 President Mohammed Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to make the country's borders in panic-tribble to infiltrate us ahead of the forthcoming elections. On breakfast today, we'll look at the importance of this and how it can be achieved. And today is World Wetland Day 2023, in commemoration of the day. We'll look at the role wetland plays in our world. And of the press, we bring you in the finalists of today's major newspaper headline. So please sit back, relax and enjoy. My name is Kofi Bartels. And I am Messier Bopu. It's good to be back on your screen this morning. Fantastic, fantastic. Merci. What did you observe when you were to work this morning? As usual, the queues have not seized. The queues are still very much with us. We don't know for how long that's going to happen. That's also causing traffic, if you like to say, for bigger cities as big as there's always traffic because these filling stations are just by the roadside. It's just crazy. People are sleeping in the queues overnight. You know, if we say in Nigerian Pigeon, I don't get straight for that one. I don't know, man. People sleep overnight and they have to remain until morning just to get petrol. And most times I pass by those places I ask myself, you're going to sleep overnight in a queue just to be able to get petrol in the morning and you're going to just go use it and it's finished that day or finished in a few days. You know, so Nigerians are going through a lot and I haven't heard anything from the president's committee to tackle the petrol scarcity. I don't know. You know, most of the comedians will say the president, you know, when they crack jokes and they do insata, the president always says, I'm not aware. I'm not aware. So I don't know. I hope the president is still aware that he created a committee to tackle. Have you heard about anything? That committee that he was the chairman, then he put the minister of petrol resources to impress you as the alternate chairman. All these people who are in the committee, it's their job to actually tackle the fuel scarcity. Do we need to create a committee? No, the creative committee, what have they done since the beginning? But Kofi, you know how committees actually work. I mean, committees outside of, you know, the government, everywhere you find a committee, just to understand that it's just going to be very lengthy. So the bureaucracy. Now you expect that the committee will make findings? The committee will make findings. I mean, first of all, they will investigate why the scarcity committee will make their findings after findings. They will submit the findings for verification after verification. Findings of what? Findings of what? Why petrol is scarce. Okay. If you want to find out why I scarce, where do you go? Why are you asking me that? I'm telling you what's going to happen. And after the findings, they have to submit the report. And then this committee inside the committee would, you know, review all of these reports. And before you implement it, sure. Nigerians would have to be suffering. I see the sarcasm there. You know, when the eBay Kachiku was minisupertural resources of state, I'm not saying he did a yeoman's job. I don't think, you know, anyone has done a yeoman's job. But you know that when he had scarcity, he generally was effective. I don't know. But you'd see Kachiku in petrol stations with his style, his shed, he rolled off his sleeves. Even record videos, put it out. This is what we are doing. That's what we're doing. This is what we're doing. We're trying to make this and this is working. For now, I think the minister of state focus, he's the de facto minister of petroleum resources. President Buhari is not there. Maybe he just is the one who sits in office. You can't say he's not there. No, no, no. In terms of being an active minister. How are you sure he's not an active minister? Maybe he's his staff. No, no, no. The president, you know, as a minister, the minister carries the load in the bulk of the work. The president probably just approves decisions and all that. But what I'm saying is, we don't see Timmy Presilva, their brother from a government by Elsa State, moving around, making, trying to look at work. We don't see anything. So my question may say, before we move on and take this time, it seems the committee was formed. What have they achieved? People are sleeping on the roads. But, but, you know, I mean, I just went through the entire, you know, way the committee works. And you understand what that means. Even that one. Let me say, even that one, that they will form a committee and then they're going to meet and then they are going to consider and they're going to take time, then they'll form another committee to study. It's, it's even not as bad as this one. Glad you see them doing something. Anyway, let's move on. The first top training story is about a group of youth, you know, who have taken to streets in a dough state to protest the economic situation in the country, the hike in petrol prices and the petrol scarcity. I'm sure they also have somewhere there in their mind, scarcity of the Naira. Let's just take a look at what they did. All right. So as we're taking a look at what they did, I mean, can you see what's going on there? Okay, we just teased it for you. They are cooking on the road. You know, some road in Benin City, a dough state has been blocked over some protests that we, I said last time it was just a group of people, but it seems to be taking on added, what do you call it, added some momentum, gathering momentum. It seems to be gathering momentum. And, you know, so, so this, this is interesting. Look at that mercy. It looks yummy. It looks something. I wonder what they're cooking. There's noodles. Can you see? Can the camera just show us a bit? Okay. Let's listen to, to, to what, what, what's going on there. Okay. Where is fish? I'm interested in what it is that we're cooking. Could just be rice? I mean, if I was there, I would have just taken my plates. But it's about the economic situation, Mercy. That's quite... So, I mean, protesters, yesterday I also saw another video, not very related to these, but it was also a protest where a lady took off her top in a banking hall, and she's protesting. Oh well, I couldn't look away. I looked at it, and I tried to understand what she was saying. She wasn't communicating in English, so it was a bit difficult. So, however, you could see a young lady who's angry. Nigerians are really angry, that's it. You see these days, you see a lot that's going on. I mean, what you probably wouldn't have seen in 10 years, 15 years ago is what we're seeing now, and you begin to ask yourself, what's going on? It looks like everyone is not sane. Everyone is acting insane, because why do you cook on the road? Well, it's just another way of people expressing themselves and dissatisfaction, what's going on, trying to communicate their feelings and speaking. But unfortunately, we do have those who are governing their affairs and calling the shots. They're not listening. These people are making statements. These people are asking for attention. They are communicating, and communication takes different form. You only expect that there should be some level of understanding to know that someone is communicating. It's like you have a toddler or a child around you, especially the ones that have not been able to express themselves. They can't say the proper words, so you still have them ranting and acting. Sometimes they can be aggressive, and that's what it is. So the people that Nigerians are speaking, different reactions, we have seen for the past few days, we don't even know if those who are calling the shots are understanding or they even see this as a means of communication. That's what Nigerians are doing. Why don't you take a breather, take a pause and speak to them? It's unfortunate that Petruska is still ongoing. You remember Vivian Lee? I mean, it's like an irony. Okay, one will can see if it's an irony. Kofi, you remember that once upon a time when President Mohammed Buhari was a military president, he was also in charge of the petroleum sector. So it feels like you want to say he's a deja vu. That's what Nigerians are waking up to now. But this president, interestingly, just to chip in when he came into power, I think you look at the majority of the time he spent as president. It's been very, very good, very easy, very good. We don't have even the perennial Christmas, Easter, and salad scarcity up to a few times. So my point is, with all this going on, would it have not been, you know, is it not rational that you have... We remember we know that we have dedicated a ministry to petroleum. I mean, so there's a ministry that has been created, and there's a minister, and people are working in this ministry. And salaries are being paid. I'm sure that people are being paid for working in this ministry and occupying this office. And there's no tangible reason up until this moment why petrol is scarce. So that's the problem. Once upon a time, I'm just saying that we also had a time where adulterated product was imported into this country. And the Ministry of Petroleum, up until this moment, have not even explained to Nigerians how that happened, what has happened. So we just wake up and then things are going on. You know, I was also asking, I think, who codicates his name, the Ipman Spokesman. You know, we don't know what the... And most of these expressions, we know, we know it's a refineries. You know, but the thing is, apart from that, the one we've been doing before importing and all that, what is the problem? You know, the Upper Greece Congress presidential candidate is a legion sabotage. It's a legion sabotage. But right now, what we're talking about is that some young people in those states have been on the road. Now, the first time we talked about this, I said, you know what, it's just a few people left over, right out of proportion, you know. Are they going to prove me wrong? You know, so at the time... Yes, sorry. My own angle and what I'm looking at, I'm looking at where this will go to. I mean, how is it going to progress if this is going to be picked up by people in other states? If this is going to become something like Occupy Nigeria that will be picked up by people around the country. I'm not even sure that's the case. And if this will become like maybe a national protest that you begin to see, little pockets of people going out in protest around the country. I'm watching, I'm watching to see. So, I mean, if you were thinking out loud now and we're asking whether that's going to be the case and some people are asking why hasn't that been the case, you know, prior to this time. You just begin to imagine. Don't forget that, you know, we're still talking about subsidy. Now, petrol subsidy will be out in June, you know. So imagine what it becomes. Right now, people are buying... Petro subsidy, you have to use history now to be able to frame your statement. They said petrol subsidy will be out in what? Okay, so they said petrol subsidy will be out in June and imagine that petrol subsidy is out in June. So imagine what will happen. You know, just, I wanted to imagine, just paint a picture of what it will be, you know, in June. Now people are buying petrol, petrol station for 300 Naira or 360 or thereabout. 400 Naira. Depending on where you're buying from. That's for, that's not the black market. So we're not talking about black markets now. And now this has a trickle down effect because... I'm talking about petrol stations actually. On the cost of transportation, you cannot even argue that. It's on the high. So there's an effect for everything that happens. You say, I like to call it a trickle down effect because if it happens, you know, at the head, it trickles down to every part, you know, of the body. Well, fingers across, Nigerians are still speaking about fuel scarcity and that's exactly, you know, how the people of Edo state, the young people there have chosen to react to, you know, non-availability of this product and decided to cook on the road. We don't know how far that would yield any results, but we would definitely bring you all the developments. Moving away from that, the NUC, Asu has actually said that the NUC has no right whatsoever. It's not within her poor view to shut down universities so elections, I mean, students can be part of the elections. Now according to reports and data, it might be possible that about 3.5 million students might not be able to take part, you know, in this election. You would connect that, you know, argument with the fact that schools were on break or shut down for almost eight months and our school is in session. Some students are still writing examinations. We're still counting down to the elections, about 23 more days to that election. How can that be when you have different students or these persons back at home, some of them did their registration in different parts that might just be need for them to go back. So this is the conversation, you know, that people are having stakeholders in the academic sector as to saying NUC is just a regulatory body. You have no right whatsoever. Nigerians have taken to, you know, social media, off-social media to share their thoughts about this. Kofi, but what do you make of it? On the 27th of October, 2022, there was an... I like released some information around that period. All right, the analysis of the voters, registered voters, you know, when the PVC registration exercise was suspended the first time, you know, so from 28th June, 2021 to 31st July, 2022, an acquittal showed us how many people had voted in the demography, very nice infographic. And so after studying it, I know we talked about it here, I said some things, what I said, analysis of the data shows an interesting detail. 3.8 million newly registered voters, or 40.87% identified as students out of the newly registered voters. The largest demographic or demography by occupation. Okay, that's how they divide it. Now, I said with lecturers, let's ask one strike at the time, how many of these students registered in the city where their school is, what I asked, I was 10. And, you know, so that's how I was asked. Now, there's a pattern playing out, and Nigerians need to look and be aware of this pattern. This is my opinion. ASU is playing a game as far as I'm concerned, okay? And the game that ASU is playing, I may be wrong, but it started from when the ASU chairman went to the House of Representatives, mercy. The way that ASU called off the strike, and then the statements that we hear from the national executive chairman, for instance, from the body nationally, you know, after the strike was called off, saying we'll take government to court, we would go on strike, if they don't pay us. I see a disconnect, mercy, between the interests of the university lecturers, the demands that we made by ASU initially, and the statements by ASU when they met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the House of Representatives in Abuja, and the reasons they gave for any calling of the strike, without any written agreement or assurances. And then the body language of the union after the strike was called off. It's almost as if it's a game where they're saying, oh, we'll take government to court. You know how many times we've read, mercy, think how many times have we read in the papers, in separate headlines, that are so complaining that they've not been paid the arrears, they're going to take, it's all hot air. They've been blowing hot air. And if you recollect, some independent member unions of ASU had to come out and did themselves that they would go on strike. For instance, I think the University of Jaws, now progressing some months further, ASU is now saying that they do not want the schools to be closed down for elections. When have schools been opened for elections? When? Okay? So I think that the members of ASU, member universities should go back to the national chairman or, you know, to the bodies, have a sit down and then let them agree on what exactly they want to do. As we speak, they're being awesome salaries. As we speak, the federal government through the Minister of Labour has recognized a parallel union. As we speak, there are plans to pay the parallel union salary arrears while ASU members are not being paid. And they're talking about, keeping the schools open during elections. I mean, are students going to go to classes during elections when there will be restriction of movement? I mean, I see a pattern developing here, and it'll be interesting to watch what happens. But I want to know what transpired. I'm interested in knowing when they went to the House of Representatives and how it was so easy for them to agree to call off the strike without an agreement concrete signed on paper. And then now, they come back telling us, oh, we're going to strike. They just mixed the opinions that we've seen. And then, okay, how many times are you going to say we're going to go on strike if they don't pay us arrears? Something is all right. You know, I mean, we need to move on because we'd have to come back with the papers this morning. But just to add to, you know, what you have mentioned, there are also, you know, consent as to, if you look at ASU saying, hey, it's not within the poll view. Because right now in everybody, I mean, when it's no longer your turn, you begin to look at the law. It feels like we practice the law where favors are. So we always make reference to the parts of the law, like making reference to the parts of the scriptures that you believe in. And so that's what it is. So you begin to say, well, it's not within the poll view of the NUC. It's also not within the poll view of ASU. What's, you know, expected is that the president have a say. I mean, if NUC can meet the president, the Senate, that can be the only way. So we understand, I mean, begin to look at it logically or morally, you ask yourself, ASU, you know, shut down the schools for eight months. And people are asking, if you shut down school for eight months, what's exactly is the election week? It's about, it's a weekend. And so, apparently, you could just say, okay, let's just say take back a week, right? Let the schools not be in session for a week. Even though they are saying, I mean, they are putting themselves out saying, it's not within the poll view. There's nothing wrong. I mean, to say a week, right? I don't know if you remember way back then in school where you had student week. There's always one week, no lecture, nothing. Free lectures, you know. Yes, yes, I loved it. I loved it. So one week of no lectures, I mean, the entire week from Monday to about, you know, the entire week and you return school the next week because, I mean, it's just a lecture. It's not funny. You wonder what the interest of ASU is in making sure, in keeping the students in school for a week. But ASU is saying they don't have any power to keep the students. That's which is also an irony, right? You begin to ask yourself, so what happened? So you have powers to say, you can't come to school. We're not going to be there because there are no lectures, but you don't have powers to send. So I think that, you know, if there's a way... Did you say David Hounday put up, sorry to interrupt you. David Hounday, the investigative journalist has been putting a lot of fire on some candidates during this election. Put up a picture, you know, with a fist and say students must be allowed to vote and ask people to retweet it. So I think there are some things that some of these guys are noticing that is at play, is at play. I want the members of ASU to ask their chairman what happened when he went to see Speaker Femi Machabi Amila in Abuja. All right, very quick, very quick one. I think we are out of time. So we'll have to quickly go... We'll have to go. Yes, but it's been quite interesting. We'll take a break when we come back. We have the papers ahead. Please stay with us.