THE statement made by the immediate past President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, that N2 billion worth of locally produced chicken are wasting away in cold rooms in Nigeria, should embarrass all Nigerians as it makes a complete mockery of our Made-in-Nigeria slogan. It should also challenge us to save Nigeria’s poultry sector from collapse and boost our efforts at economic diversification.

AFTER a lull, bad news is once again coming from the creeks of the Niger Delta. Just as some militant groups served notice of their intention to resume the destruction of pipelines and other facilities in the oil-rich region, the sad news came of the death of a British missionary, Mr Ian Squire, in the hands of his kidnappers.

THE shameful state of education in our country has manifested again in the crisis rocking Kaduna State where over 22,000 teachers are on the firing line due to alleged lack of requisite qualification to teach.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari made good his intention to kick off the 2018 budget process by presenting the Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, 7th November 2017.

THE burial of renowned Itsekiri historian, Pa Johnson Oritsegbubemi Sunday Ayomike, on November 3, 2017 expectedly attracted a sizeable crowd of well-wishers who came to pay their last respects and venerate a man who lived a life of greatness.

RESTORING agriculture to its pride of place in a widely-diversified Nigerian economy requires versatile thinking, planning and meticulous implementation of strategies. It should go beyond the ongoing national emphasis on massive increase in the production of rice.

NEWS that Nigeria made a giant leap in the Doing Business world ranking was received with rhapsodic self-congratulation by the Federal Government.

IT is rather perturbing that President Muhammadu Buhari is caving in to pressure from his political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to expand the size of his government as the march to the 2019 electoral season gathers momentum with the various political parties raring to go.

MODERN and progressive societies are driven by efficient taxation systems. Without a doubt, despite recent strides in the country’s tax administration, Nigeria remains – unfortunately – outside the group of nations that have benefited from top-tier taxation systems. In our view, this dire situation is what the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS, aims – and has enormous potential – to remedy, if properly engaged.

THERE are many indicators in our body polity to prove that Nigeria is still transiting from military rule to democracy, even though the Army vacated the political scene nearly 20 years ago.

IT is a great irony that while the governors of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria meet regularly to address issues of common interest in the defunct Region, their counterparts in the South find it difficult to re-enact the same process.

IT is a great irony that while the governors of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria meet regularly to address issues of common interest in the defunct Region, their counterparts in the South find it difficult to re-enact the same process.

IN June 2017, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbe, flagged off with fanfare the first batch of 72 tonnes of yams being exported to Europe and America from the shores of Nigeria. It was another bold step to expand the base of our foreign exchange earning beyond crude oil.

THE current Monkey pox outbreak has again exposed Nigerians to the dangers of preventable and treatable diseases. Lassa fever, Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM and Cholera are just a few of the emergency epidemic outbreaks the country has so far witnessed this year.

A RECENT report by the Federal Internal Revenue Service, FIRS and the Joint Tax Board, JTB, revealed that only 40 super-rich Nigerians pay correct taxes on their incomes. The report, apart from being incomplete, merely revealed the extent to which governments of Nigeria (both Federal and the states), the FIRS and the JTB have failed Nigerians over the years.