The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Remaking the fragile politics of traditional power

    Remaking the fragile politics of traditional power

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    Sir: The flare-up over conferment of traditional title has cooled, but its resonance remains. Not because the quarrel between the Ooni of Ife and voices in Oyo was unprecedented, but because it exposed a larger truth: in today’s Nigeria, thrones do not merely honour tradition; they contest power, shape identity, and strain the boundaries of democracy.

    Across Nigeria, royal thrones are more than ornate relics. They are living institutions, simultaneously revered and contested, woven into governance, identity, and politics. When they clash, the tremors ripple far beyond the palace walls.

    Royal rumbles in Nigeria are not simply about personality clashes; they are the aftershocks of colonial rewiring that never healed. Indirect rule froze fluid precolonial systems into rigid hierarchies, privileging some thrones while shrinking others and the resentments endure.

    Over time, executive instrumentalisation deepened the fault lines: state governors now hold the purse strings and the power of recognition, so that crowns rise or fall with political patronage.

    Add to this the marketisation of prestige, where chieftaincy titles double as fundraising and lobbying tools, and rivalry becomes less about heritage than scarcity and status.

    The law, instead of calming these waters, muddies them further: customary norms, state statutes, and court precedents overlap, inviting contradiction and forum shopping.

    And in today’s media age, what once remained within palace conclaves now trends on TikTok, magnifying minor slights into national spectacle.

    Sceptics might dismiss these palace clashes as mere ceremonial theatre. Yet their impact is tangible and far-reaching. Communities fracture as rival allegiances pit youth against elders, and local identities splinter along palace lines.

    Political opportunists exploit these divisions, co-opting traditional authority to amplify their own power while weakening collective voices. Public trust erodes when monarchs trade insults in tabloids or on social media, diminishing the sacred aura that once commanded respect across generations.

    Governance itself suffers: in Kano, Zazzau, and Ibadan, drawn-out legal battles over thrones consumed energy and attention that could have fuelled development; in the Middle Belt, weakened traditional mediation exacerbates farmer–herder conflicts, prolonging disputes that might otherwise have been resolved peacefully.

    Across the country, the ripple effects indicate these are not trivial quarrels behind palace walls, but disputes that touch civic cohesion, political stability, and social harmony.

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    Yet, traditional institutions remain critical soft power for a state whose legitimacy is often fragile. Weakening them is not just symbolic; it is destabilizing.

    Resolutions of these palace disputes are often superficial. Conflicts are suppressed through executive fiat, contained with stipends, swapped titles, or other face-saving measures, and sometimes eased through quiet bargains like new council seats, ritual concessions, or symbolic gestures.

    Each approach buys temporary calm but rarely addresses the underlying rivalries, leaving disputes poised to resurface under new political winds or succession shifts.

    These settle individuals, not institutions. And when governors, courts, or heirs change, the conflicts resurface.

    If rivalries are national, remedies must be systemic. Nigeria does not need fewer crowns; it needs clearer covenants. A National Atlas of Customary Authority could record every stool, its succession rules, kingmakers, jurisdiction, and precedents, creating memory infrastructure to prevent opportunistic rewrites.

    Harmonized state laws would set transparent standards for succession, published kingmakers’ votes, and narrow, reviewable grounds for executive overrides.

    A Standing Mediation Collegium—senior monarchs empowered to intervene early—would issue guidance that governors must publicly accept or reject, letting sunlight discipline process.

    Funding should be depoliticized, with stipends on predictable statutory transfers linked to peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation, while professional palace secretariats handle administration.

    Title conferment protocols would require notification of counterpart councils, registry in the atlas, and publication of grounds, with sanctions for repeated breaches.

    Ultimately, prestige should be measured by civic service—conflicts mediated, apprenticeships created, heritage preserved, rather than by origin myths alone.

    The Alaafin–Ooni episode was today’s weather. The climate is a century of unsettled rewiring   from Kano to Warri, Ibadan to Benin.

    Nigeria must stop treating each clash as fresh scandal and start building durable systems—memory, law, and mediation—that outlast personalities.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,

    lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

  • Red card for exploitation

    Red card for exploitation

    Some state governments, within the last month, moved against exploitative tendencies by operators of elementary and secondary schools that have imposed heavy burdens on parents. A modern-day practice at the lower level of education is for school operators to organise ‘graduation’ parties for pupils at every final class from kindergarten/nursery up to secondary school, for which parents are billed exorbitantly aside from their core obligation to pay school fees. Usually, pupils are brainwashed by operators to put parents under maximum pressure to pay for the vanity fair, with parents who can’t readily afford the extraneous commitment pressed hard by children insisting they be not left out of the parties, which they often equate to their very pupilage in the schools.

    Imo, Benue and Ondo are among states that have outlawed graduation parties for pupils of elementary and basic levels. Imo government with immediate effect banned schools from staging graduation parties for kindergarten,  nursery and Junior Secondary School (JSS) students – a move it said was aimed at reducing financial strain on parents and redirect attention to academic development of children. Education Commissioner Bernard Ikegwuoha, in a 15th August memo addressed to parents and other stakeholders, also directed school proprietors to stop yearly change of textbooks to enable pupils to pass down what they used to younger siblings.

    On graduation parties, the memo said inter alia: “In line with the 6-3-3-4 education system in Nigeria, graduation ceremonies and parties are only permitted for Primary 6 graduating pupils and Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 students. Henceforth, graduation ceremonies and parties for kindergarten, nursery and Junior Secondary School 3 students are hereby abolished. This policy aims to ensure that students, parents, stakeholders and schools focus on the academic achievements of students at the end of their primary and secondary education cycles.”

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    On textbook usage, the memo said schools must now adopt approved lists and use them for a minimum of four years to enable siblings to reuse textbooks. He warned proprietors against frequent changes, noting that the practice imposed financial burden on parents and undermined educational stability.

    Benue State government issued a similar directive. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Helen Nambativ, in a memo dated 21st August, said the policy would take effect from the 2025/26 academic session. “All compulsory school graduation ceremonies in Benue State are hereby abolished, especially for kindergarten, nursery and basic schools,” the memo stated, adding: “The unpopular use of restricted, customised education materials such as text/exercise books in Benue State schools, making them non-transferrable to subsequent learners, is hereby abolished.”

    The catch is, same trends apply to all states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Authorities concerned should waste no time taking a cue.

  • Beyond NITDA’s removal of harmful online content

    Beyond NITDA’s removal of harmful online content

    Sir: When the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) disclosed that more than 58 million harmful pieces of content were taken down from major platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok in Nigeria last year, it was more than a headline statistic. It was a powerful statement on the scale of Nigeria’s digital challenges—and a reflection of how far its regulatory ecosystem has come. Beneath the number lies a deeper conversation: what this data reveals about NITDA’s role, the evolving nature of online threats, and the delicate balance between regulation and innovation in Nigeria’s digital space.

    The compliance figures—filed under the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms jointly issued by NITDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and the National Broadcasting Commission—signal a fast-maturing regulatory framework. Over 754,000 user complaints were lodged, leading to millions of harmful items being removed and nearly 14 million accounts shut down. These measures are more than routine mechanics of online safety; they represent the scaffolding that allows Nigerians to engage online without being drowned in abuse, scams, or misinformation. Their true value lies in the intelligence they generate for regulators.

    For NITDA, compliance reports are not mere paperwork—they are windows into digital behaviour. They reveal patterns of abuse, highlight categories of content that pose the greatest risks, and expose gaps that demand more than takedowns or suspensions. A regulator that only enforces rules will always be reactive, lagging behind bad actors. But a regulator that interprets data can anticipate threats, influence platform design, and shape preventive strategies. This is where NITDA’s insight matters as much as its oversight.

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    The urgency of this work is underscored by Nigeria’s online landscape. With 107 million citizens connected—nearly half the population—and 38.7 million active on social media, exposure to digital harm is pervasive. On average, Nigerians spend more than six hours online daily, most of it on social platforms. Against this backdrop, 58 million harmful content removals are not routine clean-ups; they are indicators of just how deeply users are already exposed.

    Consider the ratio: nearly 59 million harmful content removals in 2024 equate to more than one harmful post or account neutralized for every active social media user in Nigeria. This illustrates not just the urgency of regulation but also the magnitude of the challenge: for every safe interaction online, there is a constant, invisible battle against toxicity, fraud, and manipulation.

    Still, numbers alone cannot guarantee trust. Fifty-eight million removals do not automatically translate into safety. Harmful content often reappears, legitimate voices may be wrongly silenced, and appeals can overturn moderation decisions. For NITDA, the priority must shift from counting takedowns to interpreting them. Which types of harm dominate? Are vulnerable groups disproportionately affected? Do successful appeals reveal flaws in moderation, or are they loopholes exploited by bad actors? Without such insights, compliance could risk becoming a bureaucratic exercise rather than a genuine safeguard.

    Yet, the progress is undeniable. Not long ago, Nigerian regulators were seen as too weak to hold global platforms accountable. Today, some of the world’s largest tech firms are filing detailed compliance reports in Abuja—a striking transformation that underscores Nigeria’s growing influence. In this environment, compliance is no longer optional; it is the cost of doing business in Africa’s largest digital market.

    Equally important is the human dimension. Nigerians must feel NITDA’s presence not only as a regulator behind the scenes but as a visible ally. That requires breaking down technical reports into simple insights for the public, investing in digital literacy, and empowering citizens to recognize and resist harmful content. It is not enough for harmful posts to vanish; users must understand why they were dangerous and how to avoid them in the future.

    The story of 58 million removals is, therefore, not just about what disappeared from Nigerian timelines. It is about how a regulator is learning from the digital battlefield, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence, and building a governance model that is both firm and adaptive. More importantly, it signals Nigeria’s transition from being a passive consumer of global tech policies to becoming an active shaper of digital norms. If NITDA continues to treat compliance data not just as evidence of alignment but as a tool for foresight, Nigeria could position itself not merely as a participant in the global conversation on online safety but as a continental leader setting the pace.

    •Shuaib S. Agaka,Kano.

  • 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.

  • Reunion ritual

    Reunion ritual

    For the umpteenth time, Nigerian security authorities organised a reunion for rescued kidnap victims and their families. More than 128 people, who had been held by bandits in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, were reunited with their families in a ceremony in Abuja on August 26.

    According to the National Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, the victims were freed in security operations carried out in two phases this month. He said 42 persons, comprising 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler, were rescued on August 14. He added that 88 individuals, made up of 34 males and 54 females, regained freedom on August 19.

    “With their recovery process ongoing, we are now handing them over to the Zamfara State Government for reintegration with their families and communities,” he explained.

    There are inevitable questions: What happened to their captors? Where are the bandits who kept them in captivity?

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in his address on the occasion, did not provide answers to the critical questions about the whereabouts of those who had kidnapped the individuals that were reunited with their families at the event.

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    Ribadu said: “Let me be unequivocally clear: this work will continue. There will be no respite in our operations. There will be no safe haven for those who terrorise our citizens. We will hunt them, we will find them, and we will bring them to justice – or they will meet the same fate as the many kingpins already neutralised by our forces.”

    Tough talk! However, he gave no clue as to whether the bandits involved in the two cases had been arrested or killed. If they were not arrested and were not killed, what happened? Did they escape?  How were they able to escape? 

    When the authorities are silent about kidnappers in kidnap cases in which kidnappees regain their freedom after the intervention of security agencies, it suggests that the kidnappers are free and may well strike again. That’s dangerous.

    It is disturbing that kidnappings not only continue in the country but are also on the rise. More than 2,000 people were reported kidnapped across 24 states of the country between January and July 2024, according to SUNDAY PUNCH. The newspaper’s research focused on reports of kidnapping published in four Nigerian newspapers in the period, namely The PUNCH, The Guardian, The Nation, and Vanguard.

    The scale of the country’s security crisis, which includes kidnapping and banditry, evidently demands greater counter-action from the authorities.  The reunion ritual that has become familiar always leads to more questions than answers.

  • 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>