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Socio-Economic Implications of School Children Abduction

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Olugbenro Oyekan
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About two years ago, over 200 Nigerian school girls were abducted by the miscreant group known as Boko Haram and their whereabouts have remained unknown despite widespread protests, opinions and government efforts which also attracted help from the international community.

After that, there have been so many instances of kidnapping and abduction while government efforts have also been truncated by some misfits within the government itself.  This paints a picture of a government or nation that is divided against itself.

There is no gain saying that there have been many other cases of abduction and kidnapping but somehow or for some reasons the victims of these abductions have been liberated and reunited with their families except for those abducted from the very grounds of their academic institutions.

For me, this is a pointer to the priority placed on education by our government. Aside Nigeria, I am not sure of any other nation with legally constituted government where over 200 school children (either boys or girls) could be missing for close to two years without clues. Does this pass for a Guinness World Record?

Now there is another round of abduction from a school in Ikorodu Lagos and we are yet to know the fate of these children.

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You may wonder how this spells doom for the economy and the economic policies of the current administration. Nigerian government has been struggling with ways of easing the nation’s balance of trade while other internal problems pose countering threats to those efforts.

Now that oil revenues have remained unstable and there are high tariffs on luxury goods while some importations do not qualify for foreign exchange purchases from the Central Bank, the most likely source of increase in foreign exchange demand is the procurement of security gadgets, small arms and light weapons by colleges and their proprietors who want to protect their students and ensure that they remain in business by all means.

Other parents who have the means will inevitably take their primary and secondary age children to safer countries near and far. Therefore, payment of school fees to foreign schools will also increase significantly, pushing up capital flight volume due to tuition payment abroad.

The idea of foreign education became widespread due to the inability of our universities to create and teach knowledge that is relevant to professional practice; only the hours of study and names of most of the schools meet international standards.

Contents and quality of delivery have been wanting for a long while now. To the extent that Nigerians now co-own colleges in Republic of Benin, Lomé and Ghana, everyone except those who cannot afford it prefers to study “anywhere” outside Nigeria.

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The pace of rising insecurity of lives of students within our colleges will surely make worse the‎ present precarious experience and those who once coped by turning to the private schools will now have more than enough reasons to jettison that option.

That way, our schools will experience the same fate that met our textile factories, departmental stores, airlines, manufacturing giants and the other economic actors that have either died or relocated to other countries.

These analyses and predictions sound logical; however it is uncertain if and when they will become real but of course if nothing is done quickly and seriously, what do we think will become of this country? What would it be like to live in Nigeria or even be called a Nigerian?

Originally, Nigerians look for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions for their children abroad specifically in countries like the UK, US, South Africa, Canada, Australia, India, Ghana, Republic of Benin and Togo. Now, we should expect the same trend for the primary and secondary school admissions.

This trend started due to poor quality of education but now the need for security is reinforcing the incentives for parents to take their children to foreign schools. We would agree that insecurity in schools is a more compelling reason than poor quality education for considering foreign schools.

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Therefore, given the unfolding threat to security of students, we should expect an exodus of students out of Nigeria. Something like, the future of Nigeria gradually going into extinction.

Before things get that bad, the increasing outflow of money from the economy will first render the fiscal and economic policies of the present administration useless and it would become really difficult if not impossible to strengthen the Naira not against the dollar or the Pounds alone but also against the currencies of our neighbouring African countries.

It is a terrible thing for any nation or government to lose the confidence of her own people. Much as there are many Nigerians who still believe in the efforts of the present administration and the hope of a better Nigeria, an unsecured growing population is a big threat to patriotism, national unity and continuity.

That being said, there is the need for an unwavering sincerity, communication, reassurance based on activities not promises to win the confidence and feeling of security amongst the people.

Hitherto, one of the biggest challenges to resolving the problems of the education sector like that of most other sectors in Nigeria has been the profession of simple solutions to complex problems.

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Our policy makers and leaders need to be able to think on their feet and take decisions proactively.

We need leaders who embrace dialogic discourse and multiple collaborations to transform Nigeria.  There are other problems that are as bad as corruption in Nigeria and government needs to give equal if not greater attention to them.

As we fight corruption, we should also be very steadfast in growing the economy and in doing that, education cannot be relegated to a place of low priority or indifference.  A less corrupt nation where people become poorer by the day due to contracting economy does not sound like a great place to work or live.

The permutations to lift Nigeria out of the present circumstances are not so linear and simplistic or the efforts will amount to sheer waste of time and opportunities.

Named as the Best Young Manager in South-West Nigeria (2013), Olugbenro Oyekan is the Dean of School and Associate Professor of Practice in Management at the International School of Management (ISM) Lagos.

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Guinness Rolls Out Nationwide Consumer Rewards Promotion

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Guinness Nigeria has launched a nationwide National Consumer Promotion (NCP) tagged ‘Open For More’. This is a consumer rewards initiative that will see more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes won by consumers across the country.

The promotion, which runs nationwide, offers consumers the opportunity to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash rewards for 1,000 winners, and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. The campaign is designed to reward loyal consumers while creating more opportunities for everyday Nigerians to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.

To participate, consumers are required to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, check for the unique code beneath the crown cork, and enter the code at www.guinnessng.com/1759 for a chance to win.

Speaking on the launch, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the promotion reflects the brand’s longstanding relationship with consumers and its commitment to creating memorable experiences beyond the product itself.

“Nigerians have made Guinness part of their celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments for over seven decades. The ‘Open For More’ promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty by giving consumers genuine opportunities to win prizes that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

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Solayappan added that the promotion was deliberately designed to make participation simple and accessible to consumers across the country.

“We believe, at Guinness, that there is always room for more possibilities, more progress, and more reasons to celebrate. Through this campaign, we are inviting consumers and beloved Nigerians over the age of 18 years to take part in an experience that goes beyond enjoying a Guinness. Every eligible purchase could open the door to something more.”

Beyond rewarding consumers, the promotion comes at a time when many Nigerians are placing greater value on opportunities that offer tangible returns. By putting more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes directly into the hands of consumers, Guinness Nigeria is creating a campaign that celebrates loyalty and delivers meaningful rewards that can support personal aspirations, family needs, and everyday goals.

As part of the campaign, winners will emerge weekly throughout the promotion period, with regular winner announcements and prize presentations aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the process.

The Open For More National Consumer Promotion strengthens Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumers while creating excitement around the brand through meaningful and impactful experiences. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and further information on participation mechanics.

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Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

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Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) approvals granted by the Federal Government rose to about N34 trillion in 2025.

Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Monday during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja.

He said the import duty exemptions had significantly affected the service’s revenue generation, although many of the waivers were introduced to support critical national priorities.

According to him, about 60 per cent of the approved waivers were granted for the importation of military hardware in response to the country’s security challenges.

He said other beneficiaries included importers of compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food intervention programmes.

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“IDEC approvals reached about N34 trillion in 2025, about 60 per cent of which was rightly granted for military hardware procurements due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges,” Adeniyi said.

The Comptroller-General noted that the introduction of the IDEC scheme in March 2020 had remained one of the major fiscal policies affecting Customs revenue.

He said the service would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government fiscal measures and other external factors that reduced its revenue base.

Adeniyi, however, maintained that fiscal policy should not be evaluated solely on the basis of revenue generation.

He said government interventions through duty waivers were intended to stimulate economic growth, improve healthcare delivery, encourage industrial production and address national security concerns.

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He urged the Federal Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that beneficiaries of import duty waivers achieved the intended objectives, including reducing prices, increasing production and improving access to essential goods and services.

The Customs boss also disclosed that the service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025.

He added that out of the N11.04 trillion revenue target for 2026, the service had realised N4.5 trillion as of June 30.

Adeniyi expressed optimism that the service would continue implementing measures aimed at improving revenue collection while supporting government fiscal policies.

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DataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+

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DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.

DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.

It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.

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The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.

According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.

DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.

It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.

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