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Top 5 African countries with best healthcare systems 2024

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Top 5 African countries with best healthcare systems 2024

Enhancing healthcare systems significantly boosts both life quality and expectancy.

By facilitating timely detection and treatment of health issues, access to healthcare services safeguards individuals while improving community resilience and curbing disease transmission.

 

While Africa has faced challenges in its healthcare sector, varying levels of healthcare provision exist across its nations.

 

In this piece, we shall examine African countries that excel in delivering quality healthcare services.

 

Methodology

This compilation draws from Numbeo, a research organization specialising in quality-of-life data, specifically through Healthcare Index.

 

This index gauges overall healthcare systems quality, encompassing factors such as staff proficiency, equipment availability, and satisfaction rates across seven components. Calculations are conducted using Java programming language.

 

Nigeria

Healthcare system index: 48.6

Nigeria stands in fifth place with a healthcare system index of 48.6. Below are the satisfaction rates of residents against key components of the healthcare system.

 

 

Algeria

Healthcare system index: 54.42

Algeria’s healthcare system index stands at 54.42, reflecting the satisfaction levels across major aspects of healthcare services among its residents.

 

 

Tunisia

Healthcare system index: 57.41

Tunisia, with a healthcare system index of 57.41, holds the third position. Here’s how residents rated the country’s healthcare system.

 

 

Kenya

Healthcare system index: 61.07

In second place, Kenya boasts a healthcare system index of 61.07. Residents in Kenya have evaluated various aspects of its healthcare system based on satisfaction rates.

 

 

South Africa

Healthcare system index: 64.02

South Africa ranks as the country with the best healthcare system in Africa based on this index.

Currency outside banks surges as Nigerians keep 94% as cash in hand – March 2024 report

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Currency outside banks surges as Nigerians keep 94% as cash in hand – March 2024 report

Nigerians have increased their hoarding of cash, with as much as 94% of the currency in circulation held outside banks by March 2024.

 

An analysis of the latest money and credit statistics data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows that while currency in circulation was N3.87 trillion, currency outside banks was N3.63 trillion.

 

Also, the percentage of cash hoarding has been on the rise. January 2024 saw 90% of the currency in circulation being held outside the banking system, climbing to 92% in February, and reaching 94% by March.

 

This pattern reflects a growing lack of confidence in the banking system or an increased preference for cash transactions, possibly driven by economic uncertainty or other socio-economic factors.

 

This alarming trend signals a severe liquidity crunch, posing significant risks to the nation’s financial stability and economic growth.

Rise in currency circulation

Data from the first quarter of 2024 shows an alarming rise in the amount of currency in circulation.

 

In January 2023, the currency in circulation stood at N1.39 trillion, which more than doubled by January 2024 to reach ₦3.65 trillion.

 

This trend continued with February recording a cash circulation of N982.1 billion in 2023 and a significant jump to N3.69 trillion in 2024.

 

By March, the figures had escalated further from N1.68 trillion in 2023 to N3.87 trillion in 2024. This March figures show an increase of 130%, suggesting that the CBN has released a substantial amount of cash to address the scarcity created by its earlier currency redesign policy.

 

Currency outside banks

The currency held outside banks has similarly surged. In January 2023, N792.18 billion was reported outside the banking system, which increased to N3.28 trillion by January 2024. February saw an increase from N843.31 billion in 2023 to N3.41 trillion in 2024.

 

By March, the amount had grown from N1.45 trillion in 2023 to a staggering N3.63 trillion in 2024, showing an increase of 150%. This increase further means that Nigerians are hoarding cash faster than the CBN has released enough to circulate.

 

Reason and economic implications

The cash hoarding behavior observed in 2024 can be linked to the extensive cash scarcity experienced by Nigerians in 2023. This scarcity was largely a result of the CBN’s flawed implementation of a naira redesign policy, which was part of a broader initiative to transition towards a cashless economy and combat issues like vote-buying and financial crimes.

In 2023, many Nigerians experienced difficulties accessing cash, leading to widespread economic disruption and a loss of trust in the banking system. This loss of trust, combined with the fear that old naira notes would lose their legal tender status, led people to start hoarding cash.

As a response to the acute cash shortages, people’s reluctance to deposit their money in banks grew, fostering a habit of cash hoarding.

This trend continued into 2024, evidenced by the staggering 94% of currency in circulation being kept outside of banks by March. This behavior reflects an enduring skepticism towards the banking system and the economic policies of the government.

The hoarding of such large amounts of cash outside the formal banking sector poses significant challenges.

It restricts the effective circulation of money, impacting liquidity and reducing the efficacy of monetary policy in regulating the economy.

This situation could lead to higher transaction costs and reduced availability of credit, further slowing economic activity.

How I redefined ‘area boy’ as a kid – Chess master, Tunde Onakoya

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How I redefined ‘area boy’ as a kid – Chess master, Tunde Onakoya

Popular chess master, Tunde Onakoya, said he redefined the word ‘area boy’, believed to be a derogatory term used to refer to a thug or lout.

Speaking at a TEDx Talks event held at the Nile University of Nigeria in 2023, a clip of which went viral on Wednesday, Onakoya said he was also an area boy, and that’s why he is wearing an indigenous cap on a suit.

 

He said, “I am also an area boy; I mean, for a very long time, the term ‘area boy’ has been known to be a derogatory word that is being used to refer to the thugs, hoodlums and criminals in Lagos. But we’re able to redefine what that meant, and a lot of us became area boys for the sake of some people, and I’ll tell you that story.

 

“So, some 16 years ago, I was at home, I had just completed my primary school education, and my mom called me and told me that I would have to stop school because they just couldn’t afford tuition anymore, and I had to stay at home so my brother could go to school and that was going to be the end of education for me.

 

“I wasn’t a very brilliant kid in primary school; I mean, I could not even speak good English at the end of my primary school because the school I went to was a ‘Pako’ one where they taught in Yoruba and we had to sit on the floor. So, I was really struggling, and my teachers would call me ‘olodo’. So it was the easy way out, okay, so no school, so I dropped out of school, and I was at home for two years after my primary school education.”

 

Onakoya said he was learning how to fix refrigerators as an apprentice, and something happened.

 

He added, “There was this barbing salon just on the other side of our street, and I would go there to play video games at the end of the day. Then, on one of those days, the barber just brought out a small plastic chess set, and I’d never seen a chessboard before.

 

“I was a very curious kid, so I asked what this was, and he said it was a chess set. I’d never seen one before, but I was fascinated by the way the pieces were carved, so I told him to teach me because I wanted to learn how to play because I would see him just sit down and talk to himself all right and it would say crazy stuff like well if you play this game you’ll be very intelligent, you’ll be very smart, and I told him to please teach me, and he said no I was too young and he didn’t teach me. So, I was just watching him play with his friends, and with time, because I was a very curious kid, I was able to pick up the rules of the game.

 

“I learned how to play chess by watching. At the time, it didn’t occur to me that I had made the most important decision of my life, but then it became clear that something had happened, and I went back to school; my mom had to make a sacrifice for me, and I returned.

 

“Fortunately, the secondary school I attended had chess as a subject, I had never seen that before. We learned chess as a subject and we wrote exams because I think the owner of the school then was the United Nations Ambassador to Kenya and he played competitively when he was younger and that was how I found the gift of chess.

 

“I kept playing, and I got really good, and my coach discovered that I was a really good, gifted child. I remember my coach telling me that I was gifted, and I believed it. That was the first thing that I learned as a kid who grew up in poverty in the slums of Ikorodu in Lagos. I found an identity, and it wasn’t just any identity; it was an intellectual identity. I began playing professionally, and I was ranked one of the top players in Nigeria, and I finished school in 2015.

 

“I won a lot of tournaments. I won the Trevor and Chess Challenge, the national friends of chess. I was a really strong player who wanted to become a grand master. I started teaching chess to private schools just like I’d learned, and I’d never thought of it before. But in that period when I thought of teaching chess to children, it made me realize that chess was an important educational resource for children who struggled with their self-esteem and everything else.”

 

Onakoya added that he thought about using the game to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor kids and decided to take chess boards to the slum to engage the boys believed to be area boys.

 

“I had challenges with teaching the boys who had never been to school, but believe me, they learnt at an incredible pace. What would take a master a year to learn was learnt by them in a month.

 

“They beat the other kids from rich schools and won trophies at national and international levels. They even got the toast of notable people to play with them, including the former Manchester United captain, Patrice Evra,” he said.

 

Onakoya set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

NGX starts May on bullish note as investors gain N300 billion

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NGX starts May on bullish note as investors gain N300 billion

The NGX kicked off the month of May on a bullish note with the All-Share Index appreciating by 0.55%, gaining 537.15 points to close at 98,762.78 points.

 

Investors gained N300 billion as market capitalization closed at N55.85 trillion, up from N55.55 trillion recorded on April 30th, 2024.

 

Coming off a month where the market declined by 6.06% and equities lost N3.57 trillion in market capitalization, the positive sentiment in today’s market can be seen as a breath of fresh air.

 

The trend in today’s market is linked to the overall positive performance of banking stocks, with GTCO gaining 7.03%, FBNH adding 1.10%, and Access Holding gaining 3.86%.

 

The leading gainers today were PRESCO and Flour Mills of Nigeria, which gained 10%, followed by Sterling Holdco and Dangote Sugar which gained 9.98% and 9.90% respectively.

 

Recommended reading: Shareholders approve NGX’s proposed N10 billion capital raise

Market Indices

NGX All Share Index: 98762.78 points

Previous ASI: 98,225.63 points

% Day Change: +0.55%

Day’s Lowest: 98,224.53 points

Day’s Highest: 98,763.02 points

% YTD: +32.08%

Market Cap: N55.85 trillion

Volume Traded: 665.18 million units

Value: N5.54 billion

Deals: 8,440

Top Gainers

PRESCO: +10.00% to close at N229.90

FLOURMILL: +10.00% to close at N33.55

STERLINGNG: +9.98% to close at N4.74

DANGSUGAR: +9.90% to close at N42.75

FIDSON: +9.76% to close at N15.75

JAIZBANK: +9.74% to close at N2.14

Top Losers

NASCON: -9.99% to close at N47.30

UPL: -9.29% to close at N2.05

OMATEK: -9.21% to close at N0.69

NEIMETH: -9.09% to close at N1.80

CUTIX: -7.74% to close at N2.86

CHAMS: -7.45% to close at N1.74

Top Traded Stocks

In trading volume, ABBEYBDS led with 362.8 million units, followed by ACCESSCORP (+3.86%) with 54.47 million units, Veritas Capital Insurance (+6.78%) with 38.75 million units, Nigerian Breweries (+0.59%) with 31.21 million units, and TRANSCORP (+4.29%) with 26.62 million units.

 

In terms of value, Access Holdings topped with N954.62 million, followed by ABBEYBDS with N907.05 million, Nigerian Breweries with N802.4 million, Zenith Bank with N518.1 million, and TRANSCORP with N377.4 million.

 

SWOOT and FUGAZ Update

Stocks worth over one trillion (SWOOT) recorded a slightly positive trading day, as GTCO (+7.03%) and ZENITHBANK (+2.02%) posted gains. However, other members of the category such as BUA Cement, BUA Foods, Dangote Cement, Seplat Energy, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Africa, Transcorp Power, and Geregu Power recorded no price changes.

 

Members of FUGAZ (First Bank, UBA, GTB, Access and Zenith) category posted a positive showing as FBN Holdings, UBA, and Access Holdings posted 1.10%, 4.6%, and 3.86% gains respectively.

 

 

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Cartels and cabals working against stable electricity in Nigeria — Power Minister

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Cartels and cabals working against stable electricity in Nigeria — Power Minister

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has claimed cartels and cabals are working against the nation to ensure it does not have a stable power supply.

 

Adelabu disclosed this on Thursday when he was in Ajah, Lagos State to launch a 63MVA, 132/33kV mobile substation installed under Phase 1 of the Presidential Power Initiative by the FGN Power Company in collaboration with Siemens Energy.

 

Speaking on the cartels preventing power growth, Adelabu asked them to stop being shortsighted, saying there are enough opportunities in the sector.

 

“I know is that there are cartels and there are cabals in this sector who think their business interest will be negatively affected if we have stable electricity. But they are just being myopic, they’re being shortsighted. There are lots of opportunities available in the sector that will compensate for whatever business loss that they think they are experiencing in their current business. So, it is a win-win.

 

“I don’t think stabilising the power sector will render anybody jobless or affect the business interest of anybody. It is a matter of you determining where to be because the business moves. The business world is dynamic. A business that is profitable today may not be profitable tomorrow.

 

“When you see the trend of business moving, you just click into the value chain and it is so huge for everybody such that if local investors are not interested, there are foreign investors interested in this sector,” Adelabu added.

 

Asked if the cabals are the ones importing generators, he replied: “I did not mention anybody’s name specifically. But whoever knows he belongs to the cartel or cabal should have a rethink and join us in this our transformation journey”.

 

The ministers maintained that “we are only scratching the surface in this country given the potentials that we have in our human and natural resources,” saying if “we add reliable electricity to it, the sky is our limit.”

 

He spoke further, “We’ve had over 40 ministers in the past, we are still at this same point. What is that thing that is not allowing us to achieve our plans for the sector? These are the fundamental issues the President Bola Tinubu administration is trying to address. When you are addressing it, of course, there will be resistance.

 

“There will be frustration because there are some people that do not want this sector to work because of their own personal selfish interest. But we are resolute in this our transformation journey, and we will not be intimidated. We will not be cowed into obscurity.

 

“Their resistance and abuses are like a tonic to me. The tonic that will incentivise us to do more”.

 

Earlier, the Managing Director of the FGN, Kenny Anuwe, said the event represented a vital addition to the nation’s infrastructure to enhance transmission wheeling capacity and reinforce the government’s commitment to providing better electricity access for all Nigerians.

 

“The 63MVA, 132/33kV Mobile Substation plays a critical role in upgrading transmission wheeling capacity and facilitating quick deployment to meet Nigeria’s growing energy demands.

 

“10 of them were procured and three have been installed while two will be commissioned by next week,” Anuwe said.

Rano: Ice block seller who became billionaire, owns 120 filling stations, 600 trucks, 60m litre tank farm

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Rano: Ice block seller who became billionaire, owns 120 filling stations, 600 trucks, 60m litre tank farm

Rano: Ice block seller who became billionaire, owns 120 filling stations, 600 trucks, 60m litre tank farm

 

Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano, transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 200 filling stations across Nigeria.

 

Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.

 

Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

 

Today, Rano owns AA Rano oil & Gas industry in Nigeria with 56 ML Tank farm in Lagos, with 120 retail outlet/ fillng stations across Nigeria and over 600 trucks & LPG terminals as well as acquired vessel (M.T LAUSAU).

 

His ventures include RanoGaz, a state-of-the-art Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal, a rice milling company, Rano Lubricant, Rano Air, Lausu Marine and Logistics, AA Rano Terminal, and AA Rano Road Haulage.

POWER MINISTER INAUGURATES SIEMENS MOBILE SUBSTATIONS IN LAGOS & KEBBI

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POWER MINISTER INAUGURATES SIEMENS MOBILE SUBSTATIONS IN LAGOS & KEBBI

More mobile substations acquired under the Federal Government-Government Siemens deal are being installed in parts of the country to boost the wheeling capacity of the transmission network.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu who inaugurates the mobile substations in Lagos and Birnin Kebbi, says the infrastructure stands as a beacon of hope for businesses and households towards achieving uninterrupted power supply.

The two Substations installed have a total wheeling capacity of 123 megawatts which is expected to enhance electricity supply.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu describes the project as a testament to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu in accelerating the delivery of the Siemens project thereby transforming the power sector.

The power minister implores Nigerians to safeguard the infrastructure against vandalization as the success of government interventions in the sector hinged on collective responsibility.

 

 

Politics of Media attacks on Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road

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Politics of Media attacks on Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road

– 100 yrs ago, the entire place was land owned by the Oniru family.

 

– ⁠Over a century, the beach was lost to the ocean till the erosion started threatening Victoria Island till the early 2000s

– ⁠2003 – BAT engaged Hitech to build the “Wall of Lagos”, reclaim the land, and build Eko Atlantic. Reached an agreement with Oniru before the project on ownership of the land to be reclaimed.

 

– ⁠2007 – the idea of the coastal road was birthed to start from Eko Atlantic.

 

– ⁠2007 – Landmark bought property backing the “ocean” which is e basically land that is based on plan will be reclaimed. A clearly marked fence that ends just before the water that is based on a plan will be reclaimed.

– ⁠2017 – Landmark went to his “backyard and created a football pitch” on a land that he didn’t buy and was collecting money.

 

– ⁠2018 – Landmark continued expanding on land that they didn’t buy, building shanties and charging money.

– ⁠2019-20 – Landmark grew bolder and was selling shops space on the beach to businesses. I have to emphasize, on the beach front, that he did not buy.

 

– ⁠Around 2019/20, Oniru beach also opened up.

– ⁠Around 2021, LaCampagne also joined them.

 

– ⁠2023 – Lekki Deep seaport was completed, opening up additional economic activity on the coastal line.

– ⁠2023 – BAT was elected. Coastal Hitech revisited their old friend and proposed to start phase 1 that links Eko Atlantic to Deep Seaport.

 

– ⁠2024 – Project started. Road is supposed to pass through Landmark’s “backyard that they didn’t buy.

 

– ⁠FG gave notice to everyone, including Onirus (that owned the land before it was lost to the sea) and LaCampagne.

 

– ⁠Everybody knew this day would come, so everybody Jejely vacated land that they knew they did not buy. Landmark said lailai and started media rounds.

 

– ⁠2024 – Landmark claimed they have a $200m investment on the beach.

 

– ⁠Umahi visited and conceded that rather than have 100m corridor, the one at his side will be 50 meters, and gave Landmark engineering tips to retain the tourism.

 

– ⁠Landmark said the coastal road should pass in front of the property, not the back. The front is a 2 lane road. The coastal road is supposed to be 10 lanes. With 100 meters corridor. Landmark’s proposal will actually affect the land he bought, if accepted.

 

– ⁠Last weekend, Umahi carried on as planned. Destroyed the shanties on the beach worth “$200m”.

 

NDIC raises deposit insurance coverage for bank customers in Nigeria to N5 million

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NDIC raises deposit insurance coverage for bank customers in Nigeria to N5 million

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced a substantial increase in the maximum deposit insurance coverage levels across various banks.

 

Effective immediately, the new coverage adjustments were revealed during a press conference held by the NDIC’s MD/CEO, Mr. Bello Hassan, on May 2, 2024.

 

Recommended reading: NDIC to EFCC: Return recoveries made on our behalf for disbursements to depositors in Nigeria

Key details of revised insurance coverage:

Deposit Money Banks (DMBs): The maximum deposit insurance coverage has been elevated from N500,000 to N5,000,000. This change will now fully cover 98.98% of depositors, significantly up from the current 89.20%.

Microfinance Banks (MFBs): Coverage for MFBs has risen from N200,000 to N2,000,000, aiming to protect 99.27% of depositors, compared to 98.76% under the previous limits.

Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs): The coverage has been increased from N500,000 to N2,000,000, ensuring 99.34% of depositors are fully covered, up from 97.98%.

Payment Service Banks (PSBs): Coverage has been adjusted from N500,000 to N2,000,000, covering nearly all depositors at 99.99%.

Mobile Money Operators (MMOs): The pass-through deposit insurance for MMO subscribers has jumped to N5,000,000 per subscriber.

The NDIC MD stated:

 

“Based on these considerations, and in line with our commitment to enhancing depositors’ protection, public confidence, financial inclusion, and stability of the financial system, I am pleased to announce that the NDIC’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), during its 18th meeting held on April 24th and 25th, approved a 3 increase in the maximum deposit insurance coverage levels for all licensed deposit-taking financial institutions with immediate effect.

 

The adjustments are as follows:

i. Deposit Money Banks (DMBs): The maximum deposit insurance coverage has been increased from N500,000 to N5,000,000, providing full coverage to 98.98% of total depositors compared to the current coverage of 89.20%. In terms of the value of deposits covered, the revised coverage would increase to 25.37% compared to the current 6.31% of the total value of deposits.

 

ii. Microfinance Banks (MFBs): The maximum deposit insurance coverage has been increased from N200,000 to N2,000,000, providing full coverage to 99.27% of total depositors compared to the current level of 98.76%. This would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 34.43% compared to the current 14.38% of the total value of deposits.

 

iii. Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs): The maximum deposit insurance coverage has been increased from N500,000 to N2,000,000, providing full coverage to 99.34% of total depositors compared to the current 97.98%. This would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 21.04% compared to the current 10.77% of the total value of deposits.

 

iv. Payment Service Banks (PSBs): The maximum deposit insurance coverage has been increased from N500,000 to N2,000,000, providing full coverage to 99.99% of the total number of depositors. This would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 43.10% of the total value of deposits from the current coverage of 40.60%.

 

v. Subscribers of Mobile Money Operators: The maximum pass-through deposit insurance coverage has been increased from N500,000 to N5,000,000 per subscriber per MMO as the applicable coverage level for depositors of DMBs.”

 

Reason for upward review

In his address, Mr. Hassan outlined the journey and rationale behind the adjustments in insurance coverage. Initially set at N50,000 in 1989 to cover 85% of depositors, the coverage was progressively increased to N200,000 in 2006, and later to N500,000 in 2011 for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), with similar adjustments made for other financial institutions over the years. The latest study in 2023 underscored the need for a further increase due to high percentages of depositors being fully insured but still a considerable value of deposits remaining uncovered, which posed risks like potential bank runs.

 

Mr. Hassan emphasized that the revised coverage is a strategic balance between protecting depositors and ensuring the stability of the financial system. The changes aim to extend protection to a larger percentage of the population, enhance financial inclusion, and mitigate the potentially destabilizing effects of bank runs.

 

Mr. Hassan emphasized that these changes are supported by solid financial backing from the NDIC’s Deposit Insurance Funds (DIFs), anticipated premium collections, and robust supervision and bank resolution frameworks outlined in the NDIC Act No. 33 of 2023. This strategic enhancement aims to balance the protection of depositors with the need to encourage market discipline among banks, thereby preventing unnecessary risk-taking and the destabilizing potential of bank runs.

 

What does this mean for Nigerian bank customers?

In the event of a financial institution’s failure and the revocation of its license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NDIC will reimburse eligible depositors up to the maximum insured amount of N5 million in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and N2 million in Microfinance Banks (MfBs) and Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs).

The Corporation sells the assets of failed banks and collects debts owed to them so that depositors whose claims exceed the maximum insured sums can receive liquidation dividends on a pro-rata basis.

The liquidation dividend is the amount paid to depositors by the NDIC after a bank is liquidated if the depositor’s amount exceeds the insured amounts. Payments to creditors and shareholders are made from the proceeds after all depositors have been repaid from the assets of closed financial institutions.

With the maximum insurance coverage raised substantially—for example, from N500,000 to N5 million for depositors in DMBs—customers can feel more secure about the safety of their deposits. This higher coverage ensures that a larger portion of their money is protected in the event of a bank failure, thereby boosting depositor confidence in the banking system.

The new coverage levels are designed to fully insure a higher percentage of depositors. For instance, the coverage for DMBs now fully protects 98.98% of depositors, up from 89.20%. This change means that almost all depositors are completely covered by the NDIC’s insurance, reducing their risk significantly in case their bank collapses.

With increased deposit insurance, individuals and businesses might be more inclined to save their money in banks, contributing to higher levels of financial inclusion. Knowing that their deposits are secure, even those who previously underutilized banking services due to fear of potential bank failures might now be more likely to engage with the banking system.

Overall, these changes are expected to bolster the resilience of Nigeria’s banking sector, enhance depositor protection, and contribute to a more stable financial environment, benefiting both individual bank customers and the broader economy.

Peter Obi fires back at Umahi for accusing him of inciting Igbos against FG

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Peter Obi fires back at Umahi for accusing him of inciting Igbos against FG

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election has fired back at David Umahi, the Minister of Works over the allegations of incitement leveled against him.

 

While speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, during a stakeholders’ meeting on the controversial Lagos-Calabar road project, Umahi accused Obi of inciting the people of the south-east against the Federal Government.

 

Obi had earlier criticised the project describing it as a misplaced priority. The ex-governor of Anambra State also condemned the demolition of properties for the project, saying it is ‘insensitive.’

 

Responding to this during his meeting with stakeholders in Lagos, Umahi slammed Obi for his comments about the project.

 

He said when Obi was governor of Anambra State, he supported the demolition of buildings for road projects.

 

“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done,” Umahi said.

 

The minister further accused Obi of inciting uninformed Nigerians from the southeast region against the Federal Government.

 

He said, “I think he is inciting some of the south-east people that are not well informed.”

 

However, in a series of tweets on Thursday, May 2, 2024, Obi replied Umahi, describing his claims against him as ‘baseless distractions.’

 

Obi dismisses Umahi’s claim about incitement

In his tweets, Obi said Umahi’s allegations were aimed at destroying his character.

 

The former governor of Anambra State said he refused to partake in divisive politics, adding that his political aspiration is not based on any ethnic interest.

 

He said, “Regarding allegations of incitement against the government, I firmly reject these unfounded accusations aimed at tarnishing my character.

 

“My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics. Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated for unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.

 

“I refuse to be reduced to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics. Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.”

 

Obi also refutes demolition allegation by Umahi

Obi said when he served as governor of Anambra State, he only demolished structures “obstructing existing roads and lacking approval.”

 

Citing an example, he said he demolished the Onitsha North local government headquarters because it was situated on the only existing stadium in the area.

 

He said after the demolition of the structure, he built another structure for the local government office away from the stadium.

 

“My actions were strategic, aiming to prioritize the repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure over projects that risked disruption and destruction. This approach aimed to safeguard the livelihoods of Nigerians and ensure the efficient use of resources,” he said.

 

Drawing a comparison between his action and the demolition of Landmark beach and other properties on the right of way of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, Obi said he only removed obstructions on existing roads to enhance accessibility and safety for all, saying the road project in Lagos sharply contrasts with his administration’s efforts.

 

Obi said, “I focused on removing obstructions on existing roads to enhance accessibility and safety for all. The ongoing destruction and disruption of jobs and livelihoods associated with the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction sharply contrasts with my administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure while minimizing adverse impacts on communities.”

 

He said he’ll continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians to ensure that development initiatives prioritise the needs of the people.

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