For the first time in recent years, data became a demanding commodity for Nigerians, and the Nigeria government, though maybe this could be due to the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic or the attempted revolution by the Nigerian youth themed END SARS protest and lots more. But of all the enormous efforts of the government to control these misfortunes, one effort stands out. The inclusive policies that helped to control this unrest remain the public option outreach by some government MDAs. Maybe little did the Nigeria government know that statistics is now an essential unit of any government around the world, if not then why the wait until now. Maybe now they will know more about statistics. Hopefully, this is an eye-opener for a developing country like Nigeria. The year 2020 was a year Nigerians were more interested in numbers more than letters. They want to know about the number of infected persons or the numbers of SARS brutality victims and a lot more.

Since the early months of the year 2020, the government have been struggling to maintain a steady economy flow then came a necessary national lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic that nearly expedited a recession which forced business and companies into extricating some of their staff and even some businesses shutting down due to the severe effect caused by the pandemic on the economy. Again, not so long the END SARS protest erupted in the nation causing commercial obliteration and further forcing the economy to a sorry-state.

Then, a call to restore after these devastations became paramour. Notably, most families were all at home due to the lockdown a statistical tool “public opinion” became the remedy. Then statistics became a governmental working tool once again.

Thankfully, MDAs swiftly moved into actions by engaging families in public opinion, within the shortest period of time, the approach yielded a positive result. Within a few months, the government were enabled to make favourable policies and implementing those policies with ease. This means that the data gathered was helpful and insightful information was obtained, and interest of the public was highlighted within the shortest period of time. Now Nigerians are aware of the power of statistics. They once again are believing in a modern culture that is now habituated with statistical tools.

Although, the year 2020 may be characterized by some unfortunate events in Nigeria but believing that lesson must have been learnt by the new way the government have adopted to solve the problem of an inclusive government. Nigeria may be one of the developing countries in the world but the national policies introduced by the government recently have proven the power of statistics and the government and Nigerians have got to love it. If a good policy could be fruitage within months and the populations of the country were inclusive for the first time in recent years in policies-decision through the tool of public opinion, then let the government learn more about statistics by engaging the MDAs and anchors facilitators to establish a reliable system that can help in making better policies.

Now that the government are understanding the need of statistics in policy-making, then the apex-governmental statistical agency: National Bureau of Statistics may now have a lot to deal with in the coming years like their counterparts in other countries of the world. The tool of any inclusive government should be free and fair public opinion policy-making process and which mean that the government will likely make reliable decisions that will benefit an ordinary Nigerian.

The National Bureau of Statistics should be equipped more by retraining if possible, for the jobs awaiting because the national polices-makers will once again depend on them for diligent and unbiased data analysis. Most likely not long from now, the bureau might once again become a relevance party in the national policy-making echelon https://statartinsights.com/2020-the-year-nigerians-loved-statistics/

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Opinion: Could the disband of SARS suggest a move towards Police Reform?

Since the institution of the Nigeria police force in 1930, there may have never been any time the police ought to receive more criticism on civilian brutality than now. Despite that, the Inspector General of police may have previously inrush some regulation restricting the officers of the federal special anti-robbery squad's illegal operations which have led to manhandling of the citizens leading to the unfortunate demise of young and innocent Nigerians. The criticism may have been so much intense this time even surprisingly prompting some top Europeans and Americans to join the call to end SARS in Nigeria.
"they now fight us instead of fighting for us" a respondent replied.
Why ending SARS now?
The call to end the activities of the once prestigious special anti-robbing squad became a national call because the earliest same call may not have properly monitored as supposed. Given, their mandate which should be a special tactical operation on arm-robbery or arms involving criminal activities but the case became a different one over time. Now the call to disband SARS has been answered? Does it mean vulnerability await ahead? SRAS scrapping may be riskier now. Although, there may have been so much time public's eye had caught the brutality of the citizens by SARS. Can the public cope with the ever crime-infested society like Nigeria without the fearsome crime-rebelling SARS? The call may be more or less a distraction to public peace. OR is it a stepping forward to police reformation?

The People's View

A survey from nine states including Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Abuja, Bayelsa, Delta, Niger, Kogi and Kano after scrapping of SARS selected randomly with a sample of 250 persons. Showed that 78 females and 172 male responded to the survey. With 85% respondents supporting the move to end SARS aged below 35 years while 15% were not in support also 79% supporting the end of the activities of the SARS aged above 35 years with 21% were not in support of the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.



What are they saying?
SARS! Actually, a name was made now the name is gone. What about some of the good jobs they may have done? – Baba, Niger.
"They were at some time the hope that we ever called for, but the outcry of brutality and intimidation was too much'' – Andrew, Rivers.
"The youths were at the front of the revolt. It's difficult that we yield to their request to end SARS" – anonymous
"The public may have waited for so long for reform. They may never stop because the voice became the duty of some human right activists. The intimidations were so much that the eyes of the public caught every act of SARS. Reports against the brutality and deaths caused by SARS was becoming alarming. We could not bear it anymore" – Ajibade, Lagos.
What are they demanding?
The interest of these protesters needs to be recognised now because the protest may not be ending anytime soon. The time for blame shouldn't come now as blame game tends to manifest soonest. What could be the demand of these protesters even after the disband of SARS and possibly introducing a new police tactical unit "SWAT". This is no doubt a fear to them that the new police unit was just a renamed of an embattled SARS other than a step towards police reformation. The government and Nigeria police force may have to be blamed for such a nasty quick decision by introducing a new police tactical unit as same as SARS. Or how about now that the protest has shifted the trend to demand once again an end to the newly formed SWAT, would the police also answer the call to end SWAT? The demands of these protesters are becoming huge but seem simple to deal with. The demand is an assurance of the once acclaimed slogan of "POLICE IS YOUR FRIEND IN NIGERIA". The trauma of police brutality still lives actively in their mind. If the assurance of police reform isn't achieved now then the worst should be expected. The government and the Nigeria police force should start concerning the demand by once again answering the call of their new demand. The police reform may be a step far away if this new call isn't answered but could be a step toward the expected police reform should the government consider the public interest as their top priority.

by Richardson Akuebionwu

Without any form of a sceptical hypothesis, maybe as one whose concern is to help others think more or simply because I view public issues as my pursuit. Yes, it sounds emotional but truly it’s a fact. Should there haven’t been a pandemic this year some handy adjustment and a conceivable attempt to a reformation of the health sector may not actually happen and most agreeably the public comprehensive data-driven report from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) might also not happen or known to people? To statisticians in Nigeria, it is one of the best steps by the government of Nigeria towards the health reform. Not only to us but to all whose interest is to see an attempting reform health sector springing up even in the peak of a world pandemic like coronavirus crisis. For the past seven months, the NCDC’s level of professionalism has been applauding. Although, the government’s effort in reducing the impact of the pandemic crisis by implementing some of the needed preventive measures has also been commending. Mostly, by the implementation of the citizen-engaging approach with real-time and up to date information about the pandemic and its preventions. A welcome development indeed.
What we should know
The mortality rate before the pandemic crisis and during the peak period of the pandemic and the possible post period of the pandemic should be a concern now. Making some sense from the mortality data of Nigeria before the pandemic period will be a nice data wrangling. Since there is a possibility of post-out-break of the deadly virus just like in some other countries of the world. Hence, a call to follow the prevention guideline as specified by NCDC should be necessary. Although, a study has shown that at least the death rate caused by malaria, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS which are primarily the most causes of death in Nigeria contributing more than 27% of the total death per annual.
In 2018, the total predicted deaths were 2,327.19 thousand with an estimated population of more 195 million also in 2019, predicted deaths were 2,341.78 thousand with an estimated population of over 200 million. According to the United Nations demographic report, the population of Nigeria may be approaching more than 206 million by the end of the third quarter of the year 2020 with predicted deaths at the same period as 1,159.1 thousand. However, from the NCDC’s covid-19-related death report after 201 days (seven months) was less than 1,200 deaths. Now, given the ratio in the expected death after seven months were the deadly covid-19 virus was at its peak according to the NCDC’s death report. We could deduce that...https://statartinsights.com/mortality-data-what-ncdcs-covid-19-related-death-report-could-be-telling-nigerians/

Notwithstanding reports suggesting that senator Douye Diri’s centenary day as Governor of Bayelsa State will not be celebrated as supposed, come the 24th day of May 2020, His excellency Senator Douye Diri, the executive Governor of Bayelsa state will mark his 100 days in office as the 5thdemocratically elected governor of the state.

It’s instructive to state from the onset, that the Global outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic; which index case for Nigeria was confirmed by the Nigeria center for disease control (NCDC), on the 28thof February 2020, barely a fortnight after the inauguration of the governor; may have limited a comprehensive and objective analysis of his administrations performance, in its first 100 days in office.

The emergence of Senator Doure Diri as the executive governor of the oil rich state of Bayelsa, according to political pundits and constitutional Lawyers was shrouded in controversy, following the Supreme court judgement which disqualified the candidacy of the earlier declared winner of the gubernatorial election, held in the state on the 22nd of November 2019. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had earlier declared Mr. David Lyon and Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo of the All Progressive Congress (APC), winners of the election having obtained the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election, with the required constitutional spread of 2/3 votes in all Local governments of the state.

The decision came less than 24 hours to the inauguration of Mr. Lyon and his deputy Degi as governor and deputy governor respectively, and preparations were already in top gear for the inauguration, when news began to filter in that, the Apex court has disqualified the candidacy of the declared winners, on the ground that the deputy governor elect, Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo, having forged the WASSCE Certificate he presented to INEC, as a precondition for eligibility to contest the election; was not qualified to contest in the election as a running mate to the governor.

The Supreme court in its decision of 13th February 2020, on the eligibility of Mr. Degi to contest as a deputy governor in the election; averted itself to the constitutional provision enshrined under  section 187(1)(2) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended, the said section provides for a joint ticket between the governor and its deputy. The learned justices of the supreme court in interpreting the constitution, held that having presented a forged and invalid certificate in gross violation of the provision of section 182(1)(j) of the constitution the APC candidates were not constitutionally qualified to contest the election, the court thereby discountenanced the votes cast for the APC candidates Mr. Lyon and Mr. Degi.

The Apex court went further to make consequential orders, directing INEC to declare the party and candidates with the second highest number of votes in the election and constitutional spread as winners. INEC was mandated to issue a new certificate of return to senator Douye Diri, and senator Lawrence, who were the candidates of the PDP, the party that scored the second highest vote cast in the election. The supreme court also ordered the Chief judge of Bayelsa state, to forthwith swear in senator Diri and senator Lawrence, as the governor and deputy governor of the state the next day.

The judgement of the supreme court was received with aghast feelings by the indigenes of Bayelsa state, and this quickly snowballed into violent protest both in the state capital Yenagoa, and in Abuja, the venue of the supreme court decision, and seat of power of the Nigerian federation. Majority of bayelsans, and APC faithful’s all over the country called for the outright reversal of the judgement, the indigenes tagged the decision as being anti-democratic, and a calculated attempt to sabotage the general wishes and electoral will of the Bayelsa electorates, who in their quest for good governance came out en mass to vote out the then government in the state.

Following the heavy protest and violence which erupted in the state, in the aftermath of the supreme court judgement, dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in the state, to enable security operatives restore law and order, and dispel any public gathering that may threaten the public peace. However, to avert constitutional crisis in the state, the Chief judge of Bayelsa state in full compliance and in giving effect to the supreme court judgement, swore in Senator Douye Diri, and Senator Lawrence, as the governor and deputy governor of Bayelsa respectively, on the 14th of February 2020.

In his inaugural address to the people of Bayelsa state after his swearing in, the new governor extended the olive branch to both the opposition party (APC) members, and aggrieved members of his own party the PDP, calling on all stakeholders in Bayelsa state, to join hands with him in moving the state forward. The governor went ahead to christen his administration a “miraculous government of consolidation for prosperity”, who was brought into power by sheer providence working in Gods purpose. He promised to initiate projects for the infrastructural development of the state, complete all projects initiated by his predecessors, and ensure that the collective wealth of Bayelsa state is distributed equitably to the people under his watch.



An attempt by the disqualified candidates of the APC, to have the supreme court reverse its decision by way of judicial review, was eventually thrown out by the Apex court on the 26th of February 2020, paving way for the new governor to begin implementation of his administration policies for the people of Bayelsa state.

It’s no longer news, that the global outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic, and its transportation to Nigeria, and discovery in late February 2020, forced the entire Nation including Bayelsa state, to proceed into economic and social lock down of activities in the country; because of the need to forestall and minimize rapid spread of the killer virus, which is usually transmitted through contact with droplets of carriers of the infectious disease. As a result of the forced lock down of the country and restrictions on interstate movement, the new governor has been working skeletally; his first point of call was to visit some project sites in the state capital, to get direct report and information on the progress of work done so far. He visited the Tombia-Etegwe roundabout supposed flyover and other indispensable projects, which was started by the previous administration.

Governor Diri promised to include the completion of the flyover in the 2020 budget, as one of the key projects of his administration. According to him, the project when completed, will decongest the area and ease traffic in the city, he also promised that alternative routes will be created, and the roads expanded to enable commuters by pass the roundabout during the construction work. The governor, assured those whose structures will be affected of adequate compensation, adding that his team had already gone through the project design, to ascertain the number of buildings that will be required to give way, for the expansion of the roads leading to the flyover.

The governor, despite the lock down appointed key members of his administration, including the SSG, COS, etc. to help formulate and implement his policy thrust for the state, which according to his chief press secretary Mr. Daniel Alabrah, was expedient for the smooth running of the state during the lockdown. in all these domestic appointments, as rightly observed by some of the critics of the new governor, his administration as constituted so far, seems to have clearly sidelined the opposition party, and warring members of his own party, contrary to the position he canvassed in different fora’s, to carry all stakeholders along, by ensuring that his appointments will be equitably spread across party divide and affiliations. However, the governor chief press secretary has defended his boss, contending that the governor is yet to constitute the state cabinet, insisting that when the cabinet is finally constituted, it will reflect the earlier promises of the governor to carry all critical and relevant stakeholders along, irrespective of party affiliations.

Counting down to the governors first 100 days in office, his administration on the 21st of April 2020, while the state was still on economic and social lockdown, presented an appropriation bill of N242.28 billion for the 2020 fiscal year, to the House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law. Barely 72 hours after the presentation of the bill to the House; the budget proposal was passed into law and christened “Budget of consolidation for prosperity” by the state house of assembly.

Speaking after the passage of the appropriation bill into law, the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Mr. Abraham Ingobere, explained that the budget proposal was accorded accelerated consideration, due to the exigencies of the moment, insisting that the budget fully addressed all the key areas of the state’s infrastructural needs, and laid commendable emphasis on the diversification of the state economy towards Agriculture, and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

A detailed breakdown of the budget as passed, reveals that N51.65 billion was earmarked for personnel cost, N52.33 billion for overhead cost, N91.48 billion for consolidated revenue fund charges; while a paltry sum of N46.74 billion was proposed for capital projects. A further breakdown of the budget shows that the ministries of works and transport has the highest budgetary allocation, with N8.6 billion , followed by the Agricultural sector which got the sum of N8.billion , the Education and health ministries will receive N2.1 billion and N1.75 billion respectively; power/water will get N800 million, housing and urban development N640 million, while the ministry of trade, industry, and investment, will have N430.938 million allocated to the ministry for the 2020 budgetary year.

Reacting to the details of the budget as passed by the Bayelsa state house of assembly, a human right activist and social commentator in the state, Comrade Nabai Alfred, has decried the low budgetary allocation for the provision of power and water in the state metropolis and environs. He noted with consternation the poor state of electricity and water supply in the state, and frowned at the meagre allocation to those sectors of the state economy, that will be beneficial to the teeming masses, who now depend on the popular “water vendors” who adorn the capital city, as the veritable source for portable water.

Also speaking in the same vein, one will wonder why an administration that came into power against all odds, will portion a minimal sum of N800 million for the provision of power and water, which are clearly the basic needs of bayelsans. Then earmarking N51.65 billion and N52.33 billion for overhead and personnel cost, while the state lives in darkness, without electricity to jumpstart the state economy, certainly, this is a misplaced prioritization of the peoples need, in this era of dwindling oil prices and scarce resources. To me fixing the turbine plant for electricity generation and distribution in the state metropolis, should be one of the primary policy thrust of the new governor, if he desires to win the trust and goodwill of the people who have continually questioned the legitimacy of his government. Surely, no sensible investor will want to establish a business in a state with epileptic power supply.

Recently, feelers from the state, has revealed that the whooping allocation of N51.65 billion for personnel cost, may be receiving huge implementation in the state, as the new administration of Senator Douye Diri, has begun the implementation of payment of backlog salary and pension arrears to beneficiaries in the state. Commending the governor for this noble gesture barely 100 days on assumption of office, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TCU) in the state, in a joint address presented by the state NLC chairman , Comrade John Ndiomu, applauded the decision of the governor on prompt payment of worker’s salaries, gradual payment of gratuity and death benefits, as well aa payment of the 33 percent harmonized pension increase of 2014, and the payment of weigh-in arrears to media workers in the state.

In another statement to mark the worker’s day celebration, Comrade Ndiomu and the state chairman of the Nigeria union of pensioners, Renner Hobobo, equally hailed the governor, for prioritizing the welfare of pensioners and retirees in the state; they expressed gratitude to the governor and his deputy for fulfilling their campaign promises to retirees in the state.

As the countdown to the governors 100 days in office reaches its peak this week, some indigenes of the state, have outlined their expectations from the new administration to include, constant power supply, provision of clean water, payment of student’s bursary, development of the Bayelsa palm, which is projected to generate billions of naira for the state, and canalization of Epie creek. According to them these should form the core priorities of the new governor, if he intends to succeed and gain his peoples trust come 1,360 days from now....read more https://statartinsights.com/appraising-senator-douye-diris-100-days-in-office/

The Nigerian national assembly is currently in the eyes of a looming storm, due to the unprecedented outcry and outright castigation by the Nigerian people, over its attempt to hastily pass the infectious disease bill into law.

The National legislature returning from its hiatus recess caused by the covid19 pandemic, presented a new bill before the house for the repel of the Quarantine Act 2004 LFN, which according to the proponents of the bill, no longer suits the present realities of prevention, management, and containment of disease outbreak in the country. the bill which was sponsored by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, seeks to repel the quarantine act and in its place enact the Infectious Disease Act 2020.

The new bill seeks to grant additional powers to the president, minister of health, DG of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Public health workers and law enforcement agents, to take proactive measures to concisely deal with infectious disease outbreak in the country. The new bill in scanty details made provisions for preventive and corrective measures or procedures to be adopted by the President, minister of health, DG of NCDC and health workers, when...https://statartinsights.com/infectious-disease-bill-should-vaccination-be-made-compulsory/

Inevitably, certain perceptions cannot be ignored especially as the nations of the world battle the outbreak of the coviv-19 pandemic.

Nigerians for long, have been known to be flexible, adaptable, resilient and dogged. Some things that have hitherto sparked violence, uprisings and insurrections in other countries of the world, have been accepted and adopted into the mental cognitive and reasoning faculties of Nigerians.

For over thirty days counting, some parts of the nation have been neither totally lockdown nor partially lockdown. The goal obviously, is to curtail the effects of the ravaging pandemic – corona virus disease that is spreading like wild fire ready to consume a forest.

In the national address delivered by...https://statartinsights.com/life-after-lockdown-in-abuja-and-lagos-and-what-rivers-should-expect/

It’s no longer news that the spread of corona virus in Nigeria has been increasing, this could easily be deduced from the hundreds of cases being confirmed on a daily basis by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

However, the preventive measures taken by the government to lockdown some states in the country could be palatable to some households and at the same time render some other families vulnerable; the reason for this could not be far-fetched as Nigeria has been pronounced as one of the countries with a very high degree of poor inhabitants; this denotes that more than half of the people living in Nigeria barely find it hard to feed under normal circumstances. But are these news affecting families in...https://statartinsights.com/opinion-isnt-lockdown-uniting-families/

Another of our social foes, Covid-19, a terrible scourge in the globe. Standing gallantly in our midst like a brave and warring soldier.  Scouting every nook and corner. It’s weapon, virus strain in human system has seriously ravaged human abodes. Attacking the respiratory tract of our kindreds and kids via the basic needs of life; air, food, human interaction. Our elders,  youths and kids are gnashing teeth and finding explanation to this global scourge.

This is a situation that requires all hand to be on deck; Government parastatals, health workers, social workers, law enforcement agencies, parents, teachers, didn’t we all invite this foe? Though unconsciously ...https://statartinsights.com/the-doctor-of-the-future-nigerian-isnt-ready-to-win-like-madagascar/

Securities agencies around the world are some of the unmentioned heroes fighting the pandemic around the world.

Without doubt, the eminent measures of the Nigerian police force against the spread of the virus have been encouraging since the outbreak of the virus in Nigeria.

However, eight out of ten persons selected randomly are encouraging the efforts made by the Nigerian police.

“the police need more protection bill amidst this risk time because they are just vulnerable like the health workers. They are tak. ...https://statartinsights.com/lockdown-how-nigerians-are-rating-the-polices-efforts-against-covid-19/

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