Here is a roundup of the top stories making headlines in major Nigerian newspapers on Thursday, 09 January, 2025, along with our key advocacy asks.
1. ‘States race to build airports as hunger bites harder’ – Vanguard
When reports emerged a few years ago about Jigawa State’s plans to build an airport, many were left confused, especially in the midst of the poverty of the people of the state.
Our Take: Governors, as you race to build airports while hunger gnaws at your citizens, one wonders if the plan is to fly over poverty rather than address it. Instead of crafting runways for airplanes, how about crafting solutions for empty plates? After all, no one books a flight when they can’t afford a meal!
2. ‘FG N9bn e-border project fails to stop bandits, illegal aliens’ – Punch
Despite the federal government’s multi-billion-naira investment in border surveillance systems launched in 2019, Nigeria’s borders remain as porous as a sponge.
Our Take: Dear Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while the N9 billion e-border project was meant to keep our borders secure, it seems the bandits and illegal aliens didn’t get the memo, or perhaps the surveillance system needs a better network provider? As you roll out this new phase of e-border surveillance, Nigerians are counting on you to ensure it’s not just another expensive way to watch trespassers wave at the cameras while they stroll in. Let’s plug the gaps, not just the budget!
3. ‘Federal government hints at new national carrier’ – Daily Trust
There are strong indications that the federal government will revive the bid for the establishment of a national carrier amidst the suspension of the Nigeria Air project.
Our Take: Honourable Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, as you chart a fresh course for a national carrier, may we humbly suggest steering clear of the runway mishaps that doomed Nigerian Air under Hadi Sirika? Nigerians are still recovering from the turbulence of that saga, and another nosedive could completely ground public trust. We urge you to ensure this new plan isn’t just a flight of fancy but a real airline that soars, because the only ‘air’ we want in the name is the one lifting planes, not empty promises.
4. ‘Anxiety as execution of FG’s free caesarean section initiative stalls’ – The Guardian
The federal government’s much-lauded free Caesarean Section (CS) initiative, aimed at cutting down Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate, appears to be stuck in prenatal limbo.
Our Take: Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, we were thrilled when you announced the free caesarean section initiative, a bold prescription for reducing maternal mortality. But months later, it appears this life-saving promise is still on the operating table. We request that you usher it into the theater of action before more expectant mothers lose faith in its delivery.
