Saving MAKIA

Also published in Daily Trust

As the oldest airport in Nigeria, MAKIA began operations in 1936

In its Monday, 21 October 2013 issue, Daily Trust reported what could be regarded as yet another instance of the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah’s apparent resolve to finish off the already struggling Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, by blocking some international airlines from extending their operations to the airport, which, by the way, is the oldest airport in Nigeria.

This came amid public anger against the controversial Minister for embezzling more than a quarter billion naira to purchase two BMW armoured cars for her use. It also came against the background of public lamentation over the underfunded hence inefficient air safety measures and equipment used by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian, FAAN and the airline companies, which reportedly cut corners in order to save the cost of providing proper maintenance to their fleets thereby putting the lives of their passengers and that of others at risk.

The Hajj and its critics

Also published in Daily Trust  

Having almost completed this year’s Hajj rituals, the several tens of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah have presumably begun to look forward to returning back home. This is even though, due to the ongoing massive expansion and upgrading projects on the holy sites, and the resultant reduction in the number of allocated slots to all countries including Nigeria, those lucky enough to make it from Nigeria constitute, as they have often done, the largest chunk of Black Muslim pilgrims anyway.

After all, this is not surprising considering the fact that, Nigeria has the largest Black Muslim population in the world. Yet, the average Nigerian Muslims’ passion for Hajj grows all the time, and the number of people who, even though can’t afford it but are prepared to make any sacrifice in order to make it is equally growing.

Strange bedfellows

Also published in Daily Trust

The issue of self-determination on regional or ethno-religious grounds, which is raised every now and then by some individuals under different self-serving pretexts is particularly responsible for the apparent lack of a sense of belonging among Nigerians. This has consequently and effectively relegated Nigerians from proud partners in nation-building to mere strange bedfellows who, at best, barely and reluctantly tolerate one another.

It is indeed unfortunate that Nigerians hardly take advantage of their longstanding socio-cultural, ethnic, religious, economic and political bonds, which bind them together and indeed provide them with veritable advantages to achieve sustainable prosperity and compete in any field of human endeavour.

A questionable relapse

Also published in Daily Trust 

After what seemed to be a short-lived jubilation following the reported military success against Boko Haram militants in north eastern Nigeria, there has been a gradual but persistent relapse into the pre-state of emergency time in the region over the past few weeks, which indicates the failure of the military to maintain the momentum and follow through with the operation.

It is quite unfortunate that, over the past weeks the security situation has been mysteriously relapsing at an alarming rate. Though bomb attacks have virtually disappeared, there has been a dramatic escalation of attacks on civilians, which result in huge losses of life. After suffering setbacks, Boko Haram militants are now back where they storm mosques, schools, markets, villages to kill people and unleash terror and sorrow. As they also intercept vehicles on highways and other roads to brutally torture and slaughter people.

Politics and the killings in Benesheik

Also published in today's Daily Trust

Notwithstanding whether the continued virtual total blockade of communication network in Borno state has actually undermined the abilities of Boko Haram militants or not, it has, almost completely, cut off many good social commentators from that particular part of the country, especially who were active on the social media.

I therefore host one of such good commentators, Abdulhamid Al-Gazali, a brilliant young man from Maiduguri to share his thoughts about the recent massacre in Benesheik. Enjoy,