 Welcome back to The Breakfast in Plasti, via Africa. It's time for Off the Press. While we take you through the front pages of our national dailies, we have Opunabu Omkotaria, who is a public affairs analyst. Good morning and thank you for joining us. Good morning, Massey. Good morning, Justin. Good morning to you. Alright, so as usual, I set off with the leadership newspaper this morning. Let's find out what big stories we have. Sultan J.I.N. declares special prayers in North, and that's the board caption. On leadership newspaper this morning, following the rising insecurity, there's need for prayers. Says federal government must protect the people from terrorists, bandits, urge government at all levels to breeze up to the challenge of governance. Troops kill 20 bandits in Zamfara. This is some of the riders you find underneath the board caption. Echoers leaders must save region from insecurity. COVID-19, that's what the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammad Buhari, quoted to say. And underneath, you also have another caption saying, 42 billion-dollar last renovation contract followed due process. That's what FEM is quoted to say, gives records of previous jobs. NFF, Saks Ghanat Raw, appoints an interim coach. Find out all of the details this morning on the leadership newspaper. And you also find no TIN required to operate bank accounts in finance bill. That's what the minister of finance is quoted to say, Zainab Ahmad. And let's just see if we can check out another headline before we move away. That's the much we can take this morning on the leadership newspaper. Right away from the leadership. We'll move on next to the Daily Trust newspaper. Makin' Bonner headline, The Travel by the Omicron, you know. But Daily Trust captions it this way. A passenger stranded over a fresh Nigerian UAE row, with some riders there, agents, travelers, counts, losses. Stakeholders commend the federal government's T4TAT, a seek review of parts. Federal government reciprocates travel ban against UK, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. Okay, that's the main story. Then reactions as the Emirate turbines of Buhari's son, just below the mast, has subsidy. Daily Trust economists seek injection of a T-trillionaire in education health. All right, what Buhari is doing to tackle insecurity. That's according to the presidency. If you want to find out, check the Daily Trust for that. A pandemonium as kidnappers invade to rob a market, abduct, trade us. Most stories on the Daily Trust. This morning, federal government college burning care be 181 days. That's following school children in captivity. Right, let's see if we can take more 188 million transactions recorded on E-Nira platform. Since October 2 month, 188 million. Fine. Now, NFF sucks Janet Raw, a pointer, a guava, an interim superior goes bus. E-Mo Monarchs abducted places or policies rather set on fire. Those are the main stories you can find on the front page of the Daily Trust this morning. Let's take a look at the Daily Times newspaper this morning. Almost similar with what you have on the leadership newspaper. Buhari to Echo as leaders. We must forge stronger solidarity to tackle new challenges. That's what you find on the Daily Times newspaper. Echo as leaders acts international community to support sanction against Genie and Mali. Nigeria in distress due to citizens misdeeds, grafts, political recklessness. That's what the Sultan is quoted to say. Nigeria has not been governed says Otomi. You also find federal government to ban flight from the United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Argentina. This is some of the headlines on the Daily Times newspaper. And just before we move away the finance bill 2022. Teen not required to operate bank account, presidency source. An NFF appointed guava, interim super eagles, bus and sacks, war. This is some of the headlines on the Daily Times newspaper. Away from the Daily Times, we'll move on next to the punch on the newspaper. All right, we won't reverse travel ban of a federal government threat. That's according to the United Kingdom. A writer's step. Press statement on travel ban stance despite federal government's planned retaliation. High commission is saying UK others lack moral rights to allow the rail lines to come to Nigeria says aviation minister. We have recommended travel ban for Canada, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, others. So I guess most of the papers have that on their front pages this morning. Above the must head, there are some interesting stories you can find there. COVID-19 infections rise by 326.6 or 7% in one week Nigerian shunt safety rules. Code stops trial of ex-army chief offers over 13.8 billion Naira fraud. Reps invite Marlamie Adebayo FIRS as controversy emerges over tax holidays. Just above that one on the blue strip there, over 500 million pushed into extreme poverty over healthcare costs. According to the World Bank and WHO, just below the pictorial there, Buhari governor's orders one VIP's trunk. Obama said a song dies at 95. Ghanaian two Nigerians napped with 10 kilogram of cocaine. A one million tramadol capsules seized. All right, a wife boasts though as Ogumpastur allegedly rapes teenage chorister couple arrested. Kogi drags EFCC to court of a controversial 19.3 billion Naira fund demands 35 billion Naira. Again, gunmen invading the local government abducted businesswoman Smarsh Farmer's head. 53 UI lecture salaries not paid since December 2020 according to ASU. Buhari, okay, that's all we can find on the punch needs paper this morning. All right, let's head straight to having open up on Kotari. You joined the conversation this morning. We do appreciate your time. Once again, good morning and thanks for joining us. Good morning. Okay, so let's start off with the leadership newspaper this morning. I mean, the concerns about insecurity in Niger and the fact that you also have some quotas calling for prayers. What are your thoughts? You can also join that with the president calling on echo as leaders to save the region from insecurity and COVID-19. Well, calling on God meetings application is normal, especially when you've lost peace in the ability of the government to address the security challenges. The security challenge is definitely the banditry in nothing I've all assumed apocalyptic dimension. You get up in the morning, especially if you're in the north or in the east. And you're able to go back home safely. You thank your God for that day. Because even while sleeping, you don't know what might be formed before your family. You're also. So there's not space. There's just condoms in the land. There's not space in the government to address these issues until they make their supplications to God. Calling on him for divine intervention. And there's nothing wrong, especially when you consider the fact that these are religious, these are clerics. I think it is called, these are prayers to God. I think it's helpful because there's not space in the government. And if you also observe, you find that that isn't the government or his own path. I will say, and I can't say this complicit. Because I just had Gumi recently, when he said because the court had declared the bandit's terrorist is now going to kill himself. That's the purpose. He was never appointed by anybody. So one begins to wonder why Gumi will carry out all his evil with impunity without anybody questioning him, inviting him, interrogating him, and so on. And that's why I think the government is actually complicitous. But they did raiding and raiding the easts for crimes that are less than compared to what he is doing and his cohorts. So I agree. Gumi, the Sultan of Sepulveda recently has been outspoken. He has been talking. He's quite outspoken because he carried out on these issues. He has to be because, one, he's in charge of the Muslim state. That is one. And two, he's on people like the ones that are dying. When these people raid and they kill, they don't consider your religion. They don't consider your ethnicity. All right. Let's slide on to the Daily Trust. Eventually all the papers on behalf that asked their story on the front page this morning. The Daily Trust captions it this way. Passengers stranded over fresh Nigeria. I have to hit you on the divine assistant. But in this particular case, it is because the federal government has refused. There is refugiation of obligation. Has refused to be a licensed of possibility. And so they, their hands are set up. They have no other choice. You can't carry arms. And so when the minister for defense once said Nigeria should handle. So I would do respect to it. I want that this sentiment is accepted. Point to ourselves. I would like to defend myself against those carrying the AK-47 with bare hands. And so the, even the bill on handling of, are permitted individuals to carry arms. That is before the national assembly. They say welcome development. But even at that, what I do, you can't do. You will be allowed to carry AK-47. As such, those are not going to be permitted. So even as that, it is just like sketching, sketching the issues. It is not really what I call financial capitalism. You are just sketching the issues. It is not really addressing the issues. Because this one's done with AK-47. And also he has AK-49. So what are you going to do? The only difference is that if you see who pulls the trigger. But you're not talking, you're not, you want to start an individual. You are talking of a group of people. Attacking maybe, you have like 100 headsmen, 100 bandits, invading maybe just, Attacking just 10 to 30 persons. How are they going to defend themselves? So if we follow that, it's a complex situation. So these people are, they have to ask the government. They now call on God, God, please come and help us. Come and save us from the calamity that has come. But it is alright. Yeah, but what I actually asked that was for, to get your comment concerning Nigeria, UAE, Rao, now passing just stranded over the fresh and Rao. That's the way the daily trust is captured. I just want to get to your, you know, candid opinion concerning the travel ban and of course the recent developments. Well, as far as I'm concerned, the travel ban is completely unnecessary. To me, these are just special reasons. I believe there are other surreptitious reasons that are there yet to be made known, disclosed to Nigeria. Otherwise, why are you going to ban? Then you're going to forever ban. Because you all forever have the barriers. It will not end. So you're going to ban. And you all know the effect of all these bans. Now look at people are stranded. Even if you have to ban, there has to be some stimulating circumstances. You don't ask, are you allowed to be stranded on the airport? Now, what is the logic there? What if they already have the barriers? They already have the barriers. They are going to spend it there. And if they already have the barriers and their lives are in danger, then what happens? But they are going to also be there. What are the measures taken to address the issues, their problems, even if they have medical challenges? I don't think the panacea, I've always said, is a ban. It is not a ban. It should be seen viewed as malaria. Type 4. Well, you go for treatment for those who are not, who are yet to be vaccinated. You ensure that before they travel out, they are vaccinated. That is no problem. And when they get to your country, of course, you confirm to be sure that they are actually vaccinated before you let them in. Because those things are affecting businesses. But you just come up with a blanket ban. Oh, when there is no place for nobody, you don't even grant for Nigeria, or most of this, or the South Africa, it is extremely bad. To me, it is a clear case of racism. It tells you how the viewers, with so much indignity, so I completely condemn it. I don't subscribe to a ban. But I subscribe to strengthen what has been put in place in order to rein in the spread of this disease, of this COVID-19. Because it has come to stay. It is going to be like malaria. It is going to be like type 4. So are you going to ban forever? So they were supposed to have guessed you by the federal government. They said welcome to development. That is to let them know that they are not in any way an inferior nation. They are not a clinic nation. We also have our rights. When you do this to me, of course, I am going to retire. And let's see how it works. Unfortunately, Babacha did it in those days. And he didn't bother. But unfortunately, our leaders are so corrupt that lots of Nigerians depend on international freedom. A lot of Nigerians believe that their blood could be bottled abroad. Because of the harsh economic situation we are facing with this one. This is not a ban in the 70s and 80s. No Nigerian would have done that. I remember I saw back in 1984 I was spending the Naira in London. And I was well-appreciated that I was respected. In 1984. But today you can't do that. The Naira is worthless. It's boneless. And so it's all about cutters. And that is why a lot of people are worried. Otherwise, if you say it's not too bad, fine, I don't give a damn about it. But a lot of Nigerians depend on their daily bread. From outside the company. In circumstances, the ban is completely unnecessary. And I can tell you that very soon we will get to the facts. Not the truth. It will be destroyed. The truth behind the ban. I don't think it's all about COVID. COVID is just the special reason they advance. It's not all about COVID. All you need to do. Okay, for example now, if I have COVID. I travel out. I get to your airport. Even if I want people to confirm that I have COVID, you send me back. If I don't have COVID, no one will fly. It's as simple as a visit. So why do you go to the ban? Why do you go to the ban? Why must it be a blank entry? It is extremely wrong. Completely unacceptable. Ridiculous. And I'm half wrong on Nigeria. We should not be taken to the Naira. So I want to reciprocate that. All right. Okay. So let's also look at the Daily Times newspaper this morning. And the concern from Patu tell me, he's saying that Nigeria has not been governed. What? He's saying that Nigeria has not been governed. Nigeria has not been governed. Yes. Due to all of the happenings that we're experiencing. Well, that is a reflection of his feelings. When you take on the advisement, the overheated political engine, a stupid inflammatory economic atmosphere, and the highly compostable social climate, you will agree with very large extent that Nigeria is not governed. It's a country that is partitious. We have problems left, right, and center. And unfortunately for us, we have a president that is on a long journey of lethargic sleep and inertia. He's yet to return. And that's why I say it's not governed. Because things are done, appetite-less is just the other of the day. Everybody, the chief did not, and the chief does his own. The chief has done his own. Chief of staff does his own. There is no coercion. There is no synergy. And as a result of this, you have commotion in the whole system. Even the economy has not been addressed. The security challenges have not been addressed. The political issue has got everything, everything. It's a month of issue. And that is why you say it is not being governed. In other words, you say you don't have the right leader. And so there is anarchy in the system. That is exactly. My own extrapolation. That is what I mean by Nigeria is not being governed. And in that context, it is not being governed. I completely agree with it. All right, let's take some stories from the old newspaper, several stories. But let's talk about the controversial 19.3 billion Naira fund. The Kyrgyz state government has dragged the EFCC to court over that particular controversy. And they are demanding 35 billion Naira in damages. Your thoughts, Opponabe? Well, that is a good matter. EFCC initially has killed the conquisting government of fraud and businessmen. I think money that was released for bailout, as I said, was diverted to the government by account. Analysation of the conquisting government to be dating, say, you know, that's not true. And as a result of that, they see that they're nearing on that account. And the conquisting government was curious and reacted. And now the world will begin with a statement trying to explain when it dates on that matter. We had the money worth and how about the youth. I think it's the matter of integrity. And if it is true that the conquisting government is in a sense of the allegation, of course, you have to withholding back such court will have some serious financial implications of the economy of conquist. So the matter before the court, it has been subjected to the clinical prognosis of the legal law, will outweigh the judgment. Right now, you cannot say EFCC is right. You cannot say the conquisting government is right. Although he personally buys the government. So you cannot say EFCC is right. You cannot say conquisting government is right. It is before the court, but the court will actually come up with the judgment from that point. We can't categorically say it's right or it's right. But for now, it's something before the judiciary. So let's wait for the outcome before we actually make categorical statements. That's the quantitative application. All right, open up on Kataria. Let's also check out the punch newspaper this morning. Over 500 million pushed into extreme poverty over the health costs. And that's according to the WHO and also the World Bank. Over 500 million pushed into extreme poverty that's according to experts from the WHO. So 500 million people according to that report and okay, all right, then go ahead. So for me the concern would be quite expensive. All right. I was going to ask Go ahead. Okay. So I was going to ask I was going to ask if you think that the cost for health services would be enough to push 500 million persons into extreme poverty. More than enough. More than enough. Because if you lack the basic diet the balanced diet you're going to fall sick. And when you fall sick there is nothing you can do other than restore to medications which is health. Now if you have let's say hypothetical you have 10,000 million and the same thing you have malaria to treat that malaria will cost you 10,000 million or even that 10,000 million. Then why you are not teaching? What do you do? Because if you go and you're going to die of malaria so the first thing you do which is just natural is to treat the malaria believing you might eat either in the friend's house or somewhere and when you spend that 10,000 on malaria treating yourself you are empty. It has placed you dry. You can't see. You can't afford the basic necessities of life. You can't even open your shop anymore and that was the profit you made from the shop. You can't even rest. So now this is just hypothetical not to talk of when you have cancer when you have liver problem your kidney problem and so many of them have related matter. So even a lot of people are giving an admission in the hospital and have been abandoned especially in the general hospitals in the government hospitals have been abandoned because there are medical bills and some of them die. And that's why we want to tune in today to both of these stations where people are feeling for the public, for funds, for treatment nobody goes on to say please give me money I want to. It has been done. You have to see if you keep hearing oh Mr. A is suffering from kidney he is suffering from cancer he needs 10,000,000, he needs 3,000,000 now that is a function but otherwise the families would have been able to spend to pay for them but they cannot so only the microscopic few can afford these things they can even afford to travel out of the country like Mr. President they can afford all these things but majority of Nigeria can barely feed and a man that can barely feed cannot afford his medical bills not to talk of the medical bills of members of his family and what have you and if you have it you have to look at somebody that is on let's say 200,000 a month he has a medical challenge that is not of his making but he cancer and the doctors are asking him to bring 10,000,000 for treatment or for surgery what happens? This is going to drive any account the wife account and will protect so health is actually one major problem that will definitely inform various blocks of Nigeria so that is a very applicable fact because between feeding between school fees between rents and between car approaches and so on the priority if you are sick will be addressed without it you are going to die what is life threatening if you are not in Nigeria you are not a headache you know how you see when you have severe headache and somebody tells you please if you look at the time you look for money to go and buy work at the end of the day that is the best thing that will bring to your mind and if you don't have it what happens? now when you just spending your money on health at the time when you have a terminal illness and you just spending your money on health you will find out that a lot of people sell them in their properties to stay alive a lot of people sell their properties to stay alive so health is a major major impact on finances and it has really great lots of focus lots of focus alright Tuponabo I don't know if you actually followed the Nigerian football situation and of course the NFF is in the news what does that even mean? ask me to check and go leave me out of football I don't think if you are feeling well you need to have to come back in let us look at something else alright 188 million transactions are recorded on the E-Nira platform it's a belly it's actually on the daily trust it's belly about two months the launch of the E-Nira and of course what we have right now it's about 188 million transactions recorded is that some goodies? what are your thoughts exactly? well it seems to me that it's an embrace and it's quite favorite welcome to the look don't doubt about that because within two months you are talking about over 180 did you say 180? 188 188 that's huge I can tell you that so it's a welcome development and what even in E-Nira it's always too early to plan because you always have people that will want to convince you to sabotage the situation but for now it shows a some level of acceptance some level of appreciation and that is where you have that much transaction that number of transactions within two months but let's see how it goes let's see how it goes I wait for the E-HCC and so on because very soon the E-HCC will introduce issues and will tell you the thoughts and so on that are taking place but for now I think it's a welcome development and we all like it I am not started I don't know if you have so let's wait and see how I comment it's a welcome development I decided to reduce speculation and it's a very large extent going to a certain level of comparison if the tracking system is good so it's a welcome development I agree with okay so as we cost it down now let's quickly also still stay with the punch newspaper and the consensus been raised by the minister of health saying that COVID-19 infection is on the increase by 326.6% in one week and also the fact that Nigerians have shown safety rules I like to show your thoughts on that what could be responsible I mean the letter part of it that's also one part I'd like you to show your thought why have we shown the safety rules the wearing of the nose mags the social distancing and of course constant washing of hands yes Nigerians in tune the fact that there's COVID-19 is real that is the focus of COVID-19 is one major problem then secondly there is so much hunger in the land so between COVID-19 I mean as a result of the hunger in the land a lot of people consign the issue of COVID into oblivion in fact a lot of them would just say does COVID exist today you know that's the truth about it so it's more of when I think of reaching the top best if I talk of COVID-19 but then the government has a role to play when it comes to enforcement if we're really nearly that's whether Nigerians like it or not if the government is sincere and is really ready to address this enforcement of the safety guideline the government can't if you find somebody on the road without a face mask you're arrested it's as simple as that if you find if there is a function and the social distancing rule is not to be of course you arrest the it is a party the organizers of the party and everybody that attended that party when I mean arrest you don't just arrest them you bring them and so you make them so that it is token even if they have to pay 100,000 a year it will serve as a deterrent and it will be asked in their memory that if we don't obey these rules there is always the penalty but when you carry you disobey this rule to infinity then what have you expected Nigerians to obey so the onus is the government to enforce this rules because if you let if you see no parking no stopping I bet you you see a taxi driver will stop exactly where they said no parking no stopping so we need the iron hand in Nigeria to enforce laws and the police should ensure that the police medical officers should ensure that they enforce this if you see me on the road driving in a taxi and no mask the passengers and the drivers are not putting on their mask you stop that party and arrest them and ensure that they all pay even if they spend 100,000 a year before they need to work as their mask and the police should be hidden let me come in there now you also want to agree with me that believe in forms action they become or they act and you also would also want to agree with me that there are a lot of persons out there who do not believe in the existence of this virus so do you think that that's actually a better approach trying to get them to comply with the rules I'm asking if you think that that's a better approach to get people because you also still have quite a number of persons who do not believe in the existence of this virus not to even talk about the vaccine and so is that the best approach to actually get people to comply how the people do not believe I talked of the appropriate violence but then now whether you believe or not is immaterial that's one because we are talking of the safety of Nigerians if you want to die even when you want to commit suicide it's a no-send nevertheless if you want to die die in your bedroom that's yes, die in your bedroom don't kill other people before you die so it is the responsibility of government to protect lives and property now if you don't believe I know where you are coming from you are talking about awareness there is enough awareness nobody can say is ignorant of Covid it's just that they don't believe so the issue of awareness doesn't arise because we are aware some don't believe for religious reasons some just don't believe they tell you like they say a big man problem I don't care whether you believe or not because the awareness is there you can't dispute that on daily basis the awareness is there you have enough campaign on Covid 19 so what I believe or not is your bloody hell business when the government when the government starts entrusting these rules then the government is also protecting your life and the lives of others the only difference is that you might not go for vaccination that's just the difference and that's where the campaign goes you go for vaccination but if you have your mask or you're not going to spread it because from what I said it is where you sneeze you cough and so on that you spread so if you have your mask or you're not going to spread it but you might not go for vaccination that is where the awareness comes in apart from the issue of vaccination encouraging you to go and do the vaccination the government must enforce once you enforce a lot of Nigerians will ensure that they go by these rules, the guidelines and by so doing they will restrict the spread of the virus that's what it is important for the government to understand why they still carry on with the campaign the awareness campaign if you don't want to go for vaccination it's your business that's your business but if you have the mask you cannot spread that's why it is important that you have your mask you wash your hands regularly the awareness is good but awareness without enforcement will amount to that that's the point I'm making alright we must say a very big thank you to you Opponabel Inko Tariya for joining us this morning and of course analyzing all the papers and all the news on the front pages we do appreciate your time thank you so much alright it's still the breakfast on Plus TV Africa away from all the press we'll be seeing what happened today in history today it's the 13th of December what happened in history in a moment stay with us