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  • Nigeria’s new industrial policy and the climate imperative

    Nigeria’s new industrial policy and the climate imperative

    By Victor Okeke

    Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. Goethe’s words, written two centuries ago, capture Nigeria’s present problem with uncomfortable accuracy. The country knows what development requires, and everyone does. The literature is vast, the case studies are numerous, and the policy recommendations are endless. Yet knowing and doing remain worlds apart.

    Nigeria stands where Japan stood facing Western powers in the 1860s, where Korea stood in the ruins of civil war, and where China stood after decades of isolation and turmoil. Each of these nations confronted the same fundamental challenge: transforming an economy built on primary resources and low-productivity activities into one capable of manufacturing, innovation, and rising living standards. None achieved this transformation through wishful thinking or waiting for ideal conditions.

    The Industrial Revolution, the strategic state-led development of successful latecomers, the reorganisation of production into global value chains, and the emerging climate transition all point to an unavoidable conclusion that industrial development is not a natural process that unfolds on its own. It is made through deliberate policy choices, through building capabilities that markets alone will not create, through states that can both discipline and enable. The knowledge exists. What remains is the doing.

    The Industrial Revolution teaches us that development begins not with abstract “good institutions” alone, but with concrete changes in production, energy, skills, and incentives. Britain industrialised first, not because it was morally superior or uniquely gifted, but because it combined high wages, cheap energy, scientific culture, expanding markets, and political constraints on absolute power. These conditions created incentives to adopt labour-saving technologies and continuously improve them. The key lesson for Nigeria is that industrialisation is not about copying technologies in isolation, but about creating the economic environment in which firms have strong reasons to learn, invest, and innovate.

    Latecomer countries face even tougher challenges. History shows that there is no automatic “advantage of backwardness.” Countries that tried to rely solely on free markets or primary exports often remained trapped in low-productivity activities. The experience of Western latecomers such as the United States, Germany, and Japan demonstrates that manufacturing played a central role because it generated learning-by-doing, technological spill overs, and increasing returns. These countries protected and promoted strategic industries when they were weak, and only later championed free trade once they had become strong. This is the essence of the “kicking away the ladder” problem that developing countries like Nigeria must recognise when designing policy.

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    Japan’s experience is particularly instructive. Facing the threat of colonisation in the 19th century, Japan pursued a national project of Rich Nation, Strong Army, combining central state capacity with selective adaptation of foreign technologies and institutions. Japan did not blindly transplant Western systems; it translated them into domestic realities, invested heavily in education and skills, built infrastructure, and used state-owned enterprises and private conglomerates to kick-start industrial sectors. More importantly, firms were expected to perform, learn, and eventually compete globally.

    Nigeria has a great entrepreneurial spirit, evident in the creativity and resilience of its people who constantly create businesses out of necessity. This individual drive, however, operates within a fragmented environment. Nigeria’s core challenge is not a lack of effort but the absence of an integrated structure where education reliably provides industry-ready skills, government policies remain consistent enough for long-term investment, and essential infrastructure like reliable power and accessible finance are readily available. This systemic failure prevents successful small businesses from achieving industrial upgrading like the Zaibatsu in Japan and Chaebols in Korea. Without these interconnected support systems, individual Nigerian entrepreneurs often hit a ceiling, unable to scale up, compete effectively, or convert their hard work into sustainable national economic development. The survival mode becomes a vicious cycle.

    The truth is that the world has left us behind, and this must inform the urgency of Nigeria’s response. The lessons of Japan and Korea are not endpoints; they are models of successful climbing. The world is defined by complexities that defy simple solutions, and industrial policy must be an iterative, adaptive process. Developed industrial nations have largely found ways to solve their everyday problems and make life more dignified for their citizens, even in the face of evolving global challenges. Nigeria must now commit to a policy regime that not only catches up but also prepares for the next series of global economic shifts.

    Korea’s post-war transformation teaches the importance of an active state participation in industrial development alongside strict fiscal discipline. Starting poorer than Nigeria is today, Korea combined land reform, mass education, export orientation, and close but disciplined state–business coordination. The Korean state did not replace markets; it organised them. Monthly export performance reviews, targeted credit, and relentless emphasis on global competitiveness ensured that protection did not become a permanent shelter. Korea’s story shows that the real issue is not whether the state intervenes, but how it intervenes and whether policies are performance-based, time-bound, and focused on capability-building rather than rent distribution.

    Also relevant to this discussion is China, whose long stagnation before the 19th century reminds us that large populations and ancient civilisations do not guarantee modern growth. Its post-1978 transformation shows the power of removing distortions, reallocating labour from low-productivity agriculture to industry, integrating into global markets, and using targeted industrial policy to climb technology ladders. China did not abandon the state; it redefined its role. Special economic zones, foreign direct investment, export discipline, and gradual reform allowed learning without systemic collapse.

    Global value chains in which China is a leader now define the terrain on which Nigeria must compete. In today’s world, countries no longer need to master entire industries at once; they can specialise in tasks. But value chains are not neutral. Assembly and raw material supply generate little value, while design, engineering, branding, and advanced manufacturing capture most profits. Nigeria’s participation in global trade remains heavily concentrated in crude oil and low-value activities. Without deliberate upgrading through skills, infrastructure, and industrial clusters, Nigeria risks remaining stuck at the bottom of the smile curve, vulnerable to price shocks and external disruptions.

    The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 is a direct legal attempt to move Nigeria up the value chain. This Act mandates that a percentage of the work, goods, and services in the oil and gas sector must be executed, produced, and provided by Nigerian entities. While still facing implementation challenges, the law is a conscious state effort to force technological spill overs and local capability-building in a dominant sector, shifting from simple rent extraction to disciplined domestic participation. It aligns with the historical lesson that latecomers must strategically protect and promote domestic industries to achieve learning-by-doing and reduce capital flight.

    The climate transition adds a new and unavoidable dimension to the industrialisation conversation. Achieving Net Zero is not simply an environmental aspiration; it is a new industrial revolution. History shows that major energy transitions reshape production, geopolitics, and development pathways. The shift away from fossil fuels toward clean electrification, hydrogen, and new materials will determine future winners and losers. Nigeria’s heavy dependence on oil exports is therefore not just a climate risk but a development risk.

    At the same time, Nigeria possesses abundant renewable potential, a large domestic market, and growing demand for energy, transport, housing, and manufacturing, all of which can support green industrialisation if guided properly.

    Climate economics teaches that energy efficiency alone is not enough; countries must also reduce carbon intensity by changing energy sources. Hydropower, solar, wind, and potentially nuclear can all play roles, but each has limits. The real lesson for Nigeria is not to chase a single silver bullet, but to design an integrated energy-industrial strategy that provides reliable, affordable power while gradually lowering emissions. Clean energy investment can become a driver of industrial learning, local manufacturing, and job creation if linked to domestic capability development rather than treated as an isolated environmental project.

    Nigeria’s challenge is not that it lacks lessons to learn, but that it must choose which lessons to apply. Industrial development will require prioritisation, patience, and political commitment. It will demand investment in people, power, infrastructure, and institutions that reward performance rather than connections. It will require engaging global markets strategically, not passively, and embracing the climate transition as an opportunity for renewal rather than a threat to the past.

    Industrial success is fundamentally a social project. The questions we must continue to ask ourselves are: what is the Nigerian state’s contribution to the advancement of citizens’ lives, and what is citizens’ contribution to the advancement of society? A strong state–market partnership cannot be one-sided; it requires that citizens be afforded dignity, security, and the necessary capabilities (education, health, and infrastructure) by the state, in return for their commitment to a productive, law-abiding, and innovative society. This renewed social contract is the bedrock upon which sustained industrial development must be built.

    History is unforgiving to countries that wait for perfect conditions. Britain industrialised under political conflict, Japan under existential threat, Korea under poverty, and China under systemic crisis. Nigeria’s moment is now. The question is whether it will use the hard-won lessons of industrial revolutions past and present to shape its own path, or whether it will once again watch the next transformation unfold from the side-lines.

    •Okeke is of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, South Korea.

  • Exposed: How artisanal mining fuels banditry across Northern Nigeria

    Exposed: How artisanal mining fuels banditry across Northern Nigeria

    Across the gold belts stretching from Niger through Kaduna to Zamfara, artisanal mining—once a humble livelihood—has morphed into a perilous enterprise fuelling banditry and extremism. Forests and abandoned villages now conceal armed camps, while gold extracted from remote pits finances weapons, logistics and recruitment. Communities live under siege, farmlands lie fallow, and governance gaps allow criminal networks to thrive, turning mineral wealth into a deadly engine of insecurity across the Northwest, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE.

    Across the gold belts stretching from Niger State through Kaduna to Zamfara, a quiet but dramatic infiltration has tightened its grip. What began as small, community-run artisanal mining—marked by crude tools, modest yields and the hope of survival—has transformed into a criminally engineered enterprise. The pits that once sustained rural families have become the economic engine rooms of bandit groups and extremist factions, reshaping local livelihoods and fuelling a dangerous underground economy.

    In Birnin-Gwari, one of the most volatile mining zones in Kaduna State, this shift is stark. As traditional miners withdrew due to rising insecurity, new actors—better connected, better armed and deeply intertwined with bandit networks—moved in. Their arrival opened the door for bandits, and later Ansaru militants, to embed themselves fully into the mining chain. What followed was the conversion of mining pits into controlled criminal enclaves governed by taxation, extortion and violence.

    Community sources and security observers say the belts have now matured into one of the most reliable revenue streams for armed groups operating across the Northwest. Gold extracted from pits in Birnin Gwari and the vast Kaduna–Niger forest corridor finances weapons, logistics, recruitment and the day-to-day maintenance of criminal camps. The pits also serve as camouflage, blending criminals among civilian miners and shielding their movements from routine surveillance.

    Geography as an ally

    Beyond the cash flow, geography itself strengthens these networks. Forests linking Birnin Gwari to Kuyambana, Kamuku and the Kaduna–Niger boundary form an interconnected web of natural citadels. These forests—dense, unmapped and largely inaccessible—provide the perfect cover for armoury storage, hostage holding and operational planning. Investigations show that within these forests lie kilometres of unmapped routes, enabling armed groups to strike with speed and melt away long before reinforcements arrive. This mobility advantage is one of the key reasons the groups remain resilient despite multiple military offensives over the years.

    The crisis is deeply tied to Zamfara, which remains the epicentre of illegal mining driven by armed groups. Their movement from Zamfara into Kaduna and Niger has created a seamless criminal corridor stretching into Chikun, Shiroro and even parts of the North-Central region.

    Communities living in fear

    The human cost of this evolving criminal economy is devastating. In Birnin Gwari alone, more than 120 communities were displaced at the height of attacks, their homes abandoned and farmlands overrun by fear.

    Although the Kaduna Peace Model has helped reclaim several communities and reopen key markets, vast areas remain unsafe. Some women who attempted to resume farming have been abducted after criminals tracked them back to their homes. Residents of Maganda and Doka describe life under a quiet siege—bandits moving calmly along forest paths, surveilling villages, choosing when to strike. Security forces have achieved important gains. Airstrikes have destroyed camps; ground troops have disrupted supply routes. Yet even security officials privately acknowledge that these victories remain fragile. The interconnected forests allow criminals to escape, regroup and return. Investigations have also uncovered troubling lapses in coordination among security agencies—delayed intelligence sharing, poorly synchronised operations and inter-state silos that allow bandits to exploit gaps.

    The recent push by Northern Governors for a six-month suspension of mining—possibly extending to 12 months—is intended to allow for a thorough licence audit and revalidation. But can such a measure meaningfully disrupt criminal networks already entrenched in remote forests, far beyond the reach of routine regulation? For safety and security consultant for the Northwest, Ishaq Usman Kasai, the answer depends on what happens next. “Stopping mining alone will not solve the problem,” he said. Kasai argues that while illegal mining is only one of several revenue channels for armed groups, it remains significant enough to demand government urgency. Without disrupting their camps, financial pathways and supply routes, he warns, the groups may simply pause and resume once the suspension expires.

    He emphasised the seamless mobility of armed groups across Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger. Kasai called for stronger interstate cooperation, improved intelligence management and a sustained offensive targeting not only fighters but also their logistics networks, arms suppliers and forest fortresses. Reinforcing borders, he added, is essential to block the flow of weapons and foreign fighters.

    For communities to return safely, Kasai advocates rebuilding governance structures—health posts, schools, security outposts—and establishing clear policies on repentant fighters to avoid encouraging impunity.

    A Kaduna-based journalist, who requested anonymity, shares similar convictions. He believes the suspension could significantly slow banditry—if government has the will to enforce it with decisive force. He describes the mining corridor across Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara as “largely ungoverned spaces,” where artisanal miners live at the mercy of roaming armed groups, while illegal large-scale mining operators enjoy protection bought through criminal alliances.

    Drawing from field experience, the journalist recalls a 2016 incident when he joined then Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on a visit to Kaduna. After initial meetings with licensed granite miners, the minister insisted on visiting Birnin Gwari Forest to observe reported artisanal mining activities. “I was on that trip as a reporter,” he said. “We saw artisanal miners digging in their zig-zag fashion, exposed to all kinds of risks, including collapses.” But the real shock lay deeper in the forest: a fully operational illegal foreign mining site.

    Before the minister could arrive, the operators fled. Plans were immediately made to seize their equipment, hoping to force them into formal registration. Then danger erupted. “Bandits on motorcycles started advancing from deep inside the forest to attack the minister’s convoy. The security team ordered an immediate evacuation,” he recounted. The incident made one fact unmistakeably clear: criminal gangs were guarding illegal mining operations—and in some cases, likely armed or financed by them. “This clearly shows that bandits were protecting illegal miners. That is why any mining suspension must be followed by a decisive clearance operation to flush out bandits from forests across affected states.” For him, peace around the mining belt is impossible as long as illegal miners—local and foreign—keep enriching armed groups.

    The gold belt feeding banditry and starving communities

    In Niger State, the Local Government Areas of Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, and Mashegu have become epicentres of insecurity fuelled by illegal and artisanal gold mining. These mineral-rich zones, once promising economic lifelines, have morphed into battlegrounds where banditry, terrorism, and communal violence thrive. The vast gold deposits buried beneath these communities now attract criminal structures that use mining sites as revenue bases, recruitment grounds, and hideouts—creating a vicious cycle that endangers lives and deepens fragility across the region.

    Shiroro is the clearest example of how unregulated mining has spiralled into crisis. Mining pits frequently collapse due to reckless digging, trapping miners in deadly shafts. Rescue efforts are often delayed or halted entirely because bandits patrol the area. One such incident occurred in June 2024 in Galkogo, where insecurity stalled help for more than 50 trapped miners. Attacks on mining sites are common: in July 2022, bandits stormed Ajata Aboki community, killing dozens and abducting Chinese workers. Such sites have become lucrative revenue streams, with criminals demanding “protection fees” before miners are permitted to work.

    The pattern repeats in Munya and Rafi, where mining fuels banditry by providing steady cash through extortion and direct control of pits. Communities and travellers endure frequent ambushes as armed groups tighten their grip on mining clusters. Mashegu, though relatively less attacked, is no safer. Illegal mining thrives there because operators pay tributes to bandits, creating a symbiotic arrangement that protects mining activities while strengthening criminal enterprises. Across these LGAs, more than 50 illegal mining sites operate in Shiroro alone, drawing in underage workers, impoverished families, and desperate migrants. The influx fuels communal clashes, displaces entire settlements, and creates ungoverned spaces where the state’s authority is virtually absent. This mirrors concerns raised across the North, where mining has turned into a major driver of conflict, empowering violent groups and worsening insecurity.

    Criminal networks in Niger State have built sophisticated financing and operational systems around mining activities. They extract funds, materials, and manpower from mining sites through extortion, coercion, and collaboration with artisanal and industrial miners. One of the dominant forces is the faction led by notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide, operational across Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi. His group controls gold fields around Kurebe village in Shiroro. Chinese-associated mining firms operating under licenses such as Eso Terra Investment Limited and Majelo Global Resources Limited are reportedly compelled to pay weekly bribes of up to N3 million, alongside motorcycles and other supplies. These payments buy “safe passage” but fund the purchase of arms, ammunition, and logistics. Fuel, food, and equipment meant for mining are frequently diverted to Gide’s fighters, while impoverished youths at the sites are recruited to swell his ranks.

    The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram offshoot, is also deeply entrenched in mining zones across Shiroro. They impose taxes on artisanal miners, run their own extraction operations, and derive millions annually through gold sales channeled via regional smuggling networks. ISWAP often recruits young miners by offering paid mining work as the first step into their extremist networks, blending economic need with ideological indoctrination.

    Broader Sahelian jihadist networks—including Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin)—also exploit Niger State’s mining economy through cross-border tax regimes. Regionally, JNIM extracts revenue from artisanal gold mines estimated at up to 725 kg of gold annually, valued at about $34 million. In Niger State, they coordinate with bandit groups to maintain smuggling routes, using mining proceeds to buy weapons, expand propaganda, and recruit from communities alienated by state neglect. These groups rarely attack mining sites unless payment agreements are breached. Instead, they treat them as protected economic zones—miniature economies that subsidize the violence devastating the North.

    Mining corridors turning into ungoverned spaces

    Niger State’s mining corridors—routes linking mining pits to processing hubs and smuggling networks—have steadily devolved into ungoverned spaces due to weak state presence, bandit dominance, and porous borders. The Shiroro–Munya–Rafi Gold Belt is the state’s largest cluster, hosting more than 369 licensed gold titles, about 81 percent of Niger’s mining licences. Gold-rich villages such as Ajata Aboki, Gurmata, Farindoki, and Kurebe are linked to processing centres in Minna and smuggling routes toward Kaduna and Zamfara. Bandits enforce their own taxation regimes and use the surrounding forests as hideouts and staging grounds for attacks.

    The Mashegu–Kontagora–Mariga Corridor stretches westward, connecting gold, limestone, and talc deposits to Agadez in Niger Republic through desert tracks. Illegal miners here avoid attacks by paying tributes to bandits, effectively creating semi-autonomous fiefdoms. Child labour is rampant across linked communities like Paikoro and Chanchaga. Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Sahelian smuggling routes channel gold from Shiroro and Mashegu toward Diffa, Tripoli, and Benin Republic through informal networks that bypass security checkpoints. ISWAP and JNIM exploit these arteries to move gold, weapons, and fighters, generating illicit flows worth more than $30 million annually across the region. These corridors thrive as ungoverned spaces because state presence is thin, elite collusion allows illegal operations to flourish, and widespread poverty pushes locals into mining. When violence erupts, communities flee, leaving criminals in full control—taxing workers, recruiting youths, buying weapons, and turning the region’s natural wealth into fuel for terror.

    Illegal mining has devastated Niger State’s agrarian economy, where nearly 90 percent of people in affected LGAs rely on farming for survival. Once-thriving farmlands in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, Mashegu, and parts of Gurara have been turned into cratered landscapes by uncontrolled excavation, poisoning water sources, and driving people away from their ancestral livelihoods.

    Mining encroaches directly on farmlands, destroying staple crops such as maize, yams, millet, and rice through open pits, heavy machinery, and the toxic chemicals used in gold processing. Mercury contamination, in particular, has polluted rivers and streams that irrigate farmlands and supply drinking water. In Gurara LGA, expanding mining activity has rendered fields infertile, shrinking yields and heightening food insecurity. In Shiroro’s mining corridors, deforestation and soil erosion have worsened flooding, washing away farmlands already weakened by years of environmental degradation. Bandit-imposed “protection fees” further prevent farmers from accessing grazing paths and farmlands, intensifying herder–farmer conflicts.

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    Artisanal mining promises quick money—sometimes N45,000 to N50,000 per day for a lucky family—but it comes at the cost of long-term livelihood collapse. Mining diverts labour from agriculture, eroding traditional skills and emptying farms of workers. Today, an estimated 70 percent of residents in the worst-hit communities now mine for survival, abandoning farming even as food prices soar.

    Mining pits in Farindoki and other villages rely heavily on children, some as young as 12, who have dropped out of school to work in hazardous shafts.

    The health risks are enormous: dust inhalation, constant exposure to toxic chemicals, and frequent cave-ins. Injuries and deaths deepen economic hardship, and families receive no compensation when breadwinners are harmed or killed.

    Mining-driven violence and environmental degradation have displaced thousands across Niger State. In Shiroro and Munya, families fleeing bandit-mining conflicts have poured into IDP camps in Kuta and neighbouring areas, leaving behind homes, farmlands, and generations of heritage. Gurara communities have experienced repeated uprooting as mining expands and land becomes unusable. With limited resettlement support, many migrate to urban centres, where they face heightened vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, and cultural disintegration.

    Across the northern region, more than 420 communities—including those in Niger—have recorded over 12,000 deaths linked to mining-related insecurity since 2001.

    Evidence shows banditry  thrives amid artisanal mining

    In Zamfara State, the convergence of artisanal gold mining and armed banditry has created a potent and deadly ecosystem. Professor Murtala A. Rufa’i, in his book I’m A Bandit: A Decade Research in Zamfara State Bandits’ Den, provides empirical evidence of this nexus, documenting how arms are routinely exchanged for gold in mining areas such as Anka. His decade-long fieldwork combines interviews with active and former bandits, their families, community victims, local officials, and traditional leaders, revealing that banditry is less a spontaneous crime wave than a systemic, economically fueled enterprise.

    Local civil society voices corroborate these findings. Between 2011 and 2019, Dr. Anas Sani Anka of Federal University Gusau and Comrade Mannir Haidara, now chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government, held repeated press conferences highlighting the alarming influx of arms into mining sites, frequent helicopter landings, and the government’s inability to respond effectively.

    Field accounts from artisanal miners confirm this dynamic. Late bandit warlord Halilu Sububu reportedly controlled large portions of mining areas in Bagega, Bawan Daji, and Gubirawar Chali, exchanging gold for weapons. His son has since taken over, along with other commanders such as Ada Aleru, Dan Hassan, and Sa’idu Na’eka, who oversee operations across multiple districts including Maru, Maradun, Gummi, Birnin Magaji, and Bukuyum. Several villages, once inhabited and productive, have been deserted, creating near-permanent bandit strongholds.

    Former state Secretary to the Government, the late Prof Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, corroborated this structural vacuum, noting in 2019 that over 500 communities in Zamfara lacked security presence, leaving residents vulnerable to bandit attacks. The absence of state authority, combined with lucrative mining opportunities, has allowed bandits to establish parallel governance structures: collecting taxes, enforcing rules, and maintaining internal hierarchies. These systems mimic state functions, granting some local acceptance where official governance is absent.

    Rufa’i’s research emphasises that banditry is rooted in layered social, economic, and political failures. Environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and shrinking pastoral lands have fragmented communities, creating openings for criminal networks. Elite complicity and political patronage further sustain the phenomenon, while the illicit mining economy generates steady revenue streams that fund arms, facilitate expansion, and entrench bandit dominance. As both a warning and a guide, the evidence is clear: in Zamfara, the growth of artisanal mining without oversight has not only fuelled economic opportunity but also created a powerful engine for banditry, threatening security, livelihoods, and the stability of entire communities.

    State and security responses

    Government responses involve a mix of bans, raids, prosecutions, and collaborative security operations, but enforcement remains uneven. Former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello suspended mining in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi in July 2022 following the Ajata Aboki massacre, initiating profiling of mining sites for security risks. His successor, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, lifted the suspension in September 2024 but introduced conditions for legal operations. He created a special task force on illegal mining and vowed to prosecute those involved in child exploitation—leading to June 2025 raids in Chanchaga and Paikoro. In July 2025, 41 illegal miners were arrested and tools confiscated, while NSCDC Mining Marshals detained six more operators in November 2025.

    Security agencies have conducted joint operations across bandit strongholds, while intelligence sharing—boosted by investigative reports such as the 2023–2024 WikkiTimes expose—has improved profiling of miners and operators. Still, the sector faces major obstacles: elite protection of mining sponsors, corruption, weak resources for enforcement, and the sheer size of ungoverned forest zones. Without broader reforms, security analysts warn that criminals may simply shift to other forms of violent crime.

    Security consultant Mathew Oladele, based in Minna, argues that stopping mining for six months is essential for flushing out criminals from forests.

    But media and security expert Mr Onifade Abayomi sees risks in such a pause. “If they don’t see what they get from miners, they may turn to more robbery and killing. Still, it’s not bad giving it a trial.”

  • Cardoso woos global investors, pitches Nigeria’s reform agenda

    Cardoso woos global investors, pitches Nigeria’s reform agenda

    Amid heightened global economic uncertainty, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has pitched Nigeria as a disciplined and credible investment destination.

    He told international investors that the country is firmly committed to rules-based economic management, transparent markets and predictable policy frameworks.

    A statement from the CBN on Tuesday said Cardoso made the case for Nigeria on Monday, December 15, 2025, while engaging senior business leaders and institutional investors in Washington, D.C., at the U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable, a high-level forum aimed at strengthening commercial ties and attracting long-term capital into the Nigerian economy.

    Addressing the gathering, the CBN Governor said Nigeria’s economic reforms are deliberately structured to restore confidence and provide investors with clarity and certainty in an increasingly volatile global environment. 

    He explained that the authorities are focused on creating a stable macroeconomic foundation that supports sustainable, private-sector-driven growth.

    According to Cardoso, recent reforms in the foreign exchange market have been central to improving transparency and price discovery, while the adoption of orthodox monetary policy is helping to anchor expectations and contain macroeconomic risks. 

    He added that ongoing reforms in the banking sector are strengthening resilience, governance and capital buffers, positioning the financial system to better support productive investment.

    Cardoso also pointed to the modernisation of the payments system as a critical component of Nigeria’s investment pitch, noting that efficient, secure and inclusive payment infrastructure is essential for business growth, innovation and financial inclusion.

    The U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable was convened by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center and brought together American and Nigerian corporate executives, institutional investors and policymakers. 

    Discussions focused on Nigeria’s macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, regulatory clarity and opportunities to scale bankable projects across priority sectors of the economy.

    The forum provided an opportunity for Nigerian policymakers to engage directly with potential investors on areas such as infrastructure, energy, financial services, agriculture and technology, while addressing concerns around policy consistency and the investment climate.

    Reacting to the discussions, the President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Kendra Gaither, said global investors are increasingly drawn to markets that demonstrate discipline and credibility.

    “What investors are responding to today is clarity, clear rules, credible reforms, and a seriousness of purpose,” Gaither said. “Nigeria’s message is increasingly one of discipline and opportunity, and that matters in a global economy seeking actively for stability and predictability.”

  • Reps vow to end sale of substandard drugs, protect Nigerians’ health

    Reps vow to end sale of substandard drugs, protect Nigerians’ health

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday declared that the National Assembly will not allow any company—local or multinational—to enrich themselves at the expense of human lives by supplying Nigerians with fake, adulterated, or substandard drugs.

    Speaking at a public hearing on drug trafficking, substance abuse, and the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria, Speaker Abbas stressed that corporate profits must never take precedence over national well-being.

    Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on France/Nigeria Friendship Group, Adegboye Kalejaiye Paul, he emphasized the need for transparency and accountability from all stakeholders.

    “This is not an exercise for evasive responses or selective disclosures. It is an evidence-based national accountability process. Any attempt to mislead the Committee, withhold information, manipulate data, or submit falsified documents will be treated as contempt of the National Assembly under Section 89 of the Constitution,” he warned.

    Speaker Abbas assured Nigerians of the House’s commitment to implementing the outcomes of the investigation, including strengthening regulatory frameworks, imposing stricter penalties for violators, improving port efficiency, and reducing the circulation of harmful substances. He also pledged to enforce ethical advertising, expand public health and rehabilitation programmes, and collaborate fully with strategic global partners such as WHO, UNODC, INL, USAID, and the European Union.

    “Nigeria must never again become a dumping ground for toxic substances, criminal and fraudulent drugs, counterfeit medicines, unregulated alcohol, or predatory corporate practices,” he said, noting that the investigative hearing is not a routine legislative exercise but a critical step in addressing one of the country’s most pressing national emergencies.

    He said, “Nigeria is dealing with a dangerous and rapidly escalating crisis; one that reaches into every family member, every community, and every geographical source. Drug trafficking and substance abuse are destroying young lives and claiming innocent victims.

    “Harmful and unregistered alcoholic beverages are flooding our markets. Unethical tobacco marketing continues to target unsuspecting youths and often endangers Nigerians.

    “This problem threatens not only our public health, but also our national security, our economic productivity, and the future of our youth. Across the nation, we are witnessing heartbreaking realities. We see the rising addictions to codeine-based syrups, tramadol, and synthetic narcotics.

    “We see fake and expired medicines circulating in our markets and hospitals. We see cheap and highly toxic alcoholic mixtures that continue to damage the health of millions of Nigerians. Tobacco and narcotic products are being marketed in ways that subtly but deliberately appeal to our youth and through a network of compromised ports, terminals, and border systems.

    “Illicit drugs continue to find their way into our country. These challenges are deeply connected. They form part of the systemic failure in regulation, enforcement, corporate behaviour, and public awareness.

    “Solving them will require not only stronger enforcement, but meaningful policy reforms, institutional accountability, corporate responsibility, and comprehensive public health interventions, adding that the goal is to cover gaps, enforce accountability, strengthen regulations, and protect the Nigerian people.

    While stressing the need for concrete measures to tackle drug abuse and trafficking in the country, chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Drugs Trafficking and Substance Abuse, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, said, “We gather under the mandate of the Nigerian people—and under the solemn weight of a national emergency that threatens the soul of our country.

    “Substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking, unregulated pharmaceutical distribution, predatory alcohol marketing, and aggressive tobacco promotion have converged into a dangerous crisis. This crisis is stealing the health of our youth, weakening our labour force, destabilizing our communities, and undermining our collective future.”

    He said the committee was set up not as a ceremonial exercise, but as a constitutionally empowered intervention, rooted in Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to seek the truth, expose systemic failures, and recommend strong corrective measures.

    According to him, the mission of the committee is to investigate, to protect, to reform and ultimately, to save lives, adding that “this national reality can no longer be ignored, because across the country, cannabis is smoked freely in the street like cigarette, methamphetamine usage is spreading across the Nation at an alarming rate and codeine-based cough syrups are sold like soft drinks.

    He said further that tramadol 200mg is trafficked with the same coordination as hard narcotics, cheap and hazardous alcoholic mixtures are destroying young men and women in motor parks, campuses, and marketplaces, tobacco companies continue to exploit loopholes to target minors through flavours, informal retail channels, and deceptive marketing, while substandard pharmaceuticals, fake spirits, and unregistered products flood our markets unchecked.

    He lamented that the nation’s ports, airports, and borders has remain vulnerable to trafficking syndicates who exploit weak enforcement systems, while entire communities have been crippled by addiction, crime, and preventable deaths.

    The Ondo lawmaker stressed that the country was losing too many lives, too many futures, too many families to drug abuse, adding that “as lawmakers, we must rise to the responsibility placed upon us. The Nigerian people expect answers, solutions, and firm action—not excuses”.

    He told the audience that the investigation is not anti-business or witch-hunt, but an accountability session, saying, “We support industries, we value investors, and we welcome innovation. No business model can be allowed to thrive at the expense of Nigerian lives. No profit margin can justify the destruction of our youth. No corporate actor will be permitted to hide behind compliance rhetoric while fuelling an addiction epidemic. Every stakeholder is a partner in protecting Nigeria, and your cooperation is not only expected, but required.”

    He said the committee will not accept half-truths, evasions, or attempts to mislead the Committee, saying “anyone who obstructs this process understands the constitutional implications of doing so. We shall, before the wrap-up of this investigation, call for a National conference on this discourse.

    He disclosed that the outcome of the investigation will lead to possible reforms to the NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs, and SON Acts, enactment of the National Alcohol Act, enforcement of “smoke-free spaces, digital tracking of pharmaceutical products & enforcement of drug prescriptions law, legal framework for harm reduction programs, and a strengthened national drug control framework, among others.

    He said the findings from the investigation will guide legislative action, executive enforcement, and national policy direction for many years to come.

  • Funke Akindele thanks fans as ‘Behind The Scenes’ earns £42,000 in UK, N200m in Nigeria

    Funke Akindele thanks fans as ‘Behind The Scenes’ earns £42,000 in UK, N200m in Nigeria

    Filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has celebrated the overwhelming response to her film, ‘Behind The Scenes’, which has broken box office records in Nigeria and the UK.

    The film raked in over N200 million in Nigerian cinemas and £42,000 in the UK and Ireland during its opening weekend.

    Akindele expressed her excitement and gratitude on social media, highlighting the film’s achievement as the biggest opening in 2025.

    She thanked fans in Nigeria for their support, calling it a huge success.

    She also thanked her UK and Ireland fans, stating that they made it the biggest Nollywood opening weekend ever.

    “We’re showing up and not giving up! Big ups, Naija! Huge thank you for coming out to support BEHIND THE SCENES at the cinemas! We broke another record, the biggest opening in 2025!

    “A massive shoutout to our UK and Ireland fans, you guys made it the biggest Nollywood opening weekend EVER! #BehindTheScenes is still showing in cinemas nationwide and select Odeon Cinemas in the UK & Ireland. It’s a MUST WATCH for family and friends,” she wrote.

    The movie, which was released on December 12, has made rounds with positive reviews from fans. 

  • Cold chain shortage, others threaten Nigeria’s banana export

    Cold chain shortage, others threaten Nigeria’s banana export

    Despite ranking as the fourth-largest banana producer globally, Nigeria’s ambition to capitalise on the estimated $140 billion world market is being severely hampered by persistent challenges, particularly in quality control and logistics.

    Recently a global banana supply crisis opened up a N22 trillion export opportunity for Nigeria, as climate change and plant diseases slash output in traditional producing nations, according to experts.

    Stakeholders are urgently calling for reforms to transform the sector from a domestic staple into a major global revenue earner. The global banana supply is in crisis, with devastating plant diseases like Panama disease (TR4) and Black Sigatoka, compounded by climate change and extreme weather, slashing output in traditional exporting countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Colombia.

    The Chief Executive, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni said disruption has created a massive opportunity for new suppliers.

    With an annual output of approximately eight million metric tons, largely for domestic consumption, Nigeria has the raw volume, but lacks the necessary guarantee of better and more regular supply as well as more constant quality needed to compete overseas.

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    To address this, he recommended a road map which includes increased cultivation and processing in addition to pest control as  farmers confront diseases  that have destroyed the crop across the continent in recent years.

    He stressed the need to develop disease resistant banana plants and to establish infrastructure to support banana exports to Europe.

    Right now, only a few countries in Africa can export bananas to European markets. These include Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon. Olufemi believes the country is in a better position to sell bananas overseas but lacks the wherewithal to compete with better mass production from other  enterprises in Africa.

    According to him, what the industry has done to retain its global position is  to ensure  that growers guarantee better and  more regular supply as well as  more constant quality.

    According to the Executive Director Gogreen Africa Initiative, Ambassador Adeniyi Sola Bunmi   Nigeria already grows millions of tons of bananas/plantains (roughly 7–8 million tons a year, quoting the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) figures mostly for domestic consumption.

    He noted: “Nigeria is one of the world’s top banana/plantain producers (multi-million tons), so scaling value-addition (chips, flour, puree, dried fruit) targets an existing, large supply. There is a strong demand  for domestic eating and snack markets plus diaspora demand for processed plantain/banana products. Small but growing export potential if quality and cold-chain improve.”

    He listed the challenges to include pests   diseases and poor surveillance and extension. Others are  increase rate of post-harvest loss caused by poor cold/logistics and low level of value-addition

    The Director-General, African Centre for Supply Chain, Dr. Obiora Madu, had lamented that the country’s fresh fruit export is “weak and uncompetitive.” This is starkly illustrated by the fact that Nigeria exported a mere $45,000 worth of bananas and plantains to the United Kingdom last year, according to UN COMTRADE, compared to countries like Cameroon, which saw a 15 per cent rise in banana exports in August, with the UK market alone contributing nearly €10 million to its earnings.

  • Tinubu Media Force set to host Nigeria’s largest grassroot media summit in Abuja

    Tinubu Media Force set to host Nigeria’s largest grassroot media summit in Abuja

    The Tinubu Media Force has announced plans to hold what it described as Nigeria’s largest grassroots media summit in Abuja, bringing together more than 1,000 grassroots communicators and community-based media practitioners from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The summit, themed “Amplifying the Renewed Hope Through Grassroots Voices: Empowering Grassroots Media for National Development,” aims to strengthen community-level communication and deepen public engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    In a statement, the National Coordinator of the Tinubu Media Force, Gbenga Abiola, said grassroots media practitioners remain some of the most influential voices within local communities, playing a vital role in shaping public understanding of government policies and national direction.

    According to Abiola, the summit is intended to equip community media actors with the skills needed to responsibly amplify national development initiatives, counter misinformation, and promote unity at the grassroots.

    He explained that discussions at the summit will focus on key national issues such as insecurity, economic reforms, youth employment, and human capital development, noting that effective grassroots communication is essential for sustainable national progress.

    Abiola added that participants will take part in strategic discussions and interactive sessions designed to enhance coordination, encourage informed public discourse, and boost citizen participation across communities nationwide.

    He said the summit reflects the Tinubu Media Force’s commitment to building a strong and coordinated grassroots media network capable of sustaining meaningful national conversations that support inclusive growth and democratic stability.

    The Abuja gathering is expected to serve as a major milestone in grassroots political communication, reinforcing the importance of community voices in national development and strengthening public confidence in governance.

  • Tunji-Ojo: Nigeria’s future depends on unity, national renewal

    Tunji-Ojo: Nigeria’s future depends on unity, national renewal

    …praises President Tinubu for reforms 

    The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has stated that Nigeria’s future will be determined by the nation’s unity, institutional reforms, and the renewed spirit of its citizens.

    He made the remarks while receiving an Award of Excellence in Public Service from Obafemi Awolowo University on Friday evening at the OAU Oduduwa Hall in Ile-Ife.

    According to a statement by his media aide, Babatunde Alao, Tunji-Ojo described the award as carrying significance beyond personal recognition, emphasizing that it reinforced his belief that Nigeria is progressing through the strength of collective resolve.

    He added that national renewal is no longer merely an aspiration but a journey sustained by courage, faith, and shared responsibility.

    “Let me affirm what I believe with all my heart, Nigeria is Rising, not because our challenges have disappeared, but because our resolve is stronger than ever. 

    “Not because the path is smooth, but because our collective will refuses to bend, hence this award encourages us to continue on the path of national renewal with renewed faith, courage and hope.

    “I remain convinced that Nigeria is moving steadily towards a stronger, more resilient future,”Tunji-Ojo said.

    He used the platform to reflect on key reforms he has undertaken since assuming office in 2023.

    Tunji-Ojo explained that the automation of passport processes and backlog clearance have improved border management and enhanced professionalism in the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    He praised President Bola Tinubu for providing the framework for institutional transformation through the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the President’s vision as a mandate for efficiency, compassion and national confidence.

    While addressing students of the institution, Tunji-Ojo said that he still has strong belief that Nigerian youth remained the most powerful asset of the country.

    “You are the keepers of the future. Your ideas, courage, conviction and curiosity will determine the direction of our nation. 

    He charged the students to not allow the hardships of today blur their vision of the Nigeria they want to build, while citing Nelson Mandela’s assertion that education is the most powerful weapon for change.

    Tunji-Ojo dedicated the award to young Nigerians, civil servants, his family, and President Tinubu, whose commitment to reform according to him, continues to energise national renewal.

    He further expressed gratitude to OAU leadership for upholding a tradition of intellectual integrity and national service. 

    The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, described the minister as an ambassador of the University who has demonstrated through his performance at various leadership levels that he is ready to provide solutions.

    “We commend the minister of Interior, Hon. Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for providing effective services and strategic leadership across the nation. 

    “He is a good ambassador of this university,” he said.

  • Top 14 viral moments that broke Nigeria’s social media space in 2025

    Top 14 viral moments that broke Nigeria’s social media space in 2025

    In 2025, Nigeria’s social media scene was a masterclass in viral storytelling, with a relentless stream of unforgettable moments that captivated the nation and electrified the internet.

    From viral dance challenges and record-breaking feats to celebrity feuds and heartfelt tributes, the online sphere was abliven with drama, humor, and raw emotion.

    Here are the top 14 moments that broke the internet:

    1. Super Falcons’ Historic Comeback: Nigeria’s women’s football team won their 10th title in a stunning comeback in July.

    2. 2baba and Annie Macaulay Saga: The celebrity separation dominated timelines in January and February, with fans speculating on deleted posts and new relationships.

    3. JP2025 Wedding Spectacle: Influencer Priscilla Ojo’s wedding with her Tanzanian lover Juma Jux, went viral, in April, with fans sharing outfit highlights.

    4. DJ Chicken’s Viral Accident: The entertainer’s car crash sparked debates on reckless driving and celebrity accountability in November.

    5. Rema’s #KelebuChallenge: The viral dance challenge united Nigerians across platforms and nightlife in July.

    6. Hilda Baci’s Record-Breaking Jollof Rice: The chef set a Guinness World Record, celebrating Nigerian culinary pride in September.

    7. Achalugo depiction: The nickname from the YouTube film Love in Every Word, produced by Omoni Oboli, became a nationwide sensation, with couples and creators embracing it.

    8. BBNaija’s Imisi’s Victory: Imisioluwa Ayanwale won Season 10 in October, capturing hearts with her authenticity.

    9. Sanku’s Tragic Passing: In September, the TikTok comedian’s death sparked tributes and conversations on online fame pressures.

    10. Natasha and Akpabio Drama: In February, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations sparked viral political debates.

    11. ASUU Strike Memes: Students turned frustration into comedy, creating viral memes.

    12. Lagos Flood Videos: Residents turned adversity into viral content, showcasing humor and creativity.

    13. Celebrity Feuds: Portable & Influencers: Portable’s occasional live-stream rants dominated timelines, fueling memes.

    14. Meme Reactions to Fuel Scarcity: Fuel scarcity inspired viral jokes and coping mechanisms.

  • New initiative targets emotional growth, mental wellbeing of children in Nigeria

    New initiative targets emotional growth, mental wellbeing of children in Nigeria

    A new chapter in child development advocacy began in Abuja on Thursday, with the official launch of the ‘My Child’s Psyche Initiative (MCPI),’ a foundation committed to transforming the emotional and psychological wellbeing of Nigerian children.

     The Initiative aims to promote emotional intelligence, psychological resilience, and holistic growth for the nation’s young generation.

     The launch featured the maiden Ultimate Caregiver Enlightenment Symposium & Book Presentation, themed ‘United in Care: Guiding Hearts, Growing Minds.’

     The event drew parents, teachers, and caregivers determined to raise emotionally balanced and resilient children in today’s increasingly complex world.

     Speaking at the event, Madam Chyna Clifford, child development advocate, children’s book illustrator, and founder of MCPI, said the Initiative was inspired by the need to understand the inner world of children, a world often filled with wonder, dreams, anxieties, and untapped potential. She noted that societal pressures frequently drown out children’s emotions, leaving questions unanswered and feelings overlooked.

     According to her, this year’s symposium focused on children on the autism spectrum, providing caregivers and educators with practical strategies to better support their unique developmental and emotional needs.

     Madam Clifford stressed that MCPI seeks to bridge the gap between psychology and parenting by equipping caregivers with tools, resources, and knowledge to support children’s emotional and behavioural development both at home and in school.

     “Emotional intelligence must be valued as highly as academic achievement if Nigeria is to build a stable, empathetic, and progressive society,” she said.

     “If we are serious about raising a generation of emotionally intelligent, morally grounded, and socially responsible leaders, we must first understand the intricacies of a child’s mind. Healing the psyche of the child is healing the future of the nation,” she added.

     The launch brought together educators, mental health professionals, and caregivers for a day of learning, reflection, and practical engagement.

     Dr. Adaobi Okeke, a guest speaker, delivered a session on ‘Learning Differences & Neurodiversity (ADHD, Dyslexia & Autism),’ highlighting how parents and teachers can better support neurodivergent children both at home and in school.

     She also emphasized the need to reduce stress during pregnancy as a critical factor affecting children’s neurodevelopment.

     An obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Maryam Tukur-Shagaya, spoke on “Postpartum Struggles and the Emotional Journey of Motherhood,” stressing the importance of supporting the mental wellbeing of new mothers, whose emotional challenges are often overlooked.

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     The founder of Ummi Women Empowerment Foundation (Ummi Africa), Mrs. Ruqayya Tofa-Basheer, encouraged women to prioritise self-care and work–life balance, offering practical strategies for emotional regulation in high-pressure environments.

     An educationist and founder of Broadoaks British School, Mrs. Eni Ogon, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between schools and parents to ensure children’s mental wellness is nurtured alongside academic development.

     The symposium reflected MCPI’s core mission of fostering emotional resilience and holistic development at all stages of childhood.

     In closing, the Initiative extended an open invitation to families, educators, and caregivers: “Come, learn, unlearn, and relearn with us – for the sake of the minds we’re nurturing and the future we’re shaping.”

     With its official launch, according to the founder, MCPI has positioned itself at the forefront of national conversations on child psychology, emotional wellbeing, and the urgent need to raise a generation that is not only brilliant but also balanced, not only informed but also inspired, and not only successful but genuinely humane.