The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • A vicious cycle of terrorism

    A vicious cycle of terrorism

    Sir: It well and truly appears that sundry acts of terror which started like dangerous jokes taken too far in Borno State have spun Nigerian into a vicious cycle where they are at once victims as well as funders of terrorism.

    Of course, there are those who launder money in Nigeria from public office, oil bunkering, illegal mining or other illicit activities and plough same into terrorism, in their bid to kill multiple birds with one stone. By sponsoring terrorism, they mount the mortar of force, no matter how episodically, destabilize the country, make profit through blood money, as well as undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

    According to a damning report, Nigerians are themselves unwilling and unwitting participants in the terrorism upending their lives. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigerians have spent about N2.23 trillion as ransom to kidnappers in the last one year. If the reports are true, and it appears they are, then there is hardly any business more lucrative than kidnapping.

    In a country reeling from various austerity measures imposed by the government, it is massive profit to make such amounts off kidnapping. Of course, the huge profits it is raking in must prompt the question of who is benefitting from terrorism. More to the point, who are those sponsoring terrorism in Africa’s most populous democracy and economy?

    Apparently, things have got so bad with Nigeria and terrorism that one of the tiny countries Nigeria is supporting around, Niger Republic, has become so emboldened that it can accuse Nigeria of sponsoring terrorism in its territory.

    Read Also: Mumuni urges Tinubu to engage UN, AU over state-sponsored terrorism allegation

    Someday, Nigerians would yet find out the extent to which security in the country took a nosedive under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari. It is also noteworthy to remember how the UAE once held up the list of those sponsoring terrorism in the country to the government. Till this day, it is not known that Nigeria has done a lot with that list. It is also not known to what extent Nigeria has fought terrorism because whenever there appears to be a lull in terrorist activities, terror soon strikes again in deadlier and swifter fashion.

    As the country has become increasingly unsafe, terrorism has grown as a lucrative venture that is attractive to many. Uncovering those profiting from the often deadly distress of others must be paramount to the Nigerian government if it has any intention of fulfilling one of its core mandates, which is security of lives and property.

    It has long been rumoured that those who fund insecurity in the country ironically have strong links to the government and among security forces. It is in the interest of the country that these claims are verified and substantiated or disproved once and for all so that the country can face the real roots of its security problems.

    Nigeria remains painfully insecure, with tragic consequences. Insecurity may seem an abstract term, but the harsh reality it is for countless women and children is highlighted by the loss of lives and livelihood recorded.

    The government may bristle at the figure and reiterate that it has previously warned against the payment of ransom to bandits. But the truth remains that until the nightmare is permanently dealt with, Nigerians will remain without options but pay ransom to secure the release of their loved ones.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu,Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • Threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence

    Threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence

    Sir: The rapid penetration of digital technology has transformed communication, commerce, and access to information. From urban centres to remote villages, the internet has bridged gaps, offering opportunities for education, business, and social interaction. However, alongside these benefits, digital platforms have also become spaces for the perpetration of gender-based violence (GBV). Between January and May, at least 6,142 GBV cases were reported across various Nigerian states, despite the existence of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. Alarmingly, the advent of technology and increased internet access has introduced new dimensions to this problem, giving rise to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

    TFGBV encompasses various forms of abuse enabled by technology, such as cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, doxxing, and other acts aimed at causing harm, fear, or shame, primarily targeting women and girls. These acts are not only violations of privacy but also attacks on dignity and autonomy.

    Victims, predominantly women, often experience psychological trauma, reputational harm, and economic losses. These effects are compounded by barriers to accessing justice and inadequate legal and policy frameworks. Public awareness regarding digital safety and support mechanisms for victims is also limited, leaving many women vulnerable to continued abuse.

    Read Also: Fubara prevented Wike from turning Rivers into his private estate – Odili

    Despite the introduction of the VAPP Act and other legal frameworks, Nigeria’s response to TFGBV remains inadequate. The VAPP Act, while progressive, is not universally adopted across all states, leaving significant gaps in protection for women and girls. Moreover, existing laws often fail to address the unique challenges posed by technology-enabled abuse. For instance, cyberstalking and online harassment laws are either outdated or poorly enforced, and there is a lack of specialized training for law enforcement on handling TFGBV cases. Also, victims often face stigma and blame when reporting incidents, further discouraging them from seeking justice. The digital divide also plays a role, as many women in rural areas lack access to information about their rights or the means to report abuse.

    Civil society organizations (CSOs) have been at the forefront of efforts to combat TFGBV in Nigeria. They provide critical support services, including counseling, legal aid, and public awareness campaigns. However, their efforts are often hampered by limited resources and a lack of collaboration with key stakeholders, such as technology companies and government agencies. Technology companies also have a crucial role to play. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp are frequently used to perpetrate TFGBV. These companies must prioritize user safety by implementing robust reporting mechanisms, moderating harmful content, and collaborating with local organizations to address abuse. Transparency in their policies and accountability for failing to act on reports of abuse are essential.

    To effectively combat TFGBV, Nigeria must adopt a multi-faceted approach that involves government, civil society, technology companies, and the public. Strengthening legal frameworks is critical. The government must ensure the universal adoption and enforcement of the VAPP Act and other relevant laws. Existing legislation should be updated to address the unique challenges of TFGBV, and specialized training should be provided to law enforcement agencies. Public awareness campaigns are crucial to educate Nigerians about the dangers of TFGBV, digital safety practices, and available support mechanisms. These campaigns should target both urban and rural populations, leveraging traditional and digital media. Programs that promote digital literacy and online safety for women and girls can help them navigate the digital space confidently and protect themselves from abuse. Technology companies must be held accountable for creating safe online spaces. This includes implementing effective content moderation, providing transparent reporting mechanisms, and collaborating with local organizations to address TFGBV. Victims of TFGBV need access to counseling, legal aid, and other support services. Government and CSOs should collaborate to establish and expand these services, ensuring they are accessible to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

    •Bakare Opeyemi Nafisat, Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative.Ilorin, Kwara State.

  • Nigerians and this rice thing

    Nigerians and this rice thing

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: Nigeria’s Christmas season spiralled into chaos with multiple deaths recorded across the country in purely avoidable circumstances.

    First, to usher in the season of death, were children who gathered to celebrate the season in Ibadan. In the end, 35 of them, mostly children, died. Then the autocade of death swiftly moved to Okija in Anambra State, and that was where rice set in and sat in. Distribution of rice donated to his community by businessman Obi Jackson soon turned deadly as a stampede snuffed life out of beneficiaries. The convoy soon moved to the Federal Capital Territory, even overpowering the otherwise supremely organized Catholic Church. This time around, about 10 people were trampled to death.

    What is it really with Nigerians and rice? Historically, a staple food, the soaring price of the commodity has made it a luxury commodity which has become more and more unaffordable as Nigerians have sought to navigate complex economic realities precipitated by leadership failures at all levels.

    Yet, Nigerians feel they must eat rice. Worse still, they feel entitled to it as palliatives from government. Earlier this year, about four students of the Nasarawa State University Keffi were trampled to death as they sought free rice.

    Read Also: Families flock Agodi Garden, Ventural Mall, UI Zoo, others to celebrate Boxing Day

    Following the tragic deaths, opinions have again been sundered, as with everything in Nigeria. But as the debate rages on, the worst losers are those who cannot contribute anything because they are as dead as doornails,  only because they joined the struggle for rice.

    Since rice has turned Nigerians into rabid raccoons that can rip their brothers and sisters apart in a moment, can there be competing alternatives? Rather than distribute rice, can there also be fufu, amala, ukwa, okpa or even yam as alternatives?

    Nigeria is on the lookout for victims to fill the metaphor for mortuary that it has become and for everyone, the overriding duty is to stay alive; the overwhelming one.

    When people queue up anywhere in Nigeria to manifest the mendicancy that leadership failure has reduced them, they should have some dignity and decency to maintain order so that no one gets injured or, worse still, dies. This is because death is a dictatorial demagogue. Whenever it speaks, all else falls silent.

    Following the needless deaths, many people have blamed President Bola Tinubu. Maybe ripple effects. Perhaps, just frustration. Truth is, he was nowhere near Okija or Maitama as Nigerians trampled each other to death.

    As it is, Nigerians must let self-preservation, that most primal and precious of instincts, kick in. There is no other choice. The dead do not speak or eat rice, of course.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu,

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • A wake-up call for social welfare reform

    A wake-up call for social welfare reform

    • By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

    Sir: The series of stampedes across the country that have resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including children scrambling for food palliatives, have highlighted the severity of hunger, poverty and desperation among Nigerians.

    Thirty-five people, mostly children, died during a stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo State. Few days later, 22 people were killed during a stampede in Okija, Anambra State while participating in the sharing of rice donated by entrepreneur, Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson. Another 10 persons died, and several others were injured on the same day during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama District of Abuja.

    These avoidable tragedies highlight the systemic failures of certain government institutions in formulating effective policies, implementing meaningful economic reforms, and developing robust social welfare programs to address the underlying challenges plaguing our nation.

    While the president attributes the recent stampedes to poor organization by the palliative distributors, his remarks fail to acknowledge the broader systemic failures that have created these conditions.  The neglect of social safety nets and the absence of sustainable poverty alleviation programs have left the poor with no choice but to risk their lives for a bag of rice or a few groceries.

    Despite being plagued by scandals under successive ministers, including Sadiya Umar Farouq and Betta Edu, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (FMHAPA) could have potentially averted the tragic stampede for palliatives if its lofty missions and mandates had been properly implemented.

    The Humanitarian Ministry has sadly become a symbol of inefficiency and corruption, further eroding public trust in government interventions. These shortcomings have undermined its ability to address the nation’s growing humanitarian crises, leaving vulnerable populations without the support they desperately need.

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    National security, as rightly noted, extends far beyond military capabilities and advanced weaponry. True security lies in ensuring that citizens have access to food, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Hunger and poverty pose as much of a threat to national stability as armed insurgencies, demanding urgent political will and strategic foresight.

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under Malam Nuhu Ribadu, must lead a coordinated and holistic approach to national security. Efforts across critical sectors such as agriculture, economic development, emergency response, and intelligence must be integrated into a strategic framework aimed at protecting citizens from socio-economic vulnerabilities. Ending these systemic social disasters requires strong leadership, unwavering political will, and a commitment to poverty alleviation.

    The government must prioritize tangible programs that uplift the masses. This includes expanding access to welfare schemes that guarantee basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education; investing in skills acquisition and job creation to provide sustainable livelihoods; and establishing transparent, efficient mechanisms for distributing food and essential items to prevent fatal stampedes.

    Ministries and agencies tasked with poverty alleviation must undergo a thorough overhaul to eliminate corruption and ensure the efficient delivery of services. Enhancing agricultural production and expanding the value chain are also critical steps toward making food more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.

    While economic reforms are essential for long-term growth, the government must implement measures to mitigate their immediate impact on vulnerable populations. This includes subsidies, tax reliefs, and price stabilization policies to shield the poor from the harshest effects of reforms.

    The tragic stampedes and rising death tolls are a sobering reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms. The government must confront the structural inequalities and flawed economic policies that perpetuate hunger and poverty.

    To restore hope and dignity to its people, Nigeria must prioritize collective security across economic, social, and political dimensions. The tragedies in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja should serve as a wake-up call, compelling leaders and citizens alike to demand accountability and advocate for a nation where no one has to risk their life for a bag of rice.

    •Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi,

    Kano.

  • Hunger, greed and economic realities

    Hunger, greed and economic realities

    • By Matthew Alugbin

    Sir: In what appears to be a tragic pattern of geographically distributed misfortune, recent weeks have seen a series of fatal stampedes during food distributions across Nigeria. From a children’s funfair in Ibadan (Oyo State), where no fewer than 35 lives were lost, to Okija (Anambra State), where 22 people perished, and Abuja, where 10 individuals died during a food palliative distribution, a total of approximately 76 lives—mostly women and children—were lost within just a week.

    These tragedies are not isolated incidents; they are reflections of national struggle with food insecurity. The rising cost of basic food items is not just a minor inconvenience in many homes; it is a crisis impacting a staggering majority of households. These experiences confirm the report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that a very large majority (71%) of the people were affected by the rising cost of essential foods, with 33% of households struggling to access sufficient food supplies, leading to skipping of meals. Understanding this will help understand the intentions of philanthropists and compassionate individuals in the present economic situation.

    While it is understandable that immediate attention falls on the organisers of these events, placing the blame solely on them oversimplifies the issue. Their philanthropic gestures, intended to alleviate suffering, have tragically become a source of regret. This serves as a lesson in organisation and management.

    Read Also: Families flock Agodi Garden, Ventural Mall, UI Zoo, others to celebrate Boxing Day

    How did Jesus Christ feed 5,000 people without a stampede? His approach was so well-organised that not only was there no chaos, but there were also 12 baskets of leftovers after everyone had eaten to their satisfaction. Poor organisation and crowd management undoubtedly contributed to the stampedes, but the root of the problem lies much deeper. The sheer number of people driven by hunger to attend these events highlights the extent of the poverty gripping the nation. This raises an urgent and critical question: why were so many people so desperate for food that they were willing to risk their lives in a chaotic crowd?

    A major factor we cannot ignore is the impoverished condition of the people. Poverty drives individuals into vulnerability, and there is no doubt that hunger is pervasive across the land. Hunger has become a common denominator in these tragedies. After the stampede in Ibadan, one would have expected the incident in Okija to be averted, yet it occurred, followed shortly by the one in Abuja.

    During elections, we frequently witness voters being induced with various items to support specific candidates. For example, during the last off-cycle gubernatorial elections in 2024, some voters openly admitted to being influenced to vote for particular candidates through such inducements. Politicians exploit the vulnerabilities of the people by distributing food items during election campaigns—a practice that amounts to deceitful philanthropy. This is unlike the case in the recent situations.

    The recent stampedes also reflect our moral bankruptcy as a society. Greed has quietly become ingrained in us, fuelled by a capitalist system that discourages a model where individuals take only according to their needs. The current economic system thrives on greed, and this is at the heart of the problem. The state cannot shift blame for the systemic failures of capitalism onto event organisers alone. The capitalist system, inherently driven by greed, must be considered in evaluating these tragic events.

    To prevent such incidents from recurring, we must work toward building a more just and equitable society—one that prioritises human needs and dignity over profit. Creating systems that empower people to provide for themselves and their families with dignity should be our focus. While we commend genuine Nigerians who extend help to those in need, we must recognise that such acts of charity are not enough. A sustainable solution lies in building a system where resources are distributed fairly: “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.”

    •Matthew Alugbin, PhD,

     Edo State University, Uzairue.

  • A rare ray of hope in Kogi State

    A rare ray of hope in Kogi State

    Sir: As the rollercoaster of the 2023 National Assembly elections rolled into Kogi State,  the long-suffering people of Kogi Central Senatorial District were unsparing in their unanimity: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was their choice and for good reason.

    Her triumphant return to the senatorial zone during which she wiped away tears as a rapturous crowd greeted her shortly after her victory at the Court of Appeal was a clear sign that her constituents had finally found the light they so badly needed after years of milling about in the dark. What a bright light she has been.

    Since she was sworn in, one project has followed another as she has sought to keep her promises to a zone that had long been on the back-foot despite its prodigious potentials.

    In November, to commemorate her one year in office, she commissioned some legacy projects in the senatorial zone. These included a 1 km road network at Abdul Azeez Memorial College in Okene, the reconstruction of the college to include nine classroom blocks, four boarding houses, and 5000 digital learning devices for the students.

    Her scholarship scheme which runs through the Natasha Foundation has supported 353 vulnerable students at tertiary institutions nationwide, while her empowerment programs have trained over 1,300 artisans in various fields, from renewable energy to catering, with start-up grants provided for all participants.

    Read Also: Prioritising training vital for effective governance, says Edo governor

    She has also sponsored water projects that have brought potable water to many communities in Kogi Central, including a large solar-powered system that serves 300 locations with 1,800 water taps.

    In the spirit of the Yuletide, she has empowered her people in all five local governments of her senatorial district. She organized a raffle draw that saw her constituents win various prizes ranging from sewing machines, grinding machines, groceries, wrappers, bowls and deep freezers.

    For the first time senator, deserving projects befit a deserving people who stood by her as she fought to reclaim her mandate from the claws of electoral brigands.

     Senator Akpoti is not only that rare ray of hope that has infiltrated the darkness in Kogi Central and the state as a whole, she is also a stellar example of what women can do in politics.  She is showing that women can fly where men have floundered disastrously.

    She is a torchbearer for what women in politics represent: hope, inclusion, stability and genuine development.

    Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unprecedented representation is transforming the lives of her people; daughter of a medical doctor who was known for his great compassion for his people, she is just what the doctor ordered for the good people of Kogi Central.

    •Kene Obiezu,keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Celebrating AfDB @ 60

    Celebrating AfDB @ 60

    “Africa is not the biggest problem in the world, it is the biggest opportunity”. Nicola Tyler

    Sir: In 60 years, Africa’s economic and social transformation through the financial interventions of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has been tremendous and overwhelming, catalysing the continent’s prosperity and tapping its potentialities for a continental rebirth.

    Resonating with Africa’s post colonialism needs of socio-economic reconstruction and transformation, restoring its glorious past devastated by massive exploitation and persecution, the AfDB under the leadership of Dr. Akinwunmi A. Adesina has maintained its AAA rating and authorised capital of over $318 billion, with nearly 2,000 staff serving all 54 African countries.

    As the Africa’s premier development finance institution, it has been pioneering the pathways to the transformation of lives of the Africans. It has committed humongous funds for proactive measures against climate change, ensuring that food security is enhanced through adequate funding and technical backing. It has been creating and providing opportunities for the teeming people of Africa to be economically sound, ensuring gender equality in the financial operations of its mandate.

    A true development partner, it stands for the financial vision that guarantees sustainable development of the region. It is a typical example of institutional phenomenon and impactful powerhouse for the reformation of Africa.

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    The AfDB’s resources come directly from special contributions made by participating countries. It does not make individual loan but offers project financing to public and private entities. Its main objective is providing concessional resources with more advantageous conditions to African countries to boost their productivity and economic growth. The AfDB is one of the five multilateral development banks in the world. The others are the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank and the Inter- American Development Bank.

    In its frantic efforts to offer Africa a new face lift in a global contest, in December, the African Development Bank and Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A. (CDP) signed a new implementing agreement for cooperation through an investment platform to achieve the continent’s economic growth. The partnership framework between the two entities set up what is referred to as the Growth and Resilience Platform for Africa (GRAF).

    Through GRAF, CDP and AfDB plan to jointly channel up to €400 million over five years through private equity and venture capital funds targeting food security, growth of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and sustainable infrastructures. GRAF also plans to mobilise additional funds from other sources to bring the pool of investment capital to a very huge amount.

    In another impressive drive towards uplifting the continent higher, the AfDB has injected a whopping $300 million equity investment in Africa Finance Corporation to catalyse climate change. This investment is projected to contribute to the creation of over 1,600 full-time equivalent jobs by 2031, while also fostering regional integration and generating clean, reliable energy to power millions of African households. It is also expected to drive inclusive growth and expand economic opportunities for marginalised populations including women and rural communities.

    The AfDB has actively been engaged in innovating investment mobilisation in Africa to foster economic development and social transformation of the people. The AfDB essentially exists to unite Africans, develop the continent, battle climate change, boost the people’s economy. The continental bank has also been involved in training young people, with 50% being women, in five strategic sectors- renewable energy, digital economy, agribusiness, blue economy, textile and clothing industry.

    Making Africa a pride to all of us and exploring its development potentialities, the AfDB contributes to improving the daily lives of Africans by providing financial and technical support for projects aimed at strengthening agricultural production, investing in the sustainable management of water resources, in energy projects providing access to electricity for as many people as possible, industrializing the continent with sustainable, quality jobs and contributing to the economic integration of the continent’s countries, example with projects benefitting several countries.

    In the past seven years, the gigantic operations of the bank have impacted directly on 400 million people. Under the eventful period, the AfDB has provided financing for over $44 billion in support of infrastructures. The bank has also supported the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) since 1975. The 40-year partnership between AfDB and IRRI involves more than $26 million in grants for research, capacity building as well as infrastructures development research.

    •Abdu Abdullahi,aaringim68@gmail.com

  • A call on Governor Yusuf to prioritise local scholarships

    A call on Governor Yusuf to prioritise local scholarships

    Sir: This is to bring the attention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the need to refocus the method of scholarship distribution in Kano State. It is concerning that the Kano State government, under the Yusuf administration, has not provided local scholarships for students under the Kano State Scholarship Board. The current focus on supporting students who have already obtained their first degree, while neglecting those struggling to achieve their first degree, is unhelpful particularly as some students have had to drop out of university due to financial difficulties and constraints.

    One is not against the policy of sending students abroad for their second degrees. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that students from Kano State studying within Nigerian campuses are also facing financial difficulties due to the economic situation. It has become necessary for the governor to direct the Kano State Scholarship Board to open its portal for students to benefit from the state government’s scholarship program, just like their counterparts from other states are benefiting.

    Since the governor assumed in to office as governor, no scholarships have been given to students studying at various institutions across the country. Though, the state government paid the school fees of students who were unable to pay their tuition fees due to the increments in school fees at federal universities like Bayero University Kano, Federal University Dutse, Federal University Dutsenma, University of Maiduguri, my questions is, what about those studying at state universities, polytechnic and other colleges of education in the country? Do we know the kind of situations they’re going through? What efforts has the government put in to support them? Why is it that the state government is giving attention to only those who have first class degrees?

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    I recently came across a publication calling on Kano State indigenes with first-class degrees to apply for postgraduate scholarships within Nigeria. Additionally, the governor visited students studying in India. These are commendable efforts but it’s unfortunate that no mention was made of scholarships for undergraduate students at local levels.

    While it is essential to support brilliant students who secured first-class degrees in their undergraduate studies to further their education, it is equally imperative and important that the state government considers supporting those pursuing diplomas, NCEs, and first degrees in public institutions.

    Everyone recognises the efforts of the Kano State government in providing quality education to citizens. However, it is concerning that students pursuing their first degree at universities across the country seem to be neglected. This oversight poses a significant threat to the education sector in Kano State. If the government neglects the welfare of students pursuing their first degree at public universities in the country, undoubtedly the government may wake up tomorrow and find no first-class students to sponsor for second-degree studies abroad.

    Similarly, states like Jigawa, Borno, and Kaduna also offer special scholarships to brilliant students who graduated with first-class degrees from Nigerian universities. Yet, they continue to support students currently studying at various institutions in the country with local scholarship every year. This local scholarships provided by the respective state governments help eliminate and reduce some of the challenges students face within campuses.

    I therefore appeal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to follow the footsteps of his counterparts in states like Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, that support and sponsor first-class students to study abroad for postgraduate degrees, while still providing scholarships every year to students who are pursuing their first degrees in the country.

    •Sale Rusulana Yanguruza,Borno State University, Maiduguri.

  • Akpabio’s comments on insecurity far from  reality

    Akpabio’s comments on insecurity far from  reality

    • By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

    Sir: The recent remarks made on the state of insecurity by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during President Tinubu’s 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly are not only unfortunate but utterly misleading especially in light of the security statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The NBS survey, conducted between May 2023 and April 2024 revealed that over 600,000 Nigerians were killed and 2.2 million were abducted throughout the country. Anyone following the conventional media in this country will also attest to the widespread security challenges affecting the entire nation, and not just specific regions.

    Thus, statements suggesting that Nigeria is free from the threat of terrorism under the current administration cannot but reflect a lack of awareness of the depressing reality the country faces. Those who genuinely care about Nigeria’s insecurity challenges would not make such remarks. Citizens are at risk, and every part of the country is vulnerable to various security threats.

    If we may dare to ask: where was the senate president on December 10 when bandits abducted approximately 43 people in Kakidawa, Zamfara State?

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    What about November 7, when over 50 individuals were kidnapped from Wanke and Gurusu villages, also in Zamfara State? Where was he on that same day when gunmen seized 10 farmers from Wayam and Belu-Belu villages in Niger State’s Rafi Local Government Area?

    Furthermore, where was he when bandits killed at least 11 people, injured several others, and abducted residents from various communities in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State? What of the September 2 incident when Boko Haram insurgents looted and set fire to shops and homes in Mafa village, Yobe State? These are just a few examples to consider. If the senate president can make such comments in light of these security issues, it can only mean a lack of empathy for the affected people.

    Rather than encourage President Tinubu to intensify efforts in combating terrorism, it unfortunate that Akpabio chose to gloss over them. As senate president, he should be seen as actively contributing to tackling the nation’s security challenges. If people are being brutally killed daily, and he claims that nothing of such is happening, then he is out of touch with the situation in the country. I urge him apologize for misleading the president about the plight of Nigerians.

    •Ukasha Rabiu Magama,

    Magama, Toro, Bauchi State.

  • The rot in humanitarian affairs ministry

    The rot in humanitarian affairs ministry

    • By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: The true measure of any society does not lie in its shiny buildings or bustling towns; neither does it lie in its defence capabilities or diplomatic capacities. Rather than these misleading metrics, the true measure of a society can be taken by how it treats its vulnerable members.

    Nigeria is a country of vulnerabilities. For one, Boko Harm’s destructive campaigns in the Northeast and Northwest have left a country where millions are on the brink having just survived potentially precipitous slides down the precipice.

     Terrorism in the parts of the North has cooked a humanitarian catastrophe that is giving Nigeria ceaseless constipation. According to reports, about N2 trillion has been plunged into humanitarian aid in the Northeast in just over a decade.  The question is how much of that money has actually reached the most affected victims of what is arguably Nigeria’s greatest failure as a country?

     Nigeria has a Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Established by former president, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019, the ministry was meant to coordinate humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation in the country. However, it appears that the ministry has become a major cesspool of corruption.

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     To highlight the seemingly bottomless depth of the problem, recently, the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) dragged the federal government to court to compel it to investigate reports stating that about N57 billion disappeared in the ministry in 2021 alone.

    The staggering sum which should have gone into providing succour to people stranded by terrorism and banditry has obviously disappeared into bottomless private pockets from which they will later re-emerge for terrorist financing and to manipulate elections.

    That SERAP has to push the government to act on the report from about the ministry speaks volumes. Since inception, the ministry has been a cesspit of mindless corruption. No sooner had Betty Edu assumed office as minister in the ministry than she was swallowed by a mammoth corruption scandal. The minister who preceded her in office was also investigated for corruption.

    In a country where corruption is a major problem, one where reptiles and vermin have been known to swallow public funds, anything is possible. But who it must be asked, are those bent on profiting from the fathomless suffering of men, women, and children in the Northeast and Northwest?

    Who are those for whom Nigeria’s hour of need has become a massive milking exercise? People like that, no matter how highly placed they may be in Nigeria’s scandalously unequal society, deserve no place but prison? But who will hold them to account? In a country where people steal public funds and use the proceeds of their crime to buy their way out of prosecution and prison, who can hold to account those who have enough to grease any palms?

    Nigerians must be alarmed at the staggering amounts of public funds that continue to disappear into the nebulous web of money laundering and illicit financial transactions going on in the country. These monies once stolen are sunk into compromising the electoral system, terrorist financing as well as myriad other actions that undermine Nigeria’s democracy and sovereignty.

     At this point, it is perhaps moot to say Nigeria must take the anti-corruption war a notch higher. For each day the country refuses to act, the loss is incalculable.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com