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OPINION: “Who Build Dis Gada?” And Other Stories

Published

2 months ago

August 2, 2026

By Festus Adedayo

For Nigerians old enough to remember the 1990s, the phrase “Who build dis gada here?” was proudly hung on Brigadier General Raji Rasaki as his lasting moniker. A former military governor of Ogun, Ondo, and Lagos States, Brigadier Rasaki acquired this viral nickname in the aftermath of an on-site inspection of public works in Lagos. With his fold-able swagger stick held firmly in hand and a penetratingly authoritative aura, Rasaki was touring project sites when, in the searing baritone of military overlords, he loudly demanded of a contractor in a distinct blend of Nigerian English and raw power: “Who build dis gada here?”

While “gada” was simply his native tongue’s transplant for a bridge, that dramatic outburst of a no-nonsense soldier became Rasaki’s enduring public trademark. To this day, countrymen who were alive to hear of the event firsthand deploy the phrase to mock poor public infrastructure or as a satirical weapon to question accountability in government construction projects.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu seemed to transmute into Brigadier Rasaki, bringing the narrative of “Who build dis gada?” right back to life. Whether driven by political malice, the early maneuvers of 2027 politics, or confidential dossiers in his possession, Tinubu raised eyebrows while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State last Thursday. Among other issues, the President literally asked why state governors were busy building ‘gadas’ — now modernized as flyovers — in areas with negligible traffic density. Instead of these projects he seemed to se as vanity, Tinubu demanded that governors channel their enhanced post-subsidy federal allocations into rural road networks which he said would genuinely improve living standards and grant security agencies better access to remote, vulnerable areas.

It is commendable that the President has joined the ranks of the Nigerian commentariat who daily deplore the wonky governance of the country. Over the years, analysts have marveled at the ease with which Nigerian governments at both federal and state levels embark on massive road projects primarily designed to serve as blankets to cover official fraud. Yet, the strategic placement of Tinubu’s office makes his public disclosure feel somewhat mealy-mouthed. As the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states, many of whose governors are guilty of this exact charge, such a rebuke should have been delivered as an internal caucus homily rather than a public spectacle.

Furthermore, throwing such a blanket homily in public is not only self-deprecating but opens wide flank for opposition elements to attack even state governments that are building genuinely strategic roads and bridges, turning them into easy prey for political opportunism.

More importantly, the homily is deeply self-indicting. While scolding governors over unaccountable flyovers, President Tinubu himself is overseeing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — one of the most opaque, unaccountable-to-anyone mega projects in modern history. Awarded without a competitive bidding process to the Chagourys, a contractor with long-standing personal ties to the President, and with his own son sitting on the board of an associated entity, the coastal road project makes Tinubu’s scolding of governors feel like a classic case of self-delusion. As the Yoruba adage goes, “Jẹwọ obunk’andáṣọ ro e!” (Confess, slovenly woman, so that we may help you cover yourself!). The President should confess to his own administration’s transparency flaws before lecturing state governors on theirs.

At that same meeting with the Oyo monarchs, the President also chest-thumped over the recent rescue of the abducted Oriire hostages. For the first time, discarding third-party statements, Tinubu explicitly confirmed that the abducted schoolchildren and teachers were freed because his administration stood firm against paying ransoms or swapping imprisoned terrorists. He also confirmed that a novel military tactic was deployed in the freedom, which entailed that “we were ready to finish with (sic) their families, members of their own communities. They grew up somewhere.” We understood that waffle to mean that the clear implication was that the government was prepared to target the families and strongholds of the terrorists if they refused to release the hostages.

This high-pressure military tactic shares striking similarities with modern intelligence strategies used by agencies like Israel’s Mossad, which deploys psychological pressure against adversaries by leveraging personal family details. This breaks their morale and forces compliance.

READ MORE FROM THE AUTHOR: OPINION: Oriire 44 And Our Double Standard

However, if such an aggressive model was deployed in Oyo State, its non-application elsewhere raises critical questions about consistency. Does it mean the narrative was exaggerated, or is the strategy being selectively applied? Thousands of Nigerians currently languish in terrorist camps across the country; if this doctrine works, every single hostage in Nigeria deserves the immediate benefit of Mr. President applying that same model.

Again, earlier in the week, while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House, the President dropped another portion of his mindset. Responding to criticisms and political opposition, he stated: “I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics.”

Whenever politicians try to dismiss statecraft as an inherently amoral arena where “all is fair”, one is reminded of A. Appadorai’s classic 1942 text, The Substance of Politics. The Indian political scientist argued that politics is, at its core, an extension of ethics and morality. Regrettably, to Tinubu and much of the contemporary Nigerian political class, politics remains reduced to a ruthless, dog-eat-dog arena where the fittest survive, the weak are eliminated, and moral principle is sacrificed on the altar of power.

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Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

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CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

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NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.