Opinion

Ban On Mini Generators: How Desirable?

Published

10 years ago

December 7, 2015

Mr Mukaita Etuh Mohammed
For me, I think they should forget about the ban on the importation of the mini generators because not everybody has the money to buy big generators. They should leave everybody to use what he decides to use or what he can afford. I heard that government said “I pass my neighbor generators” cause diseases of the lung and all that, but I know that a lot of other things can make people die or cause sickness in the body. Poverty is also a disease. They should leave the issue concerning “I pass my neighbour generators. Many people use it for business and other purposes and they have not all died. Government should rather do what is needful for the citizens. If there is constant power supply, nobody will be talking abuot buying a generator. Let there be adequate and regular power supply so that nobody will be thinking of buying a generator and buying fuel to put in it. So the solution is improvement on power supply.
Mr Million Angel – NYSC member
For me, I think it is a welcome development. I like it because this “I pass my neighbour generator” is very dangerous. It can easily ignite fire. I have experienced one or two different occasions where in the process of using I pass my neighbour, the thing just ignite fire on its own. So the risk is high. If people can be made to use bigger generators, it will be better. So, let them stop the importation and the use of I pass my neighbour generators” because the risk involved in the use is high.
However, before government will embark on banning the importation of the mini generators, they should be able to provide an alternative means which is a steady power supply. They go ahead and stop the importation of this gadget without providing an alternative power supply that will help the low income earners carry on with their businesses, that will be a problem. So, since they have placed the ban let them continue but let them improve on power supply. So that the generality of the poor masses who depend on power for their businesses and other activities will not suffer.

Mrs Elizabeth Omubo – Public Servant
You know it is not everybody that can afford the big generator. All fingers are not equal. So, I don’t think it is wise to stop the importation of mini generators because that is what the poor masses go for and if you look at the fuel consumption in comparism with bigger generators that of I pass my neighbour, is minimal. If they stop the importation it will affect many people. I think, based on the health hazards associated with the use of I pass my neighbour as disclosed by government, they should educate people on the best ways of using the mini generators to minimise danger. But if they must ban the importation of the I pass my neighbour because of the health hazards involved, federal government should help us with NEPA light. Let NEPA light be steady, you know some people live in remote areas where mosquitoes bite a lot and they use the mini generators to power their fans so that they will be able to sleep at night and without the fans blowing away the big, big mosquitoes, they will be at the mercy of these mosquitoes and this can lead to more serious health problems.

Mr Raphael – Public Servant
Well, the policy is okay if federal government will act. The mini generators and other generators are constituting nuisance to the public. But it is not a question of saying ban, ban and at the end of the day the window will still be opening for importation to go on. If they want to act, they should act fast. Whatever the government think they can do, they should do it quickly. They should not let some people be making money smuggling anything that has been banned.
I also want to believe that before federal government will take any step they have looked at the measures to be taken to alleviate the sufferings of the people. So they should put those measures in place. I believe such measures should include efforts towards ensuring constant power supply. They should provide electricity, water, good health facilities for the people. By so doing everybody will know that government is out to better the lives of the people.
So the ban on the importation of mini generators is very laudable but the problem with Nigeria is that they make policies, at the end of the day, nothing works. That is where the problem lies. But if they can implement it and make sure that everything works accordingly, it will be good. If there is constant power supply a vulcanizer can connect his air pipe to a source as it is done in other nations. You can pump your tyre from tap-like source and only pay a stipend and the vulcanizer can make a living through that.
Let me re-emphasis that for the ban to be effective, if we do not want it to be an avenue for some smugglers to enrich themselves our borders should be properly manned. Unfortunately our waterways and land borders are not absolutely covers. So at the end of the day, all the banned items will still be found everywhere in the country.
So what measures are they going to put in place to ensure that the policy works? Are they going to check every home? Are they going to ensure that whoever is caught smuggling the product into the country is arrested and punished? So if they are banning the importation of mini generators they should make sure that they do all that is required so as to get a good result.
Surveyor Efik – Environmentalist
It’s a sign of good action and a significant step towards achieving climate change mitigation goals of Nigeria. This shows that the much awaited action of zero-gas flaring will be taken very soon. Every area of our national life and business activities that contributes to increasing climate change impacts should be addressed with immediate effecting because climate change is real and its already affecting our national development, especially at the local level. Local livelihoods such as farming and fishing have been impaired, diseases, poverty, and deaths increased. These are all due to increased temperature, floods, droughts, which are brought about by changes in climate condition. Emissions of carbon into the atmosphere such as carbon from generators, (especially plant generators used by rich people and corporate bodies), gas flaring, forest degradation etc are responsible for the dramatic changes in climatic condition or simply put, climate change. By implication, it shouldn’t be “I pass my neighbour” generators alone but all generators. This will make it possible for government, corporate bodies and the local people to embrace renewable or bioenergy action which Nigeria has great potential for. Renewable energy is the answer to Nigeria’s sustainable and climate friendly development that will reduce poverty to the lowest ebb by 2030.

Miss Stella Ufot Robinson – Hair Dresser
I think banning the importation of I pass my neighbour generators shows that those in authority are not sensitive to the plights of the masses. This is because a greater numbers of the citizens use mini generators for the business and personal use and stopping the importation of the gadget will surely affect peoples’ businesses greatly. Not everybody can afford big generators. Besides, the mini generator are more economical to use. With the persistent fuel scarcity that has led to hike in fuel pump price, one can buy two or four liters of fuel and it can serve him for a long time. This cannot be achieved with big generators.
Again, talking about the mini generators causing air pollution that has harmful effects on our systems, I think what government should do is to educate people on how best to use the mini generators. For instance, I have I pass my neighbour generator but I don’t keep it close to my house or where people stay. I keep it far from my house so that nobody will be disturbed by the fume coming out from it.

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.

The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people. He said, “our isolation is over.” That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.

The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.

Samuel Ebiye

Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation.”

Tell it in Rivers State, publish it in the streets of Port Harcourt, so the daughters of the State could rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and know that Fubara is not vindictive”. And it came to pass that Rivers State emerged from one of the most delicate chapters in its political journey, the period of emergency rule that spanned from March 18 to September 18, 2025. It was a season that tested institutions, strained loyalties, and exposed the fragile balance between power and principle. During that time, the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara DSSRS, was widely believed to have suffered not only political setbacks but personal betrayal, allegedly from some top civil servants within the state apparatus. These were individuals expected to uphold neutrality and professionalism, yet were accused in public opinion of taking sides against the very government they served.

As the emergency rule ended and Governor Fubara resumed office, expectations were shaped less by policy and more by emotion. Many assumed that revenge would quietly find expression through governance. The loudest suspicion centered on the 2025 Christmas bonus of ?100,000 traditionally paid to each worker. The thinking was simple and cynical: a wounded governor would surely withhold goodwill. Some voices even mocked workers openly hoping that the governor would refuse to pay the bonus. To them, denial of the bonus would serve as proof of political strength and justified retaliation. In reality, such thinking revealed a troubling desire to see governance reduced to personal vendetta. Yet, it came to pass, the governor chose a path that confounded suspicion. Against all expectations, the 2025 Christmas bonus was paid.

That single decision quietly but firmly reframed the narrative. It showed a leader focused on governance rather than grudges, on institutional continuity rather than emotional satisfaction. The payment was not a favor, nor was it a concession; it was a statement that public administration must rise above personal injury. By honoring the bonus, Governor Fubara demonstrated that leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation. He made it clear that workers’ welfare would not become collateral damage in political disagreements. This action also served as a moral rebuke to those who celebrated division and hoped for punishment. Governance is not validated by the suffering of workers, nor is leadership strengthened by withholding entitlements. At the same time, the issue of alleged sycophancy and betrayal within the civil service cannot be brushed aside. If proven, such conduct deserves firm, lawful, and institutional correction. Civil servants are bound by duty to the state, not to political conspiracies or shifting loyalties.

However, justice must never be confused with revenge. The strength of governance lies in correcting wrongs without destroying the system itself. Governor Fubara’s restraint suggested an understanding that the future of Rivers State mattered more than settling scores. For workers, this moment carried an important lesson. Celebration should be rooted in good governance, not in the expectation of another’s downfall. Rejoicing in rumors of denial or punishment undermines the very stability that protects workers’ welfare. Public service thrives where professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability are upheld. Pettiness, gossip, and political scheming only weaken institutions and erode trust. History often remembers leaders not for the crises they inherit, but for the character they display in response. In paying the 2025 Christmas bonus, Governor Fubara chose legacy over impulse, maturity over malice.

And so, it came to pass that focus defeated revenge, governance triumphed over bitterness, and Rivers State was reminded that true leadership is proven when restraint is expected least but delivered most. Beyond the symbolism of the Christmas bonus lies a deeper question about the kind of political culture Rivers State intends to cultivate in the years ahead. Periods of emergency rule, anywhere in the world, often leave behind residues of suspicion, fear, and silent realignments. Institutions do not emerge untouched; individuals recalibrate loyalties, some out of conviction, others out of self-preservation. What distinguishes stable democracies from fragile ones is not the absence of such moments, but the discipline with which leadership manages their aftermath. River.

King Onunwor

Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police Orderlies From VIPs

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk in a country where the majority of citizens are still under-protected.”

The Presidential announcement on the removal of police orderlies from persons in authority and their relations ( Very Important Persons ) last month came as a relief to many Nigerians who felt deprived of one major role of government ; security of lives and property.The higher population of Nigerians missed needed security because the VIPs and the VVIPs kept retinue of Police Officers totalling over 100 ,000 to themselves and their family members as if they are all that matter while some communities under attack of terrorists have no single unit of police station located there in. While many hailed the announcement , some said perhaps the government has just woken up to her major responsibility of securing the lives and property of all citizens while many expressed indifference on the note that it may be one of those pronouncements which come only in words but no action .Many keep their fingers crossed watching how it will play out , how Mr President will go about the implementation of the seemingly dicey policy .

Benjamin Franklin said “well said is better than well done ” It is sufficient today to say that many Nigerians including me are still waiting and watching to see how well and how long this return of the Police service to the ordinary people will go . Wishing hopes will not be crashed , It is note worthy, that the recent complaints by the VIPs of being exposed to attacks may in a way affect the action on implementation. Recently, at Senate plenary , another worrisome angle came up as Senator Abdul Ningi coming through a motion disclosed that he had only one police officer attached to him ( his office ) and that the officer was recalled the week before following Mr President’s directive . Senator Ningi said the withdrawal exposed him to high risks but underscored the angle that while his orderly was recalled , many other politicians , men and women in authority, business concerns foreigners and even children of some VIPs are still enjoying retinue of police protection ( officially attached to them ).

It’s note worthy also that the Deputy Senate President , Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session revealed that the leadership of both chambers are already in discussion with President Tinubu on the need to exempt the law makers from the new policy . Senator Ningi may not be wrong . After all he emphasized he is okay provided that the removal of the Police Orderlies be done across board . Senator Barau noted that talks are on over the issue of law makers’ in line with international practice . Further details from the Presidency noted that Presiding officers will retain their police officers , others would have Civil Defense officers ( NSCDC) as orderlies while any other VIP who feels he or she deserves personal police protection should get clearance from his office . In the midst of all issues weighing in on the proper implementation , it becomes necessary to bear in mind that the decision hinges on the realization that Nigeria has peculiar security issues (of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.) and that majority of Nigerians are under protected.

More so, that if well implemented, Police officers will focus on core duties; even as 30,000 new police officers are to recruited to enhance security .That implementation must be made in a way that leaves no room.for selective treatment loss of confidence and controversies. Looking at previous attempts of implementation of this policy gives faint hope as several attempts consistently failed . Former IGPs like Tafa Balogun (2003), Ogbonnaya Onovo (2009), and Ibrahim Idris (2018) tried the policy but all failed due to political resistance from various angles. All the failed attempts were tied to lack of political will mostly due to the fact that the directives came from police chiefs, not the president. Selective Enforcement was another killer to the policy as partial implementation met resistance and later reversal . Egbetokun (2023) and Adamu (2020) saw minimal impact.

Further more entrenched corruption in the system saw Politicians and VIPs quietly regain police escorts due to ‘transactional economics”and pressure. Worse still the mindset of the police officers withdrawn didn’t help the policy Underpaid police prioritize VIP duties for extra benefits. Many wish President Tinubu’s move can break this cycle. As at today, he still insists the move is non-negotiable while stressing collaboration with states to upgrade training facilities. As citizens look forward to success of the policy without undue exposure of both sides, balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk. Talk fades ; action echoes. How the Presidency implements this policy. has much to tell on the governments stand on national / community security , choice of priority and the ability to stand uncomprised . The known goal is clear: The outcome is not yet certain. Fingers crossed , we await . Definitely , time will tell.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi.

s State stood at such a crossroads in September 2025. The temptation to rule with a long memory and a heavy hand was real. Yet, the choice made signaled a preference for healing over hardening. Leadership after crisis demands more than administrative competence; it requires moral clarity.

Governor Fubara’s decision reminded the state that authority is not best exercised through silent punishment or selective generosity. Rather, it is strengthened when rules remain rules, irrespective of personal injury. By keeping faith with workers, the government preserved an essential firewall between politics and public service. That firewall, once breached, turns governance into a battlefield where livelihoods become weapons. Rivers State narrowly avoided that descent. In doing so, it affirmed that institutions must outlive tempers, and governance must not mirror the bitterness of political seasons. This moment also invites sober introspection within the civil service itself. Allegations of partisanship, if left unresolved, corrode professionalism and weaken public confidence. A civil service that drifts into political camps loses its moral authority and operational effectiveness.

Therefore, reform, where necessary, should be guided by due process, transparency, and institutional review—not whispers, witch-hunts, or mob verdicts. Accountability strengthens systems when it is fair; it destroys them when it is arbitrary. The restraint shown by the executive places a corresponding burden on administrative leadership to restore discipline, neutrality, and pride in public service. For the wider political class and the commentariat, the episode serves as a caution against normalizing cruelty as strategy. The eagerness with which some anticipated workers’ suffering revealed a dangerous appetite for scorched-earth politics. When governance becomes a spectator sport where pain is cheered and deprivation is weaponized, society inches toward moral exhaustion. Rivers State has seen enough turbulence to know that stability is not sustained by triumphalism, but by restraint.

The lesson is simple yet profound: power is fleeting, but institutions endure; leaders pass, but precedents remain. In the end, the payment of the 2025 Christmas bonus was more than a fiscal act—it was a civic statement. It told workers they were not expendable. It told political actors that revenge would not be policy. And it told the state that maturity in leadership is not weakness, but strength under control. In a climate where many expected fire, restraint prevailed; where bitterness was predicted, balance emerged. Thus, Rivers State was offered a rare reminder that governance, at its best, is an act of discipline, and leadership, at its highest, is the courage to rise above provocation.