Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Sir: Three years after seizing power, Burkina Faso’s strongman, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, continues to project himself as the torchbearer of a new African revolution – a reincarnation of the late Thomas Sankara. Yet, his recent performance, marking his third anniversary in power, revealed more theatre than substance. It was less a presidential address and more a self-congratulatory monologue filled with sweeping claims, imagined enemies, and revolutionary soundbites detached from the harsh realities on the ground.

Facing a carefully selected group of journalists – those unlikely to ask uncomfortable questions – Traoré transformed what should have been a serious state briefing into a one-man show. His tone was confident, even prophetic, yet far removed from the desperation of a nation caught in the grip of terrorism, poverty, and displacement.

Traoré opened with drama: when he came to power, he claimed, the Burkinabe army had ‘barely a hundred weapons and 100,000 cartridges.’ Such exaggerations might thrill loyalists but stretch credibility. Even local hunters would scoff at such arithmetic. Yet, the captain reassured his listeners that 15,000 men are now recruited annually and that Burkina Faso will soon ‘make its own weapons.’

How, and with what resources? There were no details – no factories, no engineers, no budget. It was a familiar populist pattern: imagination over implementation, rhetoric over realism.

Perhaps the highlight – or low point – of the press conference came with the grand economic announcement: a tomato processing plant. While jihadists overrun villages and thousands of civilians flee daily, the government’s big victory was the promise of locally made tomato paste.

Agricultural processing is undoubtedly essential. But in a nation where more than half of the territory is under terrorist control, the symbolism felt jarring. The message seemed to be: Burkina may not be safe, but at least it will have sauce.

When policies fail, populists find scapegoats. In Traoré’s narrative, the Ivory Coast has now become the enemy. He accused Abidjan of serving as ‘the rear base of Burkina’s enemies’ and even suggested that President Alassane Ouattara had signed a ‘non-aggression pact’ with jihadists.

Such allegations are not just far-fetched – they are dangerous. They strain regional diplomacy, alienate neighbours, and distract from the government’s inability to secure its own borders. Ironically, when a journalist cited a poll showing that 66% of Ivorians viewed Burkina Faso’s leadership favourably, Traoré shrugged: ‘Really? I don’t follow that. I don’t watch those media outlets anymore.’

This was revealing. In a state where the media is censored and dissent suppressed, even positive news struggles to reach the leader’s ears. Traoré appears trapped within his own echo chamber – and Burkina Faso with him.

Three years on, the outcomes are damning. Burkina Faso remains the most terrorised country in the world. Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and much of the countryside is beyond state control. Schools are closed, health centres are abandoned, and basic livelihoods are destroyed.

Despite fiery anti-Western speeches and his warm embrace of Moscow, little has changed on the ground. Russian mercenaries and propaganda can amplify slogans, but they cannot rebuild schools, protect farmers, or restart an economy in free fall.

And now, with Burkina Faso – alongside Niger and Mali – having withdrawn from ECOWAS, the country faces deepening isolation. What Traoré brands as ‘sovereign independence’ increasingly looks like self-imposed solitude. Without regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, or trade partnerships, Burkina Faso risks turning into a garrison state – fortified in rhetoric but hollow in results.

In just three hours of speaking, Captain Traoré managed to: turn the Ivory Coast into the supposed headquarters of Sahel’s villains; declare tomato paste the new pillar of national resilience; and redefine politics as the art of deception.

But beyond the theatre, Burkina Faso continues to bleed. The ordinary people – farmers, students, traders, and families – pay the real price for this illusion of revolution.

Traoré may parade as the new Sankara, but three years on, his ‘revolution’ looks more like a parody than a legacy. The real revolution Burkina Faso needs today is not one of slogans or posturing, but of results – restoring security, rebuilding trust, and reviving governance.

Until then, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s revolution remains exactly what it appears to be: a show more than a solution.

Arsenal have held internal discussions about expanding the capacity of Emirates Stadium.

The talks are still at an early stage with no favoured plan on how to move forward decided yet, but the possibility of home matches being played at Wembley Stadium if work was to take place has been discussed.

The Gunners played Champions League matches at the old Wembley Stadium in both the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.

Rivals Tottenham played Champions League matches at the current Wembley in 2016-17, before playing all of their ‘home’ fixtures at Wembley in 2017-18 and most of 2018-19 while their new stadium was completed.

Next year will mark 20 years since the Gunners moved to the Emirates from Highbury.

It is understood talks have involved the possibility of changing the seating plan in order to add thousands of seats as the Gunners look to keep pace with the largest stadiums in the country.

With a capacity of 60,704, Arsenal have the fifth-largest stadium among English football clubs.

Manchester United’s Old Trafford is the biggest ground with a capacity of 74,879, while Tottenham’s home is second (62,850), West Ham (62,500) third and Liverpool (61,276) fourth.

Heartland FC has distanced itself from its former General Manager, Promise Uchenna Nwachukwu, declaring that he no longer has any link or authority to represent the club in any capacity.

In a statement signed by the club’s Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, Heartland clarified that Nwachukwu ceased to be part of the club’s management since July 2024. The club noted that recent developments necessitated the disclaimer to prevent the public and football stakeholders from being misled.

‘Mr. Nwachukwu is not authorized to represent Heartland FC in any official or unofficial matters, nor is he permitted to act, speak, or transact on behalf of the club,’ the Owerri-based side said in a statement.

Heartland further warned that any individual, organization, or football body – including the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Confederation of African Football (CAF), or FIFA – that deals with Nwachukwu under the impression that he represents the club does so at their own risk.

The club emphasized that it will not be held liable for any agreements, representations, or commitments made by the former official.

Amuneke assured that the club remains focused on repositioning Heartland FC for greater professionalism, transparency, and integrity.

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have discovered their opponents for the final qualifying phase of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, following yesterday’s draw held at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland.

The four-time African champions will compete in Lyon-Villeurbanne, France, one of the four host cities for the global qualifiers scheduled to take place from March 11 to 17, 2026.

D’Tigress have been drawn in a tough group alongside France, Germany, Korea, Colombia, and the Philippines, as they look to secure a place at the Berlin 2026 World Cup. The qualifiers will serve as the final gateway to the world’s biggest women’s basketball tournament, where 16 nations will battle for glory.

The draw was conducted by Germany’s Marie Guelich and former French captain Endy Miyem, under the supervision of FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and representatives from participating federations.

Aside from Lyon-Villeurbanne, other host cities for the qualifiers include Wuhan (China), San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Istanbul (Trkiye).

D’Tigress will be hoping to continue their dominance on the African continent and translate it into another impressive global outing as they aim to secure qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin 2026.

The Full Draw:

Wuhan, China: Mali, South Sudan, Brazil, Belgium, Czechia, China

Lyon-Villeurbanne, France: Colombia, Philippines, Germany, Korea, France, Nigeria

San Juan, Puerto Rico: New Zealand, Puerto Rico, USA, Senegal, Italy, Spain

Istanbul, Trkiye: Hungary, Trkiye, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan

The Managing Director of FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, says the bank is committed to bridging financing gaps and leveraging digital solutions to tackle business challenges across key sectors of the economy.

Alebiosu stated this at a breakfast session during the 31st Nigeria Economic Summit, themed ‘Expanding Access to Finance and Driving Growth Across Middle Market and Emerging Corporate Segments,’ held in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that a prosperous nation is built on the backbone of its real sector, adding that access to finance remains fundamental to unlocking the sector’s full potential.

‘That is why we have placed this subject at the heart of our discussion – to catalyse sustainable growth and inclusion where it matters most,’ he said.

According to him, FirstBank empowers Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and emerging corporates through tailored products and services designed to stimulate growth across their value chains and support Nigeria’s economic evolution.

He stressed that collaboration among policymakers, industry players, and technology partners was vital to achieving lasting impact.

‘By forging partnerships across policy, industry, and technology, we can create an enabling environment that unlocks new opportunities for businesses to thrive. That is the driving purpose of today’s session,’ Alebiosu said.

He highlighted that with a legacy spanning 131 years, FirstBank remains a trusted partner to SMEs and large corporates, offering comprehensive banking solutions that enhance innovation, resilience, and diversification in the economy.

Also speaking, the Group Executive, Commercial Banking, North Division, Mrs. Aishatu Bubaram, said the middle market and emerging corporates are central to Nigeria’s future prosperity.

She described these enterprises as vibrant drivers of job creation, innovation, and diversification across key sectors such as agribusiness, healthcare, digital services, and light manufacturing.

Bubaram noted that despite their potential, these businesses face persistent challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate advisory support, and fragile operational ecosystems.

‘FirstBank recognises that addressing these barriers is not just a banking imperative; it is a national imperative,’ she said.

According to her, the bank has continued to support enterprise growth and resilience over its 131-year history, reaffirming its commitment to expanding access to financial solutions, deploying technology to unlock opportunities, and forging partnerships that empower businesses.

‘This session is not merely about banking; it is about reimagining how finance can accelerate inclusion, how policy can create enabling environments, and how collective action can turn Nigeria’s vast entrepreneurial energy into shared prosperity,’ Bubaram added.

The House of Representatives yesterday swore in three new members – Omosede Igbinedion (Edo State), Felix Bagudu (Kaduna), and Murktar Rabiu (Jigawa).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the presence of the new members during plenary.

The three All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers were ushered into the Green Chambers by the Clerk of the House, under the Speaker’s watch.

NAN also reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Igbinedion the winner of the bye-election recently conducted in Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State.

Igbinedion polled a total of 77,053 votes to win the election to fill the seat which became vacant in September 2024 following the election of Dennis Idahosa as Edo Stat deputy governor.

Also, Bagudu, who replaced the late Labour Party (LP) lawmaker, Ekene Adams from Chikun-Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, polled a total of 34,580 votes to occupy the seat.

The third member, Rabiu, from Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, polled 38,449 votes to emerge the winner of the by-election.

Newly elected board member of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Mrs. Chinedu Odozor-Onikeku, has commended the organization and competitiveness of the just-concluded first phase of the Nigerian Customs Volleyball League, describing it as impressive and a step in the right direction.

Speaking after the event, Odozor-Onikeku rated the league high but noted that there is still room for improvement. She called for the inclusion of Nigerian players who have gone professional abroad, stressing that their experience would raise the technical level and overall quality of the domestic league.

‘So far, so good. We are gradually getting there. This first phase has shown promise, and I believe by the second phase, things will get even better. All the teams have improved, but allowing our professionals abroad to participate will further enhance the game with their exposure and experience,’ she said.

Beyond the on-court performances, Odozor-Onikeku, who is also an AFFAN elected member, took time to advise players on the importance of planning for life after sports.

‘There is life after sport. Athletes must realize that retirement or injury can come at any time. As they earn, they should save and invest wisely to have something to fall back on in the future,’ she cautioned.

The first phase of the Comptroller General of Customs Volleyball League ended with Nigeria Customs Ladies leading the women’s standings, while the Chief of Naval Staff team topped the men’s category.

Majority of Nigerian workers will not pay tax on what they earn when the new law takes effect in January.

Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said about 98 per cent of Nigerian workers will be exempted from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) .

Oyedele spoke during a session at the ongoing 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja.

Under the new tax structure, he said, poor Nigerians would be exempted from personal income tax, while high-net-worth individuals would be subject to higher rates.

‘The poor will not pay personal income tax,’ he said.

‘Those who earn more and have greater means will pay more. That is how fairness works in a modern economy.’

Oyedele stated that small and low-income companies would also enjoy tax exemptions to strengthen their operations and create more jobs.

He said: ‘We are considering tax-exempt stickers for nano businesses to protect them from harassment by state and local government officials.

‘These are the smallest operators – street vendors, petty traders, artisans – they should be allowed to thrive.’

He explained that the tax reforms are designed to protect low-income earners and those living around the poverty line, while ensuring a more equitable and efficient tax system.

‘The more inequality you create, the more time bomb you have,’ Oyedele said.

‘These reforms are designed to strengthen governance around revenue generation, improve accountability, and ensure that tax revenues are effectively utilised.’

According to him, the comprehensive tax reforms, which form part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader fiscal policy agenda, aim to enhance Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating, lower borrowing costs for both government and businesses, and stimulate private-sector investment.

Oyedele said the reform effort was not without personal risk, revealing that he had received death threats because of his role in driving the initiative.

‘Reform is tough,’ he said. ‘I have suffered all kinds of things, including death threats. But I am not scared. I recently celebrated my 50th birthday.

‘Even if anything happens, I have done my bit. The reforms belong to Nigerians. The reforms don’t belong to Mr. President.’

He said the reforms seek to build a fairer system in which wealthy individuals and large corporations contribute more to the country’s development.

‘If we don’t pay our taxes in an orderly manner, we’ll pay them in a disorderly manner.

‘We’ve seen that in the past few years with over N30 trillion printed, which is part of the inflation we’re dealing with and the devaluation of the naira.

‘We don’t want that to happen. We’ve seen countries like Zimbabwe where prices double every other day.’

Responding to concerns that state and local governments might resist the reforms, Oyedele assured that members of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), representing all 36 states and the FCT, were fully part of the committee’s deliberations and had expressed support for the new framework.

According to him, the new system would not deprive states of revenue but would, in fact, help them earn more from the Federation Account without burdening vulnerable citizens.

‘Last year, all the states generated N3.36 trillion from taxes imposed on their people,’ he said.

‘If that N3.36 trillion is not generated in 2026, the states will not do worse. We are convinced that no state will be bankrupt. We can’t do better by not taxing our most vulnerable.’

Oyedele cited recent improvements in national revenue distribution as evidence that the fiscal reforms were already beginning to yield results.

‘Last month, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N2.2 trillion to the three tiers of government,’ he said.

He also criticised outdated and regressive tax provisions that burden the poor, citing examples such as the so-called ‘wheelbarrow tax.’

‘Some of the tax provisions in our constitution are retrogressive,’ Oyedele said.

‘How will you ask anyone to pay wheelbarrow tax? That is why we have sent ten amendment proposals to the National Assembly to amend sections that need to change in line with the tax reforms.’

According to him, the committee is also working on expenditure reforms to ensure that tax revenues are used efficiently and transparently.

‘We have worked on the expenditure side,’ he explained.

‘We are working seriously on fiscal regimes to ensure transparency and prudence in government expenditure so that Nigerians get full benefits of their taxes.’