Politics
Nigeria: The Changing Governance Story
Today, however, Nigeria is home to the largest single-train refinery in the world, with the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude per day
Nigeria: The Changing Governance Story
By Temitope Ajayi
Sahara Weekly Reports That Tracking many stories of remarkable progress currently taking place in Nigeria can be a challenging task. This is so because these important stories are lost to some who daily indulge in the cacophony of adverse reports. These negative news often dominates the headlines.
With a 24-hour news cycle that tends to focus mainly on distasteful narratives, several Nigerians have been made to accept the view that nothing good is happening in their country.
Those who rely on the mainstream media and social media as the only sources of news and information they consume are the worst hit by the cycle of misinformation that portrays our country as descending rapidly to the edge of the precipice. However, the reality is different: the country is making progress in leaps and bounds.
Late Swedish physician and Professor of International Health at Karolinska Institute, Hans Rosling, his son, Ola Rosling, and daughter-in-law, Anna Rosling, extensively dwell on this subject in “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think,” a book published in 2018. In the book, the authors demonstrate that most people are made to hold the wrong notion about the state of the world because the media project data, analyse trends and select stories to make people assume that things are getting worse around them. The authors assert that a majority of people view the world as poorer, less healthy, and a more dangerous place to live in than it actually is. In other words, many people believe they are living in a worse period in the history of mankind because of misinformation.
The same situation the Roslings describe in their book is at play in Nigeria, where individuals, interest groups, activists, analysts, self-serving politicians, and opposition elements constantly project and amplify negative stories.
It is as if we are in a race with those who can say the most horrible things about our country. Yet, we have an abundance of good stories to tell the world. We seem so numb to the good news that we are dismissive of breakthroughs and innovative trends. For instance, we downplay the significance of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and its possibilities to reflate the economy.
Many people forgot so soon that we had been importing petroleum products for over three decades because the state-owned refineries are moribund. Our national economy bled, and the country was in a fiscal cul-de-sac for those years as a result of subsidy payments on petroleum products.
Today, however, Nigeria is home to the largest single-train refinery in the world, with the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude per day. Cynics do not see this as a breakthrough.
Nigerians who are 60 years old and below started seeing modern rail infrastructure in 2016 when the All Progressives Congress-led administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the standard gauge rail system, beginning with the Abuja-Kaduna route, later Lagos-Ibadan and then the Warri-Itakpe.
The national rail modernisation project is progressing with Kano-Katsina-Maradi and Kano-Kaduna standard gauge rail projects at different stages of completion. The contractor working on the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge recently announced the completion of the Port Harcourt-Aba section. While the Federal Government is rallying stakeholders to promote economic integration across the country, the Lagos State Government recently launched two metro rail lines -Blue and Red Rail lines – as part of the state’s elaborate master plan to build a modern and efficient megacity. Like Lagos State, there are visible signs of remarkable, quantifiable progress in several other states, including Kaduna, Kano, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun, among others.
A few weeks ago, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration embarked on the construction of the 700 kilometres Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway that will connect nine coastal states in another bold move to bolster economic growth further and open up the country to productive economic activities.
While it may be very easy for critics and other armchair analysts to ignore these developments and their significance to remaking Nigeria, there is no gainsaying that these projects and many more that are ongoing or about to be instituted across critical sectors are the core of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Indeed, it is hard to process why the so-called critics and cynics can not see the Lagos-Calabar Highway project as a clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to harnessing the potential of our renascent Blue Economy.
Despite what is bandied by the most vociferous critics
Hon Taofeek Adeyemi Alli a Colossus at 60
-Dr. Odesanya Olumide
The earth received a gift from the superior Universe at the birth of a shinning little star in the Center of Excellence, when a little bundle of joy was bequested to the Alli family in person of Taofeek Adeyemi. Little did they know then that this little star will twinkle around the world.
Hon (Aremo) Taofeek Adeyemi Alli was born three score ago and from the time of his foray into life at full speed, every fiber in him is pointing to the direction of help to humanity. His philosophy of life is live and let’s live. His forage into politics saw him grow from the very grassroots of the Nigerian political sphere, from the ward even to the very top where he is now and to other pinnacles that his aspirations will be.
Before being elected as the Federal Honourable representing Mushing 1 Federal Constituency, he has had his hand in every pie of the grassroot politics. He was the Honourable Councilor; Leader / Speaker Mushin Local government 1999-2002. From this platform he grew to become the substantive Executive Secretary and later Executive Chairman of Odi-Olowo/ Ojuwoye LCDA from 2004-2014. The developments recorded in these tenures still speaks till now.
In another capacity, he served as the Chairman Advisory Committee of both Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, 2015-2018. So to say, he grew through the ranks and files of the political sphere in Nigeria, it’s not an exaggeration.
In the same vein, as Hon Taofeek Adeyemi Alli was achieving his feats in the political sphere, he is also imprinting his marks in the business world, which is evident in the visible successes in all business that he engages in.
To say that Nigeria is blessed with a loaded Member of the House of Representatives in Hon Taofeek Adeyemi Alli with his vast experience and acumen is not a farce and from his presence in the Green Chamber of the legislative arm of the Nigerian Government, the people of Mushin 1 Federal Constituency have seen a qualitative and transparent representation in him.
To commemorate this Diamond Jubilee beyond the winning and dinning, Hon Taofeek Adeyemi Alli is commissioning a New Ultra Modern Hospital Complex, with state of art equipment for the good people of Mushin 1 federal Constituency and Lagos at large.
In Hon Taofeek Adeyemi Alli, Nigeria has seen a pool of knowledge and wise counsel both for the generation ahead of him and the generation behind him. His feat has been felt by every members of the House of Representative, both in the committee that he had served and serving, and both the opposition and colleagues have seen in him the yearning to move Nigeria forward. Hon Adeyemi Alli many happy returns.
Courtesy;
Dr. Odesanya Olumide, fipr, fipra, frpa.
Sahara Weekly,
UK Correspondent.
news
GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY
GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY
Sahara Weekly Reports That On Friday, 6 September, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) CFR, Betara of Biu, Garkuwan Keffi, former Chief of Army Staff, and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Benin Republic, visited Katsina to extend his heartfelt condolences to the ‘Yar’adua family following the passing of their revered matriarch, Hajiya Habiba Dada Musa ‘Yar’adua.
Upon his arrival at the family home, General Buratai was warmly received by Distinguished Senator Abdulaziz Musa ‘Yar’adua, Matawallen Katsina, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Alhaji Mustapha and Major General Abubakar Adamu (rtd). In a solemn moment, the General offered prayers for the repose of Hajiya Dada’s soul, asking for Allah’s continuous blessings and protection over the family and the enduring legacy she left behind.
General Buratai also spoke highly of the late Hajiya Dada, describing her as a mother anyone could wish for, whose legacy of strength, humility, and dedication to her family and community was nothing short of remarkable. He emphasized that her influence would be deeply missed by all who knew her and encouraged the family to take solace and pride in the indelible mark she left on Nigeria’s history.
In response, Senator Abdulaziz Musa ‘Yar’adua expressed profound gratitude to General Buratai for his presence and kind words. He lauded the General as a true leader whose contributions to national development, peace, and security are beyond measure. The Senator also highlighted General Buratai’s compassion and dedication to the welfare of troops, and veterans, both in service and after retirement.
General Buratai was accompanied on the condolence visit by Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) mni, Honourable Alhaji Aminu Balele (Dan Arewa), and Alhaji Ibrahim Danfulani, Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi, among others.
DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP
Sahara Weekly Reports That There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht. Here are some points to consider in order to discern the truth:
1. The 42m Bennetti yacht currently being share online has been privately owned for around 5 years since it was constructed. It is important to note that this specific yacht has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, president or armed forces. Any claims or assertions suggesting otherwise are simply not true and inaccurate.
2. It is not uncommon for luxury yachts to fly the flag of the owner’s country as well as the flag of the country in which they are registered.
3. The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Flags representing the Nigerian President or the Armed Forces do not contain a coat of arms in the center. Placing anything in the center of the flag is a clear deviation.
Regarding the naval observatory and training ship often referred to as the “presidential yacht,” it was ordered and acquired by Nigeria during President M. Buhari’s tenure (2015-2023). It was delivered in June 2023 but was never paid for. This information has been officially confirmed by the Naval authorities. Director of Naval Information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed in a statement in November 2023 that the yacht was indeed ordered during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and was delivered to Nigeria well before it was included in the budget as an outstanding debt obligation. “That is correct, it is in Nigeria,” he said.
Finally, it is important to exercise caution and refrain from defaming or exposing private individuals and their legitimate businesses to ridicule based on false political associations with personal property.
https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1832371410230022261?s=46&t=-WT1A6V3jj52Bil8fk9JSg
-
society6 months agoEDITORIAL: Generational dissonance or Prejudice? Seyi Tinubu and The Ignorance of Abati by Politics Nigeria
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoMy relationship with Mr Ibu -Amb Halima Abubakar
-
society7 months agoHow Prophet Kingsley Predicted The Rumble In Pastor Adeboye Led RCCG
-
society6 months agoNAUB: MR PRESIDENT, WHO ARE THOSE PLANNING TO KILL THE ONLY FEDERAL UNIVERSITY THAT DOES NOT GO ON STRIKE? By Femi Oyewale