₦airaland Forum

Despite massive advocacy campaigns by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority to sensitise residents on the tenets of effective waste management and proper waste disposal, to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment, motor parks operate without waste collection facilities, forcing commuters to engage in indiscriminate dumping of refuse. SODIQ OJUROUNGBE reports

In the busy city of Lagos, where the struggle for survival is prioritised above all, lies a troubling situation that transcends the bounds of individual motor parks. Stretching from the crowded expanse of Iyana-Iba to the hubbub of Mile 2 and other major motor parks, the absence of waste bins has transformed these public spaces into desolate dumping grounds, painting a picture of neglect that hunts the city’s important areas.

Motor parks which serve as important transit points for thousands of commuters, now pose an insidious threat to the well-being of all who traverse these spaces due to lack of waste management infrastructure.

Lagos continues to produce a large quantity of waste without adequate mechanisms for managing it.

Walking through these public spaces, plastic bottles, food wrappers, and discarded newspapers were scattered haphazardly across the landscapes. The strong stench of decaying garbage intertwined with the fumes of idling vehicles, creating an oppressive atmosphere that clung to the crowded spaces like an unwelcome veil.

Findings by PUNCH Healthwise showed that despite these parks being the lifeblood of Lagos’ transportation network, they have also become a breeding ground for filth, disease, and neglect.

When our correspondent visited major motor parks including Obalende, Mile 2, Iyana-Oba, Oshodi, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Berger, Iyana-Oworo, Ojota, and Ketu, it was discovered that the absence of proper waste disposal infrastructure is a ticking time bomb which threatened the health and well-being of millions of commuters who pass through these garages daily.


Systemic gaps

The Lagos State Government, through LAWMA, has repeatedly assured the public of its commitment to maintaining a cleaner city. In 2022, the agency announced plans to increase the deployment of waste bins in public spaces, including motor parks. However, three years later, these waste disposals are still missing in many of the major motor parks across the state.

The LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, had during a recent stakeholders’ interactive forum revealed that the agency oversees waste transportation and treatment through partnerships with 420 PSPs, adding that the efforts were supplemented by sweeping services across major streets, managed by 16,361 street sweepers.

Annually, Lagos produces an estimated 5.46 million tonnes of waste with only about 40 per cent of what was generated collected and disposed of properly, while 60 per cent litter the streets and public spaces.

Despite the staggering figure of waste generated in the state daily, PUNCH Healthwise investigation revealed that the infrastructure to manage such a volume remains woefully inadequate, particularly in public spaces like motor parks.

During visits to some of the major motor parks in the state, our correspondent found out that there was no evidence of waste bins or regular waste collection. Instead, commuters and vendors continued to dump trash in gutters, on sidewalks, and in any available corner.

It was observed that hawkers selling food, beverages, and other goods to passengers contributed to the accumulation of waste. With nowhere to properly dispose of their trash, commuters and vendors resort to throwing waste onto the ground or into nearby drains.

While waste collection efforts had improved in some residential areas, PUNCH Healthwise discovered that public spaces like motor parks remained a challenge.

Different parks, similar problems

From Mile 2 to Iyana-Oba, Iyana-Ipaja to Agege, Obalende to Iyana-Oworo, and Ketu to Ojota, the story was the same. It was discovered that there was a trail of filth, neglect, and disregard for the environment in these motor parks.

Park after park, our correspondent observed that trash littered the ground, and gutters were clogged.

When PUNCH Healthwise visited Mile 2 motor park on January 21, it was discovered that the park was a mess, with trash littering every available surface. Not a single waste bin was found, leaving commuters and drivers to toss their trash on the ground.

It was observed that the gutters just by the Mile 2- Badagry expressway were clogged with dirt and trash, creating a breeding ground for disease-carrying pests.

It was also observed that drivers and traders burned their trash in makeshift fires, creating a haze of smoke that hung over the park like a pall.

The park’s leaders seemed unconcerned, more focused on the daily grind of transporting passengers than maintaining a clean and healthy environment.One of the drivers simply identified as Jamiu told our correspondent that they had to burn some of their waste daily, a practice that was not only harmful to the environment but also a health hazard for the commuters.

He said in Yoruba, “This is the only way we can reduce the waste here. You know this is a big park and keeping this waste can be dangerous. So, we decided to always burn them every evening so that we don’t have a pile-up of waste.

“Sweepers used to come here, but still we can’t control how people just throw waste here. If we had a waste bin, maybe it would have been a different ball game entirely.”

At Masamasa and Festac gates, it was observed that the parks there do not have waste bins as well. People were seen burning some of the dirt just like they did in Mile 2.

One of the traders at the park said, “We use cart pushers because we don’t really see LAWMA people on time. And for some of us, we just burned that dirt at night so that we don’t have a problem with the union people here.

“The union doesn’t want us to litter the environment and that is why they always want everywhere to be clean at least during the start of the day.”

It was also observed that some cart pushers come around to pick up some of the dirt and take it to an illegal dumping site around Peace Park in Festac where they dispose of it, and remove plastic bottles which they will sell before burning the ones that are not useful.

Our correspondent who toured the length of Mile 2 to Alakija saw more than four illegal dump sites where plastic bottles were removed and repackaged for selling, while other wastes were burned.

At Iyana-Oba, Agege, Ketu, Berger and Iyana-Ipaja motor parks, the situation was the same, there were no single waste bins, and the environment was littered with dirt and debris.

Plastic bottles and nylon bags covered the pavements, and food vendors, unable to find proper disposal points, resorted to dumping leftovers in gutters.

Also, used sachets of water and alcoholic drinks were sighted littering different parts of the parks.

It was observed that while the parks serve as critical points for movement and commerce, their unhygienic conditions threaten the very health of those who rely on them.

“I have been coming to this park for more than 10 years, and it’s only gotten worse.

“Nobody cares about us. We live with this dirt as if it’s normal. When the rains come, we know the sickness will follow,” said Gbenga Adebayo, a bus conductor at Iyana-Ipaja park

Speaking with a union leader at Iyana-Oba park, Rasaki Olaitan said efforts to waste have not been successful because of a lack of proper waste disposal.

“It is really difficult for us as a union to manage waste here because as you can see this is a convergence of larger people from different states and you cannot just ask them not to dispose of their waste.

“Although there is a PSP container at Iyana-Oba market which is not too far from here, how are we going to take our own waste there if there is no waste bin at our park? That is why people eat and just dump the used takeaway park, plastic bottles and others here,” he lamented.

At Agege, a passenger expressed displeasure over the lack of proper waste disposal at the park.

He said, “The park is still filthy, and it is even worse during the rainy season. The government needs to see having waste bins at parks as something important.

“In the past, you will see waste bins inside public vehicles and this helps in having proper waste management. I don’t know why the government did not make it compulsory, but they must go back to it now.”

At Iyana-Oworo, our correspondent observed that while there was no proper waste bin, sacks were used as waste containers.

Moving around the park, a corner at the park has become a dump site for the traders in the garage.

None of the traders or union leaders were ready to speak with PUNCH Healthwise when our correspondent approached them.

But from observation, the environment looked dirty, as plastic bottles and nylon littered the park.

But when our correspondent went to the Ojota park just behind the popular Ojota dump site, it was discovered that the environment looked clean despite not having a single waste bin.

Speaking with one of the union leaders, Tajudeen Madojutimi said the park ensures proper disposal of waste daily.

He also said they have a full-time sweeper who is always available to take care of the park and ensure the waste is disposed of when due.

He said, “We don’t allow people to throw waste here. We ensure proper waste management and we dispose of them as soon as we get it.

“We don’t have any government waste bin but you know our place is closer to the dumpsite, so it is easier for us to dispose of our waste.”

Availability of waste bins with filthy environment

When our correspondent visited Oshodi and Obalende, the story was different as waste disposals were sighted at the two parks.

Despite the waste bins at Obalende and Oshodi, it was observed that the environment still looked filthy, as dirt littered the garages.

At the BRT section of the Oshodi motor park, more than seven waste bins were sighted. Also, the park for buses heading to other states equally had four waste bins. But just a stone’s throw, a different story unfolded.

The two parks where yellow buses congregated were in poor condition, with the environment looking unkempt.

Not a single waste bin was sighted at these parks, as the ground was littered with discarded trash.

At one of the parks, a basket used as a waste bin was sighted at the two entrances filled with used styrofoam, plastic bottles and sachet water.

Our correspondent also observed commuters and drivers tossing their trash on the ground.

At Obalende, a PSP container was sighted but was filled with dirt and trash.

While it was clear that the park still had a long way to go in terms of waste management, the presence of the PSP container suggested that some effort was being made to address the issue.

Despite the PSP container being available, PUNCH Healthwise observed that dirt still littered the environment.

The environment looks similar to places without any waste disposal.

Speaking with our correspondent, one of the drivers simply identified as David said it takes more than four to five days before LAWMA comes around to dispose of the dirt inside the container.

“It is just like we don’t have any proper waste management because LAWMA doesn’t come here on time. It may take days before they come to pick it up,” he said,

Blame game

In many of the parks visited, the park officials who were also the union leaders claimed they were doing their best to keep the park clean, but the commuters were to blame for the trash and filth.

They lamented that passengers often abused the environment by dumping things not useful to them either inside a vehicle or at the park.

One of the union leaders at Ketu, Johnson Adeoye said, “Many of the time, it is the passengers that are responsible because they will enter a bus, eat gala and drink coke and just dump everything inside the bus. When the bus driver gets back to the park, he will sweep his vehicle and also dump everything there.

“So, when you look at it, you will realise that the passengers are the ones to be blamed for this. But I also believe if we have small waste bins inside our vehicles that will eradicate this.

“You cannot really blame us if you think the environment is not clean enough because we ensure that this place is cleaned every day, but can we caution passengers not to throw their waste? We cannot do anything about that except we have a proper waste disposal we want them to use.”

Dangers of improper waste disposal

The lack of proper waste management infrastructure in the parks was not just an environmental issue, but also a public health concern.

PUNCH Healthwise reports that the trash and filth that littered the parks were a breeding ground for diseases, and the commuters who used the parks every day were at risk of contracting illnesses.

According to the World Health Organisation, inadequate waste management is a major public health concern, particularly in urban areas.

WHO estimated that over 22 per cent of deaths in low- and middle-income countries are attributable to environmental factors, including inadequate waste management.

Similarly, a study published in The Journal said improper waste disposal can have serious environmental consequences, including contamination from industrial chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.

The study highlighted the need for effective waste management strategies, including recycling, proper disposal, and reduction of plastic use, to mitigate the harmful effects of improper waste disposal on the environment and human health.

The study also found that improper waste disposal could result in habitat destruction, with waste piling up in natural areas and destroying habitats for wildlife.

Experts warn of impending doom

Environmental experts warned that poor waste management practices at motor parks may result in a catastrophic environmental disaster.

Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the experts stressed that the country’s poor waste management practices are a major challenge that requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach.

They warned that failure to address poor waste management practices in public places like motor parks could have severe consequences, including the spread of diseases, environmental degradation, and economic losses.

A professor of Polymer Chemistry at the Federal University of Oye Ekiti, Dosu Malomo, noted that the lack of proper waste management infrastructure in Lagos parks is a ticking time bomb, waiting to unleash a host of environmental and health disasters on the city.

“The government needs to take immediate action to address this issue. We need to have a comprehensive waste management policy in place, one that takes into account the unique challenges of Lagos parks,” he noted.

Malomo noted that the current situation, where waste is left to accumulate in parks, is not only an eyesore but also a breeding ground for diseases.

He added, “We are talking about a situation where people are exposed to all manner of diseases, from cholera to typhoid fever. It is a public health crisis waiting to happen.”

The professor stated that the consequences of poor waste management could also lead to the blockage of waterways, gutters, and drainage systems, which can lead to flooding and other environmental disasters.

According to the professor, a lack of effective waste management policy is a major contributor to the problem.

“We don’t have a good policy on waste management in this country. It is not just in Lagos, it is everywhere. It is an eyesore, and it’s not just in motor parks, but also on our streets and roads,” he said.

Malomo noted that the situation is worsened by the fact that many Nigerians have a culture of indiscriminate waste disposal.

“People eat in buses and throw the wrappers out of the window. They don’t care about the environment. It is a constitutive problem, and it is not just about the parks, but about our attitude towards waste disposal,” he stated.

The don advocated for a multi-faceted approach to addressing the issue, including the implementation of effective waste management policies, public education and awareness campaigns, and the provision of adequate waste disposal infrastructure.

“We need to change our attitude towards waste disposal. We need to make it a priority, and we need to hold our leaders accountable for ensuring that our environment is clean and healthy,” he urged.

In response to the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., to go after the fleeing suspects in connection to the kidnap of the wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, Mrs Odumosu, the operatives of the Lagos State CP Special Squad have apprehended 2 suspects identified as Agbojule Smart ‘m’, 27 years and Keleke Michael ‘m’, 30 years.

The suspects were arrested in the early hours of today, Friday the 24th of January 2025 while on their way out of Lagos State. Upon interrogation, they confessed to their crime; belonging to a gang of 4, 2 of whom have been neutralized previously. Recovered from the suspects upon their arrest were the sum of Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,250,000), which was part of the requested ransom, 2 locally fabricated rifles, and 11 live cartridges.

The IGP commends the police operatives for their gallantry in apprehending these suspects and encourages them to maintain this high standard of competence in the fight against crime in all its manifestations. The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to public safety and the security of the good citizens of Nigeria. The Force remains steadfast in its commitment to reducing crime to an absolute minimum and fostering the establishment of peace across the nation.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.

24TH JANUARY, 2025.

zero8zero:
Do you know how much is the debt of your state is owing because public debt also includes states but illiterates do not know this.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has lost his elder brother, Sunday Makinde.

In a statement on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the deceased died on Friday at the age of 65.

Olanrewaju said a brother of the deceased, who is also the Bada Olubadan of Ibadanland and Head of the Aigbofa Family of Oja’ba, Ibadan, Olumuyiwa Makinde, announced the death in a message.


“With a heavy heart, I announce the passage of my older brother, Engr Sunday Makinde, to eternal glory today, Friday 24th of January 2025.

“His sudden death occurred in his Ibadan residence at 3.20am today, Friday 24th January 2025.

“He is survived by siblings, among whom is the Executive Governor of Oyo state, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, children and grandchildren,” the statement quoted Makinde as saying.

Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N142.3 trillion as of September 30, 2024, representing an increase of 5.97% (N8.02 trillion) compared to N134.3 trillion in June 2024.

This is according to the latest data released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on Tuesday.

Nairametrics observed that this increase reflects the combined effects of rising domestic borrowing and the impact of exchange rate depreciation on external debt when converted to naira terms.

External debt surge driven by currency depreciation
Data from the DMO showed that Nigeria’s external debt in dollar terms grew marginally by 0.29%, from $42.90 billion in June to $43.03 billion in September.

However, the naira equivalent of external debt surged significantly by 9.22%, rising from N63.07 trillion to N68.89 trillion during the same period.

The increase was largely driven by the naira’s depreciation against the US dollar, as the exchange rate weakened from N1,470.19/$ in June to N1,601.03/$ by the end of September.

Rising domestic debt
Domestic debt recorded mixed performance, declining by 5.34% in dollar terms from $48.45 billion in June to $45.87 billion in September. In naira terms, however, domestic debt increased by 3.10%, from N71.22 trillion to N73.43 trillion.

The Federal Government accounted for the bulk of domestic debt, which rose from N66.96 trillion in June to N69.22 trillion by September. In contrast, domestic debt owed by states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) declined slightly, from N4.27 trillion to N4.21 trillion.

Nairametrics further observed that Federal Government bonds remained the largest component of domestic debt, increasing by 4.47% to N54.65 trillion in September, up from N52.32 trillion in June. This represents 78.95% of the total domestic debt stock, an increase from 78.13% in the previous quarter.

The issuance of bonds in naira terms accounted for the majority of this growth. Also, Nigeria introduced its first domestic dollar-denominated bond, adding N1.47 trillion to the debt stock.

Other domestic debt components
Nigerian Treasury Bills: The second-largest domestic debt component, Treasury Bills, declined marginally by 0.66% to N11.73 trillion, from N11.81 trillion in the previous quarter. This reduction aligns with efforts to moderate short-term debt and mitigate rollover risks.

Promissory notes: Promissory notes, used to settle government obligations, grew by 5.80%, increasing from N1.67 trillion in June to N1.77 trillion in September.

FGN Sukuk: Federal Government Sukuk, an infrastructure funding instrument, declined by 9.14% to N992.56 billion, down from N1.09 trillion.
FGN Savings Bonds: Savings bonds increased by 16.11% to N64.09 billion, reflecting growing retail investor participation.

Green Bonds: Green bonds remained unchanged at N15 billion, maintaining their minimal contribution of 0.02% to the domestic debt stock.

External debt components
Analysis of Nigeria’s external debt stock of $43.03 billion in September 2024 revealed a largely stable profile, with only minor adjustments in multilateral and bilateral obligations.

Multilateral debt: Multilateral obligations increased by 0.67% to $21.77 billion, maintaining their dominance at 50.60% of the total external debt. The increase was driven by additional disbursements from institutions like the World Bank, which added $513.06 million to its International Development Association portfolio, now at $16.84 billion.
Bilateral loans: Bilateral debt decreased slightly by 1.33%, falling from $5.89 billion to $5.81 billion. Loans from China, Nigeria’s largest bilateral lender, declined by $99.98 million, while obligations to France and Germany remained stable.
Commercial loans: Commercial loans, primarily Eurobonds, were unchanged at $15.12 billion, representing 35.14% of total external debt.

What you should know
Nigeria raised $2.2 billion in December 2024 through its Eurobond auction, marking its return to the international capital markets. The funds were raised through two bonds: a 6.5-year $700 million bond at 9.625% and a 10-year $1.5 billion bond at 10.375%.

While total subscriptions exceeded $9 billion, only $2.2 billion was allotted. These funds are expected to support the 2024 budget amid revenue shortfalls and mounting public spending pressures.
The addition of Eurobond proceeds in Q4 2024 is expected to further increase the country’s external debt.

The rising debt profile, coupled with naira depreciation and increasing reliance on domestic borrowing, raises questions about Nigeria’s debt sustainability.

Olamideayomide:
RIP to the dead..
God grant them aljanah fridaus.
It's so sad.
This terrorist have caused a lot of havoc in the country, they deserve to die by shooting or electrocuted whenever they are apprehended.

Mother, Child, Others Killed In Chibok After Vehicle Drives Over Bomb Planted By Boko Haram Terrorists

A yet-to-be confirmed number of persons including a mother and her child have been killed after a vehicle ran into an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, also known as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Many others sustained various degrees of injury while the vehicle conveying the passengers and surrounding buildings were badly damaged and burnt.

SaharaReporters gathered that the incident happened on Monday in Sikarkur village, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

The IED was said to have been planted by the terrorists for military patrol vehicles conveying troops around the area.

Improvised explosive devices and ambushes have continued to pose a major threat to soldiers fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP in Northern Nigeria.


“Yesterday, Boko Haram set a trap bomb on a road in Sikarkur village for soldiers, sadly a civilian vehicle ran over it and killed many people including a mother and her baby.

“The sister who was with her and others are currently receiving treatment at Chibok General Hospital. This and more are happening her daily and not being reported,” a villager told SaharaReporters.

This comes a few days after the terror group launched a brutal attack on two communities in same Chibok Local Government Area.

The assault resulted in significant loss of life, with the militants also setting fire to a church and several homes.

Chibok gained international attention in April 2014, after insurgents launched a daring raid on the Government Girls Secondary School, abducting 276 students in a notorious incident that shocked the world.

Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.

The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters formerly under Shekau.

The terror group has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.

ABUJA-THE Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani cried out to the National Assembly for help, lamenting that persistent poor funding of the ministry was frustrating his service delivery, stressing that the chronic financial constraints have stifled its ability to meet its mandate effectively.

According to the minister’s note, the ministry has struggled to achieve its goals with the current funding structure, often relying on external sources to supplement its operations, adding that Key activities, such as international engagements to secure opportunities for the sector, have largely been financed through non-governmental means due to insufficient allocations.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja while defending the ministry’s budget before the Joint Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cybersecurity chaired by Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, APC, Ogun Central and Rep. Adedeji Stanley Olajide (PDP, Oyo), Tijani said, “This is a ministry that is extremely underfunded, and this is our collective responsibility, not just as a ministry, but also as a committee responsible for oversight of the work that we do.

“This ministry is unable to deliver its mandate if we continue to fund it in the way it is funded. To achieve what we’ve achieved so far, we’ve had to look for money outside of the government to get work done. A lot of the international trips that we’ve made to secure opportunities for this sector and the nation were funded from outside of government funds. We must emphasise the fact that this is a ministry that is poorly funded.

“So the budget we’re about to discuss today is not a significant worth of the time of all of us in this room, because these budgets cannot deliver on the mandate that we should be working for our nation.”

Reviewing the 2024 budget performance, he revealed that only ₦1.2 billion of the ₦2.9 billion capital budget had been released, representing a mere 39% of the total allocation, explaining that this shortfall had significantly hampered the ministry’s ability to implement its plans.

The Minister said, “Capital budget release was N2.9bn and as you can see, the amount released till date is less than half of this budget, which came to 1.2bn which has been fully spent, thus representing 39% of the total budget. “

Despite the challenges, Tijani reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to contributing to the country’s economic growth. He aligned the ministry’s efforts with the government’s GDP growth targets of 4.6% in 2025, 4.4% in 2026, and 5.5% in 2027. However, he stressed that these targets would remain unattainable without adequate investment in the ICT sector.

“However, if you look at the appropriation bill, you will find that one of the things that we’ve done is travelling all over the world and engaging with the World Bank is to believe that we should create opportunities for our sector, that we must create opportunities for stakeholders in this sector by ensuring that Nigeria can significantly invest in the strong backbone to drive the growth that we need to see.”

Drawing from a World Bank report, the Minister pointed out that improving connectivity quality by 10% could result in a 2.5% increase in GDP growth. He emphasized that the ICT sector holds the potential to surpass the government’s growth targets if properly funded, said, “If you look at the numbers from the World Bank, they say if you can improve the quality of connectivity by 10%, you will be having about a 2.5% growth rate in the economy.

“There’s no other significant investment that is known today in any country that can lead to 2.5% increase which means if you take the current growth rate of our GDP, if our sector can contribute 2.5% to the GDP of Nigeria, Nigeria will be doing much more than 4.6% that we’re talking about today because this sector is extremely critical and this is why we’ve made very spirited arguments to fund us.”

Tijani also attributed the recent 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs to global inflation and rising operational costs, adding that the decision aligns with broader economic patterns, where tariffs can lead to higher consumer prices due to the added costs on imported goods.

Speaking to journalists moments after defending his Ministry’s budget of N12 billion for 2025 Tijani stated that 50% adjustment aligns with broader economic trends, just as he said that historically, tariffs act as a sales tax, causing a one-off price increase rather than sustained inflation.

He further explained that the Federal Government is planning to invest six billion naira to deploy ninety thousand kilometres of fibre optic cable, expanding the country’s capacity from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometers. This according to him is an initiative aimed at fostering growth in critical communication sectors.

Earlier during the budget defence session, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on ICT, Shuaib Afolabi, underscored the critical importance of the ICT sector to Nigeria’s economy, even as he emphasized that ICT was not just a standalone sector, but an enabler for other key areas, including education, health, and agriculture.

The Chairman who highlighted the need to maximise the sector’s potential, pointing out inefficiencies in the implementation of ICT projects across ministries and agencies, raised concerns about the lack of coordination in ICT initiatives, which he noted has led to suboptimal outcomes despite significant investments.

He said, “We want to take good advantage of the potential of ICT. In the last few days, we have seen ministries and agencies come here with ICT projects. People doing ICT projects that are not coordinated, leading to investments that did not give us the optimal result as a country. This is the time to harmonise some of these silos and initiatives that are being carried out.

“How do we explain the situation where in a particular ministerial and its agency, you have a digital library project at the ministry headquarters and you have a digital library project in one of the agencies, what happens if we harmonise.

In A letter dated January 9, 2025 and addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s plan to ensure each state in the federation has one federal polytechnic.

The Nigerian Government has approved the establishment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic in Gwarinpa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as part of its national policy to promote technological, vocational, and entrepreneurial training.

A letter dated January 9, 2025 and addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s plan to ensure each state in the federation has one federal polytechnic.


The letter was received by the office of the FCT minister on January 16, 2025.

“In view of the above, your Excellency is kindly requested to suggest the proposed locations for the Temporary and Permanent sites in Gwarinpa for take-off,” the letter read.

Alausa further said, “The Technical Team from Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would be visiting the sites to review and inspect the recommended locations, and based on the Report presented by the Team, the approval will be given.”


He added, “Perhaps, I should add that the Ministry, at this point, encourages takeover of existing Tertiary institutions if the Minister wishes.”

According to the memo, the new polytechnic aims to promote technological, vocational, and entrepreneurial training.

The Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria has rejected the proposed telecom tariff hike of 30 to 60 percent, put forward by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.

The advocacy group, representing over 220 million subscribers nationwide, argued that the minister’s statement contradicted an agreement reached with the Nigerian Communications Commission and other key stakeholders during a meeting held on January 9, 2025.

In a press release issued on Sunday, ATCIS-Nigeria’s National President, ‘Sina Bilesanmi, expressed concerns that the minister’s proposal went against the consensus reached in Abuja.

According to him, it was agreed that no telecom tariff hike would occur until all stakeholders, particularly subscribers, were adequately consulted and sensitised.


He explained, “Telecom operators need to respect the telecom subscriber advocacy body and the NCC Act.

“The NCC should direct telecom operators to engage with ATCIS first for consultation, involvement, enlightenment, and engagement.

“Once we reach an agreement, we can call for public input on the percentage rate and communicate this to the NCC for approval. “Any deviation from this process is unacceptable, as subscribers are the ones paying for the services.”


Bilesanmi noted that at the January meeting, stakeholders resolved that there would be no tariff hike until further deliberations were concluded with mobile network operators and subscriber representatives.

He added, “The MNOs, through their representatives at ATCON and ALTON, were tasked with organizing enlightenment programs to address these issues. They were also expected to discuss potential percentage increases with subscriber representatives before taking it to the NCC for final approval.”

During an interview with Arise TV, Tijani revealed that MNOs were pushing for a 100% tariff increase to stabilize the telecom sector.


However, the government would not approve such a drastic hike and was instead considering a moderate increase of 30 to 60 percent. The minister emphasised that any adjustment must not harm the Nigerian people.

ATCIS-Nigeria, however, insisted that pricing decisions should not be unilaterally made by the minister but should follow proper regulatory channels.

“We strongly disagree with the minister’s proposal.
“It is not the minister’s role to set telecom prices in a liberalised market,” Bilesanmi said.

The NCC, in partnership with subscriber advocacy bodies like ATCIS, must lead to any discussions on tariff changes based on data-driven analysis.


The group further warned that a tariff increase would disproportionately affect Nigerians, particularly small business owners who rely on affordable telecom services to run their operations.

It stressed that such a hike would worsen the economic strain on citizens already grappling with the effects of other financial reforms.

“The government’s push for a digital economy cannot succeed if we burden Nigerians with higher telecom costs.

“This will have a devastating impact on businesses that depend on affordable communication services to thrive and will ultimately slow down progress in digital transformation across the country,” Bilesanmi said.

ATCIS-Nigeria urged the government to prioritise consultation with stakeholders and ensure that any tariff adjustment aligns with the needs and interests of subscribers.

Sirianese:
Love your chains slave

Sirianese:
You lot deserve your chains

Generations of slaves and fools

kedeojo:
I don't think he understand royalty. If you want to be a politician then he should be. Let him come to Benin kingdom and study what royalty entails. This are the reason governors in Kano state will keep tossing him around. I am proud of Benin kingdom when it comes to tradition even when I am from the north part of the state. We Edolite regardless of your tribe, hold the Benin palace in high esteem. Even when we have our own kings but still reference the great Oba. I honestly loved sanusi for his accomplishments and his deep knowledge. I have followed him, since his days at first bank and he was the reason I became a consumer and first bank is still my major bank even when I have other bank accounts. Traditionally he don't poses it. He was made the emir of Kano because of the humiliation Jonathan gave him and wanted to even jail him for exposing the corruption that took place in NNPC then. Anyday and anytime, I still have huge regard for him. Very brilliant man. Him or Soludo should have be made minister of finance. Different calling took them. Soludo still have the chance but sanusi is already a king.