The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Igbobi, IGOT train surgeons to save limbs, improve trauma care in Nigeria

    Igbobi, IGOT train surgeons to save limbs, improve trauma care in Nigeria

    The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), Lagos, in partnership with the Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Trauma (IGOT), has commenced the second phase of an international health workshop aimed at equipping surgeons with modern skills to save limbs and improve trauma care outcomes across Nigeria.

    The five-day programme, themed “Principles of Trauma Care and Soft Tissue Reconstruction,” opened on Wednesday at the hospital’s pavilion, drawing participants from across Nigeria as well as Kenya, Ghana, and the United States.

    Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Medical Director of NOHIL, Dr. Wakeel Lawal, said the training is part of efforts to advance the Federal Government’s renewed focus on population health through continuous skill enhancement for medical professionals.

    “Improving population health requires enhancing the capacity of our healthcare workforce. One of the ways to achieve this is by providing regular training that exposes our surgeons to international standards in trauma and reconstructive care.”

    He explained that while it is often expensive to send Nigerian doctors abroad for specialised training, hosting international experts locally allows for wider participation and greater impact.

    “By bringing experts from partner institutions to Nigeria, we are able to train more doctors at once. This ensures that the knowledge gained can be immediately applied to local cases and conditions.”

    Lawal noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, records a high rate of trauma cases from road crashes, industrial accidents, and other emergencies.

    He said the workshop is designed to address these realities and strengthen the capacity of Nigerian surgeons to deliver timely, life-saving interventions.

    “This programme will not only help trauma victims but also people with limb deformities such as bow legs or knock knees,” he added. “If such deformities are corrected early, patients can avoid future complications like severe osteoarthritis.”

    Chief Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Emeka Izuagba, who specialises in paediatric orthopaedics and limb reconstruction, said the training, known as the SMART Course (Soft-Tissue Management and Reconstructive Trauma), focuses on reducing the high rate of disability and amputation resulting from poorly managed trauma cases.

    “Trauma is one of the most common causes of disability and loss of livelihood in Nigeria. Through this training, we are teaching our doctors the best practices for managing both bone and soft tissue injuries, from accident scenes to full recovery.”

    He explained that the course also addresses the challenges of late presentation and the dangers of patronising traditional bone setters, which often worsen injuries.

    “Eighty per cent of amputations in orthopaedic hospitals are due to complications from unskilled treatment.

    Many simple fractures become life-threatening because patients first seek help from unqualified hands. This training aims to reduce such cases by strengthening the competence of certified trauma surgeons.”

    Izuagba added that IGOT and its partner, Sine Fracture Care International, have supported NOHIL with manpower, equipment, and training resources to make trauma care more affordable and effective.

    “Many of the instruments used in trauma management are imported and expensive.

    Our partnership helps us access donated equipment and teaching materials, which ultimately benefits our patients.” Izuagba explained.

    An orthopaedic trauma surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, and Co-Director of IGOT, Dr. David Shearer, said the programme focuses on preventing infections and unnecessary amputations through improved surgical techniques.

    “This course teaches surgeons how to clean and stabilise complex limb injuries, cover exposed bone, and reconstruct damaged tissues,” Shearer said. “The goal is to restore function, prevent complications, and get patients back to normal life.”

    He praised the enthusiasm of Nigerian surgeons, describing the collaboration as a model for sustainable surgical education in Africa.

    The workshop includes hands-on training sessions, live surgical demonstrations, and lectures on advanced techniques in trauma and reconstructive surgery.

    Officials said the programme will create a stronger network of trained trauma surgeons capable of delivering high-quality care, reducing limb loss, and saving more lives nationwide.

  • History of journalism in Nigeria

    History of journalism in Nigeria

    1. THE BEGINNING (1859 – Early 1900s): The history of journalism in Nigeria dates back to 1859, when Rev. Henry Townsend, a missionary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), established the first newspaper in Nigeria Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba. Iwe Irohin was published in Abeokuta and written in the Yoruba language (later also in English). Its main purpose was to educate the Yoruba people, spread Christianity, and promote literacy. It laid the foundation for the print media in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Iwe Irohin stopped publication in 1867 due to the Egba–European conflict.

    2. THE GROWTH OF INDIGENIOUS PRESS (1900 – 1930s): After Iwe Irohin, the Nigerian press became more political and nationalistic, with newspapers emerging in Lagos and other regions.

    Key Newspapers of This Era Include:

    – The Lagos Times (1880) founded by Richard Beale Blaize.

    – The Lagos Observer (1882).

    – The Eagle and Lagos Critic (1883).

    – The Lagos Weekly Record (1890) edited by John Payne Jackson, one of the earliest nationalist journalists.

    These publications began criticizing colonial policies and became platforms for African self-determination and anti-colonial advocacy.

    3. THE RISE OF NATIONALIST PRESS (1930s – 1950s): This was the golden age of Nigerian journalism, when newspapers became tools for nationalism and independence struggle. Prominent figures and newspapers: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe founded West African Pilot (1937). It inspired other nationalist papers across the country. Motto: “Show the light and the people will find the way.” Obafemi Awolowo established The Nigerian Tribune (1949), which still exists today. Ernest Ikoli founded The Daily Service. These newspapers mobilized public opinion against colonialism and played a major role in Nigeria’s road to independence (1960).

    4. POST-INDEPENDENCE ERA (1960 – 1970s): After independence, journalism became more diversified and commercialized. The government, political parties, and private individuals owned newspapers. Notable papers included The Daily Times, New Nigerian, and The Sketch. Radio and television broadcasting began to grow with Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in 1959 being the first in Africa. During the military regimes (1966–1979), the press faced censorship, arrests, and intimidation, yet it remained a powerful voice for democracy and accountability.

    5. THE ERA OF PRESS STRUGGLE (1980s – 1990s): This period was marked by authoritarian rule and press repression. Newspapers like The Guardian, Tell, The News, and Punch stood out for investigative journalism and bold criticism of military governments. Journalists faced harassment, detentions, and sometimes exile. Despite this, the press became a symbol of resistance and democracy.

    6. THE MODERN ERA (2000s – PRESENT): With the return to democracy in 1999, Nigerian journalism entered a new phase: Freedom of the press improved, though challenges remain. Social media (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Thread, etc) has become a major tool for citizen journalism, activism, and information dissemination.

  • Nigeria, UAE sign MoU on digital skills development

    Nigeria, UAE sign MoU on digital skills development

    Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday reached agreement to collaborate on digital education and skills development as part of efforts to deepen participation in the global digital economy.

    At the formal signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday in Dubai, Federal Ministry of Youth Development signed for Nigeria while UAE Digital School, under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), signed for the UAE.

    The agreement seeks to expand access to digital education and practical skill development for Nigerian youth through the platform of Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA).

    The partnership followed earlier engagements held in July 2025 between Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and key UAE government officials and development partners.

    Speaking at signing ceremony, Olawande said the agreement marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to prepare its youth for active participation in the global digital economy.

    According to him, the collaboration promise to equip Nigerian youth with the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing digital world.

    He expressed appreciation to the government and people of the United Arab Emirates for their hospitality, leadership, and continued support for global development.

    He said: “What we celebrate today goes beyond Nigeria. It stands as a symbol of shared responsibility, shared progress, and shared hope for the youth of both nations”.

    Read Also: ACCI charge Nigerians to embrace mechanised agriculture

    The UAE Digital School, led by Dr. Waleed Al Ali, is one of the flagship initiatives of MBRGI dedicated to providing digital learning opportunities to underserved communities worldwide.

    Through this collaboration, Nigeria will leverage the school’s digital infrastructure, resources, and expertise to strengthen digital inclusion and education for young people across the country.

    Olawande also commended the ministry’s technical partner, Sapphital Limited, for its commitment and contribution to the success of the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) and related digital empowerment projects.

    He further praised his team at the ministry for their dedication in bringing the initiative to fruition.

    The partnership is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda by providing access to modern, skill-based education that empowers youth for the future of work.

  • ‘Nigeria’s $50b digital assets will strengthen economy’

    ‘Nigeria’s $50b digital assets will strengthen economy’

    Stockpiling utility digital assets will position Nigeria as Africa’s digital leader, turning the nation  into a top-tier economy by 2030, a global finance expert Mr. Ochuko Akejagbor, has said.

    He noted in an interview that Nigeria’s digital asset market has surged, with over $50 billion in transactions, thus positioning the economy strongly.

    He stressed the imperative  for Nigeria to leverage  digital assets, calling for creation of a National Digital Asset Commission (NDAC) and Reserve (NDAR) at the federal level, with State Digital Asset Commissions (SDAC) and Reserves (SDAR) in all 36 states.

    He said the  strategy is about replicating U.S.  models involving paying off Nigeria’s external debts, and driving socio-economic growth in line with President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion GDP target.

    Akejagbor, with over five years in international finance, public policy and digital economy said:  “Stockpiling utility digital assets will position Nigeria as Africa’s digital leader, turning us into a top-tier economy by 2030. Nigeria’s digital asset market has surged, with over $50 billion in transactions last year.

    Recent regulatory shifts, like SEC’s crypto exchange licence in 2024 and upcoming taxes in 2026, pave the way for integration.”

    He said the global economic and financial reset draws from a 2019 global dialogue among IMF, World Bank, Bank of International Settlement and G7 Central Bank governors on integrating digital assets with traditional finance, enhancing liquidity for gold and oil.

    Read Also: NIPSS is Nigeria’s intellectual power house, says First Lady

    “U.S. set a precedent with its Strategic Bitcoin and digital asset reserve in March, holding over 207,000 bitcoin worth $17 billion to offset $40 trillion in debt. States like Wyoming and Texas have similar reserves.

    This reset accelerates the fourth industrial revolution, an AI-powered machine-to-machine economy where digital assets replace fiat currency. Elon Musk warned that U.S. must use AI to solve debt or face collapse.

    “IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva urged adopting digital money as fiat fades. Nigeria’s 33 million crypto users position it to lead Africa,” he said.

    According to him the National Digital Asset Commission would identify, stockpile, and

    secure utility digital assets in a digital asset reserve—protocols solving issues in cross border payments, space aviation, cyber space security, payroll, digital identity and government operations.

    “Upon the completion of the economic reset by 2030, the hidden value of these utility digital assets would have been attained. The proceeds from this digital asset reserve can then be utilized in settling the Nation’s debt or

    better still provide economic growth and developmental infrastructure,” he added.

  • Nigeria and the opportunity of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan

    Nigeria and the opportunity of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan

    By Charles Onunaiju

    The just concluded 4th plenary session of the CentralCommittee of the governing Communist Party of China, whose deliberations centred on the 15th edition of the country’s Five-year Development plan, due to go into full effect and implementation for the next five years, beginning from 2026, has considerable implications for Nigeria’s international market access and investment drive.

    China’s Five-year Development Plan, a long standing governance practice of the country has been functioning since 1953 as a reliable compass that have guided and continues to guide the broad roadmap of her social and economic directions. The political integrity, efficiency and competence of the leadership of the governing party has ensured that the plan is not a hollow ritual, but a process aligned to the realities of the times with a clear objective to accomplish specific goals that makes practical contributions to the improvement in the quality of life of the people.

    As China economy of scale has exponentially grown with a contribution of about 30% to the global economy; her Five-year Development plan has both implications and ramifications not only to her economy but more crucially to strategic partners. As Nigeria and China partnership was declared comprehensively strategic, following the successful state visit of President Bola Tinubu in September last year, China new economic roadmap, spelt out in the 15th edition of the five yearly Development plan and which  was extensively deliberated  and approved for implementation at the 4th Plenum of the 20th Central Committee of the governing CPC, last month, has enormous potential to give effects to some key aspects of Nigeria’s economic reform objectives which consist of increase in export of non-oil and value added products on a steady and expansionary trajectory.

    A key aspect of the China’s 15th Five-year Development Plan, the “Initiative to open China wider, promote innovative development of trade, create greater space for a two-way investment cooperation and pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation” connects to the imperative of a reliable market destination for many African countries including Nigeria. Within the framework of this, China “would boost consumption, expand effective investment and eliminate bottle-necks and obstacles hindering the development of a unified national market”.

    A unified national market that is opened “wider” is a boon to Nigeria and her hunger for stable and reliable market access without the volatility of politically motivated disruptions, consisting of tariff walls. With a guarantee of a huge and stable market, Nigeria can drive a targeted policy to incentivize critical sectors oriented to leverage the concessional access to China’s huge market and returns from such venture would ameliorate the situation of foreign exchange and further the value of the local currency against major international currencies.

    At the conclusion of the 4th Edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June, the Chinese government took the measure to eliminate tariffs on quality products from the 53 African countries including Nigeria that maintains diplomatic relations with Beijing. China stated her readiness “through negotiating and signing the agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development to expand the zero tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines to all African countries …, welcome quality products from Africa to the Chinese market. For the least developed countries in Africa, on top of the zero tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines announced at the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China will roll out measures on market access, inspection and quarantine and custom clearance to boost trade in goods; enhance skills and technical training and the promotion of quality goods”.

    The robust mechanism already in existence to support and incentivize Nigeria’s access to China’s market has been further reinforced by the outlines of China’s 15th Five-year Development plan which guarantees not only a wider access but also the advantage of a consolidated national unified market scaled up not only by the healthy and efficient interaction of demand and supply but an increasing consumer spending and coordinates in physical assets and human capital”.

    While a “unified national market” would hedge China against politically motivated de-couplings and other trade restrictive manoeuvres, it would be the single largest national market in the world that is open, stable and predictable.

    China’s high quality development would also feature the transformation of work and its outputs, through the development of the new quality productive forces. Nigeria and other African countries through the framework of “an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era” are well positioned to leverage the advantage of China’s massive domestic economy of scale, that would be given greater scope through the implementation of the 15th Five-year Development plan.

    In the explanatory note to the 4th plenary session, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted that 15th Five-year plan will serve as a crucial stage in building on past successes to break new ground for basically achieving socialist modernization. Last year, at the Summit of China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, President Xi Jinping urged the two sides to jointly advance modernization that puts the people first”, pledging that “China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reductions and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization and ensure that all will benefit from the process”.

    The core of China’s socialist modernization is to ensure that people’s ever-increasing needs for a better life are continuously attended to and the content of this dynamic and ever-evolving process is also to provide more opportunities to the world and especially Africa, with whom China shares commitment to a modernization that works for all.

    Read Also: W’Cup playoff :Underdogs Gabon banks on Aubameyang for Nigeria

    Interestingly, Chinese public diplomacy in Nigeria led by Ambassador Yu Dunhai is devoted to clarifying and elaborating the opportunities in the bilateral relations between the two sides and the wider China-Africa cooperation. The 15th Five-year plan raised all the big issues at the heart of the country’s social and economic goals and transformation but also tasked itself to “work harder to ensure and improve pubic well-being and promote common prosperity for all…in line with the principle of doing everything within our means, we must ensure that public services are inclusive, meet essential needs and provide a cushion for those most in need, while working to resolve the pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most”.

    The lessons offered by this solemn avowal should never be lost to managers of economic reforms anywhere in the world, including Nigeria that any meaningful economic policy must provide an ambit for social inclusion, which consists in solving people’s most existential needs which in themselves are  major contributors to national security and stability.

    Despite the wind of the neo-liberal economic reforms that swept away periodic development plans in most of African countries, including Nigeria in the 1990s and after, the framework is not discredited and China has demonstrated that when social and economic development plans proceed from the reality of any country’s unique national condition, aligned to resolve specific problems, designed to serve practical purpose and addressed to real needs, it can and should be a powerful directory illuminating the pathways to understanding the opportunities of the times and how to turn it to real advantages for the country and its people.

    •Onunaiju is a Public Commentator on International Affairs based in Abuja.

  • How Currency Instability Shapes Online Trading Habits in Nigeria

    How Currency Instability Shapes Online Trading Habits in Nigeria

    What if someone told you that the real catalyst behind Nigeria’s booming online trading scene isn’t flashy financial influencers or global tech hype. It’s the naira. Or more precisely, its unpredictable journey through cycles of devaluation, instability, and inflation.
    When local currency becomes a moving target, ordinary Nigerians don’t wait for official solutions. They build their own. One of those solutions is trading forex. Not as a get-rich-quick scheme, but as a hedge. A tool. A digital lifeline against erosion of value. The habits forming in Nigeria’s trading ecosystem aren’t just financial trends. They are survival strategies dressed up in the language of market speculation.
    Why Naira Instability Isn’t Just a Macro Problem
    Currency instability isn’t abstract in Nigeria. It shows up when prices for basic goods jump within days. It’s reflected in the widening gap between official exchange rates and what’s actually available in parallel markets. The average consumer sees this not in economic charts, but on supermarket shelves, at fuel stations, and in import duties that seem to grow overnight.
    For digitally savvy Nigerians, online trading becomes more than just a speculative adventure. It becomes a form of self-preservation. When inflation eats into purchasing power and local assets depreciate faster than they grow, the foreign exchange market offers something domestic markets often can’t: liquidity, optionality, and (if timed right) access to stronger currencies.
    The Role of Platforms and Why Infrastructure Matters
    But access to global markets means little without quality platforms that can execute, scale, and protect. Nigerians aren’t just flocking to any trading app. They’re hunting for reliability, transparency, and platforms with international credibility. 
    A growing trend across Africa has seen traders compare interfaces, regulation, withdrawal efficiency, and fees. And in this platform-conscious environment, lessons from other countries matter. Take South Africa, for instance. The Exness trading platform for South Africa has set a benchmark in functionality, real-time execution, and regulated access to global currency pairs. 
    Similarly, CFD trading in South Africa has matured thanks to an infrastructure that prioritizes risk controls, charting tools, and localized support. Nigerian traders, many of whom share forums and Telegram channels with South African peers, observe and adapt.
    These cross-border comparisons aren’t academic. They shape real choices. If a platform glitches during a spike in USD demand, a Nigerian trader might lose not just profits, but faith in the system. That’s why quality platforms aren’t optional; they’re foundational.
    Hedging Isn’t Theory But Daily Life
    There’s a belief that hedging strategies are for portfolio managers in glass towers. That belief doesn’t hold in Nigeria. For many self-taught traders in Lagos or Abuja, buying USD/NGN or EUR/USD isn’t just about chasing green candles. It’s about protecting school fees, medical funds, or even savings meant for property abroad.
    One example tells the story better than any theory. A Lagos-based importer once shared how he began allocating a portion of his monthly business income to online forex trading. Not because he wanted to become a trader, but because buying and holding USD in a brokerage wallet was faster and more discreet than dealing with black market dealers or local banks. Over time, he learned to time his entries around central bank policy announcements and developed enough skill to not just hedge, but sometimes earn. He wasn’t chasing volatility; he was escaping depreciation.
    Timing as a Habit, Not a Hope
    In stable economies, timing trades might be seen as a luxury or a tool for marginal gains. In Nigeria, timing is oxygen. Central bank decisions, oil price swings, and political headlines are all baked into trading strategies. Nigerian traders don’t wait for volatility. They anticipate it. And that anticipation becomes habit.

    Read Also: NIPSS is Nigeria’s intellectual power house, says First Lady


    This level of reflex isn’t about being aggressive. It’s about being alert. Traders build routines around market sessions, check news wires religiously, and often trade in short bursts rather than long swings. They’re not waiting for the perfect trade. They’re managing risk in real-time, aware that value isn’t something you hold but something you defend.
    Key behaviors that have emerged as part of this rhythm include:

    • Trading during high-volume periods like the London or New York sessions, when currency pairs move with greater momentum

    • Using tight stop losses not just to prevent loss, but to avoid platform downtime or price slippage during regional power outages or data issues

    This focus on micro-timing reveals a deeper insight: for Nigerians, trading isn’t about forecasts. It’s about positioning.
    The Emotional Economy of Devaluation
    Currency instability is both a financial and emotional stressor. Watching earnings lose value month after month shapes psychology. It builds skepticism about long-term naira savings and raises urgency around alternative strategies. This emotional response is crucial to understanding why Nigerians don’t approach trading with passive curiosity. They approach it with intensity.
    Platforms that understand this psychological backdrop are more likely to succeed. Traders want education, yes – but they also want respect for their context. Tutorials that start with “What is forex?” feel like a mismatch. The Nigerian audience isn’t naïve. They’re informed by necessity. Any platform or tool that fails to meet that level of urgency is quickly replaced.
    Lessons from Nigeria’s Digital Trading Playbook
    There are lessons here that extend beyond Nigeria. When a population turns to online trading en masse, not for speculation, but for preservation, it signals something deeper. It signals that traditional economic instruments have failed to provide the security people need.
    Ultimately, the evolution of Nigeria’s trading habits reflects not just economic conditions, but a cultural adaptation. One shaped by volatility, but powered by resilience.

  • Nigeria opens Africa’s largest fibre optic factory with local funding

    Nigeria opens Africa’s largest fibre optic factory with local funding

    Nigeria’s digital infrastructure took a significant step forward with the commissioning of Africa’s largest fibre optic cable factory and the continent’s first fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) manufacturing facility. The plant, built by Coleman Technical Industries Limited (CTIL) in Sagamu, Ogun State, is a strategic asset for national development.’

    Commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the facility can produce up to nine million kilometres of fibre optic cables annually and process about 13,000 tons of copper and aluminum each month.

    President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the facility as “a strategic national asset that strengthens the digital backbone of our economy and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness under the AfCFTA.”

    The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre nationwide will rely on local manufacturers, such as Coleman, and be supported by robust local financing partnerships.

    The Coleman facility, backed by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the Bank of Industry (BOI), and InfraCredit, shows how aligned finance can turn industrial ambition into national progress.

    FCMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Yemisi Edun, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to financing infrastructure that drives economic inclusion and innovation.

    “This facility shows what happens when finance becomes an enabler of national progress. FCMB is proud to be part of a partnership that expands manufacturing capacity, creates jobs, and positions Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s digital future,” she said.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    Coleman’s Managing Director, Mr George Onafowokan, praised the financiers’ role in bringing the vision to life, noting that the project will create over 20,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs and generate more than ₦1 trillion in export revenue.

    Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun said the factory’s commissioning marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure drive. He noted that local fibre production will help close the digital divide, reduce import dependence, and generate thousands of jobs across the manufacturing, logistics, and ICT sectors.

    He described Coleman’s 50-year journey as one of industrial resilience and innovation that continues to power national development.

    Founded in 1975 as a trading firm in Ikotun, Lagos, Coleman Technical Industries Limited has evolved into Africa’s largest cable producer, serving key sectors including power, oil and gas, and telecommunications. It operates multiple factories, including the new fibre cable plant in Sagamu and an internet fibre optic production facility in Arepo, both in Ogun State.

  • Secularism, forgotten key to Nigeria’s security

    Secularism, forgotten key to Nigeria’s security

    • By O. Odunuga, mni

    Sir: For over six decades, Nigeria has battled one wave of insecurity after another—terrorism, communal violence, kidnappings, and banditry—each more brutal than the last. Yet, despite the heavy military budgets and endless reforms, peace remains elusive. The reason may lie deeper than politics or firepower; it is our failure to free the Nigerian mind from foreign religious control and embrace genuine secularism.

    The religions that dominate Nigeria today—Christianity and Islam—did not emerge from within our soil. They were introduced through conquest, trade, and colonial subjugation. Both faiths came with moral promises but also political baggage. They arrived not merely as spiritual paths but as instruments of foreign influence, dividing communities that had once lived under shared indigenous values.

    Colonial administrators quickly recognized the power of religion to control minds. They exploited Christian and Islamic loyalties to establish hierarchies that served imperial interests. After independence, Nigerian politicians inherited these divisions and weaponized them. The result is a country where religious identity often dictates political alignment, employment, and even access to justice.

    Today, religious sentiment has become a dominant force in public life. Political campaigns are launched from pulpits. Government funds sponsor pilgrimages. Security forces sometimes hesitate to confront extremists who claim divine mandate. This blurring of lines between faith and governance weakens the moral authority of the state.

    When the state kneels before religion, national security becomes secondary to sectarian loyalty. Soldiers see themselves as defenders of faith rather than defenders of the republic. Public officials fear religious backlash more than constitutional accountability. And citizens, indoctrinated from birth to see their religion as the ultimate truth, become easy tools for manipulation by extremists and politicians alike.

    Secularism is not atheism. It is the simple principle that governance should serve all citizens equally, without favour or prejudice to any religion. In a truly secular society, the law—not scripture—defines right and wrong; the constitution—not clergy—guides policy.

    Ironically, Nigeria’s own constitution already hints at secularism, yet the state behaves as though it is tethered to the mosque and the church. Until the government completely withdraws from religious sponsorship, the country will continue to experience moral confusion and divided loyalties.

    True secularism would strengthen national unity. It would free security institutions from the silent pressure of religious influence. It would also empower education to nurture critical thinkers instead of dogmatic followers. A citizen trained to think critically is harder to radicalize, and a soldier loyal to the constitution is harder to corrupt.

    Read Also: Senate rejects NNPCL’s defence on missing N210trn, threatens to summon ex-GMDs

    Long before foreign religions arrived, African societies—including Nigeria’s—had moral systems grounded in justice, community, and respect for life. The Yoruba concept of iwa pele (good character), the Igbo idea of omenala (customary balance), and the Hausa principle of mutunci (human dignity) provided ethical compasses that guided behaviour without imported doctrines.

    These indigenous systems valued social harmony and accountability more than abstract theology. They bound people to the land, the ancestors, and the community. Reconnecting with these home-grown philosophies can help Nigerians rediscover a sense of belonging that transcends religious labels.

    Nigeria’s insecurity will not end through bullets alone. It requires a cultural and philosophical awakening—a shift from foreign dependency to national self-awareness. That shift begins with secularism: separating religion from governance and reviving indigenous moral frameworks that prioritize peace, justice, and reason.

    If Nigeria truly wants to defeat extremism and reclaim stability, it must stop fighting wars inspired by foreign ideologies and start rebuilding a moral order anchored in national identity. Only then can Nigerians see one another not as Christians or Muslims, but as citizens bound by shared destiny.

    In the end, the path to lasting peace does not lie in the mosque or the church, but in the human conscience guided by reason and justice. That is the essence of true secularism, and Nigeria’s best hope for security.

    •O. Odunuga, mni

    <alaye2000ng@gmail.com>

  • The missing opposition: Why Nigeria’s democracy is losing its pulse

    The missing opposition: Why Nigeria’s democracy is losing its pulse

    In every thriving democracy, opposition parties are more than mere political rivals; they are watchdogs, critics, and alternative voices that keep governments on their toes. They provide citizens with choices, sharpen debates, and ensure accountability. But in Nigeria, that vital pillar of democracy appears to be crumbling. This decline was the focus of the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable second edition, where experts and politicians asked a pressing question: Where is Nigeria’s opposition, and can it be revived before democracy loses its value? Chinyere Okoroafor report.

    When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, hopes were high. After years of military rule, citizens longed for a system where power rested in the ballot. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), riding on goodwill, quickly became the dominant force, ruling for 16 consecutive years.

    The PDP’s dominance created what analysts described as a “one-party democracy.” Opposition groups like the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Action Congress (AC), and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) existed but were too fragmented to seriously challenge the PDP.

    That changed in 2013, when these smaller groups merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their unity gave Nigerians a new choice. By 2015, in a historic upset, the APC’s candidate Muhammadu Buhari defeated incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, power changed hands peacefully through the ballot. It was proof that opposition mattered.

    A decade later, however, the tide has turned. The APC now dominates, while the PDP has weakened, battered by infighting, defections, and corruption scandals. The Labour Party (LP), buoyed by the Obidient Movement in 2023, ignited public enthusiasm but quickly stumbled into leadership crises and court battles. The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) holds sway in Kano but struggles to gain national traction.

    What remains is a political landscape with a powerful ruling party and fragmented, weakened alternatives. The sense of choice, the lifeblood of democracy, is fading.

    According to the convener, Dr. David Oladipo, Nigeria’s democracy is losing its vitality because citizens no longer have genuine political choices. “We’re not getting value for democracy,” he said in his welcome address. “One of the things that can help us get value for democracy is options. But Nigerians don’t have strong options anymore.”

    Read Also: Senate rejects NNPCL’s defence on missing N210trn, threatens to summon ex-GMDs

    It was this concern that prompted him to convene the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable, themed “Nigeria and Opposition Politics.” For Oladipo, opposition is not a political luxury but the heartbeat of democracy. Without it, he warned, ruling parties become complacent, citizens lose faith, and democracy risks turning into an illusion.

    Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, Oladipo observed that since the return to civil rule in 1999, the nation has swung between two dominant parties—the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). “At first, the rivalry brought balance,” he said. “The PDP, once unshakable, was humbled in 2015 when a coalition birthed the APC and swept it out of power. But instead of remaining strong to provide checks and balances, the PDP fractured, weakened by defections and internal strife.”

    He recalled being shocked at how quickly opposition figures abandoned their parties after the 2015 elections. “Leading lights in the PDP began to defect almost immediately,” he noted. “Now, the APC risks becoming another PDP, arrogant, unchecked, and taking Nigerians for granted. Across the world, opposition parties are meant to challenge government excesses, scrutinize policies, and offer credible alternatives. In Nigeria, however, that role has grown increasingly faint.”

    Oladipo stressed that rebuilding opposition politics must go beyond rhetoric. “Opposition parties must invest in research, policy design, and ideas that inspire trust,” he said. “When you speak, Nigerians should say, ‘Wow, I didn’t think of that.’ That’s how you earn credibility.”

    He added that politics extends far beyond election cycles. “Politics is about persuasion, convincing others to see things your way. We do it every day in our homes and workplaces,” he said. “The Nigerian project cannot be outsourced to politicians alone.”

    Political economist, and activist, Professor Pat Utomi, represented at the event by Dr. Chidi Okpaluba, warned that the silence of opposition parties threatens the entire democratic system. “They’ve lost their voices,” he lamented. “Most of them, probably out of fear of persecution, have retreated instead of standing up for Nigerians.”

    The result, he argued, is that active citizens on social media have become the country’s only real opposition, a fragile substitute in a nation of over 200 million people.

    Similarly, convener of the Alternative Movement and the keynote speaker of the roundtable, Otunba Segun Sowunmi insisted that Nigeria cannot continue on this path. “Men who should stay in their parties to reform them instead destabilize them. We must reinvent opposition politics with fresh ideas and courage. Those who can read, write, and think must step into politics. The leader you’re waiting for might be you.” He said.

    Sowunmi’s call was not just for politicians but also for citizens who feel “too good” for politics. “Those of you who can read, write, and think, you must get involved. The leader you are waiting for might be you.”

    The Lagos Chair of the NNPP, Chief Ronnie Diko-Kila, highlighted the challenges facing opposition leaders, from financial constraints to harassment and intimidation. “You can’t even converge for a rally without being disrupted,” she said. “Many defect because of hunger and the lack of financial support. That’s why you see massive defections to the ruling party.”

    This culture of “winner takes all” has left opposition parties fractured, while ruling parties consolidate power.

    Speakers agreed that Nigeria’s democracy is further weakened by fragile institutions, an inactive parliament, slow judiciary, and a largely compliant media.

    Utomi cited the federal government’s recent declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, which dissolved the state government and assembly for six months. “The opposition did nothing,” he noted. “That silence is dangerous.”

    Former Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, a.k.a Jandor agreed that while opposition is floundering, Nigeria itself remains “a work in progress.”

    He argued that the last truly vibrant opposition was APC between 2013 and 2015. Today, however, most parties lack stability and vision.

    “Opposition should not just be about wresting power,” Jandor said. “It should be about showing how things can be done better.”

    What emerged from the roundtable was not mere lamentation but a roadmap for rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic health. Participants agreed that opposition parties must learn tolerance, accept criticism, and be ready to make sacrifices for national good.

    They stressed the need for citizens, especially the educated and experienced, to actively participate in politics to strengthen parties from within.

    Political parties, they urged, must invest in intellectual work, sound policy design, and credible alternatives, while electoral reforms and stronger institutions should be pursued to ensure fairness.

    The media, too, must play its role by offering balanced coverage and amplifying opposition voices.

    The dialogue ended with a shared call to revive the lifeline of democracy through renewed commitment to accountability, inclusion, and the restoration of genuine political choice.

    Participants agreed that democracy thrives on choice, and when citizens are denied real options, governance becomes hollow. While Nigeria’s opposition parties remain weak, divided, and often compromised, voices like Oladipo, Utomi, Sowunmi, Jandor, and Diko-Kila echoed a common warning: without a strong and credible opposition, the nation risks sliding into a one-party state.

    As Nigeria turns 65, speakers stressed that the urgent task before political actors and citizens alike is not only to demand accountability from those in power but to rebuild an opposition that is vibrant, principled, and rooted in service to the people. Otherwise, as Oladipo cautioned, “Poverty is the lack of options. And when people lack political options, democracy itself becomes poor.”

  • Nigeria, UK Foreign Ministers meet to deepen bilateral relations

    Nigeria, UK Foreign Ministers meet to deepen bilateral relations

     Nigeria and the United Kingdom are poised to strengthen cooperation across a broad range of areas.

    This was contained in a statement by the media aide the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir after a meeting of top officials from both countries in London. 

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, according to the statement met with the British Foreign Secretary in London. 

    The meeting, according to Abdulkadir, focused on shared priorities including trade, investment, security, education, migration, and climate action.

    The statement further reads: “Ambassador Tuggar described the engagement as “constructive and forward-looking,” noting that it reflected the long-standing friendship and shared democratic values that continue to guide Nigeria–UK relations. He said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration that delivers tangible benefits to their citizens.

    “During the talks, the two ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments, explored new areas of economic partnership, and discussed ongoing cooperation in defence and governance. They also acknowledged the vital role of people-to-people ties and the contributions of the Nigerian diaspora to strengthening the relationship.

    “The meeting concluded with both sides pledging to maintain regular dialogue and follow up on agreed areas of cooperation.”

    It further added: “Ambassador Tuggar’s visit forms part of Nigeria’s wider diplomatic outreach aimed at advancing mutual interests, promoting development, and reinforcing its longstanding partnerships on the global stage.”