Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo yesterday said there was need to review the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol that allows unrestricted movement of animals for grazing across all countries in the sub-region, stating that Nigeria’s interest to protect lives and property of her citizen “must come first.”Speaking at the Northern States Stakeholders Security Summit with the theme, National building: Security challenges and the need for inclusive approach in Kaduna, he stated that the review of the law has become imperative in the face of the clashes between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the federation.
Represented by Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Vice President noted that the desertification sweeping across the sub-region had forced herdsmen to migrate from their countries of origin to Nigeria in search of greener pastures, thereby making the nation more vulnerable.His words: “From the Sahel down, the desertification is encroaching and herdsmen are moving from their countries down to Nigeria to seek pasture. We must find something to do about that.
The ECOWAS law that allows free grazing across the West Africa sub-region has to be reviewed. Our interest must come first as a nation.“Before we have a serious problem in our hand, the President is addressing this every day. He is meeting with everybody concerned, including farmers, herdsmen and community leaders.”Asked if the position had been tabled before the ECOWAS Commission, Osinbajo said: “ I am advocating for that, and that is what government will have to do very soon, to review this law that has been there for many years, that allows herdsmen to freely graze across West Africa. “ We have to protect our country, we have to protect and secure our countrymen. It is very important.
However, Ojudu reiterated the President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ending the incessant clashes, maintaining that ranching would check the menace and increase the nutritional value of animals.The presidential aide noted: “Nigeria’s population is growing and the herds are growing as well. Therefore, we have to find a solution.
“Much of the land where they graze in the past have become farmland to provide food for us, so we have to look at alternative ways of rearing our herds. The idea of taking herds from Sokoto, walking with them all the way to Bayelsa, has to be reviewed. It is not good for the animals neither is it good for the herdsmen and peace and stability of Nigeria.
“And that is why the Federal Government is advocating ranching. When you ranch, you don’t have to take the animals all over the place. You are even likely to get better performance from the herds and even their nutritional value would increase as well as the farmers’ income. “
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has cautioned governors against arming security outfits in their states.Speaking also at the event, he noted that there were so many illegal arms in the land, saying the development was posing serious security challenge to the country.He, however, assured Nigerians of the force’s readiness to contain the prevailing insecurity in the land.
The IG directed the 36 state police commissioners and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mop up all illegal arms within 21 days, saying
person found with prohibited firearms at the expiration of the ultimatum shall be arrested and prosecuted.
Besides, Idris advised governors to establish grazing ranches for herdsmen men before enacting grazing laws as a preventive measure.He said: “It is when grazing ranches are established that herders can be arrested and punished for rearing and grazing in the open. Doing so, I am of the opinion that it will make the law acceptable by all parties.“It will do us good if we avoid the hasty formulation and implementation of such laws across the country in the interest of peace and unity.’’
Singer Rotimi went on a podcast, the “85 South Show Podcast,” to talk about his career success.
Rotimi also discussed his role in bringing Afrobeats, a music genre with African roots, to the attention of American audiences.
Rotimi claims he was the first artist to introduce Afrobeats-inspired music in the US. This was even before collaborations with international artists became popular and helped spread Afrobeats globally (“Afrobeats to the World” movement).
Interestingly, Rotimi mixes R&B with Afrobeats in his own music. He even mentioned a song called “Love Riddim” that he released in 2018. Unfortunately, radio stations didn’t accept it well because of the Afrobeats sound.
“I remember bringing ‘Love Riddim’ to the radio stations in 2018 and the program director was like ‘This is not good’. They didn’t even understand it and this was before Wiz (Wizkid) got the record with Drake,” Rotimi narrates. “I can comfortably say I brought Afrobeats to America,” he added.
Rotimi deserves credit for contributing to the rise of Afrobeats in the US, particularly in the early stages when it was gaining a foothold. However, some might contest his claim of single-handedly introducing the genre.
Several Afrobeats tracks achieved success in the US before Rotimi’s breakthrough. Ayo Jay‘s “Your Number” (2015) stands out as the first Afrobeats song to chart on the Billboard R&B/Airplay chart without a collaboration with another artist.
Wizkid, another Nigerian artist, also enjoyed significant recognition through collaborations with Drake on “One Dance” (2016) and “Come Closer” (2017). These tracks gained immense popularity and played a role in bringing Afrobeats to the forefront of Western audiences.
Davido, another Afrobeats heavyweight, notched hits with “If” and “Fall” (both released in 2017).
Notably, “Fall” was one of the first Afrobeats songs to achieve platinum certification in the US.
The groundwork for Afrobeats’ US success can be traced back even further. Big names in the Afrobeats scene like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj actively collaborated with American stars like T-Pain, Rick Ross, T.I., and Snoop Dogg. D’banj even secured a record deal with Kanye West’s Good Music label.
These collaborations served as a bridge, introducing American audiences to Afrobeats and fostering their early popularity in the US.
In conclusion, the surge of Afrobeats in the US during the 2010s wasn’t solely driven by one artist. It stemmed from a confluence of factors: the rise of social media platforms, the accessibility provided by music streaming services, and most importantly, the collaborative efforts of numerous talented Afrobeats musicians.
While Rotimi’s music undoubtedly played a part in this growth, the overall success of Afrobeats in the US is a testament to the collective power of the entire Afrobeats movement.
Watch Rotimi’s full interview on the 85 South Show Podcast below.
Calling all Jenifa’s Diary fans! Get ready for a fresh serving of laughter with the return of your favourite comedy series. The show is getting a makeover, complete with a brand new name: “Everybody Loves Jenifa.”
This is fantastic news for fans who have been following the hilarious journey of Jenifa since her first appearance in 2008. The character, created by the talented Funke Akindele, proved to be a scene-stealer, and she quickly landed her own television series, “Jenifa’s Diary,” in 2015.
The show chronicled the adventures of Jenifa, a naive yet funny character, and it resonated with audiences, making it a ratings hit.
But the Jenifa series extends far beyond the original series. The character’s popularity spawned a whole franchise, allowing viewers to see different sides of Jenifa.
In 2011, fans were treated to “Return of Jenifa,” a sequel to the original movie. Then came “Aiyetoro Town” (2019), a spin-off series that transported audiences to Jenifa’s village, offering a glimpse into her roots. Even the challenges of a global pandemic couldn’t keep Jenifa down.
In 2021, a special titled “Jenifa on Lockdown” gave fans a hilarious look at how Jenifa was coping with the new normal.
By December 2024, Jenifa would be back for another round of laughs with “Everybody Loves Jenifa.” This new title hints at the universal appeal of the character and the series’ promise to deliver side-splitting comedy once again.
Whether you’re a longtime Jenifa devotee or a new viewer curious about the buzz, “Everybody Loves Jenifa” is sure to tickle your funny bone. So get ready to join the crowd and celebrate the return of this character!
A social media influencer named VeryDarkMan accused Nigerian chef Hilda Baci of scamming people who paid for her online cooking class but never received access.
Hilda Baci, who holds a Guinness World Record, isn’t taking these claims lightly. On April 23rd, 2024, she fought back against the accusations. Baci posted a screen recording of her online cooking class in action. The video showed activity within the online platform, including new students joining, media being shared, and overall engagement—all evidence to counter the claims that the class wasn’t happening.
Her caption read, “5880 active students, 156 recipes already posted, comprehensive editing class done, plating class done, official assignment given. LOL.”
Social media influencer VeryDarkMan didn’t hold back in his accusations. He went even further, suggesting this might be a criminal offence, specifically “obtaining money under false pretences.” This means VeryDarkMan believes Baci took people’s money with the promise of a class but didn’t deliver.
He said,
“Hilda Baci, you have worked so hard for your brand but it’s as though you’re trying to spoil the reputation of your brand. What you’re doing now is giving ‘Obtaining under false pretense’ which is fraud, by the way. You can’t collect money from a lot of people for something and then not do it and you’re not even addressing it.”
“You collected money for an online cooking class which was meant to start on the 22nd. But on the 22nd you didn’t start. You posted that registration closed on the 28th of March and since then you’ve been quiet. Don’t you see all the women complaining in the comment section? This is giving fraud. You can’t collect money from people and just ghost them,” he added.
