Category: Business Day

After a long holiday that stretched like an elastic band, Nigeria’s federal lawmakers will finally dust off their agbadas, re-polish their brogues, and head back to Abuja’s red and green chambers.

Yes, dear Nigerians, the National Assembly will be back in session and the city can breathe again as its jolly-jolly lawmakers return from their well-deserved (or so they think) siesta.

It has been over two months since they shut down the hallowed chambers on July 24 for their annual recess.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, trudged along, battling economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment, among many other challenges. But for our lawmakers, it was time to ‘refresh, recharge, and rejuvenate.’ After all, how can one make laws for 200 million people without the occasional extended holiday?

If democracy were a person, it would have been on hold these past ten weeks, lounging somewhere in a recliner, sipping palm wine, waiting for its caretakers to return.

From the outside, it almost seemed as though nothing was happening on the legislative front. Budgets, constitutional amendments, and petitions gathered dust while the lawmakers were on vacation in Dubai, London, and private resorts across Nigeria.

In fairness, some did spend their break ‘consulting constituents,’ which, in Nigerian political lingo, usually translates to attending weddings, funerals, and thanksgiving services.

Others retreated quietly to their farms or businesses. But many Nigerians suspect that, simply enjoy the soft life that has become synonymous with being a legislator in Africa’s largest democracy.

A Soft Life Legislature

Let us not pretend: Nigeria’s National Assembly is not exactly a boot camp. This is the same parliament where plenary sessions often start late, attendance is spotty, and debates sometimes resemble friendly banter rather than heated legislative scrutiny.

Add to that the generous salaries, allowances, official cars, and endless committee trips, and you begin to understand why Nigerians often describe their lawmakers as the most comfortable public servants in the land.

During recess, stories filtered in of lawmakers spotted at five-star hotels in Abuja, vacationing abroad with their families, or hosting elaborate constituency parties.

And enjoyment, they did, the lawmakers lived the ‘soft life’ while the average Nigerian continued to grapple with harsh realities.

The return parade

Now, as plenary resumes, Abuja will once again witness the familiar spectacle: convoys of tinted SUVs gliding into the National Assembly complex, lawmakers in freshly starched attires waving to cameras, and the business of lawmaking officially kicking off again.

On paper, the agenda is heavy. They must tackle the 2026 budget, vote on constitutional amendments, debate electoral reforms, and push through legislation on local government autonomy. But one cannot ignore the theatre that accompanies their return.

Journalists, staffers, and lobbyists will gather at the chambers to watch who arrives with swagger, who avoids the press, and who is already positioning for the next leadership tussle.

The lawmakers themselves relish the attention. For some, resumption day is almost like the first day of school; a chance to showcase new wardrobes, new alliances, and in some cases, new political hairstyles. Of long breaks and short memories

It is worth remembering that the recess itself is not abnormal. Legislatures across the world take breaks. The difference, however, is in what they leave behind when they pause. For Nigeria’s lawmakers, especially the Senate, recess often feels like an abandonment; critical bills stall, oversight functions weaken, and committees go into hibernation. Take the constitutional review process, for instance. Hearings were held in July, citizens poured out their concerns, and reports were due. Then, suddenly, everything was put on hold for recess. Now, lawmakers will return to hurriedly catch up, as though nothing happened.

One can liken the mode of operation of the lawmakers to that of a student who takes a long break before exams and then tries to read all the notes the night before.

Jolly faces, serious matters

Of course, beneath the satire lies the truth: Nigeria’s challenges are grave, and the legislative agenda awaiting the lawmakers is weighty.

Inflation is biting harder, insecurity has refused to abate, unemployment remains high, and revenue shortfalls threaten governance at every level.

The 2026 budget, which President Bola Tinubu is expected to present soon, will test the Assembly’s seriousness.

So will the push for local government autonomy, a matter the Supreme Court has already spoken on, but which governors continue to resist.

The lawmakers must also revisit electoral reforms, amid widespread calls to strengthen INEC and guarantee credible elections.

But will they? Or will the resumption quickly slip into the usual rhythm of grandstanding, lengthy adjournments, and committee junkets? Nigerians are watching closely.

Behind the scenes, murmurs of discontent over unpaid constituency projects and leadership tussles are growing louder.

There are also whispers of looming defections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poised to strengthen its hold. As one insider remarked, ‘Recess was just the calm before the storm.’

A season of defections

Indeed, resumption day may double as defection day. Already, several lawmakers have quietly perfected plans to switch parties, citing ‘constituency pressure’ or ‘irreconcilable differences’ with their current platforms.

In truth, many simply want to align with the ruling party before constitutional votes and budget debates intensify.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, some days ago promised President Bola Tinubu a gale of defections from governors to the All Progressives Congress. This will definitely not leave lawmakers out like we witnessed in Akwa-Ibom and Delta states. Nigerians’ cynical gaze

For ordinary Nigerians, the return of their lawmakers is met with a mixture of resignation and humour.

As the National Assembly reconvenes, the stakes are high. There are important bills to pass, budgets to scrutinise, and reforms to implement.

But there is also the lingering image of lawmakers as lovers of soft life, more comfortable with recess than rigorous lawmaking.

Perhaps this time, they will surprise Nigerians. Perhaps the ‘jolly-jolly lawmakers’ will exchange their recliners for real legislative grit. Or perhaps, as one cynical observer put it, ‘They will just resume planning the next recess.’

Either way, Abuja will be alive again, and the cameras are ready. The lawmakers will be back, starched and smiling, to remind Nigerians that democracy may go on recess, but never really sleeps.

Plastic bottle homes are, increasingly, becoming common features of Nigerian cities. Besides the northern state of Kaduna, particularly around the village of Sabon Yelwa, where they stand as a tourist attraction, such homes can also be found on the Kaduna-Zaria Road.

Another instance is reported near the federal capital, Abuja. A recent report by BusinessDay cited a study which revealed these homes are gaining traction in the South East region of Nigeria, with an increasing number of residents adapting to the housing arrangement.

BusinessDay gathered that these novel homes come with a lot of upsides, especially with the construction method and cost. Builders, who are involved in the supply of these homes, say the construction method is simple, while the cost is relatively cheap.

‘The houses are built using discarded plastic bottles that are filled with sand and then bound together with mud. The bottles are placed on their side, one on top of another,’ Yahaya Ahmed of Nigeria’s Development Association for Renewable Energies (DARE), disclosed. A firm, concrete foundation is laid to ensure that the structure is firm and stable, and the sand is sieved to make sure it is compact.

Dolly Ugorchi, who has been trained in bottle house building, explains that builders need to sieve the sand to remove the stone,s otherwise it will not be nice and it would not be able to pass through the mouth of the bottle.

Unlike conventional houses that require going to the market to buy cement, iron roads, among others, bottles for these houses are mainly sourced from hotels and restaurants, but they require a large amount of sand to produce.

In terms of cost, Ahmed estimates that a bottle house will cost one third, that is about 30 percent, of what a similar house made of concrete and bricks would cost, adding that a house of this nature, with one bedroom, living room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen, uses an estimated 7,800 plastic bottles. Besides the simple and cheap construction method, plastic bottle homes also have positive environmental impact as they aim to reduce plastic waste and address housing deficit in a cost-effective way.

Its structural properties are top-notch as developers claim the houses are fireproof, bulletproof, and earthquake-resistant, although some of these claims lack scientific validation or proof.

Like every other residential building where aesthetics are fundamental, plastic bottle homes also possess beautiful façade on their outside wall as the round bottoms of the exposed bottles produce a lovely design.

These homes are durable because ‘compacted sand inside a bottle is nearly 20 times stronger than bricks,’ Ahmed says, adding, ‘we are even intending to build a three-storey building.’ ‘The bottle houses are also ideally suited to the hot Nigerian climate because the sand insulates them from the sun’s heat, helping to keep room temperatures low. And because of the compact sand, they are bullet-proof, which may also prove another attraction in more insecure parts of the north,’ he added.

Available record shows that the ‘bottle brick’ technology started nine years ago in India, South and Central America, providing a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional building bricks.

The technology made its debut in the northern part of Nigeria, with Kaduna State as the earliest and most publicised location for plastic bottle homes. DARE initiated the project in the village of Sabon Yelwa near Kaduna.

A well-known house built with nearly 15,000 bottles is located on the Kaduna-Zaria Road. According to DARE, the project is a model for addressing housing shortages and environmental issues.

On a general note, different agricultural programmes were introduced by successive administrations in Nigeria with the aim to provide food security for the citizens. But considering the challenges of policy flip – flops, lack of sustained support for the farmers, disregard for the sector in favour of crude oil, and insecurity

food security has declined since political independence on October 1,1960. Other factors that have exacerbated food insecurity in recent years include climate change leading to the flushing floods, seasonal drought and land degradation, in some parts of the country. Another critical issue is that of violent conflicts between armed herders and farmers. It is therefore, evident with the contribution of agriculture to the national economy dropping from 64 % to the GDP in 1960 to 46% in 2010 and down to 20.97% in 2024. According to the World Food Summit, food security exists when people have access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development, and an active and healthy life. By contrast, food insecurity refers to when the aforementioned conditions do not exist. Chronic food insecurity is when a person is unable to consume enough food over an extended period to maintain a normal, active and healthy life. Acute food insecurity is any type that threatens people’s lives or livelihoods. Latest figures from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, or SOFI, report, show that 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024.

Yet, the right to food is expressly recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as part of the right to an adequate standard of living, and is enshrined in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Of significance, is that the level of a country ‘s food security is one of the factors used to measure its economic development. As for Nigeria, the number of food-insecure citizens increased significantly, from 66.2 million in Q1, 2023, to 100 million in Q1, 2024 (WFP, 2024), with 18.6 million facing acute hunger and 43.7 million of them showing crisis-level. The import of this is that much more needs to be done than said about the different agricultural programs since the Sixties.

An appraisal of the different programs, their impact or not has become important to fashion the best way forward out of the food insecurity challenge.

It should be noted that the impact of the agricultural value chain of food production, processing, packaging, preservation, marketing for both local consumption and export plays a significant role on both the Gross Domestic Product, GDP and the Human Development Index, HDI.

Beginning with the administration of Tafawa Balewa (1960-1966) the Regional Agricultural Programmes (RAP) was characterized by focus on colonial cash crop production against food crops mainly for export.

They were set in place between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Regional Governments (RGs) in accordance with Nigeria’s Constitution of 1963. To achieve this aim, the Regional Ministries of Agriculture were established in 1962/63. The Western region became the major producer of cocoa and coffee, while rubber came from the Mid-West. The Eastern Region Oil Palm and Northern region Ground-nut and Cotton boosted the production of more cash crops, agricultural raw-materials for industries, export earnings and jobs opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

But the programme ‘s failure was because priority was not given to food crops. There was lack of unity. Issues of ethnicity and political differences led to disagreements that affected the programmes from becoming a success.

On its part, General Yakubu Gowon’s regime (1966-1975) came up with National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP) as an agricultural extension programme established in 1972, following the end of the Nigerian civil war. It was aimed to end the food crisis that engulfed the country at that trying time. Its failure was because the farmers who could not form co-operatives were left out.

Subsequently, Shehu Shagari’s Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) came on board. The programme, according to Elijah and Tenon relied on disbursement of credits and farm inputs through cooperative societies excluding most small-scale farmers.

The major reasons for its lack of impact included the sudden withdrawal of funding by the federal government. It also lacked farmers’ participation As for the acclaimed farmer, General Olusegun Obasanjo, (1976-1979), in May 1976, Obasanjo launched Operation Feed the Nation, a project to revitalise small-scale farming and which involved students being paid to farm during the holidays. It was launched in order to bring about increased food production across the entire nation through the active involvement and participation of everybody in every discipline.

But it did not succeed because of the indiscriminate use of land for farming activities since most armers were very young and inexperienced. Also, hired labour was the main source of labour employed by participants. There was absence of available markets, so livestock diseases caused havoc on farms of the novice farmers bringing the beautiful dream to its end.

With the return of democratic government, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1979-1983) introduced the Green Revolution Programme (GRP) on June 3, as a replacement for OFN. ‘The programme depended on the ministry-based extension system and was instrumental to raising mass awareness on the problems of food confronting the nation.

The FGN ensured the success of the programme by providing agrochemicals, improved seeds/seedlings, irrigation system, machine, credit facilities, improved marketing and favourable pricing policy for the agricultural products and encouraged farmers to produce food, cash crops, and livestock.’

According to Goodluck Jonathan, ‘Green Revolution and Operation Feed the Nation failed because they were not properly articulated, agricultural programmes in Nigeria just followed the political class and disappeared.’ Coming to General Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985) and his Back to Land (BL) programme was to revive the agriculture by encouraging Nigerians to go back to farm to reduce over dependence in oil.

But it failed with regards to poor quality of infrastructures provided by the directorate due to embezzlement/mismanagement of fund. ‘Lack of focus and accountability made the impact of the programme almost insignificant.’

Next came the IBB-driven Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986 to achieve the objectives of its far-reaching reforms on diversification of exports and adjustment of production and consumption. SAP provided strategies on food crops, livestock, industrial raw materials, wildlife, forestry, fish production. It also provided policies on support services such as agricultural extension, technology development and transfer.

Its failure was traced to unskilled handling of water application through irrigation that degraded and depleted the soil of its productive capacity.

While the Family Support Programme (FSP) was initiated in 1994 the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) came in 1996 by General Abacha and his wife Mrs. Maryam Sani Abacha. The programme eventually culminated in the creation of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

The programme focused ‘on areas like health, education, women in development, agriculture, child welfare and youth development. They also touched on the provision of shelter for the less privileged in the society from ongoing housing programme of government’. The sudden death of Gen. Abacha limited their impact on the women and the masses.

This topic will be an ongoing one for us to learn from the mistakes of the past agricultural programs and fashion the best way forward

A governance expert, Ayokunle Ayoko’s determination to strengthen the capacity of professionals and empower both big and small businesses to thrive amid prevailing global and local uncertainties has encouraged him to write six books, he referred to as ‘The Gallery of Mastery -six pathways to personal and professional greatness’.

The books which he started their works in 2019 speak about company strategy; company governance; and personal wealth management, all of which professionals in both big and small organizations struggle with.

The books titles are: The Quintessential Company Secretary; The Empathy Advantage; Small Habits, Big Wealth; The Smart Hustle; The Mark of Excellence; and Achieving Exponential Results through Strategic Precision.

The author, a lawyer and currently the Group Company Secretary, Head of Legal and Chief Compliance officer for CFAO Nigeria Group, a French multinational said the themes of the six books are not theoretical. ‘They are live experiences. They are answers to questions in corporate boardrooms and in quiet moments of reflection.

‘I document these lessons for the next generations, so that your path to greatness may be a little clearer, and your journey ,a little smoother’.

Some of the professionals and business executives at the launch in Lagos described the books as ‘handy mentor that guides the path to business success and greatness’.

Fasagba Femi, provost, Kogi State College of Education Ankpa, has commended the federal government for allowing College of Education to run degree programmes alongside with the training of National Certificate of Education (NCE) teachers.

Fasagba gave the commendation while speaking with journalists shortly after receiving the award of excellence by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kofi State Council in Lokoja over the weekend. He disclosed the importance of the College of Education in educational system cannot be over emphasized, adding that the college have been saddled with responsibility of training the teachers.

He equally noted that although some specific colleges of education have been selected to pilot the federal government’s new directives, noting that the state governments are not leaving any stone unturned to enable them key into the new policy.

Each year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States of America (USA) chooses the most promising future basketball talents for the upcoming season. The key event, known as the draft, signifies the introduction of future top athletes. They join their teams, aiming to win games, and both the teams and the rookies make a lot of money too.

The NBA basketball industry is valued at about 133 billion US dollars, and the league has an estimated revenue of over 11 billion US dollars annually. In the highly profitable sporting industry, basketball comes next to American football and goes head-to-head with baseball as one of the most lucrative sports in the USA.

NBA and Nigerians

In the NBA 2019-2020 draft, an unprecedented number of eight players of Nigerian heritage were selected, the highest number ever from Africa. In the 2023-2024 season, three new players of Nigerian roots were chosen. From 2015 to 2024, a total of 19 players of Nigerian descent were drafted.

A high number of Nigerians play for the top NBA teams currently, and the steady presence of players of Nigerian descent in the NBA is assured for decades, alongside a few other players of African descent.

In the USA, as in many countries around the world, Nigerians also feature in American football, baseball, and soccer, the more recent major sport to gain popularity in the USA. But nowhere has the Nigerian footprint been as compelling as it is in basketball within the NBA.

It was not always this way.

First African in NBA

In October 1980, a skinny, shy and tall Nigerian boy took a flight from Lagos to New York, armed with only a note of introduction for possible admission to college, and to secure a scholarship based on his hopeful basketball skills. In the United States, he could try his luck with four colleges, thanks to an American coach who identified him, made the contacts in the colleges, and facilitated obtaining a visa for the USA in Lagos.

The 17-year-old boy was Hakeem Olajuwon, the first African to be selected in the NBA draft. Standing at six feet eleven inches, he was the trailblazer whose exemplary basketball skills opened the doors for many future African players.

Olajuwon was accepted by the first and only college that he visited, the University of Houston. He studied at the university, played there, and from there was drafted in the first round as first overall pick in the 1983-1984 season by the Houston Rockets, ahead of Michael Jordan, picked also in the first round but as the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls.

Although Jordan came to have a higher name recognition and superior game than those who were drafted ahead of him, Olajuwon came first in the sport on several fronts during a career of some 18 years. Incidentally, both Jordan and Olajuwon were born in 1963, separated by a few weeks.

Olajuwon led his team, the Houston Rockets, to secure two NBA championships, and he holds records and awards in many aspects of the sport. He also played briefly for the Toronto Raptors. Worldwide, many Nigerians have kept emerging at the apex level of global sports, especially overseas. There is absolutely no question regarding the wealth of talent and physical capabilities in sports in Nigeria. Sorely lacking are the mentorship, training facilities, and exposure to first-class guidance and development.

Basketball, despite its early start in Nigeria, remains hardly visible as a sport or business. Yet, its potential is huge.

It is noteworthy that some past and current NBA stars of Nigerian descent have coaching clinics, academies, foundations and other services that encourage and develop interests and gifted players in basketball in Nigeria.

The list comprises Olajuwon, Precious Achiuwa of the Miami Heat (formerly of New York Knicks), Giannis Antetokunmpoh of the Milwaukee Bucks, Zeke Nnaji of the Denver Nuggets, Obinna Ekezie, formerly of the Washington Wizards, and Chiney Ogwumike, who has played for both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Connecticut Sun – in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa scouts for talents, and promotes the sport in many African countries.

The Future of Basketball in Nigeria

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA established the Basketball Africa League (BAL) that organizes competitions and develops capabilities for male and female players. The Basketball Without Borders outreach is one of the means that they deploy to achieve the objectives. Many African countries have national basketball leagues and take part in BAL, founded in 2019.

Under the auspices of FIBA, the overarching governing body for international competitions, the Nigerian women’s national basketball team has performed brilliantly and won several championships, confirming the key role of women athletes in the sport.

There is room for much more to be done by Nigeria’s federal and state governments, and local authorities in amassing the untapped resources in basketball. The private sector has an important role to play, both from a purely investment point of view and as a contribution to the community.

Now and in the future, there should be greater attention paid to developing local talents, and bringing more women into the sport. For example, building on demonstrated and latent interest, the private and public sectors should cultivate and partner with the athletes in the diaspora to encourage and establish leagues in cities and states.

A massive industry awaits in basketball and sports in general, given the size, market and resources of Nigeria’s immense population of approximately 240 million people.

An inaugural stakeholder engagement for the development of the tourism sector is in on the way between the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA), Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA) and Cross River State Tourism Bureau.

The collaborative initiative with a focus on the tourism sector, is scheduled for October 10, 2025, in Calabar.

In preparation for event, Great Ogban, director general/CEO, CRSMEDA, and Justina Ovat, vice president, Tourism, CALCCIMA, paid a working visit to Ojoi Ekpenyong, managing director/CEO, Cross River State Tourism Bureau, at his office in Calabar. The discussions during the visit centered on strategically harnessing the vast potentials of the tourism sector, reviewing ongoing state government efforts to support local businesses, and fostering a robust collaboration between CRSMEDA, CALCCIMA, and the tourism bureau. The partnership, according to Ogban, aims to consolidate and expand on the current administration’s achievements in the tourism sector through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development.

On his part, Ekpenyong, expressed readiness for the collaboration, which he lauded as a solutions strategy. He highlighted the state government’s commitment, revealing that ?50,000,000 has already been disbursed in grants to businesses within the hospitality sector as a crucial stimulus package. Ekpenyong further outlined plans to annually elevate 50 hotels and restaurants, propelling the state back to its position as the leading tourism destination in Nigeria.

In a move to strengthen community-led conservation, Ekpenyong also revealed the impending creation of the Community Tourism Association. The association, primarily comprising local hunters, will be instrumental in providing grassroots protection for the state’s green areas, which astonishingly account for 45 percent of Nigeria’s total tree cover. He concluded by emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the state’s tourism database, underscoring Cross River’s advanced readiness for strategic partnerships and growth.

In a confident tone, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his Independence Day speech celebrated what he described as the tangible fruits of his sweeping economic reforms.

‘Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years, and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years,’ Tinubu declared.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has pursued a bold economic reset, removing the decades-old fuel subsidy, liberalising the foreign exchange market, and laying the groundwork for a new tax regime scheduled to begin in 2026.

Economists have described these moves as ‘bold but painful,’ with many Nigerians struggling to cope with the accompanying hardships.

Yet, as the president trumpeted progress on the economy, a growing chorus insists that Nigeria cannot achieve true transformation on the back of economic reforms alone. Across civil society, opposition circles, and international partners, the consensus is that reforms must extend beyond the marketplace to the very heart of Nigeria’s democracy: its constitution and its elections.

‘Economic reforms without political reforms are unsustainable,’ a reform advocate who doesn’t want to be mentioned told this writer.

‘The government must also reform the political system to ensure rule of law, free and fair elections, and human rights are granted. A reformed political system will complement economic reforms, which will eventually boost investor confidence.’ This argument crystallised at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 last week, where political leaders, reform advocates, and civil society converged virtually under the theme ‘Critical Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027.’

‘A government that is perceived as lacking legitimacy will never be effective in governing,’ Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy and leader of thought, said at the Independence Day event.

‘Legitimacy is earned when people believe elections reflect their will. If we do not do everything to ensure free and fair elections, everybody loses, including those who think they have power for the moment.’

Utomi went further, urging international pressure on Nigeria’s political class. ‘We should internationalise this problem to the point that our country could face isolation.’ Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, outlined concrete measures, including INEC’s financial and operational independence, mandatory electronic transmission of results, and stronger prosecutorial powers for electoral offenses.

‘Relying on the police and attorney-general for prosecutions has only rewarded bad behaviour,’ she said.

Her critique extended to what she called ‘courtroom democracy.’ ‘Elections are being decided in court rather than at the polling station,’ she lamented.

‘That destroys the spirit of democracy. We need specialised electoral courts, automated systems for assigning cases to judges, and strict timelines for resolving disputes. Right now, elections have become an industry for the judiciary. For as long as our electoral system is a mess, it continues to destroy lives and futures.’

Peter Obi, who himself contested the last presidential election, wants the system to curb defections.

‘Any politician who jumps party after winning an election should lose his seat,’ he proposed.

‘This is a very critical thing that has to happen before our next election,’ he said. ‘Without a proper electoral system that can guarantee free and fair elections, our democracy will remain fragile.’

These voices inside Nigeria are now joined by pressure from outside. The European Union has urged Nigeria to act fast on reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘We recognise that there are certain time constraints, both in terms of judicial reform as well as administrative reform, and of course, constitutional reform, which is much more difficult,’ Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and chief of the EU Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, said during a meeting with INEC last week in Abuja.

‘But we are making all of these recommendations against international standards that the EU and Nigeria and most countries have signed up to. to support democracy, not just here in Nigeria, not just in Africa, but across the world, and in Europe as well.’

For many Nigerians, the tension is clear. On one hand, the president is pushing through market reforms meant to position Africa’s largest economy for future growth. On the other hand, the foundations of democracy, the rules of the game, the fairness of the vote, and the independence of institutions, remain fragile.

The question looming over the country is whether the political will exists to match the momentum in economics with equivalent ambition in governance.

‘Economic growth without democratic legitimacy is a house built on sand,’ the reform advocate said.

On September 29, 2025, Africa Magic stepped up its efforts at offering original content for its growing viewership across Nigeria, the continent and the globe.

That day, at an exclusive movie premiere at Filmhouse Cinemas, Landmark MX4D, Oniru, Lagos, Africa Magic unveiled its new content slate premiering next quarter.

The slate includes four new original drama series: The Low Priest (130 episodes); Mother of the Bride (39 episodes); Etiti (26 episodes) and Rise Again, which were unveiled to a select audience including; movie lovers, cast and crew members of the new movies and the media.

Starting with The Low Priest and Mother of the Bride, which both premiered on September 29, 2025 on Africa Magic Showcase, the new original drama series feature diverse storytelling across drama, fantasy, and music-inspired narratives, while reinforcing Africa Magic’s commitment to delivering fresh and engaging African content.

The remaining two; Etiti and Rise Again will premiere on October 2 and 19, 2025, respectively also on Africa Magic Showcase.

The event, which is aptly an exclusive evening with Africa Magic, also was a sort of celebration of the directors of the movies and their creative ingenuity.

From Femi Ogunsanwo, Basketmouth and Unlimited LA, the directors and producers truly lived up to the expectation of Africa Magic that commissioned the movies and the viewers, who have been anticipating their release. Moreover, the storylines are quite intriguing.

Starting with the already premiered The Low Priest, the new drama series offers 130 exciting episodes. It is directed by Femi Ogunsanwo and stars the likes of: Paul Nnadiekwe, David Eyo and Oluchi Amajuoyi. The series follows two rivals who trespass into a sacred shrine, triggering a twist of fate where one is chosen by the gods and the other cursed. The show premiered on September 29, 2025, and airs weekdays at 8 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

On its part, Mother of the Bride (39 episodes), is a family drama about a Lagos matriarch who, after her husband’s death, discovers she has 45 days to marry off one of her four daughters or lose her inheritance to tradition. Starring Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Ibrahim Suleiman, Wendy Lawal, Kalu Ikeagwu and Gloria Anozie Young, the series airs Mondays to Wednesdays at 8:30 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

Also, Etiti, a 26- episodes drama series, directed by Daniel Oriahi and produced by Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth), premiered on October 2, 2025. The fantasy drama tells the story of a fearless warrior hunter trapped in the afterlife, where he must work with a goddess, Nwa Ala, to save his bride and expose his killer. The series stars Uzoamaka Onuoha, Bryan Okoye, Elma Mbadiwe and Paschaline Ijeoma Alex. It airs Thursdays and Fridays at 8:30 p.m.

Directed by Unlimited LA, an award-winning music video director, Rise Again is one of the four new titles to place a bet on.

The series follows a gifted dancer’s journey of resilience and redemption as he battles betrayal, loss and injury in a bid to reclaim his dream. Featuring Liquorose, Hermes Iyele, Kaffy, Do2dtun, Femi Branch, Saskay and Dada Boy Ehiz, the show will premiere on October 19, 2025, and airs Sundays at 8 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

Apart from the four titles are yet another three new titles on the indigenous channels, which are set to debut on October 11, 2025. They include: Kukoyi, which will debut on Africa Magic Yoruba. It tells the story of Aremu, who accepts the ominous post of Abobaku in his quest for wealth, knowing it ties his fate to that of the king. Mgbuka on Africa Magic Igbo explores loyalty, betrayal, and vengeance in the scrap business through the lives of two childhood friends turned rivals.

On Africa Magic Hausa, Sabon Tauraron Arewa, a new music reality competition, will spotlight emerging vocal talent from northern Nigeria in a contest for fame and a grand prize.

However, the premiere event was an exciting outing for Atinuke Babatunde, new executive head, Content and Channels, West Africa at MultiChoice.

Expressing her excitement on the quality of the output by the directors and producers, Babatunde said, ‘Africa Magic remains committed to telling authentic African stories that resonate with audiences both at home and abroad. With this lineup, we are not only spotlighting some of the industry’s most visionary directors and talent but also reinforcing our promise to deliver premium, relatable entertainment to our viewers.’

Babatunde reiterated MultiChoice’s commitment at offering Nigerian and African creatives the needed platforms to showcase their talent, and most importantly, changing Africa’s narratives with original contents, directed and produced by Africans for the world.

Following the premiere, she urged movie lovers and subscribers to hook onto Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151, GOtv Channel 8) to enjoy all four titles, which will also be released on Showmax soon.

Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the Church trajectory and that of the country has been intertwined.

The Church on many fronts has been a mirror of development, especially in regard to nation building. Something the political class might have to learn and relearn.

However, the proliferation of religious centres across the country in some way has not helped in deepening the narrative of the Church Movement in Nigeria. This is so because the proliferation of religious centres has failed to align with nation building.

For many religious leaders, the primary goal and calling into ministry is to touch the people within the four walls of the church.

But national development goes beyond that myopic thinking into a broader mindset of reaching people outside the Church.

In 1842, the church movement in Nigeria characterised with the arrival of the Protestant missionaries from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Wesleyan Methodists in Badagry, Nigeria, to establish missions and spread Christianity.

This marked the beginning of a significant era of Christian evangelism, with the establishment of churches and schools that played a vital role in the growth and indigenisation of Christianity in Nigeria, particularly in the southern and western regions.

At independence in 1960, the Nigeria Church was largely dominated by missionaries from the ‘global north’. However, that narrative has given way to a growing number of indigenous churches, who are shifting the missionary trajectory from the ‘global south to north’.

The question has been what role has religious centres played since the colonial masters left Nigeria? Over the years, there has been a proliferation of churches and mosques that are run by indigenous people of Nigeria.

Today, even churches that were established by the colonial masters are now being run by Nigerians, pointing to the rule of the Church in nation building on the back of the church-state development narrative,

‘And you will agree with me that since 1842 that the Church Missionary Society in Nigeria came, which happened to be the first church, they came with education, they came with health care facilities,’ Stephen Adegbite, executive secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), said.

Adegbite said that the Church has done a lot in Nigeria, even before independence. According to him, many of those in the ruling class since independence attended missionary schools.

He added that the Church has been able to shape the moral of Nigerians through religious studies, and Bible knowledge, being taught in schools both at the primary and secondary level of education.

‘And that is why Nigerians are saying today, the Church is saying, it should not be removed from the curriculum of our education system,’ Adegbite said.

According to him, the Church provided infrastructural facilities from schools, hospitals, and also provided leadership in many areas of the country. ‘So when we look back today, we can say, the Lord has been able to help the church in shaping the Nigerian system since independence.’ However, Adegbite believes there is a need for the leadership of the Church to revisit the history of the Church by going back to the roots to learn from the founding fathers the technique of nation building beyond rhetoric. ‘It’s not to be a church that matters, but the attitude of people that go and attend churches; their lives must be changed. And they must be Christian. Nobody should be forced to be Christian. Don’t pretend to be Christian.’

Joseph Ojo, the presiding Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC) said the Nigerian narrative cannot be complete without the Church movement, which predated the country’s independence in 1960.

According to him, the ‘Pentecostal Movement’ of the post-independence era gave life to what many now refer to as the proliferation of churches in Nigeria. He said that the Nigerian story will not be complete without the church – same way the church cannot exist without Nigeria.

Emmanuel Udofia, the former primate of The African Church, said the post-independence proliferation of churches in Nigeria is in response to the commandment of Jesus Christ to his disciples, which says ‘go into the world and make disciples of me.’

‘We have new churches being established almost every week or month. The mandate Jesus Christ gave to us. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations,’ Udofia said.

According to him, the role of the Church is not to sit down at a particular place; rather, it is to go out and spread the gospel. ‘So in an attempt to do that, then there is bound to be many churches.’

Udofia is also of the view that having churches everywhere has helped in shaping and building the moral compass of the people within the vicinity where they operate. ‘And it’s instrumental to many churches that we have established everywhere. Although we have some challenges around us.

‘But, if the churches were not to be there; what would have happened? Because there are so many people who are involved in different types of crimes,’ Udofia said.

While the narrative is beginning to shift from building within, many of the Church leaders have understood the essence of reaching a greater audience outside the walls of the church.

Today, it is commonplace to see churches host conferences on political and economic development with themes that were hard sales during the early days of the church movement.

Similarly, the Church has fully embraced technology as a driver of the gospel message – adopting and adapting technology for impact, and not as a destructive or satanic tool of the world.

Today, Nigerian churches are building multi-purpose cathedral to serve both religious and empowerment needs of the worshipers. In many instances, these cathedrals are self-sustaining because of their multi-purpose nature.