OVERHEARD: “…handwriting on the wall” Get it right: writing on the wall

“FG seeks N921.4bn to complete 925 roads projects” All the Facts, All the Sides: 925 road projects.

“Even Dubai ran into trouble (troubled) waters in 2008-2009 when huge debt (a huge debt) forcibly….”

“The enforcement of that sentence against a teenage mother who had just delivered is certainly regretable.”  On the move: regrettable.

“…the average journalist usually burns this professional flag, forgets his own humble past once he or she crosses over to the corridor of power.”  Saturday People: corridors of power and this: their humble past once they….

“The government wants to dump all the dead stadia or sell them off to those who can breathe the breath of life on (into) them.”

“However, it could be useful to indicate that our research shows that the fortunes of NEXIM moved comfortably between (from) 1990 to 1992 and….”

“These terminations were made after NEXIM had undertaken screening exercise (must you add ‘exercise’?) both at home and abroad and conducted series (a series) of travels, trainings (training).…”

“Trainings were held yesterday at the sports academy.” Viewpoint: ‘training’ is uncountable.

“Commissioner wants more vigilante groups” Rutam, hello: vigilance groups.

“The article was an insult on the Federal Government, the National Assembly and an affront on the ICPC and its competent and hardworking staff.” Justice in service of community: an affront to (not on) the ICPC.  And, of course, an insult to (not on) the FG

“For quite sometime (some time) now, the poor and deteriorating condition of public infrastructure….”

“A few weeks ago, there was some news report (a news report) about the involvement of….”

“…all the major roads in the Eastern part of the country have become pure death traps and for challenging his (President’s) non-challant attitude and doing anything positive in Igbo land.”  Get it right: nonchalant.

“Trump, North Korea Minister hold talks” Foreign Affairs: North Korean Minister.

“…there have been series of polemical attacks of (on) the commission and its activities by an obscure and often fictitious section of the public.”  This way: a (take note) series of polemical attacks.

“The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces also addressed the nation same evening.”  Get it right: the same evening.

“INEC apologises over aborted PDP convention” To live in truth is to serve: apologise for something or to somebody.

“The most impassible (impassable) roads accentuate the usual hectic traffic of motorists, making business transactions in Lagos a herculean task.”

“…robbers who held residents and commuters to ransome for hours….” Spell-check: ransom.

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“I doff my hat for…” The right mix: I take off or doff my hat to (not for).

“Out of a lawyers’ population estimated at about 20,000, only five females have been opportuned (opportune) to adorn the silk.”

“This is another scintillating edition for the matured (mature) mind.”

“Preponderant of the views aired by the people centre around issues like corruption, unemployment….” Running a true federation: Preponderance…centres….

“Benue assures on abandoned project” Just tell readers who the state assured.

“A recent report on food related (a hyphen) ailments show (shows) that in many parts of the world….”

“Unfortunately, however, I, and many other Nigerians have been infuriated by our servants….” In pursuit of linguistic orderliness: many other Nigerians and I.   The concept of the cart and the horse applies to language usage, too.

“But all our future blessing would be achieved through waiting in the Lord.”  If you are after God’s heart, you wait on, not in, the Lord.

“Before embarking on the strike action….” You can as well embark on the ‘strike inaction’!

“It was as though both informants were mischievous people who had an affinity in (for) discrediting the preacher.”

“The vigilante group visited instant judgment on the thief and sent him to the great beyond.”  In the name of excellence: vigilance group.

“Sixteen people were killed and two others seriously injured in a ghastly (fatal) accident, which occurred along (on) the Bauch-Auchi road on Saturday.” If there were casualties, it follows that it was a fatal, not a ghastly, accident.  The mishap did not drag along the road, but occurred at a spot on the road.

“Some of the despotic regimes thrown up in (on) the continent did worse things than was experienced under colonialism.”

“A weekly magazine took a professional risk and charged the speaker for (with) forgery.”

“…the same-day election is being proposed by the Senate as part of the antidote for….” This way: antidote to….

…Words for Lagos CP Imohimi  Edgal

DESPITE the laudable ban of checkpoints by the assiduous IGP, Ibrahim Idris, some officers and men from Aguda and Ijeshatedo police stations in Surulere still mount flexible/mobile roadblocks in this area. Between NEPA Bus stop and Agbonyin Avenue, there are usually up to three proximate points (a stone’s throw from each other) where plain-clothes cops from Aguda police station extort money, intimidate and embarrass innocent citizens in the euphemistic name of “stop-and-search” at peak hours in the morning and evening particularly and at other indeterminate periods depending on their mood!

The ubiquitous arrow-man is one fair-complexioned chap with bushy beards and moustache. He has no resemblance at the station. Most times I see him and members of his gang ransacking bags, briefcases and frisking their owners as if their victims are criminals. After the initial rigmarole on stopping their victims and “cooperative” prospects, they solicit for “settlement.”

Similarly, the Omilani by Adesina and Ijeshatedo road junctions have become extortion points for menacingly-armed policemen from Ijeshatedo and occasionally joined by their colleagues from Aguda to collect tolls from Keke Maruwa and motorbike (okada) operators and selective vehicle owners especially between 8 p.m. and midnight. I confronted one at the risk of “accidental discharge” recently who reeked of illicit gin!

My CP, nothing tarnishes the name and image of the police as much as this highway gangsterism of extorting, intimidating, embarrassing and harassing innocent Nigerians. Please let there be reorientation, retraining and civilisation of these bad eggs lest they mess up your diligence and professionalism. I do not think this despicable conduct is what policing is about.