Category: Opinion

The Trouble with Giving to Caesar ,By Azu Ishiekwene

Emporium Reporters

It’s a famous story in Christendom. Palestine, a vassal territory under the Roman Emperor Caesar, was obliged to pay tributes and taxes to Rome. A radical teacher in the territory, Jesus, taught things that the teachers of the law and local administrators in Palestine were uncomfortable with.   After setting traps for him but missing, they pitted him against Caesar by asking him a question that could have gotten him in trouble and possibly gotten rid of him for good.   “Is it lawful to pay taxes?” the Pharisees asked…

In the Eye of the Storm: NAHCON’s Commitment By Ahmed Muazu

Emporium Reporters

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), celebrated as a model for African Hajj operations, is now at the center of national scrutiny. Allegations of financial mismanagement against some of its past leadership has led to growing public distrust, placing the commission under an uncomfortable spotlight. The dismissal of Malam Jalal Arabi as Chairman/CEO of NAHCON marked a significant turning point in the commission’s history. For an organization that is 18 years old since it’s formation and tasked with coordinating the journey of 95,000 Nigerians to the hajj, navigating challenges…

Time to fix Tinubu’s chaotic presidency,By Martins Oloja

Emporium Reporters

Now that the fear of the Supreme Court is gone for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, this seems to be the right time for the President to fix the chaos that has taken some steam out of the awesomeness that is usually inherent in presidential palace.   Doubtless, there have been too frequent dissonance and crisis of coherence in the office of the president. And this is not good for reputation management. It is too early for his reputation managers to be running around to control damage that can…

Yayi and His Annual Mega Empowerment, By Abubakar Yusuf

Emporium Reporters

It has been an annual ritual for the good people of Ogun west , after his stint for three consecutive times at Lagos west that catapulted one of the exercise to Ogun west that had became a talk of the town and challenge to elected officials both at the Senate and House of Representatives, by Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi. Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan, Chairman, Senate committee on appropriation headed the committee on finance in the previous 9th Senate. Known for his magnanimous empowerment and electioneering strategies…

SDGs; Mulling Global Funding to Address 2020-2030 Agenda, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Abubakar Yusuf

The Decade of Action Agenda is gradually approaching the climax , about five years to the global community decision to end not only multidimensional poverty, social inequality, gender disparity, economic quagmire among many others that encompassed the 17 SDGs goals .   The combination of domesticated efforts of the leadership of the SDGs in Nigeria under Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as the Senior Special Assistant to the President SSAP -SDGs along with the international communities and collaboration with the sub-nationals was aimed at driving the program to fruition.   This has…

Open Letter to the Former Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development By Abba Dukawa

Emporium Reporters

The letter emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Allah’s will in both success and adversity, . My concern over the ex-minister’s remarks blaming political factors for his removal and warned against public expressions of frustration or blame. I am also urged the former minister to reflect on his situation with faith and patience, avoiding actions or statements that might contradict Islamic principles. Let you remember rise and fall are part of a broader divine plan and called for introspection and reliance on Allah’s guidance.   As Muslims, we believe in Al-Qadar,…

Lakurawa, The Military, Farmers And Food Security, By Kazeem Akintunde

Emporium Reporters

A short video trended on social media last week of Nigerian Soldiers providing security for farmers as they harvested beans on their farms. Although less than 30 seconds long, the video speaks to the terrible state of insecurity in Nigeria. This is not the right time to be a farmer in Nigeria. As a farmer, you are confounded with different layers of challenges on a daily basis; from getting cheap and affordable fertilizer from those in government to being stuck in the age-long conflict between farmers and herders.   You…

National Grid, Alau Dam Collapse: Who Pays?, by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

The national grid collapsed three times last month and twice this month. This year, it has collapsed at least 11 times. This underscores our long-standing struggle to have a consistent power supply, even if not for the whole nation, at least for those fortunate enough to have access to the few megawatts produced by the so-called “Giant of Africa.”   While last week, Niger Republic was able to add no fewer than 18 megawatts to its national grid in just four months, Nigeria, with an installed capacity of 16,348MW, achieved…

Lagbaja: When Generals, the Olúóde, die By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

The Yoruba believe in the law of causation, a principle of philosophy which says that, every change in nature is produced by some cause. To buttress this, they posit authoritatively that a tree will never fall in the forest and kill peasants at home. Following this causative trail, they also say that rafters will never sink and kill a passerby (Igi kìí dá l’óko kó pa ará ilé; àjà kìí jìn k’ó pa èrò ònà). Sakara music lord, Yusuff Olatunji, appropriated an ancient Yoruba words of incantation while paying obeisance…

UBEC: Driving Digital Innovation Hub to Fruition, By Abubakar Yusuf

Abubakar Yusuf

The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC and it’s determination to provide a level playing ground for a robust technology and technological advancement in Basic Education hub to provide innovation , drives Initiative in line with the global community practices.   The recent convening of Basic Education stakeholders across the country was the determination to ensure all round transmission of the sector technologically towards meeting the demands of the global community.   With it’s efforts and early decisions to migrate the commission from analogue to digital era, it is obvious that…