 Thank you for staying with us. You're still watching the breakfast on plus TV Africa. I'm right now We sign for up the press. We're going to be looking at some stories making national dailies Joining me to review this is professor Camille. Sunny Faggy. He's from the department of political science by Euro University Canon. Good morning, sir. Thank you for joining us Okay, all right So we're gonna go straight into it and this morning will be starting with the Guardian now the major headline here It says FX crisis Nigeria falling out of the top four African economies on a weak currency and There is a form of chart here if you look at it the highest time the highest one here is 2013 and 2014 That was when we had, you know, a good or thriving economy Based on our nominal GDP, right? And so I think that was yes I know that was the time of good luck Jonathan and then as we go into 2015 16 and Coming into the Buhari's administration and right now the tinnable's administration. We've seen a decline in our nominal GDP So what do you think about us being one of the well? We did not make the top four and we have one of the weakest currency at the moment So which means as we're talking now, we are the people's largest Economy from the past. We are now down to I think the post and the reason is that our currency Is one of the worst performing currency in the world Not in Africa, but in the world is a general and After the Lebanese pound and the Argentine and peso If the side was performing Currency in the world. So that is why we have lost The position from being the largest economy to in Africa to now number four in Africa There's some stories here We have the presidential candidate for the pdp atiku You know telling tinnable he says stop a blame game adopt argentina's reforms atiku tells tinnable. So Obviously now that we've been pushed into the fifth position Do you think tinnable needs to be talking to other countries, you know talking about how we can actually Adopt these reforms and you know become a better economy and maybe that can just push us back up You know to number one spot if possible. There's another one here that says Nigeria hopeful for positive outcomes At wto says the minister. Do you think this is possible? Or do you think this is something that we can see in the nearest future? Um, I think for now it is not possible But you know, we have to remember That things will be better. That is one thing. Secondly, it's true that what The opposition candidate or like party saying Is that we should now stop blaming game? and look at The problem we have to take the whole the book by the home And you know, this is what happens. You look at best practices over the world And we try to look at what you have and we come up with a solution But instead of only promising and then blaming others for the problem I think we continue doing that. We are not taking the right step towards Resolving our own problems. So I believe and I think that is what the government should do. They should look at Other places Where they have done to get out of the The problem so that we can maintain it. We shouldn't Copying blame them. We take it as a jacket and put it on our stuff We look at what they do and look at our In particularities and see how we can modify the approach so that We now get out. We address the problem But the most important thing is we should stop blaming game and start taking action Not only promising and appealing to the people also where they should be patrolling. They should be patient The end of the light I said the light at the end of the tunnel all these things are promises We'll have to do something tangible and concrete to address the problem You know, we can't be making promises because they seem like anti promises The the politicians come in when they want to campaign and they you know make all of this lofty ideas and say You know what when I get into our face I will do this and that and then now you're here And nothing is being done instead the economy is dwindling But if you were if you were going to advise the government on certain reforms to take What would that be because it's okay to say we should be patient But what are we being patient for now the um the leader of the european social political forum Um, i fanny ferri had come out to say, you know, what the european should not even join in the protest People should be patient The government is working on it But my question is what are they working on how do we know we're going to get out of this and how soon So if you were supposed to Just play an advisory role to the government What reforms do you think we can take for us to have that light at the end of the tunnel? You see the past place are coming out to say that Everybody should not join the protest and that is appealing. I think it's Troubled by the whole issue because remember when Good luck was in power when the promise to take What this president government has done in terms of removing the And in terms of floating the mirror it was the same people who come out against it They do it because this is somebody that is why it was around policy and not because it is Our own then it is a good policy. We have to be patient I think we should go beyond that and look at the problem as a national problem after all hunger And poverty don't to try ethnicity gender and religion and whatever they affect everybody. So I think To me my advice Will be first to our leaders that they should not Trilize the issue. They should not see it as On a single religious line. They should see it first as a national Problem secondly the government should now Look at what happened? Why are we being where we are now and try to address that problem? Basically, we have said this several times that the problem in the twin problems of May 29th when the government I said they are going to withdraw subsidy and when the government said they are going to go to the mirror and these two problems I mean these two issues They seem that break the commons back in terms of inflation and poverty in Nigeria So I think my advice to the government will be Look at these and see how we address it As the former vice-president said we have to look at other places who are in similar Conditions for us and what they did to get out Is uh, we should also try to Modify it and I get ourselves out of the problem. Why we should not Trilize it. We should not be blaming Blame the blame game. We should take action and so my advice to the government will be review this position and Take a necessary step accordingly Hmm Okay, so we're still on the guardian But I want to take a little headline from the punch because it's in relations to this and it says Govnas Illumelu Dengote make Tinnubu's economic advisory panel. What do you think about this? I mean, you've seen Dengote build an empire. You've seen Illumelu build another empire with the ub a group trans cop and you know, all of this company is now They've been championing the affairs of successful Businesses, do you think them coming into this advisory panel might just take Nigeria, you know out of the mess that we're in at the moment? Yeah, I think we will give you the expertise and experience and We should and Calling people of such nature So that we can have You know a sinking group that will now think of Nigeria and Try to advise the government on what to do But we I think they will help In as much as they are not made a window dressing. You know, this is one problems are leaders and in particular the politicians They will now put on expert Experience people and put them as in the committee But after you know their own submission the government will just keep it aside and will not do anything So each government is willing and politically ready to I will take the contribution of such experts and think It is going to be Positive for Nigeria. So I think they are Real worship in that advisory committee Is going to help Nigeria to remain just Okay, so still on the punch and then we'll still take it from the guardian as well The the main headline on the on the punch says nlc protests Presidency police issue fresh warnings as 65 groups pull out now The riders here are don't disrupt commercial activities Vehicular movement, Lagos commission of police tells protesters then protests illegal since presidency CSO's nlc allege government's plot to disrupt Demonstration and then on the guardian, you know, you have it as a small headline. It says 65 CSO's withdrawal as nlc There's federal government mobilizes for nationwide protests. What do you think about this protest? Even the attorney general had come out to say there's an injunction. This protest is illegal. And so We cannot have the demonstration or rather nlc cannot have the demonstration and the letter was sent to femi file. I know who's the Who's the one representing the nlc? What do you think about them coming out to say this that it is illegal? Is this just the ploy to ensure that people do not go out to demonstrate? Like I've said earlier on when we're taking our top trending stories I said it's like having to beat a baby and tell the baby hush hush don't cry So at this point, what do you I want to know your thoughts on this? What do you think about them saying the protest is illegal and the fact that about 65 CSO's Have pulled out the are they pulling out out of fear? Just walk me through your thoughts. What's going on? You see they are giving the story and giving the fact that all over the world protest is part of the right of the citizens I guess the policies in as much as the protest are peaceful I think that the government position is has always been trying not to listen to You know protests like that are to listen to the people or We do that So to say that It is illegal and I think this is an injection about 23 years ago. It is not It is not just on on this issue So I think that is one thing and it is dangerous for the government to always try to crush such protests by organized labor to me myself might believe that if the government were to allow such scenes and the police were to be protection Which is part of what the constitution say that they should give them security protection. So it has not been hijacked by everybody That will allow and every in the government to control the situation because if it is an organized labor If Something goes wrong the government knows Who they can call responsible, but by questioning this and by taking all the measures to Prevent it. They are now opening the chance for the public to come out If the public come out like what we sold running the ensas Crisis, you cannot be able to control it. That was that was not dangerous than dealing with Organized labor. So I think well to me the government should look at that and allow the people after all if they are all Constitutional right to protest And the other thing is that these groups that opted out of the Strike about 65 If you read the news what they said is that we are to this kind of movies in the labor meaning they are being financed by the government to come out and break the ranks of At the labor. So that is why I say if One looks at it when one will see the hand of government and that directly or indirectly in so many ways You know trying to throw spanner into the wheel of progress Of this issue by now using the police to issue threats By now using the law to say that it is illegal and not by also Using some groups to opt out. These are all measures to break the scene Like I said, it is a dangerous thing. It is a miscalculation by trying to Muzzle such legal way of doing This is because like this the same goes he who does not allow peaceful change is now opening way for a violent one If you don't allow peaceful organized labor to now work Like to to bent on their own You know concern You are now making it possible who do you to take off this thing and that is more dangerous for any country if You know, it is an uncontrollable outburst by the citizens Well, I agree. I think people should be free to express, you know, their fundamental human rights protesting against something is a fundamental human rights and it's okay for people to be able to go out into the streets as long as You know, it is peaceful like you've said And so having to give them that security is way better. But we'll see time and time again I think sometime last year And I also wanted to protest and the government, you know, put this Ex parte in junction as well. Like you cannot Go out into the streets to protest. I personally have always said it I do not like protest because it kind of like disrupt the whole economic activities of of the nation but You cannot beat the baby and tell the baby not to cry Anyway, speaking about protests or strikes in in this case now Asu wants of imminent strike over alleged Insensitivity by the federal government. What do you think about asu going on strike? I mean, we're still talking about the protests from the nlc Well, to you see as well, even though they're trying to like back out But then asu as well is saying they want to go on a on an imminent strike over the alleged Insensitivity of the federal government. I want to know your thoughts Yeah, I think you see as to right here, I will ask to optioning by any organized labor And um, you know The government ought to have the head of such strikes By addressing the issue So I think it is quite unfortunate if we have to allow it to degenerate to the level of our You know strike and protests the government to be in a democratic government. They have to be sensitive Uh, you know responsive to The enemies and aspirations of other people really there is any complaint about that The government should address it. They shouldn't allow it to degenerate into that level But to me, I think even if um Being a member of asu We I think we we don't have to go into that level To you know, if you go back on the strike again Um, I think we have other ways by which We can resolve that For example, if I were to advise the labor since the government is now out Seeing that uh, they are going to uh, I mean the police are warning Uh, the the labor and the dss have done the same which are all a agent of the government And uh, there is attempt to break the ranks of the labor and so on so as Hello, sir Hello, sir Instead of coming out to property where you know, I mean, um, maybe somebody just called to interrupt So I think, you know, there are so many options in in this Relationship where strike is just one thing. So there are other ways by which you can make your feelings known, especially when the government is Trying to break the ranks. So I think they can Do sit down at home But it used to work all about two days that will shut everything and now impose the government to know that uh, yes people Uh, I'm not happy with what is happening Well, I think um Negotiations are really really important in this case. Um, because really the The education of of the citizens is hinged on this if as it goes on strike, you know People in school, the students have to go home and then there is no studies. So Federal government really needs to negotiate on this to ensure that, you know, the kids because we cannot we cannot have No food we cannot have You know, prices of goods and services being on an all-time high and then no education for the kids as well It's it's it's just a lot. It's just a lot and I would I would say negotiations really really need to come in On this one Well, let's move over from the whole economic situation of the country and let's talk something A little bit more legislative which talks about emerging prospects Challenges of state police and made legislative traction. What do you think about this? I know on the show we've spoken about me and you we've actually spoken about, you know The whole state police talking about if people or the governors are going to abuse power Especially what's happening with the local government as well But what do you think of this, you know emerging prospects although they are going to be challenges for the state police But then it's gaining some legislative traction your thoughts Yeah, you see the issue of policing is very important And it will go a long way to us resolving our problem of insecurity and other challenges But like I said some other times that The problem is in as much as Having state police will decentralize The policing system and will make it more efficient and more effective more responsive to You know challenges local challenges, but we have to put it in context. We have to see What is happening in Nigeria? What has happened in the past and now we look at Our own situation was like you said the experience of our local government So by the time you now decentralize the police, I think you are Empowering the governors when they now control the The pass they now control the political power They will now control the police and now they will control the parties If you put all of these powers in their hands, we are going to see something terrible. So to me I think we have to find a way of while decentralizing the operation of the police For example, once in that people advocate of state policing are saying is that you now recruit to organize people and And even so that they know the terrain they can be more responsible at this You can do it that too You can recruit the people from within local government and state and with them operate by the control of the direction I mean this will be a Nigerian police for now One such a time that this system Operates effectively and we are able to address all the teasing problems Then you can now Send it to Decentralize it to the state But with the time being I think let's not rush too past in the problem and in the on the issue because of what I said about the possibility of Being abused by the state governments Okay, let's move over to nature news and Well, there's a small headline that says federal government justifies delay in palliative food distribution And as we know earlier the federal government has said that we're going to distribute about 40 Metric 42,000 metric tons of grains to Citizens, but now we've seen a delay in this distribution and the federal government is justifying the delay. What do you think? Yeah, you see in the New Jersey We almost have Wrote a bureaucratic bottleneck on issues like that. What other people are suffering there is the hunger in the Country, so I think we shouldn't delay the same Justification or just fine. It doesn't mean anything it make a career to the people, you know already people are Stabbing so I think the government needs to do something Quickly to address that situation And this delay is perhaps giving Credence to what some people have said what some people are saying but after all that is not such great We had about 33 Finals in Nigeria all over the federation But about 17 of them have already been optioned somehow they have been privatized or whatever So the remaining ones that we have may not have the enough stock of food to now reach this target and the other thing is Besides the huge bureaucracy around it There's huge corruption This 42,000 metric tons They may not be able to reach the affected people Some people will cash on that and you know hijack the problem and the grants will be this far Even if they are available and they will not reach the point There's a small headline that says food smuggling customs to man 1500 illegal routes with drones and I know we've spoken about this before about the security in Our borders and how our borders are so porous and people just smuggle things in but now we're seeing that you know, there's going to be Drones manning about 1500 illegal routes. What do you think about this? Do you think you know, this is what we'll be speaking about and finally It's happening whereby our borders are not as porous as they used to be You see the manning with drone do you think it's going to help because We have We have a very porous porous So they are beyond the human resources that we have our own capability But I think Just manning it by drone will be able to identify the problem But how do you arrest it? That is the problem. So I think Usually the drones should be you know, I accompany it by you know mobilizing the personnel And we are empowering them so that they can effectively mend the situation the borders otherwise Yes, we can be able to see what is happening But before you take action it will be too late So I think we need a combination We shouldn't just relax and say okay We are going to use the drones and that's only to solve our problem. So what I'm saying basically is that Using the drone is a very very welcome I say which will help us a lot But actions have to Work the use of drone like what I see you see if you look at What the Saudi are doing about illegal They are using control of their own food Yeah, it is a big observe and immediately A problem is detected. Actually it's taken to hit it off But uh, you know, they need to see if we don't have the non-power I think The drone just It will be a restful exercise Okay, I want to take this final one just real quick before we wrap it up and this is from the business ng It says federal government says naira is already Stabilizing do you think this is true because every day we see the price go up But now the federal government is saying that the naira is stabilizing. Do you think that's true? And I want to know your thoughts as we wrap it up To me, I don't think that is uh true because what we are seeing is contrary to what Is the government is saying perhaps on paper in terms of policy They'll say it is stabilizing but on ground and in reality, it is not stabilizing because of The huge corruption around it and because of uh, you know, uh The profitability Of you know operating in legal and I wouldn't say if you don't stability of operating The outside market and so I think that Uh is a contrary to what the government is saying All right. Thank you so much. This is where we have to wrap it up on this segment today Thank you so much for joining us and coming as usual to just share your valuable contributions Thank you very much. Thank you Okay, we'll be speaking to professor Kamilu Sani Fagi He's from the department of political science by euro university can of states And we've just been reviewing the papers and what the global headlines have been on the national dailies this morning We'll go on a short break when we return. We'll be looking at our first hot topic to talk about How about 80 percent of Nigeria's crude oil has been stolen said by president Former president lushego abasando. We're going to short break. We'll return. Thank you