As Nigeria intensifies her search for resilient, inclusive and export-ready agricultural commodities, Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea), an indigenous African legume (bean) is emerging as one of the country’s most underexploited strategic crops. Indigenous to Africa and deeply rooted in traditional farming systems, Bambara nut occupies a unique position at the intersection of climate resilience, food security, nutrition and agribusiness investment. Often described as a “complete food,” Bambara nut is rich in protein, carbohydrates, essential amino acids and micronutrients. Its ability to thrive under poor soils, minimal rainfall and low external inputs makes it particularly suited to Nigeria’s dryland ecologies. Yet, despite these advantages,…
Author: Editor
More than 94 per cent of Nigeria’s total cash in circulation remained outside the banking system in 2025, highlighting a growing paradox in which cash usage continues to rise despite rapid expansion in digital payments. The disclosure was made by the Committee of Heads of Banks’ Operations (CHBOs) at its annual conference in Lagos on Friday, January 23, using data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to the data, electronic payments have expanded by more than 300 per cent since 2020, yet physical cash still dominates daily transactions, forcing banks and regulators to rethink branch strategy, digital…
A few days ago, I woke in the night, anxious and checking the news, half-expecting America and Israel to have attacked Iran. Given this tension, the central issue is the longstanding American-Israeli effort to destabilise Iran. Even though it cannot be exhausted in a single article, I’d like you to come along as we look at the underlying hostility, the motives behind American and Israeli actions, and why both countries believe only a fractured, weakened Iran will serve their interests. The apparent lowering of tensions and talk of de-escalation are largely superficial. America—the dog—and Israel—the tail that wags it—will never…
The persistent cries over widespread insecurity and rising input prices by Nigerian smallholder farmers (SHFs) and small-scale producers (SSPs) call for decisive and coordinated action by government and the organised private sector. Without urgent intervention, Nigeria risks severe stress in its food system in 2026 and beyond. It is true that Nigerian consumers are currently experiencing relative relief in food prices. However, this apparent stability masks the deep distress of producers, who are increasingly constrained by insecurity that limits access to farmlands and by the ever-rising cost of critical inputs such as fertiliser, seeds and agrochemicals.In agribusiness, fair pricing is…
More than 8,000 flights scheduled across the United States over the weekend have been cancelled as a powerful winter storm sweeps across much of the country, threatening prolonged power outages and severe travel disruption. Around 140 million people were placed under winter storm warnings stretching from New Mexico to New England, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warned of widespread heavy snowfall and a dangerous band of ice extending from eastern Texas to North Carolina, with damage in some areas expected to rival that of a hurricane. By Friday night, freezing rain and sleet had already begun to fall…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated the need for a balanced and inclusive payments system that preserves the relevance of physical cash while accelerating the adoption of digital payment channels across the country. The call was made at the 2026 Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO) Conference in Lagos, themed “Reimagining the Future of Cash in a Digital-First Economy.” The apex bank said Nigeria’s evolving payments landscape must ensure that no segment of the economy is excluded as digital transactions continue to expand. Representing the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Operational Risk Management,…
A simple change in how pigeonpea is established in the field could raise yields by nearly 20 per cent, according to new research by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Researchers at ICRISAT found that transplanting pigeonpea seedlings — raising young plants in a nursery before moving them to the main field — significantly improved productivity. Productivity in transplanting trials rose from about 2.5 tonnes per hectare to nearly 3 tonnes per hectare, while also reducing climate risk and shortening the crop’s duration. Instead of sowing seeds directly into the soil — the common practice —…
Nigeria has not consciously addressed the question of designing the country’s political philosophy based on the knowledge of its history – precolonial and colonial, the failures of the present and the opportunities as well uncertainties of the future. As the world experiences mega-shifts from the classic political wisdom that shaped the way the state, morality, governance, ethics, rules and social constructs are understood, it is imperative for us to seize on the opportunity to put our thoughts forward. The real question is whether the country can think through its history and political struggles to map out possible pathways out of…
The Supreme Court has formally dismissed the murder case instituted by the Lagos State Government against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over the killing of Kudirat Abiola. Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late MKO Abiola—the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election—was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, during the political crisis that followed the annulment. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, held that the Lagos State Government abandoned the case…
As Nigeria entered 2026, the telecoms sector remained at the centre of national economic and social discourse, following key developments in 2025 that tested the balance between industry sustainability and consumer protection. One of the most consequential of these developments was the approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) of a 50 per cent tariff adjustment for telecom operators — a decision that sparked widespread reactions from consumer advocacy groups, labour unions, and industry players. Subscribers across the country raised concerns, with the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) emerging as a leading voice opposing the magnitude of the increase.…