When will Nigeria’s IDP camps finally close?
For millions of internally displaced Nigerians scattered across about 3,900 camps and settlements nationwide, home is no longer a place of comfort but a distant memory. Many have spent years in camps established as temporary shelters that have gradually evolved into permanent settlements. The question that should trouble every Nigerian is: when will these IDP […]
Niger Republic and our 2019 elections
NIGERIANS have been watching with utter bewilderment the increasing, unabashed involvement of Niger Republic in our affairs since 2015.
Our stagnated corruption perception
ON Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Transparency International (TI), which annually monitors corruption in 180 countries around the world, released the result of the Corruption Perception Index of 2018. It showed that Nigeria had “moved up” from its 148th position in the index of 2017 to 144th least corrupt country in 2018.
Oil price instability and the 2019 budget
Traditionally, the government sets the oil price benchmark at about 15 per cent below the ruling market price at the point of budget preparation. It is also important to note that because of our oil-dependency, any significant shift in the oil price benchmark would mess up the budget.
US, EU and UK’s stand against election-riggers
As recently as January 24, 2019, the US and UK threatened not to issue visas to those identified for abetting election-rigging. The US warned: “We and other democratic nations will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during and after the elections.”
Bishop Kukah’s Almajiri challenge
IN May 2017, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, offered to train the estimated over ten million street urchins in the Muslim North, popularly known as Almajiris, in skill acquisitions of their choice.
