 Some legoscients are experiencing a return to the nightmarish days of the accused with several of them sighted in parts of the island axis. We look at the reasons behind this with an oil and gas industry expert. And moral decadence in Nigerian society has again become a topical issue in the light of some recent happenings in the country. Where did we get it wrong? Our guest this morning, an author of a book on the subject has some answers. Also, we have analysis of today's newspaper headlines and after-press these and more head on the breakfast this morning plus TV Africa. It's great to have you back on the breakfast this morning on plus TV Africa and of course, we're here live from our studios in Victoria Island Lagos. Well, it feels really great to be back on your screen this beautiful Tuesday morning. I am Messi Popo and it's going to be an amazing time of great conversation two hours right here. And we hope that you enjoy all of that. I said my name already. Yeah, I am Kofi Bartels. It's great to be here. I missed you yesterday, but glad to have you back today. Yeah, and you know, sure. It's never the same without you. It's good to be back. All right, great. We have interesting conversations as we said today. Of course, we'll be looking at the cues. We saw a lot of them yesterday and this morning while coming to work, but we'll leave that for later. And stories have been trending around Nigeria, especially online, which is where things trend these days. So we've been monitoring these particular ones and we just tell you about the first one that has got Nigerians talking. And that happens to be a somewhat contentious issue of the Nigerian Identity Management Commission. The Nigerian Identity Management Commission news broke that the NIMC portal broke down. Banks couldn't access the portal. Telcos, passport issuance, procedures were suffering as a result of this breakdown of the Nigerian Identity Management Commission portal. Thousands of telecommunications subscribers all around the country who are trying to retrieve their lost SIM cards or acquire new lines basically. We're unable to do so. And we're left stranded following what has now become termed as a technical glitch by or in the National Identity Management Commission, the NIMC. The affected NIMC portal, we're told that is a portal that enables the telecom firms, the Nigerian Immigration Service number two, the commercial banks or banks, January number three, and other organizations that use or have to verify the identity of their customers or consumers before they offer them services or pro-setting things for them. These are the people who were affected by this glitch. You know, they approve all of identities in line with the federal government directive. So if you meant to transact a certain kind of business with the banks, certain kind of activity with the Nigerian Immigration Service, for instance, passport issuance, you will be affected. And those who went to pick up new SIM cards or retrieve their lost SIM cards, of course, your identity will have to be uploaded or verified. Those are the people affected by this. And then if we recollect or we go down memory lane, Nigerians have been through a lot to link their SIM cards to their national identity numbers, the NINs. And, of course, all this was super intended by the National Identity Management Commission, Mercy and, of course, not just the National Identity Management Commission, but the Ministry of Communications and the Digital Economy. Yesterday, we had to talk extensively about the fact that the Minister of Communications and the Digital Economy, Issa Pandemi, said the President had approved the access of the database, the identity database of the NIMC. To some security agencies. Yes, some security agencies. And now we're hearing that this database is suffering some glitches. Let's call it that. And it's a crash, but all these were crushed. It's all glitches. So people who were commenting online were wondering, OK, is there a relationship between the fact that some security agencies have been given access to work and the fact that it's not very important? I was like, you're also being through a lot to just make sure this thing works. You understand, following the directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the inclusion of a national identity number in the requirements, in the requirements for all new and existing SIM cards, so we call SIM cards. Telecommunications firms are now required to synchronize the SIM registration portals with the NIMC portals so that they can verify the details of survivors. Because it's not just a telecom issue, it's also a security issue. And the downtime, you know, when you go to the bank, they say they have downtime or no network. It's entered the sixth day. Well, some persons have also said that the NIMC data S3 pocket was not properly secured. And that's why we're having all of this. S3 pocket. S3 pocket. What? S3 pocket was not. We have to send you over to the studio. This is one of the communication firms that can employ you. This is some of the technical terms that are being used. And they understand the dynamics. Of course, you know that we live in the country, 211 million persons, according to the United Nations, all of this figure. So you have a lot of persons who are in the novel of this. And mostly some people say that the truth is when the federal government said, we're going to build a database from scratch, then we had to employ foreign as, you know, to do all of this for us. And the fact that this is actually not very secured is a major problem. Another one that can sense me or the worries me a lot is the fact that no magic can be performed because you have the fact that those in the telecom sector, those who are dependent on, you know, the NIMC, because they have to be using verification or authenticity or authentication of all of this, the NIN with your SIM card cannot work and those who want their passport to work cannot happen because the site is down and it's down. So some persons have really created the fact that the government has not really been very efficient. If you look at this website of the federal government, most times you have foreigners, I really don't know what that means. If you have foreigners building the website from scratch, what does that really mean? Does it mean that there's some kind of compromise or does it also mean that we need to use our very own to ensure that we secure all of that? So there's a lot of question and it costs a lot of work because we know how great we have been with the NIN and verification issue and, you know, the registration of it. Now, the fact that you have all their agencies of government that need to verify, so many people are waiting for they need to get their passport done, they need your passport, SIM cards. So the drama is so much, it feels like there's a lot of trouble already for 2022, too much stress, look at the economic situation. So some of the comments and then it's interesting, you talked about the new procedure, you know, before now, the telecommunications companies, all they needed from you, we had told us, you know, this is the experience we've had anyway, was a valid ID or so on after David and then you're good to go. Now they need to cross check your data with what is on the NIM database or in future data, whichever NIM they can access that database, then it's not practicable to give you a new SIM card or to retrieve your lost SIM card. But interesting comments coming up online, some of the telecommunications networks are having to, through their customer care and handles on social media, reply or respond to the inquiries of aggrieved customers. You know, for instance, one of them had to reply to a customer, I want to mention the name of this particular network. Yeah, but he, it was a long thread. It was a long thread. Okay, so this particular network, telecoms network, can I mention him? I think, well, we'll leave the name out, put up a tweet to say, they put a picture of the national identity card, all right. And put up a tweet to say, dear customer, we are sorry, we are currently, we currently cannot process SIM swap and update, an update request or update request rather due to external challenges. We appreciate your understanding and we'll post an updates once this has been resolved. This won't be telecommunications networks. And people start replying to them that they are not serious, you know, with the way they handle things. And so they will be attacked. So even the networks are suffering. And when they have to take time to, to, to just to come the, the customer out to say, we are, we are, we are sorry for the inconvenience, but it's totally not our fault. You know, it's totally not our fault. You know, it's what they say. So it's interesting to see some people are taking a dig at isopantamy. You know, he's not too popular, especially with his, the news on his, his statements about terrorism. You know, since those days, he hasn't been that popular. And some are saying that this is a, they call it pandemic pantomies portal. It's not some nice words you want to see around and all that. So they're accusing him, you know, the, the conspiracy theorists are out on this, really. But we'll keep monitoring. Hopefully this situation is sorted out as quickly as possible. Well, away from that, Benner Republic extends Sunday, but was the tension and that has also generated a lot of our conversation in different space, a lot of talks, especially when you have the fact that some people would say this is actually some persons who are fighting for, you know, saying, oh, we want to be taken out. We don't want to be part of the entity call in Nigeria. We want some level of referendum, especially with the Nandukanskis. Now that has caused too many conversations across board. However, as you see, and listening to the attorney general of the Federation, he rightly stated that the matter, you know, at hand is that you will allow the foreign country, I mean, Benner Republic, because it's a sovereign state to, you know, have the lower tickets costs. But one issue that consents me is the fact that I'm asking and I'm hoping that I can get some answer. Some of these laws could probably be universal. Now, yes, we know the issue that he's been accused of, because the law would say that until you're being proven innocent. So if Benner Republic government insists that Sondi Igbohu had an immigration-related offenses, of course, he forged the passport and he claimed what is not and all of that, so he was apprehended. Now, if that's the case and, you know, there has been making them keep him in prison illegally up until now, why then have the extension for the next six months? Why don't you charge him to court? Because first of all, the law would always say, no matter what the case is, so the question I'm asking now is this a universal conversation? The fact that we say that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by court of competent jurisdiction. So that's the number one question you ask. So is that, you know, is that lower universal issue? And if that's the case, so why don't you charge him to court? Why keep him? Because if you constantly keep him, it's illegal, it's not, it's illegal, it's condemnable, as a lot of people have said, as much as people are not saying that less jumble. What's making you so sure that this detention of Adeemo or Igbohuas is popularly called is illegal? No, see what we're saying here. I put up a question and I ask, the question I'm asking is, we constantly say that if anyone wakes up and say, Messi is a thief that I stole two billion nair. It's suspected. I'm not a thief until I've been proven guilty by court of competent jurisdiction. That's what is expected, that the law has to prove it. So up until the law proves it, I'm still innocent. I'm still at the realm of you still being, you know, constantly, you know, address me as the accused, a suspect because I'm not guilty until the law. So the question for me now is, is this law a universal issue? Is it applicable in different climes that you have the issue of sovereignty? It's the question I'm asking. So it's an interesting history of giving. But the background to, I'll come back to that point I raised, but the background to this whole issue is the Anabuja-based human rights lawyer, I think his name is Pelumi Olajeng-Besi, put up a Facebook post claiming that Igbohuas soon be released and that became news. And the lawyer to Igbohu, Yomiya Liu Essian had to, you know, counter the post by Pelumi Olajeng-Besi saying that Igbohuas be released by saying that that is not true, that his detention had been extended for the period of time that it has been announced. And of course, you know, it became news. It became news. Now, the sentiments you're expressing also shared by a number of Nigerians. No, no, it's not a sentiment. No, no, no, no, no, it's not, you don't understand. When you say it's a sentiment. Okay, the view, the view. Yeah, it's a view, because I ask the question. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm about to make my point best. So I buy you okay with the word view. The view you're expressing is valid, is shared by quite a number of Nigerians and because they feel the same way you're feeling, you know, like in Nigeria. I don't feel, I'm saying. It's your view, okay, fine. So, yeah, I mean, you feel something about the thing, but let's do that. So, but the thing is, it might be difficult to term his detention legal because he was remanded by a court. So that's it, he was remanded by court. So it might be difficult to term his detention legal. If he was, he was, he was just thrown in jail, then probably that would be the issue, you know. But I think the overriding thing behind your view is that people want to see justice. And that's all people are clamoring for. Spending 202 days in detention is not easy. You know, Nigerians want to see justice, at least a fair treatment of their brother, their citizen. You're a threat of where they come from. He's a Nigerian. No, no, no, so that's not the case. The case is, you haven't even answered the question. You questioned the legality of his detention. Yes. So if you say you can't send a detention. I'm trying to be friendly with you. No, no, let's, no, no, it's not about that. You're not taking about all your products. We need to move away, but this is what I'm saying now. No, no, he was, he was, I'm trying to be friendly. So he was, he was trying to... He was detained by court, he was remanded by court, he was remanded... On the basis of what? By court of competent jury. On basis, there's no matter at this point. It's that a court, he was taken to court. And a lawyer, a lawyer, a lawyer said, a judge, rather, or some judges said he should be remanded while they try, he's on trial. Okay, so you... He's not being sentenced, he's on trial. But don't forget that the law was made for man and man for the law. If you're on trial, there are two things, like a basketball, a comedian, not a musician, because there are two, they love Nigerians, you know. He said that two things are involved. He likes to say, in this case, two things are involved. If a judge feels that you need to, he wants to remand you, maybe you have, you're deemed a flight riskor or the charges against you are of such weight that demand that you be remanded, you'll be remanded. Or you could be released on bail. These are two things, and these are purely by law. So he's remanded, and he's facing trial. He's not being sentenced. So he's not in prison, he's in detention on remand. So boy, you understand the premise that I'm coming from. And the question is, no, no, I have put it out already. No, yeah, I do, I do, I do. So I put it out there, and I say that. I do, I do. You know, because in this context, we constantly say that. Legal. Yes, the legality of all of the issue. No, because a court is involved does not necessarily mean that it's illegal. We live in a climate where we have seen the constant manipulation of the judicial system, including the executive. And so because the court is involved, does not necessarily make it legal. So a court could take an action, and that's not really legal in its real sense. But the question that I'm asking- In a trial, in a trial, no one can question, you know, so it's illegal to remand you in custody while the trial is going on. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is- It's an ongoing trial. The question, what I'm saying is this. If someone sees- If he's sentenced, I mean- Would you listen? I'm saying that if someone says I'm a thief, if you accuse me of being a thief, the law says, I mean, innocent, until and been proven by a court of competent jurisdiction. And my question is, does that law, is that a universal law? Hopefully we get, you know, someone to answer that question because- I'm answering already. I'm telling you that the court can remand you in custody while a trial is going on. They can release you on bail also while the trial is going on. It depends on which way the pendulum swings for you. If you're lucky enough, you get released. But are you talking about the charges against him, right? You're talking about the charges against him and whether those charges deserve or they deserve, you know, require or are waiting enough for him to be remanded if I'm not mistaken. But, well, we'll keep watching the space. But that's my view on this one. You know, I was wrong. Well, let's move on. Let's move on. A small matter of, you know, national library of Nigeria, I don't know when last you went to the library messy, but I used to love going to, you know, a library in Calabar called the State Library. It was the state of the arts in the 90s. My own uncle's designed it. But it fell apart. I won't go into details. I hope it's back now. But do people also go to libraries in this country? I don't know for legal state. I don't know, you know, if you can see what's going on. Nationally, nationally. So you talked about it. So we do have, like, a little bit of history. I'll speak for myself. I can't speak for everyone. I mean, we live in a city where there's so much. A lot of people are very busy. There's a lot of stress going on. So you can't really ascertain. You don't know. But the library culture for me was really great. And I enjoyed every bit of it back then in university. I used to school library a couple of times. So even when you had the charges, because if you see the breakdown of your school fees, the library was also part of it, including the state library that you mentioned. I remember a lot of times that I visited it. And right now that library is nothing to write home about. I'm not sure that there's a library, even though there's a library, but is there really a library as the question? Because you find a lot of activities going on. A library is supposed to be a quiet place. Then you sort of find other people sort of outsourcing the library for events. Because it was state-owned, some people thought that they could make generate revenue from that particular space. It became very noisy. You look at the books. Are they up to date? Very sad and very worrisome. I can't really tell in the space that we are right now. If you want to begin to ask yourself, how many persons better than I at the library? How many persons even have time to even sleep not to talk about visiting the library? But I'm sure that it's something that we should look at in the long run. Probably make a report, a documentary or something. Yes, I'm looking at some comments online, and what some people are saying, asking questions about the national. This particular trending story is one of replication of the national library across in 12 states. So they have a prototype. I think it's just about the building and the design, the services, and the whole makeup of that library. So they want to replicate this prototype library in 12 states across the country. There was a groundbreaking ceremony of a multi-millionaire prototype library in the lower and the capital of Kuala state. We have a national librarian, some have forgotten that we have a national librarian, Professor Chingwe Anunobi, who said the library boosts rich research and deepen reading culture. But the question people are asking is, do we need such brick and mortar libraries in today's world? We're spending millions of money to build them across, when people just want to sit in their homes and access information from their phones, their laptops, and their tabs. So we'll keep watching this conversation as time goes on. But that's it for all of our trending stories this morning on The Breakfast. We'll be right back. We have more coming ahead. And so when we return, it would be time for off the press where we take you through the front pages of our National Daily. Please stay tuned.