England’s call-up of Anglo-Nigerian striker, Tammy Abraham, seems to have put paid to Nigeria’s hope of having him don the green and white jersey of the national football team. By inviting him for the friendly games against Brazil and Germany, the English FA has acted swiftly and smartly, playing their cards well in order not to lose the services of the prolific striker.

Recall that some few months back, the media was filled with news [being relayed by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick] of the prospect of Abraham playing for Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup in Russia next year. Only for the striker to publicly debunk the news and made it pointedly clear that he was still available for selection into the English set-up- a wish that has thus far been granted. That debunking had not only shattered the hope of having him play for Nigeria to some extent but also did sink Pinnick’s face in the mud as the football administrator‘s desperation was brought to the limelight.

Inasmuch as one might be tempted to flow along with those who aimed to criticize Pinnick’s handling of the whole situation- he has got faults no doubt- it is important that the premises upon which he acted be put under review. Tammy’s pursuit was informed by the need to create more competition in the forward line. And considering the profligacy of the Eagles in front of goal, it was imperative that other options be sought out, and Tammy was one of such that never came to be in the end.

In a broader view, that the Federation is aiming to get a player in the mold of Tammy Abraham should yet throw a challenge to every player in the forward line as well as every other player in the team. Nigeria is blessed with talented footballers but there seems to be little going in the way of self-development. There are many names that come to mind but after a few seasons at the top, they just seem to fizzle out.

While some Nigerian enthusiasts are finding it hard to understand why Tammy had settle to go with England even with what players like Agbonlahor, Fashanu et al had gone through, we must understand that Tammy Abraham has got his own will and could not have afforded to go with something his heart isn’t committed to- just like every passionate and goal oriented individual would. One can only wish him good luck.

Tammy Abraham may not have been another Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi or Ola Aina; all of whom Nigeria has snatched from England- and that’s down to choice. But as the dust over Tammy Abraham’s situation settles, it is high time we looked inward and make the most of what we have got on hand. The players have to up their game, and the technical crew needs to help these players maximize their potentials. All hands must be on deck in order to turn the country’s national football team into a highly productive force.

Belief appears to be back again as fans now have heightened faith in their darling Super Eagles, and it is not so hard to see why. After a spate of unconvincing performances that saw the national senior football team miss out on the African nations cup on two consecutive occasions intermingled by a not-so-inspiring world cup outing in Brazil, fans saw no reason to keep the verve in supporting the team as they sustain their love for foreign clubs that they have been reverently following.

However, the hope [of the Nigerian football fans] has been raised again with the Eagles having qualified for the world cup in Russia next year with a game to spare- a feat which has been elusive in time past. The game [though a dead rubber game] is against the Fennecs of Algeria. Having met on eighteen (18) different occasions, the two nations are definitely no stranger to each other. They have both had their fair share of victories over one another with Nigeria winning nine (9) of the matches while Algeria has six wins.

The biggest victory Algeria has ever recorded against Nigeria was the 5-1 win at Algiers '90, and Nigeria has also had her pound of flesh over the Fennecs on several occasions. In fact, the last time Algeria beat Nigeria was way back in 1990 when they recorded a 1-0 victory over the Clemens Westerhof led Super Eagles at the final of the Nations cup in 1990.

It is quite interesting yo note that both teams obtained their first world cup ticket at each other's expense- first, Algeria defeated Nigeria 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 1982 world cup in Spain while the golden generation of the Nigerian senior national team had some sort of revenge by defeating Algeria 5-2 (aggregate scoreline) enroute qualifying for USA '94. Since then the Super Eagles have have had the Fennecs tucked in their wings, recording six straight wins in the process.

The match at hand
The sting seems to have been taken out of this match as the fates of both teams have been sealed- Nigeria having already qualified sits atop the group with 13 points from five (5) games as Algeria, after a string of poor results, stays rock bottom with just 1 point from the same number of games. Nonetheless, there's still something to play for.

Algeria, on their part will be looking to play for pride, and their new coach will certainly want to start on a good note by registering a win against an opposition that appears to be stronger on paper. For Nigeria- who will be missing the services of some key players like Victor Moses, Moses Simon, Ogenyi Onazi and Mikel Agu- finishing the qualifying campaign untainted is an objective everyone [in the Nigerian camp] is nursing. This is also echoed by the Nigerian coach, Gernot Rohr who will be leading his charge to go for the opponent's 'jugular' right in front of their teeming fans. Plus, the game presents the avenue for the coach to test certain players who have been raring to show what they have got up their sleeves.

A lot has happened since the two teams last met in Uyo about a year ago with Algeria having been under the tutelage of two different coaches- George Leekens and Rajevac Milovan- before Rabah Madjer took over the reins. Madjer was the chief architect of Nigeria's humiliation back in 1990 but it remains to be seen how well an influence he will be from the bench as the Fennecs take on the Super Eagles in this final round of the world cup qualification series.
The match is billed for the 10th of November, 2017 at the the Mohamed-Hamlaoui stadium in Constantine by 8:30 PM Nigerian time.

A few weeks back, I wrote about the saga surrounding Abdulrasheed Maina, emphasizing on the need to have an effective justice system that deals with scandals in public offices without fear or favour since we have had to deal with incidences of perversion orchestrated by individuals who feel they [and those whose interest they served] are above the law. Although the current administration has been able to clamp down on corrupt practices but much still needs to be done.

A major move which has further highlighted the President's commitment to fight corruption in high places is the sacking of Babachir Lawal from office as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and this was followed by relieving Ambassador Ayo Oke of his duties as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). With these two disengagements, Nigerians have seen the presidency take a definite action on erring parties- this is something that has been amiss for long despite the many cases of corruption we get to hear of, and in essence, the 'abnormal' has pathetically become a 'norm' in our nation.

You will recall that Babachir had been placed on suspension since April 19 for his underhand practice in the award of a N200 million grass-cutting contract while amb. Ayo Oke had been under investigation for the part he played in the non-disclosure of the $43 million [said to belong to NIA] that was hidden in a private apartment situated somewhere around Ikoyi.
The verdict on Babachir's case is quite straightforward and long awaited but the $43 million case is yet encumbered with many intricacies as there appears to be some issues that remain unresolved- and might not even be brought to the knowledge of the public.

Rightfully, Ayo Oke has been sacked for his failure and/or negligence in not informing the appropriate quarters of the said amount of money but the manner in which the whole event unfolded, showed that there are more things (information) that are hidden beyond the cash- even when such information is centred on the way the cash came about. It is hoped that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission will dig into the matter to unravel those things that are not so evident at the moment, and thereby bring justice to full effect. Again, Babachir's should not be brought to a close until he is probed by EFCC, and it is pleasing to know that the presidency has also canvassed for this- that the two men be further investigated by the commission.

The President has indeed scored a gross point with the sacking of Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke but except one chooses to close his/her eyes to the obvious, it is still a case of two down, and more to go if profound success is to be recorded in the fight against corruption. To wrap this up, I [as well as every dignified Nigerian] look forward to the coming days when the case revolving around Maina's reinstatement will be brought to a conclusive end without any manipulation and/or subversion of justice.

Sadly, it has become commonplace to hear of episodes of misappropriation and/or abuse of power from officials holding positions in public offices- though such acts do not seem to be as emergent as at before. Many times, these occurrences are brought to public cognizance only to fizzle out into thin air without justice being served to bring the erring party to book as those that ought to so do, rigmarole about the whole process- and everything dies out with time.

The latest of such irregularities generating waves in the media, hovers around the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, AbdulRasheed Maina who was recently reinstated [with honours] into Federal Civil Service as an Acting Director in the Ministry of Interior- his reappointment has since been revoked by the President- under untoward circumstances. Aside Maina himself, the two (2) key players that have been indicted in this drama, are the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Interior Minister, Lt. General AbdulRahman Dambazau (rtd.)

Let us spare the thoughts of accusation of the pension fraud levelled against Main a [back in 2012] for a moment, and look at the role played by Malami. It was reported that Malami had circumvented the office of the Head of Service of the Federation as he sought approval for Maina's reinstatement letter after his appeal to have him (Maina) reinstated met a 'brick wall' from the HoS, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita. He (that is, Malami) would eventually have his way through a certain Mustapha L. Sulaiman who signed the letter.

From the foregoing, one could see that Malami [who is the AGF and also the Minister of Justice] has not acted in accordance with the rule of law- not following due process- which he ought to have protected. Furthermore, considering the events that surrounded the dismissal of Main a in 2012, it can be drawn that Malami's action is indicative of one trying to subvert justice which is yet another dent on his 'esteemed' office. Shouldn't he had made Maina to face the law? It should be recalled that Main a had to flee the country while investigation [concerning the pension fraud] was still ongoing in 2012. So, rather than furtively bringing him back into Civil Service, Malami should have insisted that Maina clear the air over the mess he left unattended about five (5) years ago in order to prove his innocence- if he is indeed free from accusations against him. With Malami's desperate moves in this very scenario, one cannot but question his competence and/or loyalty to the offices he precedes over.

Although Dambazau's role in the whole saga is not so clear at the moment but he cannot obviously be said to be free from answering some questions since the reinstated concerns an office in the Ministry he is currently heading. How was it that the reappointment was not challenged before he (Maina) was confirmed for the position of Acting Director?

Another twist to the saga is the claim linking the past administration to what is presently unfolding even as the presidential spokesman posited that Maina is one of the 'monster' created by the past administration. For heaven's sake; how much longer will this blame shifting/shedding continue? The truth is that there are 'rotten eggs' in this administration that need to be cleaned up. Maina's reinstatement came about while the sitting government is ruling, and one needs not divert the Nigerians' attention to other intricate matters- at least for now.

Again, as the media is rife with speculations about the involvement of the presidency in all that is happening, it is expedient that the presidency comes out clean, and get to the very root of this matter without minding whose axe will be gored.

Matters of this magnanimity should not be stalled over like we are seeing with the cases of the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo One, and suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Nigerians are waiting and looking forward for justice to take its right course- without fear or favour.

The World Health Organization's report shows that 31% of the annual global deaths, evolves as a result of heart-related diseases. The high incidence of these (cardiovascular) diseases has been largely attributed to factors revolving around lifestyle and dietary trends. It is in view of this that I have elected to briefly discuss the subject matter while also considering the use of fitness gadgets which are very effective in helping an individual meet his/her fitness goals thus promoting healthy living.

As the awareness on the dangers unhealthy lifestyle trends portend begin to pick, many have become more careful about what- and how- they eat. Plus, some persons now incorporate regular physical exercises into their routine. But one cannot be oblivious of the fact that not everyone has got the time to go on a workout regularly, and that is where the danger often lies. Furthermore, the hours spent at work make it a bit difficult to go on a regular medical checkup. Putting all these into consideration, it becomes kind of necessary to have- in the mold of a handy gadget- that will function as a personal health/fitness monitor.
Fitness gadgets come in varying designs and sizes.

The most commonly used ones are fitness/activity trackers which are usually integrated Bluetooth technology thus making it possible to pair them with smartphones or any other compatible device- in order to get information on one's status through the app [that must have been installed]. While some of these trackers can keep track of basic biometric parameters such as heart rate, calories burned, BMI and breathing rate, some others do more by taking record of certain intricate activities like brainwaves [in order to determine trends such as sleep pattern] and muscle activities thus presenting holistic analysis of a person's health status.

Most fitness gadgets come in form of wearables such as wristlets, earphones or even apparels integrated with specific technology that will make them to function uniquely. The design of these devices make them quite easy to have on the body while on the go. Some examples of such gadgets include Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch, Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Headphones and so on.

Besides the wearable gadgets, there are others in the mold of an assistive personal health devices that enable an individual know his/her state of health. Hence helping the individual take necessary action(s) and avert impending dangers that might befall the body in the course of time. Like other fitness gadgets, these health-monitoring devices can be synced with smartphones. Although devices such as the digital blood pressure- and glucose level- monitors have since become valuable in some Nigerian homes, others [like the iHealth Rhythm] that offer more in the way of checking temperature, making accurate diagnosis [based on patient's health history] and then giving prescriptions- some even go as far as setting up video consultation with a licensed doctor- should be introduced to the market in Nigeria.

However, the challenge is that most of these gadgets can be pricey as one might have to churn out well over $100- this may be on the high side for the average Nigerian who really needs one. Nonetheless, considering that the greatest wealth anyone could ever wished for, is good health, then the investment is worth it. Again, the gadgets are not very much available in the country- only a few fitness stores have them; this may not be unconnected to the unfamiliarity of the Nigerian populace of all these fitness gizmos.

It is important that Nigerians- especially the working class- start using fitness gadgets more often than not. This would go a long way in ensuring that we have a healthy (-ier) society, and this can in turn bring about increased productive as individuals cut down on certain unhealthy habits, and also optimally get the most out of their exercise routine. Over and above all, discipline is key!

Plainly speaking, the program content of local stations has not been so impressive. Owing to this, Nigerians have been turning to cable network for those premium TV contents which appeal to their fancy. A prominent cable network operator that has thus far commanded huge following for over twenty (20) years now is DSTV [owned by Multichoice], and the Nigerian market is indeed a fruitful one for the PayTV operator with about 1.5 million subscribers in Nigeria alone- a figure that represents around 10% of its subscribers in Africa.

Though in all fairness, the company does offer rich contents but it has not been without some flaws. One of such flaws is poor/slack customer service delivery- this could resulted from the monopoly it has enjoyed over the years. At some point, it was hoped that HiTV would break that monopoly but the satellite TV (that is, HiTV) went into backwaters just after about four (4) years of operation.

It is no-brainer that DSTV has sort of owned the cable television industry in sub-Saharan African countries for some time now. But on comes the hour when the company can no longer fold its hands [and not improve its services] as TSTV and Kwesè TV make entrance into the industry. Already, both appear to be stealing a march on their more established competitor with more flexible payment plan on offer. While Multichoice has not looked beyond the monthly payment plan [on their different bouquets], Kwesè and TSTV will be giving subscribers the avenue to subscribe through the weekly and daily plans [along with the monthly subscription plan] thus ensuring that consumers get optimum content viewing at an affordable rate, and that they do not miss out on their favorite programmes.

A Brief on TSTV and Kwesè TV
TSTV is said to be a Nigerian owned company- it is owned by Mr. Bright Echefu- that is in partnership with ABS (Asia Broadcast Satellite), a telecommunications company which provides services ranging from cable TV distribution to internet backbone services, VSAT transmissions amongst other telecoms services. TSTV was launched on the 1st of October, 2017 but had to defer the rolling out of its decoders till the 1st of November as it sorts out some pending issues. The number of channels on TSTV cannot be ascertained at the moment- there are speculations that there are up to 200 stations on offer.

I will now beam the light on Kwesè which is owned by astute businessman of international renown, Strive Masiyiwa. A lot of background work has been done to get Kwesè up and running- this, you would have noticed if you were following the 'visionaire' on social media as he passionately discussed the vision (Kwesè). Already Kwesè has made a groundbreaking entry with some interesting contents- presently and futuristically- it has got for its viewers.
If DSTV currently owns the exclusive right to broadcast EPL games to sub-Saharan countries, Kwesè has got its own in presenting live NBA games to its subscribers. Plus it also shows EPL games [through one of its channels]- albeit not on a broad scale like DSTV. And for those who are already looking forward to the football world cup taking place in Russia next year, Kwesè TV is there for you in good time as it has won the exclusive free-to-air transmission rights for the games. Kwesè has international channels [such as CNN, Fox, ESPN, CBeebies, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks and much more]. Regarding the price; the decoder and its installation will cost only N10,970 and the monthly subscription for the premium bouquet is N6275 while the 7-day plan and 3-day plan go for N1850 and N990 respectively.

VERDICT: I really hope these two (TSTV and Kwesè) stay rooted in the cable network industry. Nonetheless, I feel Kwesè TV has a brighter chance of thriving in the market. This, I say based on the leap the company is making in its first months of operation. Furthermore, the range of its reach is quite broad and the company is one that is set on value.
As we begin to witness this epoch-making event in the PayTV industry, it remains to be seen how DSTV will respond to the challenge thrown at them by these 'newbies'. PayTV service delivery can only get better as the 'wings of a long-standing monopoly' gets clipped.

The Nigerian situation/story is one of differing interest which is ostensibly down to the nation’s numerous ethnic orientations- a factor that is sometimes viewed as the nation’s strength. But this has not been without some controversies as some persons- or should I rather say ethnic groups- see Nigeria’s formation has being replete with irregularities thus raising the proposition that the country’s foundation was set on ‘unworkable’ principles. And owing to this, there have been calls for restructuring from different quarters. This brings us to the purpose for which this write-up has been put forward: shedding some light on restructuring in Nigeria.

A brief review on the Nigerian situation
Although one might choose to go back to the root [i.e the merge of many nation states into one sovereign unit] as being the reason for our plight but one needs not forget that Nigeria was indeed thriving at some points in past- talk about moments when our educational system was something to be proud of; times when virtually every region saw a commendable level of development and the economy was really promising. If there is anything to draw out of these; it is the fact that Nigeria seemed to have it figured out to an extent irrespective of the ‘faulty’ foundation that some persons could have perceived [to have contributed to the present state of the nation. And its thriving then was a result of the functional policies that were put in place by the founding fathers; those policies were structured and/or centered on (around) the diversified populace. But then, things started to fall apart, and rather than improving on what we had on ground, we began to experience spates of dormancy and subsequently retrogression- that which was once seen as promising gradually began to take a descent into the doldrums of obscurity; the ‘giant’ suddenly becoming dwarfed by the many troubles/uncertainties that stifle its growth.

With all these came the imbalances which has thus far made the ‘abundance’ of the nation to tilt more towards a particular end; leaving the other end with a meagre- in relative terms.
It is in view of the foregoing [coupled with the agitations that have been brewing from certain sections] that the call for restructuring rend the air as top key personalities such as the Ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and APC stalwart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some other people of renown are now championing the cause for a restructured Nigeria.

Amidst all these, one might be tempted to ask: what are those things that need restructuring?

Well, it is important to understand that the call for restructuring is crucial for practicing true federalism- a position whereby people-oriented policies are drawn based on regional sentiments/needs; a situation where the central government sheds off some weights and/or responsibilities off its shoulder in order to attend to some other core issues that will sustain the security and unity of the nation. Asides that, the modus operandi of many government parastatals should be looked over with the aim of making them more efficient and accountable.

If Nigeria must work again, then the order of the day has got to be challenged as we attempt to go back to the drawing board- not to start afresh but rather to take a cue from some of the policies that were formulated by our founding fathers and seek to improve on such in the best possible way as we seek to chart a course out of the ‘mire of oblivion’ that has thus far veiled our progress- Nigeria’s glory does not belong to the past.

I will like to end with the assertion made by Human Right Activist, Yinka Odumakin in one of the dailies which read: “A Nigeria EARNESTLY restructured is a Nigeria positively restored.”- Emphasis mine. For Nigeria to find her place again both on the local and international fronts, the bond of unity must be sustained, and this can only be actualized when there is a holistic and sincere- devoid of any hidden agenda- approach towards reviewing and objectively reforming the different systems/sectors that are meant to propel the nation’s development.

In Nigeria at the moment, one cannot talk about a Nigerian referendum without bringing Biafra into the picture as the embers of events leading to the civil war in the 70's appears to be re-ignited. But beyond this (Biafra matter), referendum is an act that could have a far-reaching effect, and countries that are truly democratic in setting, have employed this in addressing specific issues of national concern.

So, there lies the question: What is a Referendum? – According to Encyclopedia.com; A referendum is a form of direct democracy in which the entire electorate votes to accept or reject a policy proposal. The given definition has two key components I will like to highlight: ‘the Electorate’ and ‘Policy’. These two (elements) have a tremendous influence on the eventual outcome of the vote- the electorate is been expected to response to the question raised in the referendum by simply choosing to accept or reject.

A referendum is more like seeking a mutual avenue to end a ‘dispute’: putting one forward does not necessarily mean acceding to defeat plus there is no certainty that the victory will sway to one side or another until the votes are counted. However, it is important to state here that the state here that whatever move that is being must not be done without the state legislature’s involvement. In other words, referendum can only be permitted within the ambit of the law. Failure to do this will be tantamount to committing treason.

Now, focusing the lens on Nigeria; it would be injudicious to solely pin the word ‘Referendum’ to Biafra and the activities of IPOB- a scenario that borders on secession. The concept behind referendum is obviously broader than that, and there are a whole lot of issues that can be tackled through referendums. Again, we seem to sort of see referendum in ‘bad light’ in this part of the world so much that a special assistant to the president once put objectivity to the swords by limiting referendum to the Biafra situation. But far from it; the practice, if intently pursued, can help us correct some maladies that are apparent in the nation’s polity since it provides the avenue for the electorate to free express their opinions.

However, the ‘sad truth’ is that there is no such provision in the Nigerian constitution. So, before we can have a Nigerian referendum, there has to be a constitutional review. But who will ‘bell the cat’, and move the notion for the inclusion of referendum in the constitution?
If we are to progress as a truly democratic- with no inkling of dictatorship- nation then the electorate have got to be involved in [a more profound manner] in the decision-making process- not just the general election- especially as it regards passing certain laws.

The Nigerian referendum is not just about Biafra, and should not be limited to that. More so, considering the fact that some of the edicts that are presently in effect were triggered during the military regime, it is necessary to mastermind a means of reviewing some of those policies thus setting the tone for a restructured Nigeria- as such, referendums should be evoked to have this done. Besides, allowing referendums to take place will certainly quell many agitations that have without the use of force rising over the years as we get to reach a point where we agree to disagree.

XENOPHOBIA: A DENT ON THE BLACK NATION
Xenophobia simply means the 'fear of foreign things or people'. This definition is however not sufficient in itself without being accompanied by spates of violence somewhere in South Africa. The incidents in South Africa makes me ponder on 'how can the resolution to get rid of a 'fear' [by the use of physical weapons and rage] bring about freedom without the proponents [of these attacks] being haunted by that fear on the long run'? Should the 'white man' treat a 'black man' with disdain [just because of the colour of his skin], it becomes termed as 'racism'- the reverse also begets the same conclusion- but it is rather perplexing to see a black man visit terror upon another man [who shares the same skin colour] because he is seen as a threat to his welfare and job security- this reason becomes unfounded when you consider that majority of the victims are entrepreneurs whose stalls are eventually looted, upon the onslaught of the attackers.
Looking down the annals of history; one would see that xenophobia and the inherent attacks are not new trends [as these have been a scourge in some South Africa communities over the two last decades] and these have been escalating rather than subsidizing.

The Motive
People do not just act the way they do; there are certain instigating factors that sway men to gravitate in a particular direction. Bringing it down to the xenophobic activities that thus have shattered the bedrock of humanity; the perpetrators often claim that the xenophobic attack [against Nigerians] is a way of purging their communities of drug lords and their 'ignoble' activities- but when did it become the function of a civil group to take charge of such daunting security task and how can 'evil' purge out 'evil'? Barring this claim and viewing the events- surrounding xenophobia- scrutinizingly, one would see that this is a result of sheer hostility that have been fuelled by some underlying and catalyzing factors: one of such is the tagging of immigrants as 'security threats' by the Parliament in the nation- this might have happened way back but it has surely left an imprint in the mind of some mischievous and 'uncivilized' persons. That other countries [with Nigeria playing the role of a 'big brother'] intervened during South Africa's apartheid struggles, was not a means of creating a leverage for their citizens to seek 'greener pastures' in South Africa but rather a means of ensuring that humanity prevails over insanity and injustice. However, years down the line, insanity seems to be gaining the upper hand in a xenophobic ambience- as the humanitarian acts from other nations in the past appears to have evaded the subconscious of these xenophobes. Another reason- though cryptic- is the lack of creativity and laziness of these 'xenophobes' who feel that their own standard of living would take a boost simply by maiming and/or killing those who are courageous enough to start something up- albeit in another man's country.

The Moves thus far
It will be an eyesore for any sane government or humanitarian group to sit hands folded without doing anything about addressing [and curtailing] these despiteful occurrences. Although it would be quite myopic to assume that Nigerians are the only ones that are being victimized in these attacks- other foreign nationals are not left out- but it is incumbent that the Nigerian government acts to ensure the safety of its citizens- not just at home- abroad. And indeed, there have been protests and moves against the backdrop of xenophobia: recently Nigerian delegates- first, the group of lawmakers led by the leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and then the Minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau- have visited South Africa in order to forestall the incidence of incessant xenophobic attacks against Nigerians. And from the fallout of the meeting [of the Minister of foreign affairs and his entourage] with South Africa's Minister of International Relations; it is obvious that these attacks- which often occur on broad daylight- have been festering due to security lapses as Nigerian communities do not have easy and on-time access to security operatives that would have helped to quell the emergence and/or escalation of these incidents. This must have been one of the reasons why the Nigerian Minister demanded genuine commitment [towards ensuring safety of foreigners] from the South African government.
To wrap this up: just as it is a dent on the 'black nation', xenophobia is also a dent on globalization since it infringes upon the man's right to live. There are definitely South Africans thriving in other countries and meting out malicious acts at them will only leave our world in disarray; xenophobes need to exfoliate their 'natural' skin/heart and learn how to co-exist peacefully with foreigners. Furthermore, the South African government needs to be at the forefront of the fight against xenophobic attacks- this is not to say that some of the claims [for instance the issue of drug pushing] raised should not be adequately and equitably looked into- and the world- especially the African Union- has got to speak up with one voice against the hostilities [aimed at foreigners] in South Africa.

SAFETY ON OUR ROADS
Each time we leave the convenience of our home in pursuit of our 'daily bread' not knowing what we will be up against on the road but we are filled with the expectation of coming back home to the warm embrace of our loved ones who cherish every moment we share together. However, the 'unexpected' does happen on some occasions: dreams and hopes get shattered and a 'loved one' is taken away and/or made to suffer the pain he/she never envisaged. It is in the light of this that the thoughts [that shall be expressed] in this article find anchorage. How safe are the roads in Nigeria?
There are indeed many factors that contribute to the incidence of accidents on our roads. Most notably is the state of the road and some other factors hover around weather condition; the state of the vehicles plying the road and human judgment/misgivings amongst other things. The worrisome statistics that placed Nigeria among the nations with the highest rate of road accidents fatalities should not be seen as a surprise when you consider the deplorable condition of some roads and also the carelessness and temerity exhibited by road users- tens of thousands of crahes and deaths have been recorded over the last decade in Nigeria.

The deplorable state of the road and reckless driving
Except you are living in a 'seventh heaven' in the nation, would you not have come across a road that is in an abysmal state in your state of residence as this has been a major bane in the transportation network of this nation. Potholes, depression and some other structural failures are synonymous to the Nigerian road network and even the repairs [carried out on such roads] do not usually last for a long period of time.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to point out that the recklessness displayed by road users while plying the road- whether bad or in good condition- is yet another worrisome trend that should be of utmost concern. It is quite baffling to see that even on these 'bad' roads, motorists still burst into top speed without considering the 'unstable' road- and maybe without giving a thought to the delicateness of life. Let me be quick to point out that either on 'smooth' or 'rough' road, top speed remains a dangerous and deadly.

Non-adherence to traffic regulations and signs
The gross disrespect for traffic regulations and signs is one trend that has visibly impacted safety on our roads. For instance; the speed limit sign posts are rarely given attention [in areas where they are made available] as the 'hustling and bustling' of motorists, takes preeminence on our roads on daily basis...the traffic light is another major traffic sign motorists violate.
Disregard for traffic signs is however not limited to motorists only as some pedestrians also have their share of violation: the use of pedestrian bridges have always been one of the 'gospel' the government keep preaching- I can recall vividly [during my childhood], I came across a signpost which read: 'Eba dey sweet. Use the bridge'- but the crossing of express roads remains rampant till this day and some individuals never get to make to the other side as they are unfortunately 'knocked down and out of the world'.

Condition of the Vehicles
Ensuring safety on the road requires holistic measures. As such, it would be unbalanced to streamline the cause of imperilment on the road to just the deplorable state of the road and recklessness of the motorists alone; the state of the vehicles that ply our roads must also be put into consideration. Time and again, we hear of accidents being caused by failed brake leading to loss of lives. Also, rickety vehicles are still permitted on our roads and aside the vulnerability these vehicles portend in causing accidents; the excessive carbon monoxide emitted from the exhaust also constitutes a nuisance to the health/well-being of individuals.

Slackness in enforcing the law
Although some of the regulatory agencies are really giving their best but one of the reasons why things have remained seemingly unchanging, is due to the slackness in the enforcement of certain laws...the fervency [with which regulatory agencies ensure compliance to certain rules] at the onset appears to die out with the passing of time. What we see now is that even in the presence of law regulatory agencies, road users commit varying degrees of misconduct without being brought to order. What has become of the ruling on the use of helmet [by motorcyclists]; the use of seatbelts...to mention a few that has gone [or nearly going into] dereliction?

Making our roads safe(r)
Making our roads safe(r) is incumbent upon those measures that we are conversant with but choose to neglect and/or treat with levity. They are simple and quite basic but it is the commitment and discipline that is channelled in ensuring safety on our roads that will make these measures to work. Some of these measures include:
Strict and consistent enforcement of the law.
Adhering to the penalty set for lawbreakers.
Respect for traffic rules and regulations.
Quality rehabilitation of 'bad' roads.
Evacuation of 'unfit' vehicles from the road.
To wrap this up, I will like to remind the Motorist that: 'Speed kills...go easy' and the Pedestrian: 'Eba dey sweet. Use the bridge when need be'...together we can work to make our roads safer.