Is Nigeria Beginning To Shut Down?

 By Ugo Onuoha

The prospects for the future wellbeing of  this country, Nigeria, are not looking good, the pretenses of our rulers to the contrary notwithstanding. And this is not about its distant future. It’s about the near future. Nigeria is rapidly deteriorating from not working to falling apart. The assertion of the country not working is a notorious fact, but the claim of its falling apart could be treated as crying wolf. 

*Tinubu

It may not be out of place if we reassure ourselves that we have been at the precipice on more than one occasion in the past. The country was barely seven years old from independence when it was plunged into a fratricidal civil war during which millions of lives were lost in the space of three years, 1967-1970.

Nigerian Media Should Avoid Government Funding, Aid

 By Chekwube Nzomiwu

During the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), held at the Presidential Villa Abuja Banquet Hall recently, the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, raised the alarm that the present economic realities in the country had put the media in distress. Consequently, Anaba who is the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, asked the government to grant the media corporate tax relief for about ten years, Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption, tax deductions, and access to affordable financing from the Bank of Industry, among other requests.

President Bola Tinubu, the host of the editors endorsed the plethora of requests made by the NGE in a bid to rescue the distressed media sector in the country. The keynote speaker, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, told the editors that their pen will shape the 2027 election. Uzodimma spoke on the theme “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of the Editors and sub-editors,” and “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians should expect in 2027.

Under Bola Tinubu’s Watch, Boko Haram Has Finally Won

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

President Bola Tinubu is over the moon right now, for whatever it is worth. Last week was horrible for his administration and the man-in-charge image he is trying desperately to project. In less than seven days, terrorists deflated his elephantine ego by ambushing, penultimate Friday, a military team led by Musa Uba, a Brigadier General and commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, in Borno State, killing four operatives — two soldiers and two CJTF officials – and later executing the gallant officer.

*Tinubu during a security meeting with service chiefs

On Monday, November 17, they invaded Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, and abducted 24 schoolgirls after killing the vice-principal. On Wednesday, November 19, they stormed Christ Apostolic Church, in Eruku, Kwara State during a midweek prayer session, killing three persons and abducting 38 other congregants, mostly women and children, drawing nationwide outrage. To worsen matters, they placed a N100 million ransom on each of the 38 abductees.

Between Kumuyi And A Daring Pakistani Woman

 By Banji Ojewale

The 1978 book, I Dared to Call Him Father, by Bilquis Sheikh, sacked the staid and sacral stance of the slumbering world with its contribution to the generational interaction between Muslims and Christians. Bilquis was an aristocratic Pakistani Muslim whose conversion to Christianity plunged her into a whirlwind of rebellion, rejection and ridicule at the hands of family and society. Her book, with Richard Schneider, is the granular account of her epic battle to battle those who challenged her daring moves in a conservative community.

*Kumuyi

Her religion doesn’t admit God as a personal father. She writes: ‘’No Muslim, I felt certain, ever thought of Allah as his father… Wouldn’t it be sinful to try to bring the Great One down to our own level?’’ Now, Bilquis did not only call God her Father; but also, she went ahead to follow her deep-seated convictions to become a follower of Christ, sacrificing convenience and convention. She spoke of threats from kinsmen to visit her with honour killing.

Forty-Five Days That Changed Elections In Africa?

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

An unlikely coincidence of ballots in a forty-five day period from the middle of September to the end of October 2025 has cast a new light on the state of democratic governance in Africa and now threatens to unscramble the ritual hollowness that has become the fate of elections on the continent under the indifferent watch of the African Union and other regional institutions in Africa. How the continent’s leaders and institutions handle the aftermath could have serious implications for the stability of the continent.

*Clockwise: Africa's old, sit-tight rulers: Biya (Cameroon),Mbasago (Equitorial Guinea), Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire) Museveni (Uganda) (Photo credit: Liberian Observer) 

On 16 September, Malawi wnt to the polls to elect their president. The last time the country did that in 2019, it produced results that were so transparently rigged that five judges of the Constitutional Court of Malawi wearing bullet-proof vests were needed to set aside the result declared by the electoral commission. That was only the second time in Africa’s history that a court would nullify the declared outcome in a presidential election.

Peter Obi And The Ethics Of Refusal

 By Valentine Obienyem

Elections, in a sane democracy, ought to be moments of sober reflection – times when citizens pause to weigh their choices, guided by conscience and conviction. Yet, in our political culture, every election seems to leave behind recrimination rather than reflection. The just-concluded Anambra election is no exception.

*Peter Obi 

Now that the dust has settled, one would expect thoughtful discussions on how the state might move forward – how the winner could be held accountable, how institutions could be strengthened, and how public welfare could be advanced. Unfortunately, what we see instead is the familiar pettiness of misplaced blame. Some voices, rather than addressing the moral and institutional lapses that plagued the process, have chosen to chase shadows and personalities.

Real Causes Of Nigeria’s Low Voter Turn-Out

 By Tonnie Iredia

In many societies across the globe, there is a high degree of consensus that democracy is the best example of a government of the people especially because persons in government are supposedly elected by the people to represent them. But how are we sure that those in government were the ones the people actually elected?

The only way to determine that is to critically examine the processes and procedures of regular general elections in a given society. But then, even in a free and fair contest, it is essentially simplistic to regard those who constitute government in countries such as Nigeria as bonafide representatives of the people considering the trend of an insignificant minority of the population who serve as electors. During the last general elections in Nigeria in 2023, about 93 million citizens were registered to vote, but only 25 million showed up to cast their ballots.

Anioma Is Midwest!

 By Nkem Onyekpe

There is an ongoing frenzy about state creation. It would seem that the 10th National Assembly is in a hurry to break the jinx on the inability of civilian-led government to create state, an exercise that the military had performed with fiat. That reality and the fact of prolonged military rule had stunted constitutionalism in the country. Nevertheless, in the present hive of activities on state creation, Anioma state has featured among states that may merit the gavel.

*The Asabga of Asaba, Prof Epiphany Azinge and Sen. Ned Nwoko

Therefore, I begin with the affirmation that Anioma land is west Niger Igboland. Therefore, Anioma people are Igbo or predominantly Igbo. In the last few years, the long-standing agitation for the creation of Anioma state has been resuscitated with increasing vigour after a period of suspended animation. The credit for the resuscitation goes largely to an Anioma son and politician, Senator Ned Nwoko.

Sale Of Alcohol In Sachets: Growing An Alcoholic Population

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Several months ago, the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced a bid to ban sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets. The bid did not fly at the time, mainly as a result of pushbacks from vested interests, including manufacturers and distributors of the products.

Product packaging in sachets gained traction in Nigeria in the mid-90s when, first,  the “pure water” industry emerged. Later, in a bid to secure market share, a popular milk brand introduced into the market its product in sachets, and it worked for the company like magic. It has since become a juggernaut in the dairy industry, making billions annually. Its success encouraged others and soon, everywhere you turned, you saw all kinds of products packaged for sale in sachets, including, yes, tomato puree.

Tinubu’s Dilemma: Insecurity And Political Distractions

 By Tonnie Iredia

The threat by US President Donald Trump of attacking Nigeria if its government allows a continuation of what he called the persecution of Christians has remained the matter of the moment since it was made last week. 

*Tinubu
Almost every segment of the Nigerian population has had its say on the subject and many more are still reacting through all forms of communication channels.

Nigeria: What It Really Means To Act In The National Interest

 By Olu Fasan

There’s hardly any Nigerian who will disagree with the idea of acting in the national interest. Indeed, one would have to be an unrepentant renegade to say that he or she won’t act in the national interest. Yet, truth be told, very few people actually act in the national interest in Nigeria. Why?

*Tinubu

Well, first, there are those who have their own vested interests that run contrary to the national interest. Second, even though the concept of the national interest should be an objective reality, it often founders on the bedrock of subjectivism. 

Trump’s Sabre-Rattling As Wake-Up Call, Shot-In-The-Arm

 By Adekunle Adekoya

It is no longer news that President Donald Trump of the United States has designated our dear country, Nigeria, as a CPC — Country of Particular Concern.

*Trump
It is also no longer news that the US president further threatened military action against our country should the political leadership fail to curtail what he said was the killing of Christians in Nigeria. By now, we also all know that Trump has asked for a “plan” of military action to save Christians in Nigeria.

Bola Tinubu’s Diminished Presidency

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Many are outraged that President Donald Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country.” I am too. But my anger is not against Trump. I am angry with President Bola Tinubu who brought this insult on us. The only reason why Trump would disparage this country of over 200 million people is because Tinubu has damaged our collective reputation in the eyes of the international community.

*Tinubu

An African adage says, “He who fetches ant-infested firewood invites lizards in his house.” So, I am not cross with Trump’s showboating. Yes, as a Nigerian, my national pride is deeply hurt when the president of another country ridicules mine.

Nigeria Doesn’t Need A Military Coup; It Needs Enlightened, Active Citizens

 By Olu Fasan

However much the Presidency tried to explain away President Bola Tinubu’s last-minute cancellation of this year’s Independence Day parade, it was clear that something was amiss.

For such a milestone as Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, it was beyond belief that the president would abruptly ditch the parade on the strange excuse that the Armed Forces should not be sidetracked from fighting terrorism, as if the entire military would be on the parade ground. An intelligent guess would suggest that President Tinubu was probably warned against appearing in public because of an attempted coup d’etat. Put simply, he was apparently alerted to danger ahead and shielded from it. 

Throwback To When Nigeria Lost Children At Lekki Tollgate

 By Ebuka Ukoh

October 20, 2020, was an unforgettable Tuesday. Then, I sat at home, watching DJ Switch’s Instagram livestream, my phone trembling in my hands as her voice broke through the darkness.

The sound of gunfire echoed over the national anthem. Flags fluttered in blood and fear. Protesters—unarmed, singing, kneeling—were sprayed with bullets. I remember feeling sick. Not just in my body, but in my soul. I knew how this would end. We all did.

In Nigeria, power too often answers activism, not with dialogue but with death.

Has Social Media Corrupted Nigeria’s Moral Compass?

 By Shuaib Agaka

When the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, speaks about social media, his primary concern isn’t data privacy or investment—it’s morality.

In a report by  Tech Digest, the country’s top technology regulator was quoted as saying:  “We want to see people using it to promote digital safety, to promote content that will build a stronger nation.”  He lamented that most Nigerians now use social media purely for entertainment. His words strike at the heart of a growing national crisis: as we become one of the world’s largest social media markets, our moral compass and cultural identity are being shaped by algorithms that reward vanity, vulgarity and viral shock value.

Putting An End To Igbophobia

By Ralp Egbu

I had a choice to begin the dissection of national disorganization from reconciliation and unity but I told myself that the right way to enduring reconciliation and national unity would be to first of all discover the unit problems so we can put whatever solutions we come up with in their proper perspective. When this is done we get to the root of the problems.

The bane of national development has had to do with two basic approaches, take problems from the superficial level of the symptoms. World organizations lead us to run with the slogan “wipe out malaria by 2027” and when we want to start we begin with spending very huge national resources to purchase foreign made mosquito nets.

Bokku Advert Is Psychological Warfare

 

By Amanze Obi

Anybody who thinks that the ethnic slur from Bokku Supermarket directed at the Igbo was a mistake must be scratching the issue on the surface. Bokku was certainly no happenstance. It was a well-scripted, properly rehearsed enemy action released to the public for a predetermined purpose – to ridicule the Igbo. 

Those who are wondering how the offensive video passed through all the regulatory authorities and their layers of approval without objection or censorship are not being perceptive enough. When enemy action is at play, censorship takes the back stage. It does not come into the mix.

Independent And Unaccountable: A New Code For Nigeria’s Judiciary

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

Among the doctrines that underpin the legal process in Nigeria, few are as profound and pervasive as judicial independence, but no doctrine in the ecosystem of the law rivals its elusiveness.

The idea is ubiquitous in the syllabus of every programme leading to the award of a degree in law, in political science or public administration. After leaving the university, the practitioner will encounter it regularly in conferences and in after-dinner speeches.

The First Time I Was Battered By Policemen

 By Owei Lakemfa

The  images of the police taking on demonstrators in the streets of  Tanzania and Cameroun, following disputed elections,  remind me of the first time I was battered by policemen.

I was 17 and had gone to the Kings Cinema on Lewis street, Lagos Island. After the film, my friend, Albert Biodun Okopie and I were, like many film goers, excitedly discussing the film as we walked on the road.  When  we got to the Magregor Canal, we noticed a small crowd. Parked was a reconfigured 911 bus popularly called ‘Molue’. We joined the crowd to find out what was going on. Two policemen ordered  the crowd to disperse.