 Diplomatic collaboration between Nigeria and the United States has resulted in the repatriation of about $23 million of the so-called Abacha Loot, we will discuss this further in the program this morning. Also on the breakfast, the Naira gained slightly at the sports market in Friday, but depreciated steadily in the unofficial market within the week. What does this mean for the economy? Don't forget, we'll also look at today's national newspapers, analyzing the bigger stories of the day. We're back with a breakfast and plus TV Africa, it's a brand new weekend, of course interesting discussions all through this week starting today, reaching your life from our studios on Victoria Island Lagos. My name is Kofi Bartels, good morning. My name is Messi Boko, it feels great to be back on your screen this morning and thanks for joining us. Absolutely messy, looking stunning as always, I don't know what the secret is, you refuse to tell me, but anyway. You already do. All right, how was the weekend? Very well. All right, you look well rested. Of course. Yes indeed. Okay, we have as usual a top training segment today looking at some of the bigger conversations happening on social media, which we usually bring up online. Happens to be a lesson for our young people out there, and don't be everybody where you see, where you get money you go follow, is what people are saying on social media. Well, who actually made, I mean that sounds like a parable. No, no, you know, like they say, Nigeria have 150 million, I think now it's 200 million coaches. When it comes to football, you know, any time the superheroes don't play well, it's everybody's giving the opinion, the coach should have done this, the coach should have done that. Well, when people also, you know, go wrong morally, you have a lot of people going on social media, also giving their views as well. And the ordeal of the exposure of a certain young man over his activities or acts, you know, as far as kidnapping is concerned is giving people also an opportunity to advise and love young people out there, say not all the glitters is gold, even if you don't see people crying in church and all that, don't be carried away, they could be kidnappers. Well, a so-called big boy, by also big boy, like we say in this part of the world, you know, if you are a flashy flamboyant, you have money, you are a big boy, you know, he is a big boy from by also states, he has broken down in tears while pleading for forgiveness after he was arrested over alleged kidnapping. Now, repeat, this is alleged kidnapping, he captured himself in a video before his arrest, you know, flaunting dollar bills online as a shed words of motivation, he is a motivational, you saw these guys, even Hoshopi was a motivational speaker, Hoshopi was a motivational speaker too as well. So, you know, these things don't move me, and I think what some people online say, don't be moved by these things, you can see them on your screen there. This is not to shame anyone, but this is the story that he captured himself in a video before his arrest, flaunting dollar bills online as he shed words of motivation telling people to work hard, but his recent arrest, it seems messy, he has exposed his sort of a double lifestyle that is living. A victim of kidnapping activities of this young man, you know, could be had accusing him of abducting him in a video, but he denied that he was, he was a part of it, you know, and it was a part of the accuser's abduction. So, the video of the gentleman kneeling down after being arrested by the police, right over the select kid in Abuja, is a social media consume on the screen there, and his name is Lyon, you know, Lyon sounds familiar, L-Y-O-N, because the former governor, Orbit's short termed Biosha State is also known as Lyon. He's a big boy, this particular guy, he's been all over social media, has an Instagram page where he, he, you know, gives the motivational speeches, but also the pictures of him showing him praying, crying in church, you know, in worship have given people a lot to talk about, you know, the deceptive lifestyle, you know, of sorts, and telling young people out there, don't be carried away. There's another video I saw of him, you know, singing and enjoying himself in a car, very nice, luxurious car with a young girl at the back seat, also dancing with him, you know, all sitting down, and so on says, nothing where girls don't go full, you know, you know, and then someone says, women, they don't care if, where the money is coming from. You would like to use their mothers, their mothers for rich all, they won't care, you know, and the ladies are now responding, saying, hey, hey, hey, I'm sorry, how do we tell legal money from mothers blood money? You know, so these are some things we have. And you're simply saying, you know, if you see someone in a club, nightclub, for instance, spring, spending up to 100K a night, or spending money on a lady he's not really in a serious relationship with, you have to question where that money is coming from. So I mean, in all of this, for instance, what point do I have a set of, let's set up with the fact that he's been tagged as a socialite. And there's one thing that I beg to agree, because it feels like we get to throw the word around, a socialite, especially with every other person. So if you find me in the club now, that I spend a lot of money, I'm living, you know, flamboyant lifestyle, then it automatically means I'm a socialite. But however, a socialite is a person from a wealthy and possibly from an aristocratic background, who is very prominent in the society. And of course, you see them attending one of this event. And the question would be, is he really a socialite? Because he goes to the club. And then he is spending so much buying drinks. And we can see pictures of him on the internet, especially on his Instagram accounts, most possibly living, if you like his living, you know, an exotic life, traveling to those very luxurious places and what have you. And that's it. But big on society for that particular one, because over time, there's been a lot of classification. I mean, we need to begin to do a lot of evaluation and asking of questions about where values are. This this is almost impossible. Just like I've said, that you when you say someone is a socialite, then you would say that this person is from a very wealthy background, or is an aristocrat. But however, if you look at this, it's a kidnapper. He's confessed to this. We're hoping that the courts would actually put one and two together, of course, because I mean, everyone, at the end of the day, still needs to be tried. And so the law would have to leave up to her expectation. But as a society that we live in, a society that where the systems, you know, the systems are not functional, where those who are actually walking legally, those who are actually putting their hands to walk and respecting the law of nature are not getting so much for that which they're putting. But that's not even an excuse for, you know, involving in kidnapping and what a view and living all of this lifestyle. I think we're also living in that society where people don't question the source of our wealth any longer. It's okay. So you see someone you can't really tell. You see someone who's displaying a lot of influence and what have you spending money, we don't have a system that queries how we get our wealth and all of that. And so people are already being carried away. And for those who are actually in a legal way of earning a means, I mean, making livelihood or you call it because another thing that has been bastardized again is the word called, you know, hustle. And so hustle has become another word that also doesn't necessarily mean hard work, but we have incorporated it to mean, oh, we're working out. It's something different. Yes. Yeah, let's quickly listen to that video because I think the sound bites to give a bit of insight into this whole story. Okay. So all right. Okay. Seems the track isn't ready. So we'll move on from that. But in that video, he can be heard pleading for mercy, not you. He can be heard pleading for mercy saying that he was involved in kidnapping operations only twice. You know, he also was he also begged, you know, to be released because his wife had just been put had just given birth. Okay, let's listen to this. God. I don't like to lie lie. I see your face. Look at, look at, look at. If you were a big dad, you would have forgiven him I knew you would have forgiven him Oh my You know, the way he said me And he just said Laila to Laila He's not taking it He's just typical You know, he usually is on social media Fronting words of cash, you know, US dollar bills You know, he had reported one of his post saying Money is good, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle You know, he could be head on one of his videos You know, the pictures of him are different social gatherings Including one at Transcopa Hotel, Appuja But it's the one in church where he's crying That I've got people talking about Don't follow everybody you see in church That is a hospital Not everybody there is treated successfully No, but we also need to understand I saw that reaction over the weekend And I was almost tempted to respond to one of the post But of course I had to restrain myself From putting on my opinion and comment You know what, because if it's that of the church We understand that the devil himself goes to church And so you can't take that out Does the devil sit down in church to worship God? I don't know if he's crying But of course the devil is in church Coffee, you know that we can't go into arguing the scripture It's also in the Bible that you need to test all spirits It's there And so people will come in the form of godliness But you know, they deny the power, they're off And so you have people who are clothed You know, in sheepclothings, but they are wolves So this is scripture So let's not even go there It's already in the Bible Preach on, preach on No, I can't start to preach on But I think that we live in a society Where values have actually deteriorated I don't even think that we have values anymore For us as a people You know why? Because we seem to be extolling And as long as the money is coming Nobody is asking We want to get to a society where we are questioning people You see some persons living a certain lifestyle It's not out of envy But we need to understand how they are getting these funds I mean, who's bankrolling you? Where's all of this money coming from that you're leaving? All of this We know the kind of business that you are involved in And what have you But let's even get back to the crux of the matter The issue of kidnapping has been on the front boner And we know that the president over time had said that Of course it's not a federal offence and what have you There's a lot of persons that have agitated for capital offence For the issue of kidnappers And those who are involved in kidnapping However, if you want to look at it It feels like kidnapping has become a very lucrative business Coffee And over time you find people going into this venture Or adventuring into this business I will call it And at the end of the day, how many persons have been apprehended? How much have we been strong on with the issue of kidnapping? Let's even bring it back to what the law talks about It's important There's been several arguments whether we should have New legislation to kidnap us I mean, let's have a new legislation And so maybe the new legislation will help with the kidnapping But really, we do have laws already First of all, the constitution says it is You know, the responsibility of a government To ensure that lives and properties are protected And so we have the terrorism act of 2011 That should be it The issue of taking one whole stage Which actually means 10 years have been prescribed For anyone who takes anyone whole stage I think we need to enact a loss that we have already To discourage all of that So far, 15 states across the entire country Have been able to domesticate You know, come out with all the laws Beals to ensure that kidnappers actually face the time Or probably capital offence if you want to say But that's the much we can talk about this If you can't do the crime, please Or you can't do the time, don't do the crime But we're hoping that the law would have its place in this one Now, moving away from that Quite interesting, talking about managing a national carrier Ethiopian airline has been selected as Strategic partner and shareholder of the Nigerian Air And you need to know the Ethiopian airline Is Africa's largest airline Which will now own 49% of the Nigerian Air And the federal government would own 5% Of course you'll have all the stakeholders Nigerians would own the remaining 46% If I'm not mistaken So altogether, 5% plus the government You know Plus the government's 5% The federal government owning 5% And stakeholders owning 46% If I'm not mistaken It allows Nigeria to be a major stakeholder In the carrier But that has also not really been Very fantastic It sat down well with a lot of people Because it has generated different reactions Kofi, what are your thoughts on this? Yeah, I mean it's too early to call You know It's too early to call because The early days yet Had the minutes of aviation Led a team to Ethiopia To, you know, to Specifically the Ethiopian aviation authorities I felt that the Ethiopian aviation authorities Should have been beating the path to Nigeria At least in the early stages of the negotiations But probably maybe they went to look at the facilities That I don't know Because I mean if you want to beat for The airline, you know To operate the national carrier Of one of the biggest countries in the world You should come Come and then do the needful But to see the minister going to Ethiopia for me Maybe it wasn't a masterstroke in diplomacy But like I said If they went there to look for Look at the facilities and all that Then maybe it's cool Ethiopia is not a small nation Ethiopia is Africa's second most populous nation The reaction of some Nigerians Is of interest to me I mean I saw some comment By a Konjo Vialla Who spoke as a former minister of finance And budgeted national planning Who criticized the idea Of federal government trying to Float the national carrier Saying she won against it before It was a very bad idea Especially in these times When the nation is grappling with Economic issues And Konjo Vialla has I mean she's been there She's done that Even though On my ratio I will say she was only a secretary At the World Bank And not an economist But she's been there So right now As the head of the World Trade Organization If she speaks to people Will listen She has said before That it's a bad idea So people have got back to those streets And have also put those things out To say hey This is what this woman said Is it a good idea For the federal government To embark on this project At this time I think time will tell I don't have all the All the information At this point Mercy to really tell I'm not an economic expert But looking at what most people Are saying They feel that You know It's not a bad idea To have a national carrier To spend Nigerians Of the experience That they have to pay To these foreign airlines You know When they have to travel To other parts of the world So that's Those are some of the advantages there You look at the fact That scarce foreign exchange That is leaving the country In terms of capital flight You know Will be Retained in the country You know Because the federal government Goes through a lot I remember listening to a video Watching a video Interview with Oskawa Yema Who is the CEO of Airpeace Who talked about Who actually made some revelations About what's going on In the aviation sector I'm saying that You know The whole lack of funds Through non-repatriation Of funds You know That belong to these foreign airlines There's much that needs to be You know So these airlines are Also fleecing the country If you know You know Some of these airlines charge More For people who are traveling From Johannesburg To London Than For people who are traveling From Ligos to London Which is a shorter journey You know And they don't even Go in Airlines Nigerian Airlines Like Airpeace Even to operate That route You know So if Niger has a national car The positive would be That you know Because it's a state-owned Thing They may have that Leverage To be able to be allowed By some of these Which have been given Nigerians Access to More affordable Flights The second positive I was about to say Is that You know Whereas What do you call it Totally And solely by government And then we know The history of Nigeria Is well documented How It failed woefully And a lot of people Have said Because You know Government officials And their families Were being given free trips To any part of the world And it wasn't run Like a business This time Looking at the Equity distribution You can see that There is a plan in place To allow it To be run By private Concern Which is The European Airways So You know Lack of business Savedness of government And some of the things That people complained About The ban Of Niger Airways Yeah Just quickly Before we move on I know that Whether or not We should be involved In having A national carrier Has been An issue that's been Right But Looking at the reactions And concerned From some person Is about the management And they share The percentage Of shares That we own As a country 100% On the other hand Ethiopian air And people who have Actually People are quite worried That hey Does it really mean That we really own this But like I mentioned earlier On the fact that You have Nigerian entities Owning You know The remaining 46 It brings us It gives us At the end of the day That you have The Nigerian government In collaboration With other Nigerian entities And so the issue Of the seashore And at the board And other critical Talks At the end of the day Nigerians still have You know A say They're owned A larger share With all of this But also But also You want to talk about I totally understand You also want to talk About collaboration It's not the first time We're having collaboration The issue of You know Virgin Atlantic Has been raised Virgin You know The airlines That partnership And people are asking How far have we done With all of that But to query You know Having to have The Ethiopian airline They've been described As the largest In Africa And also to know That Ethiopian airline Owns 45% Of Zambia Airways 49% Of Guinea Airways And 100% Of Ethiopian Mozambique airlines And 49% Of Chad Airlines And 49% Of Malawi At the end of the day You want to say That the Ethiopian airline Is owned 100% By Ethiopian government They have existed You know For a very long time They have proven They have tracked record They are the best You know In Africa Largest in Africa If you want to say And so It wouldn't be wrong to have That on the other hand But there are other factors That are necessary For this particular conversation That we're having right now Yeah Absolutely I mean You know For me It's There's nothing else to say I mean Whether it's Totally government owned Or not You know It's It's more like If you can't You can't You can't give What you don't have You know And as it is I mean When the government Put out For the bid You know Started accepting bids rather There's only one bid You know It was only Ethiopian Airways There was no other bid From any other Any other Party So I mean Even if The government Didn't want to go With Ethiopian airways The fact is That accepting bids And there was Only one party that bid Well That bid rather Which was Ethiopian Airways So If Should we have Nigeria have gone for some other You know You know Airline Or partner Maybe look at the Emirates Look at the Qataris You know Look at those in Abu Dhabi Go to Europe The thing is If you call for bids And only one One party You know With that So So Let's see how it goes I mean The conversation is still out there You look at the lifetime of this Administration And the fact that It's always drawing to an end Probably they don't want to leave it out Fulfilling this Well We need to go now And I wish we had more time To talk about this But that's The size of it And off the press Thank you so much For being with us We take a break And when we return It'll be time for us to look Through the front pages At least we'll call it Off the press Like I said Open up on Qatar We'll join the conversation Please stay with us