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Convoys of dying

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March 12, 2024

FOR years, convoys attached to government officials have ridden roughshod on citizens, leading to fatal road accidents and injuries. In a fresh instance of this, a convoy reportedly attached to a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Agbaje, recently hit a commercial motorcycle, killing the rider and passengers. This occurred at Ikpeshi community, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. These are needless fatalities. Public officials must learn to behave sensibly, and their reckless impunity must stop.

Worse, after the incident, irate youths in the community attacked the law enforcement agents, leading to the death of two of the police officers attached to the convoy. Two others were also injured. This is unfortunate and wrong. Seriously, two wrongs do not make a right. It is lawlessness to attack state agents. Nigerian youths must curb their resort to barbarism, even in the face of provocation.

Unfortunately, the menace of reckless convoys has lingered without respite. In May and December 2023, two fatal incidents occurred at Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, linked to these convoys. In the one, three persons lost their lives prematurely. The second incident claimed the lives of a 100-level student of the Ebonyi State University and his motorcycle rider.

In December 2022, a Toyota Hilux conveying vigilantes in a convoy attached to the Adamawa State Governor, Adamu Fintiri, who was on a campaign trail, crashed on the way to Mubi from the state capital, Yola. Three officers died in the accident.

In Nigeria, government convoys are notorious for flagrant impunity. Inebriated with power, the security agents in these convoys constitute a terrible nuisance. They bully other road users, drive against the traffic, blast sirens without cause, and knock down other road users. They do not obey the speed limit. When they are on the road, they prevent others from moving by locking down the vicinity. This is a niggling discomfort to taxpayers.

A glaring example was during the visit of Bola Tinubu to Lagos in June 2023 to celebrate his first visit to his home state, Lagos, as President. There were about 120 vehicles in his convoy. At a second visit to the state in December, he downsized it to about 57 vehicles following earlier criticism of ostentation despite the shabby economic state of the country.

Crucially, such heavily guarded convoys are wasteful. In a period of economic misery, they add significantly to the cost of governance. For the President and state governors, it is a sign that they are living a false life as the economy is battered.

Although the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (Section 154) limits the use of sirens to the President, the deputy and 79 others, top public officials, VIPs, and wealthy businesspersons, have continued to abuse the law with the aid of the police.

In contrast, Babatunde Fashola cut a picture of decency as governor of Lagos (2011-2019). He not only travelled without convoys and sirens, but he also banned his commissioners and officials and bullion vans from doing so. This instilled relative calmness on Lagos roads. Others should copy him.

Studies show that countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia have strictly enforced laws guiding the use of sirens. India’s Supreme Court once ruled against the use of sirens and flashlights by VIPs. In these decent climes, sirens and flashlights are a sign of emergencies. It should also be the case in Nigeria.

Nigerians, in collaboration with pressure groups and NGOs, must unite and insist on the implementation of the guardrails against the deployment of sirens and protest the reckless convoys of death until public officials turn over a new leaf.

Be exhausting on terrorists, Afenifere tells Tinubu

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March 12, 2024

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Be exhausting on terrorists, Afenifere tells Tinubu

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Monday, called on President Bola Tinubu to go after the terrorists wreaking havoc in the country, saying that he could not afford to fail in this critical national assignment.

The organisation said it was time for the President to demonstrate the political will and courage to annihilate the terrorists killing and abducting people in their hundreds.

Afenifere also called on Tinubu to commence restructuring the country to operate regional government under the parliamentary system while his recent pronouncement on state police should be allowed to have its foothold.

The socio-political group made the call on Monday in a statement jointly signed by its Publicity Secretary and Assistant, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo and Justice Faloye respectively.

Speaking on the recent killings in Plateau as well as the abduction of over 100 schoolchildren in Kaduna, Afenifere said it was time for Tinubu to crush the criminals.

“It is down to you Mr. President if you would rather go the way of your predecessors, by looking the other way and let innocent blood flow, be disgraced and set for an early exit or find the strength, the will and the courage to face the sponsors of terror, with the resolve to eradicating this Àbíkú scourge from ever again taking root anywhere in our land,” the Afenifere said.

It also decried the hardship in the land, calling on the President to fix the economy.

“The Nigerian naira plunged to its lowest point on record in official trading as a shortage of US dollars persisted despite promises by the government to boost supply.

“Our people are dying due to hunger. Nigeria has become the hunger capital of the world. How are the people, so impoverished be saddled with paying ransom to kidnappers right in the middle of possibly the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world that even Ukraine a country with Russia lasting two years and still counting, is now the one to be sending humanitarian aid to Nigeria!?

“Let the people begin to see a change, Mr. President — A challenge being tackled over the years with the same methods, cannot yield a different result from a certain failure,” the organisation said.

It reiterated its call for the country to return to the parliamentary system of governance.

“Return the country to the parliamentary system of government. Bring back regionalism and watch our countrymen and our hopeless children begin to live again in dignity, right before your very eyes,” it said.

Pray for Nigeria to beat challenges, govs inform Muslims

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March 12, 2024

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Pray for Nigeria to beat challenges, govs inform Muslims

As the Muslim month-long Ramadan fast enters day two today, state governors and other leaders in the country have called for prayers for the nation.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the Islamic spiritual leader in Nigeria, had on Sunday declared (Monday) March 11, 2024, as the first day of Ramadan.

The Sultan said the declaration was based on the sighting of the moon in almost every part of the country earlier on Sunday, “which is the 29th day of the Month of Shaban and thereby signifies tomorrow, 11th of March, as the first day of Ramadan 1445.”

In a statement on Monday by its chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, the Northern States Governors’ Forum, urged the Muslim Ummah and the entire citizenry to use this holy month to offer prayers for peace, development, and prosperity of the country.

Yahaya, who is the Governor of Gombe State, said, “Ramadan, as one of the five pillars of Islam, provides a golden opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and devotion through supplication and worship.”

He urged clerics to emphasise peaceful co-existence, unity and piety, “during their Tafsir sessions and other Ta’alimat throughout the month-long fast and beyond.”

While decrying the alarming rate of abductions of vulnerable citizens in Kaduna, Borno, and Zamfara states, the northern governors’ chairman urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu to solve the country’s problems.

Also, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, appealed to Muslims to pray for the country during the Ramadan fast.

In the same vein, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, urged the Muslim faithful in the Ilorin Emirate to continue to support the nation and her leaders in order to overcome all the challenges in the society.

He urged Muslim Ummah to use the month of Ramadan to move closer to Almighty Allah by engaging in good deeds, charity, humanitarian services, and supplications as well as seeking forgiveness at all times.

Also, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, called on the Muslim faithful to foster good neighbourliness and kindness during the Ramadan season.

“The Ramadan season is coming at a time when many people are faced with dire economic challenges. It is best to show love during this period as we approach the period solemnly.

“Ramadan provides us an opportunity to bond and show love to our friends and acquaintances and the current season calls for such,” Obaseki said.

A former governor of Ekiti State and ex-chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, encouraged Muslims to use the annual fast as an opportunity for self-reflection, and prayer, and to deepen community spirit.

Fayemi, in a statement by the Head, of Fayemi Media Office, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, said, “As our Muslim brothers and sisters embark on this spiritual journey, may these virtues strengthen their faith and inspire them to be examples of peace, justice, and service to our country.”

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, urged wealthy individuals and groups to support the needy during and after Ramadan.

Similarly, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Malam Jalal Arabi, emphasised the significance of perseverance and faith in the face of challenges in the country.

‘‘We encourage all Nigerian Muslims to embrace the spirit of Ramadan wholeheartedly, understanding that challenges are opportunities for growth and spiritual development. May this month be a source of blessings, peace, and renewed determination for everyone,” he said.

Borno adjusts school calendar

The Borno State Ministry of Education has directed primary and secondary schools to adjust their calendar and closing times in view of Ramadan.

“Schools should now close by noon, instead of 1.30 pm,” the education ministry said in a statement on Monday by the Director of School Services, Alhaji Mustapha Bukar,

He said, “In light of the ongoing fasting period of Ramadan for the year 1445 AH, it is hereby directed that all primary and secondary schools across the state adjust their daily closing time to noon.

“Moreover, all non-essential extra-curricular activities should be discouraged throughout the duration of Ramadan.

“Additionally, we kindly request all primary and secondary schools to ensure completion of academic activities, including examinations, for the 2nd term of the 2023/ 2024 academic session by Friday, March 29, 2024,” the ministry said.

UN begins Lagos, airports safety audit

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March 12, 2024

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A team of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the United Nations agency that regulates the global aviation industry, has arrived Nigeria to carry out security audits of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The audit will cover critical aviation security areas such as Inflight Security, Passenger and Baggage Security, Acts of Unlawful Interference, Facilitation, Legislation, Training, Quality Control Function, Operations, and Cargo, Mail and Catering.

It is tagged the 2024 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme through Continuous Monitoring Approach for Lagos and Abuja airports.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Monday.

The USAP CMA audit, a nearly two weeks exercise, is expected end on March 22, 2024.

According to the statement, members of the four-man team are Callum Vine (team lead), James Mabala, Tebogo Mphela and Alagie Jeng.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, was quoted as expressing the importance of the audit in upholding the highest standards of security in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

According to Keyamo, the audit represents a concerted effort to uphold the highest standards of security across all facets of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Through rigorous assessments, comprehensive evaluations, and collaborative partnerships, Nigeria aims to fortify her defenses against evolving threats and vulnerabilities.

The Acting Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, welcomed the ICAO auditors and highlighted the objectives of the USAP CMA.

According to him, the audit is to improve global aviation security through auditing and the continuous monitoring of AVSEC performance of member states by assessing the level of effective implementation of critical elements of the states’ AVSEC oversight system which provides an indication of the sustainability of the state’s AVSEC system.

Najomo listed other objectives to include evaluating how well a country complies with ICAO’s Annex 9 and 17 related to Facilitation and AVSEC standards, which are part of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

“As part of the on-site auditing process, both Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja have been selected as airports where verification of the implementation of security measures will be carried out,” the statement partly read.

He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s improved security measures since the last audit and assured the ICAO audits of maximum cooperation for a seamless exercise.

He, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would surpass last rating with the progressive transformations that have taken place in the industry since the last exercise and considering the level of commitment of the current administration to ensure secure, safe and efficient air transportation in Nigeria.

Najomo promised to provide support and maximum cooperation towards ensuring a hitch-free exercise.

Nigerian crypto buyers panic over Binance exit

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March 12, 2024

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Nigerian crypto buyers panic over Binance exit

The suspension of naira to dollar exchange services by Binance has caused fear among Nigerian cryptocurrency investors, whose funds may be trapped, writes JUSTICE OKAMGBA

Last week Tuesday, the crypto exchange announced that it would stop supporting withdrawals after Friday and that any remaining balances in the Nigerian currency would be automatically converted into Tether, a stablecoin whose value is pegged to the United States dollar.

Binance wrote in a statement, “All spot trading pairs against the naira will be delisted on March 7 at 3:00 a.m. Open spot orders for these pairs will be automatically closed. Binance Convert, Binance P2P, the exchange’s Auto Invest feature, and Binance Pay will also cease support for the naira at various dates and times,” the statement added

This was a fallout of the dispute between Binance and Nigerian fiscal and monetary authorities, who had accused the platform of manipulating the country’s foreign exchange rate.

Binance’s exit has activated panic mode in Nigerian crypto investors, who have billions of investments on the crypto platform. Many traders were in fear that other digital asset service providers could follow suit, amplifying concerns about the overall stability and attractiveness of the Nigerian crypto landscape.

A crypto trader, Ozioma Okechukwu, told The According, “I am aware of other crypto exchange platforms operating in Nigeria but many of us have been used to Binance. No matter how you look at it, it is a big blow to the market.

The trader argued that the delisting of naira from Binance had raised questions about the potential actions of other major players in the market.

“Everybody knows how big Binance is because it is a global platform. Other players may have similar thoughts as Binance to call it a quit. You could see what they have been through with the Nigerian government,” Omechukwu asserted

Binance has recently come under the scrutiny of the Federal Government, facing allegations of money laundering, illegal operations, financial terrorism, and tax evasion, among other concerns.

The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated during the Monetary Policy Committee meeting that $26bn that passed through Binance was not adequately identified.

The governor disclosed that it was collaborating with government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the police, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to crack down on illicit financial activities.

Last week, Nigerian authorities took action by detaining two senior Binance executives on undisclosed charges as part of a broader crackdown on the platform.

According to a cryptocurrency investment analyst, Sam Egwurube, Binance’s exit will disrupt usual operations on the platform.

In a note sighted by The According, the analyst stated, “The most important being that you can no longer bring in naira or use naira to purchase crypto on the Binance platform. All channels are terminated.

“If you already have naira, it will be converted to stablecoins automatically and you’ll need other means outside of Binance to convert or sell the stablecoin back to naira.”

The crypto analyst pointed out that despite Binance’s discontinuation of naira-related transactions, all other activities, products, and services provided by Binance remained accessible to Nigerians.

According to Egwurube, these services include spot and futures trading, Coin M trading, auto investing, staking, and launch pool, among others.

Egwurube encouraged individuals to find inspiration in the recently approved Bitcoin Spot ETF, reinforcing optimism and confidence in the evolving landscape of the cryptocurrency industry.

Exchange rate manipulation

The CEO of Midlands Advisory, Tijani Aliyu, expressed concerns about Binance potentially influencing the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar.

According to Aliyu, despite Binance’s contribution to financial inclusion, there were concerns about its impact on the Nigerian economy.

“There is a lot of manipulating the naira exchange rate, Binance’s peer-to-peer platform allows users to set inflated exchange rates, leading to a weaker naira.

“There is also some lack of clear regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria and Binance operates here with minimal oversight,” he told The According.

The Midlands Advisory CEO claimed that the firm generated over $30bn in revenue at the expense of the country’s economic growth.

He said, “No tax, no income, no subsidy for the government, nothing. So, why should we still have them ripping off the economy to enrich the Western world?

“One could argue how they have brought about financial inclusion, job creation, and economic growth, and the big question is, how much they have made? Juxtapose that with what they are giving back to the economy,” Aliyu argued.

On August 8, 2023, the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria called for the cessation of Binance operations in the country, citing concerns that the platform contributed to the pressure on the naira.

Additionally, on February 21, 2024, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reechoed the call for the ban of Binance and other crypto platforms from operating in Nigeria.

Onanuga expressed concerns that Binance could negatively impact Nigeria’s economy unless the Federal Government intervenes.

After arresting two executives of Binance, Onanuga granted an interview with the BBC, saying that Binance was making substantial profits through “illegal transactions,” causing significant losses to the country.

The presidential adviser stressed that Binance was not registered in Nigeria, and users were arbitrarily setting dollar-naira exchange rates, adversely affecting the local currency’s value.

He further noted that Binance had halted naira-related transactions and was collaborating with Nigerian authorities by providing pertinent information.

Onanuga stated that the government had been observing the detrimental effects of Binance’s operations in Nigeria, adding, “The platform fixes the exchange rate in Nigeria, which is illegal. The CBN is the only authority that can fix the exchange rate for Nigeria.”

Following accusations of influencing the exchange rate, Binance Nigeria issued a statement debunking the allegations.

“Binance provides a P2P marketplace, not as a price discovery platform. To be clear: it is market-driven and is not intended to be a proxy for currency pricing in Nigeria.

“To protect users, and to prevent any abuse, our system automatically pauses in the event of a period of significant currency movement. Late last night, we observed a temporary suppression of prices that briefly reached our system limit. We quickly made the necessary adjustments to allow trading to continue,” the crypto exchange platform stated.

Regulations

The Chairman of Famiscro Group, Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, said it was critical to have regulations in place for digital currency operators.

According to Ekekwe, the troubled naira did not get worse as a result of the operations of Binance.

He wrote on Linkedin, “While I support Nigeria on its rights to enforce its AML/KYC, I also make it clear that Binance is not the reason our naira is in trouble. Also, I hope Binance follows Nigeria’s AML/KYC laws. Of course, the executives should be treated based on the rule books, with no rights under local and international laws denied.

“We need to focus on more important things, which remain constant: electricity, security of lives and properties, rule of law, and the catalytic enablers that make economies work. If we continue to improve on those, the Nigerian naira will rise; Binance or no Binance.”

The Stakeholders in the Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria urged the Federal Government to regulate digital asset platforms.

SiBAN said it has developed a VASP code of conduct that will foster responsible practices within the digital asset space.

The President of SiBAN, Obinna Iwuno, told The According that the goal was to facilitate the establishment of a responsible and ethical local blockchain industry in Nigeria.

He said that the code of conduct contains 16 codes and applies to VASPs in Nigeria who are either registered SiBAN members or non-members.

He expressed willingness and expectations for regulatory engagement with the Federal Government to discuss the future of the digital asset industry and ensure its sanitisation.

The SiBAN president noted the current code of conduct was just the initial step, adding that there was a need for expansion and subsequent legal backing to enforce compliance.

Iwuno stated, “We expect the regulators to invite us for a discussion on the way forward to sanitize the digital asset industry.

“This is just a code of conduct that needs legal backing. We cannot expand beyond what we have done; if they need us to help them do that, we can do that.

“If we had this law in place, it would have been much easier to deal with players who violate the laws. Before players come into the sector, they would have to have a license and be properly regulated.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission also revealed plans to issue updated guidelines for the operations of digital assets and virtual assets service providers in the country.

In an update from the SEC obtained by The According last week, the commission said that the new guidelines would ensure criminals do not gain entry into the country’s capital market.

“The SEC has also developed a new AML/CFT/CPF AML/CFT/CPF onboarding manual for licensing/registration and ongoing screening of Digital and VASP Beneficial Owners to ensure that criminals are not registered as operators in the capital market.

“The SEC is ready to interface with genuine VASPs based on these clear rules and regulations.”

SEC also said that following engagement with the CBN, updates were being made to its rules.

“That will soon be exposed to the market for comment before final approval. For ease of reference relevant Rules and Regulations issued by SEC on the regulation of Digital Assets and VASPs have been collated for use by potential applicants and the public,” it stated.

Investors remain concerned about their assets despite efforts to combat criminal activity on Binance and other crypto platforms.

Loud night breathing might trigger cardiovascular issues, development impairment

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March 12, 2024

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Loud night breathing might trigger cardiovascular issues, development impairment

Otolaryngologists and pulmonologists have warned that untreated snoring in childhood can lead to lifelong health challenges that include cardiovascular complications, growth impairment behavioural problems, poor academic performance, and hyperactivity.

According to them, paediatric obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs due to deep snoring, is a situation in which a child’s breathing is partially or completely blocked during sleep, and can happen several times a night, repeatedly interrupting sleep.

They further explained that the condition occurs when the upper airway narrows or is blocked during sleep.

A health website, Cleveland, described snoring as a common condition that disrupts sleep, and happens when air cannot flow easily through the nose or mouth.

It noted that chronic snoring can also increase the risk of certain health conditions like stroke and heart attack.

Speaking exclusively with According Healthwise, the physicians explained that snoring at any age is an indication of narrowing or obstruction of the airway, stressing that it should be investigated and treated immediately to prevent long-term issues.

The experts, however, stressed that not all snoring is dangerous, adding that some people simply have more sensitive airways.

According to them, there is a difference between paediatric obstructive sleep apnea and adult sleep apnea, explaining that the cause in adults is often obesity, while in children, it could be due to larger than usual adenoids and tonsils.

According Healthwise reports that adenoids are two small pads of tissue found in the back of the nose, and tonsils are two oval-shaped pads in the back of the mouth.

The Head of the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr Enema Amodu stressed that all cases of snoring in children should be thoroughly reviewed by an ENT doctor and addressed accordingly to prevent complications that can affect a children’s growth, cognitive development and behaviour.

The expert, who is the General Secretary of ENT Surgeons of Nigeria, noted that lifestyle modification may be of help, especially after a thorough review, and treatment by a specialist.

He stressed the importance of vigilance among parents or caregivers as a necessary factor for early identification, and prompt intervention, which could be surgical or otherwise.

ENT surgeon said, “Snoring at any age is an indication of the narrowing or obstruction of the airway. It is an abnormality, and the cause should be investigated and treated. Such patients should see an ENT surgeon promptly.

“Babies do snore, and like all cases of snoring, should be thoroughly reviewed by an ENT doctor and addressed. If the cause of the snoring in a child is not treated, it may continue into adulthood.

“There are several health implications for children snoring. There is what we call progressive snoring, which means progressive airflow obstruction that culminates into oxygen deprivation, especially to the brain, with its antecedent effects.”

On how to correct it, the physician added, “Lifestyle modification may be of help especially in the adult after a thorough review, and treatment by the specialist, the ENT surgeon.

“Surgery can correct some causes of snoring irrespective of age. However, there are other treatment modalities.”

Corroborating him, a pulmonologist at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Dr Tope Oni noted that children who snore are more likely to have sleep-related breathing disorders as adults, including obstructive sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness.

While stating that untreated snoring in children has been linked to behavioural problems and difficulties, the physician stressed that if left untreated, these issues can persist into adulthood and affect the quality of life.

Oni advised those who snore to take it seriously and consult with experts in such specialty, noting that it could be an indication of an underlying medical condition.

“Snoring is not just a nuisance but can be a sign of a serious health problem. If you snore regularly, or if your snoring is severe, you may be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which your breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. This can lead to daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, and an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

“If you are concerned about your snoring, you should see a doctor who will find out if there is an underlying cause.

“People who snore should get screened for underlying health issues, as well as conditions that may make them more likely to snore, such as obesity, allergies, and alcohol use,” he added.

The physician, however, said lifestyle changes, such as weight loss can also help to reduce snoring in children.

He stressed that better sleep quality can have a positive impact on overall health and quality of life.

The pulmonologist said, “Snoring is not only disruptive to others, but can also have some negative health implications for the snorer. One of the most significant implications is poor sleep quality. When someone snores, they are likely to wake themselves up frequently, leading to fragmented sleep and poor sleep quality. This can lead to negative health effects, including daytime sleepiness, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and even mood disorders like depression.

“Chronic snoring has been linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and stroke. That is why it is important for anyone experiencing it to visit the hospital for examination.”

The World Health Organisation described obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome as a clinical disorder marked by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep usually accompanied by loud snoring.

According to WHO, these pauses cut off the oxygen supply to the body for a few seconds and halt the removal of carbon dioxide. As a result of this, the brain briefly wakes the person up, the airways re-open, and breathing resumes.

It further noted that these pauses can occur many times during the night and make proper sleep impossible, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty in concentrating, or headaches.

Barcelona vs Napoli Predictions: Betting Suggestions and Odds

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March 12, 2024

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Barcelona vs Napoli Predictions: Betting Suggestions and Odds

Our betting expert provides Champions League tips with predictions for the Barcelona vs Napoli match.

Barcelona vs Napoli Predictions & Tips

Barcelona to win @ 1.90 Bet9ja

Barcelona to win & GG @ 3.50 Bet9ja
Highest scoring half – second half @ 2.03 Bet9ja
Lewandowski to score @ 2.25 Bet9ja
Kvaratskhelia to score @ 4.50 Bet9ja
2nd half – Barcelona & GG @ 7.60 Bet9ja
2nd half – over 2.5 goals @ 3.85 Bet9ja

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Barcelona are expected to beat Napoli 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.

Barcelona Have the Edge

With Barcelona significantly trailing behind Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, the Champions League appears to be Xavi’s best chance of having a successful last season as the manager. The Catalan giants haven’t won this competition since 2015. While they’ll need to improve to beat Europe’s elite, we are betting them to book their place in the last eight by beating Napoli in 90 minutes.

Xavi’s side have won 15 of their 19 matches at Camp Nou this season. Over that period, they averaged 2.32 goals per game, which is 1.21 more than what they conceded. They have won all three European matches at this ground this season.

Bet 1: Barcelona to win @ 1.90 Bet9ja

Napoli Pose a Threat

The next of our Barcelona vs Napoli predictions is for the home side to win and both teams to score in the match. This bet is available at odds of 3.50 using Bet9ja’s 1×2 and GG combined market.

Napoli have endured a tough season as the reigning champions of Italy. Things haven’t been smooth since Luciano Spalletti departed the club in the summer. Francesco Calzona is their interim boss and the third manager of the season.

Although the team have managed to score in all five matches under Calzona, getting the win on Tuesday night seems to be a tough task. Napoli have lost five of their last eight matches on the road. This bet landed as they lost 3-1 to Barcelona the last time they visited Camp Nou in the Champions League back in 2021.

Bet 2: Barcelona to win & GG @ 3.50 Bet9ja

A Lively Affair After the Break

We are dipping into the goals market once again for the third of our Barcelona vs Napoli predictions. We can back the second half to see more goals than the first at odds of 2.03 with Bet9ja. Xavi’s side’s matches at home have seen an average of 2.26 goals after the break this season. This drops to an average of 1.16 in the first half.

Napoli’s away matches have also seen more goals in the second half. They have played 17 away games across all competitions. The first halves of those matches have seen an average of 1.17 goals, which climbs to 1.65 after the interval. This bet has landed in two of their three Champions League away matches so far. The exception was against Real Madrid, where there were three goals in each half.

Bet 3: Highest scoring half – second half @ 2.03 Bet9ja

Lewandowski Out to Prove His Worth

Robert Lewandowski scored Barcelona’s only goal when these sides went head-to-head in Naples. The veteran striker will be keen to make his mark on the second leg as he chases his second Champions League trophy.

While Lewandowski is no longer at the peak of his powers, he has had a good start to 2024. He came off the bench and assisted Barcelona’s winner against Mallorca at the weekend. He has had five goals in his last seven matches and will want to make a strong showing in this match.

The underlying stats for the Polish striker also show promise. His non-penalty xG per 90 minutes of 0.58 puts him in the 89th percentile when compared with all other attackers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Bet 4: Lewandowski to score @ 2.25 Bet9ja

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Elevating lending charges might not tame inflation

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March 12, 2024

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Elevating lending charges might not tame inflation

THE decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria to increase the benchmark interest rate by 400 basis points to a record 22.75 per cent, has elicited mixed reactions. Although some welcome the move, many financial experts argue that it will compound the woes of the already impoverished citizens.

The Monetary Policy Rate is the rate the CBN lends to commercial banks. Commercial banks then use this rate as their benchmark rate for their lending. The average benchmark for the major economies in 2022 was 3.50 per cent.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated at the end of the first MPC meeting under his watch on March 5 in Abuja that the committee voted to adjust the asymmetric corridor around the MPR to +100 to -700 from plus 100 to -300 basis points. It raised the cash reserve ratio from 32.5 per cent to 45 per cent, and the MPR to 22.75 per cent from 18.75 per cent. According to CBN data, this is the highest MPC rate ever and is aimed at mopping up excess naira liquidity.

At the last meeting in July 2023, the MPC, headed by the former acting governor of the Bank, Folashodun Shonubi, increased the rate by 25 basis points to 18.75 per cent. Previous policy rate hikes have slowed inflationary pressure but not to a desirable extent.

It is obvious that the rising inflation cannot be solved solely by raising the key rates as the current cost-of-living crisis is being propelled by structural drivers and not by transient supply and demand issues. The reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu have not all yielded the desired results, being largely hit-and-miss.Consumers are lamenting the erosion of their spending power as inflation is near a three-decade high of 29.90 per cent.

Essentially, inflation depicts a situation where there is a continuous rise in the prices of goods and services. Inflation is frequently described as a state where “too much money is chasing too few goods.”

Central banks are obsessed with inflation. Thus, they devote significant resources at their disposal to fight it. Hence, the primary objective of the monetary policy is to ensure price stability. The focus on price stability derives from the overwhelming empirical evidence that it is only amid price stability that sustainable growth can be achieved.

At a time when the economy ought to produce more goods, raising the rates will increasingly affect borrowers, especially the non-public, non-financial corporations that may not be able to pass the rising costs to consumers, whose purchasing power has gone south. Those with existing loans will also have to pay more interest than when they obtained the facilities.

Businesses need a lot of credit facilities to operate, but in an environment where the lending rate is astronomical, many enterprises, especially small- and medium-scale, might find it extremely difficult to survive.

Many SMEs have shut down and others are likely to follow the same pattern as those that took loans at a certain percentage will now have to pay more. SMEs rely on diesel-fired generators, but the pump price is so high, ranging between N1,200 and N1,400 per litre.

Ordinarily, by hiking the interest rate, it is expected that borrowing will become more difficult, and consumers will have less money to spend, but the hike may also fail to tame inflation if other macroeconomic indicators go wrong. A hike in interest rate is often considered a manufacturer’s nightmare as it stifles productivity and expansion.

Therefore, development banks should be encouraged to lend at a single digit with stringent tracking. The price of petrol is a major driver of inflation and the continuing rise in food prices suggests that the Nigerian economy may worsen in the months ahead if fuels are not produced locally.

Daybreak of a brand new order

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March 12, 2024

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It is exactly 275 days today since the 10th Senate came into force. And it has been a period of active law-making, constituency engagement and strategic interventions amid socio-economic and political pressures in which our nation is enmeshed. Yet, we all recognise the place of collaboration in our response to issues of vital national interests.

As an assembly of nationalists, patriots and progressives under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, the 10th Senate has been strategically collaborating with key public institutions, especially the Presidency, to defend our national interest; ensure economic stability; promote social cohesion and foster unity among ethnic nationalities that constitute Nigeria.

This has become highly imperative at the time the regressive forces are working against our collective interests as a federation of over 227 million people. Their invisible hands are not just ominous, but also devastating to our collective interests as a nation. They all constitute the triggers of prevailing internal crises – economic doldrums, insecurity, food crisis, fiscal instability and socio-political disharmony – that are now undermining the livelihoods of our compatriots nationwide. They equally threaten the vision of our founding fathers to build a virile federation that would serve the interests of all.

As complicated as these challenges are, the Senate remains resolute and undaunted, indeed methodical and pragmatic in our multi-pronged approach to restoring order to the economy, stability to the polity, prosperity to the people and confidence to the global interests that seek strategic partnership with us. This has been our preoccupation since the take-off of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023.

This is evident in our diverse engagements with service chiefs to further guarantee the security of lives and assets nationwide. Our inquiries into the regressive dynamics that plague our economy no doubt spurred stability in the fiscal space and largely restored investors’ confidence. Our prompt responses to diverse requests of national significance further deepened our pragmatic approach to the enactment of different legislations that redefine our governance frameworks.

Between June 13, 2023 and December 31, 2023 alone, for instance, at least 338 bills were initiated in response to our quest for economic progress, internal cohesion and national greatness. Of this figure, 10 bills were fully passed into laws; 11 currently at the stage of committee; 179 awaiting second reading and 135 are yet to be laid before the committee of the whole for consideration and deliberation.

Critics have even called us to questions for enacting only 10 laws within the timeframe. Agreed, we could do much better, especially at a time when critical legislative interventions are required to jump-start our economy and stabilise our polity. Nevertheless, we should bear in mind that 2023 was the first year of the Government of Renewed Hope. And the Senate, indeed the National Assembly, was preoccupied with diverse requests of vital national interests from the Presidency and other public institutions.

Besides the bills we have worked on or are still working on, the Senate entertained 90 motions. Each of these motions directly addressed the roots of highly critical issues that threatened the future of our fatherland. As well, we treated 21 petitions from different quarters; screened 123 nominees for different strategic national offices and provided diverse interventions at the time our economy was in the doldrums; national security under threats and internal cohesion almost disintegrating.

With sustained collaboration with key public institutions, our interventions are already yielding optimal outcomes. We are winning the fight against bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, though mountainous and tedious. We are equally reversing negative tendencies that plague our economy and polity. We are gradually reuniting our brothers and sisters across the Niger and reinventing a glorious future that we all aspire and desire. And this aspiration will surely come to fruition definitely in our lifetime.

But can these interventions alone guarantee a future we all crave for? We obviously do not need a soothsayer to tell us the limit of our initiatives and the exigency of providing pragmatic antidotes to our collective challenges. What we have been doing since the inception of the Senate was tailored to rebuilding trust in governments; reinventing a polity that fosters peaceful coexistence nationwide and stabilising our economy that enables collective prosperity.

We are now forging ahead to another phase in our quest for a federation that serves the interests of all. That justifies a 45-man Constitution Review Committee that the Senate inaugurated on February 14, 2024, to review the grundnorm that governs our federation and work out a more efficient structure that can exponentially speed up our economic growth and redress all divisive tendencies that undermine our federation.

The review committee is chaired by His Excellency, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin. Among others, its core goals are to tinker with the 1999 Constitution and redesign our security architecture with a view to making it more efficient, more functional and more result-oriented in response to our security needs. They are consistent with the 2023 Revised Legislative Agenda of the Senate, which will soon be adopted in the interest of our fatherland.

Critics have however opposed our interventions on diverse grounds. Some believe the review committee is a ritual in every National Assembly. Many also question the capacity of the National Assembly to produce a new constitution that bears no vestige of militarism. Others even claim that it is a sheer waste of hard-earned public funds for the National Assembly to undertake another review of our grundnorm.

We note the concerns of our critics, mainly the opposition, with a sense of duty. And this duty is founded on a conviction that the task of nation-building is not just collective, but should also be constructive in the way we engage. This conviction remains the key driver of the review of the 1999 Constitution and not the assumption of the critics. It is neither another ritual nor a waste of public funds. Rather, it was born out of the need to craft a new socio-economic and political order that promotes efficiency and spurs accountability.

This conviction is consistent with the power of the National Assembly under Section 4(1-2) of the 1999 Constitution. Under this section, the National Assembly is not just the parliament of the Federal Government authorised to enact laws for the purpose of federal governance. It is also the sovereign parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested with the power “to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation or any part thereof…”

By implication, the resolve of the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution contravenes public assumptions. However, it is driven by the armed attacks on villages on the Plateau; the violent killing of traditional rulers in Ekiti and Kwara; the unlawful occupation of farm settlements in the Benue Basin, the abduction of pupils in different parts of the federation, the shadow enterprise of kidnapping nationwide and the waning capacity of the Nigeria police to guarantee a functional public order.

This drive is also spurred by our quest for a new framework for effective economic governance that will reflect the character and strength of our federation. And our intention revolves around recalibrating our federal governance structure and making all its federating units constitutionally responsible, economically viable, fiscally independent and globally competitive. This is our dream and not all those assumptions flying around in the public space.

As our records have shown, the federation we are currently running is not what our founding fathers envisioned and operated before the coming of khaki men. No, it is not a federation we all bargain and crave for; neither is it the Nigeria our founding fathers handed over to the generations before us. It is not definitely the Nigeria of our dream.

In this generation, our dream is not what we witness daily. Rather, it is a nation where peace perpetually reigns, a nation where our economy grows unfettered, a nation where social cohesion is an order and a nation where politics is a tool for socio-economic transformation. And as an institution, we shall not allow criminals to derail our lofty dream.

The time is now to stamp out banditry, criminality and terrorism from our space. The time is now to spur investors and accelerate growth that will catapult into a glorious future we all desire. The time is now to raise an army of patriots and, who treasure our peace; who leverage our diversity for national growth and who handsomely prize our collective interests far above their parochial and pecuniary rewards.

All of these occupy a prime place in our quest for the review of the 1999 Constitution. And we shall be open to different ideas on how to restore order and promote human dignity. We shall also debate the possibility of reinventing our federal governance structure for the purpose of introducing a functional order that guarantees accountability and probity, efficiency and optimality, progress and sustainability.

Finally, more than ever before, this is also the time to reassess ourselves as true representatives of the people and carry ourselves like true patriots and nationalists rather than playing to the gallery and engaging in divisive activities and heroism. Any act short of portraying any of us as a true senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be sanctioned by our collective resolve, and that starts from today.

Bamidele, Leader of the 10th Senate, writes from Abuja

What Pentecostal pastors have in frequent with politicians

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March 12, 2024

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What Pentecostal pastors have in frequent with politicians

The disparity in roles between ecclesiastics and politicians is generally expected to translate to differences in values, lifestyles, and creeds, but this pattern has been disrupted and bridged in Nigeria by materialism. Moral disconnects, lust and insatiability for money, wealth, fame, influence, and power have conspired to bring the men of God to the level of politicians. This is evident in the Pentecostal ministries where some founding pastors and general overseers no longer exhibit ascetic disposition and restraints from material allures.

Men of God are ordained servants positioned to constantly communicate God’s values and the work of Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind with humility and sacrifice, not as businessmen and women with devotion to brewed capitalists, displaying affluence like politicians. Politicians are elected political office holders with the responsibility of running the government to primarily provide welfare and security of lives and properties for the people but opt to make politics a career and business for generating wealth for themselves.

With similarities in affluence and avarice, both pastors and politicians now operate in the same frequencies. They buy private jets, lodge in diplomatic suits in five-star hotels during local and foreign travels, send their children to expensive schools abroad, buy houses abroad, procure citizenship of foreign countries for themselves and immediate families, live in highbrow areas, enjoy retinue of domestic staff, and site projects funded with church or government money in their villages and hometowns.

Besides, they also drive expensive exotic cars and SUVs with convoys of security escorts for protection. The use of escorts by politicians is understandable because they are vulnerable to public attacks owing to their lifestyle of lies and deceit. But where men of God who preach truth and regularly assure members of divine protection, fail to invoke celestial powers on themselves, but rely on security agencies for defence, leaves much to be desired.

The process for funding their voracious and lavish lifestyles is similar. While politicians deploy all sorts of illusions to embezzle public funds, including the collection and diversion of constituency funds for private interests, some men of God obtain a pecuniary advantage over their members through hoaxes, guilt and fear. They ensure management of tithes, offerings, seeds and first fruits are under their exclusive preserve, including compelled donations orchestrated to look voluntary, but mechanically designed to appeal to the emotions of congregants.

There is no accountability and transparency. Financial management and utilisation of these sources of income are shrouded in secrecy, except to the knowledge of immediate families of pastors and GOs or a few carefully selected loyal church members. Members are generally advised not to ask questions on how finances are utilised, as enquiries are viewed as recalcitrant handwork of the devil, and attract consequences ranging from warning, suspension or outright expulsion.

Abroad, the church’s offerings and tithes are classified as charity funds. There is transparency and accountability. Members are at liberty to ask for receipts for such levies, as they serve as evidence of contributions to charity. Such receipts are presented to the government for purposes of tax rebates, enabling members to enjoy tax relief.

Pentecostal churches are not liable to members on how levies and contributions are managed, just like the government where there is no accountability and transparency. Political officeholders use public funds as personal incomes to service their lives. When citizens demand accountability over the management of revenues in the face of glaring corruption, politicians in power are quick to accuse or label such persons as agents of destabilisation working for opposition parties. When such criticism persists, such citizens are either hounded, warned, blackmailed, intimated, or silenced, using state security apparatus.

Due to seemingly shared values, politicians who contested elections and won through rigging and other fraudulent processes, are offered opportunities in the Pentecostal churches to offer thanksgiving to God for a “successful” election. They are even allowed to step on the pulpit to share testimonies and minister to the congregation, with prayers offered to them thereafter, and sometimes, along with prophesies. Before departure, the politicians make donations to the church, most of which are redeemed with looted funds.

Looted funds are accepted as donations, gifts, seeds, tithes or offerings. Pastors and GOs are not bothered about the sources of funds nor the integrity or character of donors. As long as it swells the revenue base of the church, it is acceptable. This is the attraction accounting for the proliferation of Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. It is doubtful if the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics knows the exact number of these churches. They target locations populated by high net-worth individuals to set up branches in order to grow their finances, as against rural areas inhabited by the poor. Lekki in Lagos is a major target, accounting for the high presence of key Pentecostal churches.

While politicians have made politics a lucrative business, violating the purpose of government for selfish interests and gains, these men of God in the Pentecostal movement have also made the gospel a business, failing to resist the lure of earthly wealth under the guise of kingdom expansion pursuit. While it is true 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 says preachers can live from the gospel, making it an obligation for church members to support their pastors, men of God have taken this verse out of context by taking advantage of the vulnerability and ignorance of members to fund their ostentatious and extravagant lifestyles.

The need to sustain and maintain their expensive lifestyles is also responsible for the absence of clear succession plans. Having tasted power, money and influence, the typical politician is afraid to relinquish office. Where he is statutorily required to do so, resorts to picking his child or wife or relation or a sponsored successor to take over from him. For them, it is difficult to let go of the wealth and juicy opportunities associated with their offices.

Founding Pentecostal pastors and GOs also deploy similar methods to perpetuate themselves in office. They have no clear succession plans, preferring to foist themselves on the congregants in perpetuity, pretending to be waiting for the Lord to choose a successor, when in fact, they have their children or wives in mind, whom they groom to take over. They cannot afford to hand over the huge finances of the church to an “outsider.” It is the reason a Pentecostal church hardly survives beyond the life of its founder, as it slowly slides into extinction after his or her demise.

Also, while politicians regale their audience with promises of taking them out of poverty as a strategy to secure their votes, some of these Pentecostal pastors also create false hope for members for prosperity as a strategy for church growth. Rather than encourage congregants to acquire skills to enable them to offer services and products, they organise prayer programmes where they are asked to sow seed, which only enriches the pastors but depletes the poor. They know wealth cannot be created through prayers, yet members are advised to exercise faith.

Unfortunately, donations, levies and other revenues contributed by members of the church are not fully used for kingdom expansion but diverted and invested in private family commercial businesses registered in family names. Returns from these investments are also not fully ploughed into the church but partly reinvested into other businesses, including real estate, stocks, manufacturing, and even aviation where underutilised private jets are leased for commercial purposes.

Implicitly, there are now obvious blurred lines between spiritual and temporal dimensions fuelled by material pursuits involving Pentecostal pastors and politicians. Existential gaps between them have continued to be narrowed by shared values, exacerbated by materialism. The underpinning motive behind this seeming convergence is prosperity, covertly wrapped under the guise of bringing succour to the people, which is currently posing a serious reputation threat to the Pentecostal movement, and reshaping it to conjure an image of hypocrisy. It is, indeed, an unhelpful development.

Sadly, the affluence associated with pastoral office is also currently having a ring on the minds of church members who are enrolled in Bible Colleges. Most of them now look forward to establishing their own church upon graduation. They also want to “blow” like their pastors who project their stupendous wealth as a product of divine favour, prompting them to want to set aside divine ordinances and protocols to commence their ministries, rather than wait to be called by the Lord.

Owhoko is a public policy analyst