“As consistently maintained by all who believe in Nigeria’s sovereignty, it is unacceptable for the United States of America (USA), or any foreign power, to make laws for this country or compel the repeal of existing ones under whatever guise…

The recent advisory 

compiled by the US House Committee on Appropriation and Foreign Affairs and submitted to the White House, crosses that line. Among other recommendations, it called for the abolition of Sharia codes, and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, a proposal that amounts to a direct onslaught on the freedom of religion of a significant segment of Nigerian society” – Daily Trust Editorial, March 2, 2026.

I am a Christian and I agree totally with the position taken by the newspaper on this matter. I am probably the only non-northerner in Lagos Island who subscribes to Daily Trust. One former vendor got curious after delivering the paper together with three others one day and said:

“Oga, I hope you don’t mind my asking; why do you but that Northern paper? You are the only individual in Lagos who buys it.”

My answer was short and sharp: “I don’t want to be an ignorant southerner commenting on events and people in the North. Daily Trust is their paper.” He left shaking his head in disbelief. A greater shock awaited him a few months later. As he was delivering the paper, he noticed a copy of the Quran in English on the side table. Unable to hold his tongue, he asked: “Are you a Muslim? I thought you are a Christian.” My reply was again short and sharp: “I am a Christian, but, this is my third Quran. The first two were stolen. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar gave me this one. I read it because I don’t want to be an ignorant Christian commenting on Islam.” Unfortunately, that Quran might be missing again. I hope to replace it soon. Though born and raised in Lagos until 1964, with a great deal of religious tolerance, my real eye-opener on religions occurred in the USA in 1964.

I left Lagos on August 4, 1964, clutching an American government scholarship for university education, believing that only two religions existed in the world – Christianity and Islam. School resumed on September 14 and my roommate was a Mormon from Utah State. Mormonism is a religion and the university was founded by Jews. By the time I went to bed, two more religions have been added to my list. That, as it turned out, was only the beginning of my education and knowledge about the over 1000 religions practiced globally. Among the 3,600 students enrolled in the university, approximately 200 were foreigners – from all the continents of the world. My first lecture on Philosophy 1a, a compulsory subject, landed me right between an Indian Bhuddist and a Peruvian worshipping in a different way. Add two more religions. By the end of October of 1964, I had come across people claiming eleven different religions. It didn’t take long for me to realize that religion, which we treated with levity in Lagos and Western Nigeria, was as dangerous as dynamite. My curiosity was aroused; so much so I undertook a full year course in COMPARATIVE RELIGION in my junior year. Thereafter, matters of religion are treated with deep respect and understanding. To me, wisdom consists in never disparaging anybody’s religion; live and let live.

THE UNIQUENESS OF ISLAM

“Comparisons can sometimes be misleading.” That was the caution handed down by the lecturer who took us through Bhuddism. He also made a point, which had escaped my attention, until 1967. Islam, although classified as a religion, is actually a complete way of life. Furthermore, it is the only religion started with a Holy Book. Mohammed (Peace Be Unto Him) presented the Quran in a way no other leader did, until the Grail Message to guide believers on every aspect of their lives. The Holy Bible (I have a photocopy of the first version brought from the Middle-East) was not written by Jesus. That difference alone might be responsible for how people handle the Bible and the Quran. Like most church leaders, I have a working Bible; which is full of notes in the margins. By contrast, there has never been even a ball-point mark in any Quran I have owned; not because of fear of reprisals, but, because there is a specific injunction against marking it.

The long narrative has been necessary in order for readers to understand my attitude towards Sharia Laws – which are mostly acceptable to me – provided they are limited to Muslims and nobody else is forced to live with them or is judged by their provisions.

WHY SHARIA SHOULD STAY 

“There is almost nothing which the Holy Quran and Sharia abhor which the Bible and Christianity approve.” That was my declaration when Governor Yerima of Zamfara State first proposed Sharia in the early 2000s and ignited a storm of protest – mostly by Christians; who never read the Quran. To some extent, Muslims have some advantage in this regard. More Muslims, especially in the South and Middle-Belt, are educated in Christian schools than the other way round. The first primary and secondary schools in Nigeria were established by Christian missionaries; even the first private universities – Igbinedion, Covenant, Caleb, Madonna, Redeemers etc – were Christian institutions. Consequently, Muslims understand Christianity more than we understand Islam. Thus most of the objections to Sharia Law are based on ignorance; which we stubbornly refuse to correct. Fortunately, there is a starting point – the Ten Commandments.

I wrote a Term Paper on the Ten Commandments highlighting the similarities in its injunctions, those in the Jewish Talmud and parts of the Quran. It was crystal clear to me that at the core of the three great religions which originated in the Nile basin, there was more agreement than disagreement on right and wrong. Virtually all the sins enumerated in the Quran can be derived from the Ten Commandments, and vice versa. That is why I feel personally distressed when Christians confuse the horrors perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISWAP etc with Sharia. In fact, terrorists are anti-Sharia; they have ignored the instructions of Prophet Mohammed absolutely.

Guilt by association has never resulted in substantive justice. Millions of Muslims, particularly in the South and Middle-Belt, have never harmed anyone on account of his/her religion. That is an indisputable fact. They also wish to be subjected to Islamic law as much as possible. Contrary to the half-truths being spread about Nigerian laws, they are not totally free of religious bias. Several aspects of our laws favour Christian traditions – monogamous marriage, work free Sundays and Public Holidays on December 26. Even acceptable judicial garments were relics of our colonial Christian past. Because Islam recognizes only one God, nobody is addressed as “My Lord” in a Sharia Court. So, lets us be honest with ourselves, the English Court is a Christian Court. Jesus said: “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”. Islam gives everything to Allah. The difference is fundamental and the Sharia Law is meant to guide faithful Muslims along the right path to salvation. Sharia Law is not anti-Christianity; it stands separate from common law.

To revoke Sharia in Nigeria will amount to the greatest injustice against Muslims. At any rate, it will create more problems than it would solve. We should ignore America.

WHO FINANCES THE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS IN NIGERIA?

“Five-year port drug seizures hit N3tn – Report” (March 5, 2026)

Most Nigerians gloss over one of the most destructive problems affecting Nigeria right now. Until now, we never had a metric for measuring the enormity of the problem of pervasive drug addiction – which has found its way down to primary schools. Now we have; and perhaps now Nigeria will take a more serious look at the growing catastrophe.

For a long time, the economics of the drug problem had bothered me. But, there was no handle; nothing that would attract the interest of political, educational, military, religious as well as social leaders. The report on March 5, 2026 has offered us as a nation a way to address this issue.

Only Nigerian seaports were involved in the five-year estimates. That was alarming enough. No estimates have been provided for seizures at airports; at land borders and those confiscated locally. Even, the seaport estimates exclude the consignments routed through Cotonou port; where goods Nigeria-bound are seldom searched for illicit drugs. For all we know, about N15 trillion worth of drugs might have been involved. As an economist, it suddenly occurred to me that we might be going about tackling this problem the wrong way.

From news reports, it would appear to me that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, is contented to just arrest, prosecute and obtain the conviction of the traffickers. That is of limited value and the growing drug menace is proof of that.

Nigeria was largely a drug-transit nation, when the NDLEA Decree 48 of 1989 was promulgated by the Babangida administration. It is doubtful if a civilian government would have developed the courage to get it passed. Drug Lords would probably have ensured that the National Assembly, NASS, would not touch it. Today, we are fully a drug-consuming nation; and the future of Nigeria is imperiled.

My concern can be posed as a question: Can’t we do more to find the financiers of the drug trade? N15 trillion, well spent, could have achieved more positive impact nationally. Who are the people investing so much to destroy our country? We might make more headway if we trace the funds involved to the sources of investment.