Last week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), a government agency under the Ministry of Communications, currently led by Minister Isa Pantami, took the decision and made this public that any user of a GSM phone who is yet to link his or her National Identification Number (NIN) to a Subscriber Identification Module, that is SIM cards, would be barred from making any further calls on the country’s telecommunication network. The telecommunication operators were ordered to effect the directive and so by April 4, over 48 million phones had been barred from making any calls. The idea of having mobile telephone…
Author: Editor
The Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, (LNRBDA), Ilorin, Dr. Saheed Aremu, in this media interview, speaks on the numerous efforts of the Federal Government towards ensuring food security for Nigerians, among other sundry issues of national importance. Excerpts: Can we get to know you? I am Dr. Adeniyi Saheed Aremu, the Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA). What are your Areas of Coverage? Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) is one of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities in Nigeria. LNRBDA covers the entire geographical spread of Kwara State and two-…
This is a corollary to last week’s piece in which economic and security issues were discussed. Today, I am dwelling on the education and health sectors. Educationally, the drift is so glaring that Nigerians have no confidence in primary and secondary school levels of education. NECO and SSE results have lost their meanings alongside their values and importance. “Miracles centers” and high-level sharp practices have rendered the results from NECO and SSE almost useless. Some of us in the university system are no longer impressed with the number of credits a child has in his/her NECO or SSE results. some…
I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has finally declared his intention to run for President in 2023. He, in his declaration speech on Monday, committed that he would continue President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for the country. His declaration is coming after months of speculation over his interest in the 2023 presidential race, while putting him in direct confrontation with his former boss in Lagos state, Bola Ahmed…
Osinbajo was born into greatness; he has a good pedigree; he’s the late sage’s son, and a scion of a world-acclaimed family. As Nigerians at home and abroad – as well as the entire world – eagerly await Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s acceptance speech to run for the office of the President & C-in-C Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, in exercise of his right of first refusal as the Vice President of Nigeria; a little bit of reflection on the person and personality of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is in order given our present circumstance. After a careful analysis of the…
In 2007, the Nigerian judiciary turned down a request by the Federal Government to declare the office of Vice President Atiku Abubakar vacant on account of his defection from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC). The decision was premised on Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution which protects a sitting President and his Vice as well as State Governors and their deputies from being prosecuted in court while in office. Atiku’s case therefore helped to underscore the inviolability of the immunity clause. However, conscious of some likely negative effects, such as abuses by political…
I believe Nigerians should no longer accept to be fooled by those who use their sentiments to get into office. We must not forget yesterday if we want to correct our today for our tomorrow to be great. On 26 March 2018, when we warned on this page under the screaming headline, ‘Mr President, Nigeria is at War!’, some powerful figures had since told us they had given money to (or empowered the) enemies of Nigeria “to stop banditry”! But it is on record that we said: “Nigeria is in a state of war but it looks as if we…
The political party primary elections for the 2023 general elections is drawing closer and the search for a man of peace and tranquil mien to succeed the humble and peaceful incumbent governor of Enugu state, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has also gathered momentum. The best man for the big job has been identified; a good and humble man who is for everybody! A great son of Enugu state; a man of the masses widely coveted by people of many communities across the state for his level headedness, philanthropy and many heartwarming acts of charity that seek to promote human welfare. Here…
This week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) directed all political appointees interested in contesting the 2023 general elections to be ready to resign their positions in compliance with the new Electoral Act of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr Felix Morka: “The Ministers are members of the party. And the party is the ruling party. Now, both the Ministers, other appointees and the party’s leadership have excellent counsel and guidance. I am sure everyone involved intends to comply fully with the intendment and letters of the Electoral Act.” The language used by…
The 2.25-billion-ton iron ore mine has the potential to improve GDP, create thousands of jobs and position the country as a top exporter, if legal disputes and infrastructure delays are addressed Located in the southern Nzérékoré region of Guinea-Conakry, the Simandou mine holds the largest deposits of high-grade iron ore in the world – an essential element for the production of steel. With the potential of producing up to 150 million tons of iron-ore yearly, the mine represents a key enabler to increasing the country’s gross domestic product, creating thousands of jobs and positioning Guinea as a globally competitive mineral…