₦airaland Forum

FOR years, Nigeria has become a vault of abandoned projects, big and small. The abandoned projects scattered across Nigeria have exacerbated the country’s chequered infrastructure development trajectory. Contrary to the lofty promises accompanying many of the now-abandoned projects, the remains are monuments of shame and wasted resources. This is a testament to Nigeria’s perennial underdevelopment.

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria says the total value of abandoned projects in Nigeria is N17 trillion. This is obvious. The CIPMN registrar, Henry Mbadiwe, listed poor project planning, poor budgetary allocation, an inefficient legal system, corruption, and weak institutions as reasons for this.

A committee set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 said that about 63 per cent of the projects initiated after Nigeria’s independence had been abandoned. The committee uncovered that the Federal Government abandoned 11,866 projects.

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors estimated the country’s abandoned projects at around 56,000. The federal and state governments have played ignoble roles in turning Nigeria into a graveyard of roads, bridges, housing projects, white elephant airports, and other economically relevant projects.

Despite gulping $8 billion, the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has been abandoned by successful governments since 1978, thereby truncating the country’s industrialisation. Because of this, the country spends $4 billion on steel imports annually.

A report by the NDDC revealed that about 1,587 projects valued at N612.4 billion have been terminated or abandoned in the Niger Delta.

The 3,050MW Mambilla Power Project, conceived in 1972, and the 700MW Zungeru hydropower project, have yet to materialise.


Many dams that should have bolstered power generation remained either abandoned or underutilised. The Ikere Gorge Dam, with a 565-million-cubic-metre water reservoir, in the Iseyin LGA of Oyo State, has been abandoned. Its turbines, imported during the late Shehu Shagari administration, are gathering dust.


It is the same story at the 9MW hydropower station at the Oyan Dam in Ogun State. The three Oyan Dam turbines inaugurated in 1983 have never generated electricity. Meanwhile, according to a July 2020 report from the World Bank, 47 per cent (about 97 million) of Nigerians are entirely cut off from the national power grid.

Travelling has become hellish due to a plethora of abandoned roads. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction has not been completed after 20 years, and the Ibadan-Ife, Ife-Ilesa, Benin-Auchi-Okene-Abuja, and Port Harcourt-Aba-Owerri-Enugu roads are a death trap. The East-West Road has suffered consistent neglect. A former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, left behind many abandoned roads and flyovers, making lives unbearable for many Ogun border communities.

In May 2023, a Federal High Court ordered the government to account for the $460 million spent on the failed Abuja CCTV project.

The abandoned Rivers monorail and the Tinapa free trade zone in Cross River cost Nigeria multibillion naira in losses.

The 2019 Global Competitive Index Report ranked Nigeria 130th out of 141 economies surveyed for quality infrastructure facilities. The World Bank reports a massive infrastructure deficit with total infrastructure stock amounting to 30 per cent of GDP. This falls short of the international benchmark of 70 per cent it set.

Governments must trace these projects, carry out reassessments, and resuscitate viable ones. The contractors behind the abandoned projects should be investigated and prosecuted if found wanting. Money paid for contracts that were not done should be recovered. Infrastructure projects/ contracts should not be politicised to reduce politically induced abandonment.


The current situation where the recurrent component of the budget is bigger than the capital votes is unpalatable. The Federal Government must reduce the cost of governance to free up more funding for capital projects. Contract over-inflation should be arrested.

The state and local governments should wake up and attend to the components of the rundown infrastructure in their domains.

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Source: https://dailypost.ng/2024/11/11/dangote-truck-kills-three-lagosians/

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a fresh attack on its 330kV Lokoja –Gwagwalada transmission line one.

A statement by TCN’s General Manager on Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the incident which affected transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along line one, had disrupted bulk power transmission along the route.

According to Mbah, the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 9th November, 2024.


“Early on Saturday, TCN engineers attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line 1, but the line tripped. After efforts to reclose the line failed, a patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to physically trace the line for faults. Upon inspection, they discovered the affected towers. Further examination revealed that the vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one,” the statement said.


She explained that the Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and while TCN is still supplying bulk power through line two, efforts were underway to source replacement aluminium conductors for the two spans stolen from line one.

She decried the rising trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers which she said had become a significant challenge that is severely impacting the country’s power infrastructure and hindering the expansion and stability of the national grid.


“This recent incident adds to an alarming pattern of attacks on the transmission network nationwide. In the Gwagwalada area alone, recent acts of vandalism include the attack on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo transmission line on 10th December 2023, the Gwagwalada–Katampe line on February 26, 2024, and several others on that axis. Such acts of vandalism continue to disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeria’s national grid.”

She appealed to members of the public, especially residents of communities hosting transmission lines and towers, to collaborate with TCN and security operatives in combating this menace, saying vandalism of power installations is a disservice to all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system.

Tolani, who claimed to be the first child among the five children, added that she left the house because it was no longer comfortable staying in a ‘choking one-room apartment with six others on an empty stomach’.

The teenager said her friend who was older and had more experience in prostitution took her in.

“She taught me how to attract clients, and how to please them. I felt dirty at first, but now it’s just a routine,” she explained.

Narrating one of her bad encounters with one of her violent clients, Tolani said, “One client beat me up once, I thought I would die. He had sex with me without paying for it. But I couldn’t report him because I was afraid.

“I am in SS2. I want to go back to school and become a doctor or lawyer. But it looks more like a dream because there is no one to support it.

“I am not alone; there are many like me. We are just trying to survive. Please, don’t judge us. We are not bad people, we are just lost.”

At Bariga, 17-year-old Aisha said desperation led her to a place she never imagined.

“I just wanted to help my family. I couldn’t stand seeing them suffer, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was so young, and the world felt so big and unforgiving,” she stated

“At first, I was terrified, I didn’t understand what it all meant, but I had no choice. I had to survive.

“But over time, I got used to it. The fear faded, replaced by something else. Now, it is just part of my life, it is just a way to survive.

“It is not easy, but what choice do I have?” Aisha asked, her eyes distant, as though the answer was already written in the experiences that shaped her young life.

PUNCH Healthwise discovered that the exploitation is not limited to prostitution. These girls are also vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse, sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies.

Victims of circumstances

A Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences Education, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Abdullahi Onimisi described many of the teenage girls as innocent victims of circumstances.

Onimisi stressed that the psychological toll of teenage prostitution on these young girls cannot be overstated.

“The girls are using their God-given assets to live. They have nothing else to rely on. We are living in a materialistic society where child care is zero.

“These girls are falling innocent victims of circumstances. They’re job seekers, but they can’t find employment. They’re not serving humanity or the nation,” he said.

The psychologist attributed the problem to ineffective laws, lack of education, and poor child-rearing practices.

He maintained that many teenage girls are lured into prostitution by hotel owners, motel managers, and pimps who profit from their misery.

“Our law is not effective. If it were, hotels wouldn’t allow minors to enter. The owners would be held accountable.”

The don advocated for stronger laws and increased government intervention.

“The government needs to work more on implementing effective laws. We need to provide education, job opportunities, and support for these girls,” he stated.

The professor, however, warned that the long-term consequences of teenage prostitution include mental health issues, social stigma, and reduced economic prospects.

Onimisi emphasised that the trauma experienced by these girls can have long-term consequences, affecting their ability to form healthy relationships and maintain emotional stability.

He noted, “The girls will be deluded. They will struggle to marry or find stable employment. Society will disown them.

“The constant exposure to exploitation, abuse, and violence takes a toll on their mental health. They may end up struggling with low self-esteem, self-blame, and feelings of shame, leading to a fragmented sense of identity.”

Lifetime of consequences

A consultant gynaecologist at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Otunuya noted that the reproductive health implications of teenage prostitution are equally alarming.

Otunuya warned that these girls are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancies.

“Their reproductive health is compromised due to lack of access to quality healthcare, condoms, and reproductive education.

“Many suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other gynaecological complications,” the reproductive expert stated.

The physician highlighted the importance of providing these girls with comprehensive reproductive health services, including access to contraception, STI testing, and prenatal care.

“The consequences of untreated STIs and unintended pregnancies can be devastating. These girls may face lifelong health complications, social stigma, and economic hardship,” she added.

Addressing the root causes

The alarming rise of teenage prostitution has sparked concerns among experts, who point to poverty, lack of education, and social inequality as key drivers.

According to Dr. Olufunmilayo Folorunso, a sociologist at the University of Lagos, poverty is a major factor in the increase of teenage prostitution. When families struggle to make ends meet, young girls are often forced to seek alternative means of survival.

Folorunso emphasised that the lack of access to education and job opportunities further worsens the problem.

She noted the importance of sensitisation programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of prostitution and the importance of education.

“Education is key to empowering these girls and providing them with alternatives to prostitution. Without education, they lack the skills and knowledge to secure better-paying jobs, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation,” she noted.

The sociologist said community involvement is important in breaking the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

She stressed that local leaders, parents, and community members must work together to create a supportive environment for these girls.

“Community leaders must take ownership of this issue. They must work with government agencies and non-profit organisations to provide resources and support for these girls,” she explained.

Corroborating her, a human rights activist, Mrs. Abosede Olowu stated that the government needs to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.

She noted that providing education, job opportunities, and social support could help reduce the number of girls turning to prostitution.

The activist stressed that a multi-faceted approach is necessary, involving government agencies, non-profit organisations, and community leaders.

“These girls need our help. We need to provide them with education, skills training, and economic empowerment to help them break the cycle of poverty,” she added.

When contacted, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the government was doing a lot in supporting young people, including training and empowerment opportunities.

Omotosho stated the government had also created an environment for all children to have equal opportunity in the state.

While condemning prostitution among teenage girls, the commissioner said there was a need for sensitisation that would make the residents know the benefit of obtaining Lagos registration cards.

“The government is doing so much for our young people- over 6000 trained in the creative industry, thousands trained in Agric, free WASSCE registration for thousands, sports sponsorship- and more.

“The government has created an environment in which all kids have equal opportunity to excel.

“Those who have chosen prostitution have not done well. Where are their parents? Why did they dump their responsibility on these kids? When did they arrive in Lagos?

“This is why the Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration keeps saying people should obtain LASRA cards; it’s free. We need the data – for planning and security. I doubt if these teenagers have. You need to educate them about this,” he stated.

Also, on different days, our correspondent reached out to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, but her number was not going through, and messages sent to her were never replied to.

On different days, our correspondent reached out to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, but her number was not going through, and messages sent to her were never replied to.

Also, PUNCH Healthwise reached out to the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho. He did not pick up his call and did not respond to text messages sent to his line at the time this report was filed.

Escalating hardship and its crushing effects leaves many Nigerians with deadly alternatives. PUNCH Healthwise investigations expose how the situation has pushed Lagos teenage schoolgirls from low-income families into prostitution as they struggle to survive, SODIQ OJUROUNGBE reports

In the heart of Mushin, one of Lagos’ most chaotic and crowded neighbourhoods, stood a rundown hotel that had become a silent witness to a darker side of the city. The air around it was thick with the smell of sweat, desperation, and broken dreams. This was no longer just a hotel, it was a refuge for many teenage schoolgirls who had been swallowed whole by the city’s unrelenting hustle. The sign above the entrance, with its faded letters reading “White House,” looked out of place next to the decay around it.

Inside, the walls, once bright and welcoming, were now cloaked in layers of dirt and neglect. The cheerful colours that had once adorned the rooms were faded, and peeling, as though time itself had turned its back on this place. What remained were the echoes of lives lived in limbo, trapped between survival and discomfort.

It wasn’t a place anyone chose to stay, but for some girls, it was the only choice left. The hotel is now a pleasant home for them — the price of survival paid with their bodies.

There, sitting on the chipped, faux-leather couch at the hotel’s reception was Arike Mayowa and her 15-year-old friend, Abidemi Kosoko.

Mayowa, just 16 years old, appeared much older. Her frame, delicate and childlike, seemed to carry the weight of the world. Her posture hunched slightly as if trying to shield herself from the constant pressure of reality bearing down on her. Her skin, once smooth and radiant, now carried the weight of exhaustion, she looked pale, ashen in spots, and dotted with the faintest traces of neglect.

Her face, framed by unruly hair, looked like something trapped between innocence and despair. Her bright pink lip gloss, glossy and fresh, contrasted sharply with the weariness that clouded her eyes.

After being introduced by the hotel manager, David who had unknowingly crossed paths with our correspondent the night before at a club during this undercover investigation, Mayowa was eager to share her story.

Recounting her journey to this filthy hotel, Mayowa said she had left her hometown of Ilaro in Ogun State at just 15 years old, driven by the harsh realities of poverty.

She stated that her family was struggling to make ends meet, and couldn’t provide for her anymore.

She said she came to Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling metropolis, in search of a better life.

She narrated that she was working for a woman who exploited her vulnerability at a popular place in Mushin called Ghetto, a notorious hub for drug peddlers,

“Recently, the police and NDLEA were coming to arrest drug peddlers at Ghetto. The raids were becoming more frequent. So, we had to scatter. That was when I met my friend, and we started contributing N3,000 daily to stay here. It is a hotel, but it is not safe. Men come and go, and you do what you have to do to survive,” she stated.

The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update report in October showed a bleak outlook on poverty in the country, disclosing that over 129 million Nigerians now live below the national poverty line.

Worrisomely, the World Bank’s latest report on Macro Poverty Outlook also indicated that low labour income had pushed an estimated 14 million Nigerians into poverty in 2024 amid rising inflation.

Nigerians have continued to lament the worsening hunger nationwide and wondered when the country’s ballooning rate of inflation would slow down.

Abandon schoolMayowa, the last born in a family of four, said the situation at home made her leave her family very early even without completing secondary school.

“My family couldn’t take care of me anymore. There was nothing left at home. My parents were struggling so badly, they couldn’t even afford to send me to school. I felt like I had no choice but to leave.

“I thought maybe if I came to Lagos, I could find work, a way to send money home. But it didn’t take long before I found out that people here, especially women like me, are treated like nothing,” she lamented.

When asked when she intended to stop, Mayowa said she was doing that to survive and also to save up so that she could start a business.

Mayowa, who claimed to sleep with at least seven to ten different men in a week, added that she engaged in daily contributions and also used part of the money to take care of the daily three thousand naira being paid to the hotel owner as rent.

She said, “I want to be selling wares and all, so, I am saving a lot of money so that I will be able to start my own business soon.

“I make money depending on the person. But for a short time, you have to pay me between five thousand and seven thousand and you will be allowed to do one round, and I also give you head.

“For daybreak or you want me to be with you for a longer period comes with extra charges and I charge based on who is taking me, the least I can take for that is ten thousand or more.

“Many of us don’t wish to stay here, but the reality is there and we need to survive. Although I have not been sending money home, my wish is to start sending money in months to come.”

Hardship as the driving force

Mayowa’s story, sadly, is not an isolated one. Investigations by PUNCH Healthwise uncovered a disturbing trend in motels and hotels across Lagos State.

Findings showed that young girls, driven by poverty and hunger, are forced into prostitution to survive.

For five days, our correspondent went undercover to some hotels and motels located in Mushin, Bariga, Yaba, Obalende and Surulere, where some of these teenage girls were seen in revealing clothes, hanging around corridors and bars, waiting for ‘clients’.

These underage prostitutes popularly called ‘Monke’ on Lagos streets were forced into prostitution to survive.

From conversations with more than ten of these girls, PUNCH Healthwise observed that economic hardship has become the driving force behind the ugly trend, tearing families apart and fuelling an alarming rise in out-of-school children.

It was discovered that most of these girls come from low-income families, where parents struggle to provide necessities. Their homes are often characterised by overcrowding, limited access to education, unstable income, and lack of social support.

Across Lagos, PUNCH Healthwise found that an alarming rise in the number of out-of-school children could be traced to families facing economic hardship.

Many of these children, like Mayowa and her friend, are girls who drop out of school to support their families in any way they can.

With limited access to education and a lack of social safety nets, these girls face an uphill battle that often ends with them losing their futures to the desperate realities of poverty.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, 40 per cent of Nigerian girls are married before age 18, and 20 per cent are forced into prostitution.

Poverty, lack of education, and desperation have created a perfect storm, fueling an alarming rise in out-of-school children.

UNICEF revealed that one in three Nigerian children is out of school. This totals about 10.2 million children at the primary level and about 8.1 million at the junior secondary school level.

The global organisation identified the agglomeration of administrative, economic, and socio-cultural factors as causes of the alarming rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Torn between survival and sacrifice

In Mushin, a dense, overcrowded neighbourhood in Lagos, economic hardship is a daily reality. This area, like many others across the city, is home to families caught in poverty, where survival is a daily struggle.

For many young girls, the pressures of this harsh environment lead them to make choices no child should ever have to face. Among them is 17-year-old Funmilayo, whose life, much like the streets she walks, is filled with obstacles, sacrifices, and deferred dreams.

When our correspondent first met Funmilayo, she was standing at the entrance of one of the motels that house many of these teenage prostitutes. Her young face betrayed the exhaustion of a life lived in the margins.

Funmilayo agreed to accompany our correspondent to a nearby hotel and mentioned that she was willing to offer sexual services to him and his fixer, provided they were willing to pay her a fair amount for it.

At the hotel, she revealed that she had little hope of escaping the poverty that trapped her.

“I dropped out of school in SS1. I had to because My mum was struggling, and we didn’t have enough to eat. I couldn’t keep up with school. My family needed me,” she lamented.

For Funmilayo, the challenges started long before her school days ended. She said her father passed away when she was just a young girl, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings alone.

With no steady income, Funmilayo said her mother struggled to keep their home afloat.

She lamented that their house in Mushin is cramped, with barely enough room for the five of them to sleep, let alone live with any sense of comfort.

“My mum is a widow. It’s just me, her, and my younger siblings. We don’t have much. Sometimes, we don’t even have enough food to eat. I do what I can to help her. I do it for my family,” she explained.

Despite working as a cleaner at a private hospital, where she earns just 30,000 naira a month, Funmilayo stated that the salary is barely enough to cover the most basic family needs.

She lamented that the cost of living, compounded by a lack of proper education and social support, means she has to find other ways to survive.

“I use the money I make to buy food for my family. But it’s not enough. That’s why I do other things,” she stressed.

The “other things” she refers to are part of a reality that no young girl should have to face.

To make ends meet, Funmilayo said she turns to the streets, where she sells her body for money.

“I never wanted to do this. But what can I do? My mum needs help, and my siblings need to eat. I do it because I don’t want to see my family suffer. It’s the only way I can help,” she expressed with tears dropping from her eyes.

At just 17, Funmilayo’s childhood was lost to the struggle for survival. Every day is a battle between cleaning floors at the hospital and walking the streets at night to make money.

“My mother is aware I am doing this. A lot of times she will call me just to know my movement, I don’t hide anything from her because she is the only one I have and I can talk to,” she concluded.

In Surulere, our correspondent met 16-year-old Bukola, who has been in the process of selling her body for two years.

Bukola told PUNCH Healthwise that her parents struggle to make ends meet, adding that they were unaware of her situation.

“I started doing this two years ago. My parents couldn’t afford to feed me.”

“I wanted to help my family. But I didn’t know what else to do. A friend introduced me to this.

“I was scared at first, but then I realised it was the only way to survive,” Bukola said.

When asked about the kind of people she sleeps with, Bukola said her clients ranged from young men to older ones.

“I do different kinds of men so far they are ready to offer me better money. I also have sex without protection if the person is ready to pay well for it.

“As I am, I engage in a daily contribution of N3,000 and I have to look for ways to make money so that I can be able to pay. I am doing this so that I can support my family in the little way I can,” she stated.

The Enablers

Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that some of these hotel owners, and motel managers profit from the exploitation and suffering of these young girls.

The investigation led our correspondent to eight hotels and motels with many owners profiting from the misery of these young girls, and turning a blind eye to their suffering.

In every hotel and motel visited, it was observed that there was a club, where young girls were exploited as bait to lure men into patronising their businesses.

These clubs transformed into hunting grounds, where men preyed on vulnerable girls, some barely 13 years old. The atmosphere reeked of exploitation, as teenage girls, dressed in revealing attire, were objectified and reduced to mere commodities.

Men flocked to these clubs, enticed by the prospect of cheap thrills and expensive drinks. The price tags for these drinks were exorbitant, but the real cost was borne by the girls, whose innocence and dignity were sacrificed for financial gain.

Our correspondent witnessed girls, visibly underage, being subjected to sexual advances and harassment. Their bodies were objectified, their smiles forced, and their eyes vacant.

One hotel owner, when confronted, shrugged off the exploitation.

“We are just providing a service, we are not the ones that asked the girls to come here, and nobody is underage here, don’t be deceived by their young looks” he said, his tone devoid of empathy.

A motel manager admitted to knowing the girls’ ages but claimed helplessness.

“It is because you have patronised us here and I like your vibe that is why I am telling you this. Truly, many of them are homeless and instead of them just being on the street where they are susceptible to rape, we decided to accommodate them by collecting little money like three thousand daily from them.

“Yes, some of them are below 18, but you can’t know except if we tell you. We can’t afford to lose our business,” he confessed.

Similar stories unfolded in Yaba, Bariga, and other areas visited by PUNCH Healthwise.

Our correspondent met 15-year-old Tolani in a cramped hotel room in the Yaba area of the state.

Her eyes seemed to carry the weight of countless untold stories, and her gaze appeared far older than her 15 years.

“I was 14 when I started. My parents couldn’t afford to feed me, so I ran away from home. A friend introduced me to this life. I can’t afford to die of hunger,” Tolani expressed in Yoruba.

She said her family numbering seven lived in a small apartment in Ojuelegba.

She revealed that her father was a struggling trader, who barely made ends meet, and her mother was a petty trader.

While the multiple-entry visa previously allowed holders to enter and leave Canada freely, a government update said that the 10-year multiple-entry visa is no longer viewed as the “standard document.”

The Canadian government has announced the cancellation of the 10-year multiple-entry visa for Nigerians and citizens of other countries.

The authorities said that the cancellation of 10-year multiple-entry visa is part of the government’s efforts to curb immigration after experiencing a post-COVID population surge.

While the multiple-entry visa previously allowed holders to enter and leave Canada freely, a government update said that the 10-year multiple-entry visa is no longer viewed as the “standard document.”

The update by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) added, “Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document.”

The IRCC further stated that immigration officers now have the discretion to decide between issuing single-entry or multiple-entry visas and to determine their validity periods.

Recall that in October this year, the IRCC announced a revised target for permanent residents, reducing the goal for 2025 from 500,000 to 395,000.

The target for 2026 will drop from 500,000 to 380,000, and in 2027, Canada plans to admit 365,000 permanent residents.

President Bola Tinubu is a co-founder of the All Progressives Congress, APC, a political party which challenged for leadership on the mantra of “Change”. It was given the mandate to replace the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015.

A former Minister of State for Finance under the PDP rule, Bashir Yuguda, was tried along with former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and others, over the alleged diversion of N4.6bn to “organise prayers for Nigeria”. Yuguda has since joined the APC. Tinubu’s government has continued to indulge in wasteful spending on religious activities in the forlorn hope that they will help in solving Nigeria’s challenges.

Earlier this year, the president authorised the release of N90bn for “Hajj subsidies” without the National Assembly’s approval. Despite condemnations following that, the wife of the president, Oluremi Tinubu and the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, are spearheading what they call a national prayer session in conjunction with Christian and Muslim clerics, at public expense. The event themed: “Seeking the Intervention of God in Nigeria’s Affairs”, will last for a week.

The continued involvement of our governments in the affairs of these two imported religions runs contrary to the constitutional claim that Nigeria has no state religion. Religion is supposed to be a personal relationship between individuals and God or whatever they worship. There is no proof that the heavy involvement of government in religion has yielded any positive fruits. China is a Communist country that does not indulge in religion, yet it is the second wealthiest nation of the world.

Nigerian leaders have been rightly accused of using religion and ethnicity as instruments to hoodwink the people to win and maintain power. They are also mocked for practising “religion without God”. People who are culpable for ethnic profiling and fraying the fabric of our national unity through extreme nepotism can deign to pray for God to repair damage!

People who are splurging on the nation’s resources while grinding the masses in the dust of hunger, hardship, insecurity, and oppression of juvenile protesters believe that prayers will bring for them what patriotism and good governance brings in other, saner climes.

Enough of this religious charade!

If we want unity, we must encourage Nigerians to see one another as people of the same family. We must not corner the nation’s high offices and resources for our ethnic and religious acolytes, depriving other Nigerians of their right. If we want security, we must regain the confidence of Nigerians and work with them to flush out the insurgents, terrorists, armed herdsmen and bandits.

We need good policies and competent hands, not prayers, to revive the economy. Our leaders must lead by example. Nigerian politicians should stop mocking God and the masses with religion.

There are karmic consequences for such actions.

Nigeria is in mourning following the sudden death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on Tuesday in Lagos after a brief illness. His death comes barely a year after he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu, marking a tragic blow to the nation’s military leadership.

Lagbaja’s death also marks the third time a Chief of Army Staff has died in office, adding to a list of tragic losses among Nigeria’s military heads.

Below are the ex-COAS who died in office:

Joseph Akahan (August 1967)

Joseph Akahan, a 30-year-old Army Chief, was appointed shortly before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. After visiting the frontlines in Nsukka, he returned to his hometown in Gboko for a brief rest.

As he headed back to Makurdi, the helicopter carrying him crashed, claiming his life along with two pilots on board.

Attahiru Ibrahim (May 21, 2021)

Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, appointed in January 2021 to replace Tukur Buratai, died just months into his tenure. His appointment, alongside other service chiefs including Lucky Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Zubairu Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff), and Isiaka Amao (Chief of Air Staff), followed widespread calls for a leadership change amid escalating security concerns.

Tragically, while on an official assignment from Abuja to Kaduna, Attahiru’s aircraft encountered severe weather conditions and crashed, killing him and 10 members of his entourage.

Taoreed Lagbaja (November 5, 2024)

Lagbaja, an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992.

Before he was appointed COAS on June 19, 2023, he served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

A statement by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that the Army chief died in Lagos after a brief illness.

He has now been replaced by his classmate from the Defence Academy, Olufemi Oluyede.

Oluyede was appointed by the acting Chief of Army Staff last Wednesday, as Lagbaja had been confirmed indisposed for weeks.

Ali Ndume, the federal lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), has stated that the tax reform bills sent by President Bola Tinubu are “dead on arrival.”

Ndume explained, “Our people are saying they don’t want the VAT bill, they don’t even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival,” urging President Tinubu to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the bills immediately.

The lawmaker who made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme argued that the Federal Government should be looking to reduce, rather than increase, the tax burden on Nigerians.

His words, “The general sentiment is that Nigerians are not willing to talk about or pay any tax now, considering the economic situation we are in.

“Nigerians are willing to pay taxes but only when they can afford it. Right now, people are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes.”

“It will be fair to shut the bill down; it is the fairest thing to do,” indicating that he has started rallying support among colleagues to reject the bills.”


Ndume, a member of the President’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), also commented that the Tinubu administration should focus on reforming itself rather than increasing taxes.

“What he [Tinubu] needs to do is to withdraw the bill, educate Nigerians, and make us understand it. We are representing the people, and they have already made their stance clear,” he said.

“The governors and traditional rulers have said that the bill is not good. So, the best course of action is to withdraw it immediately. Right now, our people don’t want the VAT bill; they don’t even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival.”

The tax reform bills, currently in the National Assembly, have faced substantial criticism, with the 36 state governors urging the President to withdraw them.


However, the President has stated the bills will not be withdrawn, though he is open to “inputs and necessary changes” from lawmakers.

The Federal Government has terminated the contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) from Julius Berger Construction company.

A statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, said the decision was made following the failure of the management of Berger to show up for a meeting to fine-tune the contract sum which the government had pegged at N740bn which the company rejected.

“It is a sad commentary on the Company that rather than accepting the offer, they tinkered with the Bills of Quantities, as well as that of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation via a letter to the Ministry dated 29th October, 2024. The company was summoned for a meeting with the Management of the Ministry, today, 4th November, 2024 but refused to show up, hence the termination of the contract based on effluxion of time and non- performance.”
“Based on non-compliance with reviewed cost, scope and terms, stoppage of work and refusal to remobilise to site, as directed, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day Notice of Termination to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna), today, 4th November, 2024.”

He said the decision was borne out of several months of back and forth without any meaningful progress was reached at management meeting between the Ministry and Julius Berger.

Recall that the Contract for the road was awarded to Julius Berger in 2018 and was supposed to cost less than N155.7bn with a 36 months completion date.

But the cost rose to over N600 billion and 6 years after less than 50 percent of the road had been completed.

Ahmed noted that the ministry has in the last 13 months been in constant talks with the company, in order to reach an amiable position on the said alignment but to no avail.

“Nigerians may wish to know that the contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which was divided into three (3) Sections was awarded to the company on 20th December, 2017 and flagged off by the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, H:E. Babatunde Raji Fashola at an initial sum of N155.7bn on 18th June, 2018.

“Sections II (Kaduna – Zaria) and III (Zaria – Kano) were partially completed and handed over during the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. Since then it has been one variation and augmentation or the other and finally, the present Minister of Works directed for the redesigning and re-scoping of the Section I of the contract.

“The alignment was divided into two with one phase redesigned to be on continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), while the remaining with asphaltic pavement. Approval for the Section I, Phase 1 for a length of 38 (thirty-eight) kilometres on concrete pavement was given to Messrs Dangote Industries (Nig.) Ltd, while the remaining 127 (one hundred and twenty-seven) kilometres remained with the substantive contractor. The Phase 1 was flagged off on 17th October, 2024 with a 14-month completion period.

“Due to the stalemate of the contract and, most importantly, the desire of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda infrastructure initiative, to see to the completion of this laudable project, also to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians plying the road, the Ministry re-scoped it and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The award for the Re-scoping and Downward Review of Contract for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) in favour of Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc from the sum of N797.2bn to N740.7bn was granted by FEC on 23rd September, 2024 and conveyed to the company on 3rd October, 2024.

“As due to the socio-economic importance the road as a vital artery connecting Abuja, the FCT to the North, the Ministry conveyed the approval for a Final Offer on the Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway to the company on 23rd October, 2024, stating that it should agree, in writing, to accept the reviewed contract sum of N740.7bn within seven (7) days or risk the termination of the said contract.”

Ahead of the upcoming festive season, the Federal Government, through the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has launched a major road repair initiative to improve traffic flow across federal highways nationwide.


During the flag-off of “Operation Connect to Your Destination” Phase 2 in Kano State, FERMA Managing Director, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, outlined the project’s targets. By the end of the exercise, FERMA aims to patch 18,850 square meters of road surface, rehabilitate over 12,000 failed sections, complete 2,700 square meters of road overlay, and make 653 kilometers of road motorable.

Agbasi explained, “Operation Connect to Your Destination is designed to enhance journey times and alleviate traffic congestion during the festive period. We recognize that traffic flows increase significantly between the north and south during this time. This program will identify bottlenecks along key routes to facilitate smoother commuter movement.”

The agency has strategically mapped out traffic-prone areas, prioritizing them for maintenance to ensure the maximum positive impact on road users. Agbasi added that the project is expected to generate over 12,000 jobs, contributing to economic growth.

Engr. Sani Abdulkadir, Head of FERMA’s Direct Labour Department, noted that the roadworks are scheduled for completion by mid-December to avoid interruptions during the yuletide period.

Kano State’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander, Umar Matazu, represented by Deputy Corps Marshal Abdulsalam Kabiru, welcomed the initiative, urging drivers to exercise caution and drive responsibly once the maintenance is complete.

iwaeda:
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. We shall all return, money makes no difference there.

Omooba77:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B14fn_h9Xgc?si=5MMUZ0cmBRdbZP6Z



https://news.sky.com/story/tory-leadership-latest-kemi-badenoch-robert-jenrick-budget-politics-live-12593360?postid=8549588&dcmp=snt-sf-twitter#liveblog-body

The entire Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, has been thrown into mourning over the sudden death of the Chairman, Oladotun Olakanle. He was aged 54.

Olakunle, a yet to be confirmed report said, died in the early hours of Saturday, November 2, 2024.

The cause of death could not be confirmed as at press time.

However, it was learnt that his administration distributed vehicles to police formations in his council area on Friday, 1 November, 2024.

It was also gathered that his final outing before his demise, was at the burial party for the late All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Dr. Adesola Taiwo, Chief Executive Officer of Adefemi Taiwo Hospitals on Thursday, 31 October, 2024.

“We were at a party together on Thursday. His death is still devastating to me,” a close friend told journalists.

Recall that this will make it the second time a sitting Council boss in Onigbongbo LCDA would die in office during their second term.

Olakanle’s predecessor, Babatunde Oke, also died in office deep into his second term. He died as a result of Covid-19 complications.

Salewa97:
The opposition are now in the business of sending letters like they are in primary school.

Abeg make una no go turn FG into una opposition party

LETTER TO @officialABAT

Here is the sordid evidence of the @NigeriaGov punishing your citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by your administration.

No one can ever solve a Problem they deny and refuse to own. No one.

Agitation to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria is shared by overwhelming majority of your citizens. For real.

How many of your Citizens can you take to court like done to these minors?

How many of your Citizens can you detain and deprive of their freedoms like done to these minors?

Hear me.

No ruler has ever won against their people forever. Check history.

Note that I wrote ruler and not leader.

The repressive class of politicians in Nigeria are not leaders. You all have serially failed the “test of leadership” because you act as wicked rulers who feel entitled to the “publicly-funded luxurious life” while repressing and pauperizing the citizens.

Second, @officialABAT , the evident corrupted capture of our Judiciary by the @NigeriaGov is playing out daily on Candid Camera before the eyes of the world.
The trial of these minors is one of many examples these days.

Stop the wicked prosecution of these minors immediately and send the children back to their parents and guardians.

Next, ensure that they are compensated for the physical, mental, emotional and overall psychological damage you have done to them by abusing the powers of the Nigerian State and grossly violating their constitutional rights.

When those children came out to protest asking you to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, they were telling you the “Truth and nothing but the Truth”.

I hope you start listening to what majority of your Citizens especially these children are telling you daily:
“Ebi npawa” , “we are hungry”.

Nothing lasts forever. Today is not Forever.
✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾

Some teenagers who were allegedly involved in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests which rocked the entire nation from August 1 to 10, 2024, were seen in a distressing state upon arrival at the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment.

In some photos taken in the courtroom and obtained by PUNCH Online Friday, some of the male protesters were seen looking malnourished and unkempt.