By Joseph Kwewum Though football has not been officially declared Nigeria’s national sport by law, it is unquestionably regarded as such in practice. No other game commands the same level of passion, loyalty, and nationwide devotion like football. It stands above all other sports as a source of pride and collective identity. In a country…
By Shu’aibu Usman Leman Silence in public life is often defended as prudence. Yet when the financing of violence is treated as an unfortunate necessity rather than a matter of serious public concern, silence begins to carry consequences of its own. Nigeria’s response to banditry has gradually accommodated a shadow economy of ransom payments, negotiated…
By Joseph Kwewum On February 15, 2026, Nigerian athlete and star sprinter Favour Ashe announced his decision to change his nation of representation from Nigeria to Qatar. The development comes six months after Favour Ofili, another elite sprinter, declared her switch from Nigeria to Qatar. The steady decline of Nigerian athletics over the past decade,…
By Shu’aibu Usman Leman As journalists, we are trained not merely to read words but to interrogate meaning, intent, and consequence. That skill becomes indispensable when examining government budgets, which often reveal truths official speeches carefully avoid. Budgets are political and moral documents. They show what leaders truly value when resources are scarce and choices…
By Shu’aibu Usman Leman Nigeria’s democratic journey is often measured through national politics, presidential elections, legislative contests, and elite power struggles. Yet democracy does not take root at the centre. It begins at the grassroots. It is within local councils, wards, and communities that citizens experience governance most directly. Unfortunately, grassroots governance has long been…
By Shu’aibu Usman Leman Nigeria proclaims itself a secular republic, yet religion continues to dominate the national imagination and shape political judgement. The recent calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, are a troubling reminder that public institutions in Nigeria are often assessed less by…
