The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

How FRSC failed Anthony Joshua
- By Tajudeen Kareem
The tragic road crash which claimed the lives of two close associates of Anthony Joshua—Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, both 36—is not merely an unfortunate accident. It is a blazing indictment of systemic failures, institutional negligence, and a government that has normalized preventable deaths on our highways.

While the nation breathes a sigh of relief that Joshua survived with minor injuries, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: this tragedy, like many before it, was entirely preventable. The collision with a stationary truck near Sagamu exposes the rot at the core of Nigeria’s road safety infrastructure—a rot characterized by enforcement lethargy, abandoned infrastructure, and a federal agency that appears more adept at issuing press releases than protecting lives.

The FRSC’s preliminary report attributes the crash to “excessive speed and wrongful overtaking.” While driver error undoubtedly played a role, this narrative conveniently deflects attention from the agency’s own glaring failures. The critical question nobody in authority wants to answer is this: Why was a broken-down truck allowed to remain stationary on one of Nigeria’s busiest expressways?

Reports indicate that the truck had been parked on the roadside for an extended period—some accounts said three days. This raises fundamental questions about the FRSC’s highway patrol effectiveness. Where were the routine patrols? Why wasn’t the hazard identified and removed? Why weren’t warning signs erected? The FRSC’s subsequent response after the crash is commendable, but it is cold comfort when the agency failed in its primary duty: prevention.

The corps has spent years touting its speed enforcement initiatives, yet speed limits remain largely theoretical on Nigerian highways. Electronic speed monitoring devices, otherwise called speed limiters, are nowhere to be found. The absence of systematic enforcement means that speed limit laws exist only on paper—another tragic example of Nigeria’s enforcement gap, where regulations abound but compliance is optional.

Read Also: Akpabio ends legal battles, withdraws all defamation suits after New Year sermon

Even more scandalous is the fate of the trailer parks constructed by the Ogun State government specifically to address the menace of stationary trucks on highways. The Gateway Trailer Park at Ogere, commissioned years ago with much fanfare, tells the story of Nigeria’s infrastructure tragedy.

In 2015, the Ogun State government had to issue evacuation notices for abandoned vehicles at the very facility meant to house them. By 2019, stakeholders were calling for the park’s “revival”—an admission that it had essentially died. In 2021, the state government announced a partnership with the federal government to “resuscitate and develop” the park—further confirmation of its dormancy.

What happened? The answer is depressingly familiar: lack of maintenance, inadequate management, absence of enforcement compelling truck owners to use the facilities, and the slow decay that afflicts most government projects in Nigeria once the commissioning photographs fade.

Ogun State built these parks at considerable expense to taxpayers. Yet trucks continue to park dangerously on expressway shoulders, creating death traps for unsuspecting motorists. This represents not just wasted resources but a betrayal of public trust. The parks stand as monuments to governmental incompetence—infrastructure built for political optics rather than operational utility.

How grim statistics tell the story

The numbers are staggering and shameful. By mid-2025, nearly 3,000 lives had been lost to road crashes in just six months, according to FRSC data. By September 2025, over 7,700 crashes had claimed nearly 4,000 lives and injured 24,000 more. In 2024 alone, 5,421 people died in road accidents—a seven percent increase from the previous year.

These are not just statistics; they are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, friends and colleagues whose lives were cut short on highways that should have been safe.

The causes are well-documented: speeding, brake failure, poor road conditions, lack of emergency response infrastructure, and critically, the absence of enforcement of existing safety regulations. Yet year after year, the death toll mounts while the authorities issue statements, promise investigations, and then return to business as usual.

Nigeria suffers from what can only be described as an enforcement crisis. We have laws against speed violations, regulations requiring roadworthy vehicles, rules prohibiting parking on highways, and mandates for emergency vehicle removal. On paper, Nigeria’s road safety framework is comprehensive. In practice, it is non-existent.

The FRSC lacks the requisite personnel, technology, and apparently the political will to enforce these regulations systematically. Corrupt officers are more interested in collecting bribes at checkpoints than ensuring compliance with safety standards. State governments build infrastructure and then abandon it to decay. Truck owners ignore designated parks because they know there are no consequences.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan captured this failure perfectly when she said: “Rules without enforcement are meaningless. The Federal Road Safety Corps must be empowered and compelled to fully enforce road safety regulations across all highways in Nigeria, without fear or favour.” She is right. But empowerment alone is insufficient if there is no accountability for failure. The FRSC must be held responsible when stationary trucks turn into death traps, when speed limits are ignored with impunity, and when broken-down vehicles languish on highways for days.

Another glaring deficiency exposed by this tragedy is Nigeria’s non-existent highway emergency response infrastructure. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has rightly called for the establishment of dedicated highway emergency rescue teams equipped with ambulances, trauma care facilities, and rapid response protocols.

Currently, accident victims depend on the goodwill of passers-by and the sluggish response of under-equipped agencies. The difference between life and death often comes down to response time, yet Nigeria has no systematic emergency medical services along its major highways. Rest stations where fatigued drivers can recuperate safely are virtually absent. This is criminally negligent for a nation that claims to be Africa’s largest economy.

The Anthony Joshua crash has garnered international attention because of the celebrity involved. President Bola Tinubu personally called to convey condolences. Governors of Lagos and Ogun states monitored the situation. The British High Commission sent a delegation. This is appropriate.

But what of the thousands of ordinary Nigerians who die annually under similar circumstances? Every single day, Nigerians die on these roads and their deaths are reduced to footnotes in newspaper reports. This selective concern is itself an indictment of how little value our government places on ordinary Nigerian lives.

The time for platitudes and promises is over. Nigeria needs immediate, concrete action. President Tinubu may need to do a surgical operation on the structure, operations and management of the FRSC. The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is ill-prepared to supervise the agency. Road safety matters cannot be governed by political manipulations.

Going forward, the FRSC must conduct emergency sweeps of all major highways to remove stationary vehicles and hazards. Any truck broken down for more than four hours should be towed.

State governments must enforce regulations requiring heavy-duty vehicles to use designated parking facilities. Penalties for non-compliance must be severe and consistently applied. Specifically, the Ogun State government must immediately audit all trailer parks, determine why they are underutilized, address operational deficiencies, and ensure they serve their intended purpose.

The FRSC must immediately deploy electronic speed monitoring across all federal highways and make speed violations costly enough to change unruly behaviours by drivers.

The Minister of Works must be mandated to establish highway emergency teams with comprehensive coverage on major routes, equipped with ambulances and medical personnel while also embarking on regular safety assessments of all highways, identifying and removing hazards before they claim lives.

FRSC officials must face consequences when preventable deaths occur in their jurisdictions due to enforcement failures.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been dubbed “the corridor of death” for good reason. It is Nigeria’s busiest highway, yet it remains one of the most dangerous. This latest tragedy is not an aberration; it is the predictable result of years of institutional failure, governmental negligence, and a culture of impunity.

Anthony Joshua’s survival should not be the end of this story. It must be the catalyst for fundamental reform. Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami cannot be brought back, but their deaths can be given meaning if they finally force Nigeria to confront its road safety crisis with the urgency it deserves.

The FRSC must transform from a reactive agency that counts bodies to a proactive force that prevents deaths. Ogun State must explain why taxpayer-funded trailer parks stand idle while trucks create hazards on expressways. And ultimately, the Nigerian people must demand more from their leaders than condolence messages and empty promises.

•Kareem is a public policy analyst in Abuja.
January 2, 2026
Eyo festival: When Lagos turned white
- By Tayo Ogunbiyi
On Saturday, December 27, 2025, history was made at the historic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos Island, as the Lagos State government hosted the 73rd edition of the iconic Eyo Festival.

Renowned as a sacred emblem of Lagos’ ancestry, royal heritage, and cultural identity, the festival had in attendance, distinguished personalities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, alongside other eminent personalities from across the country.

The president described the Eyo Festival as a rekindling of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and a celebration of achievements, outstanding contributions, and exemplary lives of distinguished and eminent Lagosians

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding Lagos’ cultural identity in alignment with the THEMES Plus development agenda, stressing that the Eyo Festival represents unity, pride, and a bridge between tradition and modernity.

“The Eyo Festival is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to preserving Lagos’ cultural heritage. It reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and the responsibility we bear to pass our traditions on to future generations,” the governor said.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his presence and continued support for Lagos, as well as to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, for approving the staging of the festival.

The 2025 edition of the Adamu Orisa Play was particularly significant as it honoured the legacies of four eminent Lagosians whose lives and contributions have left indelible marks on the State and the nation.

They include the late Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Chief Abibat Mogaji, revered market leader and matriarch of commerce; the first military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson; the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, and former governor of Lagos State, Michael Otedola.

The Eyo tradition, historically staged to escort the souls of distinguished contributors to the ancestral realm, remains one of Africa’s most profound cultural expressions, symbolising purity, continuity, discipline, and communal strength.

The peaceful conduct of the festival, marked by a massive turnout, joy, and discipline, reflected effective planning, strong inter-agency collaboration, and the collective ownership of Lagosians over their cultural heritage.

The festival grounds came alive with a colourful procession of several Eyo Igas, led by the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe. The Eyo Igas were resplendent in their traditional white robes and symbolic Opambata staff, reinforcing the spiritual and cultural essence of the ancient tradition.

Read Also: 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

Among the Eyo groups on display were Akintoye, Ashogbon, Aromire, Ajagun, Arobadade, Akogun Olofin, Apena, Ajanaku, Asesi, Aiyeomosan, Alaagba, Asajon, Awise, Bajulaiye, Bashua, Egbe, Elegushi, Faji, Jakande, Kosoko, Dosunmu, Olofin, Ojora, Oloto, Olumegbon, Erelu Kuti, Eletu Odibo, Oshodi Tapa, Suenu, Taiwo Olowo, Oniru, Elemoro, among others.

Other dignitaries at the event included former Lagos State governors, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode; former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba; former deputy governor, Femi Pedro; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Kensington Adebutu; members of the Lagos State Executive Council; captains of industry; traditional rulers, and Nigerians in the diaspora.

The Eyo Festival remains a powerful expression of Lagos’ cultural soul and a strategic platform for positioning the state as Africa’s leading cultural and tourism destination, while fostering intergenerational pride and promoting global cultural appreciation.

It represents a profound spiritual homecoming, deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of Isale Èkó. It serves as a living bridge between generations, where ancestral presence symbolically meets the living, and the soul of Lagos is vividly expressed.

As Lagos was painted white once again, the Eyo Festival continues to affirm the City-State as a global cultural capital, where tradition is not merely performed but preserved, where heritage lives, breathes, and walks the streets

The primordial origin of the Eyo or Adamuorisha play is shrouded in Lagos oral tradition and centred around Olori Olugbani, wife of Oba Ado, and her kinsmen Ejilu and Malaki, who brought Eyo from Ibefun in the Ijebu waterside and Awo Opa from Oyo respectively, to honour Olugbani on her death as a royal personage.

It is also posited by traditional chroniclers that the deity called Adamu Orisa was initially stationed at a place called ‘Oke-Ipa’ in the vicinity of Ikoyi, from whence the traditional socio-religious objects were relocated to the Iduntafa area of Isale Eko, Lagos Island, where Ejilu looked after Egungun masquerades. Hence, Ejilu and Malaki are credited with bringing the Adimu deity to Lagos.

History puts the date on which the Adamu Orisa play was first performed on Lagos Island as February 20, 1854, when Oba Dosumu held the passage rite in honour of his predecessor and father, Oba Akitoye.

Before then, the Oba and Chiefs of Lagos usually went out of Lagos Island to watch the performance of the play at Oke Ipa or Okepa, one of the several farming/hunting steads in the then Ikoyi Plains.

There is no regularity as to the periods of performances but it is manifest that performances of the Adamu-Orisa play since then have not been infrequent; Two performances took place during 1894, the first (in memory of the late Ajalegbe Aina) took place on March 20, 1894 and the Second (in honour of the late Tokosi of Lagos) took place on June 10, 1894.

Two performances were also recorded for each year in the following two years, as well as in 1898 and 1957. Three performances each were recorded for 1899, 1903, and 1907, whilst four performances occurred during 1904 and 1909. Records show that there were six performances in 1906, the highest in a year so far in the history of the Eyo festival in Lagos.

In 1982, a performance took place in connection with the celebrations marking 350 years of Obaship in Lagos.

In February 1985, when the then Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, was visiting Lagos State officially, a performance was locally staged in his honour at the Onikan Stadium in central Lagos.

Furthermore, on October 12, 1985, a performance was staged as part of the funeral obsequies of the late mother of the Alaiyeluwa, the Oba of Lagos, Olori Omolara Adetola Oyekan.

The performance staged locally on the April 11, 1987 was also unique in many ways. First, it was staged in connection with the commissioning of the public statue of the Eyo at Idumota Square, Lagos. Secondly, the performance was sponsored by the Lagos State government on the 20th anniversary of the creation of the state, and finally, it was also used to honour the late Pa Salisu Ibikunle, one-time Chief Akinshiku of Lagos.

The last Eyo Festival was held in 2017, with subsequent editions suspended due to public health and security concerns. As Lagos continues to position itself as a global cultural and tourism hub, the revival of the Eyo Festival underscores the city’s effort to preserve tradition while embracing its modern identity.

• Ogunbiyi is Director, Public Enlifghtenment & Community Relations, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.
January 2, 2026
In this new year

I write this from America, a country I have now called my place of residence for about four years. But distance has not diluted identity. If anything, it has sharpened it. Living abroad has a way of clarifying who you are and where your emotional compass points. For me, no matter how far I travel or how long I stay away, Nigeria still takes centre stage in my thoughts, my conversations, and the things I choose to write about.

Each morning begins with two time zones competing for attention. America supplies the routine. Work, deadlines, traffic, the hum of a system that mostly works. Nigeria supplies the pulse. News updates, phone calls, group chats, memories, arguments, laughter. Before the day is properly formed, Nigeria has already announced itself. It is in the headlines I scan. It is in the voice notes I listen to. It is in the questions I ask and the silences I notice.

Nigeria still shapes my days. It still claims my attention. It still provokes my anger and my affection in equal measure. And as this new year unfolds, I hold on to a quiet conviction that our story is not finished. That the same resilience that has carried Nigerians this far can yet carry the nation forward.

There are days when being Nigerian feels like an act of defiance. Not the loud, chest-thumping kind that comes with flags and slogans, but the quiet, stubborn refusal to surrender one’s sense of belonging to despair. To say you are proud to be Nigerian in this season often invites raised eyebrows, sometimes outright disbelief. People ask how, why, and at what cost. They list the failures of leadership, the stubborn poverty, the insecurity that refuses to be tamed, the japa exodus that has become a national reflex. They speak as if pride must be earned only when a country is perfect, or at least functioning.

Yet pride, like love, is rarely logical.

I have lived long enough as a Nigerian to know disappointment intimately. I queued under the sun for hours for services that should take minutes. I have watched brilliant people abandon their dreams or relocate because the system seems designed to punish excellence. I have felt the small humiliation of explaining Nigeria to foreigners who only know us through headlines of corruption, scams, or tragedy. There are moments when the country feels like a weight you carry rather than a home that carries you.

Nigeria is a hard country to love uncritically, but it is an impossible country to forget.

Living in America has shown me what functional systems look like. It has also shown me that efficiency does not automatically translate to warmth, and structure does not always equal soul. Here, things move on time. Processes are predictable. Rules are enforced. Yet there are moments when I miss the unpredictability of home, not the chaos, but the human texture that comes with it. The way strangers talk to one another. The way community fills the gaps institutions leave behind. The way humour rises instinctively in the face of trouble.

Being Nigerian taught me resilience long before it became a buzzword. It taught me adaptability without seminars or manuals. Plans changed. Power failed. Roads disappointed. Promises evaporated. Yet life moved forward. People adjusted. Solutions emerged. In Nigeria, survival is not a theory. It is a daily practice.

Read Also: Akpabio ends legal battles, withdraws all defamation suits after New Year sermon

I am proud of that training. It shows up everywhere Nigerians go. You see it in how we work, how we negotiate space, how we refuse to be intimidated by unfamiliar environments.

There are moments in America when I encounter Nigeria unexpectedly. In the music playing softly from a passing car. In the accent of a stranger at the grocery store. In the shared look that needs no explanation. In those moments, pride swells quietly. Not the noisy kind. The steady kind that says, we are everywhere, and we are still standing.

Nigeria’s challenges are real, and they are heavy. Insecurity has stolen lives and peace of mind. Economic pressure has shrunk dreams and widened despair. Young people feel betrayed by a country that should have protected their future. These are not abstract issues. They are personal. They affect families, friendships, and choices. They are part of the reason many now live far from home.

But pride does not require denial. It requires honesty.

I have met Nigerians abroad who downplay their origins, as if Nigeria is a phase they outgrew. I understand the impulse. The country can exhaust you. But I also know that many of the strengths they now deploy confidently were shaped here. The confidence to speak up. The instinct to solve problems on the fly. The ability to navigate complexity. Nigeria, for all its chaos, is a demanding teacher.

Our diversity is another source of pride, even though it is often weaponised against us. Over 250 ethnic groups, hundreds of languages, countless cultures, all compressed into one national space. This diversity should be our greatest asset. Instead, it is too often manipulated by politics and fear. Yet at the everyday level, Nigerians coexist, collaborate, and intermarry in ways that defy the narratives of permanent division. In markets, offices, campuses, and places of worship, identity is fluid. People are first human, then Nigerian, before they are anything else.

I am proud of Nigerians because, despite everything, we keep building lives in the cracks. We keep creating beauty in the margins. Our music travels the world. Our films tell stories that feel familiar even to strangers. Our writers insist on complexity when caricature would be easier. Our entrepreneurs innovate not because the environment is friendly, but because giving up is not in our vocabulary.

From this distance, I see Nigeria more clearly. I see its wasted potential and its stubborn promise. I see how much is broken and how much still works because ordinary people refuse to surrender. The trader opening shop at dawn. The student studying by candlelight. The professional navigating corruption without becoming corrupt. These are not heroic myths. They are everyday acts of courage.

Nigeria also lives in my language. In the phrases that slip out unconsciously. In the humour that does not translate easily. In the cadence of thought that remains unmistakably homegrown. Even when I am physically elsewhere, Nigeria frames how I interpret the world.

As a new year begins, I find myself hopeful in a way that is careful, not naïve. I do not expect miracles. I am not waiting for overnight transformation. But I wish for movement. For progress that is measurable. For leadership that understands service. For policies that center people, not power. I wish that Nigeria will begin, truly begin, to surmount its challenges, not through slogans, but through sustained action and accountability.

I wish for a country where staying becomes as viable as leaving. Where talent is rewarded, not frustrated. Where dignity is not negotiable. These wishes are not unrealistic. They are necessary.

Living abroad has taught me that no country is perfect. Every nation has its contradictions, its blind spots, its unfinished work. The difference lies in how seriously those problems are confronted. Nigeria deserves that seriousness. It deserves citizens who criticise without contempt and hope without illusion.

My final take: I am proud to be Nigerian. From here. From anywhere. And with hope that the year ahead will mark the beginning of Nigeria rising, slowly but surely, above the weight of its challenges.

January 2, 2026
Blueprint for a Nigerian-led humanitarian system
- By Kennedy Elaigwu Awodi
I have watched, with a keen and hopeful eye, as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction begins to chart a bold new course under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Bernard Mohammed Doro. His tenure, though relatively new, is already defined by a strategic shift from the old, palliative model of aid to one rooted in sustainable, locally-owned systems and unflinching accountability. This is the fundamental, generational change our humanitarian and social protection space has desperately needed, and I believe we are witnessing the emergence of a true architect of hope.

The reports from the recent high-level engagements with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) are not just standard press releases; they are concrete evidence of a minister ready for what he rightly calls “the heavy lifting.”

The meeting with UN-OCHA, led by Trond Jensen, highlights what I see as Doro’s single most important strategic victory to date: repositioning Nigeria to take full, sovereign ownership of its humanitarian destiny. The UN-OCHA’s global shift towards empowering national institutions is recognition of Nigeria’s capacity, but it takes a determined national leader to seize that opportunity. Doro didn’t just welcome this direction; he immediately aligned it with the government’s core agenda to strengthen subnational structures.

His response—reaffirming the ministry’s determination to build a unified national framework where all partners (federal, state, NGOs, and development agencies) work seamlessly—is an antidote to the historically fragmented and often duplicative aid landscape. The announcement of the upcoming National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction is not mere bureaucracy; it is the institutional cornerstone for this new unified system.

Furthermore, the creation of a national dashboard to harmonize activities is a masterstroke in transparency. For too long, the lack of visibility into the flow of humanitarian funds and activities has eroded public trust. By insisting that “Nigeria must know what everyone is doing,” Doro is fundamentally changing the game. This dashboard will ensure better planning, greater transparency, and most critically, measurable results that translate directly into poverty reduction.

I find his statement, “This is a call to step up, organize ourselves better and take full ownership. We are ready for the heavy lifting,” particularly inspiring. It is a rallying cry that elevates the conversation from simply receiving aid to mastering its delivery. It signals confidence, competence, and an end to dependency—a pivotal moment in our nation’s development.

Read Also: 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

True compassion is not just about responding to crisis; it is about building a truly inclusive society. I was deeply heartened by Minister Doro’s engagement with the leadership of JONAPWD. The fact that the delegation described this as a “historic” formal engagement speaks volumes about the disconnect that previously existed.

The JONAPWD leaders, in their candid discussion, laid bare the challenges: the urgent need for technical support for over 35 million Nigerians with disabilities, a lack of dedicated funding, and outdated educational curricula. A lesser minister might have offered platitudes. Doro offered partnership and actionable solutions.

His disclosure of being in discussions with the World Bank for projects focused on inclusive education and broader disability-focused interventions shows a proactive mind-set. It’s a systemic approach that seeks to leverage global expertise and resources to dismantle the barriers highlighted by JONAPWD.

Moreover, acknowledging funding gaps while simultaneously emphasising the need for locally driven solutions is a pragmatic step towards sustainable inclusion. The potential appointment of a technical adviser with a disability is not just symbolic; it’s an institutional commitment to embed lived experience and expertise at the heart of the ministry’s decision-making process. For me, this is what a “people-centred” government looks like—one that is willing to learn, adapt, and build capacity from within the community it serves.

As someone observing this space, I am particularly impressed by the minister’s overall approach, which appears to be that of a focused technocrat. His participation in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the crucial US-Nigeria Joint Working Group at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) demonstrates his commitment to embedding humanitarian concerns within the highest levels of national security and economic planning.

This is not a minister operating in isolation. He is strategically linking humanitarian affairs to national security, economic policy, and international partnership, ensuring that poverty reduction is seen not as a standalone charity case, but as a critical pillar of our national security and prosperity.

Doro’s initial achievements—institutionalising coordination through the National Council, championing transparency with the dashboard, and proactively partnering with the disability community and international bodies like UN-OCHA—all point to a leader who understands that effective compassion requires robust, modern, and accountable systems.

The task of tackling multi-dimensional poverty and humanitarian crises in Nigeria is monumental, but in Bernard Mohammed Doro, I see a minister with the vision, strategic clarity, and political will to move us from an era of perpetual crisis management to one of resilient, locally-led, and equitable development. He is laying the foundation for a future where hope is not just a slogan, but a concrete government outcome.

• Awodi wrote from North Carolina, USA.
January 2, 2026
‘Santa Claus’ visit reflects nation’s global relevance’

Founder of Santa Claus Nigeria, Adejare Adegbenro, has highlighted significance of the visit to Nigeria by the original Santa Claus from Lapland, Finland, to an African country.

He described the visit as a landmark that places Nigeria in global cultural history.

Adegbenro spoke in Abuja while assessing impact of the visit on our global relevance.

He said the visit was driven by a desire to project Nigeria’s resilience, adding the event reflects the nation’s determination to break grounds and redefine global perceptions about Africa’s ability to host world-class cultural experiences.

“There was no sponsor. The project was financed by us because we believe Nigeria is a country of firsts, and this visit has entered the history books.”

He lauded President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment that made the historic visit possible.

“I thank President Tinubu for creating the atmosphere to host such a personality. I greet Nigerians for coming out to be part of this moment. Nigeria is on the right path, and it can only get better,” he said.

Read Also: Akpabio ends legal battles, withdraws all defamation suits after New Year sermon

Adegbenro noted that supportive policies and improved confidence in Nigeria played a role in attracting such an international cultural icon to us.

Santa Claus arrived in Abeokuta on December 24, distributing gifts and met dignitaries.

After the Abeokuta engagement, he proceeded to Abuja, marking the end of his Nigerian tour.

The founder described the atmosphere throughout the visit as electric, noting that the joy and enthusiasm displayed by children and adults alike underscored the success of the initiative.

Adegbenro also paid tribute to his team for their commitment and vision, singling out the Managing Director of Santa Claus Nigeria Limited, Olori Aminat Matemilola, and the director, Pastor Dr. Olajumoke Israel for their roles. He said what initially appeared to be an ambitious dream became a reality through collective effort, teamwork, and unwavering belief in the project.

January 2, 2026
Body reviews year-long advocacy, reaffirms commitment to accountability, others

Ondo Redemption Front (ORF) has highlighted its sustained advocacy for accountability, transparency, and people-centred growth in Ondo State.

At an address in Lagos by its Chairman, Ayodeji Ologun; co-Chair, Mogbojuri Kayode, and Secretary, Adedotun Ajulo, the organisation said 2025 was marked by engagement with governance issues through its State of the State briefing.

The statement noted that the monthly briefings were a structured platform for assessing government policies, public finance management, service delivery, and performance of state institutions. The group said these engagements were driven by facts, research, and civic responsibility, rather than political sentiment or personal interest.

The ORF noted that it maintained a principled balance by acknowledging areas of progress while also drawing attention to lapses, inconsistencies, and governance gaps. It stressed that its interventions were guided by the belief that accountability strengthens democracy and that constructive criticism is essential for responsive governance.

Beyond its press engagements, the group said it was committed to serving as a voice for the people, amplifying concerns and reinforcing the idea that public office is a trust that must be exercised in the interest of citizens. The organisation added that its advocacy was anchored on the long-term development of the state and protection of democratic values.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to development of the state, noting that its vision was of a state governed by transparency, competence, inclusiveness, and empathy, where resources are judiciously managed and policies evaluated based on their impact on lives of the people.

ORF lauded the people’s resilience, consciousness, and commitment to democratic engagement despite challenges. It noted that the perseverance and participation of citizens was a source of encouragement for sustained advocacy.

Read Also: 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

Extending goodwill messages for the festive season, the Ondo Redemption Front conveyed warm greetings to the people of the State, wishing them peace, renewed hope, and a prosperous year ahead.

The statement concluded that Ondo Redemption Front is worried and concerned that the present administration in Ondo State having spent two years in office has not been able to commission any project despite the huge resources at its disposal, thus the government of Ondo must in the coming year must rise above lips service to commissioning of land mark projects.

Hence, our resolve to be steadfast as a watchdog of public interest, platform for civic engagement, and a voice of reason committed to justice, equity and sustainable development in Ondo State.

Looking into the new year, the ORF assured that it would remain vigilant, independent, and principled in its operations. The group pledged to intensify its advocacy for transparency, accountability, good governance, and people-oriented policies, while continuing to engage government constructively and speak truth to power without fear or favour.

The statement concluded that in the coming year, the Ondo Redemption Front will remain steadfast as a watchdog of public interest, a platform for civic engagement, and a voice of reason, committed to justice, equity, and the sustainable development of Ondo State.

January 2, 2026
How 2025 redefined aviation accountability in Nigeria

Nigerian aviation industry in 2025 will be remembered as a year of hard lessons, public confrontations, and a gradual—sometimes uncomfortable—return to regulatory sanity. From viral videos of unruly passengers and celebrity altercations onboard, to outrage over spiralling airfares, chronic flight disruptions, sanctions against airlines, and unprecedented refunds and compensation, aviation dominated national conversations in ways a few sectors did.

At the centre of this evolving narrative is the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu. His department has become the frontline between frustrated passengers and defensive airline operators. His account of 2025 offers a revealing window into the progress made and the gaps that remain in Nigeria’s aviation governance. What emerges is not a tale of perfection, but of firm intent—a regulator determined to be seen, heard, and most importantly, felt.

For years, Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection framework existed largely on paper. Passengers complained, airlines shrugged, and regulators were often accused of selective enforcement or silence. According to Achimugu, 2025 was a turning point with stricter enforcement of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations. The results were tangible: between May and July alone, domestic airlines paid over N1 billion in refunds without direct NCAA intervention. Compensation, hotel accommodation for disrupted passengers, and responsive complaint handling became less of an exception and more of an expectation.

This shift did not happen by accident. The directorate now operates a 24-hour engagement system, signalling to passengers that even if every complaint is not resolved, no one is ignored. “Trust,” Achimugu insists, “is built not merely on outcomes but on presence and process.” Airlines, too, have had to adapt. Accustomed to a lax environment, many initially resisted the new order. Pushback was inevitable. But the message is clear: the regulatory terrain has changed, and business as usual is no longer an option.

If enforcing rules against powerful operators is difficult, dealing with unruly passengers may be even harder. Achimugu describes this as the most emotionally taxing part of his job. In an environment where rights are loudly demanded but responsibilities often ignored, regulators are frequently caught between public sentiment and the letter of the law.

Read Also: Akpabio ends legal battles, withdraws all defamation suits after New Year sermon

Ironically, NCAA finds itself accused by airlines of favouring passengers, while passengers accuse it of siding with airlines. “It is a thankless job,” Achimugu admits. Yet the stance remains firm: bad behaviour cannot be normalised, and emotional sympathy cannot override safety, order, and the rule of law—especially in an industry where misconduct can have fatal consequences.

High-profile onboard fights, including those involving celebrities, tested the limits of NCAA authority. Public expectation demanded decisive punishment, but Nigeria’s regulatory framework limited the agency’s options. Achimugu explains that NCAA lacks prosecutorial powers. In cases where airlines choose not to pursue legal action—especially if staff were not assaulted—the regulator’s hands are tied. This structural weakness, he argues, undermines deterrence and fuels public misunderstanding. The solution lies not in outrage but in reform. Achimugu has openly advocated for regulatory reviews to grant NCAA enforceable penalties against unruly passengers—a process already underway.

Festive season disruptions are inevitable. Weather, technical issues, bird strikes, and airport infrastructure failures are realities of global aviation. What differentiates functional systems from chaotic ones is how disruptions are managed. While force majeure absolves airlines from certain liabilities, it does not excuse silence, misinformation, or abandonment of passengers.

According to Achimugu, this is where Nigerian airlines often fall short. Poor communication fuels anger, panic, and sometimes violence. Staff disappear, passengers feel ignored, and chaos ensues. NCAA’s position is clear: airlines must provide timely, honest information and basic care—even in unavoidable disruptions. Where they fail, sanctions will follow. In a notable departure from the past, seven airlines, including major international carriers, were sanctioned in 2025. Political connections no longer guarantee immunity. Support from the current administration, which placed aviation at the heart of its economic strategy, has strengthened regulatory resolve.

Not all reforms were dramatic. Some were refreshingly simple. Passengers once complained they could not identify NCAA officers at terminals. The solution? Uniforms. Visibility restored authority, confidence, and public trust. The Consumer Complaints Portal is another quiet revolution. With airlines onboarded onto a transparent dashboard system, unresolved cases are no longer hidden. Poor performance is visible to regulators and airlines alike. Compliance is gradually becoming automatic, not coerced.

High airfares remain a sore point. Achimugu is candid: prices are driven by low capacity and weak competition. Where an airline monopolises a route, market forces—not regulation—inflate fares. Hope lies in expansion. New aircraft, including dry-leased planes expected early this year, will boost capacity and competition. If these plans materialise, passengers should see relief. Beyond aircraft numbers, automation and customer care remain critical gaps. Refunds, rebooking options, and real-time communication should not require physical confrontations at airport counters. Technology exists; the will to deploy it must follow.

Nigeria’s aviation sector in 2025 was messy, noisy, and at times uncomfortable—but perhaps necessarily so. Accountability rarely arrives quietly. Achimugu’s reflections reveal a regulator learning in public, enforcing in real time, and pushing against decades of inertia. The journey is far from complete. But for the first time in a long while, Nigerian passengers can reasonably believe someone is listening—and that the rules may finally mean what they say. In turbulent skies, that alone is progress worth acknowledging.

January 2, 2026
FRSC takes road safety campaign to parks

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Katsina State Sector Command, has taken its road safety awareness campaign directly to motor parks in the state.

In a three-day public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement, it focused on addressing overloading, mixed loading and poor driver behaviour.

The command said the exercise covered 29 motor parks, including Heavy Truck Loading Bay and high-traffic market areas.

FRSC officers educated drivers, loaders and transport union members on dangers of overloading, explaining how excess weight affects vehicle balance, braking and control.

Read Also: 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

They warned against mixed loading, particularly transportation of passengers with livestock, fuel, gas cylinders, chemicals and other hazardous materials.

Participants were sensitised to proper cargo hold, visibility of car lights, and number plates, as well as speeding, night driving, drunk driving, substance abuse, seatbelt use and maintenance.

Transport union leaders, market authorities, traditional rulers and community representatives shared concerns specific to their areas and expressed readiness to cooperate with FRSC.

The FRSC said the initiative reflects a shift towards preventive safety measures by addressing risks at the point where journeys begin, rather than relying solely on enforcement on highways.

The command further stated that follow-up sensitisation visits and continued collaboration with transport unions and local authorities are planned to sustain the campaign.

According to the officials, data gathered during the three-day exercise would guide future patrol operations and road safety interventions across Katsina State.

January 2, 2026
Don: don’t scrap computer, civic studies

Educationist, Prof. Sandra Duru, has kicked against proposals to remove Computer Studies and Civic Education from the curriculum, warning that this will be a setback for development, democracy and global competitiveness.

Reacting to remarks credited to Senator Ireti Kingibe questioning the relevance of the two subjects, Duru, in a statement shared via her official social media platforms, expressed shock that this could even be up for debate. The comments have since sparked public discourse among education stakeholders and civil society.

The professor argued that in an age driven by technology, artificial intelligence and digital innovation, computer studies has become a fundamental life skill rather than an optional subject. According to her, basic computer literacy is critical for problem-solving, creativity and access to opportunities in banking, healthcare, governance and entrepreneurship.

“A child who lacks basic computer knowledge is disadvantaged tomorrow,” she said, calling for computer studies to be made compulsory from primary to secondary, with funding and regular curriculum updates in line with global standards.

On civic education, Duru described the subject as indispensable to building responsible citizens and addressing challenges, such as corruption, lawlessness and weak civic engagement.

She linked leadership and governance problems to poor civic literacy, warning that removing the subject would worsen these, and clarified that civic education is not a duplication of government studies, explaining that while government focuses on political structures, constitutions and power relations, civic education emphasises values, rights, duties, ethical conduct, tolerance and active participation in society.

Read Also: Akpabio ends legal battles, withdraws all defamation suits after New Year sermon

“They are complementary, not redundant, one explains the state, the other shapes the citizen,” she noted, adding that many developed countries continue to prioritise citizenship education under different names to sustain informed and responsible societies.

Duru cautioned that eliminating civic education could produce graduates who understand governance systems but lack ethical grounding and social responsibility, a situation she described as dangerous for a country already grappling with voter apathy and intolerance.

Beyond curriculum matters, the educationist also proposed the institutionalisation of emotional intelligence training as a mandatory certification for public officers, arguing that many governance failures stem from emotional immaturity rather than lack of intellectual capacity.

Addressing the Minister of Education and the National Assembly, Duru said the focus of the debate should be on strengthening, not weakening, these subjects. “The question is not whether these subjects should be removed, but why they are not already compulsory, adequately resourced and continuously improved across all levels of education,” she said.

As discussions continue ahead of possible policy reviews, stakeholders have intensified calls for reforms aimed at deepening digital skills and civic consciousness as part of efforts to secure Nigeria’s future in a rapidly changing world.

January 2, 2026
American returnee seeks advanced healthcare

Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has lauded American returnee doctor, Adewunmi Bakare, at the unveiling of CrownBak Health Medical Clinic in Lagos.

Gbadebo, represented by Bobagunwa of Egbaland, Toye Okanlawon, praised the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bakare, for his commitment to development of the nation’s healthcare.

He urged other Nigerian professionals in the diaspora to emulate Bakare by returning home to contribute their to nation.

One of the clinic directors, Dr. Oladipo Falaye, said it will be offering world-class and affordable service.

Dr. Bakare said CrownBak Health was the desire to give back to society by improving access to quality healthcare services.

Read Also: 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

He said the clinic was inspired by years of observing how people delay or avoid medical care, not due to lack of concern for their health, but because this seems unaffordable or inaccessible.

‘‘CrownBak will provide professional, reliable and affordable healthcare services. Our goal is to enlighten people on importance of healthy living, early health checks and preventive care, ensuring that quality healthcare is in everyone’s reach,” he said.

He noted that beyond treatment, the clinic emphasises health education, early detection of illnesses and building relationships with patients, which is critical to sustainable healthcare delivery.

Bakare said CrownBak Health would deliver services that are professional, affordable, and rooted in respect and compassion.

He lauded stakeholders, partners, and the public for their support, assuring them of the clinic’s readiness to work with the community to promote better health and overall well-being.

January 2, 2026