The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

Marker Day madness in Bauchi’s public schools

Sir: In a deeply disturbing trend now gaining momentum across schools in Bauchi State, a so-called “Marker Day” is turning into a day of moral collapse — and worse, institutional silence.

This alarming behaviour, widely circulated through videos reviewed by respected education expert and former Commissioner of Education, Aliyu U. Tilde, reveals a tragic picture. Out of 23 videos analysed, 20 were from government schools. Only three came from private schools — and two of those weren’t even filmed within school premises, but on the streets. The majority of these shameful acts were committed by students in government schools — schools meant to protect and nurture the dreams of the children of the poor.

Originally meant as a harmless celebration of school graduations or year-end milestones, Marker Day has become a breeding ground for indecency. Students, especially girls, are seen with their uniforms defaced, their bodies scribbled on with markers, and some even stripped half-naked while their peers cheer on. One particularly disturbing video featured all-Muslim female students in hijabs, yet they were involved in acts that are clearly against Islamic teachings and Hausa cultural values. In some cases, names were written on thighs — in the open — while others laughed and filmed.

Where is the outrage? Where is the action?

It is disheartening that this shameful display is happening in a state like Bauchi — widely regarded as a religious and culturally conservative society. And yet, we have seen little or no serious action taken by the relevant authorities. Our students are descending into moral chaos, and the institutions meant to shape them are either overwhelmed or turning a blind eye.

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This is not just a moral issue — it is a societal emergency. When public schools, meant to uplift the children of the poor, become platforms for moral decay, then we are planting the seeds of future societal collapse.

We urgently call on Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, to lead the charge in addressing this issue. The time for silence is over. As the leader of the state, his decisive action is needed now more than ever.

Schools where such acts occur must face sanctions. Heads must roll if we are to protect the integrity of our educational institutions.

Our religious leaders, traditional rulers, and community elders must not watch from the side-lines. Islam clearly teaches modesty, discipline, and respect. What is happening now flies in the face of everything our religion and culture hold dear.

If we fail to act today, we will harvest shame and regret tomorrow. A morally bankrupt youth population is a ticking time bomb. As parents, educators, and leaders, we must stand up — not just in speeches, but in action.

•Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman), Bauchi

August 5, 2025
PDP: Gana’s moonlight tales

It would appear a fashionable national curse here to wax poetic over the past, in the sweet belief that it would — indeed, must — always be better than the present, and indeed the future. That’s not backed by facts.

On the positive side: Lagos has not solved all of its problem — it probably never will. Which entity ever solves all of its problems?

But between pre-1999 Lagos and Lagos of 2025, there have been some spectacular changes. Better security, for one: whoever hears of daylight robberies these days? Transport infrastructure for another: witness Blue and Red rail lines — and the Green line (CMS to Lekki) in the nursery.

On the negative side: By the advent of 1999, PDP was the all-conquering power behemoth. Today, it screeches, to be heard, as the most formidable opposition party, matched against the wannabes: like Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP) and David Mark’s — no thanks to a hostile take-over — African Democratic Congress (ADC), huffing and puffing, punching above their weight and making insane boasts about the 2017 polls.

Incidentally, both Obi and Mark were sad parts of the spectacular collapse of PDP. Mark was its last Senate president as the ruling party (2007-2015). Obi chased shadows as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate (2019) in an abortive search for the presidency. That trio — Atiku, Mark and Obi — now lead the charge against their grand old party, towards sweepstakes 2027!

That, by the way, wasn’t accidental. They were all true sons of their political father — PDP: with its sole and fanatical principle of power and power alone: PDP… PAWA!

Which made it surprising, Prof. Jerry Gana’s new sweet spin that PDP wasn’t just put together to push for and corral power, and pretty nothing else.

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Gana, to a PDP ensemble, the Consultative Conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders, in Abuja: “In forming the PDP in 1998, the founding fathers were profoundly moved by timeless principles, deep-rooted values and fundamental objectives. Those leaders did not gather just to capture power … We had very clear ideals and values and principles …” Hear! Hear!

What gas! Gana can tell all those to the marines! Even if the alluring aroma of inevitable power lulled the beneficiaries of the Army Arrangement of 1998 into thinking beyond just grabbing power, their scandalous behaviour all through their best forgotten power years pointed to the contrary.

Double tragedy: Olusegun Obasanjo, elected on the PDP ticket as first president in 1999, left no doubt about devotion to self as against the collective, despite his holy hypocrisy.

Gana and co, of course can push their democratic rights to sweet yarn. But for a fallen elephant hoping to rise again, it had better correctly x-ray whatever sent it crashing down. Gana’s tale by the moonlight certainly isn’t it.

August 5, 2025
Oborevwori’s two years of developing human capital in Delta

By Festus Ahon

When Elder Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori assumed office as governor of Delta State on May 29, 2023, he came with a clear vision and a bold promise: to govern for all Deltans and deliver the M.O.R.E Agenda —Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.

Two years into his administration, that vision is translating into measurable results in all aspects of human endeavours, but in this edition of The Governor’s Diary, we will look at his efforts in human capital development—empowering individuals, supporting families, and laying a firm foundation for a more prosperous Delta State.

Oborevwori’s people-centred approach has become the hallmark of his governance. While infrastructure, economic growth, and institutional reforms have advanced, the governor’s strategic focus on education, employment, social protection, civil service reforms, and health is changing lives in unprecedented ways.

One of the earliest signs of this people-first agenda emerged in the civil service. Recognising that a motivated and efficient workforce is key to delivering the dividends of democracy, the administration swiftly addressed long-standing issues—beginning with the payment of over N5.5 billion in promotion arrears to over 23,887 civil servants across the state.

This unprecedented gesture, which restored career progression and boosted morale, sent a clear message: under Oborevwori, public servants will be respected and empowered. The government followed through with targeted recruitment to fill critical workforce gaps, especially in the education sector. Over 3,947 teaching and non-teaching staff were engaged across Delta’s 25 local government areas to strengthen learning outcomes and service delivery in Primary Schools.

To further enhance competence and professionalism, the administration institutionalised regular training and retraining programmes, fostering a culture of continuous learning within the Delta State Civil Service. These initiatives have repositioned the workforce into a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-focused institution.

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Governor Oborevwori’s commitment to human capital development also extends to those who have served and retired. By August 2024, his administration had disbursed over N14.49 billion in pension benefits to retired state workers, ensuring that retirees are not left in penury after years of service.

In addition, the administration facilitated a N40 billion loan for local governments to clear the massive backlog of unpaid pensions owed to primary school teaching and non-teaching, and othervlocal government retirees.

This gesture, long overdue, brought hope and financial stability to thousands of elderly citizens, many of whom had resigned to despair. By honouring pension obligations, the administration is reaffirming the principle that public service should be rewarded with dignity, not suffering.

In a time of widespread economic hardship across Nigeria, the Oborevwori administration took proactive steps to shield the most vulnerable from the harsh effects of inflation and unemployment. One of the most impactful of these steps was the launch of the M.O.R.E. Grant Scheme in May 2024, a direct economic intervention targeting petty traders, artisans, and female entrepreneurs.

A total of 5,426 beneficiaries comprising 1,600 petty traders, 1,826 artisans, and 2,000 women-led enterprises received financial grants to boost their businesses. The initiative was not just about money; it was about hope, about giving people a second chance to provide for their families and grow their livelihoods.

Another major initiative under this empowerment drive was the Delta COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) programme. This initiative provided support to more than 250,000 Deltans from across the state, enabling them to expand their businesses, create jobs, and improve their living conditions. These efforts represent a clear intention by the Oborevwori-led government to reduce poverty, stimulate grassroots economies, and foster inclusive prosperity.

At the heart of the Oborevwori administration’s human capital development strategy is a strong belief in education as a transformative force. Over the past two years, his government has made significant investments to support students across various levels of the education system ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints.

For the 2022/2023 academic session, N674.48 million was disbursed in bursaries to over 30,000 students of Delta origin in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The momentum continued in 2023/2024, with N713 million allocated to 32,028 students, spanning universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, nursing schools, and even military academies. These disbursements, which began in February of each year, were done transparently and without bias, reflecting the administration’s commitment to fairness and merit.

What truly sets the Oborevwori-led administration apart is its sensitivity to vulnerable groups. Special scholarships were approved for 628 children of deceased civil servants and 60 students with physical disabilities. These targeted interventions have not only earned widespread praise but have also demonstrated what inclusive governance should look like — compassionate, responsive, and just.

The administration’s educational support also extended to professional training, particularly for aspiring legal practitioners. Understanding the significant financial demands of the Nigerian Law School, the Oborevwori government approved N43.69 million in 2022/2023 and N82 million in 2023/2024 to support Delta State indigenes enrolled in the programme. This included both regular and backlog students, totalling hundreds of beneficiaries across the country.

By removing financial barriers to legal education, the government is grooming a new generation of lawyers equipped to contribute meaningfully to society. This initiative underscores the administration’s strategic focus on not just general literacy but also professional excellence.

Through these multifaceted investments in people, workers, retirees, students, traders, and entrepreneurs, Governor Oborevwori is leaving an indelible mark on Delta State’s human development landscape. His policies reflect an administration that listens, and leads with empathy.

The achievements in just two years are a testament to what is possible when leadership is grounded in purpose and driven by the will to serve. Governor Oborevwori has shown that development is not only about roads, bridges, and buildings, but also about building people and empowering them with the tools to create better lives for themselves and future generations.

As Deltans look ahead, the trajectory is clear: with continued focus on education, employment, social protection, and empowerment, the Oborevwori administration is laying a strong and sustainable foundation for Delta’s long-term prosperity. His brand of leadership is calm, inclusive, consistent, and result-driven, and has not only inspired hope but is steadily delivering on the promise of M.O.R.E.

In today’s Delta State, the story is no longer one of unfulfilled potential, but of a people on the move, rising with dignity, working with purpose, and dreaming with confidence. And at the center of that transformation stands a Governor who is showing, by action, that human capital development is not just a policy, it is a mission.

• Ahon is spokesman to the Delta governor

August 4, 2025
2027: Enugu and Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

By Chukwunonye Okereke

As Nigeria gradually approaches the defining year of 2027, political permutations are already gathering momentum across the country. At the heart of these early alignments lies a crucial question: who will drive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in regions where the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeks to establish a deeper foothold?

In the Southeast — and particularly in Enugu State — the answer does not require guesswork. One name continues to stand tall, not just for his loyalty but also for his strategic relevance and unbroken grassroots connection: Chief Uche Nnaji, the current Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology.

While many politicians in the region stood aloof or in outright opposition to President Tinubu’s emergence in 2023, Nnaji took a principled stand by flying the APC flag in a hostile political climate. His commitment to the party, the president, and the idea of national integration makes him not just a participant in the Renewed Hope project but a pillar of its future success in Enugu.

It is no secret that the APC remains politically isolated in much of the Southeast. In such an environment, loyalty is not mere symbolism—it is sacrificial leadership. Chief Uche Nnaji stood firm when many sought the convenient refuge of political expediency. His 2023 campaign, while falling short electorally, succeeded in planting a resilient structure for the APC across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State.

This loyalty should not be overlooked or taken for granted as 2027 approaches.

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The presidency and the APC national structure must resist the temptation to court familiar but flawed political names in Enugu—names that have proven either electorally irrelevant or disconnected from the masses.

Many of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs who assured President Tinubu during the last general election that they would deliver for him in the state could not even secure an appreciable vote for the APC in their senatorial districts. It is only by the grace of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike that they are still relevant in the main opposition party. Under the current dispensation, would they be able to galvanise support for the president? How?

Many of the PDP chieftains assuring the president in the current dispensation ahead of 2027 are only interested in using his growing influence for political survival. They do not believe in the ideology of the APC. Their desperation stems from the discontent they are facing among the electorate in the key Southeast state. The current economic pressure in the state, occasioned by high inflation and insecurity, has left many disenfranchised.

The Enugu State Government is not helping matters. The government’s demolition of structures in the state, targeting homes, shops, and long-standing businesses, has created deep social resentment. Instead of empathy and urban renewal, many residents feel a sense of displacement and betrayal.

Chief Nnaji offers a vastly different approach. He is neither burdened by past governance failures nor detached from his people. His technocratic exposure as a minister in the Tinubu administration is balanced with street credibility and cultural resonance in Enugu communities. His emphasis on innovation, education, youth empowerment, and digital skills matches the administration’s long-term vision.

Nnaji is the face of a new APC—clean, competent, and inclusive.

The politics of 2027 must be grounded in truth, and the APC cannot afford to gamble with recycled politicians who have lost touch with reality and are seeking survival strategies. The stakes are too high. The minister represents both continuity and credibility. He is one of the few Igbo leaders who openly supported the president in the region, and thereby risked political capital.

If Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is to resonate in Enugu in 2027, it must wear the face of Uche Nnaji. He is not just a political figure—he is a pivot, a stabiliser, and a bridge between the Southeast and the nation’s centre of power.

•Okereke, a political affairs analyst and developmet advocate writes from Enugu

August 4, 2025
Employment for outstanding corps members commendable but…

Sir: The recent announcement by the federal government approving automatic employment for 210 outstanding ex-corps members is a commendable gesture. It highlights the government’s willingness to recognize excellence, commitment, and patriotism among Nigerian youths who served under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In a country where youth unemployment continues to rise, such news brings a glimmer of hope and reinforces the value of diligence and service to the nation.

However, while we applaud this decision, it is important to reflect on the broader implication of employment as a national issue. Employment should not be viewed or treated merely as a reward for exceptional service; rather, it is a fundamental right of every citizen.

Section 17(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that suitable and adequate employment opportunities are provided for all citizens.

The reality is that millions of Nigerian youths, many of whom are also diligent, patriotic, and committed, remain unemployed not for lack of qualification or willingness to work, but due to systemic issues, poor economic planning, and the absence of merit-based recruitment in many public and private sectors.

While excellence should be rewarded, it should not overshadow the fact that gainful employment is a socio-economic right that the government owes to every Nigerian.

Furthermore, employment processes, especially those administered by government institutions, must be anchored in transparency, inclusivity, and merit-based accessibility. Every citizen, regardless of social standing, political affiliation, or geographic location, must be afforded a level playing field where competence, character, and qualification are the only criteria for selection.

When recruitment becomes shrouded in opacity or distorted by patronage and political considerations, it erodes public confidence in the system and entrenches a culture of inequality.

Positioning employment, particularly within the public service, as a privilege or a token of appreciation extended to a select few rather than as a right and a responsibility, distorts the essence of democratic governance. It subtly reinforces the narrative that access to livelihood is contingent upon favour, loyalty, or sacrifice, not constitutional entitlement or capability. This paradigm not only disempowers the vast majority of competent yet unconnected individuals, but also normalizes exclusion, weakens institutional capacity, and sabotages national development by side-lining talent in favour of sentiment.

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In such an environment, the very idea of citizenship becomes stratified—where some are seen as more deserving of opportunities than others, not by virtue of ability, but by their proximity to power or visibility in national service. This breeds cynicism, fuels social discontent, and undermines the credibility of state institutions. It also sends a chilling message to the millions of hardworking young Nigerians who strive, study, and serve with the hope that merit will someday matter: that effort alone is not enough.

To build a truly just and progressive society, employment must be seen not as a reward for a few, but as a fundamental right for all—administered with fairness, guarded by law, and driven by the collective aspiration for national excellence. Anything less risks turning opportunity into entitlement and public service into a closed club, rather than a national calling.

In this light, we encourage the federal government to build on this gesture by creating a comprehensive employment strategy that prioritizes job creation, addresses skill gaps, promotes entrepreneurship, and strengthens labour-intensive sectors. Institutions like the NYSC can serve as platforms for long-term talent absorption, but this must be institutionalized and expanded beyond isolated recognitions.

While we commend the federal government for acknowledging the efforts of outstanding ex-corps members through automatic employment, we must also continue to remind our leaders that employment is not a reward, it is a right. It is the duty of any responsible government to ensure that all citizens, regardless of background or connections, are given equal access to sustainable employment opportunities that allow them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Let this act not be the exception but the beginning of a broader commitment to tackling youth unemployment in Nigeria.

•Samuel Jekeli, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja

August 4, 2025
State creation and the ides of October

Sir: With 36 states already created and more than 50 requests for more states, the idea of state creation seems to be assuming a much more alarming posture, than when the idea was first mooted more than six decades ago.

Even in a Banana republic where anything goes, and Nigeria anyway is not a banana republic, reason demands that policy makers and Nigerian stakeholders, must reach a consensus about the acceptable states to be created in addition to the current ones, and thus put a permanent stop to state creation for the nation to move on.

The phenomenon of state creation must not be inelastic such that until every hamlet in Nigeria becomes a state, so the music goes on. The objectives of state creation must not just bring governance closest to grassroots, but more importantly, it must be a template for progress and development of the states and the country as a whole.

In a true federalism, where states are entitled to control their resources and also provide reasonably for the welfare and well beings of its population devoid of federal assistance, how many of the current 36 states can truly be viable states? The onus for state creation must go beyond political patronage, cultural affirmatives or whimsical satisfaction of egregious political or cultural leaderships, but of economic viability and sustainability of motives and principles of progress and development.

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While Nigeria may not rely on examples from other lands to make its informed and reasoned decisions, yet reason demands that as member of comity of nations, it cannot also overlook the good examples of other countries, especially, policies and decisions that have been tested and found good, durable and sustainable.

Today the USA has 50 states in a country of close to 300 million people and it has put a permanent stop to the issue of state creation for years. Nigeria must also do likewise that in a country of 200 million people. State creation cannot be an indefinite policy or decision whereby each government that comes to power must try to satisfy its voters by promising them the creation of states to satisfy their whims and idiosyncrasies.

Nigeria, in other words, must decide whether it wants to have a total of 42 states by creating six more states to the current 36 or 50 states like the USA by creating 14 more states and then put a permanent end and seal to state creation.

It now behoves the National Assembly to promulgate a law on the number of states and all state agitators will rest from their oars and be content to live wherever state they found themselves. Yet all said and done, the solution to Nigeria’s political development is restructuring for the establishment of a true federalism whereby states can control their resources and go according to their own pace regarding development.

Both the exclusive and concurrent lists must be restructured so as to avoid undue lopsidedness on both sides of the divide.

•Sunday Olagunju, Ibadan, Oyo State

August 4, 2025
On alleged resource mismanagement by governors

Sir: The U.S embassy in Nigeria recently adverted the public to the alleged growing resource mismanagement by state governors citing various elephant projects from construction of sprawling state secretariat buildings to commercially questionable overhead bridges and less than viable airports across the states.

The fiscal dysfunction has remained unchecked because an average Nigerian evaluates governance from a unitary paradigm; the first person to blame for his poverty and hunger is the president and not his local government chairman or his governor. The civil society organizations and those who could turn the narrative against the alleged sleaze being perpetrated at the subnational levels are caught in the sensational bubble of headlines and not people oriented advocacy accentuated in the chemistry of empathy.

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Rather than looking at the U.S embassy’s intervention as a diplomatic overreach, it behoves the federal government and the president’s handlers to look inwards and see how the reforms so wonderfully enunciated at the centre are being watered down at the states.

This is dangerously so because the governors seem not to realize that the ballooning state allocations at their disposals are a mere transfer of resources hitherto being enjoyed by Nigerians in the petrol and forex subsidies to the governments closest to them. Whilst the states are constitutionally mandated to be over-sighted and held accountable by state Houses of Assembly, the later have failed woefully to carry out those oversights to the extent of being complicit in facilitating graft across the states.

Nigerians have lost count of the number of litigation being canvassed by SERAP most of which are aimed at enforcing good governance at the federal level; what about the states?

Perhaps for lack of visibility and the media headlines grab, most civil rights outfits do not consider calling out state governments a worthwhile effort which further pivoted the governors’ latitude to impoverish the masses within their jurisdiction.

The gratifying local governments’ autonomy ruling by the Supreme Court which offered denouements in resource penetration to the grassroots is unfortunately and dangerously being muzzled across the states. Why the finance minister and the attorney general of the federation have allowed this to fester is bewildering to say the least.

It is rather befuddling that the ubiquitous Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has kept a muted silence since the U.S embassy’s uproarious revelation.

The NGF has simply given impetus to Samantha Power’s popular maxim which says ‘Silence in the face of atrocity is not neutrality but silence in the face of atrocity is acquiescence’.

•ESV Bukola Ajisola bukymany@yahoo.com

August 4, 2025
Killer-soldier on the prowl?

Amotekun Corps in Osun State recently accused a purported soldier of attacking one of its operatives, resulting in the operative’s death. If confirmed to be so by military authorities, it is the height of dysfunction in the security establishment where personnel are expected to work collaboratively to protect the public space, but now apparently harbour rogue elements that constitute security hazards.

The leadership of the corps, early last week, announced the death in hospital of a 35-year-old corps personnel named Peter Tope, who was allegedly attacked the previous day by an assault band led by an Army Private identified as Opejobi Fiyinfoluwa. Osun Amotekun Commander, Isaac Omoyele, told journalists that the encounter took place on Saturday, 26th July, at Ijeda area of Ijebu-Ijesa community.

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Omoyele said: “The incident occurred around 5:45p.m. when a soldier, who was recently recruited into the Nigerian Army, launched an unprovoked assault on the Amotekun operative. The soldier, dressed in military camouflage, had approached the Amotekun station in Ijebu-Ijesa with hostile intent and made some uncomplimentary comments about the corps.” He added: “What subsequently followed after his comments was that he and his cohorts launched unprovoked attacked on one Amotekun personnel who was coming on his motorcycle. They reportedly stopped the Amotekun operative and knocked him down from his motorcycle by hitting him with a blunt object on the head. The brutal assault lasted about 20 minutes with no intervention, leaving Tope injured and in a pool of blood.”

According to the Amotekun chief, the soldier and his accomplices left the scene thereafter on commercial motorcycles. Other operatives of the corps moved to help their injured colleague by rushing him to Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa, and they reported the incident at Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Ijesa. A report was also lodged with Lt.-Col. Yunusa Isyaku at the Engineering Cantonment in Ede. “Unfortunately, despite efforts to save his life, Officer Peter Samuel Tope succumbed to his injuries early on Sunday morning,” he said.

Omoyele demanded a thorough probe of the incident, vowing that no effort would be spared in ensuring that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

Agency reports cited the spokesperson of Osun police command, Abiodun Ojelabi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), as confirming the incident, saying the police were working to arrest the prime suspect. “We have the details of the suspect who is an Army Private,” he said inter alia.

It is good that the military high command has already been notified of the unfortunate incident. The authorities would do well to join efforts to fish out the Army Private being accused and bring him to justice along with his alleged accomplices. If the incident happened as articulated by the Amotekun corps, that soldier has no place in the military establishment and isn’t at all representative of what it stands for. He should be disclaimed, denounced and handed over to the law.

August 4, 2025
Rethinking state creation
- By Samuel Orovwuje
Sir: The agitation for the creation of new states in Nigeria has resurfaced with renewed vigour as the 10th National Assembly considers fresh proposals to expand the current 36-state structure. This longstanding discourse is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s quest for equitable representation, resource allocation, and socio-political inclusion. However, while state creation is often touted as a panacea for marginalization, the critical issue of economic viability and administrative sustainability continues to be side-lined in the national conversation.

Curiously, the 10th National Assembly has received over 30 requests for new states. These proposals reflect diverse aspirations from ethnic identity, administrative convenience, and local development. However, the primary argument from proponents revolves around addressing perceived marginalization and ensuring better governance closer to the people.

While political representation and the territorial dimension of the state is a legitimate demand, state creation must transcend emotional and ethnic sentiments. Economic viability remains a cardinal factor. Many existing states struggle with basic obligations like salary payments and infrastructure development due to limited internally generated revenue (IGR). Creating additional states without concrete plans for economic self-reliance would further stretch federal resources.

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It is, therefore, imperative that any proposal for state creation undergoes rigorous feasibility studies through evaluating resource endowments, human capital, infrastructural readiness, and economic sustainability plans. Without this, new states risk becoming administrative burdens rather than catalysts for grassroots development.

In the midst of the state creation debate, a growing segment of Nigerians advocate for regional autonomy as a more pragmatic solution. This model proposes restructuring Nigeria into six geopolitical zones with devolved powers over resource control, internal security, and economic planning.

Regional autonomy aligns with the principles of true federalism, enabling regions to harness their unique comparative advantages while reducing the over-centralization of power at the federal level. It also promotes healthy competition among regions, fostering innovation, accountability, and efficient governance.

Proponents argue that instead of fragmenting into smaller economically unviable units, Nigeria should strengthen regional governance structures, encouraging cooperative development projects, regional infrastructure, and security arrangements tailored to local realities.

While state creation remains a powerful tool for addressing local grievances, Nigeria must pivot towards a more holistic approach that emphasizes economic viability, regional autonomy, and constitutional reform. Creating states without a blueprint for economic sustainability will only exacerbate the existing challenges of governance inefficiency and fiscal dependency.

•Samuel Orovwuje,

Lagos
August 1, 2025
A plea to save our local farmers
- By Ibrahim Mustapha
Sir: The federal government had in 2023 granted import waivers for staple and other essential food items. The food items which were exempted include maize, husked brown rice, grain beans, wheat, and millet. The aim of import waiver was to mitigate the high cost of food items in the Nigerian markets by making essential food commodities more affordable to citizens. The policy was to run from July 15, 2024 till December 31, 2024.

Between the period under review, the prices of goods and services have, notably crashed thus making them more affordable to Nigerians. Indeed, the waivers have undoubtedly done magic towards bringing down the prices of food. In many grains markets in the northern states and the country at large, the price of bag of maize currently goes for N35,000, and a 50kg bag of rice for N85,0000 while bag of beans cost N80,000.

Nigerians will recall that the price of food also skyrocketed during the last administration. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the closure of borders to promote and protect indigenous companies. The policy was also meant to encourage local food production. Thereafter, local farmers were fully supported with capital, seedlings subsidised fertilisers and farm implements. The Buhari agricultural policy made many farmers rich overnight, although the prices of goods and services also shot through the roof.

Conversely, the Tinubu administration’s import waiver crashed the prices of goods and services but has since forced our local farmers to compete unfavourably with imported goods. Today, there are hues and cries among the local farmers that unless succour comes to their way, they may incur losses due to the high cost of production this farming season. The price of urea fertiliser has reached between N47000 and N50,000, while NPK 15.15 is sold for N65000 and above.

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If import waiver on rice, maize and other staple grains is not reviewed, the import is that local farmers will not be able to recover their production cost let alone post profits. This will have a negative repercussion as many farmers will stay off the farms next year.

To address this situation, the government should dialogue with farmers to understand their perspectives and challenges. There is the need to support local production. This involves policies that incentivize local grain production, such as subsidies, access to credit, and investment in agricultural technology. Implementing steep tariffs on imported grains should protect local farmers and encourage consumers to buy local produce.

Government should move to ensure quality control. There is the need for imported grains to meet certain quality standards. This can help to maintain consumers’ confidence in local products and encourage purchase from local farmers. Moreover, facilitating better access for farmers to markets can help them to get fair price of their products and reduce the impact of imports on their livelihoods. Our local farmers need adequate education and training. Providing farmers with resources and training can improve productivity and help them to compete more effectively and favourably with foreign goods.

By putting right policies, local farming, which provides millions of jobs, helps to eradicate poverty and promote food security, can be encouraged and saved.

•Ibrahim Mustapha,

Pambegua, Kaduna State
August 1, 2025