The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Uzodimma’s lopsided appointments

    Uzodimma’s lopsided appointments

    Sir: The appointment of commissioners in Imo State has long been a significant aspect of the state’s governance structure. These appointments are expected to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of the state’s various local government areas.

     However, Governor Hope Uzodimma ‘s recent appointments have sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about nepotism and favouritism.

    A closer examination of the list of commissioners appointed by Governor Uzodinma reveals a disturbing trend.  The Oru Nation, comprising Oru East and Oru West Local Government Areas, has been allocated a disproportionate number of commissioner slots. A total of seven commissioners have been appointed from this region, raising questions about the fairness and equity of the appointment process.

    From Oru East, we have Kenneth Okafor – Commissioner for Transport, Ifeanyi Oru – Commissioner for Rural Development, Paul Obinatu – Commissioner Designate and Mrs. Love – Commissioner Designate. From Oru West, we have Ralph Nwosu – Commissioner for Works, Mbadiwe Emelumba – Commissioner for Information, and Nwabueze Oguchienti – Commissioner for Power.

    This lopsided allocation of commissioner slots to Oru Nation has left other local government areas in Imo State without representation in the State Executive Council.

    The implications of this are far-reaching and have significant consequences for the state’s development and governance. The appointment of commissioners from a particular region, to the exclusion of others, undermines the principles of fairness, equity, and inclusivity. It creates a perception that Governor Uzodimma ‘s administration is biased towards his kinsmen from Oru Nation, and that other regions are being marginalized.

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    This perception can lead to feelings of resentment and disillusionment among citizens from other local government areas, who may feel that their interests are not being represented in the state’s governance structure. It can also undermine the effectiveness of the state government, as decisions may be perceived as being driven by regional interests rather than the greater good of the state.

    As Imo State moves forward, it is essential that the Uzodimma administration prioritizes inclusivity and fairness in its appointments. The State Executive Council should reflect the diversity of the state’s various local government areas, ensuring that all regions have a voice and a stake in the state’s governance.

    To achieve this, Governor Uzodimma should consider reviewing the list of commissioners and ensuring that appointments are made based on merit, competence, and regional representation. This would help to build trust and confidence in the state government, promote a sense of belonging among citizens, and ultimately drive development and progress in Imo State.

    To restore trust and promote inclusivity, the governor must prioritize fairness and equity in his appointments, ensuring that all local government areas have representation in the State Executive Council. Only then can Imo State truly move forward, with all its citizens feeling valued and included in the governance process.

    It is very unfortunate that many vocal voices have been lost at the altar of undue political party loyalty.

    •Ezenna C. Okoro, Awa community, Oguta L.G.A.

  • Lagos: When rescue officials refused to save lives

    Lagos: When rescue officials refused to save lives

    Sir: It is with a heavy heart that I write this. On August 23, tragedy struck close to home; we lost my best friend’s 27 year old niece. The lady, a promising entrepreneur with high aspirations, sadly passed in a car accident that plunged into the lagoon.

    The circumstances of the crash remain unclear, but what is more painful is the response that followed. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Marine Police were at the scene, but there was no meaningful rescue effort. It was only when her distraught siblings, parents, and uncle arrived that the reality set in: the officials were neither trained nor equipped to carry out such a mission.

    In the end, it fell to local fishermen who knew what happened and even identified the exact spot where the car was. However, before they would act, they demanded N400,000 to dive and retrieve her body. In their grief, the family paid not because they were bargaining, but because they simply wanted her body back for a proper burial.

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    The point of writing is simple: we can do better. Can the government empower and equip local divers and fishermen as trained first responders? Can a fund or structure be created so that, in moments like this, money is not placed above humanity? Can lives be given a real chance of being saved rather than families being left to their trauma and desperation?

    We pride ourselves as the “Centre of Excellence,” but tragedies like this reveal the gaps. The commercial capital of the most populous black nation must not commercialize human lives. No one prays for such incidents, but when they happen, preparedness and compassion can make all the difference. I plead on behalf of grieving families, past and present who have had to bear losses that could have been averted. I plead with you to act fast and right.

    •Hadiza Oyewumi, Bank of Industry, Lagos.

  • Ndace and the ‘Voice’ of Vision

    Ndace and the ‘Voice’ of Vision

    By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

    In today’s world, nations no longer compete only in markets and militaries, but also in stories. The ability to tell one’s own story and tell it well, has become a strategic asset.

    For decades, the Voice of Nigeria (VON) was that window through which the world listened to Nigeria: its values, its aspirations, its vision. But over time, that once-powerful voice grew faint, muffled by neglect and the restless advance of technology.

    Now, the tide is turning. VON is on a steady path of renewal, through reform, innovation, and a restored sense of mission. The station is reconnecting with its founding philosophy: that Nigeria must be heard clearly, with dignity and authority, in the global conversation.

    At the heart of this rebirth is the recent revival of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmitter project. This is no ordinary upgrade. By restoring and modernizing the 250KW TX2 transmitter at Lugbe, Abuja, the most powerful shortwave transmission station in Africa, Nigeria has taken a historic leap into the future of broadcasting. What this means is simple but profound: the world will no longer hear Nigeria’s voice drowned in static or distortion.

    Instead, it will carry the sharp clarity of FM, the reliability of digital sound, and the versatility to transmit not just audio, but text, images, and data. This technical leap is far more than the repair of machines. It is a statement, that Nigeria’s story is worth telling, and that it must be told with the best tools available.

    Leadership and the Spark of Renewal

    Every transformation has a driver. Behind the new energy at VON lies leadership that is visionary, deliberate, and courageous. In less than two years, under the direction of Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the station has witnessed a revival that goes beyond routine administration. Programming has been diversified to blend international standards with authentic Nigerian voices. Staff morale has been lifted through recognition and retraining. Partnerships have been forged to sustain momentum.

    This is what leadership does when it is powered by vision: it does not merely manage decline, it redefines possibility. It refuses to be held hostage by budgets or bureaucracy, instead galvanizing people and resources around a larger purpose. What is happening at VON today is a living example that public institutions, often written off as moribund, can breathe again with the right stewardship.

    The Promise of Technology

    The DRM transmitter is more than a shiny new gadget. It is a revolution in what broadcasting means for society. Too often in Nigeria, expensive technology is installed with fanfare, only to gather dust. This is different.

    The DRM system beams sound across continents with crisp clarity, allowing Nigerians abroad to stay connected without the frustrating hums and fades of analog shortwave.

    But the promise goes deeper. The technology transmits data alongside sound. That means headlines, weather forecasts, images, and even educational materials can ride the same frequency. During national emergencies, it can override idle receivers to deliver alerts, a vital tool for security and disaster response.

    For rural communities beyond the reach of the internet, it can beam textbooks to schools, health updates to clinics, and market prices to farmers. And all this comes with efficiency, cutting costs through energy savings and flexible, software-driven upgrades. VON is not just reclaiming a voice, it is becoming a service provider for national development.

    People, Platforms, and Partnerships

    At its core, this renewal rests on a simple but powerful triad articulated by Ndace: people, platforms, and partnerships. Technology matters, yes, but people remain the soul of every institution.

    By retraining and motivating its workforce, VON is ensuring that its staff carry the institution’s mission with pride. By investing in transmitters and digital systems, it is building the platforms to amplify Nigeria’s stories. And by cultivating partnerships, locally and internationally, it is ensuring that this revival is sustainable. This is not cosmetic change. It is structural renewal.

    Why This Matters

    Why should anyone beyond the walls of a broadcasting house care? Because broadcasting has never been just about signals. It is about identity, influence, and sovereignty. In today’s information-saturated world, nations are defined as much by the stories told about them as by their economic indicators. A country without a credible voice risks being misunderstood, or worse, defined by others.

    For Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, silence has never been an option. A reinvigorated VON ensures that Nigeria speaks for itself, correcting distortions, amplifying African solidarity, and offering perspectives rooted in its own lived realities. In this way, broadcasting becomes diplomacy, defense, and dignity all at once.

    A Nation Finding Its Voice Again

    The rebirth of the Voice of Nigeria is not just an institutional revival. It is a lesson in what can be achieved when vision meets will. In less than two years, transmitters long abandoned are humming again, technology once thought out of reach is now operational, programming has become richer, and pride has returned among staff. This is proof that decline is not destiny. With clarity and courage, institutions can reawaken, nations can reclaim their narratives, and voices long muted can rise again.

    Ultimately, what is happening at VON is about more than broadcasting. It is about Nigeria finding its voice in a noisy world, and ensuring that when it speaks, it does so with quality, clarity, and purpose. It is about showing that our stories matter, that they deserve to be told well, and that the world cannot afford to ignore them.

    The message is clear: Nigeria is not just speaking again. Nigeria is being heard. And it is being heard with a vision that will endure.

    Sa’id is a Communications Consultant and Public Affairs Analyst. He writes from Kaduna.

  • Why Nigerian SMEs stay small

    Why Nigerian SMEs stay small

    • By Akinwale Muse

    Sir: Nigeria doesn’t lack entrepreneurs. Across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, you’ll find energy everywhere: new brands, side hustles, and businesses springing up daily.

    But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Most will stay small. Not because their products are bad, or markets aren’t ready, but because their businesses are structurally weak.

    We glorify the hustle but rarely build for scale. We celebrate branding but ignore backend systems. We chase visibility but forget margins.

    SMEs make up 96% of Nigerian businesses and employ 84% of the workforce, yet most never cross N50 million in annual revenue. Why? Because they stay small by design, not by destiny.

    Many SMEs look polished on the outside but are shaky underneath. Founders are pricing by guesswork, burning out from micromanagement, struggling to meet demand, and unsure how to grow without chaos.

    I once sat with the owner of a fast-rising fashion label. She had 50,000 Instagram followers and orders pouring in. But when her lead tailor quit, delivery stalled. She told me: “People love the brand, but I feel like the whole business rests on my shoulders.”

    Orders piled up unfulfilled. Customers fled. Hype couldn’t save them. Structure could have.

    What most SMEs need is not more followers, or even more funding. They need a review. They need structure. They need processes that make scale possible.

    Getting ahead is not just working harder. It is doing the quiet, often invisible work that builds staying power. It means building workflows rather than just burning more hours. It means structuring your business so it can survive without you.

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    It means understanding numbers beyond revenue. It means delegating with clarity, not blind hope.

    The hard question every founder should ask is this: “If I stepped away for 30 days, would this business still function?”

    Small and medium businesses already employ most Nigerians. But too many remain hand-to-mouth operations, unable to withstand rising inflation, unstable costs, or supply chain shocks.

    If Nigeria truly wants to diversify beyond oil, the path runs through SMEs that scale. Not hustles that hustle harder, but businesses that build backbone. That is the Nigeria we must choose.

    Founders must take responsibility. But banks, investors and the government also have a role to play. Credit should reward good management, not just branding. Capital should flow to businesses that can prove organisation, not just visibility.

    If Nigeria is to build a generation of businesses that attract investment, survive shocks, and compete internationally, we must change what we celebrate. Not just hustle and hype, but structure and staying power. The future belongs to founders who build backbone, not just buzz.

    And for Nigeria, the choice is urgent: remain a nation of small hustles, or become a nation of scaled enterprises.

    Our growth and our future depend on it.

    •Akinwale Muse,

    Lagos.

  • Winning cybersecurity war without losing Nigerians

    Winning cybersecurity war without losing Nigerians

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    Sir: In August 2025, Nigeria’s regulatory agencies, working with global platforms like Meta, TikTok, X, and Google oversaw the removal of over 13.6 million social media accounts and nearly 59 million pieces of harmful content.

    Were “harmful” handles or contents publicly understood? Who gets hurt in the process? Without a moral compass, digital enforcement becomes erasure, efficiency becomes exclusion, and innovation becomes inequality. Nigeria’s digital future must be humane not just functional.

    Regulation is necessary. But when enforcement lacks empathy, it deepens distrust. Citizens begin to see platforms and the state as opaque, punitive forces rather than partners in progress.

    Nigeria’s cybercrime fight has sharpened. In a recent sweep, 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian were deported for alleged cyber-terrorism and internet fraud— framed as a security win by EFCC.

    But were fair trials held? Were rights respected? Were diplomatic protocols observed? These questions matter not just for justice but for Nigeria’s credibility. In 2019, when Ghana mass-deported Nigerian traders, Abuja cried foul. Now, the roles are reversed. Reciprocity in dignity matters.

    The issue isn’t guilt or innocence but the treatment of people under state power. To deport en masse, to label publicly, to uproot without due process is where enforcement slips into erasure.

    Nigeria is simultaneously courting tech partners from Japan to the EU, with its draft AI strategy leaning on global collaboration. Yet heavy-handed enforcement risks undermining our image as a fair and rights-respecting partner.

    International norms from the EU Cybercrime Convention to bilateral best practices stress proportionality, transparency, and joint investigations over blanket expulsions. Nigeria must measure up, not just for optics, but for justice.

    The Nigerian government has set an ambitious target: 75% of public services digitized by 2027. This includes unified web standards across ministries, deployment of AI and blockchain, and robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline bureaucratic workflows.

    Over 500,000 civil servants are being trained in digital skills under the 3MTT program. It’s a bold vision. But boldness without empathy can backfire.

    Imagine a widow in Minna trying to access her late husband’s pension. She logs onto the new digital portal, only to be met with “Error Code 403.” No helpline. No human support. Just a cold interface and a dead end.

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    This is not hypothetical. In India, the Aadhaar biometric ID system hailed as a model of digital governance faced backlash when technical glitches denied millions access to food rations and welfare. Efficiency became exclusion. Dignity was lost to design.

    E-governance must be humane. That means intuitive interfaces, multilingual support, offline alternatives, and grievance redress mechanisms. It means designing systems not just for scale, but for sensitivity.

    Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy is currently in public consultation. It promises to harness artificial intelligence for economic growth, talent development, and public service delivery. The 3MTT program aims to train three million tech talents, with AI as a core focus.

    But AI is not neutral. It reflects the values of its creators and the biases of its data.

    UN research shows that facial recognition systems misidentify darker-skinned women at rates up to 35% higher than light-skinned men. In the U.S., such errors have led to wrongful arrests. If Nigeria adopts these tools without empathy-centred safeguards, discrimination becomes systemic.

    Already, concerns are rising. The Centre for Digital Rights and Inclusion (CEDRI) warns that rural communities, women, and minorities risk being “encoded out” of Nigeria’s digital future. Their voices, behaviours, and needs are underrepresented in training datasets. Their realities are invisible to algorithms.

    AI must be inclusive by design. That means diverse data, ethical audits, community consultations, and human oversight. It means seeing citizens not as data points, but as people.

    Empathy requires that regulators mandate platforms to establish multi-stakeholder appeals boards that include civil society, digital rights advocates, and small business representatives.

    They should also publish regular transparency reports disaggregated by region and content type, and co-develop culturally grounded moderation protocols with Nigerian experts so that satire, commerce, and political debate are not mistaken for hate speech.

    Dignity demands that even foreigners accused of cybercrime are treated fairly. This means codifying due process in deportation procedures, guaranteeing access to legal counsel, interpreters, and consular representation before removal.

    Nigeria should align its practices with ECOWAS human rights standards, while publishing deportation criteria and subjecting enforcement to independent review to avoid abuse and diplomatic double standards.

    Trust must drive public portals by offering multilingual support, voice-assisted navigation, and offline access points for underserved areas. Government should invest in community-based digital helpdesks, in partnership with NGOs and faith institutions, to support citizens navigating online services.

    A national digital grievance system would further ensure that problems are logged, tracked, and resolved transparently, giving Nigerians confidence that they will be heard.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,

    <lekanolayiwola@gmail.com>

  • Female narcissists: What young men must know 

    Female narcissists: What young men must know 

    • By Joe Afolayan

    Sir: Female narcissists are a reality many young men in Nigeria and around the world are encountering more frequently, yet very few people talk about them. Most discussions on toxic relationships focus on men, but women too can be manipulative, controlling, and destructive. Young men often lack awareness of how female narcissists operate, and this ignorance leaves them vulnerable to heartbreak, financial ruin, emotional damage, and in extreme cases, violence. It is time to shine a light on this subject and prepare men to recognize what they are dealing with before it is too late.

    In psychology, narcissism is a personality disorder defined by extreme self-centeredness, lack of empathy, manipulativeness, and an endless craving for admiration. While both men and women can be narcissists, women who have this disorder often weaponize their femininity, beauty, sexuality, and emotional intelligence to exploit men. On the surface, they appear caring, charming, and even helpless, but behind the mask lies selfishness, manipulation, and a deep emptiness that can never be satisfied.

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    In Nigeria, this conversation is especially important. Cultural expectations often make it harder for men to speak out about being victims of toxic women. Society assumes men are always the aggressors, while women are always the victims. This silence leaves many young men trapped in abusive marriages and relationships. Family pressure to marry can also blind men to obvious red flags, pushing them into unions with women who only see them as providers. Financial exploitation is rampant, with countless men drained by women who demand money and gifts but offer little in return. The influence of social media has also made things worse, as young women compete for attention, likes, and sugar daddies, often displaying narcissistic tendencies.

    Yet, because of the stigma around mental health and personality disorders, very few people in Nigeria are willing to discuss narcissism openly.

    By educating young men, we can prevent a lot of suffering. Awareness can reduce toxic marriages, broken homes, and emotional abuse. Men must understand that relationships are not about rescuing women, fixing damaged personalities, or sacrificing themselves endlessly. A woman who is a narcissist will not change, no matter how much love, money, or patience you give her. She is not looking for a partner, but for supply.

    Being with a female narcissist is like drinking poisoned water. It may look refreshing at first, but it slowly destroys you. Not every charming, beautiful, or affectionate woman has the capacity to love. Some are only acting out a script designed to ensnare. The best defense is knowledge, awareness, and self-respect. Do not allow beauty, pressure, or loneliness to rush you into destructive relationships. Study her character, not her charm. Value yourself enough to walk away at the first sign of manipulation.

    In Nigeria today, as cases of broken marriages and relationship crises rise, understanding the phenomenon of female narcissists is not just useful, it is essential. Young men must arm themselves with wisdom so they can build healthy, lasting, and genuine relationships, free from the destructive grip of narcissism.

    •Joe Afolayan,

    <joeafolayan@yahoo.co.uk>

  • JAMB, technology, and the business of cheating

    JAMB, technology, and the business of cheating

    Sir: When nearly two million young Nigerians filed into computer-based test centres this year, they carried with them the weight of ambition, sacrifice, and hope. But for 6,458 of them, those dreams were frozen under suspicion—not due to laziness or lack of preparation, but because of high-tech fraud.

    In August, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) launched a probe into thousands of UTME results after uncovering evidence of sophisticated malpractice. Out of the 1,931,467 candidates who sat for the exam, many now face disqualification over allegations of identity manipulation, image blending, and even attempts to hack the local networks of test centres. Nineteen accredited centres were implicated in collusion, revealing a disturbing truth: the very institutions meant to uphold fairness are now part of the problem.

    The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2022, only 94 cases of malpractice were reported. In 2023, that number dropped to 84—seemingly a sign of progress. But by 2024, cases surged to 2,157, and in 2025, thousands more are under scrutiny. This exponential rise marks a shift from crude impersonation to coordinated, tech-enabled fraud. What was once the domain of dishonest students has evolved into networks of actors—some insiders—weaponising technology to bend the rules.

    JAMB’s introduction of computer-based testing (CBT) in 2013 was meant to shut the door on traditional malpractice. For decades, “miracle centres” had defined Nigeria’s exam fraud industry, leaking papers or providing answers mid-exam. CBT was supposed to end that. But these centres mutated, infiltrating CBT networks to access questions before test time.

    Today’s methods are alarmingly advanced. Impersonation has morphed into “finger pairing,” where fraudsters register with multiple fingerprints or use prosthetics to bypass biometric verification. Some candidates even exploit albinism claims to evade biometric cameras. The leak of exam questions has shifted from physical scripts to digital breaches—attempts to infiltrate Local Area Networks, often aided by insiders, resemble cyber-attacks more than schoolyard cheating.

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    The most troubling development is the role of accredited centres. The 19 flagged this year show that malpractice is no longer just a candidate issue—it’s institutional. When exam administrators collude with candidates, the system is compromised from within. Unlike individual cheats, corrupt centres can taint the results of thousands.

    The crisis at JAMB’s doorstep is not just about education—it’s a mirror of Nigeria’s digital fragility. If exam cheats can breach CBT networks and clone fingerprints, what does that say about the security of voter databases, banking systems, or national IDs? A society that tolerates cheating in education is effectively training its next wave of cybercriminals.

    Solving this requires more than committees or mass result cancellations. Nigeria is in a digital arms race between regulation and fraud. To win, we must stay ahead. JAMB must invest in stronger digital infrastructure. Biometric verification alone is insufficient. Multi-layered authentication—combining biometrics with behavioural analysis, keystroke recognition, and AI-driven monitoring—should become standard. Accredited centres must undergo rigorous audits. Staff rotation and external oversight can reduce insider collusion. Cybersecurity partnerships are essential. Collaborations with edtech firms and global testing bodies can bring in expertise Nigeria currently lacks.

    But JAMB cannot fight this battle alone. Agencies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) must become active partners. Exam malpractice has crossed into the realm of cybersecurity and demands the same vigilance used to protect banks and government databases.

    Technology alone won’t solve this. The deeper battle is cultural. Integrity must be valued as highly as grades. This means harsher penalties for cheats—but also celebrating honest success. Schools should teach digital ethics, helping students understand that hacking an exam is no different from stealing a future.

    Speed matters. Innocent students should not suffer months of uncertainty. Swift investigations, transparent appeals, and clear resolutions will help restore public confidence. Without that, every rumour becomes a stain on the entire process.

    This is not just about JAMB or the 6,458 results under suspicion. It’s about whether Nigeria can still guarantee that talent and hard work are rewarded in a digital age where even honesty feels hackable.

    The real exam before the country is not multiple choice—it’s a test of integrity. If Nigeria fails to adapt its education system to the realities of modern technology, it risks nurturing a generation brilliant at beating the system but wholly unprepared to build the nation. And that is a result we cannot afford.

    •Shuaib S. Agaka, Kano.

  • Need for scrutiny of subnational governments

    Need for scrutiny of subnational governments

    Sir: The three tiers of government which consist of the federal, state and local governments have roles attached to each of them which are found in the second and fourth schedules of the 1999 constitution. However, the local governments have been practically encumbered in the discharge of their basic functions and reduced to appendages of state governments through the instrumentality of the state/local government joint account. Recent intervention by the current administration gave a glimmer of hope for their autonomy. Though, they still remain hobbled.

    Despite substantial resources, remarkable improvements on the material conditions of the people remain elusive. The state governments have practically elevated power over good governance which has affected the quality of governance, level of fiscal transparency and accountability. Their power is such that they are major deciding factors of election outcomes.

    For the most part, public resources are deployed as veritable vehicle for trampling on the will of the people. The constitutional check on the activities of states is completely debilitated. It easily explains the reason for the shambolic state of public services and infrastructure since they can indulge their whims with reckless abandon.

    When the federal monthly allocation tapered off during the past administration due to shock in oil prices, massive borrowings became the soft option instead of having recourse to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). 

    The monthly allocation remains the be all and end all for some states. Little imagination is hardly brought in, to improve IGR. Pathetically, inefficiency, incompetence and corruption are in full parade.

    The monthly federal allocation has remarkably improved from around N9 billion during the past administration to an average of N1.6 trillion in the last two years according to a report. 

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    However, a recent report by the Nigeria Extractive industries  Transparency Initiative titled, “Beyond Federal Allocations:  The Cost of Borrowings and Debt Servicing at State Level in Nigeria” revealed the negative impact of borrowings  on state government ability to  carry out their responsibilities of ensuring the  provision of  public  services, infrastructure and initiatives for amelioration of poverty and hunger. According to the report, between 10 and 30 percent of the states’ federal allocation are deducted at source for debt servicing.

    The profligate spending and poor priorities are evident by the decision of many to execute vanity projects in the face of hunger and privation at staggering cost. It was echoed by the comment by the United States embassy in Nigeria: “Nigeria’s ruling class splashes billions on government houses.”

    While citizens are asked to adjust to the present realities, the ruling class continue to carry on heedlessly. They lack plans to deal with the challenges of huge out of school children, potable drinking water, rumbling healthcare facilities and classrooms etc.

    There’s need for citizens’ participation in interrogating the activities at the subnational level. It means proper enlightenment on their functions and place in the nation’s development. Equal amount of fervour in the scrutiny and demand for accountability on the federal government needs to be directed to the authorities at the subnational. A proper oversight is needed over their activities to engender good governance, fiscal transparency and accountability.

    As things stand, the state of affairs of most of the Houses of Assembly is a travesty, which calls for financial independence and freedom from the clutch of governors for effectiveness in carrying out their responsibilities as enshrined in section 128 of the constitution.

    •Abachi Ungbo, abachi007@yahoo.com

  • Child abuse in the name of God

    Child abuse in the name of God

    Sir: Not a few Nigerians were outraged when a video surfaced on the internet recently which portrayed children being abused by a so-called pastor in a church in Port Harcourt under the guise of exorcism. Profoundly distressing is the fact that the mothers of these children (about 25 in number, aged five to ten) were not only physically present when their children were being whipped with palm fronds, they have gone on record as defending the individual responsible for this heinous crime in their statements to the police after his arrest.

    The Child Rights Act of 2003 explicitly prohibits acts causing severe physical or emotional harm to children. Those who act in breach of this law are subject to imprisonment or payment of fines upon conviction, depending on the role that they played. In this scenario, the pastor, his lieutenants, and the parents of the abused children are all complicit in this barbarous act and should be hauled before the courts to account for their actions.

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    Ignorance is the number one reason why child abuse still persists in our society despite laws against it. Many parents still hold on to the African and Biblical belief that to “spare the rod, is to spoil the child”. Hence, acts which clearly border on torture are viewed as disciplining a child so that he/she can turn out well in life. What the pastor has done isn’t unique. Many years ago, a leading Pentecostal Bishop publicly slapped a child in his church under the guise of exorcism. When he was confronted by the media and civil society, he promised to do it again if given another opportunity. In 2008, over 15,000 children were branded as witches in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Many of them faced chaining, starvation, beatings, burnings, or worse in efforts to exorcise them of witchcraft. Sadly, some of these cases of abuse are even portrayed in Nollywood movies.

    The time is ripe for the government to begin some form of regulation of religion in Nigeria. Churches and other religious houses where these abuses occur must be monitored and made to pay a steep price if they run afoul of the law. Also, corporal punishment should be outlawed in schools and homes. Teachers and parents should explore alternative means of cautioning children whenever they err. Government agencies responsible for the prevention of child abuse must work with NGO’s, the media, and civil society to conscientize the citizenry on the dangers of child abuse.

    •Peter Ovie Akus, Ontario, Canada.

  • NEMA and the push to prevent another flood tragedy

    NEMA and the push to prevent another flood tragedy

    Sir: Floods have once again crept into the Nigerian conversation as the rains gather momentum. Each year, communities brace for impact and each year, the losses remind us that preparedness is not optional. The scars of recent disasters remain fresh: submerged villages in Kebbi, washed-out roads in Niger, and families in Yobe who still live under tarpaulins long after the waters receded. These are not distant tragedies; they are lived realities for millions of Nigerians.

    Official figures tell a sobering story. Already in 2025, floods have claimed over 200 lives and displaced tens of thousands across 17 states, including Adamawa, Yobe, Anambra, Kebbi, and Kogi. These numbers echo the devastation of 2022, when more than 600 lives were lost and 1.4 million people were displaced. For many farmers, traders, and schoolchildren, the floods are not statistics but personal catastrophes — harvests swept away, shops reduced to rubble, and classrooms turned into makeshift camps.

    At the heart of the response is the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Under the leadership of its Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the agency has shifted from a posture of reaction to one of preparedness. Instead of waiting for disaster to strike, NEMA has been issuing early warnings, mapping flood-prone communities, and working with state and local authorities to establish contingency plans. Relief stockpiles are being pre-positioned, while volunteers and first responders are undergoing training in high-risk areas.

    This shift is vital because the old model of scrambling after tragedy has proven costly and unsustainable. Each year that the rains overwhelm communities, billions are lost in destroyed infrastructure, food insecurity deepens, and families are thrown into cycles of displacement and poverty. The tragedy of 2022 should not just have been a wake-up call; the years ahead must be about staying awake.

    Still, preparedness is not NEMA’s burden alone. The challenges of climate change, rapid urbanization, and poor drainage go beyond what any single agency can manage. State governments must invest in proper waste management to prevent blocked waterways, while local authorities need to enforce building regulations that discourage construction on flood plains. Communities, too, have a role to play in heeding evacuation warnings and adopting safer practices. A collective response is the only way forward.

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    The stories from the field underline the urgency. In Yola, displaced families recount how entire farmlands were consumed overnight, leaving them with no means of survival. In Birnin Kebbi, children trek long distances to temporary schools after their classrooms collapsed in the floods. In Oguta, Imo State, small-scale traders mourn the loss of their shops, which represented their only source of livelihood. These human tales highlight why flood preparedness must go beyond policy statements — it is about securing lives, livelihoods, and dignity.

    Encouragingly, partnerships are beginning to emerge. NEMA has been engaging with international agencies, civil society groups, and the private sector to mobilize resources and expertise. Early warning messages are increasingly being broadcast in local languages through radio, town criers, and community leaders, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left in the dark. Such grassroots communication can mean the difference between safe evacuation and tragic loss.

    Yet, the road ahead is steep. Funding constraints, weak infrastructure, and the unpredictability of weather patterns remain formidable hurdles. For many rural Nigerians, relocation is not an option because their entire existence is tied to the land, however flood-prone it may be. This is why preparedness must be coupled with long-term adaptation — investing in resilient infrastructure, supporting farmers with climate-smart agriculture, and providing social safety nets for displaced families.

    What is at stake is not just survival but the ability of Nigerians to live with dignity in the face of recurring floods. NEMA’s evolving approach shows that lessons are being learned, but the task is bigger than any one agency. As the rains continue to fall, the question is whether we, as a nation, will rise above the cycle of panic and pity, and finally embrace a culture of preparedness.

    For the families already displaced this year, the answer cannot come soon enough.

    •Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu,<abdulhamidabdullahiali@gmail.com>