This piece, “Of banditry and a shared sovereignty”, was first published in May 2022. It remains as pertinent today as it was then, given the worsening insecurity currently facing the country.In the book The Impact of Banditry on Nigeria’s Security in the Fourth Republic: An Evaluation of Nigeria’s Northwest by Rosenje, Musharafa Olapeju (PhD) and Adeniyi, Oluwatobi Peter, both of the Department of Political Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, first published on 30/04/2021, the authors posited that “Banditry is fast becoming alarming in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic to the extent that it poses a serious security threat not only to…
Author: Editor
Millions of Americans are expected to face unhealthy air quality during the Fourth of July celebrations as record-breaking heat combines with unprecedented fireworks displays marking the United States’ 250th Independence Day. Meteorologists and air quality experts have warned that a persistent heat dome blanketing much of the country is likely to trap smoke and pollutants close to the ground, increasing health risks for residents in several major cities. According to experts, fireworks release large amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), tiny airborne particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Research indicates that concentrations…
A week ago, the ancient city of Kano witnessed a colourful spectacle as one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN), was turbaned with the traditional title of Garkuwan Kano by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. The event was held at the emir’s Gidan Rumfa palace. The Garkuwa title is one of the most prestigious honours in the Kano Emirate. Historically, it is one of the most important titles in the Emirate titles in the emirate’s system of honour, recognising individuals who serve as protectors of the community, moral and symbolic shields for the society. The title is…
The United States is set to record its smallest wheat planting area since official records began more than a century ago, following a sharp downward revision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the USDA’s latest Acreage report, total wheat planted area for the 2026 season is estimated at 42.74 million acres, a decline of about 2.4 per cent from the March planting intentions and six per cent lower than the 45.33 million acres planted in 2025. The figure is also significantly below market expectations and marks the lowest planted wheat area since record-keeping began in 1919. The…
In recent years, Egypt and Turkey have moved from sharp disagreements—particularly over the Muslim Brotherhood and developments in Egypt—to a more pragmatic alignment driven by shared strategic interests, especially in the Horn of Africa. One of the clearest examples of this convergence is Sudan. Both Cairo and Ankara have backed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in their conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Turkey has reportedly supplied military equipment, including drones, that have contributed significantly to the SAF’s recent battlefield advances. Egypt has also maintained steadfast support for the Sudanese military, partly because of concerns that its regional rival,…
Multiple award-winning broadcaster Channels Television (ChannelsTV) has received another industry recognition after emerging as the recipient of the Media Leadership Prize at the 2026 Lagos Enterprise and Excellence Awards. The honour was presented at the awards ceremony held in Lagos, where the organisers celebrated individuals and organisations that have demonstrated excellence, innovation and leadership across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. Channels Television’s News Editor, Melinda Akinlami, received the award on behalf of the station. According to the organisers, the award recognises the sustained commitment of ChannelsTV to credible journalism, professional broadcasting and its contribution to the development of Nigeria’s…
The World Bank has approved a $1.25 billion Development Policy Financing (DPF) loan for Nigeria, moving ahead with the facility despite widespread public concerns over the country’s growing debt burden. The approval, announced on Wednesday, forms part of the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering the 2026–2032 period. The framework is designed to support private sector-led economic growth, job creation and long-term development. According to the World Bank, the financing—known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (NAIJA) Development Policy Financing operation—will back reforms aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness and encouraging greater private investment.…
If all wars end in dialogue, why begin with bloodshed? On June 18, 2026, after nearly four months of escalating hostilities that threatened to ignite a wider war in the Middle East, representatives of the United States and Iran signed what is now known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Brokered largely through Pakistani mediation and backed by a coalition of international actors, the agreement brought a fragile halt to a conflict that had drawn in Israel, shaken global markets, disrupted energy supplies, and left thousands of people dead across several countries. At that meeting in Islamabad, diplomats smiled cautiously…
Public service, particularly at the highest levels of government, often comes with intense scrutiny, criticism, and, at times, outright accusations. While accountability remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, it is equally important that public discourse is guided by facts, evidence, and due process rather than speculation or political grandstanding. Recent allegations and public statements targeted at the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, over issues relating to the Presidential Fiscal and Investment Policy Commission (PFIPC) and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) have once again brought to the fore the need for caution and…
This is the concluding part of this write-up, originally published on April 25, 2022. Following the publication of parts one and two over the past two weeks, I have revisited this article because its message remains as relevant and timely today as it was when it was first published. Only that it is now: “No one is safe”, not only “Nowhere”, with generals being killed on the roads (read General Alkali), abducted from their fortified homes. “When that is not the case, the victim’s faith in his country gets punctured. With the country’s might demystified in his eyes, he can…