 On the breakfast today, we take a look at the leadership tussle in the all-progressive Congress between Governor May Malabuni and his Niger State counterpart Abubakar Sani Bello and its implications for the party's national convention slated for 26 March 2022. Also on the breakfast, Nigeria's inflation rate hits 3 months high at 15.70 per cent amid high Can-Fuel prices. Don't forget, we also will be looking through today's newspapers, analyzing the biggest stories of the day. Good morning and welcome to the Breakfast in Plastivia, Africa. I'm Kofi Bar-Chelz. And I am Messi Bokor. It's a very beautiful Wednesday morning and it's really great to be back on your screen. Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. A lot to talk about today. What's happening with the all-progressive Congress, a very interesting occurrence at the party's national secretary. We'll be having a guest to give us some crack analysis of that. Of course, Uppura Boa in Kutairia makes his child fund return on the press this morning. We're looking forward to that. It's a bumper package. I encourage you to stick around with us on Plastivia, Africa. Messi, quite an interesting stories and events that we're monitoring on our trending segment this morning. Let's start off with the situation in Nigeria's aviation sector. Of course, if we remember, we've been talking about this on the breakfast and monitoring the developments on Plastivia, Africa across our programs including the news. The Nigerian national petroleum company Limited NNPC had to go or be called to the House of Representatives to sit down with airline operators and indeed, oil marketers to iron out the deal. And of course, this came and made a complaint, an SOS from the airline operators in particular, the chairman of Airpeace which seems to be encode the flagship carrier, the leading airline in Nigeria. Speaking on behalf of the rest, that in three days, if carriers are not taken in three days, the airlines will shut down operation. And this said a lot of people, you know, racing in, there was fear, there was panic and the House of Representatives called the NNPC, which is the sole importer of fuel into the country like they say. And if we remember, Alan Oyema who is the chairman of Airpeace had said that the local airlines will be better off being given licenses by the federal government to import fuel into the country so they don't have to grapple with the high cost, extra cost and also scarcity was an issue as well. And you could see the pictures that were rolled, you know, and it was shared by NNPC of Malam Abakari, Melakari, sorry, signing a document after that, you know, that meeting between the parties at the House of Representatives. And everybody is standing over him. It looked like, you know, one of those pictures from the United States of America, you know, or the G-12 where, you know, you find the entire president standing over, maybe two presidents will have issues. Maybe you look at Putin and you look at Trump or something. And he said, okay, you must sign an argument for peace today. And he's standing over him and he signed. But Alan Oyema had said at that time that even if they're able to get the jet A-1 from the NNPC or whoever at 500 Naira, you know, per liter, that they also have to be selling the tickets to Nigerians at 85,000 Naira, you know. But the latest is that, you know, that's 85,000 Naira. It's actually gone up to, what, 120,000 Naira as a warning from Alan Oyema. He's saying if urgent action are taken to reduce the price of petrol or aviation fuel, rather, you don't have to go for 120,000 Naira ticket. Well, it's unfortunate. And I think that as much as we want to begin to look at the intrigues and, you know, the reason, the rationale behind all of this, it's quite valid. If you look at it mostly, you would understand that it can be very challenging. Like we said, running business being an entrepreneur in Niger is really not a joke. One would think that at this point in time there should be weavers. Government should be, you know, very considerate. Government should be paying attention to ensuring that the atmosphere, the environment is very friendly. And this would actually imply with policies as well. Because these things don't happen, you know, outside of the box or don't happen by themselves. And so one would expect that at a time. But I just think that we're not being very honest, you know, with the economy. So for whatever reason it is, we constantly do not want to tell ourselves, you know, the truth. And that really, really hurts because if we tell ourselves the truth, then government would understand the need for us to, you know, address, you know, some of this consents that these aligned operators or owners have actually raised the issue of having the license, which I think might not be something that will happen in the nearest future. But, you know, making these products, because you want to ask yourself, what was the essence? I mean, how did we get to the point of having this product being very scarce? I mean, scarcity of the product. Like you would all want to agree with me. Nothing is really, really scarce. Everything is in abundance. It's just a manmade, scarcity is manmade. But like I mentioned, it's an item that government begin to look inwards. If you have, you know, foreign investors leaving the environment because it's not very friendly. Why don't you make the environment at least a little friendly for, you know, those business owners here? Throw your policies. So I think it's time that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, you know, pay attention, you know, to this sector. Like yesterday we had a guest saying that these fuel scarcity in the aviation sector, another jet A1, has also been used. So it's something that you have Nigerians also grappling with. And that's also, you know, on the high. Now, we also know that the outcome of this, if we're looking at, you know, FF 120,000, that's a lot. We're talking about inflation here. You're asking yourself how much money is coming to the hands of the people. It forces the people to now use the road, which is not safe. And you know, it's also time consuming. So I think it's such a difficult, a very difficult time to be a Nigerian and, you know, to be in this space. But I know that government can, there's something that government can do. Yeah, but the government is actually saying, I mean, of course, if you look at the National, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Company Limited. While Alayama is saying that the tickets are going for as high as 120,000 Naira, and they could send the cheapest ticket could be 70,000 Naira. He also, I mean, the airline operators were given some sort of hope by the GMD of the NNPC who disclosed that the plans are underway to issue airlines licenses to Port Aviation Field. Well, let's see how the plans are. So that is some hope. Of course, the meetings that were, the hearing that was attended by the Major Markter Association of Nigeria, the Depot products and Petroleum Products Markter Association as well, you know, they had to, you know, agree that the price of this jet A1 be set at 500 Naira per litre down from 670 Naira per litre. So hopefully what the NNPC GMD has said will come to pass. So, but we can constantly depend on hope as much as that sounds very brilliant. It sounds like, you know, government is doing something, but usually you find out that this are just policy statements. It doesn't come, there's no plan. I mean, I'm not saying that it's not, you know, but this is Nigeria and we would look at antecedent and if you look at antecedent then it's very questionable. It might just be, oh, this is just a way to just quell all of it and that's the end. Is there a plan? What have they done? Have they put out, you know, we need to see the action plan. We need to see that they're very deliberate. It's not just one of those policy statement because policy statement is not action. It doesn't show any plan. And even if you even have a plan, you ask yourself what's the implementation. So, but we're asking, I'm hoping that government will understand that at the end of the day Nigerians will be bearing the brunt and it's important that we pay attention to the business environment. Let's make it as much, you know, less stressful for those because as much as you would say it's a better option. Last week we were talking about the fact that airlines were saying they were going to shut off. I mean, they were just going to shut down operations and we know what that would mean even though they would be losing. But you know, so one would say it's a better option rather than just going entirely away. But like I mentioned earlier on, government needs to pay attention to the, you know, the environment where people exist and also ensure that it's easier for people. At this point in time, let's begin to look at, you know, waving taxes and ensuring that we encourage all of this business owners. It's really, you know... So, we have more trending stories? Of course, we do have more trending stories. We look at this particular one, very interesting. It's got a lot of Nigerians talking and it's really, really sad. So it talks about the Spina reaction. First of all, you have these analyses, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm published quarterly exclusive data from international air transport. I mean, talking about passport ranking. And so the Nigerian Immigration Services or Service on Tuesday reacted to the global ranking that placed the Nigerian passport 98th out of 199 countries that we have and were below some African states such as Malawi, J, Chad, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Gambia. And we're the giants of Africa. So we're below... So I saw a lot of reactions. Some people were very comical about it. I'm sure that it's just a way not to, you know, take it to heart. But it's really, really, you know, heart breaking if you ask me and it's serious. Now, so according to the data details obtained from, you know, this London-based global citizenship and residency advisory firm, the passport index published quarterly is based on an exclusive data from International Air Transport Association, which maintains the world's largest database of travel information. Now, the recently published first quarter 2020 index has crossed-examined passports of 199 countries with 227 travel destinations and ranked this passport based on global access and mobility. Now, each passport is called based on the number of destinations that the holder can access via free... We're talking about visa-free now. It also applies if the passport holder can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor's permit, or an electronic travel authority upon entry. So you have countries like Japan, Singapore, topping the ranks with passports gaining access to 192 countries and United States and the United Kingdom ranks seventh, while Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan settled, you know, at the bottom five. And so despite, you know, the statistics still continue, but mostly for us is the fact that you have Nigeria just below some African countries and out of 199 countries were ranked 98 in that ranking. And some people have reacted saying that this ranking, if you want to look at it, so the issue of bilateral relations is also a major concern right here. And some other persons have said, hey, bilateral relations, countries will get into this bilateral agreement or relationship or relations with you if they understand the economy. And so it's just a reflection of, you know, the passport is just a reflection of the Nigerian economy. And some people are really arguing that for sure. So if you look at the economy, you look at, we talk about the business environment. You talk about how friendly the economy is to the business. A lot of foreign investors have pulled that whether or not we want to agree, including, you know, those who are local investors, I mean, right here. So all of these issues, you talk about the behavior of Nigerians outside of Nigeria, some of these, you know, cases of fraud and what have you. This has also contributed whether or not we like it to, you know, just like an obstruction and has made us rank that number. I mean, looking at the statistics now 98 out of 199. Yeah, yeah, it's, I think, you know, Nigerians should take a chill pill. And not everything about the country is bad. Okay. Not everything about, in fact, you'd leave this country, go to African countries, you'd appreciate some aspects not all. You'd appreciate the bad roads of the left power supply. But you appreciate some aspects of the country, Nigeria. Not everything about Nigeria comes out, should be talked about, should be ambition, lament, we should. People are menting about this. All right, this is a Henry Lee passport index for the first quarter of 2022. What is it based on? It's based on these core countries based on how many countries you can either visit visa-free or visit with visa on arrival at the airport, you know, and then also, of course, if you're giving a permit to be in that country at the airport, you know, then you do add all those things to your score to now rank you. And some things are within the control of countries affected. Some things are without the control of countries affected. Nigerians don't have as many countries like Singapore and Japan, which they can visit visa-free. That's it, you know, it's up to those countries. It's their foreign policy, you understand, or their immigration policy. And I mean, you look at some aspects of it. I think, you know, the population of the country also may count because you look at the fact that Nigeria is the most populous black nation on Earth. You want to ask, how many countries you want to give visa-free because of the number of people coming from the country, you know. So it's not always negative, you know. There's nothing here, really. Oh, we are below Niger. Oh, we are below Ghana. We are below Chad. Chad also Chad. In some of these countries are Francophone countries. Most of them, you know, the likes of Chad, Niger Republic and Cope, who may have it easier to go to other Francophone countries. I would like us to even go and look at the countries where the Chadian, Ghanaian, Gabonese, Niger, Korean passport can get you into visa-free. So, I mean, people are lamenting. No, no, no. But if you look at it, no one is actually saying, like I would say that, you know, it's a collective effort, however you want to look at it, whatever it is. It's the fact that at the end of the day, this would be some bilateral agreement. If you enter into, you know, some kind of agreement with a country, you can't force a country, you know, to enter into an agreement with you. What sort of agreement that they do get to at the end of the day. So, for whatever reason, if they say, okay, this is not what we want. It's not what they want. So, at the end of the day, it might not necessarily be the fault of the government, but you can also take out the fact that, you know, there's a lot on our plate. And, you know... There are countries you can visit visa-free or visa on arrival with a Nigerian passport, you know. So, the thing is, it's not a problem. You want to apply for a visa. Even if you have an American passport, you can't visit Nigeria visa-free. You have a UK passport. But you can also take out the fact that... You have a Japanese passport, you have to apply for a visa. I mean, these countries are bad. No, no, so the point here is whether or not... No one will come and say Nigeria because they are no absolute. They are just relative and that's the truth. So, nothing is bad to his end. No one has said that you have perfect countries. They are not perfect countries, including the world's best democracy, including the best government that you anticipate. It's just like nobody has a perfect life. You know, there's no perfection. The thought of perfection is an illusion. You don't have a perfect government. There's no perfect family. But we're saying that there are just some basic things that should be there. I think it's okay if Nigerians actually share the sentiment of saying, oh, we are the giant of Africa. We're below this. We're below some countries. But by the fact that we are seen as the big brother of this continent, you know, it should be some bragging right to be at the top there. Whether or not it means anything or not, it's just, you know, the fact that, hey, you're a senior brother or you're a big brother and you should be taking, you know, taking the lead. That's what it is. But does not take out the fact that, you know, you don't have pluses. You're going for us. I'm telling you the leading reason why the countries... countries, you know, want to give Nigerian passports like they do other nationals. We have mentioned some of these issues. The number one reason has nothing to do with government. It has everything to do with the attitude of some Nigerians. But we have mentioned that. I have talked about that. So people should not be known as the giant of Africa. Someone told me yesterday, we're truly the giant of Africa. I said this has nothing to do with the country. Some of the citizens themselves have engaged. Not all, some. I know a few bad acts will give the whole a bad name. So that's it, you know. It's all gets into maybe a scam, for instance, in a country. I mean, because even the Ghanians are suffering as well. You know, Ghanians are getting into scams in another country. And then they now said, OK, you know what? We have to pull down and reduce the number of people we scan into a country. When Nigerian does something, it gets blown out. And then they begin to, I love it, affect their immigration policy. You know, we're talking about the UK, which you'll get to in a moment. But some comments online, it now became sort of a back and forth. But someone said, you know, Nigerian passport now ranks below Niger, Chad, Zimbabwe, Uganda and others. I think it's a call to, first of all, not panic. But secondly, I know that it's a collective responsibility. That's all I'm saying. So there's comments here. You know, Ghanians saying that even the Apostle is not ranking too well. And she's also claiming that, well, let me not go into this. This is controversial. But Kofi, in the course of this conversation, I had mentioned that, yes, we know that at the end of the day, if you look at all of these visa-free, whatever you talk about, some of those criteria they have mentioned, it has to do with some bilateral relations. But on the other hand, I also mentioned that the reputation of Nigerians, the behavior of Nigerians outside of Nigeria has also contributed. Some Nigerians, I also think that Nigerians outside of Nigeria are more law-abiding than where they are here because they have a system that is very functional. I remember the time where the late Dora Kunyele made her so continue to rest in peace. She was about the issue of rebranding Nigeria. And she made a statement. She narrated her experience in one of these countries, France. And she said her bag was actually snatched at the airport. And you know what she was talking about? The fact that... That was snatched at the airport. Yes, it was snatched at the airport. She wanted to raise an alarm. So some people came, security personnel came and told her not to scream that if she screamed that people were going to run, she should stay put. They were going to be on top of the issue. And she said that up until that moment, nobody heard it. Nothing has been done. So it's not that crimes don't happen in these countries. It's not like you don't have all of these mishaps. It's not like in these countries, you don't have the suburbs. You don't have the bad roads. But I'm just saying that the basic things. If you ask a common Nigerian now, and if you ask an average Nigerian, that would be the word, why they want to leave this country. I'll tell you because of power supply. You know, they're just basic things. I don't think Nigerians are asking for too much. Just provide the basic. Let's have a proper road infrastructure. Road network. Let's have power supply. People will pay. Do you know that Nigerians will pay, including the fact that even if tomorrow you say the FF is 120,000 ticket, people are there that will buy. They will pay for it. We're just saying make these things, the basic things of life just available. And that's it. But I think we need to move on. We have to move on. An interesting one there. Well, of course, the UK is spending priority visa application in Nigeria is another one that got tongs wagging. You know, it's a temporary measure. This is a suspension of priority services for applications for work. You have applications for study and applications for family visas in Nigeria. So for now you have to stay at home. Don't go apply to travel to London, you know, because it's been suspended. A statement was put out on Tuesday. The UK government saying that it was prioritizing applications made under the Ukraine family scheme. And in response to a humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion in Ukraine. Of course, what we should also put up that it was really trending about not less than 40,000 UK families signing up to receive a Ukrainian, you know. And some persons were crying, oh, racism, racism. Well, they'd be signing up to receive Ukrainians. But in the UK, where did they sign up to receive Africans into their homes? You know, every small thing a black man will shout racism. But let's do that for another day. So the UK government is saying that this new policy is because they want to prioritize applications made under the Ukraine family scheme and in response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. So this Ukraine family scheme is one that allows applicants to join family members to extend their say rather in the UK. And I don't know whether this is an excuse to just put on ice the applications in Nigeria. No, but I think that sometimes we also need to understand what it is. It's commendable of the United Kingdom to do what they have done. If you were talking about the world being a global village and anything that happens affects us. But following policy, they have a right. They're a sovereign nation. And so whatever decision that a country, if Nigeria decides to come up with a policy now, you want to talk about a policy which will now be seen, will be referred as a policy that would affect others. I mean, within their space, within their space to act in that capacity. In this case, it's a humanitarian concern. And if you understand what's happening between Russia and Ukraine, the humanitarian corridor has been open. It's just, you know, human. When we talk about the fact that the world has lost its humanity, I mean, we're no longer acting as humans. We don't have conscience. It's just the fact that people are going through a lot at this point. It's a war zone. It's important that you have countries. One would also think that apart from the United Kingdom, that you have other countries also acting in this direction, having policies that would ensure that people or persons in this war zone are protected. So it's actually in course, first of all, if they decide, like I'd say, it's a country, it's a sovereign nation, that would take policies that would always represent their interest. And for whatever they decide to do, it's not your business. It's their country. If yours is not okay, fix yours since they are home. So I don't see that as racism. I don't see that as a problem. I just see that as a humanitarian effort to protect and then show that there's soccer, there's refuge for those who are in this war-torn zone. All right. So this is a temporary measure by the UK government just so they can focus on the Ukraine crisis and taking in those families that need to be taken in. So far, the latest, because I had to do a check, it's up from 140,000 or 44,000 to 100,000 families in the UK signing up to receive Ukrainians. And they'll be paid $456 each. A sample of AXTO are these UK citizens doing this because of the money. And then someone had to, I was monitoring some comments, had to say, you know what, that $456 doesn't really mean much to the average UK family. They're doing this because they want to do it. You understand? But we have to move on. And that's the match we can take on our trending segment right here on the breakfast and past TV Africa. Well, that's it. When we return, we have time for us to look at the front pages of a National Daily's list of heroes.