Editorial

Dangers of state governments bankrolling mass weddings

Kano’s recent announcement that it spent N1.5bn to bankroll mass weddings should prompt national alarm rather than applause. Kano State remains rampant in the worrying roster of northern states – including Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Borno – that have for years organised and financed large-scale nuptial ceremonies. Authorities offer three common rationales: to reduce […]
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Tinubu’s deadline to end insecurity

President Bola Tinubu’s December 2025 deadline for the armed forces to end insecurity in Nigeria is a fresh approach to the duties of his office as Commander-in-Chief. It is different from the usual “marching orders” that no longer means anything, even to the military and police personnel. In most cases, the armed forces and police […]

Restoration of Naira-Crude deal

For the downstream sector of our petroleum industry, it is a sigh of relief as the Federal Government has reaffirmed the continuation of supply of crude oil to our domestic refineries in Naira rather than Dollar payments. The policy, which was authorised by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, in October last year, was disrupted in […]

Rebutting VP Shettima on federalism

The flashpoint of Nigerian federalism was re-stoked recently at a media company’s event in Abuja where Vice President Kashim Shettima once again beat the shop-worn drum of the status quo. For him, there is nothing wrong with our current federal structure. “The problems we attribute to our federal system,” he was quoted as saying, “often […]

US tariff tango: Let’s negotiate

Nigeria reacted furiously to the imposition by United States President, Donald Trump, of 14 per cent tariff on Nigeria’s exports to the USA by “banning” the import of 25 product categories. In line with his campaign promise to even up with countries “cheating” the US on trade, Trump on April 2, 2025 (which he dubbed […]

Gov. Otti’s bid to recall sacked non-indigenes

Any moment from now, the Abia State Government will complete the protocol for the reinstatement of non-indigenes purged from the state’s Civil Service by the administration of former Governor Theodore Orji in 2011, an act that Governor Alex Otti described as “illegal”. While implementing the controversial policy back then, Governor Orji had argued that since […]

Re-emergence of anthrax

An outbreak of anthrax recently reported in a farm in Zamfara State serves as another stark reminder of the ongoing public health challenges in Nigeria. Confirming the outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development called for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate risks associated with the disease. Before this, in July 2023, Nigeria reported […]

Tragedy and shame of Uromi killings

On Thursday, March 27, a group of irate vigilante personnel descended on 16 persons travelling to the North and gruesomely murdered them in the Uromi area of Edo State. Videos of the barbaric act sparked outrage on the internet and dominated discussions throughout last week. The spectre of jungle justice, whereby victims are put to […]

What’s age got to do with it?

The Bill seeking to alter the Constitution to disqualify those 60 years and above from contesting for Executive offices such as President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor, has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo State). If it becomes part of our Constitution, it […]

Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at 70

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, marked its 70th birthday anniversary on March 15, 2025. Comrade Alhasan Yahya Abdullahi, the new NUJ President, has the honour of holding the helm at this juncture of the Union’s history. It was founded in 1955, with the late Mobolaji Odunewu as its pioneer President, and Olu Oyesanya, Secretary. […]

Tinubu’s moment of sober reflections

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, celebrated his 73rd official birthday. It was his second birthday anniversary in office as Nigeria’s leader. Beyond the euphoria of celebration and effusive outpouring of real or pretentious goodwill which is normal for a person of his high status, we hope he took out time […]

Yet another jailbreak at Koton Karfe

The jailbreak reported on Monday, March 24, 2025 at the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kogi State, has brought the issue of security at our various correctional centres to the front burner again. The 253 custodial centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, have experienced many jailbreaks over the years, but the Koton Karfe […]

National Assembly weakening our democracy

Since the return of democracy in 1999, sleaze has always been seen as the second shadow of our National Assembly. During the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senators were regularly induced to change their leadership, which resulted in the emergence of four Senate Presidents between 1999 and 2003. Large sums of money were moved […]

Passage of contentious tax reform bills

On March 18, 2025, the House of Representatives finally passed the highly contentious tax reform bills sponsored by President Bola Tinubu to upgrade our tax laws. All was set for the Senate to do the same, but for the distractions occasioned by the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State and the “sexual harassment” […]

Oshiomhole goofed on Prof Nwosu and June 12

It is very unfortunate that the need for posthumous recognition of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the Chief Electoral Umpire of the acclaimed June 12, 1993 general elections, has been reduced to a tribal or sectional mess. Following calls from well-meaning Nigerians, including this newspaper, for the naming of the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral […]

A worthy honour for President Jonathan

We heartily congratulate former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over his nomination for the 2025 edition of the Sunhak Peace Award. It was established in 2015 to honour the legacies of Sun Myung Moon, Founder of the Unification Church in South Korea. The Award, which is described as an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize, will […]

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