 Today on the breakfast, despised the extension for the swap of the old Naira note, uncertainty is still high over the availability of the new note. By the central bank of Nigeria would have in-depth analysis on the issue. Also on the breakfast, the federal government is set to release the sum of 1.18 billion Naira for pivoting autonomy of universities This has solved the agitation between the federal government and the union. And like always, we'll all still be looking through today's newspapers analyzing the biggest stories of the day. Welcome to the breakfast in Plostivia Africa. It's a beautiful Monday morning and it's great to know that you are with us this morning. The lineup is quite amazing and we will have great analysis as we proceed. I am Messia Boko. Now as always, we start a conversation with a top trending. These are conversations that Nigerians are having in different spaces, whether online, offline, in different social media spaces, mostly on Twitter. First of it is that over the week, we know what's been going on. We're just very close to the elections. The countdown is still ongoing. And also the countdown for the collection of the PVC as well. I mean, we're supposed to be on the 31st of January. But that's a different case because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has extended the deadline for the collection of permanent voters' cards, we call the PVCs, to February the 5th, 2023. Now, according to the National Commissioner and the Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, first of the year, the more followed the meeting of INEC's resident electoral commissioners, that's the rec. Now, and also following reports from the various states and discussion with resident electoral commissioners, they decided to further extend the PVCs in its local government. I mean, in all of the local government offices nationwide by additional one week. So the ongoing collection of PVC nationwide would therefore continue and end on the 5th of February 2023. This is the second time in my interest to know that the Commission is extending the PVC collection nationwide. And this will be the last, according to the Empire, to exercise, to allow people and not disenfranchise to cast their votes. Now, the collection period has further been extended, just like we have mentioned, by additional two hours and will start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. Nigerians have been urged. I mean, those who have not yet picked up the PVCs have been urged to go so, I mean, go out and do so and report any sharp practices in PVC collection centers. The Commission also ensured that that will also act on all of this reports. The Commission will continue according to the chairman. He said the Commission will continue to act on all report cases of sharp practices during the ongoing PVC collection and we're sure that no Nigerian is disadvantage and those that carried out valid registration have an opportunity of collecting the PVCs. But it's very commendable. I mean, we must commend the Empire as INEC for the extension. Although you have different school of thought who said it would have been just been great for us not to have a time, you know, to the end of the collection of the PVC, maybe just a day before the elections, then you have an opportunity to walk in and pick your PVC, that there shouldn't be a timeline as to when PVCs would be issued. You know, let's say, oh, you can't collect your PVC from XYZ time. But that's a conversation for another time. We say that it's very, I mean, what INEC has done is commendable and we applaud them. Well, however, the conversations and the consent that have been raised, you cannot ignore them. Well, extending the deadline does solve the problem because they also complains where people say it's not about, you know, the extension, but the availability of the PVCs. Too many Nigerians have complained. There are too many excuses, especially those who actually apply for transfer. Let's not forget that if you had relocated, you know, from, you had moved from a particular center or a location between 2019 up until this moment, then it's possible that you might not have your cards. But there was provision for all of that. Now there are complaints where people have not been able to collect their PVCs, they get there and they say, hey, the PVCs are not available. These are the issues. So we're also believing, we want to believe that, you know, with the extension for the collection of the PVC, INEC is also going to be working very hard to ensure that these PVCs are available. Because what sense does he make if you make an extension and then the cards are not available? The people keep going to the centers to collect their PVCs. And then they have been told that the PVCs are not available. So that's one thing that we should pay attention to. And I think that if we look at the banks, if you have an instant card, because there are some banks where you work into and you want to get your ATM card, there's also provision for instant card. So if it's a provision for instant card, what's the reason why we can't have instant PVCs is the problem. If the banks actually have that technology, then it shouldn't be a problem, you know, printing this PVC. But another question that begs for a lot of answer is, we know the statistics that's been rolled out for the number of persons who have not collected their PVCs. Then you begin to ask, why do you have a lot of persons that particular number, the number at Sunderhai, and then you still have people who are willing to collect it, but the PVCs are not available. So we just hope that, you know, the commission would pay attention to all of these issues. There's also issues of sharp practices. There are too many complaints and challenges. But we hope that with this extension that INEC will put their acts together. They'll be working 247-365 to ensure that Nigerians are not decent franchise because that's exactly where we're headed. So yes, if you've not collected your PVC, there's an opportunity for you now. You have an extension. I think that's going to be up until the 17th, you know, looking at the details of that report of February. So yes, working to your local government's areas and ensure that you collect that. And some of the concerns that Nigerians have raised about the PVC collections, including sharp practices, INEC has also said that it's important that you report all of these cases. It would be handled accordingly. So we move away from that. There are also concerns about increase of the cash swap. Okay, so let me take it this way. The Central Bank of Nigeria, that's a CBN, had extended debt line. So it feels like we're at a time where there's an extension of debt line, you know, for the swap of the ordinary notes at the commercial banks by 10 days. So yes, extension for, you know, the PVC collection. There's also an extension for the swap of the ordinary notes by 10 days. And that was done in the press statement where Godwin and Mephli, the central bank governor of Nigeria said that the new debt line is February the 10th, that's 2023. So there's a lot of time from now for you to deposit all of the funds that you have. Now, however, Nigerians will still be able to deposit their old notes directly with the CBN up until the 17th of February. So there's a mix up there. I like to correct that impression with this, with the PVC, okay? So the swap for the notes is for the CBN. It's for the money, February 17th, 2023. So you can still do that up until and then for the PVC, it's for February the 10th. That's according to INEG. Now, this is what they describe as the grace period. The CBN governor, the CBN said will say that this is a grace period. Nigerians have been complaining about the inability to swap their old notes for the new notes that's been designed to end, it was supposed to end January the 31st. That would have been tomorrow, the debt line. And I know the kind of anxiety that's been going on. I know the kind of confusion because a lot of people had stopped collecting these phones as of last week. So yes, the new Nira note, maybe we need to do a refresher, is that it was designed, it was believed to help Target stop the vote buying in 2023 general elections. It was also a shadowed for February 25th and March 11th. That elections were having the presidential elections for February 25th and March 11th. The House of Representatives so far, with this as much as a lot of Nigerians have been very excited about the extension given by the central bank of Nigeria. But it's quite different for the House of Representatives adult committee on new Nira redesign and Nira swap policy. They have rejected the 10 day extension granted by the central bank of Nigeria. That's a CBN for the exchange of the old note. In a reaction, the adult committee chairman, the leader, he said that the extension is not in compliance with section 20, subsection three, four, and five of the CBN Act. That's Al-Hasan. He said that Nigeria is a developing economy and also a nascent democracy and most respect the principle of the rule of law. And so the House would go ahead to sign the arrest warrant to comply the CBN governor to appear before the ad hoc committee, describing the extension as just a mere political gimmick to further deceive Nigerians and wasn't the economic and social livelihood. That's what the ad hoc committee chairperson is quoted to say. He said that the governor must appear before or stand, the ricks have been arrested on the strength of legislative wits signed by the speaker, which is today. So we probably might just be at a time where we hear breaking news that the CBN governor has been arrested just to comply him to appear before the committee and answer some question. That's also on the one hand. But it's okay to also have an extension. Now, there are several school of thoughts. There are a lot of... Some people would like to say they're conspiracy theories as regards the Niren note redesign, the essence it was meant for. I mean, we've had categorically from the CBN the several reasons why this note was redesigned. But one of it is to ensure that those political gladiators don't take advantage to stop the issue of buying and that's the essence of all of this. But it's not about giving the extension because I feel like if an extension, we say submit the period which was being put out, it's enough for anybody, an organization, individual, to put out your funds out there, the old notes. But that's not entirely the case. I mean, if we were really sincere with the issue of having the new Niren notes in circulation, it's just simple. In the course of transaction, as you go about to put out the old Niren notes in the market, then you begin to get the new one. And as the old ones getting back, you have the ATMs not dispensing, the banks not dispensing. That's how to take that entirely out of the market. But that's not the case because up until this moment, as we speak, you have a lot of ATMs, the POS operators, dispensing, giving out old notes, including the banks and it's quite worrisome. So the question is what exactly is going on? If we say we need to swap and we have the extension so that we are able to return all of this funds, I think that if we're chunking enough of the new note into the economy, it would be all right for us not to even begin to ask for the swap because it's different. Let's assume that I have the old notes, then I go to a shop, I walk into a shop to buy and then I'm buying product or goods worth 50,000 error. Right, that's going to get to someone who's going to take it out. And eventually when you get back to the ATMs or to the banks, you're getting the new notes. But I don't think that that's the case. It feels like you're putting the new old notes into the system and then you're still getting the old notes. But there are also other quarters who have said that the reason for all of this is that prior to this time, when all of this policies and statements were being proud, you had people who went out, the politicians mostly, there was a compromise with bank managers who sold out the new notes to the political elite. And that's why it's not even available for the common man. It reminds me of Bonoboi song, it's not available for the common man to get. So this banks, MDs or the commercial banks have engaged themselves, have gotten into some sort of agreement and they have compromised entire system. And that's why we seem to have the non-availability. These are some of the thoughts that we have flying around everywhere. And I think it's very important that the CBIA and the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Amifli himself, speaks to this particular issue of the non-availability of the Naira notes, the new Naira note to be precise. Yes, it's very commendable that we have an extension of time, but what difference does he make if we still get into the, I mean, you go to the banking halls, you go to the ATMs and every cash point, then you're still faced with the issue of the old notes. You're still given the old notes, it doesn't really make any sense. So yes, let's have the CBIA speak particularly to the issue of the availability and the non-availability of the new Naira notes, as it were. Well, however, it's important that you take advantage of this period. I mean, if you have a lot of money, which you, I'm just imagining how much, how many days it would take for you to, just walk into the bank and deposit all of this funds. Another on the top training is quite unfortunate, very saddening. It was just a very black day for a lot of persons in Lagos and in Nigeria, not necessarily Lagos. Yes, it happened in Lagos, but it's a sad day for everyone. As a container, there was a container that fell on a downfall boss at O'Drua Legba Bridge, claiming nine lives. According to report and investigation, it was a 20 feet laden container that fell yesterday on a commercial boss, you know, Drue Legba, Air of Lagos, like I rightly mentioned, it crushed nine passengers to death. Now the nine victims recovered comprise of four adult males. So you have four adult males, three adult females, and a girl child and a boy child. So you have two children at the end of the day. Further investigation also revealed that the commercial boss was picking up passengers at the bus stop along the O'Drua Legba Bridge, where the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge. Now, according to reports, it was stated that the earlier respondents at the scene of the incident were the officials of the Lagos State Management and we commend them very well. We say it was good that they were at the scene immediately, that's the Lagos State Management Agency. They suspended the container and caught off the top of the bus, just to rescue some peasants. Unfortunately, a woman was rescued. She was the only one that was rescued according to that report. I was taken to the trauma center. The eyewitness report said that the truck driver wanted to block the bus from overtaking him. And trust me, I see that every other time. And I know that you see that as well. Necessarily, it might not just be in Lagos State, but in all the parts of the country. It seemed like a practice. So most times, if you are on the steering and you're driving, it's usually like a game on the road. And so, you know, the truck drivers will try to meandere their way between the two lanes. So you find themself on this side and on this side, not allowing you to pass. But usually what is suspected, that you should understand, there's no need trying to, you know, rush in, trying to get in the way with these guys. Because I mean, I remember once upon a time, my mother said that whenever you are driving, you should always remember that you're the only sane person on the road. That's just, you know, a way to stay alive. You're the only one that has your senses all together. So yes, it's important that you pay attention to yourself. And so if you see someone acting in that way, there's no need for game. It's not the Mario game, like I say. Life is not that Mario game. So growing up, if you know the Mario game, you know that you have one, two, three, four lives. So if you lost that one, then you would probably have three more lives and then you have two more lives. And so you can be careful when you just have one. We have to be careful at all times. But it's quite unfortunate that this is happening. And there's no way we're going to talk about this without making reference to the government. A lot of, you know, Nigerians have taken to, you know, different social media spaces. It's so unfortunate. You can't imagine these persons who set out of their houses hoping that they were going to get to their destination. Maybe they were going to church. Maybe they were going to spend some time with their family. You never can tell. I mean, it's a Sunday. So usually it's just a time where people take out time, you know, to visit, to go to church and, you know, spend time with their loved ones and what have you. And that unfortunate incident happened. Some of the deaths that we're experiencing in our country won't really happen if we, you know, put our acts together as a government. And the issue of governance is not just about, you know, contesting for elections, campaigning, just as we're at the period of campaigning and politicking and then seeking for office, getting this office, and that's the end of it. And then you sit back. It's about providing security for the lives of the people. You know, the security and, you know, the protection of the life of the people shall be a priority. That's what it is. I don't think that we should constantly forward our aims and wait for when we have bandits and men, you know, and robbers and kidnappers. And that's when we talk about security. Because security is encompassing. And so why do we have to have this incident every other time? So it feels like it's an annual or, you know, biannual event that happened. There must always be a trailer incident. Something must happen. It must crush it. We can't continue like this. Do we even learn anything from all of these experiences and deaths of the people? Why have we not taken, you know, precaution? Is there something that we can do as a government to prevent all of this happening? Is that possibility that, you know, we have, because for every other time you have the vehicles on the road, the some kind of test, especially heavy duty vehicles, all of these containers, they should have some level of checks that will be carried out on them before they have been put on the road. Do they even meet the requirement? The driver that's even also driving, there's some kind of test and a violation that should be carried on all of these persons. But we seem not to pay attention to the lives of people. And we take that too lightly. And it's so unfortunate that every other time this is always the case. It could have been anyone right there. It could have been anyone. It can't be you. You can't even take out the fact that, yes, it's a damn food driver. What if it was a private car? It could be anyone. So we can't. I think that it's just a high call for governance at all levels, especially for the legal state government. Once upon a time, we remember there was a deterrence, you know, the rails, some kind of metal that deterred all of that, you know, to happen, you know? But, you know, this is entirely not the case. We can't continue like this. I don't think it's rocket science for us to sit back and look out for ways and means where we can protect, you know, the lives and properties of the people who elected us, who we have been called to serve. We can't continue like this. So, yes, please. It's just a call that the legal state government, we know that this is a period of politics and there will just be a transition, whether or not there will be a retainer ship or there will be a new government. But we need to look at this issue, the issues that, you know, this state, the legal state faces every other time. Accident, containers and what have you. I'm sure that there's a way out. It's not impossible. And mission impossible can also be impossible. We all, I mean, our hearts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones in the course of this accident. We can only pray that, you know, they find comfort. And we can only also, you know, speak to the government in power to wake up to her responsibility and protect lives and properties of her citizens, those who are paying taxes every other time. And that's the essence of government. That's the much we can take this morning on our top trending. We take a break. When we return, there will be time for us to go through the pages of our national dealings. We have Okuna Barton, Kataria, who will be joining us this morning on After Press. Please stay with us.