Arresting the diphtheria scourge
Nigeria’s continuing diphtheria outbreak is a grim reminder that preventable diseases can become deadly when public-health systems fail to sustain basic immunisation. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says more than 10,000 confirmed cases have been recorded in 2026, with Kano, Borno and Bauchi among the worst-affected states. The figures are particularly […]
Protecting our domestic refiners
The subtle war of interests between domestic refiners of petroleum products and their counterparts who import same is normal in a liberalised economy like ours. The letters and spirit of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 2021 intend that both should exist side by side, and this has ensured adequate, reliable and sustainable petroleum products availability, […]
Developing a reliable social register
The vexed issue of evolving a professionally designed and operated National Social Register, NSR, to help the most vulnerable elements of our society came up once again at a stakeholder forum in Lagos last week under the theme: “Advancing Social Protection Through the National Social Register, NSR”. At the event, the National Coordinator of the […]
Getting serious about basic education
The United Nations International Children’s Education Fund, UNICEF’s, warning is clear: every child has the right to education, but Nigeria is failing to uphold this most basic of rights. With one in every five out-of-school children in the world found in Nigeria, the crisis has reached a breaking point. Indeed, Nigeria holds the dubious “world […]
Iran’s water crisis: A warning for Nigeria
Iran’s escalating water crisis serves as a chilling harbinger for nations grappling with similar vulnerabilities, including Nigeria. Iran faces one of its most severe droughts in decades, exacerbated by chronic water mismanagement, climate change, and overexploitation of resources. A nationwide rainfall deficit of around 45 per cent has left reservoirs critically low, with 80 per […]
Kidnapping, a thriving “industry”!
The latest report by SBM Intelligence should jolt Nigeria’s leaders into reality. Between July 2024 and June 2025, kidnappers demanded more than N48 billion in ransom. SBM Intelligence’s study titled: “The Locust Business: The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry – A 2025 Update” confirmed that N2.56 billion was paid as ransom, with 4,722 civilians abducted […]
