Feature/OPED
Social Activity, Addiction, Daddy Freeze, Pastors, Churches & Africa
By Nneka Okumazie
Christianity is not the biggest social activity in Nigeria, neither is it the most constant, the most loved, or the most regular. If anyone needs a list, that person should observe curiously.
The entire campaign against churches in Nigeria by Daddy Freeze is full-scale insanity. The lies and falsehoods from him, against the church, also show that he has stuff he’s benefitting.
There is nothing he has said that hasn’t be superiorly rebutted. But he continues to repeat the same lies and lines – flush with insults and hate.
He rants with paranoia and may be suffers from schizophrenia. Even if he’s rewarded to attack true churches, he has overdone it to the extent of undoing whatever sense he made to those who didn’t see him as a dumb con – initially.
The only thing he seems to be great at in his entire life is insults and promotion of folly. These, with his large social media following, hand his devotees a massive encumbrance.
Churches may be conspicuous in Southern Nigeria, but they are not a problem to anything good for the country. They are in the category of social activities and are personal plus voluntary.
It is possible to say that people are ‘addicted’ to church in Nigeria. But ‘addiction’ to a true church has no violence risk or several other kinds of risks that major addictions bear.
There are developed countries in the world that are not religious. But the people are addicted to certain social activities even more than Nigeria is addicted to Christianity.
Those countries aren’t worse due to whatever social activities they’re addicted to or not. They are doing well because the few smart people responsible for management and growth of major economic sectors are focused on effectiveness.
Nigeria has no electricity because those in charge – public or private – are not effective. Nigeria is a poor country because those in charge of creation of jobs, education, earnings, inflation, etc. – are not effective.
Nigeria has fewer factories because those in charge of infrastructure, business incentives, standards, quality, pricing, etc. – are not effective.
In developed countries that have major addiction issues for different stuff, they are doing better because there’s prioritization of honest, progressive work – and addiction is often confined.
There are churches in Europe that have one-hour evening services every day of the week. There are some days where there are multiple services – as well.
Services are only cancelled when there’s a procession or some combined service in another Cathedral, or maybe some holiday or something else.
But the church is open, it is your choice to come or not. They give offering too, and sometimes have special offerings requests for welfare [Caritas] or maintenance, or anything else.
Giving is voluntary. Some people give coins in these churches, some ignore offering, some come late and some show up only for special services involving their folks.
Yes, there are often older white people in many of these churches – than younger people, but many of the younger ones who don’t care about Christianity are really deep into all kinds of socially addictive activities and are sometimes on the brink.
Churches there are also like a family, people go for counselling, people hug or give handshakes. People come there in faith too, some get in the service and first thing they do is to kneel in reverence to God. During liturgy, some – also kneel.
These people aren’t brainwashed, their submission is a choice – and voluntary. It is personal and has no bearing with public policy, or development, or anything else.
In the United States, there are churches too with twice to three times or more weekly activities. Some in university environments are filled with younger people, and sometimes diverse.
People have had issues with what was seen as excesses of the church by hypocrites or fake pastors or fake churches or really bad acts, but the Church is not seen as the problem of any problem the developed country is having.
In other continents too [say Asian countries – developed or underdeveloped], where it is mostly not Christianity, social activities are abundant.
Their religion may be a pass into certain positions or whatever, but social activities are not the hindrance or nurturer of expected development.
Back to Africa where confusion of underdevelopment is a sickness and despair peddlers are using the church as an excuse of why development is remote. They probably have no sense. Or if they did, it had gone on an infinite trip.
Nigerians are in love with proving how smart they are by arguing or seeking to win arguments over nonsense. This had been on for years but made a shift to the internet with a popular forum, and also on social media.
For them, the use of words or a point, or to repeat what was heard elsewhere is to show that they are smarter and others are dumb.
There is an arena for the smartest people to show their work or make known how exceptional they are. It is not in words over gutter arguments or nonsense topics, cheap grammar or pointless agitations.
There was a recent post that said an individual visited the United Kingdom from Nigeria; and the individual stopped going to church after returning, because those who brought Christianity to Nigeria don’t pray like us, and they work instead, OK.
First, the ‘those who brought Christianity to Nigeria’ argument is always isolated like the only thing that was brought to Nigeria is Christianity.
This internet was brought to Nigeria. The list of everything brought to Nigeria is endless and you could compare usage of theirs and ours – to have a fair argument.
But Daddy Freeze and those others with journeyed sensibility will distort, lie and defame the church in Nigeria.
Also, for the individual who went to the UK, Nigerians who travel abroad have different goals and understand differently. If for her, the only exposure is against Christianity – good for her.
This is the same with Daddy Freeze and his supporters who keep using one country or another, as example against Christianity in Nigeria.
It seems to be the new thing. What Nigeria had been used to is a person who travels and blames government – already concluded as ineffective – more.
The best way to now sound smart in Nigeria is to correct anything any church or Christian does. But these agnostics don’t understand that they are not the first neither will they be the last. Christianity does not preach development, or engineering, etc.
Christ and the Apostles focused on salvation, righteousness, faith, goodness, baptisms, etc. Those who are enlightened because they correct churches have never said anything new. Electricity, employment, agriculture, education, etc. are seeking novel ideas and major solutions in Africa, go and try.
The insincere campaign is anchored on nothing – inhibiting development, and has achieved nothing. It will continue to be for double lunatics, who have their own social activities that does not impact development, but decided to focus on the Faith of others – using confusion, falsehoods and exaggerations.
The UK has more factories and fewer churches than Nigeria. But the UK also records massive pub visits, and concerts attendance. Japan does not have Christianity, according to haters, but they have massive social activities, their own religion and loyalty to their Emperor.
There are countries in Europe with excessive beer consumption, and there are globally famous people who are ‘extreme’ alcoholics.
A Social activity has little to no effect on development – if a country is not focused on development. It is quite sad to be convinced otherwise.
Those who do not know what causes poverty or how all the living conditions of the poor came about would blame the church for poverty.
This syndrome of nonsense means OK made Nigeria to accept darkness for electricity – however it is available, and portholes for roads – so long there is a way.
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism8 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking6 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN