On 30th September, this year’s World Heart Day, the increase in recent times, of confirmed and suspected cases of cardiac arrests, heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related disorders came into sharp focus. Heart disorders are making a steady and deadly rise in Nigeria. Everyday, we read reports of persons “slumping and dying”.

AFTER the dismal and embarrassing performance of Nigeria’s athletes at the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, Nigerians had cause to cheer and celebrate, courtesy of the outstanding performance of Team Nigeria to the Paralympic Games.

Are we really serious about looking inwards to get Nigeria out of the economic recession? How serious are we in achieving the much-touted diversification of the economy? What policies do we have binding all arms and departments of government to ensure that goods that can be manufactured in Nigeria are no longer imported from foreign […]

It has been almost a decade ago when the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) found itself in a position to influence the global price of crude oil. But, after almost two years of collective suffering as the price of the commodity has languished below $50 per barrel, OPEC decided on a bold but dangerous gamble.

Shortly after the retreat at the Presidential Villa in the middle of this month, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made some startling announcements which pointed to a deepening recession contrary to the assurances that it will soon be over.

The economic crisis is Nigeria’s biggest headache today. At the heart of it was the crash in oil revenue, hence, the renewed push for diversification of not only the economy but also the oil industry.

The mood depicted by the Senate on its resumption last week said it all: it is time to put politics and acrimony aside and join forces to get the nation out of this economic recession.

A most unpleasant event occurred in an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Island recently, which illustrated the total disregard of the human rights and dignity of detainees and inmates in the custody of the Nigerian law enforcement agencies.

The Vice President and the head of the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team (EMT), Prof Yemi Osinbajo, was recently quoted as saying: “If we did not have vandalism in the Niger Delta as we are currently suffering, we will not have this recession today.” Mr Vice President, we disagree.

Olorogun Michael Ibru who died at 85 on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, was unarguably one of the most successful Nigerian entrepreneurs of his generation. His footsteps are visible in many areas of the country’s economy.

Recession is a global and eternal economic reality which nations have to grapple with from time to time. So, our current predicament is neither unique nor would it be the last time it would occur here. However, nations must equip themselves with the capacity to deal with recession and make it as brief as possible.

Everybody in Nigeria now says diversification is the solution to our economy. They add that agriculture holds the vital key to it. Few ask or offer any suggestion about how to achieve the goal and when we can expect results.

THE Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented annually by countries is designed to provide nations, especially the investment community and the international institutions – World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and others – more scope than the annual budget can afford.

While the politicians trade blames and ‘put forward self-seeking half truths and falsehoods as facts, Nigerians should have access to the unblemished truth and more importantly they need to know the options available to us while the recently declared recession lasts. After all, it is our lives they are toying with.

President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the “Change begins with me” campaign last week Thursday, 8th September 2016, more than fifteen months after assuming power as an elected president. The main goal of the programme is to instill discipline and patriotism in Nigerians.