In a panel session on the Friday edition of Eagle 102.5FM’s Frontline, guests Dr. Adedayo Adelowokan, Honourable Adebowale Ojuri, and Comrade Bayo Ayanga dissected Nigeria’s economic reforms, the effectiveness of social safety nets, and the government’s policy implementation challenges.

Recall that yesterday, World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the nation’s economy, focusing on the Women Exporters Fund for the digital economy — a joint initiative of the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva.

The programme aims to cushion the effects of recent economic reforms on Nigerians, particularly women, who are most affected by rising costs. Out of 6,700 Nigerian applicants, 146 women were selected, and 16 of them entered a booster track for 18 months of intensive technical and business support.

Dr. Adelowokan welcomed Okonjo-Iweala’s short-term intervention focus, recalling her past warnings about Nigeria’s economic trajectory during the Jonathan administration. “There is no point in economic reforms if the people are living in hardship now,” he said.

He stressed that measures like the Women Exporters Fund should serve as immediate relief while longer-term reforms take shape.

Bayo praised Okonjo-Iweala’s consistency, citing her push for a Sovereign Wealth Fund under President Obasanjo. He, however, questioned the capacity of the current Minister for Social Investment — who also serves as the APC National Chairman — to manage such initiatives effectively. “I was thinking that he would have resigned and another substantive Minister would have been appointed,” he remarked, adding that the Minister should have been directly involved in yesterday’s discussions.

Ojuri countered that ministers are “just administrative heads” and that social safety net policies predate individual officeholders. While endorsing Okonjo-Iweala’s stability message, he noted that economic stability “is a macro concept which does not hit your pocket directly for now. Be patient… you will begin to feel the effect soon.”

The conversation shifted to the nature of safety nets. Adelowokan argued for alternatives to cash transfers, such as subsidised transportation — pointing to Enugu State’s rollout of 100 CNG buses — to offset the fuel subsidy removal’s impact. Bayo proposed food subsidies and mechanisation, questioning the fate of 2,000 tractors reportedly procured from Belarus. Ojuri disagreed on food imports as a long-term solution, advocating instead for investments in primary healthcare and sustainable local production.

Adelowokan outlined three goals of social safety nets: protecting the vulnerable during adjustment periods, preventing long-term poverty traps, and maintaining social stability. He emphasised that Nigeria’s issue lies in execution, not policy design. “We have public buses in Ogun State, but they are not efficient,” he noted.

Both Ojuri and Adelowokan agreed that interventions must have clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and be closely monitored. “When we say someone is a Minister, he must be able to monitor what is going on under his purview,” Adelowokan said.

The panel concluded that while macroeconomic stability is important, targeted, timely, and well-implemented safety nets are essential for Nigerians to feel the benefits of ongoing reforms.

EFCC VS OOPL

Photo File: EFCC Operatives

Political analyst, Bayo Ayanga, on Friday criticised the manner in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carried out a recent operation at a facility within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) premises, describing it as reminiscent of military-era tactics.

The comment came in reaction to the EFCC’s recent operation at the OOPL’s Green Legacy Resort, where the anti-graft agency said it was targeting suspected internet fraudsters.

“I have listened to both sides, and I will just caution, not just the EFCC but also note how the police treated Dele Farotimi,” Bayo said during a panel session on Friday’s Eagle 102.5FM’s Frontline.

“We still have this mentality of a military leadership in a democratic setting. As far as the military is concerned, ‘might is right.’ Anyone putting on a uniform believes that he is superior to those who do not wear one. This is a democratic setting where there are rules governing everything. If you want to arrest someone, I do not think it should be in Gestapo style.”

The EFCC, however, has maintained that the action was not directed at former President Olusegun Obasanjo or the OOPL itself but at individuals allegedly engaged in cybercrime within the hotel premises.

According to reports, the operation involved demolition and destruction of property, prompting guests to flee for safety. The EFCC disclosed that 23 suspects arrested during the raid would be arraigned in court, while others would face charges in the coming days.

Contributing to the discussion, another panelist, Adelowokan, stressed that the approach was as important as the mission. “Doing the right thing in the wrong way does not make it right. Likewise, doing the wrong thing in the right way does not make it right. There are better ways to have done it. That was what happened to Dele Farotimi. They could have done it in a better way,” he said.

The OOPL management has since given the EFCC a 7-day ultimatum to apologise for the raid, a demand the EFCC has not publicly addressed.

Honourable Ojuri described the apology request as a natural public relations move. He noted that the EFCC is “one of the most equipped and well-financed outfits” and would likely have had strong grounds for such a forceful operation. However, he added, “If the EFCC has made a mistake, the OOPL should be compensated. It is their right to demand an apology.”

Ojuri, who recounted past dealings with the EFCC, said the agency is usually thorough before taking action. “They normally do not jump too early; they tend to take their time,” he said.

The OOPL has also announced plans to sue the EFCC over the incident, while public debate continues over the balance between law enforcement effectiveness and adherence to democratic policing principles.

ON FG’S SEVEN-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS

Photo File: Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa

Public affairs commentators have hailed the Federal Government’s recent decision to impose a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new tertiary institutions, describing it as a much-needed corrective step to address inefficiency, under-enrolment, and duplication in Nigeria’s higher education system.

Speaking during a panel discussion on F Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagles 102.5FM, Ilese-Ijebu, economic analyst, Adelowokan welcomed the move, saying it aligns with long-standing calls from education stakeholders. He, however, pointed out a contradiction — while the moratorium was announced, nine additional institutions were still approved, and 76 more applications remain pending.

On mm, the Federal Government announced a sweeping policy halting the creation of new universities, polytechnics, and colleges for the next seven years. The decision, according to government sources, aims to halt the proliferation of poorly funded and under-utilised institutions, channel resources into strengthening existing ones, and ensure higher quality education delivery.

This policy comes amid data revealing significant inefficiencies: 199 universities in Nigeria registered fewer than 99 applicants in the last admission cycle, while 34 had zero applicants. In some extreme cases, staff numbers far outweigh student enrolment — one federal university in the North reportedly employs 1,200 staff but has only 800 students.

For Ojuri, the decision marks one of the best policy directions in recent months. He cited the conversion of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) into a federal university as a model example of optimising existing resources without starting from scratch. “The land is there, the institution is there. There is no need to create another federal university,” he said, stressing the need to align existing institutions with the vocational and technical needs of the country.

Ojuri also argued for a shift away from the “academic ivory tower” approach toward more hands-on, skill-based learning. He suggested that industries should second experts to lecture in polytechnics and universities to bridge the gap between theory and practical application, while diaspora expertise could also be tapped through structured programmes.

Similarly, Adelowokan warned of the dangers of unchecked proliferation, drawing parallels with the mushrooming of substandard private primary and secondary schools. He called for the seven-year window to be used for infrastructural upgrades, curriculum reform, and human resource improvements, rather than new projects.

The panel agreed that Nigeria’s focus over the next decade should be on consolidating and strengthening existing institutions, ensuring they are properly staffed, equipped, and aligned with the country’s economic and industrial needs. For them, the moratorium is not a slowdown in educational development but an opportunity to re-strategise and avoid the trap of building more without improving what already exists.