Feature/OPED
Dysfunctional Federalism and the Centre Called Abuja
By Jerome-Mario Utomi
In the words of James Tar Tsaaior, Professor of Media and Cultural Communication, School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, the circle looks harmless and innocuous’ but it is not. It is guilty of certain politics, inclusionary and exclusionary politics.
Every circle has its centre and margin, its core and periphery. The centre is the point of attraction because of its strategic position. Anything outside of the centre does not validly belong to the circle. It exists as a tangent, beyond its orbit or circumference.
It is interesting how the mathematical sign of the circle has become an idea for instituting cartographic domains, political hierarchies, economic zones and cultural categories in today’s global neighbourhood. These include the global North and South, the First and Third Worlds, the metropolis and the province, the centre and margin and the core and the periphery, among other binary oppositions.
Likewise, here, Abuja represents the centre. It is the capital city of Nigeria. It is in the middle of the political circle called Nigeria. The skyline of the city, which was built largely in the 1980s, is dominated by Aso Rock, an enormous monolith. It rises up behind the Presidential Complex, which houses the residence and offices of the Nigerian president in the Three Arms Zone on the eastern edge of the city. Nearby are the National Assembly and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The city overtly and covertly shares the above attributes of a centre.
In the spirit of the true federal system, Abuja and the federal (central) government, was originally meant to operate as a coordinating government and not as a controlling government and has the exclusive responsibility for the mutually agreed common national services.
But contrary to expectation, Abuja is guilty of certain politics as it presently ‘enjoys’ political obesity- welding much power to the detriment of the federating states. Laced with the spirit of command and control, and has asymmetrically cornered to itself responsibilities such as the Armed Forces, Nigerian Police, Citizenship, Customs, Central Bank of Nigeria/National Currency, Immigration, Foreign Affairs including Foreign Trade, National Education Standards, but not Educational Institutions (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels, National Scientific, Technological and Industrial Goods Standards including Agricultural/Mineral Commodity Export Standards, Trunk A Roads or Interconnecting High ways of Nigerian Federation, among others.
Evidently, for the reason that the ‘constitution we inherited (1999 constitution as amended), from the military is as faulty as it is now outdated; and did not originate from “the people” but rather a product of imposition’, it made slanted provisions that mirrors government at the centre as both ‘captain and coach’ of other federating states thereby characterizing Abuja as a general surrounded by many lieutenants. This set the stage for the nation’s dysfunctional federalism.
Today, Abuja means different things to different people.
To some lazy state governors, who are clueless about increasing their state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), and depend solely on federal allocation, Abuja, means a ‘dispenser of goodness’.
For politicians outsmarted in their states, Abuja is the ‘wilderness of consolation and a desert of hope’. For those that lost elective positions in their states/constituencies, Abuja is the centre where the sweet phrase; ‘weep not child’ can only be heard via political appointments and contracts.
This inglorious disparity in the power-sharing arrangement has rendered as unabated the need for restructuring the relationship between the centre and the states to reflect true economic and political federalism that will allow for resource control by the varying states while paying the constitutionally stipulated taxes to the centre.
Compounding this present national challenge is the posture of President Muhammadu Buhari, who presently sees nothing to restructure in the political edifice called Nigeria.
To add context to the discourse, represented by the Executive Secretary, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu, at the launch of Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari, Zaria Peace Foundation which took place at Ahmadu Bello University Hotels, Zaria, Mr President said as follows; “Again, those who are discussing restructuring, my question is, what are you going to restructure? If you ask many Nigerians what they are going to restructure, you will find out that they have nothing to talk about.
“Some of them have not even studied the 1999 Constitution. The 1999 Constitution is almost 70 to 80 per cent the same with that of the 1979 Constitution.”
Unmistakably, there exist two reasons that qualify Mr President’s latest position on the state of the nation as a crisis and deeply troubling.
First, it is coming a few years after the same Mr President noted while delivering a nationwide broadcast on Monday, January 1, 2018, that ‘no human law or edifice is perfect. Whatever structure we develop must periodically be perfected according to the changing circumstances and the country’s socio-economic developments.’
Identifying those imperfections and catalysing the process of reforming this changing circumstance as muted by the president should be the preoccupation of all at the present circumstance.
The second concern is that Mr President is not alone in this deformed argument.
Recently, some Nigerians argued that President Buhari was elected by Nigerians and he is the symbol of the sovereign many talked about. Therefore, asking him to convoke a Sovereign National Conference for the purpose of restructuring Nigeria is to ask him to abdicate the high office of the presidency of Nigeria, that is, to surrender his powers, office to a group of elected or selected persons who now determine the tenor of the federation.
While this piece accepts the above reasoning is true, the argument is, however, plagued/deformed by its decision to remain silent or failure to remember that Mr President is also constitutionally empowered to demand from the national assembly via executive Bill, amendments of the constitution according to the changing circumstances.
In simple language, this is what Nigerians want/demand and will appreciate if Mr President performs this function at the most fundamental level.
Supporting this claim is a statement credited to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor as it lays bare what Igbos and the generality of Nigerians demands.
He said in parts; fundamentally, what Ndigbo really want is some form of internal autonomy based on a restructured Nigeria.
Categorically stated, we are of the view that the federation of Nigeria must be a union of equals and the composite units must have the ability to stand without begging the centre for survival. That is a federal system of government with its characteristics of decentralization and devolution of power among the federating units”.
From the above reason flows yet another concern which has to do with justice. Globally, there exists a veiled agreement that justice has two different faces, one conservative of existing norms and practices, the other demanding reform of these norms and practices.
Thus, on the one hand, it is a matter of justice to respect people’s rights under existing law or moral rules, or more generally to fulfil the legitimate expectations they have acquired as a result of past practice, social conventions, and so forth.
On the other hand, justice gives us reason to change laws, practices and conventions quite fundamentally, thereby creating new entitlements and expectations.
While those of us who believe in the unity of Nigeria may not agree with the campaign of any group or ethnic nationality to dismember Nigeria, the truth must be told to the effect that the whole gamut of restiveness and resurgence demand for the dissolution of Nigeria stems from mindless exclusion, injustice and economic deprivation.
The best way to reverse this trend is to first acknowledge that the constitution we inherited from the military is as faulty as it is now outdated. And most importantly, we must make Abuja/the government at the centre shed some weight via power devolution. Call it restructuring, you may not be far from the truth!
Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to combat content piracy through strengthened partnerships and the adoption of advanced technologies. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, law enforcement professionals, cybersecurity experts, and civil society organisations are crucial in dismantling the networks responsible for the illegal distribution of creative content across the continent.
Piracy continues to pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of African creators and rights-holders. From financial losses to cultural erosion, its impact is far-reaching. However, the landscape is beginning to shift. In Nigeria and across neighbouring countries, raids and arrests are becoming increasingly common, as illegal streaming platforms are shut down and major piracy syndicates are disrupted.
Technology is proving to be both a challenge and a solution. While it enables the rapid spread of pirated content, it also offers powerful tools for enforcement. Innovations such as forensic watermarking and AI-powered content monitoring are being deployed to trace pirated materials back to their sources and end users. These tools are making it possible to issue swift takedown notices and initiate enforcement actions with greater precision.
“Technology may make it easy to pirate content, but it also makes it easier to track down and prosecute those involved,” says Frikkie Jonker, Director of Anti-Piracy Cybersecurity Services at MultiChoice Group. “Forensic watermarking, proactive monitoring, and strong partnerships allow us to issue immediate takedown notices and initiate enforcement operations when necessary.”
In Nigeria, MultiChoice has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with key government bodies to bolster support for the creative industry and protect intellectual property rights. Its collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and law enforcement agencies underscores a firm commitment to upholding the rights of content creators and holding illegal operators accountable.
Recent efforts have yielded significant results. In Nigeria, the arrest of the operator behind a well-known sports piracy website using a local domain marked a major step forward in disrupting digital piracy networks. Elsewhere, shops selling illegal decoders have been raided and members of piracy syndicates prosecuted, reflecting coordinated regional action similar to that spearheaded by the NCC and the Nigerian Police Force.
Artificial intelligence is being adopted in several African countries to detect and remove pirated content from digital platforms, a model Nigeria is also actively exploring. Alongside enforcement, education plays a key role. Awareness campaigns and training workshops are being carried out in collaboration with copyright boards to inform the public and stakeholders, echoing the NCC’s own sensitisation initiatives on the home front.
The impact of coordinated action is becoming evident. Over the past year alone, the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative has facilitated more than 155 successful raids across Africa, resulting in the shutdown of over 4,300 pirate networks and the arrest of more than 100 individuals involved in illegal operations.
As Nigeria’s creative economy continues to rise on the global stage, fuelled by its vibrant music, film, and digital industries, protecting intellectual property has never been more critical. By strengthening enforcement, increasing public awareness, and embracing innovative technologies, Nigeria is laying the groundwork for a more secure, equitable, and sustainable content ecosystem for Africa’s storytellers and cultural creators.
By Victor Benjamin
Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in its journey towards providing adequate shelter for its burgeoning population. The stark reality of a 20 million unit housing deficit casts a long shadow, impacting not just individual well-being but also the nation’s socio-economic progress. Recognising the urgency and scale of this challenge, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a comprehensive and ambitious strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, placing affordable housing within reach for millions of Nigerians. This multi-pronged approach, spearheaded by the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative and bolstered by innovative financing mechanisms, offers a beacon of optimism in a sector long plagued by systemic obstacles.
For too long, the dream of homeownership has remained elusive for a significant portion of the Nigerian populace. Several interconnected challenges have contributed to this protracted crisis. Sky-high property prices, often driven by land speculation and exorbitant construction costs, place housing far beyond the reach of average citizens. Compounding this issue is the underdeveloped state of the mortgage market. Access to long-term, affordable financing remains limited, with high interest rates and stringent eligibility criteria effectively excluding a vast majority of potential homeowners. The informal nature of a significant portion of the economy further complicates matters, as many individuals lack the formal employment and consistent income streams often required by traditional mortgage lenders.
Furthermore, infrastructural deficits across the country exacerbate the housing problem. Inadequate road networks, unreliable power supply, and limited access to clean water and sanitation not only make new developments more expensive but also detract from the quality of life in existing residential areas. The bureaucratic hurdles and complexities associated with land titling and approvals also contribute to delays and increased costs for developers, ultimately impacting affordability for buyers.
Against this backdrop of formidable challenges, the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative emerges as a significant and potentially transformative intervention. Its three core components – the Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme, the Renewed Hope Housing Estates, and the Renewed Hope Cities – are strategically designed to cater to different segments of the population and leverage diverse funding models.
The Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme, with its ambitious goal of constructing 100 units in each of the 774 local government areas within a year of launch, directly addresses the needs of the most vulnerable. By earmarking 80% of these homes for local residents earning a living wage, with monthly contributions capped at a third of their income, the program prioritises affordability and accessibility for low-income earners. The allocation of the remaining 20% to the most vulnerable citizens, free of charge, underscores a commitment to social inclusion and providing a safety net for those most in need. The inclusion of essential amenities like schools, clinics, and security outposts within these estates further enhances their liveability and fosters community development.
The Renewed Hope Housing Estates, targeting state capitals with a plan to build 250 units in each of the 30 states, represent a crucial step towards providing more affordable housing options in urban centers. Leveraging government budgetary allocations, infrastructure subsidies, and free land from state governments allows for significantly lower pricing, with one-bedroom apartments ranging between N8 million and N9 million. This initiative aims to bridge the gap for individuals and families with modest incomes who aspire to homeownership in urban areas.
The Renewed Hope Cities, developed through Public-Private Partnerships in seven strategic locations, tap into private sector expertise and capital to deliver large-scale housing projects. While the resulting prices are higher, reflecting the private developers’ investment in land and infrastructure, these cities are expected to offer a wider range of housing options and contribute significantly to reducing the overall housing deficit. The ongoing construction of 3,500 units in Lagos and Kano demonstrates the tangible progress being made under this component.
Complementing these direct housing programs is the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), a critical enabler for sustainable and affordable housing finance. The successful pilot fundraising, securing N250 billion, underscores the confidence of institutional investors in this innovative approach. MREIF’s ability to provide long-term, low-cost mortgage financing at interest rates as low as 12% with extended repayment tenors up to 20 years directly tackles one of the most significant barriers to homeownership in Nigeria. Furthermore, by offering off-take guarantees to developers, MREIF helps de-risk large-scale projects and unlock crucial financing. The integration of MREIF with commercial banks, mortgage providers, and developers promises to create a more robust and efficient housing finance ecosystem.
The vision underpinning the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative is one of a Nigeria where decent and affordable housing is not a privilege but a right accessible to all citizens. By adopting a multi-pronged approach that addresses the diverse needs of the population and leverages both public and private sector resources, the government aims to not only bridge the housing deficit but also stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and foster social stability. Empowering low-income earners with affordable housing options can improve their quality of life, provide a foundation for wealth building, and contribute to a more equitable society. Similarly, enabling middle-income families to access affordable mortgages can unlock their economic potential and contribute to overall national development.
While the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative holds immense promise, its success will hinge on effective implementation, transparency, and sustained commitment. Addressing the underlying challenges of land administration, infrastructure development, and bureaucratic efficiency will be crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of these programs. Nevertheless, the bold vision and the comprehensive strategy embodied in the Renewed Hope Agenda offer a renewed sense of optimism that Nigeria is finally embarking on a transformative journey towards housing its citizens and building a more prosperous and inclusive future.
Victor Benjamin is the West/South South Director for YP4T
By Diana Tenebe
Nigeria stands at the cusp of an agricultural revolution with the ambitious plan to significantly transform its food and agriculture sector through the launch of the $510 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), financed by the African Development Bank and development partners. Fueled by the integration of cutting-edge technologies aimed at boosting food production and ensuring national food security.
However, as yields increase, a formidable hurdle remains: the efficient and scalable distribution of this bounty across the nation’s diverse landscapes, often hampered by infrastructural limitations and logistical complexities.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, recently called on Nigerian farmers to prepare for digital and technologically advanced farming methods, emphasising their crucial role in boosting food production and security.
Building upon this call for technological integration, and to truly unlock the full potential of Nigerian agriculture and ensure increased harvests translate to accessible and affordable food for all, the sector can draw invaluable lessons from the operational prowess of e-commerce giants like Amazon. Their success in navigating complex logistics and reaching vast customer bases offers a compelling blueprint for transforming Nigeria’s food distribution network.
Amazon’s dominance in the e-commerce realm is underpinned by a meticulously crafted logistics and supply chain system. Their significant investments in sprawling fulfillment networks, coupled with the strategic deployment of technology for route optimisation and real-time inventory tracking, have created an unparalleled engine for moving goods swiftly and efficiently.
Furthermore, their optimisation of last-mile delivery, integration of automation within warehouses, and a hybrid approach blending in-house capabilities with shrewd partnerships underscore their commitment to scalability. This intricate ecosystem is designed to handle massive volumes and adapt to fluctuating demands – a crucial capability that Nigeria’s agricultural sector desperately needs.
Translating these principles to the Nigerian context requires a fundamental shift towards building a resilient delivery infrastructure specifically tailored for agricultural produce. This necessitates moving beyond traditional, often inefficient methods and embracing hybrid transportation models that account for varying road conditions and geographical challenges.
Imagine a network that leverages a combination of refrigerated trucks for long-haul transport, smaller vehicles for navigating local terrains, and even innovative solutions like riverine transport where feasible. Integrating technologies like GPS tracking for real-time visibility of produce movement and strategically establishing a network of collection and distribution hubs across key agricultural zones can significantly streamline the flow of goods.
Implementing robust systems for real-time tracking of harvests and produce, mirroring Amazon’s inventory management, will be crucial in minimising spoilage and maximizing freshness as food travels from farm to consumer. Moreover, forging strategic alliances with existing local logistics providers, leveraging their on-the-ground knowledge and infrastructure, can provide a vital springboard for building a comprehensive network without starting entirely from scratch.
Beyond the physical movement of goods, the power of data, a cornerstone of Amazon’s success, holds immense potential for revolutionising Nigerian food distribution. Leveraging data analytics can provide invaluable insights into regional demand patterns, allowing for more accurate forecasting of optimal harvest and distribution times.
This data-driven approach can help match agricultural supply with consumer needs with greater precision, reducing waste and ensuring that the right produce reaches the right markets at the right time – much like Amazon utilizes data for personalized recommendations and understanding customer purchase behavior. Imagine farmers making informed decisions about planting based on predicted market demands or logistics providers optimizing routes based on real-time demand fluctuations.
Furthermore, adopting Amazon’s unwavering focus on customer convenience and trust is paramount, especially when dealing with perishable goods. Establishing reliable delivery schedules, ensuring the quality and freshness of produce upon arrival, and implementing transparent processes throughout the supply chain are crucial for building confidence among both farmers and consumers. This might involve implementing quality control measures at various stages, providing clear communication about delivery timelines, and potentially even exploring traceability systems that allow consumers to understand the journey of their food.
Finally, navigating the complexities and dynamism of the Nigerian market demands a long-term vision and a high degree of adaptability, mirroring Amazon’s sustained focus and agility in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape.
The Nigerian agricultural sector must be prepared to iterate, learn from its experiences, and continuously refine its distribution strategies in response to local challenges and opportunities. This requires a collaborative approach involving government agencies, agricultural organisations, technology providers, and logistics companies working together to build a sustainable and efficient food distribution ecosystem.
By strategically adapting these e-commerce-inspired lessons in logistics, technology adoption, data-driven decision-making, and customer focus to the unique context of Nigerian agriculture, the nation can forge a distribution system capable of efficiently handling increased production. This transformative approach is not merely about moving food; it’s about ensuring that the fruits of Nigeria’s agricultural advancements reach every corner of the country, contributing significantly to food security, mitigating the rising cost of food, and ultimately cultivating a thriving and efficient agricultural future for all Nigerians.
Diana Tenebe is the Chief Operating Officer of Foodstuff Store
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