THE Northern Nigeria of today comprises 19 states, and to a very large extent, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Despite the heterogeneous ethnic composition of the North, the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group still predominates, with over 70 percent of its people belonging to the Hausa-Fulani ethnic stock. By extension, the historical evolution of the Hausa group is closely linked with other ethnic groups that can be found in the region.

AFGHANISTAN! That was what it called its base in Kanamma, Yobe State. It uses guerrilla tactics as a means of doing devilish things, yet it professes Godliness.

Eight years after it was set up, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may have recovered $11 billion and achieved over 600 prosecutions. However, the perception in some quarters is that the commission could have done more were the imbecility of politics not a factor in its activities. Whereas there appears to have been a shift from the corruption-laden environment which predated the establishment of EFCC, this report brings into sharp focus the challenges of anti-corruption in a socio-political environment with clashing interests.

Many may not know that last Thursday’s bomb blast was the second attempt on the life of Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim. The first was last month – by a police officer who had attempted to either use voodoo or bombs. We’ll get to that later.

THERE is no way you would visit the Delta Steel Company, DSC, Ovwian-Aladja, Delta State, the foremost integrated steel plant in Nigeria and south of the Sahara, formerly owned by the Federal Government, but now sold to an Indian company, Global Steel Holdings Limited, GSHL, headed by Mr. Pramod Mitel, without weeping for Nigeria. No matter how you look at it, it is clear that all is not well with the company, presently owned 80 per cent by a foreigner and 20 per cent by Nigeria.