equip drivers with the knowledge needed to navigate Lagos’s roads safely.

‘To avoid violations, drivers are advised to pay close attention to their vehicle’s speedometer calibration. Many vehicles display speed readings in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h), with km/h often appearing in smaller font,’ she explained, adding that 40 km/h equals 25 mph, 60 km/h equals 37 mph, and 80 km/h equals 50 mph. According to her, this information aims to equip drivers with the necessary knowledge to navigate Lagos’s roads safely and responsibly.

‘Given that Lagos speed limits are set in km/h, motorists are urged to focus on the km/h readings to ensure compliance,’ she added.

Mrs Ogunlola also clarified that to tackle concerns over the delay in notification violators would receive SMS alerts at their registered phone numbers, which could mitigate the surprise of fines during vehicle document renewals.

‘Violators receive SMS alert notifications sent to their registered phone numbers,’ she stated.

While discussing the penalties for speeding, she stated that the fine for exceeding the speed limit is N50,000.

Concerning the enforcement of these violations, she reassured citizens that the cameras are closely monitored for accuracy and reliability. She also stated that queries and appeals against fines can be processed with sufficient proof, allowing for the possibility of refunds if exonerated.

‘These cameras are closely monitored to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Fines can be queried and appealed with proof and if found exonerated, fines are retrieved,’ she explained.

When asked about the rationale behind installing cameras on specific roads, she explained that decisions are based on surveys that assess safety needs in various locations, prioritising areas based on the potential risk to lives and property.

‘Selected roads were decided based on surveys carried out, mainly on the need for the safety of lives and property,’ Ogunlola said.

When further asked about the potential security risks during late hours and whether drivers should maintain speed limits while driving at night when the roads are relatively less crowded, she said the authorities took its decision while taking into account the inherent security risks of late-night travel as well.

‘Safety and security during night movement were also considered in the choice of roads,’ she added.

As the debate over speed limit cameras continues, Lagos residents have also called on the government to intensify efforts for improved communication, transparency in the setting up of its guidelines and improving community engagement that will enable them to navigate the city’s roads safely and without heavy financial repercussions.

Former vice president and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of abuse of presidential pardon.

The former presidential candidate was reacting to recent clemency granted to individuals convicted of criminal activities.

Picking holes in the extension of such pardon to convicts serving jail terms for such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, Atiku declared that the action of President Tinubu ‘sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.’

The statement reads, ‘The recent announcement of a presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, as expected, provoked outrage across the nation.

‘Ordinarily, the power of presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative, a moral and constitutional instrument designed to temper justice with mercy and to underscore the humanity of the state. When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance.

‘Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite. The decision to extend clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption not only diminishes the sanctity of justice but also sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.

‘At a time when Nigeria continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences, it is both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritize clemency for those whose actions have directly undermined national stability and social order.

‘Particularly worrisome is the revelation that 29.2% per cent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes at a time when our youth are being destroyed by narcotics, and our nation is still struggling to cleanse its image from the global stain of drug offences.

‘Even more disturbing is the moral irony that this act of clemency is coming from a President whose own past remains clouded by unresolved and unexplained issues relating to the forfeiture of thousands of dollars to the United States government over drug-related investigations. It is, therefore, no surprise that this administration continues to demonstrate a worrying tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.

‘A presidential pardon is meant to symbolise restitution and moral reform. Instead, what we have witnessed is a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, a demoralisation of law enforcement, and a grave injury to the conscience of the nation.

‘Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness.

‘Nigeria deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivialises it.’

Former National Director for Legal and Public Affairs, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and also a member of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Samuel Vondip Kwankur, speaks with ISAAC SHOBAYO on the protracted insecurity in Nigeria, particularly on the issues of amnesty, negotiation, and peace deals with bandits in the northern part of the country. Excerpts:

THE general belief is that Nigeria is losing grasp of one of its constitutional responsibilities, which is to protect lives and property. What is your personal assessment of the situation?

Well, I will say the issue of security challenges in Nigeria is not new. It has been there for more than a decade. There has been a consistent fight by the authorities against it. But to my mind, the major concern of Nigerians, myself included, is the skill with which the battle is fought, the commitment to it, and the results expected from it. When it started, every government would come and say, We have finished terrorism; there is nothing again. Since the Obasanjo regime, we have heard such claims. Yet, after such statements, victims still cry, communities are attacked, and no complete results are seen.

The unfortunate thing is that each time the government makes claims of overcoming terrorism and banditry, a worse attack happens. And most times, other groups come up with new names, continuing criminality, terrorism, and the killing of innocent Nigerians. That is what is so concerning that while authorities are claiming to have achieved safety and protection, more attacks are happening, more sophisticated, and with different terrorist groups coming up. Before there were no bandits; now we have bandits, and from West Africa we now have different terrorist organizations coming in.

The spread has also increased; it started in the Northeast, then moved to North Central, and now the North west is in it. So it’s complicated. On one hand, the government claims victory, but on the other hand, the reality shows things are not going right. What the authorities should do is make deliberate plans to ensure that when you say something, you pursue it to the end.

It will interest you to note that I’ve watched on TV where military chiefs keep saying, ‘We have conquered, we have defeated thousands, we have bombed their camps.’ Then, on the same television, another news item will report that a community was attacked and people killed. Sometimes I wonder if the government watches such contradictions and if nobody feels guilty that they just said they conquered, yet the next day another attack happens. Yes, I will say there is commitment from the Tinubu administration, from some security chiefs, and from the National Security Adviser. We have seen their posture and desire for peace, for safety, and for the protection of innocent citizens. The efforts of security agencies are commendable. But the reality is that Nigerians are still under attack, communities are still being wiped out, and we want to see an end to it. Sometimes people complain that it looks like a business. Some people are making money from this situation. Those fighting get money, while the victims are left to lick their wounds. That’s the sad truth, and that’s what most of us are left to believe.

I can’t understand how we have equipment, recruitment, and foreign-trained experts, yet we are not winning. I always say that when you see Nigerian soldiers fighting outside this country, they perform excellently. They are celebrated and commended. But bring them home, and everything changes; the general will no longer be general again.

Are you saying the government is no longer in charge of the situation? What is the way out of this situation?

I won’t say it has completely lost it, because no leadership will admit to being defeated. But that’s the position we are in now. If you go to the Northwest, for example, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Katsina, so many local governments are no longer under government control. You see terrorists coming into towns and cities, negotiating with government officials while holding guns. Where is the law that forbids citizens from carrying guns? Yet they come with weapons, with their heads wrapped, with machine guns, sitting and negotiating. They will say, Yesterday you took our people, so we will release these ones if you bring this money. It’s so sad and unfortunate. But I will say we cannot lose hope. My confidence is that I’ve seen Mr. President speak, and I’ve seen some level of commitment from him and the National Security Adviser. The issue now is to translate that commitment into results and action. That’s where the problem is. We can’t give up. We can only encourage the security agencies to keep the commitment, but let’s see results. Honestly, until we see results on the ground, some of us who have been in this struggle for years will keep saying things are not yet right. We may pretend politically that all is well, but the truth is that nothing is well. Something is wrong, and I see it largely as sabotage. When someone uses his uniform to make money, you won’t know. You give him an assignment, he tells you the number of security personnel and weapons he needs, and at the end, nothing happens. Sometimes information leaks-and the same security agents become victims. We have seen this many times. So if citizens cannot show commitment to love this nation with all their heart but prefer to make money from people’s blood and build mansions, which is where our problem lies.

What are your thoughts on a situation in which bandits meet with government officials to negotiate, and in most cases with security agents in attendance? Isn’t this a defeatist response to the pitiful situation?

If you look at the case of Katsina and Zamfara, we have situations where those who even went to the mosque and killed people are now sitting at the negotiation table with government officials, sometimes in the presence of security agents. That is the greatest trial of a nation. We have seen countries that have fought terrorists to a standstill, like America. It’s not that they don’t have insecurity, but you don’t hear them constantly negotiating with terrorists. I have not seen any nation that negotiates with terrorists the way Nigeria does, believing that once we negotiate, the killings will stop.

Even if some people believe negotiation brings solutions, what result have we gotten from such failed efforts? The only result is that money meant for the terrorists emboldens them to buy more arms and attack more communities. Along the line, some negotiators also enrich themselves. Everything revolves around personal gain.

Recall that former governors of Katsina, Zamfara, and a few others in the past negotiated and offered amnesty to bandits, but nothing changed. But what assurance does the nation have that the latest attempt will be different?

Nothing tangible. How many of them have come out to help fight terrorism or rebuild society? One would expect that if you rehabilitate someone, he should be able to share intelligence or help address the problem. Thousands have been rehabilitated, yet Nigerians do not even know what has become of them. It all seems like another avenue for corruption and embezzlement.

It is also shameful that we see these negotiations on television, with terrorists sitting relaxed, laughing, and dictating terms to the nation. Yet, within the same week, they go on to attack another community.

What has happened to the victims of these terrorist attacks?

That’s another painful part. While we are spending millions and billions rehabilitating terrorists, who cares for the victims? Where are they sleeping? What are they eating? Who is helping them recover from trauma? No one seems to know how they are surviving. By neglecting them, we may be pushing them toward becoming terrorists themselves. When people are repeatedly victimized, they may feel the only option left is to fight back. Terror groups exploit this, recruiting such victims and making money off them. Nigeria has not truly sat down to assess how these efforts have failed and come up with a concrete strategy. The bottom line remains sabotage and greed. Everyone seems to be making money while victims languish. Has there been any positive result from all these negotiations with terrorists? None. You and I live in this country; have you seen any improvement? Despite all the meetings and negotiations, communities are still being attacked. I know people who have sat with terrorists, collected money from the government, and claimed to have solutions, yet we’re still suffering.

So, my perception is that this whole thing has become a business. People are making money with human lives. Until we see genuine commitment, not on television or in statements, but in real results-nothing will change. The true testimony of progress will come from the victims. If they say, ‘Thank God, we’ve been rescued; there are no more attacks,’ then we’ll know something is working. We’re not saying criminality will end completely, but the frequency and scale of attacks should reduce. We’re not condemning the authorities, but we must tell the truth: things are not well. Nigeria is not well as far as insecurity is concerned.

Ethnicity and religion are the basis and major problems of Nigeria. Many strongly believe that if we can conquer these, there will be a turnaround for the nation. Do you subscribe to this notion?

I agree, to some extent. When Nigerians go outside the country to fight or support other governments against terrorism, they succeed. Look at our involvement in Liberia; the results were excellent. So why is it different here at home? The problem is ethnicity and religion. When an issue touches ‘my people,’ the response changes. You can see it clearly even in the media. If one community is attacked, there will be no response; if another is attacked, there will be a quick one. Some attacks are labeled terrorist attacks, others communal clashes or farmer-herder conflicts. Why the difference? If all the attackers are criminals, bandits, or terrorists, why profile them differently? Look at Plateau State-it has faced consistent terrorist attacks, yet such incidents are described as community conflicts, even when people were sleeping and attacked at night. But in Zamfara, similar incidents are called terrorist attacks. Why the double standard? Something is clearly wrong. Unless our leaders rise above ethnic and religious bias, this will continue. I’m happy the president, during his last visit to Plateau State, made a statement showing balance in his perception of religion and ethnicity. I appreciate him for that, and I’ve seen some signs he’s trying to act on it.

ALSO READ: What I found out about Boko Haram – Obasanjo

But what about those below him-do they share the same perception? Are they carrying out their duties truthfully and according to their oath of office? These are questions that need to be answered. We may pretend that these issues are not about ethnicity or religion, but in practice, those lines are visible. It’s unfortunate that many of us are still unable to rise above them and stand for truth and justice. Even in appointments and employment, ethnicity and religion play a role. When you get a job or position through such connections, you become tied to those interests and end up defending them instead of serving the nation. So, I believe Nigeria needs a complete overhaul-we must learn to be patriotic, truthful, and committed to what is right.

All children of God must stir up the attitude of appreciation to the Lord. If good things happen to us and we are glad, let us go ahead and thank the Lord who has made us glad. Let us dramatize our appreciation. Let us make a big deal of the fact that we are grateful. An adage says ‘if a child shows appreciation for yesterday’s benefaction, he has positioned himself to receive another one today.’ Let us thank God copiously and dramatically for what He did yesterday,and He shall do more for us today and forever.

When God showed His mercy to Solomon, and led him to a landmark achievement, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 1:6-7And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’

To show that he appreciated God, Solomon offered to God a new kind of offering. He looked around him, thought hard and long, and did something that no one had ever done to show appreciation to God. What is that thing that represents your own ‘one thousand burnt offerings’? What is that special, unprecedented gesture of appreciation that you shall offer to the Lord to express your appreciation for what He has done for you? What is that thing that no one has ever done that you can do to show God that you appreciate Him for the great things that He has done for you? The Psalmist says, Psalms 50:14 Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

When we show to the Lordthat we appreciate what He has done, we offer Him encouragement to do more in our lives. We show that God has not ‘labored’ in vain over our lives. So we must make deliberate effort, and elaborate arrangements, to show appreciation to God. The Psalmist says, Psalms 147:1-2 Praise the Lord!For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.The Lord builds up Jerusalem;He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

To say it in another way, how we can show the Lord that we appreciate what He has done for us is by doing for Him too those things make Him happy – those things that make God happy.

Apart from thanksgiving which we have mentioned, another thing that surely makes the Lord happy is soul-winning. All who are grateful to God must re-embrace the task of soul-winning.Our Lord said to His followers at a point, Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Shall we multiply that joy in heaven by cooperating with God to bring more sinners to repentance?

Lecture delivered under the joint auspices of the Geographical Society and the Federalist Society of Nigeria at the University of Ibadan on 16th May, 1970

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

I take it that we all agree that the civil war, like any war at all for that matter, could not have been fought for any length of time, let alone victoriously after a protracted campaign, without adequate funds. This being so, I would like to state that financing the Nigerian civil war – that is, making it possible for us to wage the war as we did – has left us with bad and good legacies which can have far-reaching implications for the future economy of the nation. I propose to deal with six of such implications.

FIRST: Because of the protraction and continuous escalation of the war, Nigeria is now left with a large army – about twenty times its pre-war size – which poses a serious dilemma for the economy. If we continue to keep them at the present strength, the bulk of our resources would have to be diverted for their maintenance, to the prejudice of the economy and of the masses of our people. On the other hand, if we demobilised a large number of them immediately, without their simultaneous absorption into alternative employments, our highways and alleyways would, of a certainty, be infested by hungry, discontented, and disillusioned youths who might be tempted to commit violent crimes, again to the prejudice of the economy and of the masses of our people.

SECOND: Today, most of our hospitals as well as many of our homes are filled with the maimed and the wounded of the war. For many years to come, they will, quite properly, remain an unreciprocated charge on the economy. In other words, they will remain an inevitable addition to the country’s population of non-producers who must be fed, housed, clad, and generally cared for at public expense.

THIRD: Extensive damage and destruction to public and private properties had been caused, in certain parts of the country, as a result of the war. All these will have to be made good and restored with new resources which would otherwise have been utilised for new and additional developments.

FOURTH: I did speak before of the crazy vagaries of the unorthodox market for arms and ammunition in which we were obliged to operate in the early stages of the war. This is putting it mildly and politely. In all its aspects, war is very bad business; and the unorthodox ,market for military equipment is the worst and the most sordid black market conceivable. It was abundantly clear to us that, if our proposed Iron and Steel Complex had been in production, we would have been able to produce all the small arms and ammunition needed by us, at the Nigeria Defence Industries. Partly because of the state of mind into which it was thrown by the sharp practices of arms racketeers, the Federal Military Government gave a big fillip to the negotiation for establishing an Iron and Steel Complex for Nigeria; and if all goes well, the Complex should be in production by about 1974 or 1975. All of us know what this means for the future economy of our country, especially if petro-chemical industry is established in the country, simultaneously. In concrete terms, it means self-sufficiency in practically all consumer durables; it means the local production of a good number of capital goods; and it also ipso facto means considerable savings and increase in our foreign exchange reserve.

FIFTH: The exigencies of the war did well to shock us out of our traditional complacencies, and to compel us to make a clean break with the injudicious and injurious economic policies of the past, and chart for ourselves a new path of financial prudence. Practically, all the important measures introduced by us during the war testify to the validity of this assertion. The selective restrictions on imports and the attendant switch to import-substituting goods; the sealing of wasteful loopholes in our foreign exchange transactions and earnings, including the centralisation in the hands of the Central Bank of all foreign exchange receipts emanating from Nigeria; the financing of the Marketing Boards by the Central Bank with consequent automatic advantages to the Government and Marketing Boards alike, in additional revenue for the former and lower rate of interest, coupled with assured source of finance, for the latter, the introduction of companies super tax and payment of terminal dues – all these and more are concrete evidence of what we had done to arrest the unhealthy trends of the past, and are accurate pointers to what can be done in the future to make Nigeria a free, self-reliant, and prosperous economy.

SIXTH: The financing of the civil war has enabled us to discover that Nigeria possesses an economic resilience and expansiveness which we did not sufficiently notice before. In this connection, I would like to emphasise that this resilience, and this expansiveness, was by no means accidental.

All the requisite material and manpower resources for the early attainment of economic greatness have always been available in abundance, and are only waiting to be conscientiously recognised, mobilised, and deployed. Potentially, Nigeria is a giant economy capable, under prudent and competent guidance, of making giant strides. All those who are concerned with making plans for her forward motion must recognise this important fact, lest, as in the past, they hinder her natural velocity. There are classical instances of inadvertent hindrances in the past. The 1962/68 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN assumed a growth rate of 4 per cent. The GUIDEPOSTS FOR SECOND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN which was published in June 1966 assumed a growth rate of 6 per cent for 1968/73.

In paragraph 10 of the GUIDEPOSTS, the following revealing passage occurs: ‘If the 4 per cent minimum growth rate per annum assumed under the current plan is realised, the GDP will amount of about £1,304 million in 1967/68. During the period 1968/69 to 1972/73 it will be assumed that the GDP will more resistant in their operations, than any armed rebellion. They grow at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, bringing it to a level of £ 1,744 million at the end of the next Plan periodare the enemies which must now be crushed, and crushed ruthlessly.

Contrary to the plans and prognostications of experts, there are only two ob~tacles that I can see to the early conquest economy actually grew at an average rate of 6.6 per cent during the of these monstrous enemies, and hence to the rapid economic and period of 1959/67, and the GDP in 1966/67 stood at £ 1,605 million social transformation of Nigeria. They are: lack of sufficient number as contrasted with £1,304 million and £1,744 million forecast for it of Nigerians with the requisite expertise to plan and execute our for 1967/68 and 1972/73 respectively development programme, and lack of sufficient resources to defray.

‘When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle’ -Irish philosopher Edmund Burke.

Ex-SenatoR, ex-Governor, ex-Ibadan High Chief, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has ascended the Ibadan throne as the 44th Olubadan. I am not sure the ancient city of Ibadan has seen any Olubadan of our modern times that has been as decorated as Oba Ladoja. His is a testimony of the saying that man proposes but God disposes. Where are the arrowheads of the opposition that cut short Ladoja’s tenure as the governor of Oyo state (May 29, 2003 – January 12, 2006; December 12, 2006 – May 29, 2007)? Like Orlando Owoh crooned, ‘Awon da? A wa won, a o ri won mo!’ Where are they? I am sure you know the answer! We search for them but they cannot be found. Even those of them still alive must bury themselves in shame!

Talking of Ibadan, where I served my mandatory one-year NYSC; thereafter enrolling for a post-graduate course in Political Science at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, before going on to kick-start my journalism career at the now defunct Sketch newspapers, my mind always raced back in time to one of those poems that we read for our West African School Certificate examination – John Pepper Clark’s laconic poem – Ibadan/Running splash of rust and gold/Flung and scattered among seven hills/Like broken china in the sun.

Life is a huge irony! If one Olubadan does not join his ancestors, another Olubadan cannot mount the saddle. The sadness of one, therefore, is the joy of another. Fortunately in Ibadan, they usually depart in ripe old age; the type of transition that we say in Yoruba land is not one of mourning but of the celebration of a life well spent. Long may the king reign!

Ask any Olubadan: My suspicion is that the most joyous day of his life – and his greatest achievement – regardless of whatever other achievements he might have chalked up in life – is the day he ascends the highly exalted throne of his fore-fathers. Every other achievement pales in its significance. And it is not likely that anything he achieves while on that throne will be as momentous and as celebrated as the day he ascends the throne. Incidentally – and that is the irony of life – the next momentous event of his life will be the day he, too, vacates the throne for another person to occupy! Someone vacated the throne for him. The occasion, without doubt, was momentous in his life. He, too, will vacate the throne for another person. And that event will also be momentous in the other person’s life. The same rejoicing that was witnessed when the throne became vacant for the present Olubadan to occupy it will be witnessed long, long down the line, but in another direction. No one can prevent that from happening in the fullness of time, since no one has ever succeeded in preventing it from happening in the past!

The beauty of the Olubadan succession system is that it takes the lucky occupant a long, long wait before it becomes his turn. It is what is called turn-by-turn. So, they usually grow old before it gets to their turn. Another beauty of the system is that while it has embedded in it the ‘Emilokan’ principle, this is also not cast in iron. The next-in-line is known, but only God decides who gets there. Long may the king reign! But I am sure you understand that the other flip of the coin as far as this prayer is concerned is ‘Long may the next-in-line wait!’ But there is no cheating involved here because every incumbent had also passed through that long wait before it became his turn. Let God grant the incumbent good health and long life to enjoy his long wait, which has now become a reality! And let God grant those coming behind good health and long life to see out their own long wait! The patience to endure the long wait and the fortitude to accept God’s decision on the matter, may the good Lord grant everyone concerned!

As we close, let me make a reference to a podcast which featured Chief Bisi Akande, one-time civilian governor of Osun state, who was asked the yet-to-be-answered trillion-Naira question of ‘Who killed Bola Ige?’ Ige was a one-time governor of Oyo state, chieftain of the Left-leaning Alliance for Democracy which controlled the politics of the South-west region of Nigeria at the time, and Minister, first of Power, and then of Justice before he was gruesomely murdered on 23 December, 2001 in his home at Ibadan, despite the hordes of security operatives around him. Efforts to find the killers have eluded everyone. Only rumours and speculations fill the air. Mercifully, but sadly in the same breath, Chief Akande took us a step closer to unravelling the mystery by saying, without mincing words, that ‘Government killed Bola Ige’ He repeated that statement again and again. Which government? Many will understand him to mean the federal government? How? Why?

While Chief Akande revealed something, he chose to still put a lot more useful information under wraps. Some things you know, you may not reveal but take with you to the grave, he said! Why? Opportunities to redress wrongs are lost. Chances of doing justice are thrown to the dogs. The need to purify our society and cleanse our conscience is glossed over – all on the altar of wanting to sound and act politically correct! Chief Akande said Ige spoke with him before his assassination, but what Ige told him, he would not say. The Oyo state governor at the time of Ige’s murder, Comrade Lam Adesina, also reportedly spoke with Chief Akande, but the contents of their discussion, Akande would also not disclose. He said with both men dead, who would be his witness! Instead, he said we should ask Ladoja, who succeeded Lam Adesina as the governor of Oyo state, why he discontinued the court case filed by Lam over the murder of Ige. Would Lam have unraveled the issues surrounding the murder of Ige in open court? Akande said probably! But should a successor-governor’s hands (in this wise, Ladoja’s) be tied over a matter in court or should he be free to review the matter and take whatever he considers the best decision in the circumstance?

We need to know! Because that is how public interest can be served in this matter! Surely, public interest is not served when those who know something choose to keep silent. ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’, says Edmund Burke who is believed to have echoed John Stuart Mill’s earlier admonition that ‘Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing’ As they always say on the set of LTV, Ikeja, Lagos, ‘If you see something, say something!’ And I add: Not only say something, do something! Our own Wole Soyinka says ‘The man dies in all those that keep silent in the face of tyranny’ And what can be more tyrannical than the gruesome murder, in his own bedroom, of a serving Minister of the Federal Republic?

I wonder how many of our leaders have chosen the path of not standing up to be counted in the arduous task of sanitizing our society. Despite repeated prodding by his interviewer, Chief Akande insisted he would go to his grave with some secrets that he knew. The other day, another ex-governor of Oyo state, Chief Omololu Olunloyo, also doggedly rejected suggestions that he put pen to paper. He knew so much, he said, but would prefer to take everything to his grave; which he did some months ago! Oftentimes, we hear leaders say if they divulge all they know about this country, or even a cent of it, the entire country will go up in flames. Why not, if not? To spill the beans and clean up the Augean stable or keep piling stuff under the carpets – which is more profitable?

Yes, States keep secrets and leaders know the limit of what they can divulge at a particular point in time. That is why some information or documents are described as ‘classified’. But because enlightened societies also know that public interest is not served if such documents are permanently kept under wraps, they are declassified after a given period. For example, evidence relating to the assassination of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, on 22 November, 1963, were recently declassified by the US Government.

One critical pillar of Western societies is their relentless pursuit of the public good. No effort is spared and no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice. Even if it takes decades and tons of money, they keep pursuing criminals until they are caught and are brought to book. That way, every criminal knows that the chances of getting caught are high, and that they ultimately will face the music. That, alone, is deterrence. And that is why we speak of the ‘long arms of the law’. That is also why they have the saying: Crime does not pay! Here, however, nothing pays better than crime. Here, the arms of the law are not long at all; they are crooked, miserably short, ineffective, and ineffectual.

Another advantage of a relentless pursuit of truth by the countries of the West is that we have seen cases of historic injustices upturned when new truths and evidence are unearthed. Can we ever have such happen here? Whereas we all complain, especially when we lose our vantage position and are now at the receiving end of the same system we have helped, we are mostly all complicit in the decadence that envelopes our society. If we know the truth but fail to speak, act, pursue or defend it, then, we qualify as part of the hordes of ‘good men’ that Burke and Mill say do nothing but look on while evil men perpetrate and perpetuate their evil act.

Therefore, I do not know whether, at this point in time when he has already attained to the very pinnacle of his life-time ambition, Kabiyesi will want to take up the challenge thrown his way by his fellow ex-governor, Chief Bisi Akande. Let us begin to straighten and elongate the arms of the law here – like they do abroad, where our leaders always run when they want to enjoy the better life they have bluntly refused to replicate here. It is by so doing that we can make our own society a safer and saner place for all of us – and for generations yet unborn.