At this time two years ago, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector was far from thriving. Consider the industry debts—both those among operators and those owed to them by banks. Or the Federal Government’s NIN-SIM linkage policy, which had suffered seven postponements since December 2020. Then there were the tariffs. They had remained static for a decade, and…
A most charitable friend has been plucked from our presence. He was jovial, perpetually funny, hearty even at his lowest moments, and eternally spirited. I cannot ever recall meeting my dear Francis at a low point. He consistently put up a smile regardless of the circumstance. He was a friend to many, a foe to…
It is everyone’s dreaded speech. It is usually not a speech you look forward to giving however, when it comes we brace up to the task. Everyone talks about how eulogies are unsung praises that should have been said while the person could hear. Some call them fake praises. It may or may not be…
At about 11 am, on Friday, November 12, 2021, there was a buzz among tax aficionados: Muhammad Nami, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) boss had been elected the President of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA). He is the first Nigerian in the history of CATA to be so elected. CATA is an…
This is a huge burden for me — I’m having to make a cautious balance between telling you some very interesting things about Bashir and being careful that I do not give Sahara Reporters another story for tonight. If there’s anything I am about to say that you feel I should keep away from Sahara…
On the 28th of June, my friend, Dr. Abu called me to inform me that he had tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. Four days before the 28th, we had a meeting where he began feeling dizzy — I broke the social distancing protocol to help him up when he tried to lay down, but…
Good morning dear friends, thank you so much for this privilege. Thank you. Thank you everyone here present and those who have joined in via zoom. At every gathering of the Abuja Global Shapers, there is a palpable passion for humanity, for change, and for development that can be felt deep inside. And even when…
(First Published 1st October, 2012, on Thisday Newspaper) Why is Nigeria so important? It is perhaps the only country on the African Continent with all the attributes of a great power: size, population, arable land, water, oil, forests, hard minerals, tourist potential, in fact everything you require for a major modern economy. Yet…………here we are….
He looked so ordinary – but the reality was far from that. He was sophisticated and tissued. Those who cared for the country and its rebirth knew he was playing a pivotal role. Despite his imperfections – like we all are – they loved and cherished him. My mother, who worked with him while he…
The one hour journey to Gwagwalada is reminiscent of my student days at the University of Abuja. Often, on Fridays, as the weekend kicked off, students like myself who had families in the town would hop into luxurious buses that would take us home. On Sunday evenings, or Monday mornings we would troop to the…