Nigeria Today

DSS has become Nigeria’s most proactive agency, by Tonnie Iredia 

DSS has become Nigeria’s most proactive agency, by Tonnie Iredia 

In the past, not many people knew anything about the Department of State Services (DSS) formerly known as the State Security Service (SSS). The few who knew something about the organization merely called it, government spy or the Secret Police because it reportedly operated in secrecy, wearing hoods and silencing anti-establishment critics. Indeed, its personnel […]
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For Nigeria’s survival: Let’s support NAFDAC, by Tonnie Iredia

For Nigeria’s survival: Let’s support NAFDAC, by Tonnie Iredia

In a country such as Nigeria where politics permanently determines the matter of the moment, discerning citizens must find time to occasionally draw attention to more critical issues that the political class often ignores. When rating a nation, issues such as the economic and political stability of the nation as well as its international posture […]

Nigeria: A country of media instructors, by Tonnie Iredia

Nigeria: A country of media instructors, by Tonnie Iredia

The role of the media in Nigeria’s development has been remarkable. First, no other group played a more crucial role than the media in the struggle for the country’s independence. The great leaders of the nationalist movements such as Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro and Ibrahim Imman recognized the immense power […]

AFCON: Superiority of motivation over compensation, by Tonnie Iredia

AFCON: Superiority of motivation over compensation, by Tonnie Iredia

For a very long time, I had stopped watching matches involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the simple reason that the team always displayed uninspiring performance. More often than not, they would labour to retrieve the ball from an opponent only to pass it on either to a well-marked teammate or to return it to […]

Fubara’s removal: Judiciary holds the key, by Tonnie Iredia

Fubara’s removal: Judiciary holds the key, by Tonnie Iredia

Nigeria changed from the parliamentary system of government to the presidential system in 1979. Since then, no president has been removed from office using the impeachment proceedings approved by the constitution. Seven governors have however been impeached but none has stood the test of time. Six of the affected governors had their impeachments nullified while that […]

Gains of Akpabio’s new year resolution, by Tonnie Iredia

Gains of Akpabio’s new year resolution, by Tonnie Iredia

The beginning of a new year is usually an opportunity for some people to solemnly proclaim a new behaviour for the next 365 days. Although not many are able to keep to the declarations they make on the fateful day, the beginning of another year once again ushers in fresh declarations – a trend which has […]

Dangote illuminates Nigeria’s abandoned values, by Tonnie Iredia

Dangote illuminates Nigeria’s abandoned values, by Tonnie Iredia

In precolonial Africa, the societal values of honesty, respect and fairness were influenced by shared norms and beliefs which fostered healthy relationships. Everyone cherished the values and no one needed to be threatened with written sanctions in order to keep faith with the norms. Perhaps, the most important factor which aided general acceptance of shared […]

Nigeria’s insecurity: Whither state police? By Tonnie Iredia

Nigeria’s insecurity: Whither state police? By Tonnie Iredia

Many scholars are agreed that in running large entities, be they companies or even countries, there is wisdom in embracing decentralization whereby decision-making powers are distributed across various levels. It stands to reason therefore that a large heterogeneous political entity such as Nigeria which is almost 4 times the size of the United Kingdom ought to […]

Let’s obey courts on vehicle inspection, by Tonnie Iredia

Let’s obey courts on vehicle inspection, by Tonnie Iredia

Extortion of members of the public under the guise of law enforcement has for years served as a covert strategy by which officials of certain societal institutions in Nigeria enhance their own take-home pay. It is irrelevant that such enhancements are illegal. What is important is that all over Nigeria, vehicle owners and commercial drivers are […]

Who are Tinubu’s true friends? By Tonnie Iredia

Who are Tinubu’s true friends? By Tonnie Iredia

For some two weeks now, a well-crafted piece on what was called Nigeria’s true enemy circulated briefly across some digital platforms of the social media. The title was “It’s about time Nigerians know their true enemy. Listen attentively and understand that we must unite and overpower our common enemy. God bless Nigeria.”  The narrative the piece […]

Adding fuel to Nigeria’s political tension, by Tonnie Iredia

Adding fuel to Nigeria’s political tension, by Tonnie Iredia

Not less than three years out of a four-year tenure of a truly representative government ought to be devoted to the execution of development projects. This is a target that all third world countries should strive to achieve in order to improve the living conditions of their impoverished people. Unfortunately, it is not what is currently […]

Real causes of Nigeria’s low voter turn-out, by Tonnie Iredia

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 […]

Tinubu’s dilemma: Insecurity and political distractions, by Tonnie Iredia

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.  Almost every segment of the Nigerian population has had its say on the subject and many more are […]

Imposed consensus: Bane of Nigeria’s party system, by Tonnie Iredia

Imposed consensus: Bane of Nigeria’s party system, by Tonnie Iredia

The advantage which democracy supposedly has over all other forms of government is its inclination to guarantee the politics of equality. As a matter of fact, it is in a democracy that several freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of association etc. are usually found. That is why democracy is generally hailed as the […]

Rushed clearance of INEC chair: For what? By Tonnie Iredia

Rushed clearance of INEC chair: For what? By Tonnie Iredia

Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), outgoing Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos is now the chairman of Nigeria’s electoral body – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The entire process of nomination, scrutiny, endorsement, approval and appointment wasas far as the public was concerned concluded within a week. What was the speed for? […]

Certificate scandal: Minister’s resignation not enough! By Tonnie Iredia

Certificate scandal: Minister’s resignation not enough! By Tonnie Iredia

The uproar generated by the allegation that Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology forged both his degree and NYSC certificates has simmered considerably following the Minister’s resignation. But why he resigned is not clear. Did he resign because he was weighed down by the enormity of the scandal? Could it be […]