By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau Respite may have come the way of Nigeria’s political parties ahead of the 2027 general election after a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the timeline that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued for the conduct of primaries and the nomination of candidates. This is even as the court, in a judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Mohammed Umar, also set aside the Commission’s May 10, 2026 deadline given to the political parties to submit their membership register and database of all their members as a condition for qualifying to participate in the general…
Author: Editor
Read More
History occasionally hides its deepest ironies in names. More than two thousand years after Zacchaeus, the biblical tax collector of Jericho climbed a sycamore tree in search of Jesus, Nigeria finds itself in the middle of an intense national conversation on taxation under the supervision of a modern tax administrator bearing a remarkably similar name – Zacch Adedeji. The coincidence is striking, but the deeper significance lies not in personalities or names. It lies in the enduring suspicion societies often reserve for those who stand between the state and the pockets of the people.From ancient Rome to modern Africa, taxation…
THE late Muhammadu Buhari wrested power from upset of an incumbent in Nigeria precisely because of the northern establishment’s strategic coalition with the Southwest political establishment led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And Tinubu is president today because of the North’s requital, sort of, for Tinubu’s gesture. I qualify the requital with “sort of” because Muhammadu Buhari, the chief beneficiary of the coalition, along with a significant number of the cabal that puppeteered him, didn’t want Tinubu to be president. That was the spark for Tinubu’s famously impassioned “Emi lokan” speech in Abeokuta. However, northern governors collective, full-throated, unambiguous support for…
Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) recently hosted a Business and Investment Forum in Port Harcourt, bringing together key industry stakeholders to explore opportunities to reduce operating costs, enhance productivity, unlock investment returns, and strengthen competitiveness through the adoption of natural gas. The forum coincided with the onboarding of two new industrial customers in Agbara, Ogun State—Intercontinental Distillers Limited II (IDL) and Rumbu Industries Limited—into SNG’s expanding gas distribution network. These additions bring the total number of companies leveraging SNG’s cleaner and more cost-effective energy solutions to over 150, many of whom are already experiencing improved operational efficiency and financial performance. The…
Ahead of the 2026 world cup, the United States, Wednesday, said it would ease its system of demanding bond payments from visa applicants for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup. Recall that under one of President Donald Trump’s many initiatives to crack down on migration, the United States has begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, refundable once they return home. The State Department said it would waive the bonds for team members competing in World Cup matches in the United States, as well as…
I hear a lot about sex-starved marriages, where couples have less sexual activity than the desired. Such could be like once in two months, three months, or in some cases, six months. When such is the situation in a marriage, it can be said that the marriage is lacking in sexual intercourse than is required. Sexual activity in a healthy marriage should be a weekly affair, depending on the health condition of the couple. Anything short of this is an indication that the marriage is sex starved. Reasons for a sex starved marriage: Busy schedule of one or both partners.…
By Richard Odusanya Pluralism is the oxygen of democracy.Where it flourishes, societies are strengthened by diversity, enriched by competing ideas, and stabilized by the inclusion of multiple voices in governance. Where it is weakened, democracy begins to suffocate, often yielding to authoritarian impulses disguised as efficiency, order, or national unity.Nigeria’s approaching 2027 General Elections, therefore, invite a deeper question: Is authoritarianism becoming a credible threat to our democratic experiment? Democracy and the Logic of PluralismAt its philosophical core, democracy is not merely about elections; it is about the diffusion of power. It assumes that no single individual, party, ethnic bloc,…
The United Arab Emirates will withdraw from the OPEC and OPEC+ oil cartels to focus on “national interests”, a statement said on Tuesday, a bombshell announcement as energy prices soar over the Middle East war. The UAE, one of the world’s top oil producers, which has previously baulked at OPEC production quotas, will pull out on Friday, a statement carried by the official WAM news agency said. “This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile,” the statement said. “During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the…
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) has called for accelerated digitalization of VAT systems across the regions warning that inefficiencies in current systems continue to limit revenue mobilization and economic growth. The call was made during a high-level regional forum held on 21 April 2026 in Abidjan, organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which brought together tax administrators, policymakers, and development partners to examine reforms and best practices in VAT administration across the continent. Contributing to a high-level panel discussion on “VAT Digitalization: Pathways, Challenges and Opportunities,” the Executive Secretary of WATAF, Mr. Jules…
By Oluwakemi Amuda Introduction Africa’s role in global governance has undergone a profound transformation over the past two decades. Once regarded as a peripheral actor in international decision-making, the continent is increasingly asserting itself as a strategic player shaping global norms, institutions, and policy directions. This development is not incidental; it results from deliberate diplomatic repositioning, institutional strengthening, and a growing acknowledgement that global governance cannot be legitimate or effective without Africa’s participation. As global power disperses and the world transitions toward multipolarity, Africa’s agency is becoming essential to the future of international cooperation. Africa’s Historical Marginalisation in Global Governance…