Deep Thought

 Re: Engr David Umahi-The Minister in my Heart By Prof MK Othman My article last week was a simple admiration of a personality occupying the exalted position of Minister of the Federal Ministry of Works who displays zeal in performing his responsibilities, making the unscrupulous contractors perform their duties. Still, I did not know I was opening a can of worms. Three high-ranking construction experts talked to me with some exciting expressions- "all that glitters is not gold….," "Corruption in the road construction industry in Nigeria? Prof, your piece only scratched the surface; the decay in the industry is scary," and disturbing statements. Road construction, rehabilitation, modernization, and the like are done in the forest, away from the public gaze, where insecurity discourages people from watching what transpires. So, only the contractors, their supervisors, and God know what goes on in the industry; the financial hanky-panky is better imagined. So, Engr Um...

 Engr David Umahi: The Minister in my Heart By Prof MK Othman A round peg in a round hole may not perfectly describe Engr David Nweze Umahi's appointment as the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Works. A round peg with a correct diameter inserted in a round hole with a fitting diameter best describes Engr Umahi’s appointment as the current Minister of Works. Nigerians cannot ignore his superb performance in the ailing Ministry of Works, bedridden with supersonic corruption since his assumption of duty. It is the ministry responsible for the construction of the federal roads nationwide. The systematic and gargantuan corruption has made road construction per kilometer in Nigeria the most expensive compared to developed and developing nations globally.   As far back as 20 years ago, a report published by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) indicated the cost of constructing a kilometer of road to be between N400 million and over N1 billion from the study conducted by the World ...

 Re: Economic Hardship- Nigeria Should Have No Business with Hunger By Prof. MK Othman Dr. Godwin Atser, the Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Nigeria, was invited to the Kadaria Ahmed Program on African Independent Television to participate in the panel of discussants on the live program held on Wednesday, 24th, 2024. The subject of discussion was “the Nigerian Food Security situation.” There were three discussants: Dr. Atser, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister for State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Hajia Halima Njobdi, COE of “Give Agriculture a Voice,” an agriculture-based NGO. As a consultant and friend of SAA, the CD invited me to join the event's audience. Madam Ahmed, the program's anchor, made it a soul-searching occasion where agricultural policies and government programs were subjected to the reality on the field.  The Program, codename “Pivotal,” commenced with interviews of farmers on agrarian programs for food se...