We note, with cautious delight, the general improvements in the anti-graft war of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, especially at this outset of his second term. There has been a general scaling-down of the blame game and greater inclusion in the anti-graft war as opposed to the perceived one-sidedness it was accused of during the highly politicised atmosphere of the first tenure.

President Muhammadu Buhari is known for his special regard for infrastructure development. From his days as the Executive Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, under the regime of the late General Sani Abacha, to his current one as Nigeria’s elected President, this much has been obvious, in spite of lean resources.

The prevalence of poverty in the land has led to the deterioration of the noble value systems which various Nigerians groups proudly upheld in the past. Where, for instance, our value system emphasised that human beings (especially children) were more valuable than money or material things, criminals now “sell” babies or steal (kidnap) people for money or ransom.

From all indications, we seem not to have fully realised it that cell phones, CCTVs, and the social media have changed our world in both significant and dangerous ways. With in-built high resolution cameras, high fidelity video and audio recording functions, the little smart phones we see nowadays in the hands of almost everyone have become cold evidence-gathering eyes and ears all around us.

The announcement by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, last week Tuesday, October 15, 2019 that Nigerians seeking to replace their lost National ID Cards or “renew” existing ones are to pay fees has left concerned citizens wondering what the real intention of the Commission is with regard to the National ID Card scheme.