TV Authority

24/07/2024

OKADA Air is Nigeria's first private airline (1983-1997), owned by Sir Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom. The airline began charter operations in September 1983, featuring the Queen Idia mask as its official logo. Okada Air operated in 9 local airports in Nigeria.

During its operation, Okada Air was one of the largest independent airlines in Africa. In 1992, Okada Air was granted the right to operate international flights. At one point, it operated the Boeing 747-100 on ad-hoc charter flights across the globe, including flights across the Pacific Ocean. They also transported pilgrims to the Holy Lands every year. Although the airline expanded its operations, it was eventually disestablished in 1997.

23/07/2024

Miss South Africa 2024: Finalist Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic backlash

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina's participation in the pageant has been met with criticism.

ByNosakhale Akhimien



July 23, 2024



Reading Time: 4 mins read

Chidimma Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa pageant finalist, has faced scrutiny and backlash over her Nigerian heritage, The South African Times reports.

The controversy surrounding Ms Adetshina began shortly after she entered the beauty pageant. The 23-year-old model from Soweto, South Africa, who advanced to the Top 30 Miss SA competition, became the frontline of the country’s xenophobia debate and national identity.









Chidinma Adetshina

Miss South Africa 2024: Finalist Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic backlash

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina's participation in the pageant has been met with criticism.

ByNosakhale Akhimien



July 23, 2024



Reading Time: 4 mins read

Chidimma Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa pageant finalist, has faced scrutiny and backlash over her Nigerian heritage, The South African Times reports.

The controversy surrounding Ms Adetshina began shortly after she entered the beauty pageant. The 23-year-old model from Soweto, South Africa, who advanced to the Top 30 Miss SA competition, became the frontline of the country’s xenophobia debate and national identity.

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Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina’s participation in the pageant has been met with both support and harsh criticism, shedding light on the country’s deep-seated history of xenophobic violence and discrimination, particularly towards African immigrants.

In an interview with Soweto SMag, she said that despite her South African birth and upbringing at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, her Nigerian heritage has led some to challenge her eligibility to represent South Africa on such a prominent stage.









Chidinma Adetshina

Miss South Africa 2024: Finalist Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic backlash

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina's participation in the pageant has been met with criticism.

ByNosakhale Akhimien



July 23, 2024



Reading Time: 4 mins read

Chidimma Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa pageant finalist, has faced scrutiny and backlash over her Nigerian heritage, The South African Times reports.

The controversy surrounding Ms Adetshina began shortly after she entered the beauty pageant. The 23-year-old model from Soweto, South Africa, who advanced to the Top 30 Miss SA competition, became the frontline of the country’s xenophobia debate and national identity.

Play

Unmute

Loaded: 1.01%

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Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina’s participation in the pageant has been met with both support and harsh criticism, shedding light on the country’s deep-seated history of xenophobic violence and discrimination, particularly towards African immigrants.

In an interview with Soweto SMag, she said that despite her South African birth and upbringing at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, her Nigerian heritage has led some to challenge her eligibility to represent South Africa on such a prominent stage.

Adetshina terms the criticism as black-on-black hate

Explaining her background to the South African-based newspaper, Ms Adetshina said, “My dad is a proud Nigerian, and my mother was born and raised in South Africa but had Mozambique roots. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto, and I visit them occasionally.”



It is not the first time the Miss South Africa organisation has faced such scrutiny over contestants’ heritage.

In 2001, Vanessa Coutroulis, born to Portuguese-Angolan parents, won the Miss South Africa crown.

Similarly, Sherry Wang’s participation in the competition sparked debate in early 2024 due to her Chinese heritage. Notwithstanding her roots and third attempt at the competition, she secured the fan vote, earning a spot among the Top 25 contestants.

Stringent criteria

South African Citizen Act states that an individual automatically qualifies for citizenship if they are born in South Africa if at least one of their parents is a South African citizen, and if an SA permanent residency permit holder or a South African citizen adopts them.









Chidinma Adetshina

Miss South Africa 2024: Finalist Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic backlash

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina's participation in the pageant has been met with criticism.

ByNosakhale Akhimien



July 23, 2024



Reading Time: 4 mins read

Chidimma Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa pageant finalist, has faced scrutiny and backlash over her Nigerian heritage, The South African Times reports.

The controversy surrounding Ms Adetshina began shortly after she entered the beauty pageant. The 23-year-old model from Soweto, South Africa, who advanced to the Top 30 Miss SA competition, became the frontline of the country’s xenophobia debate and national identity.

Play

Unmute

Loaded: 1.01%

Fullscreen

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father (Igbo) and a Mozambique mother, now naturalised South African, Ms Adetshina’s participation in the pageant has been met with both support and harsh criticism, shedding light on the country’s deep-seated history of xenophobic violence and discrimination, particularly towards African immigrants.

In an interview with Soweto SMag, she said that despite her South African birth and upbringing at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, her Nigerian heritage has led some to challenge her eligibility to represent South Africa on such a prominent stage.

Adetshina terms the criticism as black-on-black hate

Explaining her background to the South African-based newspaper, Ms Adetshina said, “My dad is a proud Nigerian, and my mother was born and raised in South Africa but had Mozambique roots. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto, and I visit them occasionally.”



It is not the first time the Miss South Africa organisation has faced such scrutiny over contestants’ heritage.

In 2001, Vanessa Coutroulis, born to Portuguese-Angolan parents, won the Miss South Africa crown.

Similarly, Sherry Wang’s participation in the competition sparked debate in early 2024 due to her Chinese heritage. Notwithstanding her roots and third attempt at the competition, she secured the fan vote, earning a spot among the Top 25 contestants.

Stringent criteria

South African Citizen Act states that an individual automatically qualifies for citizenship if they are born in South Africa if at least one of their parents is a South African citizen, and if an SA permanent residency permit holder or a South African citizen adopts them.



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Also, despite several criticisms and questions about Ms Adetsina’s eligibility, the Miss South Africa organisation’s website maintains stringent citizenship and ethical conduct criteria.

It states, “Miss South-Africa entrants must be South African citizens and possess a valid South African ID document or passport. If an applicant holds dual citizenship, they must provide details of both on the entry form.”

The optimistic model, Ms Adetsina, who lives by the motto “Dreams are valid when actions are taken,” is a netball player and a Law student at Varsity College, Sandton, South Africa.

The model says her goal is dedicated to sports and fighting against violence towards women, children, and gender-based violence.

The Miss SA 2024 competition, set for 10 August at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, will see the winner succeed Natasha Joubert of Gauteng, the 2023 titleholder. The winner will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico.

Mixed reactions

Critics on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter), have argued that her Nigerian heritage disqualifies her from being a true representative of South Africa.

This criticism has been met with accusations of xenophobia from her supporters, who emphasise the inclusive nature of South African citizenship.

In her interview with Soweto S Mag, Ms Adetshina expressed her initial joy and subsequent disillusionment when she felt the affection she anticipated was not reciprocated.

She said, “I was so excited to enter Miss SA and didn’t think that far as to what the public would think. Once I got to the top 16, that’s when I felt it. People on X asked why I competed because I’m not South African.

“They questioned my nationality, along with my parents. At first, I ignored it, but as I progressed in the competition, the criticism started growing. Until I thought to myself, ‘I am representing a country, but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing’ — I even asked myself, ‘Is it worth it?’”

‘Black-on-black hate’

Adetshina expressed her frustration at the backlash, attributing much of the criticism to xenophobia.

“I feel all of this is black-on-black hate, as I’m not the only one in this competition who has a surname that’s not South African. I feel the attention is on me because of my skin colour, which I think is a disadvantage; it’s also been something I had to overcome growing up,” said the 23-year-old model.

Despite the challenges, Ms Adetshina stated that she remains determined to succeed and to bring about positive change.

“I’ve dreamed of being Miss SA since 2017, and here I am, achieving that goal. To me, being a finalist is as if I’m rewriting my mother’s dream of becoming a model. Her father didn’t allow her to do anything related to modelling, so I feel like I’m living her life, which feels like a beautiful dream

Organisation’s stance

Despite multiple calls for the Miss SA organisation to withdraw Adetshina’s eligibility, the body has supported the model.

They stated that citizenship, regardless of origin, is the primary requirement. This correlates with the revised South African Citizenship Act, which acknowledges birth, descent, and naturalisation as valid routes to citizenship.

In a statement to The South African newspapers, the organisation confirmed that Adetshina met all the requirements to participate in the pageant.

“All documentation provided by the entrants is screened and vetted. Chidimma is a South African citizen and has met all the requirements to be a part of the Miss South Africa competition. Her mother is South African (Zulu), and her father is Nigerian.”

Support

While facing criticism, Adetshina has received substantial support from many South Africans who view her as a symbol of the country’s diversity.

Prominent figures and organisations have spoken out in her defence, calling for an end to xenophobia and greater acceptance of all South Africans, regardless of their heritage.

The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, also gave his support.

In a statement, he said, “Chidinma Adetshina is the epitome of beauty, brains, and bravery. It proves she has taken South Africa as a home and will be a good ambassador. As a true Nigerian South African, she is a true Ambassador of Peace and has shown there is no limit to one’s dream, irrespective of the soil one is in.

“She has imbibed the South African culture and is ready to raise the South African flag. This proves that Nigerians are loving, peaceful, and responsible citizens who contribute to the growth and well-being of their host country. Chidimma’s move and motive will go a long way in debunking the social media backlash about her roots, together with all the support from the Nigerian community.

“South Africa and Nigeria are the two powerfully strategically positioned nations to bring about the much-needed transformation on the African continent; hence, collaboration in sports, education, beauty events, cultural activities, and government ties will help us see and achieve the greater good.

“As NICASA, we encourage and support all her modelling ambitions, as this will express to our South African brothers and sisters that we can embrace our diversities and unite for a common purpose in making Africa greater. Seeing that it will bridge our indifferences and help spread the news against hate, discrimination, and racism within our neighbourhood, winning the Miss South Africa pageant is a must for our sister. The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa is standing in solidarity with Chidimma in pursuing this vision,” the statement reads.

23/07/2024

In Nigeria, Brainjotter, whose real name is Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Amuzi, is ranked as the fifth richest content creator in 2023. Throughout the year, he earned an impressive amount exceeding 30 million dollars. Brainjotter's widespread popularity extends beyond Nigeria, boasting a substantial following of over 4.5 million on Instagram, 1.44 million on YouTube, and 8.9 million on Facebook. According to Dataleum, his YouTube channel garnered 29 million views and 148k new subscribers in 2023.

Brainjotter's journey to fame and fortune is marked by resilience and creativity. He is renowned for his unique comedic style, which resonates with a diverse audience. Despite initial skepticism, where many dismissed his humor and criticized his repetitive outfits, Brainjotter persisted and refined his craft, ultimately winning over a significant fan base.

Beyond his entertainment career, Brainjotter is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He has actively participated in charitable activities, such as funding surgery for a woman with skin ulcers and supporting various other causes. Hailing from Imo State, he is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most creative and funniest content creators.

In terms of assets, Brainjotter owns five multi-million naira houses, with three located in Lagos and two in Abuja. His car collection includes over five vehicles, among them a Mercedes G-Wagon valued at approximately 500 million naira. He commands over 8 million naira for brand promotions on his social media platforms. Reports indicate that he generates more than 30 million naira monthly from Facebook and Instagram views and gifts. His YouTube channel alone brings in about 300 million naira annually.

Brainjotter's rise to prominence wasn't without challenges. Many initially doubted his comedic talent and expressed disdain for his speaking style, accusing him of belittling women. Some even predicted his quick downfall. However, Brainjotter defied these criticisms, continuing to evolve and grow his brand. His determination and perseverance have cemented his place in the entertainment industry, making him a prominent figure in Nigerian comedy.

Today, Brainjotter stands as a testament to the power of resilience and innovation in the digital age. His success story inspires many aspiring content creators, proving that with dedication and creativity, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve remarkable success.

23/07/2024

They Want To Burn The Country Down – Presidency Raises Fresh Alarm over Alleged Plots

The Nigerian Presidency has raised a fresh alarm over alleged plots to destabilize the country, warning of “forces of evil” bent on causing chaos and destruction.

In a statement on social media, Dada Olusegun, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, accused those behind the plots of spreading falsehoods and attempting to discredit government officials.

Olusegun cited the example of Governor Zulum’s son, who was falsely accused of murder, and later criticized for his English fluency when he denied the allegations.

“They want to burn the country down,” Olusegun warned. “Our fiduciary responsibility is to stop them!”

This latest alarm follows a previous warning by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who alleged that supporters of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, are behind planned protests across the country.

Onanuga claimed that the same individuals who instigated the destructive ENDSARS protest in 2020 are now planning to stage nationwide protests under the guise of “EndBadGovernance” and “Tinubu Must Go”.

The Presidency has described the protesters as “anarchists” and “bad losers” who cannot wait for the next election in 2027. Onanuga warned that their actions amount to high treason and called on security agents to interrogate those involved.

Politics Nigeria reports that a 10-day protest is planned to begin on August 1st, with Nigerians expected to take to the streets to demand better living conditions and an end to economic hardship.

23/07/2024

Peter Obi Files ₦5bn Lawsuit Against Bayo Onanuga for Defamatory Post

In a significant legal move, Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, has filed a ₦5 billion lawsuit against Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu's Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy. The lawsuit addresses Onanuga's social media post, which accused Obi of inciting civil unrest.

Chief Alex Ejesieme, Obi's lawyer, demands a retraction and public apology, highlighting the damage to Obi's reputation. The post, shared on Onanuga's X (formerly Twitter) account, claimed that Obi's supporters were planning "mayhem" and suggested holding Obi accountable for any resulting anarchy.

Obi's legal team argues that the post misrepresents his commitment to non-violence and is a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation. They demand a public apology in four major Nigerian newspapers and on Onanuga's social media, along with ₦5 billion in damages.

As the 72-hour deadline for Onanuga's response approaches, the public and political observers await the next development in this high-profile case.

23/07/2024

Brainjotter danced to Pa Mike Ejeagha's song in one of his videos. The challenge went viral, getting over 30 million views. As a token of appreciation, Brainjotter gave the song owner 2 million Naira. A few others have also shown appreciation to Pa Mike. However, instead of keying into the popularity of the song and making money from it via YouTube and other platforms, some overzealous Nigerians are urging Pa Mike to sue Brainjotter for dancing to his song and using it to create content without his consent. If the content hadn't gone viral, these agents wouldn't have bothered. We have a lot of bitter people around us. May the Lord save us from them.

23/07/2024

Aunty Bolanle Writes On X:

Dear fellow Nigerians, a yoruba adage says that

Ti a ba nsun ekun a ma nri ran.

Crying shouldn't get in the way of clear vision.

Enough of this scapegoating of the Igbos. They wanted to leave, Nigeria fought a war and killed over 3 million of them, but in 2024, we are allowing politicians to deploy bigotry whenever we try to hold them accountable. Are the Igbos not Nigerians? This nonsense has to stop.

You blame a whole tribe for the 1966 coup, tagging it as an Igbo coup, even though they had the least number of officers involved in that coup.

You call them IPOB when it is clear that not all Igbos supported the group. There is Boko Haram in the north, but una no get liver to tag any hausa or fulani's post as Boko Haram supporters..

You go to bed hungry.....You blame the Igbos

You can't maintain an erection....You blame the Igbos.

You tried to blame them for the destruction of property in Lagos during when there is ample video evidence to show government sponsored thugs causing mayhem.

You dragged them for supporting their competent and popular son when there is evidence to show that they previously gave their votes to PDP regardless of the tribe of the presidential candidate.

Now, you are trying to tag them as the planners of a protest that is being planned by Nigerians across the nation. Aren't they Nigerians?

Enough of this nonsense!

It's time to stand up for our brothers and sisters by calling out the bigotry of these eternally stewpid individuals wherever you come across it....

Let 2024 be the year that Nigerians stop this nonsense!

23/07/2024

🇳🇬 BRAIN JOTTER has pulled off what no content creator in the world has ever done..🔥🔥🔥

Brain JOTTER has successfully made a
song produced in 1983 to trend in 2024 , 41 years after it was released.

This is deserving of entering into the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD BOOK .

The author of the song Mike Ejeagha will be 94yrs old in August 2024 .He will definitely acknowledge that social media is the strongest tool for setting trends .

He'll happily Celebrate his birthday seeing that his forgotten song is trending as Brain jotter used it for his dance challenge..

Massive respect to Brain Jotter

Fleo 237

23/07/2024

“Some NNPC people have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta where they bring in poor quality products with fake certificates.
I don’t fear anybody, I will fight them head on.”
— Aliko Dangote

*This whole issue on Dangote is shocking and creating bad waves for Nigeria globally.* - Akinwunmi Adesina

Monopoly often exists where there are high barriers to entry or high capital costs.

How many individuals or companies can do railways? How many can do refineries of the scale of Dangote Refineries?

In a nation that has been importing refined petroleum products for several decades, the abnormal simply became very normal.

No smart investor would make a $19.5 billion investment and want it to be undermined by importers.

To manufacture is extremely expensive and risky. This is even more so in Nigeria, given the very challenging business and economic environment, fraught with policy uncertainties and policy reversals, and where the self-defeating default mode of “simply import it” is always so easily rationalized and chorused to solve any problem.

Competition is good for everyone. But is Dangote refineries anti-competitive? What is the evidence?

Has Dangote refineries prevented any other company from setting up refineries? Why have others not done so? How come they have not done so for several decades? Was it Dangote that held them back?

But Dangote refineries surely cannot be asked to ‘compete’ with importers of petroleum products.

That is not competition. Let the importers set up local refineries and compete by refining in Nigeria. That is fair and justified competition.

We cannot and must not undermine, disparage or kill local industries, talk less of one that is of this scale — a jewel of industrialisation in Nigeria.

It is more than simply delivering the cheapest product to the market. It is about domestic supply security, driving (and yes, protecting) globally competitive industries, maximizing forward and backward linkages in the local economy, job creation, reducing forex expenses and shoring up the Naira.

We must not be myopic.

This whole disparaging of Dangote is uncalled for. It is self-defeating. And it is very bad for Nigeria. Who will want to come and invest in a country that disparages and undermines its own largest investor?

Investing is tough. Pettiness is easy.

It sadly sends a signal that the price for sacrificing for Nigeria is to get sacrificed.

Akinwunmi Adesina

23/07/2024

What you sow is what you will reap....

23/07/2024

Even Professors are confused. Could this be from his last incarnation or what could be responsible for this ingenuity? Just watch.

23/07/2024

23/07/2024

“𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐫 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 … 𝐈 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐎𝐧 “ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬.”
~𝕻𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝐎𝖇𝖎

23/07/2024

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE! Senegal🇸🇳 And Cameron🇨🇲

23/07/2024

‘People in NNPC don’t want subsidy scam to end’- Emir Sanusi

July 22, 2024

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said that Alhaji Aliko Dangote should not be blamed for buying dollars at lower rates at the time he was building his refinery because that was the actual rate the apex bank was selling to everybody at that time.

Sanusi, who commented on the issue through SOP Chat Group, initially said: “I honestly do not think it is a good idea for me to make comments on these issues, but some comments surprise me, and I just have to say something.”

The emir then went on to remark: “Aliko Dangote did not fix the price at which the CBN sold dollars. Everyone who got dollars from the CBN got dollars at the same rate if they bought on the same day. So we cannot blame him for buying dollars at a rate the CBN itself decided to sell to its customers.

“So the question for me is this. Let us forget the man Dangote. If the Central Bank were to prioritize a single enterprise for forex allocation, how many enterprises can we think of that are worthier than a refinery like this one?

“Consider the drain on our forex from importing petroleum products; the tens of billions of dollars of forex spent abroad; the huge losses due to theft in the name of subsidy.

“By the way, how much forex did Dangote buy from the CBN at this subsidized rate? How much forex did NNPC take from the federation account in the same year in the name of running and turning around its dead refineries? What are we benchmarking against?

“If any Nigerian came to me as a Central Bank Governor with a project like this refinery, I would recognize immediately its potential impact on the economy and give it all the support needed.

“Let our views on forex policies not becloud our sense of priorities. Once the CBN decided to sell dollars at the below market, it would be forced to ration the limited dollars available.”

“To my mind, giving dollars for the construction of a refinery is better than rice importers and, indeed, almost every other enterprise apart from education and health, given the impact on the macro.”

On the argument by NNPC that relying on one refinery is bad for our energy security, Muhammadu Sanusi II said: “This is most laughable. On the contrary, relying on a local refinery is far more secure than these imports.

“It is a very rich argument from an entity that had taken billions of dollars in the name of turnaround maintenance and not produced a drop of product from four refineries because it is more profitable to continue extracting rent in the name of subsidy. If NNPC activated its refineries, there would be no monopoly. Then, we can see the sulphur content of its products and compare them to Dangote’s.”

He said further: “Until then, keeping quiet is the honourable option for it, NNPC and its spinoffs have lost any right to talk until they fix the mess they have thrown us into.

“In any case, if the Dangote refinery is unable to meet local demand, the gap can be filled by imports, these people in NNPC do not want to end their lucrative subsidy scam, and I don’t think they will end it.

” But as a nation, if we do not thank Dangote for what he has done as an African to deal a hammer blow to multinationals and the rentier system and for structural change in this economy through value added in various sectors, we should not condemn him.

“Also, we tend to repeat stories without evidence. We hear about Dangote getting favourable taxation but no one has said what this tax is, if he got it alone or if it was offered to a sector or to pioneers, and if such a practice is in fact normal to encourage investment.”

The emir concluded thus: “Instead of killing Dangote, we should try and make more like him. Nigeria always kills its heroes and its best because of envy and pettiness.”

23/07/2024

Legendary Nollywood actor and Movie producer Patrick Doyle Shares his Opinion on Brain Jotter and Mike Ejeagha’s Copyright Saga.

“The duration sound clip as used is less than the required duration to qualify for royalty sharing on what is essentially an audio visual work conceived by Brain Jotter. this is the position as per intellectual property protocols. Whatever he gifted the old man in appreciation for his audio clip is simply that, a gift. The good news is the audio visual work has revived interest in the old man's works. He can now begin to earn from the renewed interest in his repertoire”.

23/07/2024

Elon Musk Regrets Signing Papers Allowing His Son To Become Transgender & Vows To Destroy ‘The Woke Mind Virus’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his son Xavier, now his transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson, was figuratively "killed" by the "woke mind virus" after being tricked into agreeing to gender-affirming care procedures.

In an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, the X owner called gender-reassignment surgery "child mutilation and sterilization."

"I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys," Musk told Peterson in a Daily Wire interview during which he referred to his child by their deadname.

“This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on, and we had COVID going on, so there was a lot of confusion and I was told (Musk's child) might commit su***de."

The SpaceX founder claimed the process is done to children "who are far below the age of consent" and said he agreed with Peterson's belief that anyone who promotes the practice should go to prison.

"I was tricked into doing this," Musk said. "I lost my son, essentially. They call it 'deadnaming' for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead."

Musk went on to say that the experience set him on a mission.

"I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that," Musk said. "And we’re making some progress."