 Nigeria's Human Rights Commission has raised concerns over what it says is a rising food crisis in the country. Now, what exactly is the situation and how can this be tackled? Well, also on the breakfast, should the NNPC be unbundled and disbanded? So says former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the post-Emmy of Canada 2nd, Lamidro Sanusi. Of course, we have discussions on these ahead, plus after the press, I'll look at the latest from today's national newspaper, the analysis of some of those headlines on the front pages. You're welcome to the breakfast. We're back, it's a brand new weekend, of course, interesting discussions right here on Plus TV Africa, starting with the breakfast. We have discussions all through the day. My name is Kofi Bartel. Good morning. And I am Messi Bokpois. Good to have you join us. Good morning. Yes, indeed. Should we say happy holidays, mercy? Really? Is that what you're doing? Yes, today is a public holiday. She forgot today is a public holiday. Yes, indeed. And we are back with discussions. There are roads in Lagos that don't look like there's anything going on today, really. Yeah, we kill us. I'm telling you, the only thing that may be one of those pubs around that, you know, how people are staying until like 7am on Monday morning. I don't know if you're still dancing. I don't know. Anyway, before we get to our major conversations, we'll look at the papers. But before then, let's look at what's been trending as far as conversations in social space. Our spaces are concerned. A lot of Twitter spaces are on the weekend. Quite interesting one from by NDLEA. And I think one of the NDLEA stories is somewhere in the papers. But the new governor of Akiti State, Biodia Banji, his assumed office, of course, he was sworn in in a very nice ceremony right there in the Akiti State Capitol, which was attended by quite a number of dignitaries. And the one that interests me, and I'm sure a lot of people, is the fact that the president Mahabuhari was represented at that, swearing in by the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinobu. It was, it was quite interesting. He gave a speech representing the president. But we'll look at that as we go to the analysis of this story. But anyway, Biodia Banji has made some interesting statements. He's appointed a senior secretary of the state government. He also went ahead to freeze the state government account. I mean, that seems to be a smart move. He has to freeze the account immediately so that, you know, so he was sworn in following his inauguration, following his, his victory of the polls. And he'll be, as I expected, taking 10 or four years as governor. Now he's saying he will run an all-inclusive government. And he would make prosperity, abundance, unity, and equity thrive and blossom in Akiti State. He came out with a six-point agenda. Is it six or seven points? A six-point agenda. But he says his administration will focus on human capital. Place a high premium. Let me use these words now. Human capital development. Right, that's number one. Agriculture number two. Enrolled development. Infrastructure and industrialization. Number three. Arts, culture, tourism, and good governments. All right, to transform Akiti and make it a microcosm of development. So that should be seven-point agenda. Human capital development, agriculture and rural development. Infrastructure and industrialization. Arts, culture, and tourism, and good governments. So six. I think that's it. That's it. Those who were there, of course, we had Bola Mithilu, like I said, a number of governors were there. Not just APC governors, but PDP governors as well. I saw Goduro Basaki governor of Yellow State. He was there. He tweeted about it. And I had some nice pictures to share, you know, with his followers on Twitter. So it's quite interesting, Mercy. He spoke, you know, his speech, he sounded very positive. It was very well-written speech. It sounded inspirational, if I could say that. And he said it's a new day for Akiti state. So I do not know if this is a speech that was written by a very good speechwriter or the man actually can deliver. That's what we wanted to find. So I'll pick it up from where you landed. And the word is whether he can deliver, because that's very important. That's where it lies. Because at the end of the day, you find out that prior to now, and everyone would come to us, there are a lot of persons who actually said, hey, we want to become the governor of Akiti state. You had different persons from different political parties vying for that position. However, it's important with all of this has been put out. It's always easy for politicians to put out this statement and say, hey, this is what we want to do. And as much as you would say that, that sounds like a very, very coordinated speech, sound, very inspirational, and what have you. The question is, is there capacity to deliver? Does that translate into action at the end of the day? I mean, implementation and doing. And another thing also is, how will all of these things be achieved? Because usually, it would be tagged as policy statement. And it's always very common among politicians. It's easy to wake up and say, hey, I will do XYZ. In 2023, Nigeria will become a nation where people would walk by the road and pick money. Or in 2023, everyone will become rich. All of this are policy statement. Because when you look at it, the how to achieving all of this has not been stated. So, yes, as much as all of that sounds fantastic. It wouldn't be the first governor. It wouldn't be the second. It wouldn't also be the third politician who would make very brilliant and give wonderful speeches and talk about what they intend to do. But all of this would just be policy statement if there's no action to all of this and how all will be addressed. But I would also think that it's important that the governor pays attention to the issues of revenue. Revenue is a general issue for the country as a whole. And we understand the dynamics of getting back to the federation account to get at the end of the month. And with the fact that we're grappling with revenue as a country. We're talking about the federation account. He should be thinking in what's how to generate revenue to run the state at the end of the day. So, there's a lot of work to be done. We wish him the very best. And we hope that he swings into action and not just mere statement. It's also important that the people of a kitty state hold him accountable. Because I think that we're also of a culture where we get to elect people to represent our interests. And we live it at that. We no longer ask questions. We are not concerned about what happens. All of the policies. What are the intentions. If there's a blueprint. How do you know citizens follow through. And not necessarily you know the governor but members of I haven't you know I was listening to the story to the news on the radio while you know coming to work this morning. And what came to mind was okay when I heard the governor of kitty state say he has a six-point agenda. And I'm like okay you mean since Yerdoa you know came on. If you've been here a six-point agenda. Yerdoa had a seven-point agenda for modern Nigerian presence of blessed memory. The later Maramusa Yerdoa had a seven-point agenda. And then Dr. Gola Jonathan came with his I think was it Jonathan who had a seven-point agenda. Yerdoa three points. I don't know it's a week of music. And I'm like why do these politicians need to have a numbered point agenda. Should it be a number point? You can't you have something you know unique to you. You know because since it's like a culture now a tradition. Well I have a two-point agenda. I think Pito B of the Labour Party, presidential candidate said he has a seven-point agenda or something that uh a concord of the actor term lawyer term politician was a candidate concord was talking about some time ago. So must it always be a if something point agenda. I mean can't you just say I'm going to focus on maybe or I'm just going to provide good governance or something. You know I mean I need these guys to go to the point messy where if I hear a politician saying I have a two-point agenda, seven-point agenda, nine-point agenda. I think you can't you're not original. You know you're not you're not natural. You're trying to come up with something that somebody has come up with your own. You know that must it be something but that's what I think and and also if you are a governor should you focus on only six things. Can't you say we're going to look at every area of governance you will do well. And they make campaign promises and say okay I want to deliver in this like you said specifics not seven-point agenda So I would think that that's you know that's a default setting. That's basically a default setting you know for the people because if you look at it once upon a time shortly after you had the civil war and the recovery there were several developmental plans and so you see we had you know development plans and that's what it is. Everybody just like you have rightly mentioned. But this is not a development plan. No just just just like you rightly mentioned now and so you say you have different sectors you know we have different sectors of the economy and so usually for the president this is my you know perspective to this and I feel like someone just say okay I want I want to focus on the education sector. So we say the education sector one point agenda two point agenda and all of that. What is that even even when Yadra came up with it I I never it never sat well with me. It sounded like something good to be able to sell to people. I mean when you come to government you you try to do everything you know if you focus on only one thing or seven things it's so large that's all I'm saying. I mean I mean I know people may disagree with that but I think that don't leave me yourself you know what I'm saying. Don't don't say all because it's something it's just I think it's just for the optics for the this sounds good it sounds good you know some would even create an agenda that rhymes with their name if your name is very mercy M-E-R-C-Y they'll create an agenda M for mother and child. E for energy R for rehabilitation C for I don't know I don't know. I'm like okay is you just creating some so I understand what you're saying. Let's even say that stop deceiving people. Let's even say that that's the case whether they come with one point agenda but if you look at all of the agendas let's talk about what the level of implementation is. So I wouldn't even be bothered about whether or not it's original or it's copied right but I would rather even say that even as much as we say that there's no originality to it but what's the level of implementation how far. That's the word. Originality. I hope this is listening. You know so if you question the originality of it it's even not the problem but we're saying that that that you have proposed to do. M-E-R-C-Y it's a problem M-E-R-C-Y it's a problem. So it's another thing I'm just saying if you're not original enough to create something that is unique and not just to copy or to take what others are saying then how can we how can we trust you to even be original enough to solve the problem so government is there to solve people's problems messy. You know it kind of tells who you are how you're thinking. For instance now you have presidential candidates who are sounding shallow to me. You know they sound people jumping at everything but they're not deep they're not giving us deep things. Specifics. You can throw statistics out there and people will jump but for those who know they don't just jump at statistics. You can't say this is a 30% 20% you have to be you have to be deep be about something. Let's hear from you. I get your point. So okay so let's say he focuses on agriculture and rural development. I mean what's up with that just that how. Okay let's say focuses on human capital development how. All right let's say focuses on industrialization how. And so what about the other areas. He's going to abandon sports. Okay you tell him sports is under culture and tourism. You see so why why why do these things just say we're going to make sure we you know run and then every area. You know don't leave it yourself. So but there's something that you actually mentioned is very critical because government exists to solve problems and when you look at public policy that's where it is. It comes from there. If you look at the policy cycle is that every time you have government existing policy should be formulated towards solving these problems. For instance I would expect that because it's a national situation we're talking about security and the trickle down effect to calm down. So whatever affects us at the national level you know how we think that you know insecurity is a certain part of the region and so it doesn't bother us. It would trickle down to other parts of the country and so top priority is ensuring that lives and properties are secured because that's where the conversation starts from. You have the issue of food security which is a major conversation. I mean look at the flooding issue the flooding that we're faced with whether or not it's a natural disaster or is man-made or it's as a result of negligence on the part of those who should be responsible which is government among others. These are the issues so it's quite encompassing. You stated something very important how much of this policy is at the end of the year. These are genders and proposition reflect the interest and the needs of the people and then you have lofty policies. You know at the end of the day you look at some of government agenda and you know the issues. Another issue that we have as a nation is the issue of revenue and if revenue affects the entire country it would trickle down to the state because of the form of government that we run where you have the unit running to the center you know for pockets you know for handouts that would be the word. So I'm hoping that as much as it might not be I would go back to the word of originality but also expecting that you know the government would also do what they are saying. So even if you say you want to human capital is the issue. Try and implement it. Let's not hear too many you know English and grammar without work. According to Kofi you would say it's grammar. Moving away quickly for the want of time the NDLEA has arrested a pregnant woman and undergraduate and others for the possession of illicit drugs and so that's because of the operation and activities. According to the report the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA arrested 28 persons like I mentioned the category of dispensants for the possession of cannabis and other pharmaceuticals that are not supposed to be tramadol would be it. They were arrested during an operation that was carried across 12 states of the Federation. The states are Yubei, Undo state, Edo rivers, Aqaibom, Imojigawa, you also have Damawa, Kaduna, Akwara, Lagos and the FCT that's the federal capital territory and this is it and that also has been a very big issue. We understand you know the issue with drug and drug involvement and the busting of you know those who are practicing and those who have these drugs with them it has been a lot and the one that actually is marvelling you know today while I was looking through you know the topic again for the second I started thinking if you look at the people involved you had women and I'm like where have we gotten into because usually some of these crimes are only limited to you know the male counterpart or the male folk but I mean it's not just a drug and the trading of drug and what have you activities illicit activity of drugs that's not just limited to a particular gender now it's encompassing and so it calls for a lot of worry and concern Kofi but what do you make of all of this? I think you said it all you know and just have to ensure that the this situation is nipped in the bud and the NDLE are doing a good job at that you know but for the once of time I'll go quickly to the next one which I'll take your version analysis on the 16 young Nigerians have been deported by the Ghanian government 16 young Nigerians youngsters have been deported by the Ghanian government for engaging in cybercrime uh cybercrime makes it sound a bit you know here but anyway it was learned that the 16 young 16 young men were arrested in Ghana and were not pretty attached to the Ghana economic and financial crime units rated their residencies the returnees who are received by the immigration immigration officers led by the controller at Semeboda Chika Meka Dika said they were arrested by the Ghana immigration officials who rated their residents and deported back to the country so it remains to be seen whether the the EFCC would take over from there or they'll be allowed to go home I think they're being allowed to go home I don't know messy but what are your thoughts on this we have just about two minutes okay so I would I would start off from you know the part where a preliminary investigation was carried out and it was discovered that some of them were lured into this you know the jacquard fever right lured into a cybercrime yes because they were lured into cyber for instance so I I'm getting to that point I talked about the jacquard fever that is here everyone he wants to almost everyone feels that you know you need to get out from here because the grass looks greener on the other side and so there's a need to get out and a lot of them were lured to it for instance I were told that okay you get to Ghana we're going to get a job and when they got there it wasn't what the baguette for and that's according to the investigation and so this is coming from a mentality of get quick reach you know that mentality that could get rich quick scheme and that's why you have all of the punzer scheme where people would invest a certain amount and you know 40 percent you invested a certain amount and you want to return a 40 percent yeah but some went into it with the mind they wanted to go and do yeah so so it's a mix multi yeah so it's a mix multitude so for those who went in with the mind that hey this is what I want to do but it all stems from the the same mentality that we're talking about jacquard fever make it quick you know and so there's a lot but it's not an excuse like one would always say there's no excuse for crime there's no excuse for criminality as much as we would say yes when you look at home when you come back at home we're talking about Nigeria the basic infrastructure and the things that we need to survive the basic things are not there but should that be a reason why people should you know delve into all of this it's not of course I mean even if you do it here you'll be arrested now you personally but my my um I think they've been handed over to the immigration service uh I don't know if they were handed over to immigration services I don't know whether they would be handed over to the EFCC you know so they can be prosecuted but the thing is this you know these these are the these are the situations that make life uh for Nigerians to travel abroad difficult you know uh those who the few because I mean they are not the majority who go abroad and engage in crime uh make it difficult for for legitimate Nigerians who want to travel and do their work without fear without any intimidation without any ulterior motives and I think we need to we need to talk to our young people to you know to tell them see can't be traveling outside the country to go do things that are wrong and more the situation that I became debris had to intervene in recently and it was proven it was actually information came out that all the people involved were engaged in some sort of um uh crime you know and share come out to advise people and so so this this is a kind of things that we need to address as well you know we have we have um cold relationships between Niger and other countries in terms of business you know look at xenophobia in South Africa uh the the traders in Ghana especially from Southeast who are having a difficult time Nigerian traders so having difficult time in Kumasi to be precise having difficult time with the Ghanaian traders you know and um you look at those things but then you have you know this this thing you know um I I think that if you if you do some serious investigative research you realize that uh this year was exported to Ghana and the Ghanians are actually adopted it the young Ghanaian youngsters and I haven't have not improved on it yes yes yes in fact you know I've had people tell we have some young boats who've come to an area they're living somewhere in a crap we don't know what they're doing but all we see is they're always inside they'll tell me oh we always see their inside um they don't go out they go out at night to go and party and then they go home with girls and they're inside if I have um I know someone who is um an electrical technician who went to do some uh fittings for one of these guys when he said when he went to the house why so this was about maybe eight years ago computers everywhere you know computers everywhere uh so I mean I have friends who are they're doing these things so it makes life and difficult for people who come from Nigeria who go around the world and have no business with crime you know people begin to judge them and begin into rate you know based on what they see which is wrong which is wrong because they have criminals in every country yeah so of course we have criminals and and if we also talk about the issue of um as it's called the internet fraud or crime yahoo yahoo has been stated if you look at it in the statistics and this is not to say that is a plot for us we're not the ones stopping the chat Nigeria is about seven rank okay so who who's stopping the chat so you have I don't remember the country at the time but Nigeria is not on top of the list you know in terms of you know this kind of crime so if you feel there's some sort of a maybe misrepresentation and stigmatization yeah so so so this is what I think because I don't believe that they are absolute I believe in relative right they're no absolute so there's no country without crime there's no country without crime and criminality but for former late uh she she was a minister communication she died she was talking about better Nigeria remind me okay okay Dora Kunili Dora Kunili so Dora Kunili once upon a time of blessed memory she she she she shared her experience and then there was a projection that she constantly talked about protecting the Nigerian image you know better Nigeria does some sort of campaign at that time good people great nation exactly so um there was an experience that Dora Kunili talked about and said that we Nigerians are very quick to bastardize and you know be very critical of ourselves and put us out there now not to say that these crimes do happen so she shared an experience that she had when she was traveling I think from uh she was traveling back from France or one of this country Paris back to Nigeria and her bag was stolen at the airport and according to her she said she wanted to you know raise an alarm like you know we would do oh thief thief from one of you so um the police that were around people told her you don't have to shout don't do that you know what we're going to actually take care of the situation and she said up until the moment she was talking there was no feedback there was no investigation whatsoever the issue died down so I think that yes as much as we say that our country is uh you know we have our issues but you know most times I think that we have always it's like saying you have a bad child you constantly just go out and tell everybody that your child is bad and what have you and that's the case with Nigeria but however that's the much we can take we take a break down and when we return it'll be time for us to go through the papers this morning we call it off the press okuponabong katharia all things being equal will join us stay with us