Introduction

As we navigate the complexities of life, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. However, there's a profound truth that can anchor us during life's storms: embracing the congeniality of life is rooted in self-assurance and self-acceptance. In this article, we'll explore the importance of self-assurance and self-acceptance in cultivating a more authentic, joyful, and fulfilling life.

Easy to Do Business With

Life is a complex tapestry of experiences, relationships, and choices. Amidst the chaos, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. However, there's a profound truth that can anchor us during life's storms: congeniality, the confidence of life is rooted in self-assurance and self-acceptance. Becoming easy to do business with.

Self-Assurance: The Foundation of Inner Peace: Self-assurance is the unwavering trust in oneself, one's abilities, and one's worth. It's the confidence that comes from knowing who you are, what you stand for, and what you want out of life. When you're self-assured, you're not easily swayed by the opinions of others or the whims of circumstance. You're grounded in your own identity and purpose.

Self-Acceptance: The Key to Emotional Freedom: Self-acceptance is the unconditional love and acceptance of oneself, flaws and all. It's the recognition that you're imperfect, and that's okay. When you accept yourself, you're free from the need for external validation. You're no longer held hostage by the fear of rejection or the desire for approval.

Embracing the Impermanence of Relationships: One of the most significant challenges to self-assurance and self-acceptance is the impermanence of relationships. Not everyone you love will stay, and not everyone you trust will be loyal. However, this doesn't have to be a source of pain or anxiety. Instead, it can be an opportunity to practice self-assurance and self-acceptance.

When someone chooses to leave your life, it's essential to accept their decision and let it go. Begging someone to stay or trying to convince them to love you can be damaging to your self-worth and emotional well-being. Instead, focus on nurturing your own self-assurance and self-acceptance.

Trusting Your Intuition and Energy: Another crucial aspect of self-assurance and self-acceptance is trusting your intuition and energy. When someone is not beingreal or genuine, you can feel it. Energy never lies, and your intuition is a powerful guide. Don't be afraid to trust your instincts and speak your truth.

Following the Right Way, Not the Majority: In a world where conformity and people-pleasing are often encouraged, it's essential to remember that following the majority is not always the right way. Instead, focus on following your heart, your intuition, and your values. When you stay true to yourself, you'll attract people and experiences that align with your authentic self.

Conclusion: Embracing the congenital confidence of life requires self-assurance and self-acceptance. By trusting yourself, accepting your imperfections, and following your intuition, you'll be able to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and confidence. Remember, not everyone you love will stay, but that's okay. You are enough, just as you are.

Maintaining Self-Assurance in Challenging Situations

Maintaining self-assurance in challenging situations requires a combination of mindset shifts, self-care practices, and intentional actions. Here are some strategies to help you cultivate and maintain self-assurance:

Mindset Shifts

1. Reframe negative self-talk: Challenge negative inner voices by reframing negative thoughts into positive, empowering ones.

2. Focus on strengths: Emphasize your strengths and accomplishments to boost confidence.

3. Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and patience, just as you would a close friend.

Self-Care Practices

1. Get enough sleep: Adequate rest helps regulate emotions and maintain confidence.

2. Exercise regularly: Physical activity releases endorphins, which enhance mood and self-assurance.

3. Meditate and practice mindfulness: Regular mindfulness practice helps calm the mind, reducing self-doubt and increasing self-awareness.

Intentional Actions

1. Set realistic goals and achieve them: Celebrate small wins to build momentum and confidence.

2. Seek supportive relationships: Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people who believe in you.

3. Take calculated risks: Step out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself and build resilience.

4. Practice assertive communication: Express your needs, wants, and boundaries clearly and respectfully.

5. Learn from failures and setbacks: Use mistakes as opportunities for growth, learning, and self-improvement.

6. Focus on the present moment: Concentrate on what you can control in the present, rather than worrying about the past or future.

Additional Tips

1. Develop a growth mindset: Believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.

2. Stay positive and focus on solutions: Concentrate on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

3. Celebrate your successes: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements to reinforce self-assurance.

By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you'll be better equipped to maintain self-assurance in challenging situations. Remember that self-assurance is a journey, and it's okay to encounter setbacks along the way. With persistence, patience, and practice, you can develop the self-assurance needed to navigate life's challenges with confidence.

Benefits of Self-Acceptance

The benefits of self-acceptance are numerous and transformative. Here are some of the most significant advantages of cultivating self-acceptance:

Emotional Benefits

1. Reduced self-criticism: Self-acceptance helps you develop a more compassionate and gentle relationship with yourself.

2. Increased self-esteem: Accepting yourself as you are boosts your confidence and self-worth.

3. Improved mental health: Self-acceptance is linked to lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Relational Benefits

1. Healthier relationships: When you accept yourself, you're more likely to attract and maintain healthy, fulfilling relationships.

2. Improved communication: Self-acceptance helps you communicate more authentically and assertively.

3. Increased empathy: Accepting yourself allows you to be more understanding and compassionate towards others.

Personal Growth Benefits

1. Increased self-awareness: Self-acceptance helps you develop a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

2. Improved self-care: When you accept yourself, you're more likely to prioritize your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

3. Enhanced creativity: Self-acceptance can foster a more creative and innovative mindset.

Spiritual Benefits

1. Deeper connection with oneself: Self-acceptance can lead to a greater sense of connection with your inner self and your spiritual nature.

2. Increased sense of purpose: Accepting yourself can help you discover your passions and values, leading to a greater sense of purpose.

3. Greater sense of compassion: Self-acceptance can cultivate a more compassionate and loving attitude towards yourself and others.

Practical Benefits

1. Reduced people-pleasing: Self-acceptance helps you set healthy boundaries and prioritize your own needs.

2. Increased resilience: Accepting yourself can help you develop coping strategies and bounce back from adversity.

3. Improved decision-making: Self-acceptance can lead to more informed and authentic decision-making.

By embracing self-acceptance, you can experience these benefits and more, leading to a more fulfilling, authentic, and joyful life.

Developing Self-Awareness for Self-Acceptance

Developing self-awareness is a crucial step towards self-acceptance. Here are some strategies to help you cultivate self-awareness:

1. Mindfulness and Meditation

Practice mindfulness meditation to become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Regular mindfulness practice helps you develop a non-judgmental awareness of yourself.

2. Journaling

Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal. Reflecting on your journal entries can help you identify patterns, gain insights, and develop a better understanding of yourself.

3. Self-Reflection

Schedule regular time for self-reflection, asking yourself questions like:

- What are my strengths and weaknesses?

- What are my values and goals?

- What triggers my emotions, and how do I respond to them?

- What are my thought patterns, and how do they impact my behavior?

4. Seek Feedback

Ask trusted friends, family, or a therapist for their honest feedback about you. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

5. Practice Self-Compassion

Treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and patience. Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and that it's okay not to be perfect.

6. Engage in Self-Care

Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

7. Learn to Recognize and Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Notice when you're engaging in negative self-talk and challenge those thoughts by reframing them in a more positive and realistic light.

8. Develop Emotional Intelligence

Learn to recognize, understand, and manage your emotions. This will help you develop better relationships with yourself and others.

9. Practice Gratitude

Focus on the things you're grateful for, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts or emotions. Practicing gratitude can help shift your perspective and increase self-awareness.

10. Seek Professional Help

If you're struggling with self-awareness or self-acceptance, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. They can provide you with personalized guidance, support, and tools to help you develop greater self-awareness and self-acceptance. By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you'll be well on your way to developing greater self-awareness, which is essential for cultivating self-acceptance.

Some Self-Care Practices for Self-Acceptance

Here are some self-care practices that can help cultivate self-acceptance:

Mindfulness and Meditation

1. Loving-kindness meditation: Focus on sending kindness and compassion to yourself and others.

2. Body scan meditation: Practice accepting and loving your body as it is.

3. Mindful breathing: Focus on the present moment and let go of self-criticism.

Self-Reflection and Journaling

1. Gratitude journaling: Write down things you're thankful for about yourself and your life.

2. Self-reflection prompts: Use guided questions to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

3. Letter to yourself: Write a kind and compassionate letter to yourself, acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses.

Physical Self-Care

1. Self-care rituals: Establish routines that promote relaxation and self-love, such as baths, massages, or yoga.

2. Physical activity: Engage in exercise that brings you joy and helps you appreciate your body's capabilities.

3. Healthy eating: Nourish your body with wholesome foods that promote well-being.

Creative Expression

1. Art therapy: Use creative expression to process emotions and promote self-acceptance.

2. Writing: Write poetry, stories, or affirmations that celebrate your uniqueness.

3. Music: Listen to or create music that uplifts and inspires you.

Social Connections

1. Supportive relationships: Surround yourself with people who accept and support you.

2. Self-acceptance groups: Join communities that focus on self-acceptance and self-love.

3. Therapy: Work with a therapist who can help you develop self-acceptance and self-compassion.

Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk

1. Daily affirmations: Repeat positive statements that promote self-acceptance and self-love.

2. Positive self-talk: Practice using kind and supportive language when speaking to yourself.

3. Mirror work: Use affirmations and positive self-talk while looking in the mirror to promote self-acceptance.

Remember, self-acceptance is a journey, and it's essential to be patient and compassionate with yourself as you explore these practices.

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, embracing the congeniality of life requires self-assurance and self-acceptance. By trusting yourself, accepting your imperfections, and following your intuition, you'll be able to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and confidence. Remember, self-assurance and self-acceptance are journeys, not destinations. Be patient, kind, and compassionate with yourself as you cultivate these essential qualities. As you embark on this transformative journey, may you discover a deeper sense of purpose, joy, and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

** Isaac Megbolugbe, Director of GIVA Ministries International, 2024 Marquis Organization’s Class of Top Executives in the United States of America and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is resident in the United States of America.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the introduction of a 4 percent levy on the free-on-board (FOB) value of imported goods. The FOB value refers to the cost of goods and transportation expenses incurred up to the point of loading the goods onto the vessel at the port of departure. Under FOB terms, the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the port, clearing them for export, and loading them onto the vessel. Once the goods are on board, the risk and associated costs transfer to the buyer.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, explained that the new levy is in line with Section 18 (1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023. He emphasized that the 4 percent FOB charge is crucial for ensuring the effective operation of the customs service.

Maiwada also addressed concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the continued collection of a 1 percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) fee. He clarified that the CISS fee is a regulatory charge designed to fund Nigeria’s Destination Inspection Scheme, which operates alongside the new 4 percent FOB levy.

Assuring the public of the NCS’s commitment to addressing stakeholder concerns, Maiwada stated that the service is actively engaging in consultations with the Federal Ministry of Finance to resolve any issues. He urged all stakeholders to comply with the new directive, which was developed following extensive consultations with industry players, importers, and regulatory bodies.

International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, an American multinational technology company, has announced plans to exit Nigeria, Ghana, and other key African markets.

According to TechCabal, IBM revealed in a statement that it is transferring the company’s regional operations to MIBB, a subsidiary of Midis Group, a multinational information technology (IT) and telecommunications conglomerate.

The exit is part of a new operating model IBM is implementing in select African countries, effective April 1, 2025.

IBM did not respond to TheCable’s enquiry on the exit and transfer of operations to MIBB.

Under the new model, MIBB will market and sell IBM’s products and services across 36 African countries while also taking over operations, customer support, and local relationships.

“MIBB will market and sell IBM products and services in 36 African countries, thereby giving MIBB’s sales network direct access to IBM products, services, and support, further boosting innovation and growth in the region,” the company said.

IBM has played a significant role in Africa’s tech industry for decades, providing infrastructure for banking, telecom, oil and gas, and government services.

The company’s exit comes a month after Holcim, a Swiss building materials company, announced plans to exit Nigeria by selling an 83 percent stake in Lafarge to a Chinese firm.

Also, in October 2024, Pick n Pay, a South African grocery retailer, announced it will exit Nigeria by selling its 51 percent stake in a joint venture.

The Cable

Nigeria's digital payment landscape achieved a milestone in 2024 as Point of Sale (PoS) transactions reached an unprecedented N18 trillion, according to data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). This marks a dramatic 69% increase from the N10.7 trillion recorded in 2023.

The surge in PoS usage was driven by two key factors: persistent ATM cash shortages and an ambitious expansion of PoS terminals by fintech companies. Transaction volume also saw modest growth, increasing 8% to reach 1.5 billion transactions in 2024, up from 1.4 billion the previous year.

While traditional banks historically dominated PoS terminal distribution, the landscape has transformed with fintech companies' entry into the market. Their aggressive deployment strategies have led to a significant expansion in the availability of PoS devices across Nigeria, making digital payments more accessible to the general population.

This growth reflects Nigeria's accelerating transition toward digital payment solutions and highlights the increasing role of financial technology in the country's banking sector.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At least 17 students died in a fire in Zamfara state on Tuesday night, a state police spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The students at an Islamic school in Kauran Namoda town in Zamfara State, who were between seven and 17 years old, died in the blaze while around 12 others were taken to hospital with severe burns, the police said.

Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar said an investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

Hussaini Adamu, who lost two children to the inferno, said the fire started in a nearby house and spread to the Islamic school.

Reuters

Arab American, Muslim leaders decry Trump comments on Gaza

U.S. Arab American and Muslim leaders, including some who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election, criticized the president's proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza and resettle Palestinians, but some of them said they still believed he was the best option for lasting peace in the region.

The leaders largely dismissed Trump's comments as unrealistic bluster and said he was unlikely to pay a big political price in the community.

"We believe that his ideas, as well-intentioned as they might be, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way," Bishara Bahbah, who founded Arab Americans for Trump and helped rally support for him in Michigan and other battleground states, told Reuters.

"We're opposed to any transfer of Palestinians, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, out of their homeland."

Bahbah said he still supports Trump, seeing him as the best option to avoid conflict in Gaza. He said his organization changed its name to Arab Americans for Peace two days ago, reflecting its shift in focus following Trump's election.

Trump outlined the idea for the U.S. to "take over" Gaza during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. Trump also floated a proposal to relocate Palestinians to neighboring countries and redevelop the war-torn territory into a "Riviera of the Middle East," while not ruling out the deployment of U.S. troops.

The move by Arab Americans and Muslims away from the Democratic Party likely factored into Trump's victory, with the largest impact in the swing state of Michigan, home to the country's biggest population of Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians.

Many in the community voted against then-Vice President Kamala Harris to protest the Biden administration's support of Israel's war on Gaza in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 attacks. Some also credit Trump with orchestrating a ceasefire, even though it happened before he entered the White House.

A nationwide exit poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group showed that 53% of Muslims voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the 2024 election, with Trump and Harris picking up 21% and 20%, respectively. The poll, which surveyed 1,575 Muslim voters via text message, marked a sharp constrast with 2020, when 69% of Muslim Americans voted for Biden and only 17% went for Trump.

Rabiul Chowdhury, co-founder of Muslims for Trump, said that while he was frustrated that no viable long-term solution for peace and rebuilding was being discussed for Gaza, he does not regret backing Trump.

"Conflating Trump's rhetoric with the actions of Biden and Harris is not only disingenuous but outright dishonest," he said, criticizing the Biden administration's supply of weapons and other support for Israel while it bombed Gaza. "If we were to equate Trump's actions with those of Biden and Harris, the contrast would be undeniable — Trump is the better option."

Former President Joe Biden's administration stood firmly by Israel during its assault on Gaza despite repeatedly pushing Israel to do more to curb civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave. Biden also hailed a ceasefire deal that went into effect last month as largely mirroring the framework of a proposal he made last year.

Osama Siblani, publisher of Arab American News based in Dearborn, Michigan, said he didn't think many people in the community would regret their decision to either back Trump or withhold a vote for Harris due to her support of Israel.

But Siblani, a spokesperson for the Arab American Political Action Committee, which endorsed neither candidate in the 2024 election, likened Trump's rhetoric to that of a "crazy man" and said they would not advance the cause of peace.

"Instead of helping people to recover, he's trying to take advantage of their of their misery," he told Reuters. "I can't believe that a president of the United States is making such a suggestion."

Yahya Basha, a doctor and founder of Muslims for American Progress, said he was not surprised by Trump's comments, given earlier statements by his son-in-law Jared Kushner about Gaza being a good site for a future resort, but remained skeptical that the U.S. would execute those plans.

"I don't regret anything I did to get Trump elected and I hope we see positive signs in the future," said Basha, an early advocate for Trump in Michigan.

Instead, he said he believed Trump's comments were often provocative rather than the basis of policy, citing his comments on buying Greenland or to make Canada the 51st state of the U.S.

Yemeni-American Samra’a Luqman, a registered Democrat who voted for Trump in 2024 in the hopes he would bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, said she did not support Trump’s proposal for a U.S. takeover. But she said she still views Trump more favorably compared to the actions of the Biden administration.

"I'm not pleased that I'm hearing things about people being displaced from their homeland for good, but at least they are not being killed off by the thousands or hundreds per day as we have seen in the last year," said Luqman, a 42-year-old resident of Dearborn, Michigan.

** Trump aides defend Gaza takeover proposal but walk back some elements

President Donald Trump's top aides staunchly defended his push to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza and have the U.S. take over the war-ruined enclave, but they also backed away from elements of his proposal in the face of international condemnation.

A longtime New York property developer, Trump drew rebukes on Wednesday from world powers Russia, China and Germany, which said it would foster "new suffering and new hatred." Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia rejected the proposal outright.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Trump's proposal was "remarkable" and urged that it be explored, even as he was not specific about what he believed Trump was offering.

Barely two weeks in the job, Trump shattered decades of U.S. policy on Tuesday with a vaguely worded announcement saying he envisioned transforming Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East" where international communities could coexist after nearly 16 months of Israeli bombardment devastated the coastal strip and killed more than 47,000 people, according to Palestinian tallies.

At a White House briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed his Gaza proposal as historic "outside of the box" thinking but stressed that the president had not committed to putting "boots on the ground" in the territory. She declined, however, to rule out the use of U.S. troops there.

At the same time, Leavitt walked back Trump's earlier assertion that Gazans needed to be permanently resettled in neighboring countries, saying instead that they should be "temporarily relocated" for the rebuilding process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the idea was for Gazans to leave the territory for an "interim" period of reconstruction and debris-clearing.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu only vaguely addressed Trump's proposal, saying he did not believe the president was suggesting sending U.S. troops to fight Hamas in Gaza or that the United States would finance rebuilding efforts there.

Netanyahu, who met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, said he supports Trump's suggestion that Gazans be free to leave and return to the war-ravaged area.

"They can leave, they can then come back. They can relocate and come back," he said.

"It's a remarkable idea and I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued and done, because I think it will create a different future for everyone," Netanyahu said without offering specifics.

It was unclear whether Trump would go ahead with his proposal or, in keeping with his self-image as a shrewd dealmaker, was simply laying out an extreme position as a bargaining ploy. His first term was replete with what critics said were over-the-top foreign policy pronouncements, many of which were never implemented.

Trump's son-in-law and former aide, Jared Kushner, last year described Gaza as valuable waterfront property, and on Tuesday Trump made similar claims as he called for the permanent resettlement of the more than 2 million Palestinians from there.

Some experts said the proposed actions could violate international law. Others described his ideas as unworkable. Human rights advocates said it would amount to "ethnic cleansing."

"Everybody loves it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier on Wednesday, referring to his Gaza idea.

Trump's proposal, however, appears to run counter to U.S. public opinion, which polls have shown is overwhelmingly opposed to new entanglements in conflict zones following lengthy military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump frequently asserted during the 2024 election campaign and since returning to office that he would end what he called "ridiculous" wars and prevent others from starting.

His Gaza proposal drew broad condemnation from Democratic lawmakers but confusion and skepticism from some fellow Republicans, while others praised the moves as bold.

[1/9]A Palestinian sits among the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip February 4, 2025.... Purchase Licensing Rights Read more

"I thought we voted for America first," Republican Senator Rand Paul said on X. "We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood."

On a trip to Guatemala, Rubio, apparently seeking to counter the wave of global criticism, insisted Trump's proposal was not a hostile move but a generous one that expressed "the willingness of the United States to become responsible for the reconstruction of that area."

In contrast, Leavitt said U.S. taxpayers would not foot the bill and that Trump would strike a deal with regional partners.

'TRUMP CAN GO TO HELL'

Jordan's King Abdullah, who will meet Trump at the White House next week, said he rejected any moves to annex land and displace Palestinians. Egypt said it would back Gaza recovery plans, following a ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19, without Palestinians leaving the territory.

In Gaza, Palestinians living among the wreckage of their former homes said they would never accept the idea.

"Trump can go to hell, with his ideas, with his money, and with his beliefs. We are going nowhere. We are not some of his assets," said Samir Abu Basel, a father of five in Gaza City displaced from his house by the war.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has talked about a U.S. takeover of Greenland, warned of the possible seizure of the Panama Canal and declared that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Some critics have said his expansionist rhetoric echoes old-style imperialism, suggesting it could encourage Russia in its war in Ukraine and give China justification for invading self-ruled Taiwan.

World leaders said they remained supportive of the two-state solution that has formed the basis of U.S. policy in the region for decades, which has held that Gaza would be part of a future Palestinian state that includes the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, before a meeting with Netanyahu, that the Pentagon was "prepared to look at all options" related to Gaza. Experts say a major deployment of U.S. forces would be needed to secure Gaza if Trump implements his proposal.

'RIDICULOUS AND ABSURD'

An official from the Palestinian militant group Hamas called Trump's proposal "ridiculous and absurd." Hamas ruled the Gaza Strip before the war there, which was triggered by its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

"Any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region," Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters, saying Hamas remains committed to the ceasefire accord with Israel and negotiating its next phase.

What impact Trump's proposals have on indirect talks over the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal was unclear. Hamas has adamantly insisted it wants to remain in Gaza while Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the group and never allow it to again rule the territory.

Trump's proposal raises questions about whether Saudi Arabia would be willing to join a renewed U.S.-brokered push for a historic normalisation of relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia, a pivotal U.S. ally in the Middle East, said it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, contradicting Trump's claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland.

Trump would like Saudi Arabia to follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates, a Middle East trade and business hub, and Bahrain, both of which signed the Abraham Accords in 2020 and normalised ties with Israel.

But on Wednesday, the kingdom's foreign ministry said Saudi Arabia rejected any attempts to remove Palestinians from their land and said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had affirmed this position in "a clear and explicit manner."

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

US defense companies making huge profits on Ukraine – Zelensky

The Ukraine conflict has been a bonanza for the US defense-industrial complex, which has benefited from massive contracts for weapons meant to supply Kiev and replenish domestic stockpiles, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said.

In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan on Tuesday, Zelensky argued that a significant portion of the billions the US has allocated to Ukraine has in fact circulated back to boost US domestic arms production.

“Part of the money that people in the US talk about was actually financing production in the US,” the Ukrainian leader said. “The companies that were producing weapons [for Kiev] received this money… American companies now have contracts for these arms at the highest prices in the last 50 years because there is such huge demand due to the Russian offensive.”

A significant part of the funding went to “specific companies, specific plants, making profits for specific people. It went toward the salaries of US citizens working in those companies,” he added.

According to Zelensky, the campaign to support Ukraine has also helped the US renew its arsenal, as Washington has in many cases supplied Kiev with relatively obsolete weapons produced in the 1970s and 1980s. He added, however, that Ukraine is grateful for the help, despite earlier criticizing the West for delays and the amount of weaponry being sent.

On top of this, Zelensky argued, “the US received from Ukraine the experience of modern, large-scale land warfare. Americans and Europeans – but Americans in the first place – have all the information… on what in American weapons works and what does not.”

Russia has condemned Western military support for Ukraine, arguing that it only prolongs the conflict and has led to NATO’s direct involvement in the hostilities, resulting in escalating tensions.

In September, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that while the US is profiting from the Ukraine conflict, there are significant long-term consequences. “The path of total militarization of any economy is ultimately a dead end,”Zakharova said, adding that a post-conflict transition from a militarized economy to peacetime production is extremely difficult.

“Under these conditions, the American military-industrial complex will inevitably resort to a tried and tested method: It will try to ignite a new armed conflict under any pretext,” she warned.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine's Zelenskiy: U.S. military aid not cut, no talks on new packages yet

Ukraine continues to receive military aid from the U.S., but there's no discussion currently about any prospective packages, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.

"There's no reduction in U.S. support today. It is not stopped, it continues," he told reporters in Kyiv after a meeting with British foreign minister David Lammy.

Washington has been one of the biggest suppliers of military aid to Kyiv since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion almost three years ago.

But re-elected President Donald Trump has regularly criticised the extent of U.S. help provided to Kyiv. Reuters sources said that U.S. shipments of weapons into Ukraine were briefly paused recently before resuming over the last weekend.

Zelenskiy said it was "too early" for discussion on new batches of military assistance to take place.

Asked about Ukraine's ability to fight without American aid, Zelenskiy said cutting supplies would hit hard on the country's defence capabilities.

"We will be weaker, and whether we would hold (the land) - I'm not sure," he added.

RT/Reuters

In a recent interview, ex-Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, alleged that the #EndSARS movement that roiled Nigeria in 2020 was a conspiracy against his friend, Bola Tinubu. By narrating how a set of circumstances that did not begin with Tinubu became wrapped around him and his ambitions, Akande tried to increase the moral value of his electoral victory. The interesting part for me was that he claimed that those who ambushed Tinubu through EndSARS were “the Obi-dients”, a well-organised army who “came from America (the USA) with a lot of money”. I am willing to bet that Akande has no evidence whatsoever to substantiate his allegations and would demur if asked to name those Obi-dients. But stories like that do not need to be true; they only need to be believed.

But why “America”? Why did the conspiring Obi-dients that Akande conjectured come from the USA and not anywhere else? There is a significant Nigerian diaspora in the UK and Canada, could they also not have funded such a campaign? Given the outsized role regularly ascribed to the USA in our political and economic predicaments, no other country would have sufficed. The imagination that produced that allegation must be substantive to some degree to sound somewhat credible.

Ask a Nigerian or an African why our countries are so poor, and it will not be long before they gravitate towards detecting Western-based institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as why we fail at self-management. Those USA-based organisations are the physical manifestations of the transcendent forces we blame for our woes. Since there are several documented instances of their unpalatable institutional interference in economically challenged countries like Nigeria, there is a mix of truth that justifies how they have come to embody the trope of the evil that keeps Africa from attaining its destiny. That is why one of our Daddys in the Lord could pray that “Either the IMF likes it or not, I decree the naira will rise again.”

The USA is also routinely fingered in the restlessness that bedevils our society. Some people are convinced that terrorism in Nigeria is funded by the USA. I have met a few of those folks before; their attributed reasons for the USA’s supposed malevolence can be internally contradictory, but the conspiracy imagination needs not to be coherent before it rings true to those who believe them. Then there are Nigerians who also believe that the only reason that Muhammadu Buhari won the election in 2015 was because the USA sponsored him. Some of those folks, if they are reading this article, are ready to defend that assertion by pointing to one or two examples they hold as indelible proof. They need not worry. I have read all those arguments; I know where those folks are coming from.

The trouble with such speculation is that we become so invested in tracing the outlines of an alternative reality where “the spiritual determines the physical” that we lose sight of ourselves as human agents who determine our destiny. To the folks who believe that the USA masterminded the 2015 election loss by the PDP, it matters less that it was Nigerians who used their hand to vote for Muhammadu Buhari. They override the agency of fellow Nigerians, some of whom sought genuine reforms and many of whom were also motivated by religious/tribal identities, to blame a supernational force. One would think it was America that created “Febuhari” or “March for Buhari” and helped Yemi Osinbajo distribute the N10,000 pittance they used to bid for votes.

The 2015 election loss was so humiliating for the religious and tribal blocs that Goodluck Jonathan represents, that the only way they can justify the turn of events is to attribute it to a higher power. Even Jonathan himself believes that he lost to the USA, not his countrypeople who got tired of his crass ineptitude. Our society is so invested in the supernatural that if we are not leaving our human responsibility to God, we are blaming the devil for our failings. The same attitude extends to our political and economic behaviours where we always look for otherworldly forces to blame for our self-induced problems.

What gets lost in the narrative is the temporal context. Occupy Nigeria, the anti-subsidies removal protests of 2012 that activated disaffection against Jonathan, and which his supporters (like Akande too) insist was a funded campaign by clandestine agents, also happened in different parts of the world at that time. That of Nigeria occurred in the light of the legislative probe that revealed the huge scam that the subsidy had become. In the era of Arab Spring and the #OccupyUSA movement, was it unthinkable that the young Nigerians embedded within a global media ecosystem would react to oppressive corruption like their counterparts elsewhere? Yes, certain characters like Muhammadu Buhari profited from the anti-Jonathan sentiment that the protest generated, but the emotions that drove it were not baseless.

The funny thing is that I know people who supported Buhari and campaigned for him from door to door. Imagine how amused I was when I saw some of them—against the backdrop of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s campaign against USAID, the cultural arm of the US government—on Twitter (now called X) also crowing about how the USA imposed Buhari on Nigeria in 2015! Buhari was such a huge failure that his once devoted supporters are erasing their own participation in making him president! To distance themselves from the monumental disgrace he became, they delete their complicity.

In the same way that the anti-Buhari people have outsourced their agency in that protest to the USA, Akande too weaponises the EndSARS to blame some shadowy agents for confronting Tinubu. In doing so, he similarly erases the agency of the Nigerians who were genuinely driven to the streets because they were frustrated with the failings of a judicial institution under Buhari’s watch. The EndSARS was about Nigerian youths who had been driven to the wall by the excesses of the police, and just like OccupyNigeria in 2012, they took energies from similar protests abroad. Akande’s historical revisionism had nothing to say about the genuine issues that precipitated those protests.

Notice also that even though Tinubu contested against two opponents, only Peter Obi haunts Akande’s imagination. Yes, Obi profited from the anti-establishment sentiment of EndSARS the same way OccupyNigeria helped Buhari. So immense was his popularity among Nigeria’s Gen Z that he sent the conservative political class into a tailspin. If today, Tinubu struggles with a crisis of legitimacy even as the sitting President, it is also because he lost something irrecoverable to Obi in that election. The Obi who was said to lack “structure” and his supporters who were ridiculed as “people without PVCs” stunned everyone with what they achieved. That is why Akande thinks American money and strategy had to have been involved. If Obi had been declared the winner of that election, Akande’s narrative would have held up to justify how a combination of Yoruba and Northerners, the majority of whom also happen to be Muslims, could lose to a Christian southerner whose supporters were not even taken seriously.

Here is the thing: the fact that Akande’s story is laughable today does not mean it will always be. The APC will not rule forever. Many of their top brass are older men who will eventually lose their vice-like grip over the existing political structure. Nature will do its thing, and they will eventually be defeated in a hostile takeover. Those who will replace them are the current anti-establishment figures who are tweeting while waiting in the wings. From the fringes where they are sensationalising the USA as the God/Satan whose invisible hands move our history to mobilise their army of the disaffected, they will become the dominant ones. The ones in power today will look back at moments like 2020 EndSARS, pick up the narrative of “money, strategy, and America” including the one Akande put out and they too will start running with it.

Punch

The U.S. will "take over the Gaza Strip," level it and rebuild the area, President Donald Trump said during a press conference Tuesday evening after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. 

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too," Trump said Tuesday evening in a joint press conference with Netanyahu. "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexplored bombs and other weapons on the site."

"Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area," he said. "Do a real job. Do something different. Just can't go back. If you go back, it's going to end up the same way it has for 100 years."

Netanyahu, who joined Trump for the Tuesday press conference, is the first world leader to meet with the president at the White House under his second administration.

When asked about taking over the Gaza Strip, Trump said he could see the U.S. in a "long-term ownership position" of the piece of land, which would likely bring stability to the Middle East.

"I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East," Trump said. "And everybody I've spoken to – this was not a decision made lightly – everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land. Developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know. Nobody can look because all they see is death and destruction and rubble." 

Netanyahu, when also asked about the Gaza Strip, reiterated to the media that he has three goals, one of which is to "make sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again."

"President Trump is taking it to a much higher level," the Israeli leader said. "He sees a different – he sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so much, so many attacks against us, so many, so many trials and so many tribulations. He has a different idea, and I think it's worth paying attention to this."

The pair's White House meeting included discussing the current ceasefire deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group and its future, Iran's grip on the Middle East and resettling Gaza residents in other nations.

"In our meetings today, the prime minister and I focused on the future, discussing how we can work together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region," Trump said during the press conference. "It's been troubled, but what's happened in the last four years has not been good."

Trump said the Gaza Strip has become "a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people anywhere near it."

"It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there," he added. 

Netanyahu lauded Trump's tenacity and ability "to think outside the box" during his comments to the press. 

"Your willingness to puncture conventional thinking, thinking that has failed time and time and time again, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas, will help us achieve all these goals," he said. "And I've seen you do this many times. You cut to the chase. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say, you know. And after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads, and they say, 'You know, he's right.'" 

The Israeli leader continued that his nation's victory would also be a win for America.

"Israel's victory will be America's victory," Netanyahu said. "We will not only win the war working together, we will win the peace. With your leadership, Mr. President, and our partnership, I believe that we will forge a brilliant future for our region and bring our great alliance to even greater heights."

Fox News

The Federal Government began collecting tolls Tuesday on the 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Highway, marking a significant shift in infrastructure management. The launch took place at the Garaku Toll Plaza.

Minister of Works David Umahi, represented by Minister of State Bello Goronyo, emphasized the highway's crucial role in connecting central and northern Nigeria. The project operates under a 25-year concession agreement with MS China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company, established in 2023 and funded through a China Exim Bank loan.

The toll rates are:

- Cars: N500

- SUVs: N800

- Minibuses: N1000

- Multi-axle vehicles, trucks, and buses: N1600

Commercial light vehicles will receive a 50% discount. Several vehicle categories are exempt from tolls, including security forces, diplomatic missions, ambulances, tricycles, motorcycles, and bicycles.

According to Lai Are, Managing Director of Catamaran, the toll system will operate cashlessly through POS terminals and electronic payment systems. The company plans to develop mobile apps and websites to facilitate easy payment.

This highway represents the first of nine corridors to be concessioned under the Highways Development and Management Initiative's Phase 1. The government aims to use toll revenue for maintenance and expansion, working toward a "modern, safe" transportation system that meets Nigeria's growing needs.

The new toll system prioritizes efficient traffic flow while generating funds for infrastructure maintenance. Similar toll launches are planned across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones in the coming months.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​