Opinion

2022: A Red-Letter Year

Published

3 years ago

January 11, 2023

The year 2022 was like no other year for the average Nigerian, particularly for fixed-salary earners like civil and public servants. It was a year when the combination of inflation, insecurity, volatile foreign exchange, and a spiralling energy cost created a hellish cocktail that unleashed a cost of living crisis, comparable only to the austerity measure Nigerians saw during Buhari’s first advent. Painfully for most families, the traditional 3-square meal was a major casualty.

As I reflect on the travails of the average Nigerian in the outgone year, I shuddered at the thought that, while I might complain of my inability to meet some of the basic needs of my family, 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor (a whopping 66.5 percent of the population) – grappling with the lack of access to food, health care, shelter, education, and other necessities of life. By contrast, President Buhari is healthier today than ever, and Bishop Kuka brought the stark difference home during a homily late last year when he said: “We know that you are healthier now than you were before. We can see it in the spring in your steps, the thousands of miles you have continued to cover as you travel abroad. However, I also wish that millions of our citizens had a chance to enjoy just a fraction of their own health by a measurable improvement in the quality of health care in our country.” To add salt to injury, available data from almost every respectable source show that the health sector is on the brink of collapse due to the Japa syndrome.

Unfortunately, it is not yet over, because in the UK alone there is currently a gap of about 46000 health workers according to the NHS; and going by data from previous years Nigeria might end up contributing a third of that number. According to a UK immigration report released in 2022, more than 13000 Nigerian medical professionals were recruited by various health Institutions in the UK between 2021 and 2022. In October 2022, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) National President, Dr. Rowland Ojinmah, reported that 50 medical doctors leave Nigeria weekly, creating a shortage of doctors in most hospitals across the country. The impact of this labour migration has started to hit home, as major hospitals in big cities, like Port Harcourt are now finding it difficult to hire doctors. In fact, a doctor told me that most private hospitals in Port Harcourt stop seeing our patients after 5:00 pm due to a lack of manpower; but a consultant radiologist at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, painted a grim picture of the current state of healthcare delivery in the country by explaining that soon, the only option for the sick in Nigeria might be the ‘Babalawo’.

On the economy, energy costs did huge damage to the economy in 2022 second only to the impact of high forex. There was a continual marginal increase of electricity tariff, but no regular supply in most parts of the country. And as a result, the cost of diesel was particularly responsible for the very low-profit margins among most manufacturing firms in the country. It was also the reason why most banks in Port Harcourt and other major cities reduced their operating hours. On a personal level, skyrocketing energy costs ensured my diesel generator remained under lock and key since March 2022. Painfully, the price of the alternative source of fuel, petrol, is now almost at par with the price of diesel. My major regret is not riding the solar train when the dollar was reasonable.

2022, was also a year when ASUU stood its ground in what morphed into the mother of all industrial strikes in our recent memory. The strike action which started on a warning note on February 14, 2022, ended on October 14, 2022, without a clear-cut resolution, or a winner; but the students and their parents are clearly the losers. The long industrial action gave the private universities an undue advantage against public universities, and their students, in the sense that the eight-month-long strike upended the 2021/2022 academic session. But our loss as a nation was a gain in terms of foreign direct investment to countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana. As of June 2022, Nigeria spent as much as $882 million on education-related expenditures, showing a 34 percent increase when compared to the $667 million spent in the same period in 2021. Notably, there was no foreign direct investment in the opposite direction for the same purpose.

On security, 2022 was really a long night for the devil. Only a few states including Lagos and Rivers had a breather. It was so bad that even the seat of power was threatened. Kuje Prisons was attacked, while the Abuja – Kaduna Road was a killing field, and the rail was not spared. In fact, the Abuja – Kaduna Train attack will forever remain a scar on our national consciousness. But that is not all, because Kaduna was actually Nigeria’s security waterloo in 2022; and for the most fortified state in the country, Nigeria was shamed without measure when the Nigerian Defence Academy in Zaria and the Kaduna Airport were attacked. Sadly, every other attack in Kaduna pales in comparison to the ongoing slaughter of the Indigenous People of Southern Kaduna. Also, the South-East witnessed unprecedented security challenges caused by unknown gunmen, kidnappers, Fulani herdsmen, and the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Lastly, the flood returned in 2022 to a nation as unprepared as it was in 2012. In some areas in Benue and Anambra States especially, new developments have blocked natural waterways; while towns and villages along flood planes in nearly 30 states were submerged under water. Most families would never recover because they lost everything, but the politicians who managed the procurement and distribution of relief are set for life. The East-West Road along the Bayelsa axis was submerged for nearly three weeks, displacing millions of people at the peak; but as usual, the issue of the flood has receded to the back burner until the next flood. This is Nigeria, where lessons learned are never applied.

Sadly, any search for a single indicator trending in the green immediately becomes a fruitless endeavour. With a budget deficit of 5 percent of GDP as against the threshold of 3 percent recommended by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. Headline Inflation is hovering around 21 percent, while food inflation stood at 22 percent; and due to multi-sectoral dislocations in the economy, the unemployment rate is currently at 33 percent, essentially increasing the number of the Nigerian poor by 35 million. Tellingly, youth unemployment stood at 43 percent at the end of 2022.

Many pundits have attributed the state of the economy in 2022 to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global headwinds, especially the war in Ukraine. However, in truth, we witnessed in 2022 a full-blown case of what happens when unpatriotic, corrupt, and incompetent people wield power. For instance, what effect do the Covid-19 Pandemic and the war in Ukraine have on our daily crude production or the security architecture of the country? Also, is there any correlation between the aforementioned factors and the ASUU strike that destroyed a whole school year? The answer is clearly no.

Interestingly, just before the end of the year, Nigerians were surprised to hear that the Federal Government was working on a review that would be announced most likely in the first quarter of 2023. According to the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, the review is intended to ameliorate the impact of inflation on the cost of living. Ordinarily, it sounds like a kind gesture, however, would it not have been better, fixing the economy in the first place? Because, if the economy continues on the current trajectory no amount of salary adjustment would make any meaning. On the flip side, it has the visage of vote buying. It is certain, that the APC cannot campaign with a Buhari Scorecard, therefore they have to come up with a mega vote-buying scheme.

In all, the supposedly incompetence of Buharai, his soft-glove handling of non-state actors, and the general corrupt disposition of his government culminated in setting 2022 apart as a red-letter year; and I join millions of Nigerians to pray that our children may never see another year like the year “2022”.

By: Raphael Pepple

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor