Columns culled from The Punch Newspaper website
Possible indication that COVID-19 has entered the community transmission mode in Nigeria is in the following statement credited to Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy: “The number of tests being conducted presently when compared to what we did in the early stages of the (COVID-19) pandemic, has shown incredibly significant growth. Alongside…
As a columnist, when many people, most of whom you don’t know, send you messages on the same theme, two things usually come to mind. Is this is an orchestrated public relations stratagem hatched by a pressure group? These days, news content is created and choreographed by professional publicists. Or you wonder if there might…
The World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index “indicates better, … simpler, regulations for business, and stronger protections of property rights,” usually for the benefit of Foreign Direct Investors, who will like to guarantee conducive environment for their businesses. The thrust of the Ease of Doing Business idea involves: enforcing contracts; resolving insolvency; starting (new)…
In the world of commerce, a “Sleeping Beauty,” is a company, usually a startup, that is attractive to hostile takeovers, because of its appealing features, like a stash of cash, undervalued real estate or shares, but has a management that is unable to take advantage of its potential. In Nigeria, government-owned enterprises, like the Nigerian…
After Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe approached the National Industrial Court to withdraw a lawsuit he instituted against the Dr. Wale Babalakin-led University of Lagos Governing Council that reportedly sacked him from his position of Vice-Chancellor, the University Visitor, and President of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), stepped in. Buhari asked the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, and…
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, shouldn’t evade the question asked by Daily Trust newspaper reporter, Eyo Charles, who wanted to know who is paying for the nationwide “ward round” he is making, inspecting projects carried out by some state governments. Charles explained, “I obliged the invitation (to FFK’s press conference)… so that it would…
“E fe pa is kétékété ni?” is the way the Yoruba would ask if a taskmaster intends to add the last straw to finally break a camel’s back. This question is patently necessary now, because it appears that both the state and Nigeria Inc. seem intent on piling unending burdens on hapless Nigerian citizens. Sometime in…
A good idea that is coming out as an imposed federal law, instead of an agreement between the Federal Government and the federating units, is the Water Resources Bill that has entered its Third Reading in Nigeria’s House of Representatives. There is no doubt of a need for a pan-Nigeria approach to harnessing the water…
Don’t allow anyone to fool you with the cock-and-bull tale that capitalism is only market-driven economy, and its citizens and corporates do not receive subsidy or any form of helping hand. If you believe that, you will believe anything. Tax experts will admit that tax breaks, given to companies by governments, are a form of…
Aisha Yesufu expressed concern that Nigerians, who usually complain about failure of governance in Nigeria, failed to show up for a scheduled protest march on Independence Day. The film footages showing some protesters were scanty, almost vacant. Some of those who managed to come to protest admitted that their number was probably not too impressive….