Babatunde Owate

¦Chartered Accountant¦Certifed Pension Professional¦ Debt Management¦ Consulting¦Finance¦Politics¦ ¦Passionate Arsenal Fan¦ Team Sagittarius¦

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

I want to be able to tell my kids & grandchildren that I tried and contributed my best to make Nigeria & the World better than I met it.

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

Restoring fuel subsidy to bring petrol back to ₦100/litre is emotionally appealing, but practically impossible.

At today's market realities, government would have to spend trillions of naira annually to bridge the gap between the actual landing cost and the retail price. That would mean diverting scarce resources from roads, healthcare, education, security, and critical infrastructure back into a subsidy regime that disproportionately benefited smugglers, neighbouring countries, and high-volume fuel consumers.

The better approach is not to revive an unsustainable subsidy, but to strengthen targeted social support for those genuinely affected. The Federal Government has already expanded interventions through cash transfers, student loans, transport initiatives, and improved access to credit for small businesses, while the operation of domestic refineries is expected to improve supply and reduce costs over time.

The challenge before government is to deepen these relief measures, not return to a policy that nearly crippled public finances. Sustainable economic growth comes from increasing incomes and productivity, not artificially suppressing fuel prices.

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

@damzychillin Angel Di Maria

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

@Leon9_40 Waoh! This is great 👍

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

Your argument ignores the purpose of airport parking.

Airport parking ideally should be affordable to serve everyone especially those picking up or dropping off passengers, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and business travellers.

Whether I drive my own car or hire a cab, someone still pays the parking fee. The cost simply gets transferred to the passenger.

The real issue is whether ₦3,500–₦4,000 for a short stay is proportionate. Public policy should be judged on fairness and value, not on whether people should abandon their cars.

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

@GunnerPuls Micheal Owen

[Gbotemi @confindence24]

Tinubu removed fuel subsidy, you complained.

He started the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, you complained.

He appointed Wike as FCT Minister, you complained.

He floated the naira, you complained.

He signed the new minimum wage into law, you complained.

He introduced NELFUND for students, you complained.

He began tax reforms, you complained.

He increased FAAC allocations to states, you complained.

He created the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, you complained.

He established the Ministry of Livestock Development, you complained.

He launched the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, you complained.

He declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, you complained.

He increased NYSC members' allowance, you complained.

He resumed work on the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, you complained.

He pushed local government financial autonomy, you complained.

He expanded rail and road infrastructure, you complained.

He attracted new foreign investments, you complained.

He supported domestic refining through policy reforms, you complained.

He introduced the crude-for-naira initiative, you complained.

At this point, the question is simple:

Is it the policies you dislike, or just the man implementing them?

Ire oo.

[𝑴𝒂𝐳𝐢.𝐍𝐧𝐚𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒌𝒂🇳🇬 @EmmyPromise71]

Fourteen Nigerians were kidnapped along the Lagos-Benin Expressway, but what happened afterwards is the part I think deserves serious attention.

At about 9:30pm on July 30, troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army were on routine patrol when intelligence reached them about the kidnapping in Ovia North East LGA of Edo State. They didn't wait until morning. They immediately moved after the kidnappers and followed their withdrawal route.

The pressure became too much for the criminals. They abandoned 11 of their victims and escaped into the surrounding forest.

But three people were still missing.

And this is the part I love so much. Our soldiers didn't say, "Well, we have rescued 11 out of 14." They didn't close the operation and celebrate what they had already achieved. The following day, July 31, they went back into that forest and continued searching for the remaining victims.

They combed the area until those remaining three people were found and rescued.

Just imagine what those families must have been going through throughout that night. Eleven families had received the news they desperately wanted, while three others were probably still waiting, praying and wondering where their loved ones were. Then came the news that the remaining three had also been found.

After medical assessment and preliminary debriefing, the Army confirmed that all 14 victims were in stable condition. They were reunited with their families or allowed to continue their respective journeys.

This is why timely intelligence from ordinary Nigerians matters so much. Somebody provided information, troops acted on it immediately, kidnappers were forced to run, and 14 Nigerians who could have remained in captivity are free today.

The criminals themselves are still being hunted, and I hope that part of the operation continues until they are apprehended.

Sometimes we read "14 kidnapped victims rescued" and scroll past it like it's just another headline. But those are 14 human beings. Fourteen families spared days, weeks or possibly months of uncertainty and fear.

Kudos to the troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army and Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun. Keep the pressure on these criminals. Every Nigerian rescued from captivity is a victory worth celebrating, and every forest denied to kidnappers makes our roads and communities a little safer. 🇳🇬

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

Sentiment is cheap. Loyalty is expensive!

You forced your way out of Arsenal as captain when the club was built around you. Then, when you returned to England, you chose Chelsea of all clubs and celebrated Premier League titles in blue.

So spare Arsenal fans the "Once a Gunner, always a Gunner" speech. Arsenal gave you a career, a captaincy, and a global stage. Your decisions, not your interviews, are what people remember about you!

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

@BrainardScoles What's your source? Are truly sure Vini is on the list?

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

@_dinomelaye Na Hon Malik indeed 😆

[StatiSense @StatiSense]

🛣️ NOTABLE TINUBU ADMINISTRATION'S LEGACY HIGHWAY PROJECTS

1 Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km) — Connects Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

2 Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway (1,068 km) — Connects Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos.

3 Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Yobe–Maiduguri Super Highway (422 km) — Connects Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno. (First flagged-off section: Akwanga–Jos, 125 km.)

4 Trans-Saharan Route(477 km) — Strategic northern highway corridor designed to strengthen regional connectivity and trade.

#Statisense
(Federal Ministry of Information & National Orientation)

[HCI-MCI @drhcimci]

Full Speech of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum in Abuja today.

[HCI-MCI @drhcimci]

This is probably the clearest explanation yet on subsidy removal, borrowing, fiscal reforms, where the money is going and what comes next in the push for jobs and economic prosperity. Taiwo Oyedele explains it all. Every Nigerian should watch it.

[Bolaji Fesomade @MasterBolaji]

Student loan interest rates:

UK – 6%
USA – 8%
Kenya – 4%
Ghana – 6%
Nigeria – 0%

Nigeria is also the only country in Africa offering 0% interest on student loans while maintaining one of the lowest tuition fees.

NELFUND remains one of the best initiatives of this admin.

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

We will continue to work to ensure those who are in the habit of demarketing Nigeria do not succeed.

Millions of people land in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt every year, do business, party at Detty December, and fly home with a completely different story from the one the internet sold them.

The e-Visa now turns applications around in days. Calabar Carnival is Africa's biggest street party. Osun-Osogbo and Sukur are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Obudu, Idanre Hills, Yankari, world-class and criminally under-visited.

Security has improved and must keep improving, no one's pretending otherwise. But "unsafe" as a blanket verdict on 230 million people? That's lazy.

Come. Look. Then judge. 👀

[Lady K @KemPatriot]

📌"I have nothing but positive words for what the Central Bank @cenbank has done ~~~~~
This is the first time that this economy will be growing faster than the population "

~ HRH Muhammad Sanusi,
Emir of Kano

Ex CBN Gov gives current CBN governor @DrYemiCardoso and President @officialABAT their 🌹🌹🌹

#KemKem

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

THE NEED TO DEVELOP REGIONAL AVIATION MARKETS IN NIGERIA. (THE CASE OF THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH EAST)

Nigeria's domestic aviation network is too Lagos-centric.

Today, there is virtually no direct air link between the South-East and the South-West outside Lagos.

Why should someone travelling from Enugu to Ondo, Ekiti or Osun first fly to Lagos before returning inland?

The strongest business case is a direct Enugu–Akure route.

Akure can naturally serve Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and neighbouring states, while Enugu serves as the commercial gateway to the South-East.

This route would reduce travel time, decongest Lagos, improve aircraft utilisation, stimulate regional trade, tourism and investment, and make better use of existing airport infrastructure.

Nigeria needs regional hubs, not just one overburdened hub.

I challenge our domestic airlines and aviation regulators to undertake a commercial feasibility study for the Enugu–Akure corridor. It could become one of the country's most strategic regional routes.
@fkeyamo

#AviationNigeria #RegionalConnectivity #AkureAirport #EnuguAirport #FAAN #NCAA #EnuguAirlines #AirPeace #IbomAir #UnitedNigeriaAirlines

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

THE NEED TO DEVELOP REGIONAL AVIATION MARKETS IN NIGERIA. (THE CASE OF THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH EAST)

Nigeria's domestic aviation network is too Lagos-centric.

Today, there is virtually no direct air link between the South-East and the South-West outside Lagos.

Why should someone travelling from Enugu to Ondo, Ekiti or Osun first fly to Lagos before returning inland?

The strongest business case is a direct Enugu–Akure route.

Akure can naturally serve Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and neighbouring states, while Enugu serves as the commercial gateway to the South-East.

This route would reduce travel time, decongest Lagos, improve aircraft utilisation, stimulate regional trade, tourism and investment, and make better use of existing airport infrastructure.

Nigeria needs regional hubs, not just one overburdened hub.

I challenge our domestic airlines and aviation regulators to undertake a commercial feasibility study for the Enugu–Akure corridor. It could become one of the country's most strategic regional routes.

#AviationNigeria #RegionalConnectivity #AkureAirport #EnuguAirport #FAAN #NCAA #EnuguAirlines #AirPeace #IbomAir #UnitedNigeriaAirlines

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

THE NEED TO DEVELOP REGIONAL AVIATION MARKETS IN NIGERIA. (THE CASE OF THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH EAST)

Nigeria's domestic aviation network is too Lagos-centric.

Today, there is virtually no direct air link between the South-East and the South-West outside Lagos.

Why should someone travelling from Enugu to Ondo, Ekiti or Osun first fly to Lagos before returning inland?

The strongest business case is a direct Enugu–Akure route.

Akure can naturally serve Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and neighbouring states, while Enugu serves as the commercial gateway to the South-East.

This route would reduce travel time, decongest Lagos, improve aircraft utilisation, stimulate regional trade, tourism and investment, and make better use of existing airport infrastructure.

Nigeria needs regional hubs, not just one overburdened hub.

I challenge our domestic airlines and aviation regulators to undertake a commercial feasibility study for the Enugu–Akure corridor. It could become one of the country's most strategic regional routes.

#AviationNigeria #RegionalConnectivity #AkureAirport #EnuguAirport #FAAN #NCAA #EnuguAirlines #AirPeace #IbomAir #UnitedNigeriaAirlines

[Babatunde Owate @Owatzz]

THE NEED TO DEVELOP REGIONAL AVIATION MARKETS IN NIGERIA. (THE CASE OF THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH EAST)

Nigeria's domestic aviation network is too Lagos-centric.

Today, there is virtually no direct air link between the South-East and the South-West outside Lagos.

Why should someone travelling from Enugu to Ondo, Ekiti or Osun first fly to Lagos before returning inland?

The strongest business case is a direct Enugu–Akure route.

Akure can naturally serve Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and neighbouring states, while Enugu serves as the commercial gateway to the South-East.

This route would reduce travel time, decongest Lagos, improve aircraft utilisation, stimulate regional trade, tourism and investment, and make better use of existing airport infrastructure.

Nigeria needs regional hubs, not just one overburdened hub.

I challenge our domestic airlines and aviation regulators to undertake a commercial feasibility study for the Enugu–Akure corridor. It could become one of the country's most strategic regional routes.

#AviationNigeria #RegionalConnectivity #AkureAirport #EnuguAirport #FAAN #NCAA #EnuguAirlines #AirPeace #IbomAir #UnitedNigeriaAirlines