SOME readers of this column would be absolutely right if they conclude that writing on corruption in Nigeria is a waste of time. It might be, but what prompted a fresh interest in a national problem that has defied solutions forever are two developments earlier in the week. First one was a report by Transparency International, […]

What initially began as isolated incidents after the death of Mohammed Yusuf, the late founder of Boko Haram after his death in July 2009 later balooned into full-scale insurgency with which we have struggled to no end for 16 years. Then, the insurgents were trying to establish control over ungoverned spaces in parts of Borno State […]

IN the January 9 edition of this column, I discussed taxation, the new tax laws and the well-being of our country and our people in so far as taxation is concerned. Writing under the headline Government, Nigerians and Taxation, I surmised that a huge chunk of our people will remain outside the tax net and that tax […]

Just few days into the new year 2026, peace was, for the umpteenth time, shattered nationwide and in Kaduna State in particular when on Sunday 18 January, more than 170 worshippers were kidnapped in three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. First, we have become so unfortunate with insecurity that we are […]

MY fellow countrymen and women are surely in for a very rough ride along a very rough, bad road that leads to nowhere through a wilderness created and sustained by politicians and civil servants. You might like to ask why I’m writing this, or what led me to this conclusion. You see, sometime last year, […]

LAST week, I discussed here that the governments of Nigeria will have to do more to enable Nigerians pay tax the way the government wants them to pay it. The new tax laws which came into effect January 1, despite the furore over what was passed and what was gazetted is supposed to be a step in […]

HAPPY New Year to all Nigerians, especially those who read this newspaper and this column. The year that ended about 48 hours ago was one hell of a year, by way of experience, particularly for those of us in Nigeria. On the political front, it was as interesting as ever, what with shameless defections from opposition parties […]

WHAT amounted to an earthquake occurred in the oil sector in the week ending today. Mallam Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, fell from his Olympian heights and his resignation from office was suddenly announced after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa Wednesday evening. In […]

TWO major ironies are staring Nigeria in the face at the moment, in so far as it concerns air travel. A few days ago,  the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development rolled out the drums to celebrate 100 years of civil aviation in Nigeria. An international air show was organised and held in Abuja, among other events, […]

CURIOUS. And curiouser.  That’s how I can describe happenings on the Defence turf. Just weeks ago, immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa exited active service as a uniformed soldier. His exit, still unexplained, led to the elevation of his immediate subordinates into vacancies created by his exit. The burly Chief of […]

THERE can be no further doubt in the minds of the average Nigerian that our dear country faces a clear and present danger on many fronts. The immediate one is the unrelenting wave of terror attacks, exemplified by repeated attacks on communities in Kwara State, which was preceded by abduction of Kebbi school girls, now said […]

“There are no poor countries- only failed systems for managing resources. “ –‘ Avram Noam Chomsky My discourse this week is inspired by the quote above, credited to Avram Noam Chomsky (born 1928), an American intellectual and professor known and celebrated for his work in social critivism, liguistics and political activism. He, according to Wikipedia, describes […]

SEVERAL months ago, the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced a bid to ban sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in satchets. 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 satchets gained traction in Nigeria […]

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. 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 […]

EARLIER in the week, two renowned economists, one a businessman and the other a traditional ruler used the occasion of a book launch by the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja to speak truth to power. They are HRH Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and […]