My Blog

Category: Opinion

  • Analysing Tinubu’s $1trn GDP Growth In 3 Years

    Analysing Tinubu’s $1trn GDP Growth In 3 Years

    Encumbered by the biting economic reality that have taken a heavy toll on the welfare of Nigerians, and particularly, the untamed freefalling of the Naira immediately after reunification of the exchange rate by the government, President Bola Tinubu is targeting a $1trn gross domestic product (GDP) within the next three years. He is targeting this objective with his ongoing economic reforms aimed at repositioning the economy.

    The President at the inauguration of his cabinet had unveiled an-8 point economic agenda with priorities on food security, economic growth, job creation, access to capital – importantly, consumer credit; improved security, provision of enabling playing field for people and companies who operate in the economy, rule of law, and fight against corruption. He also promised an all-embracing inclusiveness, focusing particularly on youths and women.

    He also promised a new Central Bank of Nigeria that will be thoroughly professional, a catalyst for growth, and a stickler to its constitutional mandate, maintaining price and financial system stability away from the muddled interlope of fiscal responsibilities.

    Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN Governor, affirmed this during his submission at the National Assembly. He told the legislators that efforts were ongoing to refocus the economy and the Central Bank of Nigeria for an overall economic rebirth.

    He said the federal government has fashioned fiscal reforms and growth targets that would make the feat attainable within the next three years, an ambitious plan that hopes to catapult the economy from its current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $450.

    He said a study of emerging markets’ macro-economic indices which particularly noted Nigeria’s economic trajectory, given faithful implementation of the ongoing economic reforms attest to it.

    With its youthful population and natural resources, aptly captured by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani in his 31- page document said, “in a world where digital transformation and innovation is fast becoming a catalyst for economic progress, we are at a critical moment as a nation in our journey towards a more inclusive, and prosperous future.

    The intersection of a strong digital economy and our innovative and youthful population presents us with a unique opportunity to chart a course towards prosperity, inclusion, and global relevance”.

    Other growth facilitating ministries and agencies like the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment, Science, Innovation and Technology, Labour and Employment, Gas Resources, Foreign Affairs, Marine and Blue Economy, Power, Justice, and Tourism should also come out with employment and wealth enhancing/generating policies to make this objective a reality.

    While agencies like Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Corporate Affairs Commission, Bank of Agriculture, and Bank of Industries to mention few should live up to their fiscal responsibility mandates to facilitate this task. It is doable.

    In achieving the objective, may be, was the creation and renaming of some ministries and agencies, including appointments of new helmsmen to pilot the affairs of some revenue generating agencies such as FIRS, CAC, and the Taiwo Oyedele Tax Reform Committee. The actions were pointers to achieving this objective.

    Cardoso had explained that the projection is achievable if the study of the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) and Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey (MINT) countries with similar populations and developmental characteristics is anything to go by.

    He continued, “Given this scenario, a refocused CBN, (sticking to its mandate) will better serve Nigeria through monetary policy interventions and advisory roles that will sustain the implementation of the administration’s fiscal proposals”.

    However, to achieve these laudable objectives the CBN Governor said the lines between monetary policy and fiscal intervention must be clearly delineated.

    He noted that, “much had been said of past CBN’s foray into development financing, such that the lines between monetary policy and fiscal intervention were blurred”.

    Therefore, in refocusing the CBN to its core mandate, there is a need to pull it back to mere advisory role that supports economic growth.

    The Bank, he promised, will now act as a catalyst in the propagation of specialized institutions and financial products that support emerging sectors of the economy. “

    It should facilitate new regulatory frameworks to unlock dormant capital in land and property holdings,’’ he said.

    He listed other roles the CBN under his watch would be – accelerating access to consumer credit and expansion of financial inclusion for the masses, de-risking instrumentation to increase private sector investment in housing, textiles and clothing, food supply chain, healthcare, and educational supplies.

    Cardoso said he would exercise the convening power of the CBN to bring key multilateral and international stakeholders together to participate in government and private sector initiatives.

    The Governor however admitted that despite this envisioned task, the CBN does not possess the magic wand to be waved at Nigeria’s current economic realities as the problems facing the Bank are enormous and complex, but the Bank under his watch will do all that is necessary to turn around the fortunes of the Bank and the Nigeria economy in general.

    *Chisom Adindu writes from Umuahia, Abia State

  • Tinubu, Now That You’ve Your Full Mandate, What Are You Going To Do With It? 

    Tinubu, Now That You've Your Full Mandate, What Are You Going To Do With It? 

    The suffering in the land is approaching Armagedonian dimensions, yet legislators are distributing newly minted posh SUVs for their personal use. Governors are enjoying their jumbo retirement packages. Many of them are double dipping by collecting second salaries as ministers and senators.

    The way official vehicle acquisition is done in societies that value transparency, probity and prudence is to purchase fleet of vehicles into a pool from which officials including legislators could request service.  We all know what happens during change of government, officials almost always cart away official vehicles and government properties.  Ours is an insane asylum where decency, decorum and normality have been turned upside down.  

    The insensitivity of Nigerians in position of authority is repugnant, disgusting and appalling.  Yes, the Nigerian citizenry has docilely kept mute anesthesized by religion that preaches “suffer-suffer for world enjoy for heaven”. 

    Yet behold the day of judgement and reckoning not in heaven but on the streets and neighbourhoods of Nigeria is at hand unless our politicians take quick action to pull the brake before our country descends into a state of anarchy pushed there by unbearable suffering and depravation.  

    Now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has his full mandate, he and his team had better go to work to turn the ship of state away from the iceberg it is heading towards.  

    Financial palliative, and the few grains of rice per family will not do the job.  Major structural realignment is needed. First on the dock is to reduce the crippling cost of governance.

    The insanity of retired governors collecting their pension while collecting salaries as ministers and senators needs to be put a stop to, even if only to send the signal that this government feels the pain of the longsuffering citizens. The insane jumbo emolument package for our legislators needs major review. 

    Our civil service is beyond bloated. It needs massive purge. Yes, it will cause short term pain, but government can ameliorate that pain with severance package.  Go to any ministry in Abuja, it is like a day in Jankara market with civil servants milling around with no offices and contributing absolutely nothing to governance other than as leeches sucking the life out of our commonwealth. 

    We need a pruner to cut down the size of the civil service at all level, to improve efficiency while reducing cost. Too many civil servants create clogs and corruption-ridden bureaucratic inertia to slow down the delivery of services so people are forced to pay bribe to get their constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizenship like driver license and international passports. 

    Just like the banks and the private sector are moving toward digitalization of service, government needs to move in the same direction.  Many of the services that are currently been stalled in human created bureaucratic lock-jam could be automated. Nigerians are now conversant with online banking.  They can adapt to online access to government services. 

    Our recurrent expenditure heavy budgeting is crippling our ability to make the necessary infrastructure investment to move our economy into the 21st century 

    In order to stimulate industrial production in our country, the ministry of power should be absorbed under the presidency and declared as a national emergency and priority.  The president must set as his top priority to achieve uninterrupted power supply by the end of his first term.   

    If he achieves just that one feat, he would be leaving a legacy for which Nigerians will be eternally grateful. Our foreign exchange crisis, the devaluation of our currency and the pauperization of Nigerians are all tied to the de-industrialization of Nigeria related to its epileptic power supply and our economy becoming import dependent. 

    With a population of 200 plus millions our economy could self sustain based on internal demand for locally manufactured good. Hence, the health of our economy, our currency valuation and our insatiable appetite for foreign currencies are all tied to our poor power generation and distribution: Fix that and our economy will take off like a super-charged rocket:  

    The notion that Nigeria can go back to the immediate post-independence regional constitution of the 1960s is a pipe dream. There is too much over-romanticism of the glorious 1960s which lasted only six years before the military struck.  What was our population at that time?

    How many secondary schools and universities did we have as a country? What percent of our citizens were admitted to the few secondary and tertiary institutions even in the southwest where free education was a policy?

    What was our national GDP in 1966? This urban myth of Nigeria, especially the West, as a rich global economy at par with South Korea has gone on way too far for too long.  It’s about time we debunked it. 

    As children, many of us lined up outside the few homes who owned televisions.  Only the smartest of the smartest gained admission into the very few secondary schools that existed in the West. 

    After primary school, many of my classmates could not proceed to secondary school because they couldn’t gain admission under the stringent admission policies including entrance exams and interviews. Many parents had to buy ‘tolotolo’ (turkey) to secure admission for their children.  

    The ginny of state creation is out of the box and can never be put back.  Oyo and Osun state could not jointly manage Ladoke Akintola University. So, this notion that we could collapse the existing 36 states into their old regional structures is a fallacy, and an unattainable pie in the sky.

    Yes, Chief Awolowo remains the best president Nigeria never had. President Tinubu has a once in a lifetime opportunity to change that narrative.  But this notion of the old western region was a harmonious Eldorado of sub-ethnic equity in the distribution of government benefits and industrial parks is another mythology we have perpetuated for too long.

    The Ijeshas and the Ekitis whose cocoa and the Edos whose oil palm bankrolled the region’s economy did not benefit from the region’s industrial policy.  None of the major Oodua Investment benefits accrued to the Ijeshas and Ekiti.  

    When people talk about return to regionalization, they need to ask the Efiks, the Ibibios and the South-South how much they benefited under the old Igbo dominated Eastern region. We need to stop deluding ourselves with the over-romanticism of regionalisation.  

    What the country needs to do is to give states and local government fiscal autonomy. Governors must take their sticky thieving finger off the local government allocations. The citizens must hold government officials, especially the local government where the impact of government should best the felt, accountable for the judicious use of our money. 

    Yes, it is our money of which they are just mere custodians we elected to serve our interests. We must clean up our applauding electoral system to give the citizens full power to elect their leaders. When politicians are able to manipulate the electoral process via rigging or by bribing the judiciary to install them via elections petition, they take away the citizens leverage to hold those in power accountable for good governance.  

    The Tinubu presidency has already started implementing some sort of structural autonomy via executive action by allowing states autonomy to develop their power infrastructure. But that is grossly inadequate and unsustainable.  We need to codify such fiscal and political restructuring via legislative constitutional mechanisms.  

    There are many other steps that needed to be taken, but these are some quick wins the Tinubu presidency can take immediate action on right now that will make substantial difference in the life of the citizens. Time is fast running out. The ship is taking in water and swift action is needed to salvage the ship of state from sinking to the abyss.

      

  • Unjust Silence, #ENDSARS Protesters And The Unending Calls For Justice

    Unjust Silence, #ENDSARS Protesters And The Unending Calls For Justice

    In October 2020, the #ENDSARS movement in Nigeria shook the world, demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The movement was marked by peaceful protests, heartbreaking stories of injustice, and an outpouring of support from both within Nigeria and around the globe.

    However, the echoes of the #ENDSARS movement continue to resound, as more than 15 protesters, who once marched for justice, are still languishing in Lagos prisons. Their continued incarceration is a stark reminder of the injustices that persist in Nigeria, as well as the shocking cover-up by the Lagos State Government led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The #ENDSARS movement emerged as a passionate and unwavering cry for justice in the face of police brutality. Nigerians, especially the youth, united in their demand for an end to the reign of terror imposed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The movement was marked by peaceful demonstrations, creative advocacy, and a call for genuine police reforms.

    Despite the promises of reform and justice that followed the #ENDSARS protests, police brutality has continued unabated, according to a recent Amnesty International report. Many Nigerians have become victims of this unprofessional and inhumane practice by Nigerian policemen who are supposed to protect them. The call for justice, which echoed across the nation, seems to have fallen on deaf ears within the law enforcement agencies.

    As the #ENDSARS protests unfolded, numerous activists were arrested. Among them were young individuals who, fueled by the hope of a better Nigeria, took to the streets to demand justice and an end to police brutality.

    It’s tragic that today they remain in detention, their dreams and aspirations on hold. These young activists, who dared to dream of a better Nigeria, are now caught in a web of injustice.

    Amnesty International’s recent report sends shockwaves through our understanding of justice in Nigeria. The report reveals that more than 15 #ENDSARS protesters are still being detained arbitrarily in Lagos prisons three years after the protests.

    This revelation is a disturbing testament to the failures of the justice system and the unaddressed human rights violations. While the world was watching, these protesters continued to suffer in silence.

    It is also deeply distressing that the Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has failed to address the issue adequately. Their inaction in securing the release of these detained activists casts a dark shadow over the supposed commitment to justice and human rights. The Lagos State Government, which had the opportunity to lead by example, has instead allowed these young activists to languish in prison.

    The prolonged detention of these protesters is a gross violation of their human rights. The justice system is meant to uphold the principles of fairness and equality before the law.

    Yet, the silence surrounding their incarceration speaks volumes about the deeply ingrained issues within the Nigerian legal system. As the world stands by, the Nigerian justice system fails to deliver justice to those who fought for it.

    In the aftermath of the #ENDSARS movement, there were promises of accountability and justice for the victims of police brutality. However, these promises have yet to materialize.

    Accountability remains elusive, as the very individuals who stood for justice now face an unjust legal system. The expectations of the protesters for a more just and equitable Nigeria are slipping away, replaced by disappointment and injustice.

    The continued detention of these activists has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. Organizations and governments around the world have expressed concern over the situation, demanding that Nigeria upholds its commitment to human rights and justice. The world is watching, and the call for justice is reverberating across borders.

    It is imperative that justice prevails. The Nigerian government, the Lagos State Government, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have a responsibility to right this wrong. The detained #ENDSARS protesters must be released immediately and unconditionally. Their unjust suffering and the anguish of their families must come to an end. The call for justice is not limited to Nigeria; it is a global demand for human rights and fairness.

    The #ENDSARS movement symbolized a collective demand for justice and an end to police brutality. Yet, the continued incarceration of its activists represents a failure of the justice system, and the silence of the Lagos State Government underscores a painful reality.

    As we condemn the prolonged detention of these activists, we must also demand accountability, justice, and a commitment to upholding the principles of human rights. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the promise of a better Nigeria, for which these activists fought, becomes a reality.

    In a world that watches closely, we stand united, declaring that the injustice faced by the detained #ENDSARS protesters will not be forgotten. The quest for justice continues, and it must not waver.

    The #ENDSARS movement, which ignited hope for a brighter future, must not be in vain. It is a call for justice, a call for accountability, and a call for human rights.

    The detained activists, who once carried the torch for justice, now await the day when justice will shine its light upon them. Their dreams, aspirations, and the hope of a better Nigeria remain unbroken.

    It is a testament to their resilience and the strength of their cause. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who demand justice, not only for themselves but for all Nigerians who deserve a life free from fear and injustice.

  • Has Mission To Save The Naira Begun?

    The government may have begun the resuscitation of the Naira as it recently lifted the suspension restricting 43 items from its official forex platform, Investors’, and Exporters’ window.

    The restriction which became effective as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2015 originally had 41 products, but later had two other items added. 

    The Governor of the Bank, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, announced the lift last Thursday among other policy initiatives he promised to unveil to halt the downward slide of the Naira against other currencies, particularly the America Dollar and British Pounds Sterling.

    The uncontrolled freefalling of the local currency, occasioned by the decision of the government to harmonize the exchange rate due to arbitrage, and racketeering in the parallel market of the forex subsector made the decision inevitable.

    The Governor gave a hint of this reversal among other reforms he promised during his screening by the Nigeria Upper legislature.

    This restriction affected products like rice, margarine, palm oil, palm oil products, dairy products, poultry, tomatoes, wheelbarrows, cosmetics, steel products, including toothpicks to mention but few. 

    The objective of the lift according to the Circular released by the Bank is to boost liquidity in the foreign exchange market, promising to intervene from time to time to ensure that importers of these items have free and unhindered access to forex from the official window.

    The CBN Act 2007 stipulates that Naira is the only acceptable legal tender in the country, but the emerging trend in irrationality is the dollarization of the economy. The non-regulation of the dollar by the government as it is the case in some countries, particularly African countries, has increased the appetite and demand for the currency, preferring it as a store of value, over and above the local currency to perpetrate rent-seeking and arbitrage.

    The importers of the restricted items have had to approach the parallel market to source for the dollar, invariably creating a chaotic pressure on the Naira. This atmosphere apparently took a toll on the Naira. 

    Obnoxiously, in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, landlords, hoteliers, and proprietors of schools started charging and demanding payments in dollars and pounds sterling. Equally, attitudes of some politicians and operators in the economy, particularly, the parallel market operators have not helped the fate of the currency.

    The usage of foreign currencies during electioneering campaigns impacted heavily on the Naira. It was an inexcusable national security offence, punishable by law.

    Also, Nigerians’ huge appetite for foreign imported goods is offensive, exporting jobs to other nations, thereby depleting the scarce national foreign reserves. More so, Nigeria’s backward integration intention has not been matched with action.

    Factories have closed and more are closing with its attendant job losses. Poverty reigns unchecked in the country, youth unemployment at almost 40 percent, creating despondency and Ja’pa syndrome. Brain drain phenomenon is fast depleting the economy of its egg heads, and professionals are emigrating in droves in search of greener pastures.

    It is noteworthy and pleasing that the administration of President Tinubu has opted to arrest the drift, injecting fresh brains in key organs of government saddled with the responsibility of creating jobs and wealth.

    The CBN latest circular announcing this decision, TED/FEM/FPC/GEN01/010 stated that “importers of all 43 items previously restricted by the 2015 circular, and its addendums are now allowed to purchase foreign exchange from the official Investors and Exporters’ forex window.

    Prior to this decision, key stakeholders in the economy, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Airline Operators Association of Nigeria among others had called for a review of the policy to allow for transparency in the subsector.

    What the CBN has done in the opinion of some concerned Nigerians is that the Bank has now decided to tow the process of policy normalization in tandem with the present administration’s philosophy. The suspended restriction is considered an anathema to extant trade policy. This is because the restricted items were not under any prohibition. That singular action they opined caused the distortion and chaos not only in the forex subsector, but the economy at large.

    This latest responsive action from the CBN Governor has been variously commended by sector stakeholders, but warned the Bank against suppressive tendencies, particularly, outside the I&E window.

    A seasoned Financial/Business publisher, Mr. Ewache Ajefu, commended Mr. Cardoso for taking the bull by the horn. He, however, urged the fiscal authority to also review existing laws impeding economic growth, and come up with friendly policies that will encourage and boost local production and wealth creation. He urged policy formulation, coordination, and collaboration, devoid of rancor, witnessed during the immediate past administration between the monetary and fiscal authorities. 

    He also welcomed the decision of the Governor to “pull back” the CBN from its developmental financing activities witnessed during the immediate past governor of the Bank. He urged Mr. Cardoso to live up to his words to streamline the relationship between the Bank and government. He suggested a more mutual and beneficial relationship, respecting each other’s mandate, but should endeavor to always play limited advisory role that is supportive of economic growth and development.

    Mr. Adisa Olatilewa, an agricultural entrepreneur, also welcomed the suspension of the restriction. He lamented how his businesses suffered while the restriction lasted. He advised current managers of the nation’s bank to restrict themselves to the mandate of the Bank, and shy away from direct involvement in fiscal development financing initiatives. He said his experience, and many others like him, during the last administration of President Buhari was distasteful.

    He wants the CBN as the banker to the government, and its advisor, to play the roles as constitutionally ascribed on policy measures, regulations, and programmes that will support economic development and welfare of Nigerians.

    He also wants the government to liaise with the CBN on measures to be taken to arrest the intractable inflation which in his opinion may jump to 26 percent if urgent measures are not taken. If the government works with the CBN, and the CBN is sincere to stick to its mandate, Olatilewa was confident the economy will soon begin to bubble once again.

    *Ademola Oyetunji writes from Ibadan.

  • Tinubu’s Triumph Amid Organised Adversity – A Testament To Resilience

    ‘The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph’ – Thomas Paine

    Mudslinging is a major part of political campaigns. While in the US it is called the kitchen sink and politicians and their handlers use it in moderation, Nigerian politicians who, in the main, behave like implacable young Turks, literally empty pit latrines on their opponents as unfounded allegations are thrown at will. Indeed, one politician was quoted to have said “If you aspire to public office, be ready to be told the number and names of men that messed with your mom before she got married”.  

    With a background of this nature, the journey to Nigeria’s political leadership is thus not for the faint-hearted, as it is fraught with outstanding challenges and obstacles including outright vilification, maligning, and libeling of political opponents.

    In the case of President Tinubu, his decision to contest the presidency of Nigeria was met with a baptism of fire, acid, and shit. Without a grain of a doubt, he has been the most mocked, abused, and caricatured candidate and now president. Notwithstanding the overdose of mockery, burlesque, accusations, and intentional prophecies of doom, Tinubu emerged victorious, showcasing an uncommon resilience and determination in the face of organized adversity. 

    His entry into the presidential race was met with ridicule and parody. He had observed with utmost dismay that a clique within his party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) who had a preferred candidate, wanted to muscle him out of the race. It was an almost frustrated PBAT that echoed “emilokan” to his audience at Abeokuta. Soon the word emilokan became his second name. A popular club latched onto this and did a road show with the new name Emilokan. 

    Detractors and political opponents attempted to undermine his credibility by portraying him as old and infirm. Ugly photo-shopped photographs and doctored videos of him with a wet butt and tremors of the hand even at rest appeared online and went viral. But the man was unfazed. As a rare political strategist in the mold of Sun Tzu, he trudged on, unperturbed, with eyes fixed on the prize. True leadership is not determined by age alone but by vision, experience, and the ability to inspire change which he has in abundance. Unburdened by the mockery on social media, Tinubu’s accomplishments and political acumen spoke louder and eloquently to him and the electorate than the baseless caricatures.

    At the height of the political barnstorming, accusations of being a drug baron were leveled against him, to tarnish his reputation and character. However, discerning Nigerians knew that the accusations were baseless since they were not supported by concrete evidence before passing judgment. A letter from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that absolved him of any criminal records in the US was dismissed as forged. Those who dared to support or defend him on social media were harassed, harangued, and cyber-lynched by bullies. Whereas the focus should be on evaluating a candidate’s policies, capabilities, and commitment to public service, many Nigerians were swayed by the social media campaign of calumny against PBAT.  

    Months before the election, Nigerians experienced one of the most protracted fuel scarcities. With the benefit of hindsight, it is believed that it was contrived to do PBAT in. While the fuel crisis was still lingering, the CBN announced a currency redesign project which was poorly conceived and implemented. Currency was scarce and Nigerians saw hell since they couldn’t access their cash trapped in bank vaults.

    It was apparent even to the unwary that the currency redesign was targeted at PBAT to deprive him of funds since it was erroneously believed that PBAT was suffused with cash which he could use to buy votes. It was believed by the opposition politicians that the deadly combination of fuel and cash scarcity was enough to turn the electorate against the ruling party which incidentally is the party of PBAT.

    However, in contrast to the forced opinion polls and fake prophecies by some charlatans who called themselves prophets of God that gave victory to Obi, PBAT won the elections convincingly with 8,794,726 votes to Atiku’s 6,984,520 and Obi’s 6,101,533 votes. PBAT also scored over 25% of the votes cast in 30 States, 6 more States than the constitutionally required 24. 

    As has become customary of Nigerian politicians who do not accept defeat, the losers took their case to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Again, in a detailed judgment that took about 12 hours, the 5 judges were unanimous in giving victory to President PBAT.

    Before this time however, in a show of shame that brought indelible dishonor to the religion of Christianity, known and unknown entities who parade themselves as prophets, ‘prophesied’ the demise of President Tinubu before May 29 the date of his inauguration and his arrest by the military on his inauguration date. 

    That Tinubu prevailed in the face of these prophecies and unrelenting prayers for his death is a testament to a divine force that is propelling him. While the case was before the PEPT, the Obidient Movement started a campaign of “All Eyes On the Judiciary” ostensibly carefully planned to blackmail the judges into delivering a judgment that is unfavorable to PBAT.

    The judges of the PEPT gave no hoot to the campaign of blackmail. The victory of Tinubu in the presidential election was affirmed, proving his popularity and the trust placed in him by the Nigerian people.

    His victory at the polls and in the PEPT is a testament to his ability to connect with citizens, articulate a compelling vision, and inspire hope for a better future. It also highlights the maturity of the electorate in discerning baseless accusations from genuine leadership potential.

    But the traducers were not done. Off they went to Chicago to dig for his academic records in the mistaken belief that the degree certificate that he submitted to INEC was forged. PBAT’s lawyers indulged them in delaying tactics to further raise their false hope.

    As expected, the legal calisthenics in Chicago ended with wailing and tears, once again, for those who went into the rectum of PBAT seeking to find what was not there. The much sought-after academic records were released and everywhere became resoundingly quiet. 

    President Tinubu’s odyssey serves as a reminder that a political leadership position is not for the faint-hearted. It requires resilience, fortitude, a heart of steel, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of society.

    The challenges he faced during his campaign and still facing from the antics of those suffering post-election defeat disorder should serve as motivation for him to lead with purpose, addressing the issues that matter most to the Nigerian people. The contest was fierce and the triumph was glorious.

    President Tinubu’s long walk to the presidency of Nigeria has been marked by adversity, including mockery, unfounded accusations, fake news, and prophecies of doom. His glorious triumph in the face of these challenges demonstrates his strength of character and determination to serve the nation.

    It is crucial to support him in his renewed hope effort to lead with integrity, address pressing issues, and foster unity and sustainable progress for Nigeria. The current economic situation in Nigeria is less than satisfactory.

    However, the darkest hour is before dawn. PBAT is an egghead who will pull Nigeria from the brink and put her on the path to sustainable development. His pedigree speaks eloquently to this. Let the President be.  

    *About the Author: Dr. Prosper Ahworegba, a Physician, Healthcare Administrator and Chartered Management Consultant wrote from Abuja.

  • Questions For Akpabio’s Senate Over Confirmation Of Ministerial Nominees

    Questions For Akpabio’s Senate Over Confirmation Of ministerial nominees

    When the Senate announced on 9 August that it would commence a recess and resume on 26 September, it left a few questions unanswered. Its major assignment until that point was the screening of 48 ministerial nominees forwarded to it in batches by President Bola Tinubu.

    On 7 August, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced that the Senate had confirmed 45 of the 48 ministerial nominees it screened over the previous week.

    Senator Akpabio blamed the non-confirmation of three nominees on security reports from the State Security Service.

    The nominees whose confirmations were withheld were Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State; Stella Okotete, an executive director at NEXIM Bank and; Abubakar Danladi, a former senator.

    Mr Akpabio’s shocked many Nigerians, especially given Mr El-Rufai’s political standing. He is believed to have accepted El-Rufai’s nomination as minister only after considerable pressure from President Tinubu.

    His non-confirmation and those of his two colleagues, therefore raised questions about the entire screening process, who influenced it, the role of security agencies in it, and the options for redress by the persons of whom the purported security reports may have impugned.

    As the Senate resumed last week, it is yet to answer these questions or grapple with the implications of the constitutional provision, which deems a nominee to have been confirmed as minister, if no return is received from the Senate within 21 working days of receipt of his or her nomination.

    Who Confirms: The Senate or Akpabio?

    During the proceedings of 7 August, Mr Akpabio named the 45 confirmed ministerial nominees. And as mentioned, he announced the non-confirmation of the other three nominees, attributing the decision to security reports.

    There was no debate by the Senate on the content or merit of the security reports as it pertained to the nominees, neither was any vote taken on the matter. It felt more like diktat than a collegial or collective decision.

    Many senators were said to have been incensed that Mr Akpabio usurped their powers, and twisted what should be an institutional responsibility into an unprecedented exercise of personal power.

    That was believed to be one of the issues fuelling the grievance of some senators against Mr Akpabio, who recalled that despite its hostility to the executive, the Bukola Saraki Senate leadership did not embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet nominees in 2015.

    What Is the Status of the Three Nominees Yet To Be Cleared?

    While the Senate was on recess, President Tinubu nominated two more ministers. The Senate is likely to conduct their screening this week; an exercise that will remind everyone of the pending confirmations of Mr El-Rufai, et al. The expectation is that the Senate will be eager to clear up the issue once it resumes. But there are arguments by some people that Messrs El-Rufai, Okotete and Danladi are already deemed as confirmed ministers by virtue of Section 147 (6) of the Constitution, which states that “An appointment to any of the offices aforesaid shall be deemed to have been made where no return has been received from the Senate within twenty-one working days of the receipt of nomination by the Senate.”

    Whether or not this interpretation prevails, the Senate is expected to dispose of the hazard it hung on the neck of nominees like Mr El-Rufai, who was publicly courted, to join the Tinubu government and Mrs Okotete, who is serving in a senior role within a federal parastatal.

    Who Influences the Screening Process?

    Some aggrieved senators are alleging that external forces and personal interest influenced Mr Akpabio’s action.

    Influential figures from the executive branch are believed to have pressured Mr Akpabio to block the confirmation of certain persons. In persuading the Senate president to act as they desired, the figures from the executive branch recalled a similar event during the Buhari years, when security reports from the Lawal Daura-led DSS, a parastatal of the executive branch, was used to thwart the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as EFCC chairman.

    But unlike Magu’s case, no security agency has owned up to issuing any adverse report on President Tinubu’s nominees. There is yet to be any valid security issue about the concerned nominees made known and neither have the so-called petitions nor security reports been brought to their knowledge.

    The Role of Security Agencies

    The creeping deployment of security reports as a tool for political intrigue, as seen in the latest ministerial confirmation saga and the past case of Ibrahim Magu risks making an issue of public trust in the integrity of security reports.

    Politicians are being accused of cloaking, as security reports, innuendos and angst arising from political differences, ruptured friendships, failed marriages and even ill-fated dalliances.

    For the health of the polity, politicians are advised to use other tools in their contestations, rather than imperil the objectivity of security reports and thereby devalue the hard work of the security agencies that compile them.

    Nigerians await Senator Akpabio-led Senate’s answers to these bewildering non-confirmation of President Tinubu’s nominees.

    *About the Author: Femi Falade is a teacher and public affairs analyst. He writes from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and can be reached via faladeolufemi2003@yahoo.com.

  • As Nigeria Turns 63: No Quick Road To Nirvana

    The President in his Independence Day speech on Sunday 1st October, painted the picture of a nation bent in the knee by the weight of its challenges but one nonetheless, that remains unbowed and undeterred from the task of building a virile nation worthy of its destiny. The president delivered a balanced, sobering yet hopeful message that Nigerians expect from their president. 

    He reiterated his commitment to his reform agenda. He rightfully acknowledged the excruciating pain it is imposing on the citizenry, and announced new palliatives to ease it, principally due to fuel subsidy removal and the mind-numbing, wealth-devouring currency devaluation associated with ongoing effort to rejig the foreign exchange mechanism.

    The president therefore deserves our commendation for delivering a speech which is aimed at giving us a much-needed shot in the arm to bear the pain a little longer, with the hope for a future payoff in a better Nigeria.  It is obvious that the speech writers did a lot of research into past U.S. Presidential state of the union speech particularly JFK and Reagan if one critically examines its tonality, inflection and substance.  

    However, the President missed a great opportunity to prepare Nigerians for the long haul.  He should have emphasized that given the gargantuan project of rebuilding a badly dilapidated house that his government is taking on, that diligence, patience and long forbearance, not speed must be the watchwords. 

    The president who was a key player in installing his predecessor who did so much damage to the country might have been uncomfortable to acknowledge that the damage to our country has been long, systemic and all-encompassing. 

    It would have amounted to accepting his own culpability (directly or indirectly) had the had the courage to admit that neither the political system, the civil service, the civil society, the clergy, religious nor our traditional institutions have been spared from our national rot and decadence.

    It would have taken tremendous courage for the president to tell the nation that what the country is embarking on is not the kind of patch work that can be done in days. Politicians by their trade after all, are often short term focussed, looking as the clock speeds up to another looming election.

    Telling the electorate to expect long term pain in the hope of a better future is not a speech that is often associated with practicing politicians.  It is the reason, the “I have a dream speech” was given by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and not be a JFK. 

    No savvy politician will tell the electorate he has gone to the mountaintop and seen a brighter future but that he might not get there with them like King prophetically said in his speech.  For politicians, pain is a dish served in small bites and intermittently. 

    But if truth be told, Nigerians must face the reality that the road to Nirvana will not be easy nor quick. 

    We didn’t get to this Hobbesian state of existence by leapfrogging and neither will we get out by it.  Our suffering and pain might endure a long while but without it we have no chance. What we must do is to hold this government’s feet to fire to ensure that it stays focussed, on track and committed to its promises. 

    This government must also take on this difficult task of holding accountable those who have egregiously plundered our country and pauperized the most vulnerable of us.  There can be no way forward without the atonement for, at the minimum the most egregious sin. 

    The president himself laid down the marker by singling out in his speech, the ongoing investigation into the CBN and the egregious criminality that was perpetrated by its previous governor. 

    Yes, it is true that very few if any in the political class can be absolved of culpability in the decimation of our country.  However, the abuses that have been revealed in the management of the CBN are so egregious that they cannot and must not be swept under the carpet. 

    There must be severe consequences for their criminality even if it amounts to scapegoating.  The many Nigerians whose lives were destroyed and the many who literally lost theirs due to the action of the former governor, deserve and demand it.

    Happy 63rd Independence Day to us all.

  • As CBN Gets A New Boss

    It is a new dawn at the Central Bank of Nigeria as the Senate, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, screened and approved the nominees of President Bola Tinubu to pilot the affairs of the monetary institution.

    The President appointed the new Governor, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, and four Deputy Governors to assist him to run the affairs of the Bank. They are Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Mr. Mohammad Sani Datti, Mrs. Nnana Usoro, and Dr. Bala M. Bello. Their appointment came on the heels of the suspension and subsequent resignation of the former Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

    The former Acting Governor, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, Mr. Edward Adamu, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad and Dr. Kingsley Obiora also resigned their appointments after the announcement of the new managers to pave way for their screening, and eventual assumption of office.

    The CBN in recent times has been in the eye of the storm following the former governor’s tenure in office. His foray into politics was contentious. If it could be recalled, the former governor was alleged to have procured a nomination form during the last political exercise of 2023 to contest for the presidency of the country.

    The move attracted the wrath of politicians and critical financial stakeholders who considered the move an aberration by a sitting governor of the Bank. Public outcry subsequently made him jettison the ambition. Ever since the Bank knew no peace. All its subsequent pronouncements and actions were tagged political.

    Mr. Emefiele’s Naira redesign policy, a good initiative though poorly implemented, repulsed Nigerians who felt humiliated, frustrated, lost businesses, and considered their monies confiscated.  They were miffed; the anguish was visible and unbearable. That singular action turned people against the CBN. At the same time, the political class who felt the policy was targeted at them saw it as a vendetta for their opposition to his ill-fated political ambition. They never forgave him, and Nigerians equally called for his head.

    As the Bank gets a new driver, it is hoped that the Naira, which is currently badly battered, will start to regain its breath. It is also expected of the political class to allow the currency a fresh breath of air. The politicians have strangulated the Naira, and it needs strength. They are classically its problem and can still rescue it. They have lost faith in the Naira, our national identity, preferring to hold the dollar and other currencies as stores of value. 

    It is no gainsaying that the task ahead has been cut out for the new CBN governor, and Nigerians will be leveraging his pedigree as a financial technocrat to prove his mettle and rescue the domestic currency from its current travails. However, the job is not for Mr. Cardoso and his team alone, the fiscal authority must help the Naira to live. The government must come forward with policies to energize the economy. 

    The problem of the Naira is Nigeria’s overdependence on proceeds from oil. The opaquely riddled sector has been a curse rather than a blessing to the nation.  Crude oil theft has remained unabated, oil subsidy a scam, and poor, yet unprivileged Nigerians, bore the brunt.  Nigeria was also not producing to feed or export, but heavily reliant on importation of what it can produce and eat. The desire to diversify the economy has not been matched with action. The intractable insecurity challenge has consumed the food producing belt of the country due to the repressive activities of bandits, and other ancillary issues that have eroded the potency and viability of the economy.

    The new CBN Governor no doubt has a daunting task ahead of him. It is not a good time to be appointed for such an onerous job. The economy is challenged, and Nigerians are on the edge, frustrated, and forlorn, thus, the touted synergy and alignment of purpose by the fiscal and monetary authorities is more desirable now than before. Working at cross purposes to outdo each other will further hurt the economy.

    Urgently desirable also is the solution to banditry. It has wreaked havoc on the economy and must be addressed now. It has taken too long. Foreign investors have taken flight, even local counterparts have either shut down or relocated, forcing the economy to its knee. Equally desirable is adequate, and not epileptic power supply. Most manufacturing firms have been operating under excruciating conditions, and cost of alternative energy to remain in production is adding more pains, not to mention the scarcity of forex to procure materials and machinery.

    The situation is overwhelming; thus, it is not a time to play politics, but for every hand to be on the deck to rescue Nigeria. No foreign investor will bring his/her hard-earned money to an unsafe economy. It is also imperative, and expedient, for the government to have respect for the independence of the CBN. The overbearing attitude of past administrations on the Bank was visibly nauseating that made stakeholders ask where the independence of the Central Bank is. As the government financial advisor, and banker, mandated to ensure and maintain price and financial stability, it should be left to perform its duties as it is best practiced globally. Political interference would not give us a desirable central bank.

    Nigerians have lost confidence in the Bank considering happenings in and around the Bank lately, and it will assuage their feelings if this conundrum is rested by these fresh appointments. 

    *Ademola Oyetunji writes from Ibadan

  • Yahaya’s UNGA Trip: The Gains And Wins For Gombe, Northern Nigeria

    Yahaya's UNGA Trip: The Gains And Wins For Gombe, Northern Nigeria
    Gombe State Governor, Miuhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (left) with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed at the sidelines of the 78th UNGA in New York recently.

    In the realm of politics, some leaders shine with exceptional brilliance, and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State undoubtedly ranks among these distinguished figures. 

    His recent trip to the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City on the entourage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu carries profound implications for the socio-economic future of Gombe State and the Northern region at large.  

    The inclusion of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in President Tinubu’s travel delegation, among the 36 State Governors, stands as a proof of his eminence and leadership qualities, as well as the confidence reposed in him by the commander-in- chief not only as northern governors’ forum chairman, but as an outstanding leader.  

    The significance and impact of this journey cannot be overstated as it aligns with the Greater Gombe Agenda, a vision championed by Governor Inuwa at all times. 

    The UNGA serves as a platform for comprehensive development, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya took full advantage of the global gathering and advanced the interests of Gombe State and Northern Nigeria effectively. 

    On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya engaged in fruitful discussions with key UN agencies and partners, with a particular focus on the pressing issue of out-of-school children in his State and Northern Nigeria. This critical issue has been a central concern for him, given the challenges posed by poverty, insecurity, and cultural beliefs. 

    His commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG4) through inclusive and equitable quality education also came to the fore. He particularly sought the support of UNICEF and other international partners to address the pressing challenge of out-of-school children. 

    Speaking to newsmen in New York, Governor Inuwa Yahaya outlined various strategies employed by his administration, to address the menace of out-of-school children, including the establishment of community-based schools, school construction and renovation, distribution of learning materials, and sensitization campaigns for parents. However, he noted that while the strategies have yielded some positive results, more needs to be done, which is why he has sought for support in that direction.  

     “I have been able to meet with UNICEF, UNFPA, and other agencies of the United Nations to make sure that we get the support required so that we can uplift the lives and livelihoods of our people, especially in the Northern region where there are a lot of challenges with regards to insecurity and poverty. So, we are strengthening collaboration to address challenges in our state, region, and country,” the Governor said.

    The UNGA trip also enabled Governor Inuwa Yahaya opportunity to solidify Gombe’s stance on vital development issues and strengthen relationships. 

    During his visit to the Nigeria Consul General in New York, Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Governor Inuwa highlighted the immense potential of Gombe State and its readiness to tap into global opportunities.

    The Governor informed Ambassador Egopija of Gombe State’s agricultural richness and the availability of two major dams in the state which are essential for irrigation and hydropower generation. These valuable resources, he noted, could catalyze agricultural growth and energy sustainability.

    He also intimated the Consul General about the sprawling 1000-hectare Muhammdu Buhari Industrial Park, which holds the potential to be a game-changer in Gombe State’s industrial landscape.

    He said the Industrial Park will be powered by clean and renewable energy sources such as hydro and solar power, with a promise of uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply to factories within the park. 

    The Governor also mentioned the successful maiden Gombe investment summit held in 2022 which secured commitments from investors amounting to over 50 billion Naira across various sectors, including Agriculture, Services, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Cement manufacturing.

    He expressed his eagerness to build on this success, and solicited the support and participation of the Nigerian Mission in US in the upcoming Gombe investment summit scheduled for November this year.  

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to addressing climate change and ecological equilibrium is also evident. Recent incidents of floods and infrastructure damage in the State have underscored the need for ecological solutions. The UNGA provided the Governor an opportunity to engage with experts and organizations focused on these challenges. 

    Also, the Governor secured commitments from the United Nations for support and collaboration in various critical sectors, including health, education, and more to foster socio-economic development.  

    The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, during a meeting with the Governor on the sidelines of the General Assembly,  assured him that the UN would stand shoulder to shoulder with him and his administration throughout his stewardship to deliver meaningful development to Gombe State.

    The DSG assured Governor Inuwa of her willingness to engage with international development partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Susan Buffet Foundation, and the African Peace Corp to garner support for Gombe State in the realm of healthcare and human resource development.

    She also offered to facilitate UN’s technical support to bolster the Secretariat of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, a crucial platform for regional development, as soon as a formal request is made.

    She commended the giant strides and progress achieved under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe State,  noting that the Governor has set a precedent in subnational governance.

    Hajiya Amina Mohammed offered words of encouragement to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, lauding the discernible improvements in the quality of life of the people of Gombe State. 

    In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended the Hajiya Amina Mohammed for her remarkable contributions to the UN’s global mission, describing her as a worthy daughter of Gombe and proud global ambassador of the state and Nigeria.

    During the meeting, he presented an overview of the multifaceted development initiatives that his administration is currently implementing, with a particular focus on healthcare and education.

    The Governor appealed for support in leveraging Hajiya Amina’s international networks to enhance Gombe state’s healthcare system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. This includes attracting skilled manpower to fortify the operations of the three General hospitals that have either been constructed or rehabilitated across the three senatorial zones of Gombe State.

    In his capacity as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya also sought the UN’s assistance in strengthening the Forum’s Secretariat through the provision of technical experts. These experts would work in tandem with the Forum to drive its overarching development objectives.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s active engagement at the UNGA epitomizes his statesmanship and commitment to representing the interests of Gombe State, Northern region and Nigeria as a whole. His mission to secure investment opportunities, address critical issues like out-of-school children, healthcare delivery, and promote ecological sustainability is a demonstration of his leadership’s vision and forthrightness.

    As the Governor returns home with the promise of partnerships, investments, and support, Gombe State and Northern Nigeria stand to benefit from his successful sojourn on the global stage. His feat at the 78th UNGA reaffirm that, indeed, he is a diamond shining in the rhinestone of Nigerian politics and governance.  

    *About the Author: Ismaila Uba Misilli is the Director General (Press Affairs), Government House Gombe.

  • 100 Days:  A Look at Gov Yahaya’s Productive 2nd Term and Continuity of Good Governance

    100 Days:  A Look at Gov Yahaya's Productive 2nd Term and Continuity of Good Governance

    Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s return to office following his re-election has been met with high expectations from citizens of the state and it continues to foster the continuity in hard work and progress towards the implementation of his campaign promises.

    Here today we evaluate the progress and accomplishments made so far in the first 100 days of his second term. We counted the gains recorded within the short time as well as the foundation he has laid to cement the successes of his first tenure to ensure the development and transformation of the state in next four years.

    The Governor has made some visible progress in setting the roadmap for achieving the much-anticipated development in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Job Creation, Healthcare, Social Welfare, Education, Human Capital, and Infrastructural Development as well as Security, Good Governance, Accountability, and Agriculture. One of the significant steps taken by the administration was the provision of subsidized fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs to encourage and support farmers to participate in the 2023 wet season farming. The delivery of the 25% discounted fertilizer, along with other inputs, was to ensure food security in the state and the country as well.

    While economic hardship that was occasioned by the Federal Government’s decision on the removal of fuel subsidies bites hard on Nigerians across the country, Governor Yahaya reeled out a series of initiatives which included an additional 40% subsidy on the much-needed fertilizers and other farming commodities to boost food production and fight hunger.

    Another notable initiative that was reeled out by the progressive governor in the 100 days under review, was the establishment of a Special Honorary Advisory Committee (SHAC), with appointment of some seasoned technocrats and well-accomplished experts and professionals in various fields to guide the implementation of his government’s developmental policies and programs in his avowed commitment to turn challenges into opportunities and provide effective solutions to the problems facing the state. According to the governor, the plan was for the team to hit the ground running in the pursuit of the development and betterment of the state.

    100 Days:  A Look at Gov Yahaya's Productive 2nd Term and Continuity of Good Governance

    The Governor, who had during his first tenure, invested much in the construction and rehabilitation of roads both in rural and urban areas continued with the infrastructural development of the state to ease the movement, especially for farmers and their crops. He also embarked on a series of meetings and consultations in pursuit of collaborations and partnerships towards the attainment of prosperity for Gombe State.

    In the period under review, the governor met the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President (VP) Kashim Shettima, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribad, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume where issues bordering on national security and other developments were discussed.

    He expressed his commitment to enhancing collaboration aimed at bolstering human capital development and tackling environmental challenges in his state, the Northern region and the country at large.  He also held private discussions with the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed in Gombe. 

    Governor Inuwa, who elevated Gombe to a development trajectory resulting in the state being ranked as the top performer in Ease of Doing Business for two consecutive years by KPMG, a reputable consultancy firm commissioned by the Federal Government, also established a Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency to ensure continuity in improving welfare and wellbeing of the people of Gombe State.

    Apart from sending a total of 17 nominees to the state house of assembly for screening to be appointed as commissioners, beating the constitutional stipulated time frame, the progressive governor has been able to appoint key functionaries and aides to propel the wheel of governance. 

    Worried by the current economic challenges, the governor distributed food items as palliative to the citizens, targeting 420,000 beneficiaries starting with 30,000 households to cushion the effort of the fuel subsidy removal.

    As part of the palliative measure of the state government which was initiated by the Governor, a N10,000 monthly salary increment was doled out for workers across the state and local government services. The gesture was described as a clear demonstration of the governor’s commitment to the welfare of his people (Gwambawa).

    He has launched numerous programs to bring about a tangible change and a more promising outlook for the people of Gombe state. To showcase his plans to reform and remodel the state’s higher education system, the Governor constituted a visitation panel to evaluate the current state of the state’s institutions of higher education and provide recommendations for future enhancements.

    Additionally, in his first 100 days of his stay in office, Governor Inuwa Yahaya also reeled out plans to shore up manpower in the state’s health sector by recruiting additional 200 personnel to revamp the system and ensure efficient and better service delivery.

    To put the multi-billion naira newly completed ultra-modern mega motor park to use and drive benefits for the state, Governor Yahaya who inspected the facility, set up a task force to facilitate the smooth transition of the operations from three major motor parks in the state capital to the mega park in Gombe metropolis.

    When a heavy downpour washed away the road and one of the bridges linking Gombe and Bauchi states, the governor of Gombe state, rushed to the scene where hundreds of the road users were stranded.

    He called on the federal government to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the federal highway to permanently address the recurrent road washouts and collapse of bridges on the road which has an extension to Borno, Adamawa, and Taraba states.

    The progress and successes made by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in its first one hundred days in office have provided a new sense of hope and optimism to the people of the state. The achievements have been nothing but commendable, and proof that his vision for the state is inspiring.

    *Auwal Ilyasu writes from Gombe State