From Flight Mode to Full-Blown Trauma, a question for Ibom Air by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS4GenZee

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So I'm scrolling, right? And I see this video that just breaks me. It's about Comfort Emmanson, and honestly, her story is a whole mood, but the one you never wanna feel. 

A faulty phone button led to her being dragged and shamed. And for what? For a "5 minutes of madness" moment? Nah, the airline's got some explaining to do. This isn't just a drama-filled clip; it's a deep dive into how messed up the system is.

Can we talk about how a simple trip to Lagos became a whole saga? 🤯 Comfort was literally just trying to get off her flight. She said she had a faulty phone, and the flight attendant, Juliana, was just not having it. 

Comfort Emmanson: A fragmented digital identity by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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The chaotic aftermath of a viral event can splinter a person’s identity into a hundred different pieces, each one fighting to be the true narrative. No one embodies this digital fracturing more than Comfort Emmanson. Her life, writes REMMY NWEKE, was not only stolen by a moment of trauma but was then fragmented and commodified by the digital world.

Dateline, August 10:

Before the incident of August 10, 2025, Comfort Emmanson was a hopeful aspiring professional. Online, she curated a public-facing digital life as a “Digital creator” and an aspiring “Fashion model.” With a modest following of 238, she built an identity she wanted the world to see.

Then came the incident at the airport on August 10. A simple altercation over a faulty phone escalated into a public, humiliating ordeal.

Digital self exposed:
In her own words, she was pushed, dragged, and had her clothes pulled off, all while being recorded. Her physical body was exposed, but her digital self was about to be obliterated.

As the video of her trauma went viral, her identity was suspectedly hijacked. Suddenly, a new profile appeared, this one a "Public figure" with a staggering 29,000 followers. This was not Comfort’s page or is it; it was a public spectacle, a digital stand-in for the "missing Kirikiri neighbour."

Her own anguished words, "only God can fight my battle," were reduced to a tagline for this new, impersonal platform. 

Her plea to followers to follow her "only page" was a desperate and futile attempt to reclaim a narrative that was no longer her own.

Fragment online life:
The final, chilling fragment of her online life is perhaps the most telling. A social media post Facebook page on August 18 by 12:37am, attributed to her, carried the cold, cynical message: "If you no get money bro avoid me."

If Kemi Badenoch were Igbo - ITREALMS

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If Kemi Badenoch were Igbo


Her actions would have affected the entire Igbo race

Her private decision to disparage Nigeria daily

Editorial@ITREALMS: Applause for OAU for wiping Gen-Z into line - ITREALMS

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In an age where digital trends often dictate societal norms and unbridled self-expression is glorified, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has done what many institutions shy away from: it has decisively moved to instill discipline and wipe the excesses of the 'Generation Z' into line.

The recent "Decision Extract" from June 13, 2025, detailing strict dress codes and behavioural mandates, is not merely a set of guidelines; it is a clear, unambiguous declaration that OAU will not compromise on standards, even if it means confronting the prevailing youth culture head-on. This bold stance deserves not just recognition, but a full-throated applause.

Telco’s tariff increase and NCC’s patriotism by Toby Prince - ITREALMS

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In the heart of Nigeria's digital economy, a story of patriotism and resilience unfolds. The telecommunications sector, a driving force behind the country's growth, has been facing unprecedented challenges. Despite its significant contributions to Nigeria's social and economic development, the sector has been struggling to keep up with the rising costs of operations.

For nearly a decade, telecom tariffs in Nigeria remained unchanged, while the demand for data and voice services skyrocketed. The cost of operations, however, surged due to rising energy costs, inflation, currency devaluation, and increased costs of importing telecom equipment. These mounting expenses threatened the very foundation of the sector, making it difficult for operators to maintain infrastructure and deliver high-quality services.

iPower: Empowering Nigeria’s renewable energy future - ITREALMS

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For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has been on shaky ground — struggling with unreliable electricity supply, aging infrastructure, and an overdependence on fossil fuels. Grid collapse has become a recurrent experience, forcing households and businesses to rely on expensive and polluting generators. Amid these challenges, past and present governments always paint a hopeful picture of reforms and investments aimed at improving the grid. Yet, in a world rapidly shifting towards renewable energy, true progress will not come from patching up a failing system but from embracing a sustainable, green energy future. Indigenous brands like iPower are already leading the way, proving that Nigeria does not have to be left behind.

The global energy landscape is undergoing a transformation. In fact, with the Paris Agreement, more than 110 countries have committed to a net zero emissions target by 2050. Renewable energy has become the new frontier as nations race to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Solar farms are stretching across the Sahara, wind turbines are rising along coastlines, and battery technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Countries like China, Japan, and the US, which once relied on coal and crude oil, are now investing heavily in clean energy solutions — not just for environmental reasons but because renewables are proving to be more economically viable in the long run.

Technically: Before roofing your dream house, consider this - ITREALMS

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It's alarming that despite the health implications of asbestos roofing sheets, many house builders in Nigeria still consider it fashionable against zinc, which is much cheaper. REMMY NWEKE in this piece compared the technology of asbestos and zinc roofing sheets, x-raying the pros and cons, as we enter 2025 in an attempt to reduce housing deficit in Nigeria.

Graduating from a higher institution in the North West Nigeria, Amin, 23, journeyed to the South-West in search of a job and better life. He settled down at Okokomaiko and was able to acquire land in nearby Agbara, few years later.

Road Safety: Between Ejidike, seat belt and Korope driver - ITREALMS

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REMMY NWEKE reminds Nigerian motorists and commuters that the ‘Mber months' are here again, stressing the importance of using seat belt for our safety.

 “… The use of the belt is not for the driver or Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), but for his own safety.”

Preface:
After waiting for over half an hour, penultimate Friday, the driver of the mini-bus known as Korope, entered behind the steering, with hope of taking the passengers from the National Stadium Gate at Surulere to Oshodi both in Lagos State.


Given his early bird boarding, Ejidike took the first passenger only seat in front and waited for others or the bus to be loaded.


As soon as the bus was filled, the driver switched on the engine, only then Ejidike reached out for the seat-belt. Initially, his efforts to reach the seat-belt was met by resisting comments from the driver, who actually advised that Ejidike literally forget about the seat belt.


In his usual self, Ejidike ignored him, knowing fully what he wanted by way of safety and at over 50 years, which half has been spent in Lagos, he went ahead to put on the seat-belt while the driver continued to rant; reaching out for his brand of sachet gin drink from one of his ankra dress pockets.

Nobody uses that belt here:
One message stood out, that after the fuming, he declare that ‘no body uses that belt in his bus, which Ejidike retorted that the use of the belt is not for the driver or Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), but for his own safety.


This brings to mind, that a few weeks ago, Ejidike was on transit to Enugu State and obviously encountered same character in a driver that took him from Oji River to Four Corner. To cut the long story short, the driver, supposed elderly who should knew the need for seat belt advised him to leave that when he attempted putting it on, after all, no one in form of FRSC also known as road safety, will disturb them on the route.


Whose duty to use seat belt in commercial vehicle?
Telecoms Clinic then went to social media and Facebook to be precise asking “Whose duty is it to use seat belt in commercial vehicle; Driver or passenger?” Most respondents agreed that both the driver and passenger should use their seat belts always. Then a follow-up question was “what happens when you board a bus and driver commands you not to use the belt? Whereas Prince Abiodun Bayo was skeptic about a ‘trained’ driver dishing out such a command, posited that “most drivers will insist that you should use your belt. It will be strange for a driver to stop you from using the belt even when he doesn’t insist.”


And for a digital right advocate, @Nnenna Nwakanma, “The law in Côte d'Ivoire says that UNTIL both are belted, (especially in the front seats) the driver CANNOT turn on the ignition.” While @Tunde Omis described seat belt as a “utility not a possession in a car.”

And the Minister died:
Telecoms Clinic recalled after the death of a serving Federal Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi, wife and son, who all reportedly died recently due to non-usage of seat belt at the back, that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had resolved to enforce speed limit device and rear seat belt usage.

The immediate past Corp Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi had warned that most Nigerians, especially those who are described as ‘car-owners’ and who usually seat at the rear should imbibe the habit of wearing their seat belts among rear passengers, stressing that if they do, and even have a company at the rear, definitely such a passenger should wear theirs as well.

Globally, about 50% of those killed in vehicular accidents died for non-usage of seat belt.

For instance, in 2022, estimated 25,420 passenger vehicle occupants killed, while seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and which could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone.

As stated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in 2022, Telecoms Clinic gathered that data showed seat belt use was at 91.6 per cent, and unrestrained occupant deaths accounted for 49.8 per cent.


Use your seat belt, save a life:
Experts at the United States-based NIH informed that passenger’s seat belt is crucial to surviving a crash, enjoining that they make it a habit to always buckle up every time. Pointing out that in 2022, half of passenger vehicle occupants who died in crashes were unrestrained, noting that from 1975 through 2017, seat belts have saved an estimated 374,276 lives, even as they advised “Wear your seat belt every time—no matter how uncomfortable it feels or how far you're going.”


Olumuyiwa Joshua Ogundele et al in a 2013 study available to Telecoms Clinic on “The impact of seat-belts in limiting the severity of injuries in patients presenting to a university hospital in the developing world” published by NIH revealed, that about 1.2 million people were killed each year in road crashes worldwide, with up to 50 million more injured. Over 95% of these deaths and injuries occur in the low- and middle-income countries of the world.


The study, Telecoms Clinic also gathered, evaluated the impact of the use of seat-belts in reducing the severity of injuries from road traffic crashes, determine compliance and awareness of the importance of the use of seat-belts among 140 Nigerian motorists; which outcome showed that a total of 81 (57%) patients used seat-belts, while 59 (42.1%) did not. Nineteen (13.6%) patients died as a result of their injuries; 4 (21.1%) of these had used seat-belts, while 15 (79%) had not (P = 0.001). The mortality rate of 79% for patients who did not use seat-belt was statistically significant.


Lack of information:
Telecoms Clinic equally gathered that there was no much information about how many vehicle accidents in Nigeria who were due to non-use of seat belts, but Naija Vibes reported existence of some related information about seat belt use in Nigeria, such as seat belt use in Makurdi, citing a study of 500 vehicles in Makurdi, Nigeria, where some 5% of vehicles had no seat belts at all. Noting that in overall analysis, seat belt compliance was 57%. Compliance was highest among car occupants and private vehicles, and lowest among commercial vehicle occupants.

For instance, efforts to get any update on seat belt usage from Road Safety spokesman and Corps Public Education, Assistant Corps Marshal, Jonas Agwu, proved abortive.


Submissions:
Though, according to study, Nigeria has one of the highest death rates across the African continent, with 33.7 per cent deaths per 100,000 population per year and considering that Nigerian motorists and commuters have some factors affecting their use of seat belt, which include socio-cultural, law enforcement, and availability of seat belts in vehicles especially on Tokunbos; imported used car, which have become often first own-driven cars by a huge middle class in Nigeria.

Whereas it has become crucial at last quarter of the year also known as ‘Mber months, namely October, November and December; in Nigeria for people to wear seat belts these festive season, which could reduce the risk of fatalities in road traffic accidents by 40-50% among front seat occupants and by 25-75% among rear seat car passengers, according to experts.


Hence, there is no doubt that seat-belt is an effective safety tool that not only saves lives, but also reduces significantly the severity of the injury associated with a vehicle occupant in the event of any accident, even as more public enlightenment cannot be over-emphasised to increase the awareness and compliance of use of seat-belts among Nigerian automobilist, moreso the drivers like the one encountered by Ejidike.

Transforming sanitation in Nigeria's public spaces by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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I had the opportunity to visit a number of Nigerian cities in recent weeks, from Lagos to Bayelsa, through Benin, and Warri. Although these cities provided rich cultural experiences and stunning scenery, one prevalent problem that caught my attention was the condition of public sanitation, especially in motor parks and markets. The unpleasant stench, overflowing trash, and unhygienic conditions of many of these areas confirmed the urgent need for significant improvements in sanitation in Nigeria's public parks and markets. We'll discuss the roads another day.

In commemoration of World Toilet Day 2024, a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about sanitation, it is time to reflect on the need for cleaner, healthier environments in our communities, especially in places where large numbers of people gather. World Toilet Day, commemorated annually on November 19, highlights the critical issue of global sanitation and aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to safe and clean toilets. This year’s theme, 'Toilets – A Place for Peace', underscored the connection between sanitation and the broader goal of peace and well-being.

Open Letter To President Tinubu: Acute food shortage plunges Nigerians into severe hunger by Emeka Nwokocha - ITREALMS

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In this open letter to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Emeka Nwokocha, lamented the acute food shortage facing Nigerians with severe hunger.

Your Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, I am very worried about the current economic crisis our dear country is thrown into and the resulting acute hunger battering and killing innocent Nigerians everyday, mostly children.

Your Excellency, since you took the reins of governance, Nigerians have not known peace, poor Nigerians gnash their teeth, many are unable to afford food as they face torture from acute hunger.

State of emergency on education: Buni's vision by Hassan Gimba - ITREALMS

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In the past few months, there has been some incessant din over the plight of education across the country, how deplorable it has become and concerns over how to bring it out of the shambles it has been shovelled into as a result of long-term negligence by those who should nurse it after benefitting from it.

Many of us who were in this part of the world before 1980 knew what schools were and how governments went the whole hog to make them qualitative while making the academic environment so conducive.

Making PoS registration a win-win for Nigeria's Financial Future by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently mandated that all Point of Sales (PoS) operators complete their registration with the Corporate Affairs Corporation (CAC) by July 7, 2024. This directive aims to formalize the operations of PoS businesses across the country, boosting regulatory compliance and promoting financial inclusion.

However, for many PoS operators, this new requirement poses significant challenges, both financially and logistically. As micro-businesses, already grappling with economic uncertainties, the stringent deadline could threaten their survival and, by extension, the broader goal of financial inclusion in Nigeria.

May-hem: EFCC arrests 193 suspects on Internet fraud in 20 days - ITREALMS

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Since the beginning of the fifth month of 2024, May, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has made a total of 193 arrests related to cyber crimes and internet fraud across various cities in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Also, ITREALMS investigations on the number of convictions by the EFCC in 2021 showed that there were some 35 cases, just as 54 cases were mentioned on cyber crimes, even as cybercrime as compound word appeared 339 in the 174 page document.

How BrandXchange is empowering Nigerian consumers by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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In today’s fast-paced world, consumers are the driving force behind any successful business. They invest their hard-earned money in goods and services with the expectation of a satisfactory experience. However, not all brands live up to their promises, leaving consumers disappointed and disheartened.

Addressing this issue, BrandXchange, an innovative platform, has taken the bold step of empowering Nigerian consumers to give feedback on brands across various categories. Through their Consumer Value Awards (CVA) program, consumers now have a voice in determining the value of brands in 2023.

Oluremi Tinubu receives UN Resident coordinator, seeks more women in decision making - ITREALMS

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Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed readiness to partner with the United Nations and its sister agencies to address various concerns, including role of women in public life, increased participation in economy, ending gender based violence, child labor and the scourge of out school children, reports ITREALMS.

This was when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale and his team paid her a courtesy visit at the State House Abuja.

The world needs visionary, courageous leaders by Austin Okere - ITREALMS

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Today’s leaders must be effective communicators who embrace depolarization, paradox, and compassion—and who take action without fear.

• As society faces a range of global challenges, it looks for leaders who can create positive change and share responsibility across sectors.

NCC: Raising the ante of digital economy @AfricaNXT2023 - ITREALMS

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By increasing the stakes under the current digital economy development plans in the country, calls for commendations for more to come. So, its not surprising that the Nigerian Communications Commission is raising the ante, from what was witnessed at AfricaNXT 2023, writes ITREALMS’ REMMY NWEKE.

Preamble:
It is not often that an applause is given to an individual or corporate organisaiton, but whenever there is an applause, there must be an associated reasons sufficient to merit it.

Telecoms Clinic: Harvest of layoffs & Tech governance - ITREALMS

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Since the last quarter of 2022, the technology industry globally has witnessed series of layoffs. REMMY NWEKE now asked about the impact of good corporate governance, inclusion and expulsion in this seasons of layoffs.

In the beginning:

A 25-year old lady, Minat, until January 20, literally worked in what nowadays is famed as one of the technology industry companies as a ‘design engineer’ and during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, she got serious with her relationship and took it to the next level. Today, she has a daughter, about two years old and she just delivered a baby son during the last quarter of 2022. In fact, she was on maternity leave till this moment.

Agriculture: How LAPO is making great impact in Nigerian - ITREALMS

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Agriculture is deeply woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s history and culture and it remains a central pillar of the economy. A dominant sector in Nigeria, it consistently contributes (specific figure) to Nigeria’s GDP, and accounting for the livelihoods of almost 84 percent of households in rural communities.

However, despite recent gains, the vast majority of farmers practice subsistence farming characterized by lack of modern implements and low yields. Sadly, farming is still largely defined by the poverty of practitioners, rather than its great potentials, although an emerging generation of young farmers are trying to change the narrative of Nigerian agriculture through a focus on new techniques and technology.

Making circular economy work for 210m Nigerians - ITREALMS

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Nigeria has a huge population. Current estimates put it in the region of 210 million. This is a huge number. There is no prize for guessing that this number of people will produce humongous amounts of waste. The challenge is how prepared are the managers of the economy to deal with the sheer volume of waste generated and ensure effective disposal.

Now, if you have ever wondered why drains are always blocked, dumpsites are created indiscriminately and pollution is the order of the day in many cities across the country, wonder no more. The answer is simply - People. People. People. This is the heart of the problem - a large number of people generating large volumes of waste without a discernable plan for proper disposal.