The Nation Newspaper

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  • Abuja–Kaduna train service: Progress, promises, and struggles

    Abuja–Kaduna train service: Progress, promises, and struggles

    • By Muhammad Iskeel Abdullahi

    The scene at Idu Train Station in Abuja reflects an institution actively working to recover from a challenging year marked by a major derailment in August 2025. Visible repairs, coordinated efforts among staff, and a clear focus on restoration indicate that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is genuinely committed to revitalizing the Abuja–Kaduna train service (AKTS).

    However, while tangible progress is evident, deep-rooted structural issues ranging from limited rolling stock to funding constraints continue to hinder full recovery and long-term sustainability.

    On the ground, substantial repair work is underway following the August 26, 2025, derailment at Asham, which involved a Kaduna-bound train with 618 passengers. NRC engineers successfully re-railed and recovered all affected coaches and locomotives shortly after the incident, moving them to workshops for comprehensive repairs.

    One previously damaged locomotive has been fully restored and is poised to re-enter service, providing concrete evidence of measurable advancement. Mechanics, engineers, and technicians remain actively engaged in rehabilitating other accidented units, demonstrating a committed, hands-on recovery approach.

    Service quality on the route has remained consistent in terms of passenger experience; clean coaches, reliable on-board amenities, and adherence to safety protocols, but the frequency has been impacted. Following resumption on October 1, 2025, operations typically run with two daily round trips (morning and afternoon departures from both Idu and Rigasa stations), with Wednesdays often dedicated to maintenance. This reduced schedule stems primarily from a shortage of operational locomotives rather than any intentional reduction in standards.

    NRC management has indicated that adding a third daily trip is viable with the availability of a standby locomotive for redundancy, a critical measure to prevent disruptions from mechanical faults. Journey times, currently around three hours (depending on temporary speed restrictions post-derailment), were initially lengthened as a precautionary safety step.

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    Officials have stated that gradual  reductions in travel time are expected as system confidence builds and repairs stabilize, potentially returning closer to the pre-incident average of about two hours and a quarter.

    Management’s projections suggest that enhanced frequency, optimized travel times, and improved reliability could be achieved by early 2026, assuming no major setbacks.

    Recent initiatives, such as the nationwide 50% Yuletide fare discount in December 2025, have boosted passenger turnout, underscoring demand and operational capability when supported adequately.

    Human resource development is another key area. NRC structures training into in-house, local outdoor and international programs. Budgetary and logistical limitations have shifted reliance toward weekly in-house sessions to maintain core competencies, sponsored foreign training by CCECC and some few technical partners remain one of the only hope for foreign training.

    While in-house training is effective for immediate needs, this falls short of the expected, as there is need for more advanced, hands-on foreign training.

    A report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) following the 2025 derailment highlighted maintenance lapses, though NRC has contested some findings and implemented internal corrections.

    The overarching challenge remains government funding, essential for any meaningful rail revival.

    Capital-intensive requirements for fleet expansion, spare parts procurement, infrastructure upgrades, and advanced staff training cannot rely solely on internal revenue or short-term fixes.

    Inconsistent allocations have forced practices like parts cannibalization, where components are stripped from damaged units to keep others running. This offers temporary solutions but depletes the asset pool, exacerbating vulnerabilities over time.

    Ticket access also demands urgent attention. Despite private sector controlled e-ticketing platforms and reduced trips at times, complaints of racketeering persist, with reports of touts and insiders hoarding tickets for resale at inflated prices. Such practices erode public trust, skew passenger data, and undermine revenue integrity. NRC has previously investigated similar allegations and increased service frequencies to mitigate this, but stronger enforcement and digital improvements are needed.

    Fleet age is a defining long-term issue. Introduced primarily in 2016, the core rolling stock is now approaching a decade in service without new equipment acquisition to implement aging ones and to support passengers increasing demands in line with global recommendations for replacement every four to five years in high-utilization environments (though some standards suggest major overhaul may be recommended).

    This aging infrastructure impacts on safety, reliability, scheduling flexibility, and growth potential.

    In summary, progress at Idu and along the corridor is undeniable: repairs are advancing, services resumed with enhanced safety checks, and clear timelines for improvements. Promises from NRC leadership are specific and tied to achievable milestones. Yet pitfalls abound limited redundancy, aging equipment, external training gaps, funding shortfalls, and governance issues like racketeering.

    True revival of the Abuja–Kaduna service demands more than NRC’s dedicated efforts; it requires sustained government commitment through predictable funding, strategic fleet renewal, periodic refurbishment institutional reforms, and robust oversight. Rail transport is inherently capital-intensive, and without shifting from episodic support to a long-term modernization plan, recovery will remain fragile.

    Nigerians eagerly awaits the NRC management planned revitalization, restoration, expansion and modernization plans, as they promised to optimize existing infrastructure as well as improving customer experience.

    The wait is getting too long.

    With consistent investment and policy clarity, however, the route can transition from cautious resumption to dependable, high-frequency service, restoring public confidence and unlocking economic benefits for northern Nigeria.

    •Abdullahi, is of the Journalists for Development

  • Tax reform and the cost of silence

    Tax reform and the cost of silence

    • By Kayode Awojobi

    In recent weeks, Nigeria has been awash with heated debates over the newly introduced tax law. From social media timelines to informal discussions in public spaces, opinions have been freely expressed, often passionately and sometimes angrily. Unfortunately, much of this national conversation has been driven not by facts, but by fear, speculation, and widespread misinformation. 

    Since the announcement of the new tax regime, reactions have poured in from different quarters of the country. Many of these reactions, including those from individuals who parade themselves as professionals or public commentators, reveal a troubling lack of understanding of what the law actually entails. Instead of clarifying issues for the public, these interventions have largely amplified confusion. 

    At the centre of the controversy are exaggerated claims about bank transactions, increased taxation on the poor, and alleged attempts by government to squeeze already struggling Nigerians. These claims, repeated often and loudly, have taken root in public consciousness. In the absence of timely and authoritative clarification, misinformation has spread unchecked, exhausting citizens and distorting public perception.

    A sober examination of the new tax law, however, tells a different story.

    The reform represents one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s tax system in decades. It consolidates multiple outdated and overlapping tax laws into a more coherent framework designed to simplify compliance, improve efficiency, and promote fairness. Far from being a blanket burden on the masses, the law introduces progressive measures intended to protect low-income earners while ensuring that higher earners and large corporations contribute more equitably. 

    Crucially, the new law removes the burden of Value Added Tax (VAT) from the most essential pillars of daily life: food, healthcare, and education are now VAT-exempt. This is a direct intervention to protect the purchasing power of the average Nigerian. Furthermore, one of the most significant provisions is the exemption of individuals earning up to N800,000 annually from personal income tax. This single measure offers relief to millions of Nigerians within the low-income bracket. 

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    To further ease the minds of the banking public, it must be clarified that this tax reform has absolutely nothing to do with bank transaction narrations. There are no “auto-debits” authorized by this law; taxes are paid yearly through a transparent system of self-assessment. The law also expands allowable reliefs and deductions, including rent relief, to ease pressure on households grappling with rising living costs. 

    Small and medium-scale enterprises stand to benefit as well. Businesses below specified turnover and asset thresholds are exempt from certain major taxes, giving them room to grow without being stifled at infancy. For larger corporations, the law simplifies obligations by replacing multiple overlapping levies with a unified development levy, reducing complexity while maintaining revenue generation. 

    Beyond revenue collection, the reform seeks to modernise tax administration. Digital filing systems, clearer compliance rules, and a restructured revenue authority are intended to reduce leakages, improve transparency, and build confidence in the system. 

    If these are the provisions of the law, then the question must be asked: Why has public perception been so overwhelmingly negative?

    The answer lies in communication failure. From the outset, relevant government agencies failed to take control of the narrative. Institutions constitutionally mandated to inform and orientate the public, such as the National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of Information, were largely absent at a critical moment. In their silence, rumours thrived and misinformation flourished.

    This failure is particularly unfortunate in a country with no shortage of communication professionals, scholars, civil society organisations, and public institutions specifically tasked with public enlightenment. Nigeria should not be a fertile ground for policy-related rumours, especially on an issue as sensitive as taxation.

    Public policies do not exist in a vacuum. Their success depends not only on intent but also on public understanding and trust. When citizens are left to rely on hearsay, even the most well-meaning reforms are bound to be resisted.

    The way forward is clear. Government agencies, tax authorities, professional bodies, the media, and civil society must urgently rise to their responsibilities. Nigerians deserve clear, consistent, and accessible explanations of what the new tax law entails, who is affected, who is exempt, and what benefits it offers.

    Public sensitisation must go beyond press releases. It should involve deliberate communication strategies that reach communities in simple language and, where necessary, local dialects. Town hall meetings, media engagements, simplified guides, and stakeholder forums should replace ambiguity and fear.

    Misinformation thrives where clarity is absent. If Nigeria must make progress, policies must be accompanied by transparency, engagement, and trust-building. The new tax law should not become another example of a sound policy undermined by poor communication. It is not too late for relevant stakeholders to act, reclaim the narrative, and restore public confidence.

    •Awojobi a  broadcast journalist, writes from Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

  • Nwoko/Daniels: Gold digging vs cradle snatching

    Nwoko/Daniels: Gold digging vs cradle snatching

    • By Ray Ekpan

    In every household in the world, people launder their dirty linens in secret. They do so because they do not want anyone to know how dirty the clothes are, whether they are old or new, whether they are badly sewn or half torn or whether they are what we call “papa dash me”, – an oversized contraption given to a child by a father who has no money to buy him a new shirt.

    The laundering is done in several ways depending on the poverty or prosperity of the launderer. It can be done in a stream in the village. You can sit on a stool, pour water and detergent into a bucket or basin and do it; if your wallet permits you can pack your dirty clothes in a Ghana-must-go bag and deliver to a washerman to do the dirty job for you for a fee; if you are rich and sophisticated, you can do it on a washing machine and dryer and within hours you are done.

    Whatever method is used the important thing is that it is not done in the open, not in the full glare of a watching public because dirty linens are not for public exposure.

    But sadly, two persons who are well known by many Nigerians are breaking the code and washing their dirty linens in the market place. Senator Ned Nwoko, a 65-year old man, lawyer and billionaire and a wife that he married when she was a tantalisingly pretty teenage actress are on the social media throwing bombs at each other about their private lives. Their stories can make a salaciously tantalizing Nollywood movie and the public seems to be lapping it up. But some of their friends are angry that the people are inserting themselves in the drama. Why not? There are three reasons why their story is tickling the public. (a) They are the ones who have put their story in the public space. The public never asked them to do so. As it is often said, if you don’t like the smell of onions, don’t get into the kitchen.

    Whether they like the smell of onions or not they have put themselves in the kitchen. (b) The two of them can be regarded as role models. Nwoko is a lawyer and a senator in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His duty is to contribute to the good governance of Nigeria through legislation. He is paid by Nigeria’s taxpayers for that job. Regina is an actress in Nollywood and the viewing public pays money to watch her act. So she is, in a way, the property of the public. (c) Both money and beauty are important components in life. Many men do anything and everything to make money, big money. And many women do anything and everything to look beautiful, very beautiful.

    Many Nigerians would remember that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, that iconic Afro beat czar, sang about “Fanta face and coca cola body,” the concoction by some women to change their complexion to attract men. All of these efforts by men to make money and women to get prettier are indications that both money and beauty matter to them very much. Many years ago, Dr Stanley Macebuh and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, two top executives of the Guardian newspaper, imported sugar into the country and that caused a problem with the publisher Mr Alex Ibru. Chief MKO Abiola, a well-known billionaire met the two men and jokingly said to them: “Sugar sweet ooo.” They responded: “Money is sweeter.” Even though Abiola had tons of money, the money did not save him. He died. Lesson? Money has its limits.

    While beauty is also very important to women it also has its limits. Elizabeth Taylor was a very pretty woman who had eight husbands in a row but her beauty did not give her marital stability. The bigger lesson in the two cases is that there is no advantage without a disadvantage whether it is money or beauty or anything else. So to those who are asking the public not to poke their long noses into the Nwoko/Daniels affair, I tell them of an adage in my village. It says that when a woman delivers a baby in the market place, it is fruitless asking her to hide her nakedness because her nakedness has already been exposed. There are no big leaves to use in covering her up. That is why the brouhaha between Nwoko and Daniels is raging.

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    Let’s look at the facts of the matter as stated by both parties on several social media platforms. Nwoko, a man who already has four or five wives says that he did not marry Daniels out of love but because his people asked him to marry someone from his place. That is a ridiculous reason for marriage because it is not where someone comes from that makes the person good or bad. And in any case, there are good and bad persons in every tribe or community. People are good or bad depending on their upbringing and who they interact with, their exposure and experience in life. Nwoko has been quoted as saying that he cannot marry any woman who is not a virgin. Wonderful! Virginity is good but it is not the ultimate virtue in marital terms. Someone can be a virgin but lousy, temperamental and reckless, so reckless that her marriage is endangered. And was Nwoko himself a virgin when he married the first wife or when he married Daniels? If he wasn’t, that is hypocrisy.

    Daniels admits to taking alcohol and hard drugs because according to her, that is the culture in the acting industry. There is no profession that prescribes recklessness as a way of life. Anyone in any profession that chooses to live recklessly is doing so on his or her own as a matter of choice and not in obedience to any professional code of conduct. The second reason she offers for her alleged drug addiction is that Nwoko encouraged her because taking the stuff helps her to perform magic on the mattress. That may be true; drug and alcohol may make it possible for people to have a volcanic eruption in bed but the negative consequences outweigh the benefits. There can be good sex without hard drugs or sumptuous alcohol as aphrodisiac. Do drugs and alcohol lead to a lasting relationship between men and women? They don’t because they introduce complications into the relationship. Ask Nwoko and Daniels.

    Daniels accused Nwoko of engaging in domestic violence. If he did that, then he is reckless. He is a much older man than Daniels and he is called a distinguished Senator so he should act the part of a senior citizen. Since he chose to acquire Daniels as a trophy wife even after having a sizeable collection of other women, he should treat her “like royalty, like a valuable trophy, like a jewel of inestimable value,” thanks to Obafemi Awolowo. She is young and young people make many mistakes because of their limited experience and exposure. Any man who marries a girl that is far below his age must be ready to make sometimes inexplicable concessions for the fluency of the relationship.

    It is not my business to ask Nwoko why he is a polygamist. Perhaps he wants to reduce the number of unmarried women since there are more women than men in the world. But his having a harem will not make a substantial reduction among the unmarried. He must have found out by now that polygamy is not a joke. Even a man who has only one wife knows that managing the differences between him and his wife is a herculean task. Both of them have to agree on whether they want to eat afang soup or ofe Owerri. And when the age difference between the couple is gargantuan as in the Nwoko/Daniels case, the matter gets more complex. Both of them obviously got involved with each other for reasons best known to them. It may have been a conference of convenience between gold digging and cradle snatching, between lust for money and lust for beauty.

    When General Ibrahim Babaangida was in power, his wife Maryam told Newswatch in an interview that she was angry, very angry, with a decision of the Federal Executive Council. So she raised hell. And what was the decision? The Federal Executive Council had decided that every woman in Nigeria should have not more than four children. But they did not put a ceiling on the number of children a man should have. It meant that men could have several wives and their wives could have a maximum of four children each. So while the woman could have just four children, the man could manufacture a battalion. Men’s injustice to and discrimination against women is intense. It goes on interminably in Nigeria. That is why polygamy thrives. Nwoko must strive to make it less revolting. He and his wife must make compromises so that the relationship can last, so that we can be saved from hearing what we do not want to hear.

    The bigger burden for achieving this belongs to Senator Ned Nwoko. 

  • 2025: NBTI through the lens of history

    2025: NBTI through the lens of history

    By Wole Badmus

    In the life of every individual, group, organization or society, there comes a defining moment. Such moments mark turning points that reshape direction, purpose and outcomes. They represent major shifts in vision, structure and impact.

    Nigeria’s political history offers a clear example. The June 12, 1993 presidential election remains a defining watershed. On that day, Nigerians boldly expressed their collective resolve for genuine democracy, rejecting the military dictatorship that dominated the era.

    The struggles that followed laid the foundation for the uninterrupted civil rule the nation has enjoyed since 1999. It is therefore fitting that the presumed winner of that election, Chief MKO Abiola, was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest honour, GCFR, and that June 12 was formally recognized as Democracy Day.

    In a similar vein, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic reform in Nigeria. No previous administration had so directly and comprehensively confronted the deep rooted inefficiencies, leakages and excesses associated with public expenditure like him. Today, there is a clear shift in government spending and economic management. Tax reforms, fuel subsidy removal, the floating of the naira and other far reaching policy measures have redefined the nation’s economic direction in unprecedented ways.

    Beyond fiscal reforms, President Tinubu has also placed deliberate emphasis on technology as a key driver of economic growth, moving Nigeria away from its long standing dependence on a mono oil economy toward a knowledge driven and innovation based future.

    It is within this broader national context that the appointment of Kazeem Kolawole Raji as Director General/CEO of the National Board for Technology Incubation on January 20, 2025, marked a historic turning point in the life of the agency. The once unknown federal agency was infused with renewed purpose, vigour, visibility and relevance. His appointment stands as a major watershed in the history of the agency.

    Raji assumed office with a clear vision to reposition and strengthen the agency as a catalyst for job creation, wealth generation and economic transformation.  Central to this vision was the commercialization of research outputs and innovative products emerging from the Technology Incubation Centres across the nation.

    This approach aims to boost local production, reduce import dependence and deepen industrial capacity.

    His strategy also includes the establishment of world class technology parks and hubs across the country to nurture start-ups and post incubation entrepreneurs in high impact sectors such as information and communication technology, renewable energy, agritech, edutech, health-tech, biotechnology and manufacturing. In addition, the expansion of international collaborations was prioritized to attract funding, technical expertise and access to global markets for Nigerian innovators.

    He also created stronger linkages between research institutions, industries and technology incubators. This is to ensure that innovation remains demand driven and commercially viable.

    Digital transformation was equally leveraged to improve incubation processes while providing entrepreneurs with access to business development services, funding opportunities and mentorship.

    These initiatives align seamlessly with Mr President’s strategic vision of creating an enabling environment for industrial growth and technological advancement, positioning innovation as a key pillar of national prosperity in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria First Policy of Mr President.

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    To drive this agenda, Dr. Raji focused on strengthening and energizing the workforce through staff motivation and human capital development while forming strategic alliances with critical institutions to promote innovation, empower entrepreneurs and unlock new frontiers.

    A deliberate shift from purely indigenous technology toward emerging global technologies was also introduced, with the aim of positioning Nigeria as a global innovation hub across key sectors.

    Since assuming office, the Raji-led administration has entered into several strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally. Notable collaborations include:

    •High Tech Centre, which fosters research commercialization and advanced innovation.

    •UKALD leads, the UK-Nigeria Tech Innovation Expo, engaging over 65 million youths.

    •TECHHOOD, which provides expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and grant mobilization.

    •The High Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youth to promote youth and women participation in innovation.

    •Envision Management Solutions, which seeks to expand global opportunities for entrepreneurs.

    •Federal Polytechnic Offa, which supports indigenous innovation and youth empowerment.

    •Aerosky Technologies Limited, spearheading Nigeria’s drone technology drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    •Navigation 360 Foundation enhances grassroots participation in incubation programs.

    •The National Directorate of Employment to promote inclusive growth and tackle unemployment.

    •Constituents for Development Initiatives to drive indigenous technology development.

    •Ecoflux Nigeria Limited for advancing entrepreneurship through a national hackathon.

    •Seyi Tinubu’s Campus Technovation, which empowers youth within the technology and innovation ecosystem.

    One of the most outstanding achievements of the agency in the year 2025 is the successful conduct of the NextGen Innovation Challenge, a legacy project conceived under the leadership of Raji in collaboration with UKALD, a United Kingdom based consulting firm.

    Officially launched on May 28, 2025 at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja, the initiative seeks to unlock the vast creative potential of Nigerian youth, particularly those from underserved grassroots communities across the 774 local government areas.

    The National Showcase, held on July 9, 2025 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, featured 105 exceptional finalists representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The Global Showcase, tagged the Grand Finale, followed on October 9, 2025 at the Hilton Hotel in Paddington, London where 105 Nigerian innovators presented scalable and investment ready solutions at the event.

    Two major digital platforms were launched during the Grand finale: NATIMART, a global digital marketplace connecting innovators with investors and venture capitalists and, NBTI Classroom, a free digital learning hub offering mentorship, certification and training for emerging inventors and change makers.

    The highlight of the event was the announcement of Al’amin Mohammed Idris, Chief Executive Officer of Interface Africa from Kaduna State, as the overall winner of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025.

    He received a cash award of £1.5 million, equivalent to over N3 billion for his innovative solar financing model for small businesses across Africa.

    The far reaching impact of the NextGen innovation challenge initiative is evident in its adoption by the Commonwealth of Nations as a model for driving inclusive growth across its 56 member states.

    Expectations are already high for an even more expansive and impactful 2026 edition.

    Another major milestone recorded under Raji’s leadership was the successful allocation of four percent from the National Development Levy to the agency through the 2025 Tax Reform Act passed by the National Assembly. This achievement reflects the Director General’s strategic leadership, political engagement and effective executive collaboration.

    Equally commendable is the development and deployment of the NBTI Promotion Automation System, which has significantly enhanced staff capacity and institutional efficiency. The system is a secured web based platform that integrates all promotion related processes into a single workspace.

    It covers performance evaluations, promotional examinations, recommendations and rewards processing, eligibility verification, as well as appeal tracking and reporting.

    Overall, 2025 stands out as a year of remarkable activities and achievements for the National Board for Technology Incubation.

    Under the leadership of Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the agency has entered a defining phase in its institutional journey.

    •Badmus writes from Abuja.

  • From reform to reality: What really happened in 2025

    From reform to reality: What really happened in 2025

    By Olaleke Alao

    The Nigerian federal government dubbed the fiscal plan for 2025 the “Budget of Restoration.” At N54.99 trillion, it was the country’s largest budget at that time, aimed at stabilizing an economy that had been destabilized by the removal of the fuel subsidy, the fluctuating naira, and an economy that had been propped up by debts. From the corridors of politics in Abuja and Washington, the numbers point to progress. But from the market stalls in Ibadan, the farms in Benue, and the sidewalks of Lagos, the narrative is far more complicated.

    For the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity’s (CCDI) perspective, as an organisation that operates among communities locally and engages other actors internationally, the divide between reform and reality remains the largest challenge faced by Nigeria.

    Three policy agendas characterized 2025: radical tax policies, a renewable energy shift, and strict monetary management. Each was successful. Each inflicted a wound.

    Tax reform: Less taxation, greater pressure

    The government in 2025 finally put an orderly tax system in place in Nigeria by consolidating more than 60 taxes into eight. The country started off on the right foot towards an increase in VAT. A 70% windfall tax was charged on bank foreign exchange profits. Small businesses making an annual turnover of less than N50 million are entitled to tax relief.

    The rationale was simple. The country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio is one of the lowest globally, and debt servicing alone swallowed over N16 trillion in 2025. The government required funds to carry on.

    However, this respite was also a reality for some small businesses. But as far as the middle class was concerned, the salaried employee, and the trader operating within the formal sector, the pressure mounted. This is because more efficient tax collection meant fewer places to hide, even as inflation was above 25 percent. The banks, in turn, adjusted levies and tightened credit.

    The real problem is not just “money in the system”, trust is at stake as well. Looking at taxes as punishment rather than as a form of participation is very prevalent in Nigeria. Paying taxes when light, security, and healthcare are not guaranteed is like paying rent in a house when it is apparent that it is sinking.

    There has to be visibility in taxation in order for tax reform to succeed. People need to understand what their taxes will result in. The revenue raised by taxes should link to infrastructure like roads, markets, and lighted streets, such that people can point to them and say, “This is what our taxes did.”

     Power and the quiet promise of solar

    As the national grid continued failing through 2024 and 2025, the legend of the power of the centre disappeared into the norm. Injections of some $200 million from the government-sponsored solar micro-grids project are now lighting the rural and peri-urban areas.

    CCDI’s assessment in some farming communities revealed that this was more than just theoretical. With solar-powered cold storage, post-harvest losses dwindled. Smaller processors became capable of preserving and processing their own crops. This was more than a policy discussion for most Nigerian farmers.

    However, the cost scale is tragically small. For a country of over 220 million people, $200 million is a beginning, not a solution. In urban areas, being green will remain costly because of fluctuating import duties and a weak naira driving up costs.

    If Nigeria is truly interested in a decentralized energy system, it might provide incentives to the owners of small businesses to turn to solar energy. Incentives may come in the forms of discounts for permits, discounts for business registration, or tax credits.

    Tight money, tight lives

    Throughout 2025, the Central Bank maintained a firm grip: high interest rates, targeting exchange rate stability at around N1,500 per dollar. Inflation moderated slightly from the peaks recorded towards the end of 2024, while foreign investors approached warily.

    But in the streets, credit disappeared. Where you borrow rates of interests over 30 percent, that is not entrepreneurship, it is suffocating the economy. The industries, the growers, and the exporters suffered alongside currency traders. Because when you have a rising dollar, it does not necessarily hold prices in check because of stability in naira.

    No policy is universally applicable in every nook of the economy. Food sectors as well as export-oriented production ventures should not be made to suffer in the same manner as speculatory capital. Different rates of interest, loans at single-digit rates in the production sectors, and taxes on banking windfall profits can make fiscal discipline translated into growth.

    The budget lines that stayed silent

     At some point, apart from the large reforms, some important sectors have remained wanting. Expenditures on security are high, but farmers are still fearful of their farms. You cannot stabilize food prices when farms are war zones.

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    Social protection also went into decline. Cash transfers, school meals, and extension of health insurance did not match the growth in poverty. The evidence is unmistakable, over 25 million children are out of school in Nigeria, when learning has been funded just seven percent of the country’s budget.

    Then, there is federalism. The increases in the national minimum wage were stuck in several states. Education and results in health care performance mean more to states than the will of the national administration. It is just a press release.

     From numbers to lives

     Yes, GDP grew. Yes, fiscal discipline improved. But stability that cannot be felt in classrooms, clinics, farms, and market stalls is not restoration, it is accounting.

    Nigeria’s path forward must shift from macro-stability to micro-impact. Human capital must matter more than concrete. Diaspora engagement must go beyond remittances to real knowledge transfer, backed by credible investment guarantees. Transparency must move from speeches to dashboards Nigerians can actually check.  In 2025, Nigeria stayed the course. In 2026, the course must finally lead to the people.

     The Nigerian people have endured reform. It is time for reform to reward them.

    •Dr. Alao is Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, CCDI Ltd/Gte, Nigeria.

  • Daura: When ambition is packaged as public service

    Daura: When ambition is packaged as public service

    By Yusuf Bala

    Former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mallam Lawal Daura, has declared his intention to run for governor of Katsina State. As is customary with Nigerian political folklore, the declaration came wrapped in the familiar refrain: loud, organic, irresistible calls from the “good people of Katsina state” compelling him to step forward and rescue the state. According to Daura, he did not seek power; power sought him and he merely yielded.

    We have heard this familiar song before; too many times, in fact. This tone is a well-worn Nigerian political script where ambition disguises itself as sacrifice and personal craving is laundered into public demand. In this theatre, politicians are never desperate; they are dutifully summoned. They are never power-hungry; they are pressured by the people. Daura’s declaration fits neatly into this tired template.

    Let us agree that Lawal Daura is not new to public attention. His tenure as DSS boss placed him at the heart of Nigeria’s power machinery. In that role, he interfaced, directly and indirectly, with politicians, power brokers, and influential actors across the length and breadth of the country. Many of these individuals wielded enormous influence at the time. It is therefore not far-fetched to assume that Daura believes these past connections, loyalties, and shared interests will now crystallise into political capital in his favour.

    Thinking like this is precisely where Daura’a first and most fatal flaw lies. If not anything, Daura made as more enemies as friends while trotting the grounds of the DSS and any belief that his traducers would simply fade away leaving only his friends to shore up his ambition would be simply preposterous and unbecoming of anyone who once ruled as Nigeria’s number one spymaster. Even more importantly, the idea that yesterday’s power network has the potential to automatically translate into today’s electoral advantage is not only lazy thinking; it is dangerous self-deception, the kind that the head of Nigeria’s secret police should not even contemplate.

    But assuming we believe, with him, that his friends outnumber his traducers, we must be ready to contend with the circumstances of Daura’s appointment as DSS boss. Many Nigerians believed it was purely political, late President Muhammadu Buhari being his kinsman. Simply put, his appointment was an executive decision rooted in the politics of the moment.

    Beyond that, Daura’s strongest professional claim to relevance is his identity as a security expert; indeed, a spy master. This title is not earned lightly and thus invites scrutiny and demands results while compelling hard questions. And the most obvious of these questions is this: how much of Daura’s celebrated security expertise tangibly benefitted Katsina State while he was in office?

    Katsina has, for years, been one of the epicentres of banditry, kidnapping, and rural terror. Entire communities have been displaced. Farmers have abandoned their lands. Lives have been lost in horrifying numbers. If Daura possessed cutting-edge security insights, strategies, or intelligence-driven solutions, did he ever formally engage the Katsina State government with them? Did he advise? Did he propose? Did he insist? And if he did, were his recommendations rejected? These questions matter, because leadership is not just about what you know; it is about what you do with what you know when you are in a position to act. It is certainly never enough to criticise without solutions!

    People like Daura need to be reminded that the old playbook where spent technocrats suddenly discover a passion for elective politics and begin to sell a narrative of government incompetence to justify their ambition is obsolete. Nigerians and the people of Katsina in particular, are far more politically literate than politicians give them credit for. The era when former appointees could reinvent themselves as messiahs by simply attacking the system they once served is fast fading.

    Equally outdated is the tactic of bankrolling proxies to buy nomination forms, only to turn around and market that artificial gesture as “popular demand.” That stage-managed performance where ambition pretends to be sacrifice has lost its potency. It may still excite political hangers-on, but it no longer moves serious voters.

    If Lawal Daura wants to run for governor, that is his constitutional right. No one disputes that. But honesty demands that he owns his ambition. He should be man enough to admit that he wants power. He should be bold enough to say that he believes he deserves to be governor. If there are fears, real or imagined, about life after power, including possible scrutiny or prosecution, he should at least stop insulting public intelligence by dressing personal calculations in the borrowed robes of public service.

    What he should not do is attempt to deceive anyone into believing that his decision is purely an act of altruism, born out of sudden, burning love for the good people of Katsina State.

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    Daura’s tenure as DSS boss will indeed be remembered for many reasons many of which are not entirely flattering. Chief among these is the persistent allegation of clannishness.  Daura may tell himself that every decision he took was in the interest of Katsina people. He may even convince himself that his actions were strategic investments in long-term goodwill. Unfortunately, his sudden political awakening suggests something else entirely: that he was playing a long game, storing up favours and symbolic gestures in the hope of cashing them in later and that can never be statesmanship. If anything, it amounts to transactional politics unbecoming of a secret police officer at its worst.

    Daura ought to be reminded that the people of Katsina are not fools. They understand politics and power, just as they understand the difference between genuine service and calculated positioning. They can see that instead of engaging Governor Dikko Radda constructively, offering security insights, sharing expertise, strengthening state capacity, Daura chose silence. Now, that same silence is being weaponised as political capital. His expertise, once withheld, is now being repackaged as campaign material.

    This reality does not look good on Daura’s ambition. The revelation alone is damning, even as it tells the people that what they thought were acts of goodwill may, in fact, have been bargaining chips. That what appeared to be service was actually an investment, and that loyalty was not to the state, but to a future personal ambition. Indeed, nothing erodes trust faster than the discovery that generosity was never free, and service was never sincere.

    If disappointment is too strong a word, then let us at least demand honesty. Lawal Daura should acknowledge that his tough talk today is an attempt to profit from yesterday. He should admit that he is seeking to monetise past access and former relevance. And that all these are not because Katsina suddenly needs him more than ever, but because he believes whether rightly or wrongly, that he should be governor.

    That, at least, would be honest politics. Pretending that this declaration is a selfless response to popular demand is not only dishonest; it is insulting. The people of Katsina deserve better than recycled ambition and repackaged power hunger. It deserves leaders who can demonstrate transparency, humility, and genuine service, not the aftertaste of a long favour finally coming due.

    •Bala writes from Abuja.

  • 2026: Looking ahead

    2026: Looking ahead

    By Ademola Oshodi

    There is a particular art to Nigerian optimism that foreign observers often misunderstand. It is not blind faith, but the practiced resilience of a nation that has learned to navigate complexity as a survival skill. In a year defined by geopolitical uncertainty, economic recalibration, and a crisis of trust in multilateralism, optimism can easily sound naïve. Yet, in foreign policy, optimism is strategy.

    As someone directly engaged in foreign affairs, I have observed how Nigeria’s external posture has evolved in response to both domestic reform and global flux. In 2025, Nigeria acted with a clearer understanding that foreign policy is inseparable from economic governance at home. Engagements with international financial institutions, development partners, and global economic forums increasingly reflected this reality. Rather than presenting reform as a burden, Nigeria framed it as a signal of seriousness and readiness for global partnerships. The message was consistent: sustainable growth, debt sustainability, and investor confidence all rest on credibility, and credibility is earned through disciplined policy and transparent engagement.

    This strategy produced measurable results. Over the course of 2025, Nigeria’s diplomatic outreach and international engagements were credited with attracting more than $50 billion in Foreign Direct Investment commitments, spanning energy, manufacturing, technology, and logistics. These commitments came from global firms including ExxonMobil, Indorama, Jindal Steel, Shell, Coca-Cola, and Arise, reflecting a pattern of targeted economic diplomacy that married domestic reform, such as easing foreign-exchange constraints and restoring fiscal discipline, with external confidence-building.

    Trade outcomes reinforced this trajectory. Nigeria recorded its highest trade surplus in six years, reaching N19.34 trillion from a total trade value of N113 trillion within the first nine months of the year. The country’s terms of trade rose to 101.37 points, indicating that exports commanded greater purchasing power. Europe accounted for 43 percent of exports and 34 percent of imports, while Asia absorbed 29 percent of exports and supplied 43 percent of imports. India emerged as Nigeria’s top export destination, with N2.26 trillion in trade in the third quarter alone.

    At the continental level, Nigeria’s trade with other African countries grew by 14 percent in the first half of 2025, following renewed efforts to strengthen regional ties. Together, these outcomes reflect a dual strategy: deepening continental integration while expanding global reach. This is the kind of methodical, cumulative progress that builds economic resilience, challenging the notion that Nigerian optimism is merely declarative rather than earned.

    Diversification of diplomatic and economic space

    If 2025 had a diplomatic soundtrack, it would be the sound of doors opening. One of the most consequential shifts in Nigeria’s foreign policy posture was its admission as a partner country into the BRICS bloc – a grouping that, by purchasing power measures, accounts for a substantial share of global economic output and more than half of the world’s population. The move signalled Nigeria’s intent to diversify its diplomatic space, deepen South–South cooperation, and engage more assertively in debates on global governance reform, particularly in international finance and multilateral decision-making.

    Trade data from the first three quarters of 2025 underscored the material impact of this engagement. Trade with BRICS countries rose to over N5.41 trillion, outpacing exports to some traditional partners and, illustrating how Nigeria’s engagement with emerging markets is reshaping its trade patterns. Crucially, this recalibration did not come at the expense of existing partnerships. Nigeria maintained active ties with Europe, North America, and multilateral institutions, reflecting a calibrated strategy of pragmatic and strategic autonomy: engaging broadly without tethering itself to any single bloc.

    Regional leadership under pressure

    At the regional level, Nigeria’s leadership within West Africa remained central in 2025. Security cooperation, democratic stability, and preventive diplomacy dominated engagements across ECOWAS as the sub-region confronted a convergence of unconstitutional power transitions and evolving security threats. Nigeria engaged in stabilising diplomacy with neighbouring states, keeping channels open with key actors in Niger and Mali while maintaining principled positions on democratic governance. This approach reflected a pragmatic, interest-based posture – one that prioritised regional stability over episodic moralising or rhetorical escalation.

    Within ECOWAS, Nigeria played a pivotal role in sustaining mechanisms for collective security and political coordination, grounded in the recognition that instability in the sub-region directly affects national prosperity, public trust, and citizen security. At the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, regional leaders moved beyond declarations toward institutional action. The activation of emergency security mechanisms strengthened the legal and political framework for collective responses to threats such as banditry, organised crime, and unconstitutional seizures of power. The articulation of a regional standby force – designed to enhance deterrence and rapid response capacity – sent a clear signal that credibility and preparedness still matter in regional governance, even as operational decisions remain subject to consensus and political judgment.

    Public diplomacy, soft power, and a contested global narrative

    Nigeria’s foreign policy in 2025 also invested more deliberately in soft power and public engagement. Beyond formal negotiations and summit diplomacy, Nigeria’s global standing is shaped by its people, culture, and ideas. Through sustained media dialogue, diaspora engagement, and cultural diplomacy, foreign policy increasingly shifted from a distant governmental function to a broader national conversation.

    Diplomacy began to more explicitly recognise Nigerians abroad as economic actors, cultural ambassadors, and connective tissue between societies. Initiatives such as the return of the Benin Bronzes resonated not only as cultural milestones but as diplomatic touchpoints – reframing global perceptions of Nigeria as a country reclaiming narrative agency rather than seeking validation. In an interconnected world, influence is negotiated not only in country capitals and conference rooms, but also in how a country’s story is told, contested, and understood.

    The year, however, was not without friction. Visa restrictions and reduced validity periods for Nigerian travellers to the United States tested bilateral relations and public sentiment. Rather than allowing these tensions to harden, both countries moved toward resolution through sustained diplomatic engagement, ultimately restoring momentum to the relationship and clearing the path for newly appointed ambassadors to assume duties in 2026. The episode underscored a broader lesson: mature partnerships are not defined by the absence of disagreement, but by the capacity to resolve it without erosion of trust.

    Nigeria’s security challenges drew heightened international attention in 2025, particularly from the United States – a development that is often politically sensitive but can also create space for deeper cooperation when approached with clarity and confidence. Rather than framing this attention as external pressure, Nigeria engaged it as an opportunity to shape partnerships around intelligence sharing, technological assistance, and institutional capacity-building, anchored in mutual respect and national interest. This approach marked a clear contrast with earlier periods of strain, when Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern by the United States and public rhetoric compressed a complex security landscape into a narrow and coercive frame. The evolution since then – characterised by dialogue, coordination, and institutional engagement – signals a recalibration in how Nigeria’s security challenges are understood and addressed by its partners.

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    Looking toward 2026: Consolidation and measurable impact

    As Nigeria enters 2026, the central question is no longer whether optimism is warranted, but whether it can be converted into durable influence and outcomes that meaningfully serve national aspirations. The emphasis therefore shifts from positioning to consolidation, and from opening doors to shaping what happens inside the room.

    The durability of recent gains will depend on institutional follow-through. Diplomatic frameworks, economic partnerships, and multilateral engagements must mature from visibility into leverage, particularly in global finance, climate cooperation, trade facilitation, and peace and security. In this phase, diplomatic representation becomes decisive. Ambassadorial appointments are not ceremonial markers of presence; they are operational assets whose effectiveness will be judged by their ability to translate access into outcomes and dialogue into negotiated advantage.

    Economic diplomacy will also assume sharper strategic significance. Nigeria’s demographic trajectory – among the youngest and fastest-growing globally – means that foreign policy cannot be separated from employment, technology transfer, and productive capacity. Deeper engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area and diversified global partnerships will test whether Nigeria can move from participation to leadership, and from market access to value creation.

    Strategic autonomy will remain a defining advantage in an increasingly fragmented international system. As competition among major powers intensifies, Nigeria’s capacity to engage broadly without default alignment will matter more, not less. Non-alignment in this context is active calibration anchored in institutional resilience, policy coherence, and clarity of national interest.

    The doors are open. The challenge for 2026 is to walk through them with disciplined strategy, institutional depth, and the resolve to convert optimism into sustained influence.

    •Oshodi is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol.

  • A defining moment for Nigeria: Why staying the course matters

    A defining moment for Nigeria: Why staying the course matters

    By Mohammed Idris

    As we enter a new year, the questions that fill our markets, our homes, and our places of work are clear and urgent. They are questions about the price of food, about security in our communities, and about the direction in which our country is headed. It is the duty of this office, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, to speak to these questions directly, clearly, and with respect for every Nigerian bearing the weight of this moment.

    The last thirty-one months have been a period of foundational, often difficult, transformation. Our bold reforms, beginning with the necessary but painful decisions on subsidies and exchange rates, were engineered to break a cycle of economic stagnation and secure a future of sustainable prosperity. This path was never promised to be easy, but it was promised to be honest and purposeful.

    Today, the first green shoots of that promised stability are visible. December 2025 marked the thirteenth consecutive month of expansion in business activity. Multinational firms are re-evaluating Nigeria with serious intent. Our GDP is growing, inflation is declining, and our external reserves are strengthening. These are not mere statistics for reports; they are the essential groundwork upon which lasting improvement in everyday life is built.

    However, a nation is not governed by indices alone. A nation is governed through trust, forged in the clear communication of both struggle and progress. My role is to be a steady voice for this administration, to explain our ambitions and our actions.

    Upon this emerging macroeconomic stability, we have prioritised layering direct interventions that touch lives. The student loan programme (NELFUND) is opening doors. The Presidential CNG initiative is aimed at reducing transport costs. Programmes like LEEP, the Jubilee Fellows, and the 3MTT are designed to put skills and opportunity directly into the hands of our youth. In agriculture, a historic recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture and new mechanisation programs are deployed to combat food insecurity at its root.

     We are also pushing ambitious infrastructure. The Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, the AKK Gas Pipeline, and new rail lines, to unite our economy and reduce the costs embedded in our geography.

    In security, a new architecture is being rolled out. We are investing heavily in recruitment, equipment, and international cooperation to finally turn the tide against terrorism and banditry. The recent rescue of our abducted students in Kebbi and Niger states, respectively, is a testament to this relentless focus, and we remain steadfast until every Nigerian feels safe.

    I acknowledge the fatigue that comes with endurance. The anxiety over prices, the worry for loved ones, and the desire for quicker results are all valid feelings; they are the human context of governance. This administration hears you. Our resolve is to accelerate the pace at which these reforms translate into tangible, widespread relief.

    This is why in 2026, our “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity” is critical. It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.

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    But nation-building is a covenant. We, in government, commit to lead with clarity, to deploy resources with integrity, and to communicate with constancy. We commit to face the people, to account for our stewardship, and to explain our path. In return, the civic strength of our nation, our collective will to pay taxes, to protect public goods, to engage constructively, and to reject the divisive pull of mischaracterisation and disinformation is what will ultimately secure our shared future.

    This office, under my watch, shall be accountable and purposeful. It will remain a responsible, accessible, and truthful channel between the government and you, the people. We will explain, we will defend, we will listen, and we will report. You will continually and sustainably see and hear from this ministry, a clear voice of accountability for the government’s whole agenda.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has never been one to be fazed by problems or challenges. His approach has consistently been calm and decisive—turning difficulties into opportunities to do things better and more efficiently.  Our recent engagements as a government with the United States bear witness to this approach. Under the President’s leadership, we turned a tense period into an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations with the US and to ramp up our anti-insurgency efforts.

    But even as we acknowledge the gains we have made, we do not seek to live in the past. Our eyes are firmly focused on what lies ahead and on how tomorrow must improve on today. For us, every moment in the present is an opportunity to double down on what is working, so that we can reap the full benefits of reform.

    The journey ahead demands our collective patience and our shared resolve. The easy politics of division and noise will persist, but the hard work of building a Nigeria that works for all must prevail. We have laid a new foundation. Now, we must build the house together.

    I wish every Nigerian a peaceful and productive year ahead.

    Mohammed Idris, fnipr, is the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation

  • Tinubunomics and the arithmetic of illusion

    Tinubunomics and the arithmetic of illusion

    By Tanimu Yakubu

    A striking feature of Nigeria‘s current economic debate is the enthusiasm with which huge numbers are circulated—and the casualness with which they are assembled. Tax collections are added to oil receipts; oil receipts are added again under customs or “subsidy savings”; borrowing is treated as income; and the resulting total is presented as proof of incompetence or theft.

    This is not an economic analysis. It is an arithmetic illusion.

    At the core of most viral critiques of Tinubunomics lies a fundamental failure to distinguish between revenue, cash, and financing, and between federation-wide collections and federal budgetary resources. These are not technicalities. They are the foundation of public finance.

    Revenue is not the same as cash available to the Federal Government. Borrowing is not income; it is financing and creates future obligations. Federation receipts are not equivalent to what the Federal Government can spend.

    Once these distinctions are ignored, any number—no matter how dramatic—can be manufactured.

    The familiar pattern runs as follows. Aggregate tax collections are cited, often correctly, in gross terms. Oil revenues are then added without clarifying whether they are gross or net, federation-wide or federally retained, or whether costs, deductions, and under-recoveries have been netted off. Customs receipts are layered on, sometimes without stating whether they are already embedded in non-oil revenue totals. Borrowing is then added as though it were free money. Finally, “subsidy savings” are thrown into the mix, as if stopping a fiscal leak produces a vault of idle cash.

    The result is a large headline number—₦150 trillion, ₦170 trillion, ₦180 trillion—followed by the question: where did the money go?

    The answer is straightforward: much of it never existed in the form being implied.

    Subsidy reform, for instance, does not conjure discretionary cash. It closes a hole. Under the old regime, underpricing manifested through arrears, opaque netting, and quasi-fiscal obligations. Reform first eliminates these hidden drains. The fiscal benefit appears gradually—through reduced deficit pressure, better budgeting discipline, and explicit, targeted support—not through a sudden pile of spendable “savings.”

    Debt figures are similarly abused. A significant portion of Nigeria’s recent increase in debt stock in naira terms reflects exchange-rate revaluation of existing external obligations, not fresh borrowing. When the exchange rate adjusts, the naira value of dollar-denominated debt rises automatically. Treating this accounting effect as new borrowing is a category error, not a discovery.

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    Most persistently, federation-wide collections are presented as if they belong solely to the Federal Government. They do not. Revenues in a federation are shared, earmarked, netted, and statutorily allocated. Federal budget reality is determined by FGN retained revenue plus deficit financing, not by gross federation inflows aggregated for political effect.

    Tinubunomics was never a promise of instant abundance. It is a macro-fiscal reset undertaken within hard constraints: inherited debt service, FX realism, security spending, legacy arrears, and competing constitutional obligations. Its logic is structural—restoring price signals, strengthening revenue administration, rebuilding credibility, and re-pricing the public balance sheet while protecting the most vulnerable.

    Those who insist on treating national finance as a household ledger will always find scandal where none exists. But accountability does not begin with social media addiction. It starts with audit logic.

    The proper way to interrogate government performance is simple: examine federal retained revenue; separate it clearly from financing; track expenditure across debt service, personnel, capital, and transfers; and then assess outputs—roads built, power delivered, rail extended, schools and clinics rehabilitated.

    Anything else is not subject to scrutiny. It is a theatre. And no amount of theatrical arithmetic can substitute for fiscal discipline.

    – Yakubu is the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

  • What are you spreading in 2026?

    What are you spreading in 2026?

    • By Ebuka Ukoh

    Every new year carries a promise. But some carry an instruction. Twenty-twenty-six arrives not as a whisper but as a charge. It asks a simple question. What are you spreading?

    Ideas spread. Attitudes spread. Courage spreads. Fear spreads. Excellence spreads. Neglect spreads. A nation does not change only through policies. It changes through what multiplies quietly in homes, classrooms, offices, streets, and minds.

    This year calls us to spread what strengthens life.

    Ancient wisdom captured this truth long before social media made virality fashionable. In the Bible’s book of Genesis, the language of growth recurs again and again. To spread abroad meant to increase in every direction, to grow until one becomes great, and to fill lands with what one carries. Those words did not speak of noise. They spoke of presence. They described a force that multiplies because it carries life.

    That same idea appears in the parable of the leavened bread. A small element introduced into ordinary dough changes everything. Not through volume, but through influence. It cannot be seen, yet it reshapes the whole. This is not about religion. It is about patterns. What enters a system will reproduce itself.

    This is the year to decide what enters you.

    If resentment enters, resentment spreads. If discipline enters, discipline spreads. If honesty enters, honesty spreads. If excellence enters, excellence spreads.

    Nigeria has suffered from the multiplication of wrong things. Over the past year, Nigerians have watched prices rise faster than wages, insecurity deepen in communities, and public trust erode across institutions. These developments did not happen overnight. They grew because certain habits, tolerances, and silences were allowed to spread. No nation collapses suddenly. It drifts when the wrong things multiply quietly. Corruption spreads because it is tolerated. Insecurity spreads because neglect spreads first. Hopelessness spreads because responsibility withdraws. But the same law that multiplies harm also multiplies healing.

    Spreading is not noise. It is consistency. It is how character becomes culture.

    This year asks you to spread courage in spaces that reward silence. Spread competence in systems that excuse mediocre performance. Spread truth where lies have settled comfortably. Spread dignity where people have been taught to accept less.

    Spreading does not require a platform. It requires alignment. A teacher spreads order in a classroom. A trader spreads fairness at the market stall. A civil servant spreads accountability at a desk. A parent spreads values at the dinner table. A student spreads curiosity in a study group.

    No one is too small to be a multiplier.

    A single teacher who insists on punctuality in a rural classroom can change a generation’s sense of order. A shop owner who refuses to cheat can reset trust on an entire street. A parent who listens can interrupt cycles of fear in a home. These are not small acts. They are seeds.

    The most dangerous belief is that impact requires influence. Influence follows integrity. Systems change when enough people change what they permit and what they practice.

    We have entered a year that favours growth. But growth is neutral. It multiplies whatever it finds.

    So choose deliberately.

    Spread discipline instead of excuses. Spread learning instead of shortcuts. Spread responsibility instead of complaint. Spread peace instead of panic. Spread hope that is anchored in action, not slogans.

    You may not control the nation. But you control what enters your life. And what enters you will spread.

    This is not motivational language. It is social law.

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    Cultures rise because values multiply. Societies fall because negligence multiplies. The future of Nigeria will not be decided only by budgets and elections. It will be decided by what spreads in everyday conduct.

    2026 is the year of spreading.

    Spread what makes life stronger.

    Spread what makes people better.

    Spread what makes tomorrow safer than today.

    Because whatever you release into your space will not stop with you.

    And this year, it matters more than ever what you choose to multiply. May 2026 find your hands planting what strengthens life, and your days multiplying what will outlive you.

    • Mr Ukoh, an alumnus of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, and PhD student at Columbia University, writes