There is a way Gboko boys hail you, when you yourself know they are  mocking you. "Ortamen, m nau ichivir" meaning,  "Elder I send my respects." The sarcasm of the  appellation becomes striking when you discover that the person being addressed is anything but an elder. During my years in Lagos, I occasionally encountered Janjaweed Area boys who called out to me menancingly; "Chairman, we hail you! Anything for the boys?" Of course, I was neither their chairman nor any person of consequence in their hierarchy of Area boys.

I feel  extremely sad that the Nigerian government has without any convincing reasons, jettisoned our national Anthem and in its place brought back the old one that  was composed at independence in 1960. The old Anthem of "Nigeria, we hail thee!" sounds to me every inch like the tongue in cheek appellation of the area boys of Gboko and Lagos. This is because upon critical examination, you would discover that the song hails Nigeria for nothing. It merely calls out Nigeria as our "Natve country" of different "tribes and tongues" and says  nothing else about its great attributes and people.

Mrs Lillian Jean Williams, the British woman who composed this song could not have been more patriotic or creative in defining our country than the quartet of Nigerians who composed the second National Anthem in 1978, "Arise O Compatriots." If not for anything, the generous use of pejorative terms like "Native" and "Tribes" by the British lady creates a strong sense of the pristine and the primitive. It is too late in the day to choose such words in Postcolonial discourse.

Those who masterminded the swap of the National Anthems gave an excuse that the second National Anthem was composed during the military era, and so it contains words and sentiments that were undemocratic. So it really begs the question why government has chosen to adopt the one with words and sentiments of colonialism instead of composing a befitting one for the epoch.

This action of  adopting the first national Anthem donated to us by our colonial masters after 64 years of independence is a demonstration  of the failure of our decolonisation processes  after flag independence. It is consistent with the idea of our leaders losing faith in our hospitals,  universities and other facilities and regularly visiting countries in  Europe and America to get fulfilment.

The central theme in the lyrics of the Anthem is the lamentation of the multiplicity of "tribes and tongues" in this primordial territory the British came to "discover,"and then the expression of hope in African or Nigerian brotherhood regardless the difficulty. You could sense the tone of mockery from the British colonial composer who falsely regrets the phenomenon of divergent tribes and tongues, foisted on us by the Europeans at Berlin in 1885/86 where there was no representative from Nigeria or from any part of Africa.

You could also see the patronising hypocrisy of the Europeans highlighting their experiment of foisting multi-tribal nations in Africa as a major achievement in bonds of brotherhood, when in fact, not many European nations are multi-tribal or multilingual in their composition. A few of their multi-tribal nations like Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union have since collapsed like a pack of cards.

Nations are not stagnant. They grow and change in many ways from time to time. They  also  develop  core values which are incorporated in their insignia of state like the national Anthem, Coat of Arms, Flags, Creed and constitution. A country could change the lyrics of its national Anthem to conform with the realities of the time, but no country has yet, as far as I know, gone back to the ideas of its colonial masters to define itself. At least, not now in Africa, where  even  smaller countries in West Africa with clear headed leaders are asserting total independence from European colonial mentality.

Nigeria is by all standards not lagging behind in creativity. We are ranking high as suppliers of expertise and professional manpower all over the world.  Our country is home to a galaxy stars in the arts too. Our Nollywood movie industry is ranked  among the top six in the world. Our pop stars are the envy of even the American popular cultural producers. Our own Prof Wole Soyinka was the first black person to win the Nobel prize for literature 38 years ago, and Nigeria still boasts of  literary giants like Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Helon Habila, Senior Atta and others with international acclaim. A nation with such creative talents has no business going  back to the lyrics of British colonial woman whose words have  neither proved to be prophetic nor adequately defined the proud  people of Nigeria.

Rather than hurriedly or secretly conduct a legislation to swap the new Anthem with the old, the government had a duty to organise an open national competition for creative artists to write a better and more appropriate National Anthem for us. An ideal Anthem should highlight the positive attributes of Nigeria and its people and should draw our attention to philosophical values and qualities that specifically distinguish us from other countries.

Just sample a few examples from other countries to appreciate my idea of how an ideal anthem should be. The Russian national Anthem is a praise song for the Russian federation, the triumph of the philosophy of communism and the beauty of the "land where the sun of freedom shines on us" The US national Anthem describes America as 'the land of the free and the home of the brave." The British national Anthem is a victory song that was composed after a war in 1745 led by the then king of England,  In it, citizens pray to God to save the King as well as pledge their loyalty to the throne. But by far, my most favourite is the Anthem of the defunct Republic of Biafra which describes itself as "Land of the rising sun and the beloved homeland of the brave."

The colonial era is certainly a wrong period to go in search an anthem for a nation that professes it got its independence 64 years ago.

I dare conclude that this choice of an obviously outdated national Anthem for Nigeria in the 21st Century is certainly not the best action taken by the government of President Bola Tinubu. This law should be repealed.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith ~ 1 John 5:4.

Introduction:

All men strive for greatness and gracious fulfillment in life. But, we have long known that the journeys of destiny are never simple and straightforward. The truth is, there’s no path to greatness without concrete obstacles. One wise man said, “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere”.

Many overwhelming obstacles will always seek to harm your confidence, passion and progress, even to the point where it may seem like your dream no longer holds value.

Israel had just been rescued from age-long servitude, and they were journeying to the place God had promised them, Canaan: a land flowing with milk and honey. And, quite unexpectedly, just a short while into the journey, they bumped into this strong obstacle: the Wall of Jericho!

The wall, no doubt, was quite insurmountable, humanly speaking. According to Josephus’ historical account, it was thick enough for six horsemen to ride side-by-side upon it. Even then, God knew how to handle it! And, He did (Joshua 6:1-20)!

Obstacles and stonewalls abound in the various corridors of life. Notwithstanding, as long as you’re alive in Christ, it’s never too late to become what you were created to be. But you must be ready to deal decisively with the enemies at the gates of your destiny (Luke 11:22).

All Christians have the authority to defeat their enemies and the persistent difficultiesthey bring. Waging prophetic warfare is one of the major tools available to us to defeat them and fulfill our assignments on Earth. Thus, the overcomers are those believers in Christ who forcefully resist and successfully repel the myriads of satanic manipulations in this present world.

A long time ago, I knew a Christian sister in our church who, before she encountered the Lord’s victorious power, was so hindered by invisible obstacles that she was literally using her HND civil engineering certificate as a dust packer. Afterwards, by mercy, she overcame and recovered her lost glory.

Meanwhile, whenever God allows His people to go through great trials, He is certainly preparing them for great comforts. In other words, “where you are” presently may be because of “where you’re going”. Press forward, your tomorrow is still very colourful!

Our Faith In Christ Secures The Victory

Unarguably, there are certain proper processes that throw up breakthroughs in life, and it’s my well-considered belief that faith in Christ’s finished atoning work is a foremost step towards a boundless and truly victorious life.

Jesus Christ overcame the prince of this world, Satan, by His death and resurrection (John 12:31; 16:33). He vanquished the great foe, and triumphed over all that would work our ruin. And, having trounced him, Jesus laid the foundation for our timeless victory over sin, Satan, sicknesses, poverty, fear and death.

Now, this affirmation is for all who are born of God on the ground of Christ’s vicarious sacrifice. Every believing soul today, and all those who would repent and embrace the love of God before the imminent rapture of saints may enjoy total victory and abundant life. Indeed, Jesus Christ has brought us unfailing help and strength from above.

Gleefully, our victory over the world is a present and a continuous victory: “overcometh the world” (1John 5:4). We overcome Satan, the god of the world, thelusts of the flesh and all the wicked menand women of the world, continuously. And, the means of partaking in this victory is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (1John 5:5).

This faith is embraced via genuine repentance and confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:15). When we believe thus, we are automatically brought into union with Christ, become partakers of His victory, and overcome the world (1John 3:17; 4:4).

Emphatically, we’re not just fighting for victory, but rather claiming our possessions from the position of the victory that Jesus Christ has won for us (John 16:33; 1John 2:13-14). Our victory is a done deal (Revelation 12:11)! Alleluia!!

We are free men and women, with secure victory in Christ! The world, in its maxims, precepts and customs, has no further audacity to rule us (1 John 5:4). Nevertheless, we must resolve in all practical terms, to take no denial of this privileged position of victory we have obtained in Christ.

Whatever the issues are per time, by faith we must bring the Lord into the picture, immediately. And, we must choose to see clearly at all times. Whatever causes fear, should drive us to our God in prayers. Times of fear should be times of prayer!

We must see victory before we can expect to enjoy victory (Numbers 13:30). What wesee is what we get! Even our identity is very closely associated with our thoughts and feelings. Thoughts are things, people say. And, in the province of the mind, what one believes to be true, either is true or becomes true eventually (Psalms 27:13)!

We must also walk the Bible patterns in every detail of our lives. Even in prayers, the best we can say to God in prayer, is what He has said to us in His Word. We generally mess up in life when we miss the patterns. We miss roads when we ignore the maps.

Insist on living by divine precepts and instructions. Jesus said, what I do is what I see the Father do (John 5:19). This is the secured lifestyle that insures your tight covenant walk with God.

Furthermore, we must be very passionate about the sound of Jubilee. We must proclaim the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ with greatest passion, energy and enthusiasm. Passion is life. Albeit, we mustn’t forget to regularly give God all the glory with thanksgiving. In it all, He alone deserves our stewardship!

When all these precepts are in their right places in our lives, the power of the Lord swings into action to disable the powers of evil, and all the hitherto insurmountable obstacles to our progress fall flat. Thereafter, the rest is an unending story of miracles!

Friends, Satan is a humbled foe! Hold that tight!! All that we believers have to do is to put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation, and putting on the whole armour of God, we must be fully assured that our victory is a foregone conclusion.

Fellow saints of God, you’re the overcomer! The Greater One, Jesus Christ, is in you (1John 4:4). Relax with Him in the overcomers’ throne, and begin in earnest to eat and enjoy the tree of life, even from this side of eternity (Revelation 2:7; 3:21). Yours is the decided victory. You won’t miss it, in Jesus name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

____________________

Bishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987

God’s open reward comes to those who pray without ceasing. This means praying at all times. It is not about praying in churches or at prayer meetings. It is about praying as Jesus commends, in spirit and truth. (John 4:24).

Those who pray without ceasing think about the Lord at all times. We live in the consciousness of God. Paul refers to this as: “walking in the spirit.” (Galatians 5:16). We try as much as possible not to lose our consciousness of God, not even for a moment.

Some people thought I was crazy when I said having sex with your wife provides the avenue for exuberant praise. But David says: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1).

If we are enjoying something, we should praise God in our hearts. This is because: “(It is) the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17). Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, gave thanks to God before every meal. (John 6:11). It is God who: “satisfies the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16).

We become candidates for God’s open reward when all our terms of reference come from God. If we watch a film, we watch it with God. We converse with Him about what is happening on the screen, even if fictional:

“Oh my God, why do You let this kind of thing happen?” “Oh my God, look at what You did for that man.” “Oh Lord, when will you turn this kind of thing around?” “Oh God, You are such a wonderful person.”

Thinking God

David observes that God is always thinking about us: “How precious it is, Lord, to realise that you are thinking about me constantly!” (Psalm 139:17). He says to God by revelation: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” (Psalm 56:8).

If God is always thinking about us, then we must always be thinking about God. Indeed, the psalmist describes the wicked man as one who does not think of God constantly: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4).

God is particular about this. He is described in the Bible as: “The desire of all nations.” (Haggai 2:7). A Book of Remembrance has been opened in heaven for those who think constantly about God:

“Then those who feared and loved the Lord spoke often of Him to each other. And He had a Book of Remembrance drawn up in which He recorded the names of those who feared Him and loved to think about Him.” (Malachi 3:16).

Accordingly, Paul says: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

God is the only Person in the universe to whom all these accolades apply.

Divine Particularism

I had just finished writing a book of 100,000 words when God suddenly said: “Femi, every time you write about Me, start with a capital letter.” The Bible does not even do that consistently. But now I have to do it. I had to go through every sentence changing every he that applies to God or Jesus to He, every him to Him, every me to Me, and every my to My.

I had to search with a tooth-comb every sentence in over 300 pages to make these alterations. I do not have to tell you that it was tedious.

But God says: “Those who honour Me I will honour.” (1 Samuel 2:30). One of the ways He honours us is with open rewards. God rewards us openly when we are focused on Him in our hearts. He desires “truth in the inner parts.” (Psalm 51:6). He is the truth. (John 14:6).

Open Secrets

We must not forget that everything we do secretly is open to God. God sees everything we do in the dark in the light of day. The writer of Hebrews says:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” (Hebrews 4:13).

A pastor asked an usher: “Is there any door through which I can enter the hall and join the service without being seen? The usher replied: “There is no way to enter the hall without God seeing you.”

Christ’s Ambassadors

Jesus says: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.” (Luke 6:26).

It was well known that Jesus was indifferent to public opinion. Trying to set Him up, His adversaries said: “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.” (Mark 12:14).

Paul equally disdains public opinion. He asks: “Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10). “We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

At first glance, he seems to contradict himself when he tells the Romans: “Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification.” (Romans 15:2). He also tells Timothy: “(A bishop) must have a good testimony among those who are outside.” (1 Timothy 3:7).

But there is no contradiction here. Without seeking the praise of men, and not caring what others think of us, we must care what they think of Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20). We represent Christ so we must be godly. Christ must be shown to be excellent by the way we live.

We do not try to gain the approval of Christ by unbelievers. They may not like Him. They may be blind and resistant to His truth. Nevertheless, as His disciples, we must represent Christ truthfully. We must be careful to epitomise the truth of Christ.

Thus, Peter says: “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world.” (1 Peter 2:12).

Open Reward

Some years ago, I was driving a van in Lagos. When I reached a roundabout, I heard a siren behind me. It came from an ambulance, so, I moved to one side to let it overtake me. When I wanted to continue on my way, a policeman of sorts blocked me and accused me of obstructing the traffic.

“Did you not see I was giving way to an ambulance?” I asked. But he was not interested. “You are under arrest,” he barked as he jumped into my van. He took me to their headquarters just off the roundabout. He then fined me N7,500 for obstructing the traffic, and N1,500 for not having a radio permit.

I asked him if he could see any radio in my car since I had none. He just smiled and said I could get my van out of there only if I paid N9,000.

For some strange reason, I did not argue further. I paid the fine and left. But when I got home, I became angry. I went down on my knees and complained to God:

“What kind of cheating is this? Your word says: “In righteousness, you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.” (Isaiah 54:14). “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17).

God told me to go back there the next day. “When you go, do not go in the van. Go in Karen’s Nissan Altima, and with her driver. Wear a suit and a tie.”

I did as God told me. When I arrived, a man stood on the sidewalk as I exited my car. I greeted him and he replied. Then he said:

“I know you from somewhere. Did you have a shop in Ikoyi at one time?”

“Yes, I did,” I replied.

“I used to be in Ikoyi, but I am now in Victoria Island,” he offered. “My name is Onikoyi, and I am in charge here. What can I do for you?”

I told him: “You are the person I need to see.” 

I told him my predicament: “I made way for an ambulance and one of your boys arrested me for obstructing the traffic. He brought me here and fined me N7,500. Then he fined me N1,500 for not having a radio licence. But my van did not even have a radio.”

The man invited me into his office and told me to sit down. Then he asked: “Can you identify the officer who did this if you see him?”

“Yes, I can,” I replied.

Then he called one of his workers: “Call all those working under me and tell them to line up in front of my office.”

Immediately after he said this, the offending officer walked into his office for some reason.

“This is the man,” I exclaimed.

When the man saw me, he knew instinctively why I was there.

“So you are the one?” asked Mr Onikoyi. “Your job is finished here. You are fired.”

There was no discussion about his offence. It was understood. My tormentor of yesterday was now rolling on the ground, begging for mercy.

Mr Onikoyi said: “This man is a fool. He has two wives.”

I do not know how the matter was subsequently resolved. Mr Onikoyi gave me his complimentary card. He said: “If anybody bothers you again in Victoria Island, just phone me.” Then he instructed that my money be refunded.

I thanked him profusely and left. But the glory belonged to God.

Jesus says: “Talk to your Father in the closet and He will reward you openly.”  The open reward came a week or two later.

We wanted to turn from a main street to a side one. The traffic warden directed us to go. The car in front of us did as directed. But when we followed, the officer stopped us and complained that we moved without authorisation.

He told us to park on the roadside. When we did, he entered the car, sat beside my driver, and said he would give us a traffic violation.

I was at the back and said nothing.

“You are saying nothing, oga, I will have to take you to Muri Okunola.”

I ignored him, so he told my driver to proceed to Muri Okunola.

When we arrived, he came out of the car, and I also came out.

Suddenly, we were surrounded by a large number of the officers.

“What are you doing here, Sir?” they asked in a chorus.

Then they begged me that I should not go to see Mr. Onikoyi.

They prevailed on me to leave without making a complaint and without incident.

Since then, nobody has harassed me on the road in Victoria Island, Lagos. God rewarded my secret prayer openly. CONCLUDED.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.femiaribisala.com

Everyone's life is different — yet most people still utter one of four common phrases on their deathbeds, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning author and oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Each of the phrases offers an important lessons for leading a fulfilling and successful life, Mukherjee said during a commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania last week. "Every person that I've met in this moment of transition wanted to make four offerings," he added.

The phrases are:

I want to tell you that I love you. 

I want to tell you that I forgive you. 

Would you tell me that you love me? 

Would you give me your forgiveness?

People who know they're dying often express some variation of one of those four themes — indicating that they waited until it was late to show their appreciation for others or right their interpersonal wrongs, said Mukherjee, author of the award-winning 2011 nonfiction book "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer."

Instead, they harbored grudges, lived with unresolved guilt or spent years being too afraid to be vulnerable, Mukherjee explained. The ensuing remorse, stress, poor mental health and even hormonal and immune imbalances can stunt your personal and professional growth, neurobehavioral scientist J. Kim Penberthy wrote in a 2022 University of Virginia blog post.

"Love and forgiveness, death and transition. Waiting [to express yourself] merely delays the inevitable," said Mukherjee, adding that young people should, "take this seriously. You're living in a world where love and forgiveness have become meaningless, outdated platitudes ... They're words people have learned to laugh at."

Coming to terms with the fact that you've wronged or hurt someone can be difficult. Try following these four steps, recommends Richard Cowden, a social-personality psychologist with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science:

Take responsibility for your actions.

Allow yourself to experience negative feelings, like remorse and guilt.

Give a sincere apology and try to make amends.

Learn from the experience and move on.

"It's uncomfortable to admit you've done something wrong, and it's natural to protect one's self-esteem by dismissing what happened or making excuses for your behavior," Cowden told Harvard Medical School in 2022. "[But] it can free you from your past mistakes and help you live more fully in the here and now. You might be surprised how much better you feel if you can work through the process of forgiving yourself."

You can also show appreciation for people by speaking their love language: Take your partner's vehicle to the car wash without them asking, or surprise your mom with flowers. Go out to dinner with your friends or give someone a hug. Simply say, "I love you" or "I appreciate you."

Just make sure you actually mean words like "love" and "forgiveness" when you use them, said Mukherjee.

"I dare you to use these words," he said. "But not as empty clichés, imbue them with real meaning. Do it your way, whatever your way is."

 

CNBC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared an indefinite strike in response to the federal government’s refusal to raise the new minimum wage above the N60,000 offered.

NLC spokesperson Ben Ukpa announced that the strike is set to begin on June 3. "The strike is due to the government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage and to reverse the electricity tariff hike," Ukpa said.

The labour unions had issued an ultimatum to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the federal government to reverse the electricity tariff hike by May 31.

On April 3, NERC approved an increase in the electricity tariff for customers in the Band A classification—from N66 to N225 per kWh. This tariff hike sparked public outcry and demands for its reversal.

The unions also demanded that the federal government finalize the new national minimum wage process for workers by May 31. The federal government proposed minimum wages of N48,000, N54,000, and most recently, N60,000, all of which were rejected by the NLC and TUC. The unions insist on N494,000, citing the high cost of living.

In a statement released on Friday, the labour unions expressed their frustration with the government's neglect of its responsibilities despite repeated warnings.

"In light of this persistent inaction, we, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), hereby issue a notice of commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike to the Federal Government," the statement reads.

"We reiterate that since the national minimum wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded, the agreed wage has not been passed into law, the electricity tariff hike has not been reversed, and the categorization of consumers into Bands has not been stopped as demanded; Nigerian workers are compelled by these failures to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action beginning on Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024, to press home our demands."

"The NLC and TUC are united in this cause, and we call on all our affiliates, state Councils, Civil Society Organizations, market men and women, and the general populace to prepare for decisive action. We cannot and will not accept any further delays or excuses."

The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has disclosed that electricity distribution companies have disconnected over 100 manufacturing firms.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH at the annual general meeting of the MAN’s food, beverage and tobacco sector, on Thursday in Lagos, he revealed that 10 of the association’s members had been disconnected in Kano.

“We do not favour legal action against the Discos and NERC. We do not want to go there. One of our branches has done so, and that subsists. The Disco in Kano is still disconnecting our members despite the injunction. As an association, we do not want to engage in such (legal action) but it comes as a last resort.

“You can imagine that as of today, more than 100 of our members have been disconnected, which means that their workers have been asked to go home. It means that their production processes have been halted. It means that they are not able to fulfil their obligations to their suppliers, and they have started to lose money,” he explained.

According to the MAN DG, the crux of the matter is that manufacturers are asked to pay electricity bills that will take manufacturers out of business.

“A company told me that it was paying N7-8m before, now it is paying N32m. The calculation is that the profit you could have made, you are not able to make it. So, you need to decide to go ahead and produce and pay an electricity bill that is more than the profit you would have made or shut down.

So, we are gradually seeing a situation where more and more industries are shutting down, because if you disconnect an industry that does not have an alternative source of power, it practically goes out of business,” he declared.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Sector of MAN and Managing Director of Intercontinental Distillers Limited, Patrick Anegbe, stated that the spate of insecurity in the country was hampering backward integration in the food industry.

“How do you backwards integrate when you are talking about insecurity? The insecurity in the country poses a very serious threat to backward integration,” he averred.

He added that multiple taxes had also eaten deep into the profit margins of manufacturers, noting that production costs had continued to skyrocket.

“Multiple taxation is really affecting our business. Taxes here and there. The cost of production has gone up very high to the extent that margins are so low. We are just barely surviving.

“The government should look for a way of reducing these multiple taxations and eliminating some of them,” he asserted.

He revealed that the food, beverage and tobacco sector’s production value rose by 68.2 per cent or N614.0bn in the first half of 2023 compared to N900.45bn recorded in the second half of 2022.

“The sector’s local raw material sourcing for the period under review saw a decline from 70 per cent in H2 2022 to 66.8 per cent in H2 2023, though this is an improvement from 62 per cent in H1 2022 (MAN H2 Economic Review),” he explained.

The newly elected Chairman of the sector of MAN, and Managing Director of La Casera Company, Chinedum Okereke, noted that the importance of the food sector cannot be undermined, as it guarantees the country’s food security and plays a vital role in job creation.

“We will collaborate and engage more with the government. Most time, the government may have good intentions but the lack of engagement with stakeholders is a problem. So, we will not sit back and wait for them to engage with us, but we will proactively go to them for engagement,” he stated.

The Deputy Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Olugbenga Aina, who was one of the speakers at the AGM, advised manufacturers not to see regulation as a burden.

He noted that the best form of regulation is self-regulation, adding that manufacturers must be innovative.

“Fostering competitiveness in the food, beverage and tobacco industry with regards to ensuring that local content production meets international best practices for increased export demand and national revenues, is key to the Renewed HOPE Agenda and revitalising the Nigerian economy.

“The significance of the food, beverage, and tobacco sector in Nigeria cannot be overstated. Food, beverage and tobacco is the greatest contributor at N3,814.50bn or 52 per cent of the Nigerian manufacturing sector total in 2013, according to National Bureau of Statistics,” he stated.

According to Aina, aligning with global standards opens up new export opportunities and enables manufacturers to tap into new markets and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification.

Also, the Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Rite Foods Limited, Ekuma Eze, who was one of the speakers at the event, stressed the need for food industries to invest in research and development to create innovative technologies and solutions that differentiate.

He added that they must build strong partnerships to combine strength and resources to create value-adding products.

 

Punch

Some members of the House of Representatives are seeking to limit the central bank's control over economic policy by proposing to set up a committee to coordinate monetary and fiscal policies, headed by the finance minister, according to a bill in the Senate.

The proposal by a member of the ruling party, APC, comes as inflation in Africa's most populous nation hit a 28-year high of 33.69% in April amidst sluggish economic growth and currency woes.

Under the proposed law, the central bank would be in charge of monetary policies as before, but a new committee headed by the finance minister would be responsible for coordinating monetary and fiscal policies.

Some economists said that adding a committee to coordinate monetary and fiscal policies could severely weaken the central bank. The proposal is so far backed by 32 members of the ruling party and the bill would need to be approved by the Senate and then President Bola Tinubu's signature to become law. The government has not given its view on the bill yet.

"You will have the federal government tampering with the autonomy of the central bank. You cannot have external parties making decisions about monetary policy, which is the exclusive preserve of the bank," Abuja-based economic analyst Kelvin Emmanuel said.

The International Monetary Fund has previously warned Nigeria about interfering with the independence of the central bank, arguing that it could hamper the country's ability to tackle inflation and restore stability.

The central bank governor would also serve a single six-year term instead of a maximum of two five-year terms currently.

Godwin Emefiele, who was governor until June last year, was the first to get a second term as central bank head, where he implemented currency restrictions which harmed the economy and Nigeria's ability to import goods, thereby stoking inflation.

Senators have also proposed to decrease the amount of temporary advances the central bank can grant the government as budget support. It was increased under Muhammadu Buhari who was Nigeria's president from 2015 until May last year.

 

Reuters

The Federal Government has announced the temporary suspension of the contentious $300 helicopter landing fee imposed on operators. The levy, managed by consultant Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, sparked protests from helicopter operators.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, initially defended the fee, which was instituted by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika. However, in response to mounting pressure, Keyamo announced the suspension on Friday in a statement signed by Ministry spokesperson Odutayo Oluseyi.

The statement indicated that further action would be determined after a review committee submits its report. "Following a meeting with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) executive regarding the helicopter landing levies at aerodromes, helipads, airstrips, etc., Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has temporarily suspended the enforcement granted to Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd by the Federal Government," the statement read.

The suspension, effective from May 30, 2024, responds to calls for a review by industry stakeholders. Keyamo has formed a committee comprising members from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, its relevant agencies, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), International Oil Companies (IOCs), and Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd. This committee is tasked with addressing the concerns raised and is expected to submit its report by the end of June 2024.

Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd was previously granted the exclusive right to collect these levies, which many stakeholders questioned. The committee's recommendations are anticipated to provide a way forward.

Cocoa’s shortage this season will be bigger than previously expected as consumption holds up despite higher prices, according to the International Cocoa Organization.

Demand will exceed production by 439,000 tons, driven by higher cocoa grinding in consuming countries, the ICCO said in its second estimate for the current October-September year. That compares with a Februaryprojection for a deficit of 374,000 tons.

“Current available data reveal that cocoa grinding activities have so far been unrelenting in importing countries despite the record cocoa price rallies,” the ICCO said.

“As the 2023-24 season progresses, it is certain the season will end in a higher deficit than previously expected.”

Futures surged to a record of more than $11,000 a ton in New York in April as poor harvests in West Africa curbed supplies, stressing buyers and making chocolate more expensive. Still, prices have eased back below $10,000, and some analysts have said the rally has peaked.

The ICCO raised its estimate for global grindings to 4.86 million tons, from its initial outlook of 4.78 million tons. It raised its production projection by 12,000 tons to 4.46 million tons.

 

Bloomberg

Israel confirms its forces are in central Rafah in expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city

The Israeli military confirmed Friday that its forces are operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city.

Israel launched its ground assault into the city on May 6, triggering an exodus of around 1 million Palestinians out of the city and throwing U.N. humanitarian operations based in the area into turmoil. Still, it has yet to amount to a “major operation” in the eyes of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, according to the State Department.

Biden said Friday that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel and urged the Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire. He said Israeli officials have offered a three-phase deal to Hamas, adding, “Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.”

Cease-fire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a full Israeli invasion of Rafah.

Friday’s statement by the Israeli military suggested its forces have been operating in most parts of the city. For its first weeks, the Israeli assault focused on Rafah’s eastern districts and in areas close to the border with Egypt. Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt on the first day of the offensive and have since claimed control over the Philadelphi Corridor, a road running the length of the Gaza-Egypt border on the Gazan side.

Earlier this week, Israeli troops also moved into Rafah’s western district of Tel al-Sultan, where heavy clashes with Hamas fighters have been reported by witnesses.

In its statement Friday, the military said its troops in central Rafah had uncovered Hamas rocket launchers and tunnels and dismantled a weapons storage facility of the group. It did not specify where in central Rafah the operations were taking place, but previous statements and witness reports have pointed to raids in the Shaboura refugee camp and other sites near the city center.

The White House declined to comment Friday on the Israeli operations in central Rafah.

Israel has said an offensive in Rafah is vital to uprooting Hamas fighters in its military’s campaign to destroy the group after its Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The military has said it found dozens of tunnels in eastern Rafah, including at least 20 along the Philadelphi Corridor.

Up to around 300,000 people are believed to remain in the Rafah area, with an unknown number still in the city itself. Most have flocked to rural areas on the Mediterranean coastline west of the city, said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian group that operates in the area. That area has seen deadly Israeli strikes the past week.

Palestinians who fled the city have scattered around southern and central Gaza, most of them living in squalid tent camps.

More than 36,170 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s campaign of bombardment and offensives over the past eight months, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Its count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas to ensure it cannot repeat its Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting around 250 others. Around 100 hostages are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza along with the bodies of some 30 others.

 

AP