M. Idris

Progressive

[Bashir Ahmad, OON @BashirAhmaad]

This is a personal project very close to my heart. I am developing a Recreational Park and Sport Arena in my hometown, Gaya Local Government in Kano State. The project is a modern community hub that will combine leisure, sports, commerce and social services in one place. The facility will feature a mini stadium for football and basketball, an event centre, a restaurant, a supermarket, shops and a mosque.

My vision is to build a space that will serve families, empower young people, support businesses, and become a lasting landmark of pride and progress for the good people of Gaya.

Allah ya ba mu ikon kammalawa. Ameen!

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

Yet I see people on both sides cheering whenever “their side” lands a successful strike.

To me, every strike likely means lives lost, families shattered, homes destroyed, and livelihoods wiped out.

Where is our humanity?

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

You don’t see me celebrating military strikes whether it’s against the US or Israel even though I’ve made it clear I oppose the US starting this war. I don’t believe destruction and loss of life are ever things to celebrate, no matter which side it comes from.

[Peter Girnus 🦅 @gothburz]

I am a diplomatic aide in the Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

My job is logistics. When two countries that cannot speak to each other need to speak to each other, I book the rooms. I prepare the briefing materials. I make sure the water glasses are the right distance apart. You would be surprised how much of diplomacy is water glasses. Too close and it feels informal. Too far and it feels like a tribunal. I have a chart.

We had a very good month.

Since January, Oman has been mediating indirect talks between the United States and Iran on Iran's nuclear program. The talks were held in Muscat and in Geneva. The Americans would sit in one room. The Iranians would sit in another room. I would walk between them. My Fitbit says I averaged fourteen thousand steps on negotiation days. The hallway between the two rooms at the Royal Opera House conference center is forty-seven meters. I walked it two hundred and twelve times in February. This is good for my cardiovascular health. It was less good for my knees. Both are in the service of peace.

By mid-February, we had something.

Iran agreed to zero stockpiling of enriched uranium. Not reduced stockpiling. Zero. They agreed to down-blend existing stockpiles to the lowest possible level. They agreed to convert them into irreversible fuel. They agreed to full IAEA verification with potential US inspector access. They agreed, in the Foreign Minister's phrase, to "never, ever" possess nuclear material for a bomb. I have worked in diplomacy for seven years. I have never seen a country agree to this many things this quickly. I made a spreadsheet of the concessions. It had fourteen rows. I color-coded it. Green for confirmed. Yellow for pending. By February 21 the spreadsheet was entirely green. I printed it. It is on my desk in Muscat. It is still green.

That phrase took eleven days. "Never, ever." The Iranians initially offered "not seek to." The Americans wanted "will not under any circumstances." We landed on "never, ever" at 2:14 AM on a Tuesday in Muscat. I typed the final version myself. I used Times New Roman because Geneva prefers it. The document was fourteen pages. I was proud of every comma.

Here is what they said, in the order they said it.

February 24: "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity." — The Foreign Minister, private briefing to Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors. I prepared the slide deck. Slide 14 was the implementation timeline. Slide 15 was the signing ceremony logistics. I had reserved the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Room XX. It seats four hundred. We discussed pen brands for the signing. The Iranians preferred Montblanc. The Americans had no preference. I ordered twelve Montblanc Meisterstucks at six hundred and thirty dollars each. They arrive on Tuesday.

February 27, 8:30 AM EST: "The deal is within our reach." — The Foreign Minister, CBS Face the Nation. He sat across from Margaret Brennan. He said broad political terms could be agreed "tomorrow" with ninety days for technical implementation in Vienna. He said, and I wrote this line for the briefing card he carried in his breast pocket: "If we just allow diplomacy the space it needs." He praised the American envoys by name. Steve Witkoff. Jared Kushner. He said both had been constructive.

I watched from the Four Seasons Georgetown. The minibar had cashews. I ate the cashews. They were nineteen dollars. The most expensive cashew I have ever eaten. But it was a good morning and we were within our reach.

February 27, 2:00 PM EST: Meeting with Vice President Vance, Washington. The Foreign Minister presented our progress. Zero stockpiling. Full verification. Irreversible conversion. "Never, ever." The Vice President used the word "encouraging." His aide took notes on an iPad. The aide did not make eye contact for the last nine minutes of the meeting. I noticed this. Noticing things is the only part of my job that is not water glasses.

February 27, 4:00 PM EST: "Not happy with the pace." — President Trump, to reporters.

Not happy with the pace.

We had achieved zero stockpiling. Full IAEA verification. Irreversible fuel conversion. Inspector access. And the phrase "never, ever," which took eleven days and cost me two hundred and twelve trips down a forty-seven-meter hallway.

Every American president since Carter has failed to get Iran to agree to this. Forty-five years.

Not happy with the pace.

February 27, 9:47 PM EST: The Foreign Minister's flight departs Dulles for Muscat. I am in the seat behind him. He is reviewing Slide 14 on his laptop. The implementation timeline. Vienna technical sessions. The signing ceremony. The pens.

I fall asleep over the Atlantic. I dream about water glasses.

February 28, 6:00 AM GST: I wake up to push notifications.

February 28: "The United States has begun major combat operations in Iran." — President Trump.

Operation Epic Fury. Coordinated airstrikes. The United States and Israel. Tehran. Isfahan. Qom. Karaj. Kermanshah. Nuclear facilities. IRGC bases. Sites near the Supreme Leader's office. Israel called their half Operation Roaring Lion. Someone in both governments spent time choosing these names. Epic Fury. Roaring Lion. I spent eleven days on "never, ever." They spent it on branding. The President said Iran had "rejected American calls to halt its nuclear weapons production."

Rejected.

Iran had agreed to zero stockpiling. Iran had agreed to full verification. Iran had agreed to "never, ever." Iran had agreed to everything in a fourteen-page document that I typed in Times New Roman.

The President said they rejected it.

I do not know which document the President was reading. I know which one I typed.

February 28, 18:45 UTC: Iran internet connectivity: four percent. — NetBlocks, confirmed by Cloudflare. Ninety-six percent of a country went dark. You cannot negotiate with a country at four percent connectivity. You cannot negotiate with a country that is being struck. You cannot negotiate. This is not a political opinion. This is a logistics assessment.

February 28: The governor of Minab reported forty girls killed at an elementary school.

I do not have logistics for that. There is no slide for that. The water glass chart does not cover that.

February 28: Lockheed Martin: up. Northrop Grumman: up. RTX: up. Dow futures: down six hundred and twenty-two points. Gold: five thousand two hundred and ninety-six dollars. An analyst at AInvest published a note titled "Iran Strikes: Tactical Plays." The note recommended positions in oil, defense stocks, and gold.

The most expensive cashew I have ever eaten was nineteen dollars. The most expensive pen I have ever ordered was six hundred and thirty dollars. The math suggests I have been working in the wrong industry. Defense stocks do not require water glasses. Defense stocks do not require eleven days. Defense stocks require one morning.

February 28: Israel closed its airspace and its schools. Iran launched retaliatory missiles toward US bases in the Gulf. The Supreme Leader promised a "crushing response." Israel's defense minister declared a permanent state of emergency. Everyone is using words I recognize in an order I do not. I recognize "permanent." I recognize "emergency." I do not recognize them next to each other. In diplomacy, nothing is permanent and everything is an emergency. In war it is the reverse.

February 28: The Foreign Minister has not made a public statement.

The briefing card is still in his breast pocket. It still says "within our reach."

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

“Friendly takeover,” you said? Ohhh… you mean like friendly colonialism?

[Fox News @FoxNews]

NEW: President Trump hints at a "friendly takeover" of Cuba:

"The Cuban government is talking with us. They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money, no anything right now."

"Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover Cuba.”

[LBC @LBC]

“I’m glad I got through to you because you’re getting on my nerves.”

Caller Ayo challenges Nick's claim that Trump has achieved something.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

Yes, read the terms and conditions, some countries write it at the back of the visa of it is a paper one, that it is not guaranteed that you will be allowed entrance.

[ADT👑🌎 @Addtcreations]

@PoojaMedia So despite my valid visa, this people can still come up with another thing at the point of boarding? Make dem no try am sha

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

If we are to follow your logic, then no woman with kids should ever be in prison. If what you claimed is true that the kids are with her in prison (which is doubtful) the solution is to get them out not to her Mum or any relatives, not to pardon her.

[Tosan Blessing Harriman (PhD) @TosanHarrimanDr]

To forgive everywhere is divine. How do you continue to punish a woman whose children go to school from the prisons because their mother is a convicted criminal? Another issue is what exactly is the substance of the case. Besides sir, you think Fagbemi would just put her name on the reprieve list without looking at the burden of natural justice?

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

Resolving of Emirates issues that since see the airline resuming to Nigeria.
The soon to be started total renovation and upgrade of MMIA.

To mention few.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

That Keyamo's tenure has been notable for rapid action on tough issues. Highlights include:
​Massive jump in Nigeria's compliance with the Cape Town Convention from 40% to 75% which makes aircraft financing/leasing easier for local airlines.

[Sir Francis @imariabe_jnr]

"I'm of the opinion that Festus Keyamo may turn out to be the best Minister of Aviation since 1999 if he remains till 2027." Kelechi Deca

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

Quick resolution of the issue of trapped foreign airline funds, leading to airlines like Emirates resuming flights. Thanks to PBAT.

Launching Operation Consumer Protection which lead to quick resolution of passenger's complaints.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

It’s not cheating.
The 23kg per bag limit comes from IATA standards + labour/OSHA safety laws to protect baggage handlers (lifting thousands of bags daily).

That’s why int’l routes allow 2×23kg = 46kg total, but most airlines won’t let you put 26kg in one bag. It’s about safety

[TankoTruthTalker @TankoYaris]

@mikeachimugu01 But why can we do 46 KG 2 bags for international airlines, but 23KG 2pcs only on Africa world Ghana to Nigeria. That's one place they cheat a lot.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

We rightly reject that kind of thinking because collective guilt is unjust. Blame the individual, not the group. Justice must be rooted in fairness, not vengeance.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

If the sin of one father is to be visited on the son, then by that logic all Germans should still be punished for Hitler’s crimes, and all white people condemned for the horrors of slavery.

[Charlie Kirk @charliekirk11]

24 years ago a group of Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11

Now a Muslim Socialist is on pace to run New York City

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

Guy, at this stage, you should be tending to your wounds and stop digging, as you may not like the answer.

[Maysbabs @maysbabs]

@BashirAhmaad @grok U want me to ask more about you being fanatic 😂

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

The use of the word "relocation" shows your intent.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

AIT and fake news are 5 and 6

[Michael Achimugu @mikeachimugu01]

Not true.

Arik flight scheduled for departure at 1820hrs on Saturday. A passenger became unruly after boarding due to the SUSPECTED use of harmful drugs (not confirmed). For the safety of other passengers on board, he was deboarded and held in Tango City by AVSEC while his parents were called to pick him up. The family did.
After a 32-minute delay, the flight departed with 126 passengers on board.

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

3. we can hold off the blame until we’re actually willing to invest in the solutions we demand."

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

1. Oh, absolutely! The Minister should just reach into his personal account and pull out billions, right? Because that's how public infrastructure works! Now, about that 300 billion naira supplementary budget—it's pocket change in the grand scheme of things. Paving thousands of

[Thεό Abu @TheoAbuAgada]

“You have been an absolute failure as Works Minister. I wonder what appraisal was used to retain you. Do not ever complain about resources again. Don’t make me get mad at you.”
- Reps Member blasts the incompetent Works Minister, David Umahi -

[M. Idris @Bmidris]

2. kilometers across Nigeria requires resources beyond what’s been allocated. But let’s be real: we can't measure failure if the tools for success aren't even on the table. With Nigeria's revenue challenges, it's hardly a surprise that funds are stretched thin. So maybe