Opinion
Gov AbdulRazaq and the 2024 budget

By Ahmed Folorunsho
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq presented the budget estimate for the 2024 fiscal year named ‘Budget of Economic Expansion and Collective Prosperity’ to the State House of Assembly a few days ago. After reading the budget last night, I commend the governor for the projects he highlighted, as they are the most needed for the state at a time like this. For the benefit of those who may not have come across the projects, I would like to mention a few of them. The establishment of Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, Kwara State University of Education, expansion of 13 hospitals across the state, works on sports facilities statewide, and construction of CBT centres across the three senatorial districts. The projects also include the rehabilitation of Ilesha Baruba Waterworks and others in the state, wholesale curriculum revitalisation and training under KwaraLearn, construction of 250 housing units under the proposed mass housing scheme of the State Government, building of new wards and expansion of maternity units at Civil Service Clinic, and rehabilitation of Pampo waterworks and extension of pipes, among others. All these achievable projects presented by Governor AbdulRazaq further his undiluted commitment to make Kwara great again and comfort its great people. However, members of the main opposition party in the state have been running their mouths like a faulty Tiger generator, as usual. A discerning person does not need to hire a detective to know that these guys are unrepentant haters of Kwara’s progress. All their gimmicks to take Kwara and Kwarans back to the bad old days, which comforted them, have not yielded. Therefore, any good news about the state breaks their hearts and opens their mouths to yarn dust. Unfortunately for them and their political orphan called leader, Kwarans are wiser and would not buy their lies and propaganda no matter how they package it.
Opinion
A Sardauna’s path in Kwara By Rafiu Ajakaye

There is a reason Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Sardauna of Ilorin, enjoys his solo moves within or outside of the state capital: he, among other things, fears the genuflection and the praise-singing that may get in the way of his primary assignment if everyone is in the know.
That habit is grossly misunderstood, but he is contented with seeing things without the fillers and being able to focus on his work while attracting lesser attention to himself.
Like every human being, he welcomes being accorded his due without the praises that come with the political environment. He scoffs at sycophancy and purposeless exposure. Instead, he encourages constructive criticisms for better governance outcomes.
This attitude explains his disapproval of celebrations on his birthdays as a sitting Governor. He fears that the sudden celebration does not last and there is no basis encouraging it. This is fine, although there is a thin line between telling the story of an individual for posterity and buttering them up for whatever purpose.
Regardless, I am persuaded by Edward Said’s statement that ‘nations themselves are narrations. The power to narrate, or block other narratives from forming and emerging, is very important to culture’.
As he clocked 65 a few hours ago, bookmakers have a lot to document about the seventh democratic Governor of Kwara State whose tenure is synonymous with unmatched rebuilding and modernisation of the capital city Ilorin, rural development, youth and women empowerment, gender inclusion, and countless economic initiatives that have steadily put the people back to productive work.
Apart from his legacy projects, which are unrivalled in the history of the state, he has effected profound psychosocial reforms with his approach to governance, which many consider strange. His style and personal discipline have put government appointees on a leash.
Along with his no-siren movement and the spartan style, his decision to discontinue the everyday gathering and merriment in Government House, a relic of the past years, is a strong message that attention must now be paid to higher productivity.
A party chieftain recently told me: ‘That style appeared painful and distant at the beginning, but it is really reshaping the mindset of our people. Except for a few people, you hardly see any crowd hanging around the party secretariat these days except during important events. It is a good thing. It simply tells our people to do something much more meaningful, rather than loitering around politicians. It is good for everyone as it restores the dignity of the human person, and I hope his successor does the same.’
The Governor is very nostalgic about the Ilorin of his childhood. He strongly believes in restoring sanity to the GRA, especially — devoid of the health-shattering loud disco music in the evenings— and much of what ought to constitute the central business district of the capital city. A story is told of an old couple who complained that their health had deteriorated with some unhealthy practices within the GRA, a narrative that apparently aligns with his sentiment.
This is a reason he feels that the Kwara Hotel, a fit-for-purpose relaxation facility outside of residentials, must regain its status along with other well-located premium hospitality facilities in the state. This is a critical public health issue, as it is about appropriate land use and sustainable living.
His reforms are not without its critics. Yet true leaders, once convinced of the genuineness of their actions, should not fear being heckled. The sense of pride and the excitement with which Kwarans have received the new look of the capital city have drowned out the criticisms from the political opposition.
Abdulrazaq is a typical leader trapped at the intersection of history, the current realities of the digital age, and the capacity of his own people, Kwarans. This is why his decisions are mostly dictated by the geography, demography, and history of the state, sometimes ruffling feathers.
Restoring the proper land use and aesthetics of the GRA and environs reflects his interrogation of history, such as the location and naming of the Sugar Factory film studios to remind younger generations of the Tate & Lyle. The garment factory, the largest in Nigeria in one single location, brought to memory the legacy of cloth-making and enterprise for which Kwarans were known, while the bespoke Innovation Hub speaks to his understanding of how technology has redesigned how we live in this century.
Governor Abdulrazaq understands that Kwara has one of the largest concentration of shea trees in the country, explaining his establishment of two factories in Kaiama and Baruten in the shea belt, the former being one of the biggest in the country.
He is currently rebuilding the Patigi Motel to resuscitate the regatta, a dream now strengthened by the establishment of the Kampe National Park in the same axis. The Governor is fascinated by the successes of the Okin Biscuits in Offa and Jebba paper mills, but his dream for the two is hampered by boardroom politics and decay in which they are long trapped. The visual arts centre heralds his vision for creativity, tourism, and sports development, explaining the investment in the Owu Water Fall road, eight-winged squash court, international conference centre, and the resuscitation of the indoor sports hall, table tennis area, among others.
Along with dozens of rural roads that connect towns and agrarian communities, the Governor has recently delivered the Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses of Kwara State University, a pointer to his effort to ensure statewide development and roll back rural urban migration.
The focus on Offa and Lafiagi Stadia this year will strengthen this effort, as would the ongoing Shonga ICT Centre and the upcoming rehabilitation of the Patigi Cultural Centre.
He believes that the capital city is filled up and growing informally. This has consequences for sustainable living in the future. The Ilorin smart city, his brainchild, is to allow for a well-planned physical development.
But his dreams will require a successor who views Kwara as a state in a race to fulfil its destiny, bolstered by its geography, culture, and the lofty aspirations of its people. From health, education, agribusiness, social protection, and infrastructure, his successor will be lucky to inherit a template to move faster, possibly less encumbered by the hugely entrenched prebendary politics that stared Abdulrazaq in the face.
His achievements are a new record breaker in the annals of Kwara. He has hired up to 8,600 teachers between 2019 and now, the highest that any (Kwara) administration has employed since 1999, while his KwaraLEARN continues to improve literacy, numeracy, and general learning outcomes.
Abdulrazaq’s handling of sensitive issues of national importance proves his bonafide as a true leader who, like Konrad Adenauer, prefers dialogue, strategic humility, consensus-building, and patience in place of grandstanding and media show. In deference to the President, whom he holds in high esteem, and in national interest, he convinced his colleagues of the need to work out a consensus tax policy for Nigeria. He had acted in the same way following the subsidy removal, the transitional difficulties, and the multifaceted responses to mitigate the effects on the public. He proved that such sensitive moments require leaders to act with extreme caution — a quality that speaks to his standing as the Sardauna of the southernmost emirate in Nigeria.
▪︎ Rafiu Ajakaye is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Opinion
Zacch Adedeji: And The Revenue Keeps Increasing By Rabiu Usman By Rabiu Usman

It was President Bola Tinubu that declared that in the first half of this year, the revenue of Nigeria soared to over N9.1 trillion, compared to the first half of 2023.For instance, N5.2 Trillion accrued into the Federation Account for the period January to June 2023, while a total of N7.3 Trillion accrued into the account for the period July to December, 2023.However, for June this year, accruals into the Federation Account rose to N2.483 trillion in June 2024. It was N2.324.792 trillion in May, meaning for the two months of May and June this year alone, about N4.8 trillion accrued into the Federation Account while N5.2 trillion accrued into the account for the first six months of last year.The President attributed the revenue increase to the government’s efforts in blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilizing funding creatively, all without placing an additional burden on the people.A few days after the President spoke glowingly of the considerable increase in the revenue of the country, a process being powered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), under the Chairmanship of Dr Zacch Adedeji, the Nigeria’s Zaccheus the Tax Collector, the World Bank also confirmed the progress being made in the area of revenue generation.The World Bank projected that following the recent increase in government revenue, Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio could rise to over 10.5 percent by the end of 2024.Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Nigeria shared the forecast during an interactive session on ‘Fiscal Reforms for a More Secure Future’ at the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit, held in Abuja last month.Also, according to data released in September by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue increased by 99.82% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2024.During this period, total VAT revenue reached N1.56 trillion, a 9.11% increase compared to the previous quarter.The NBS report highlighted that the revenue growth was driven primarily by local payments, which brought in about $484 million, while foreign payments contributed $242 million. VAT on imports generated $228 million.However, despite the level of progress already made, the FIRS under Dr Zacch Adedeji is not done yet.Various innovations are daily being introduced to ensure seamless payment of taxes by Nigerians.Last week, the Taxpayer Services Department of the FIRS launched the new USSD code *829#, aimed at revolutionizing taxpayer engagement and access to essential tax services.According to the FIRS, the initiative was aimed at “simplifying tax processes and providing a seamless, efficient service experience.”With the *829# USSD code, taxpayers can now effortlessly access a range of services, including TIN retrieval, Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) verification, and general inquiries all from the convenience of their mobile phones and with no need for internet access.Also, Zacch Adedeji is everywhere, explaining the four tax bills currently before the National Assembly, assuring that it will not reduce the funding or operational efficiency of government agencies.Last week Wednesday, Adedeji addressed the heads of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) at the Revenue House in Abuja. He allayed concerns surrounding the proposal to rename the FIRS as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), clarifying that the change is intended to streamline and improve agency efficiency.He said the main goal was to align government revenue practices with current fiscal demands to ensure all agencies are well-funded and effective.Adedeji further highlighted that the proposed legislation would enable government agencies to concentrate on their core responsibilities without the added task of revenue collection.“The bills, once enacted, will allow agencies to focus on their primary functions instead of managing tax collection duties,” he explained.Adedeji, who appears to have taken up the job of an Explainer concerning the new tax bills, further pointed out that the bills were the aftermath of President Tinubu’s administration recognition of the need for a unified tax code to reduce complexity and stimulate economic growth.Perhaps, by the time this is being read, Dr Zacch Adedeji, will be standing before another audience to explain the ideas behind the new tax bills and their capability to further sore up the revenue base of the country, because for him, the revenue must keep increasing.Usman, a public affairs commentator lives in Abuja.
Opinion
Why I Considered a Streaming Service Over GOtv

Growing up, we had cable television at home, but I paid little attention to the service provider’s name or how much was spent on the monthly subscription. That all changed when I moved out of my parent’s house and got my place earlier this year.After purchasing the necessary household appliances and furniture, I started thinking about getting a television. My options were either to buy a smart TV and use the streaming services available in Nigeria or get a regular LED TV and subscribe to a cable service provider. Since I was on a tight budget, I had to consider my options carefully.If I bought a smart TV, which is more expensive than a regular TV, and subscribed to various streaming services, I would not only need to pay for monthly subscriptions but also for internet service to watch the programs. Apart from the cost, I would also be limited in the variety of shows I could watch.On the other hand, if I opted for an LED TV, I would need to subscribe to a cable service provider. This would involve purchasing the necessary equipment and a subscription package. However, despite the cost, I would have access to a wide variety of content. I ultimately decided to go with this option.Next, I had to choose which cable service to subscribe to. During my research, I found out that GOtv was offering a price reduction on their GOtenna. Even though they had recently increased their subscription package prices, I could get the GOtenna and decoder for less than half the usual price, saving me about ₦30,000. I decided to subscribe to the Max package because it included all my favorite channels, such as Discovery ID, E! Entertainment, Africa Magic Epic, Yoruba, and movie channels. Plus, I only needed to renew the subscription monthly. The installation process was also seamless—the box came with everything required for installation. I only had to purchase extra cables due to the distance between my decoder and the pole’s location, and I needed a pole to mount the GOtenna. I also downloaded the GOtv Stream app so I could watch on the go or download my favorite shows to watch later.It’s been over three months since I started using GOtv, and I’m still enjoying the service. The picture quality is clear, and there’s more entertainment than I can keep up with. I often find myself switching between channels because I want to watch all my favourite shows at once. The only downside is that I might need to replace the batteries in my remote control frequently because of how much I flip through the channels.
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A Sardauna’s path in Kwara By Rafiu Ajakaye