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Youngest lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu accuses Burnaboy,Olamide,Wizkid others of glamorizing drug abuse

_Proposes media regulations against drug abuse content on social media, movie, music videos etc_

The youngest lawmaker in Nigeria and member of Kwara State House of Assembly representing Owode Onire state constituency, Hon Rukayat Shittu has accused music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers, Big Brother Naija and other influencers of glamourizing drug abuse to mislead teenage minds into a lifestyle they are not equipped live.

The sensational politician has also proposed to different national bodies, including National Broadcasting Corporation, Nigerian Senate, Federal House of Representatives, Nigeria Union of Journalists amongst others, the need to key into the proposed move to regulate social media against the exposure of drug abuse related content.

Hon Rukayat, who is a former senate president at the Congress of NOUN Students (CONS) in her proposal, accused music stars such as Burnaboy, Olamide, Wizkid, Asake, Rema and many others of using their influence to promote and glamorize drug abuse.

She also accused reality show promoter, Big Brother Naija, skit makers, and movie celebrities of deliberate drug abuse promotion in their content, calling for stronger regulations, which maybe criminal in nature against culprits.


Here is the full content


Director General
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Abuja, Nigeria.

11/08/2023

Sir,

*REGULATORY PROPOSAL AGAINST EXPOSURE OF DRUGS PROMOTING CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MUSIC VIDEOS, SKITS, MOVIES AND OTHER MEDIA CONTENT*

The above subject matter refers.

2. I write to seek your input, recommendation, and action on a proposal, seeking to promote regulation against formal or informal drug abuse promoting content on social media, music videos, skits, movies, and other media contents in Nigeria.

3. The proposed regulation against exposure to drug abuse content on media, social media, music videos, movies, and other media contents doesn't seek to infringe on individual rights to live as they desire, but rather, it seeks to limit exposure to drug abuse related content on media space, especially on social media, music videos, skits and movies.

4. The abuse of drugs and other substances and associated crime have driven a considerable rise in the number of youths imprisoned in recent years. A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria indicates that 14.4% (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs.

5. This proposal to regulate and criminalize publication and exposure of drug abuse-promoting content on media became necessary due to the increasing use of social media, music videos, skits and movies to consciously or unconsciously influence young people into drugs, and by extension, drug abuse by music stars, celebrities, influencers etc.

6. Drug and substance abuse is prevalent across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. However, the South-West, a zone of serious concern that comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and the Oyo States, is reported to have the highest prevalence of drug and substance use (22.4% or 4,382,000 users)—especially in Lagos and Oyo state—according to a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. Not surprisingly, Lagos and Oyo State are also the headquarters of showbiz, housing the largest portion of music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers and other social media content influencers.

7. For example, on September 3, 2023, Hiptv, an entertainment channel with over 4 million followers on Instagram published a clip of Afrobeats artists, Odumodu and SheyiVibes on their various social media platforms, smoking uncontrollably backstage of the Headies Award in Atlanta, USA.

Similarly, on 14th June 2023, music star, Burnaboy with over 15 million followers on Instagram posted a video of himself and others on his various social media platforms, consuming various kinds of mixed liquor, while praising Fuji King, Saheed Osupa. He had previously promoted similar drug abuse content in his popular track, last last. Also, another Afrobeats star, Wizkid on July 21 and 22 2023 shared a clip on his Instagram social media platform with over 17million followers with an inviting scene of excessive smoking.

8. Furthermore, YBNL label boss, Olamide in his music video, Jinger displayed excessive smoking scenes. Likewise, the rave of the moment, Asake on June 25th, and August 6th, 2023, displayed on his social media page, with almost 4 million followers, a picture of himself covered with smoke, with a cigar in the hand, depicting an enticing invitation to drug abuse. Earlier, Olamide and Asake had exposed drug abuse scenes in the video of their popular hit track, Amapiano.

9. Other artists, including Portable, Rema, Davido, Kizz Daniel, etc. has made it a culture to display drug-related clips on their various social media platforms and music videos, which makes efforts against drug abuse almost impossible to progress in the manner desired, owing to the fact that most of the young people in the country follow these artists and celebrities on social media and seek to replicate their lifestyles.

Big Brother Naija and other entertainment content producers have also made it a culture to promote drug abuse-related content in their various reality shows and other media content.

10. Although, section 19 of the NDLEA Act prescribes punishment for drug-related offences ranging from 15 to 25 years' imprisonment. This follows the Indian hemp decree of 1966, which prohibits the cultivation, trafficking, and consumption of Indian hemp.

Also, the Tobacco Smoking Decree of 1990 banned smoking tobacco in public places like schools, offices, public transport, etc. It also ensures and enforces all tobacco advertisements to give a caveat to discourage people of a certain age not to smoking or drinking alcohol.

11. Research shows that, as traditionally conceptualized, the two prongs of drug control policy in Nigeria are *supply reduction" and "demand reduction".

"Supply reduction" is usually understood to be synonymous with enforcement of drug law prohibitions and international interdiction activities, whereas "demand reduction" is usually thought to encompass clinical treatment of drug abuse and addiction as well as the spectrum of activities aiming to prevent youths from using drugs (e.g., media campaigns, school-based education programs).

12. This conceptualization is said to be imperfect for two reasons. First, a large component of drug law enforcement focuses directly on reducing demand (e.g., apprehending and punishing users for possessing drugs). Secondly, the standard menu of demand-reduction activities tends to overlook (or take as given) the rich fabric of deeply ingrained social controls against illicit drug use, including legal controls.

13. In people’s daily lives, almost all of their behavior is shaped, channeled, and controlled by the expectations and norms embedded in their relationships with their families, friends, teachers, employers, and various social groups and organizations, and these norms and expectations vary substantially over the life course. Informal social controls may discourage drug use or, conversely, may encourage and reinforce it, depending on the social and developmental context. However, in a world where media and by extension, social media largely influence behavior, especially of young people and music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers and other influencers are the driving force, continuous exposure to drug abuse-related lifestyle and content largely drives demand, leaving the space unregulated ultimately leads to conflicting message about drug abuse.

14. It is on this basis, that I propose the introduction of regulations, not only to ban the display of drug abuse-promoting content on social media, music videos, movies, skit, reality shows and others, but to also prescribe punishment, which may be criminal in nature to create deterrence.

15. It should be noted that individuals could live their lives as they deem fit in their private capacity, but giving media exposure to drug abuse related content, which directly undermines government efforts to eradicate or reduce drug abuse to its bearest minimal should be seen as a grave offense to the nation.

Thanks

Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu
Member representing Owode Onire state constituency
Chairman, House Committee on Youths

CC:

1. Senate President, National Assembly
2. Speaker, Federal House of Representatives
3. Director General, National Orientation Agency
4. Nigeria Union of Journalists
5. Nollywood
6. PMAN
7. National Communication Commission
8. Federal Ministry of Information and Culture

https://entertainmentdigest.ng/2023/09/16/lawmaker-rukayat-shittu-accuse/

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*PeacePro calls for naming of Nigeria's 6 geo-political zones*

_Says move will strip none state actors of historic content to mobilize support_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the federal government of Nigeria to name the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria after historic memory.

PeacePro also said that, the naming of the Geo-political zones will help address some of the fundamental issues being used by none state actors to mobilize public support in their quest for regional solidarity.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said the description of Nigeria's 6 geo-political zones simply as North West, South West, North East, South East and North Central,South South is of no political significance, hence the need to adopt a more political conscious approach to closing the gap of regional agitation.

According to Hamzat, the federal government should name the 6 zones properly, to reflect the desire and aspiration of the people.

"People in various zones of Nigeria identify themselves by certain names and descriptions and running away from such political identity will naturally make them feel entitled to those identities"

"This is why none state actors simply invoke those identities, to which people have affinity and connections, to mobilize them in their quest for relevance " Hamzat said.

He therefore proposed that, the South West region should be named Oduduwa region, North West named Arewa Region, South East renamed Biafra Region, North East named Kanem Borno Region, South South named Niger Delta region and North Central named Middle Belt region.

Hamzat maintained that, the naming of these regions has political implication, because none state actors often use these names as rallying point to create division amongst the people in their quest to mobilize support for their activities and officially adopting these names automatically stripes them of existing and historical concept to mobilize none suspecting members of the public for their divisive activities.

End
https://www.factualnaija.com/2023/09/foundation-calls-for-naming-of-nigerias.html

boxypane:
These are the side effects of the Single Story.

You are correct.

Many of our activism react to single story, which is dangerous

TemplarLandry:
I like your criticism. 😊

Femi Adebayo's Jagun jagun and the culture of misplaced activism
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

I hardly watch movies.

But some how, I watched jagun jagun movie.

In the movie, while many are mesmerized with the custume, action and others, the only aspect that spoke to me is that part that I can simply describe misplaced activism.

So, what is misplaced activism?

In jagun jagun training camp, one of the soldiers, gbotija protested against the small portion of food, given to them by the agemo lady.

In his protest, he said the portion of food given to them was small, beyond the normal portion they are expected to get.

He therefore sent message of protest to agemo.

When gbotija protest reached agemo, she was infuriated and instantly went to the camp, in search of the protester.

While at the camp, Agemo asked for those who protested over the portion of food and gbotija confidently stepped forward, in the usual activist arrogance.

He spoke about the small food, which couldn't satisfy the soldiers and he emphasize that he's not scared to say the truth.

Naturally, he was punished.

In the mind of gbotija, he was being punished unjustly for speaking truth to power, but in the mind of agemo, she was being criticized irrationally for going extra mile to ensure the fighters get something to eat, no matter how little, while they are still sourcing for more food that would be sufficient at a later time.

After the punishment, Agemo had to educate Gbotija that the shortage of food was due to food scarcity, but she went extra mile to get what was supplied to the soldiers, pending when more food would be available.

She felt outraged that instead of being commended for going extra mile to provide for the soldiers amidst food scarcity, gbotija was protesting against her unjustly, claiming he was saying truth.

At the end of the day, Gbotija also realized that the person he was protesting against was actually the one who meant well.

He realized that the small portion of food from agemo, was actually a gesture from a concerned heart, not an attempt to starve the soldiers unduly.

When gbotija realized this, he apologized to agemo and they both became friends, then lovers.

The message here is actually for all of us, especially the activists.

We react to things as they appear, when in fact, they are much more to it.

Unfortunately, we don't really have the ability to seek the other side without casting aspersion, neither do we have the patience required to comprehend the whole situation.

We are quick to say we are saying truth or speaking truth to power, when infact, we may just be speaking out of ignorance, being unjust in the process.

We label people with all sorts of names, when in fact, they may probably be the best amongst us, or even better than us.

Our limited access to information, circumstance or insight, hinders our appreciation of the whole situation, but we are quick to react and jump into conclusion.

This is why some activists eventually turn friends with their former tyrant, when they eventually know them better, get to understand things better, like agemo and gbotija.

The other point is that, proactive communication may have prevented the problem in the first place.

This is why I have often maintained that Nigeria doesn't have any problem that communication couldn't solve. Communication is everything and with proactive communication, we could have averted many unnecessary situations.

If Agemo had communicated the food shortage ahead of time to the soldiers, when the small portion she struggled to get eventually came, they will appreciate her, not protest against her. But lack of adequate communication saw her efforts not appreciated.

My take away here is simple, we should move away from misplaced activism, to genuine collaborative approach to solving issues. Those in authority should also know that, communication can solve all of our problems.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat

*PeacePro partners Global Peace Index producer, IEP*

_Set to launch Africa Peace Insight (API)_

A peacebuilding think tank based in Nigeria, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has partnered with the Australian based Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) to launch Africa Peace Insight report.

The IEP is the producer of Global Peace Index (GPI), the renowned preeminent rating of peacefulness of nations across the world and PeacePro on the other hand is the producer of Nigeria's version of the report tagged Nigeria Peace Index (NPI).

The executive director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat made this known in a statement made available to the press in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Monday.

According to Hamzat, PeacePro produced the Africa Peace Insight report in partnership with IEP, to simplify and contextualize the findings of the Global Peace Index.

"PeacePro is now in partnership with IEP to launch the Africa Peace Insight report" Hamzat said

Hamzat explained that, Africa Peace Insight (API) is a continental report to deepen peacebuilding conversation in the African continent.

"Africa Peace Insight is an attempt to break down, simplify and contextualize Global Peace Index report from historical, political and economic perspective.

The report is also aimed at placing African centred peacebuilding at forefront of policy and agenda setting, both at the African Union (AU), aswell as subregional bodies such as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

https://www.factualnaija.com/2023/08/peacepro-partners-global-peace-index.html

Turkisk Energy Billionaire host Gbenga Olawepo Hashim

Turkisk Energy Billionaire, Mr. Ali Yaglı over the weekend hosted Nigeria's Global business man and former presidential candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim at his factory, Aydem in Denizli, Turkey.

Both energy players discussed the global energy situation, especially as it affects their respective countries, Turkey and Nigeria.

Sharing details of their meeting on his social media platform, Olawepo Hashim, who is the Chairman of Transnational Energy Limited said that, patriots are not just politicians and military men but engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators who bring solutions to their communities.

According to him, "My host this weekend in Denizli, Turkey, Mr. Ali Yaglı is part of the story of building one of the most successful privately owned Electricity firm in Turkey, Aydem".

Giving insight into the activities of his host company, Mr Hashim stated that, Ayden has 2300 MW of generation capacity and 25000 MW distribution capacity and Mr. Ali is one of the major shareholders of Aydem.

"He has substantial interest in a cable manufacturing company that controls 40% of the market of its copper product in Turkey as well as 80% of its Aluminium product" he said .

Additionally, Mr Hashim also explained that, his host company has one of the biggest Solar panel manufacturing companies in Turkey and the owner took him round the factories in the company of Professor Mehmet, an Energy Lawyer.

"A very modest man, Mr. Ali never carries himself like a billionaire in USD. He derives joy in designing projects and seeing them through. From the humble start of designing projects as little as 1.6mw hydro projects for the community! Aydem has a track record of 97% revenue collection". He added.

Mr Olawepo, who is also chair of board of directors of Oilworld Ltd, Operator of OPL241 in the continental shelf of Nigeria is also Chair of Bresson Energy, pioneer independent energy firm.

The company owns Magboro 90MW power project in Ogun State, Lagos corridor, Nigeria.

Remi Tinubu meets Nigeria's youngest lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu

_As Renewed Hope Initiative award 43 scholarships_

Nigeria's first lady, Sen Oluremi Tinubu CON met with youngest female lawmaker and member, representing Owode Onire state constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Rukayat Shittu over the weekend.

The meeting took place on Saturday, at the presidential villa banquet hall in Abuja, during a scholarship award presentation for female tertiary institution students hosted by the office of the First Lady and Renewed Hope Initiative.

Hon Rukayat, represented Her Excellency, First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq at the presentation of educational scholarship grants to 43 young Nigerians from across the 36 States of the Federation, including FCT.

A brilliant Kwaran, Ayodele Khadijat Damilola of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, was a proud recipient of the scholarship.

The Kwara recipient of the scholarship is a nominee from the Ajike Peoples Support Centre of the Kwara State First Lady, Ambassador Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq.

The award came under the National Scholarship Programme on Tertiary Education (NAPS), a program of the Renewed Hope Initiative of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu to support educational upliftment in the country.

Other beneficiaries were also picked from women's stakeholder groups in Nigeria.

Mrs Tinubu, who was obviously happy to meet the sensational politician said that she's meeting Rukayat for the first time, even though they have been speaking on phone.

Nigeria's first lady also requested for a special picture with the journalist turned politician.

Mrs Tinubu also advised Hon Rukayat, who is a former senate president of Congress of NOUN Students (CONS) to remain focus and deligent in legislative responsibility, noting that she must remain on course at all times .

End

*PeacePro calls for sanctions against embassies and businesses transacting in foreign currency in Nigeria*

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called for clamp down on embassies, foreign entities and businesses demanding dollars for transactions in Nigeria.

PeacePro also said that the Central Bank of Nigeria should introduce policy to make it mandatory for banks to only give foreign currency equivalent in naira.

An Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat while reacting to the increasing price of dollars said that, the indescriminate use of dollars by regular entities in Nigeria has made it impossible to stability currency exchange.

Hamzat states that, transactions in foreign currency has become a regular thing in Nigeria, not only for business purposes, but also in social circle.

"Several embassies including AU countries, European countries aswell as UK, foreign entities and businesses had made it mandatory for people to transact with them only in foreign currency, thereby making need for foreign currency high and putting pressure on the naira "

"We have also seen foreign currency being used in social events across Nigeria and this is only going to aggravate the situation"

Proposing a way out of the situation, Hamzat explained that, the current situation calls for drastic measures, particularly in the banking system, through which foreign currency get to the hand of people.

According to him, Central Bank of Nigeria should make it a priority to stop banks from giving people foreign currency in cash.

"The law doesn't allow transactions in foreign currency in Nigeria and banks should only be allowed to give equivalent of foreign currency in naira ".

"If we follow the law, there's nothing anyone would do with foreign cash in Nigeria other than hoarding it and it is only reasonable to give them naira equivalent or the money should remain in their account for electronics transactions".

He concluded that, this proposal may seems harsh, but it is needed to arrest the current situation before things go out of hand.

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Niger Republic on Global Chess Board
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

The wave of military coups in West Africa that had previously swept over Mali and Burkina Faso finally reached Niger Republic about 2 weeks ago, when soldiers in the presidential guard removed the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum to take over leadership of the country.

Unlike in the past, when Economic Community of West States (ECOWAS) simply issue statements and institute few ineffective sanctions, the regional body under the leadership of Nigeria's new leader, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu threatened to restore constitutional order through whatever means possible, including force and it went ahead to give the military junta 7 days ultimatum to restore constitutional order.

The ultimatum expired last week and ECOWAS standby force are on alert, awaiting ECOWAS order of enforcement.

While some of us have continually argued against any kind of military intervention in Niger Republic, those who think military enforcement is the best option are not without any reason, but their point of view is more from economic perspective, rather than security or regional stability.

Russia-Ukraine dimension

When Russia and Ukraine war broke out, many things changed in the economic structure of the world.

Russia is the highest supplier of gas to Europe, but the war in Ukraine has caused what seems like an irreversible breakage, leading to cutting down dependence on Russia for energy supply.

Nigeria, being one of the countries with enormous gas reserve, should naturally seek to take over Russia's space in Europe by becoming a major supplier of gas, but the country didn't have the infrastructure to move gas to Europe.

For many decades, Nigeria has aspired to this opportunity, but there was no sufficient will and resources to actualize the mission.

So, despite the huge opportunity the Russia-Ukraine war provided to Nigeria to catch a huge market for its gas, the couldn't utilize the opportunity.

Europe therefore had no option than continue to tactically deal with Russia, while they work with others to develop an alternative.

Although, the procrastination that characterised Nigeria's attitude towards the Trans-Saharan project is inextricably linked to the price of gas.

Until 2019, the price of a cubic metre of gas was "barely $4" on the spot markets, which made it an "uninteresting" and "unprofitable" business.

The war in Ukraine has changed all that. With the countries of Europe looking for gas suppliers outside of Russia, the TSGP has started to look attractive and "profitable".

The project is highly profitable, not least because demand is high. Gas is tomorrow's energy, the energy of the transition, with a ready market driven by geopolitical change and it is projected that the price of gas will not go below $20 in the nearest future.

Nigeria's ambitious move

As a result of the new development in Europe, Nigeria saw the need to invest in this project and in June 2022, it went into an agreement with Algeria to fast track the trans Sahara gas pipeline to connect to existing global gas network.

The project was first initiated 40 years ago, but in 2002, an agreement was signed to initiate the project, but it couldn't take off. In 2009, a further discussion was held but the commitment wasn't coming still, until 2022, when Nigeria saw the need to make it a top priority.

The pipeline will start in the Warri region in Nigeria and run north through Niger to Hassi R'Mel in Algeria.

In Hassi, Algeria, the pipeline will connect to the existing Trans-Mediterranean, Maghreb–Europe, Medgaz and Galsi pipelines.

The pipeline is to be built and operated by the partnership between the NNPC and Sonatrach. The company would include also the Republic of Niger.

Initially, NNPC and Sonatrach would hold a total 90% of shares, while Niger would hold 10%.

Russian gas company Gazprom has negotiated with Nigeria about its possible participation in the project.

Also, Indian company GAIL, France's Total S.A, Italy's Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell have expressed interest in participating in the project.

However, according to the Algerian energy minister, Chakib Khelil "only partners that can bring something to the project, not just money, should be there."

Energy ministers of Algeria and Nigeria have said that "if things go well, there will be no need to bring international oil companies into the project" and "if the need for partnership in the project arises, not every partner will be welcome on board on the project.

This is a diplomatic way of excusing many interested parties. Nigeria and Algeria wants to take full ownership of this $13billion worth of project, which would cut Russia's main source of revenue in Europe.

Russia saw this as a major issue for its business and it may not be unconnected to the situation in Niger Republic.

This was further compounded with the bombing of Russia's owned Nord stream 1 and 2 pipelines allegedly bombed by United States in September 2022, shortly after Nigeria made financial commitment to the trans Sahara pipeline.

Nigeria also understood this issue and so is US, European Union, including France.

The coup in Niger, which had Russia's influence, naturally put Nigeria at the mercy of Russia on this project and many others.

If the coup plotters are not removed in Niger Republic, Russia will not only slow down the project, they may outrightly kill the project, or force themselves into the deal, all of which doesn't favor Nigeria.

This is why the issue in Niger Republic is not just about democracy, it is more of an economic warfare for all the parties, except Niger Republic itself. Even Nigeria and ECOWAS are only pawn in the chess board of global players.

Niger Republic has a total GDP of just $16billion and the value of this pipeline alone is $13billion and once the pipeline is completed, it could transport up to 30 billion cubic meters (1 trillion cubic feet) of gas annually to Europe.

Nigeria has a proven gas reserve of about 206.53 trillion cubic feet, worth over $803.4 trillion.

In 2019, former US president, Donald Trump had said that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will turn Europe into Russia's hostage and after the war in Ukraine broke out, the sabotage of Nord Stream pipeline was to allegedly force Europe out of Russia's dependence. Ofcourse, this was difficult for Europe, because immediately the news of the sabotage broke out, energy prices grew by 12%, but it was believed that the action was a necessary evil to free Europe from Russia's grip.

The ECOWAS connection

Apart from the trans Sahara gas pipeline with Algeria, Nigeria is also constructing another pipeline to Morocco worth between $25billion-$30billion.

The pipeline would be an extension of the existing West African Gas Pipeline, which runs from Lagos, Nigeria, connecting to Cotonou, Benin; Lomé, Togo; and Tema and Takoradi, Ghana.

The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline would additionally connect to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Monrovia, Liberia; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Conakry, Guinea; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Banjul, Gambia; Dakar, Senegal; Nouakchott, Mauritania and Tangiers, Morocco with possible extension to Europe through Cádiz, Spain and it is expected to deliver about four billion cubic feet of gas daily when fully operational.

Some analysts believed that, Russia influenced military coups in West Africa is a strategic way to slow down the ambitious move of Nigeria and disrupt Europe's ability to find alternative energy source.

In 2021, Russia was the largest exporter of oil and natural gas to the European Union, (90%) and 40% of gas consumed in the EU came from Russia.

In terms of revenue, gas and oil sales accounted for 45% of the Russian federal budget. High hydrocarbon prices generated a trade balance surplus of $122 billion in 2021, and $227 billion in 2022.

$227 billion annual revenue from Europe in 2022 is about 45% of Nigeria's GDP and the new development gives Nigeria an opportunity to attract huge revenue from gas at the detriment of Russia. And this revenue doesn't just go to Nigeria, it benefits many other countries within the subregion.

This further explains why the numerous coups in West Africa has been suspicious, but the one in Niger Republic seems to have broken the shell.

While some have argued that Nigeria leading invasion of Niger Republic through ECOWAS amounts to acting as a puppet to the west.

Others have equally argued that Russia's inspired coups are acting as puppet to the east, neither of which could be said to be in Africa's interest.

However, there's a significant concensus in ECOWAS that both western and eastern neo colonialism should not be tolerated on the continent.

This argument is premised on the fact that, there's no difference between military coup and colonialism.

It is argued that, while military coup is forceful take over of a country's leadership by military men with gun, colonialism on the other hand is the forceful take over of a country's leadership by military men with gun also.

The only difference is that, coup plotters are local invaders, while colonialist are foreign Invaders and the invasion of any country, either by local or foreign interest, without the will of the people must be forcefully ejected.

I am therefore of the view that, Africa should not be fighting itself as pawn in the chess board of global players, it should sit on a roundtable to discuss as brothers and take maximum advantage of the situation to its collective interest.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is an Executive Director at the Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro. He can be reached at discus4now@gmail.com

It's just a mindset.

US is far more insecure than Nigeria