AS Nigeria’s 51st independence anniversary approaches, major parts of the country, especially the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Lagos state, the commercial hub of Nigeria have been placed on red alert based on fear of possible security breaches. This is also against the backdrop of last year’s independence bombing that almost marred the golden jubilee celebration in Abuja.

For a greater part of last year, the crime in vogue was kidnapping of wealthy individuals for ransom. This came on the heels of armed militancy in the Niger Delta region of the country. Oil workers were kidnapped by the militants and were only released when huge sums of money were paid by their employers or relations.

August 6 marked a significant shift in the relationship between the ruled and the rulership in Kano as over nine million citizens for the first time in Kano’s recent history got the opportunity to listen to the account of the stewardship of the their number one citizen, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and as well ask questions on the policy and programmes of the government.

As poor as some residents of Ido Local Government area of the state are, they paid through their noses to get health care delivery. Though, the last administration in Oyo State gave the impression that health care was free, many patients in the 33 local government areas in the state, especially in Akufo, Onigbinde, Ogundele Alaho and its environs still paid for medical treatment. No wonder, many of them preferred the alternative traditional treatment.

It was indeed a sad day of reckoning for three suspected drug traffickers as their get-rich-quick escapade was effectively foiled by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. Among the suspects was a 35-year-old man, Udeh Donatus Chukwuka, 35, who ingested both cocaine and heroin.