Abba Moro simply stood there, ramrod, hands akimbo, mouth opened wide. Mind you, he is Nigeria’s Internal Affairs Minister.The sight was shocking; even to him. Welcome to Seme, Nigeria’s notorious border point to the West. The same thing replicates itself at the Idi’roko Border post.

The scenario simply reinforces the claim that Nigeria’s borders are porous.

Chaos rules! Traders carry out their activities in such a manner that you cannot tell when you have crossed the border. Observing the activities at the border, in fact, you may be on the Nigerian side and be haggling with a trader on the Benin Republic side.
You can buy any item of your choice ranging from rice to vegetable oil, household items, etc, with either the Naira or Cefa, currencies used in Nigeria and Benin Republic, respectively.

The trans-national nature of thea Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) makes it imperative for authorities in Nigeria to pay more than cursory attention to socio-political and in the neighbouring countries.

There is suspicion between the two religions and it is also arousing ethnic sentiments. Recent happenings have clearly demostrated that we are not united. These are what we are looking at right now and that is our priority, not power.

Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa is a first time Senator in the SeventhNational Assembly, representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, on the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. In this interview, Ashafa, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development spoke on the viability of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the proposed party that some leading opposition parties merged into, his experience in the Senate and controversies trailing reported damages to underwater structures of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Governor Babangida Aliyu’s recent revelation that President Goodluck Jonathan signed an agreement with PDP and state governors to serve only a single 4-year term was like opening pandora’s box – now creating unexpected confusion and problems over the incumbent’s eligibility to run in 2015 for second term.