News
Adesina advocates renaming Nigeria to the United States of Nigeria (USN
The President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has advocated for a significant rebranding of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, suggesting the country be renamed ‘The United States of Nigeria.’
The proposal was made public through a statement by his Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, following a lecture Adesina delivered where he received the 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
In his lecture titled ‘Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist Policies and People-Centred Development,’ Adesina articulated his vision for a transformed national identity that reflects a more decentralized governance structure.
He argued that renaming the country would fundamentally shift the perception of the relationship between Nigeria’s states and the central government in Abuja.
According to Adesina, this new nomenclature would position the states as pivotal entities within the federation, with the central government playing a supportive rather than a domineering role.
He said, “We must be audacious! Instead of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we could think of the United States of Nigeria. The old would give way to the new.
“We would change the relational mindset between the states and Abuja: the fulcrum would be the states, while the centre would support them, not lord over them.
With good governance, better accountability systems, and zero tolerance for corruption, more economically stronger constituent states would emerge! We would unleash massive wealth across the states. A New Nigeria would arise! To do so, we will need all of us, not some of us.
“From our forgotten rural villages to our boisterous and dynamic urban areas. From the sparks of desire in the eyes of our children to the lingering hope in the hearts of our youths.
From the yearnings of our women and mothers and our men and fathers for a better tomorrow, and the desires of the old that our end would be better than our past. From the hardworking street vendors and small businesses to the largest business conglomerates, we must create a movement of hope.
“The achievement of economically viable entities and the viability of the national entity requires constitutional changes to devolve more economic and fiscal powers to the states or regions. The stronger the states or regions, the stronger the federated units.”
Adesina reiterated that to get out of the economic quagmire, there is a compelling need for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying restructuring should not be driven by political expediency but by economic and financial viability.
Reuben Abati
News
Stampede at Catholic Church in Maitama Claims Ten Lives During Food Distribution
Ten people have been confirmed dead in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Saturday, 21st December 2024, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals.
The unfortunate incident, which occurred around 6:30 am, resulted in the loss of ten lives, including four children, and left eight others injured with varying degrees of severity. Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are still receiving medical attention.
The FCT Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the tragedy, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and wished the injured a swift recovery.
News
Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational- Says NNPC
The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.
We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.
Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.
Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.
News
Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Production Less Than a Month After Resumption
Less than a month after the porthacourt appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.
It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.
While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.
Journalists who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped completely.
The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.
This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.
The inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare.
During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.
However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.
Stampede at Catholic Church in Maitama Claims Ten Lives During Food Distribution
Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational- Says NNPC
Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Production Less Than a Month After Resumption
FG Allocate ₦27bn For Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari, Others In 2025
Court Renews Order of Arrest Against Mr. Bright Echefu for Allegedly Defrauding BCGNEEDS Company of $651,280.00 USD
Ambition or Betrayal? Senator Barau Jibrin’s Role in Tax Reform Bill
Open Letter To His Excellency The Executive Governor Of Kano State:Need For A Balanced Composition Of Kano State Executive Council
Minimum Wage: Kano Water Board Staff Embark on Indefinite Strike
ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike
NLC Declares One Week Strike
Stampede at Catholic Church in Maitama Claims Ten Lives During Food Distribution
Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational- Says NNPC
Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Production Less Than a Month After Resumption
FG Allocate ₦27bn For Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari, Others In 2025
Court Renews Order of Arrest Against Mr. Bright Echefu for Allegedly Defrauding BCGNEEDS Company of $651,280.00 USD
Ambition or Betrayal? Senator Barau Jibrin’s Role in Tax Reform Bill
Open Letter To His Excellency The Executive Governor Of Kano State:Need For A Balanced Composition Of Kano State Executive Council
Minimum Wage: Kano Water Board Staff Embark on Indefinite Strike
ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike
NLC Declares One Week Strike
-
Opinion3 years agoOn The Kano Flyovers And Public Perception
-
Features4 years agoHow I Became A Multimillionaire In Nigeria – Hadiza Gabon
-
History4 years agoSheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory (1917-1992):Nigeria’s Islamic Scholar Who Wrote Over 100 Books And Journals
-
Opinion4 years agoKano As future Headquarters Of Poverty In Nigeria
-
History4 years agoThe Origin Of “Mammy Market” In Army Barracks (Mammy Ochefu)
-
News3 years agoFederal University Of Technology Babura To Commence Academic Activities September
-
Opinion3 years agoMy First Encounter with Nasiru Gawuna, the Humble Deputy Governor
-
Opinion4 years agoKhalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, A Phoenix Rises