SUMMITS, whether in politics or topography, are the peak. When our governments organise summits to tackle issues we expect that they would produce results that will effect changes in the lives of Nigerians.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan recently paid a belated visit to Borno and Yobe States; parts terrorists have seized for more than two years. These States have been their bases from which they farm out terror.

FORMER Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, remains an imitable curiosity. His critics would dismiss his comments on the paucity of leaders in Nigeria and Africa. He is right in stating that leadership was a challenge.

WHAT does the Federal Government have against mining of gold and other solid minerals?

THE Presidential Amnesty Programme has to start taking responsibility for its short-comings. At the moment, it thinks that others are to blame for lapses in its activities, some of which bring the programme to disrepute.

IT is important the Federal Government knows its assets, at home and abroad. It is equally important that efforts in that direction attain the level of seriousness that matches the importance of the assignment.

AFRO musician Fela sang “water e no get enemy”, eulogising the importance of water, but accessing water can produce enemies, and its availability cannot be taken for granted.

TODAY marks the end of the reign of Pope Benedict XVI as the head of the Catholic Church, in a manner like no other. We are witnessing the end of an epoch which last took place 598 years ago – a living Pope is acceding his office.

A DRAFT legislation the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has before the National Assembly, will endanger our liberties, if it becomes law. Titled ‘Draft Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations’, it would allow unhindered access to communications under the guise of security.

NIGERIANS have seen enough mergers to understand them better than those who lead the moves.

THERE are many threats to the Nigerian state. The depletion of her forests and general mismanagement of the environment pose one of the rarely-talked about threats. Nigeria is located in what could be called the epicentre of the tropical rain forest belt, yet nearly 95 per cent of her forest cover has gone through unmitigated mismanagement.

OVER the past couple of years there has been an upsurge in the number of private aircraft acquired by Nigeria’s “high and mighty”.

THE Catholic Church and indeed the world are coming to grips with the fact that Pope Benedict XVI will exit the Papacy by the end of February.

THE Federal Government sets bad examples in managing public assets. The abandoned buildings in Lagos that ministries and other establishments used before re-locating to Abuja stand tall in challenging government to act.

“WHETHER the Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina is in the country or has run away is not as important as the way we handle matters.