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Nigeria Lacks Institutional Memory – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented Nigeria’s lack of institutional memory, attributing this to the absence of well-documented records, which has led to a loss of historical consciousness. Obasanjo made these remarks during a virtual address at the 70th birthday book lecture and the launch of his biography, *Against All Odds*, written by Nyaknno Osho, held in Abuja over the weekend.
Speaking via Zoom, Obasanjo, a former military general, emphasized the importance of record-keeping in preserving the past, capturing the present, and inspiring the future. “The thing that we don’t do well in this country is our ability to keep records well. This is one problem that Nyaknno wanted to correct all along. He did a bit of that for me when he worked with me as the democratically elected president,” Obasanjo said.
He warned that failing to maintain records is akin to losing a sense of history, which can have dire consequences. “When you lose a sense of history, you lose your memory, which can lead to calamity. When we keep records, we keep our memories intact. I commend and congratulate Nyaknno for the book, and I tell him, ‘more grease to his elbow.’ According to the title of the book, he battled so many odds to write it,” Obasanjo added.
Nyaknno Osho, the author, took the opportunity to urge the Federal Government to complete the abandoned national library in Abuja and to reintroduce history as a subject in the school curriculum. Reflecting on his unfulfilled dreams, the 70-year-old librarian expressed his desire to see Nigeria reach its full potential as a nation. “What will be my unfulfilled dream would be to see Nigeria become a big country. I want to see the government change the policy of removing history from our school curriculum. I will be glad if they return history as a subject in schools,” Osho stated.
He also highlighted the importance of biographies in capturing the true essence of individuals, noting that “you only hear the glory, not the story, and the story of a man is in his own biography.” Osho, who worked with Obasanjo for 25 years as a technocrat, praised the former president for always seeking information and underscored his own lifelong commitment to record-keeping and information management.
Despite his age, Osho remains active, having visited over 550 libraries worldwide. He reiterated his call for the completion of the national library and emphasized the need for governmental support to enhance information management in the country.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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