Category: Daily Trust

Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has demonstrated a sustained commitment to sports, achieving notable successes on the global stage. In football, athletics, basketball, boxing, table tennis, and women’s sports, Nigerian athletes have secured significant victories, set world records, and established a distinct national sporting identity.

Football occupies a central position in Nigerian society, serving as a unifying force and a source of national identity, particularly during periods of social or economic difficulty. This unity set the stage for Nigeria’s earliest football triumphs.

Nigeria’s first moments with history came in 1980, when the Super Eagles, powered by Segun Odegbami’s brilliance and Muda Lawal’s midfield command, lifted the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on home soil in Lagos. A 3-0 triumph over Algeria set off nationwide celebrations, announcing Nigeria’s arrival as a continental giant.

In 1994, Nigeria secured its second AFCON title in Tunisia, led by players such as Rashidi Yekini, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Emmanuel Amuneke. This victory represented a significant development in Nigerian and African football.

In 1994, the Super Eagles made their debut at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, defeating Argentina and finishing first in their group. Although eliminated by Italy in the Round of 16, Nigeria achieved a FIFA ranking of fifth, the highest for any African nation at that time.

But perhaps the pinnacle came in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, when Nigeria’s U-23 ‘Dream Team’ stunned the entire world. They came from behind to beat Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final and then defeated Argentina 3-2 in a pulsating final. The gold medal was more than an Olympic triumph; it was Africa’s declaration that it could compete with, and conquer, the very best.

After years of near-misses, the Eagles reclaimed continental glory in 2013, lifting their third AFCON title in South Africa under coach Stephen Keshi. It was a poignant victory, Keshi became one of only two men to win the AFCON both as player and coach, etching his name in African football folklore.

While football brought glory, Nigeria’s athletics story has been one of grit, resilience, and breakthroughs. The defining moment arrived in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, when Chioma Ajunwa soared 7.12m to win the women’s long jump. She became Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, a trailblazer for women in sport. That same Games, Falilat Ogunkoya won bronze in the 400m, the first Nigerian woman to earn an individual Olympic track medal.

Four years later at the Sydney Olympics, the women’s 4x400m relay team initially won silver, but more than a decade later, doping disqualifications upgraded Nigeria to gold, a belated but deserved recognition of their excellence.

The 2000s and 2010s saw the rise of Blessing Okagbare, who won Olympic silver in Beijing 2008, dominating African sprints, and achieving the rare double of 100m and 200m gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Then in 2022, the world stood still as Tobi Amusan shattered the 100m hurdles world record (12.12s) at the World Championships in Oregon. She not only became Nigeria’s first World Athletics Champion, but also turned the global spotlight on Nigerian talents once more. Her tears on the podium symbolised decades of hard work, and her triumph remains one of the greatest moments in African track history.

As Nigerians celebrated football and athletics, basketball emerged, turning Nigeria into a basketball powerhouse. The turning point came in 2015, when D’Tigers defeated Angola to win their first AfroBasket title in Tunisia. It was a statement victory against Africa’s traditional giants.

D’Tigress in jubilant mood after clinching their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title in August 2025

Then in 2021, in a Tokyo Olympic warm-up game, Nigeria shocked the world by beating the USA 90-87 against all odds and bookmakers. For a country long considered outsiders in global basketball, this was a watershed moment. It showed that African teams could no longer be underestimated.

Even more dominant on the continental stage have been D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team. They stamped their authority as the queens of African basketball by winning five consecutive AfroBasket titles (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025), a run unmatched in the competition’s history.

Their dominance extended to the global stage at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where they finally ended a two-decade wait for victory. Nigeria stunned Australia 75-62 to record their first Olympic win in 20 years, before scripting another historic chapter with a 79-70 triumph over Canada. That result made D’Tigress the first African basketball team-male or female-to reach the Olympic quarter-finals.

The milestone outing was crowned when head coach Rena Wakama was named Best Coach of the Tournament by FIBA, a fitting recognition for her leadership of a team that continues to inspire and break barriers.

In the same vein, Nigeria’s boxing heritage predates independence, with Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey becoming the country’s first world champion in 1957. But the true symbol of the 1960s was Dick Tiger, who held world titles in two weight classes and became one of the most respected fighters of his era.

In 2008, Samuel Peter won the WBC Heavyweight title when he defeated Oleg Maskaev by TKO in Mexico. Though Peter’s reign lasted only seven months, as a returning Vitali Klitschko eventually defeated him. As the years went by, the spotlight shifted to Anthony Joshua, the Nigerian-British heavyweight. Between 2016 and 2017, Joshua unified multiple world titles, carrying the Nigerian flag proudly alongside the British one. His triumphs rekindled memories of Nigeria’s rich boxing tradition, proving that the nation’s fighting spirit still burns brightly.

Few Nigerian athletes have been as consistent as Segun Toriola, who represented the country in seven consecutive Olympic Games (1992-2016), a record for African athletes. His longevity and resilience made him a role model across the continent.

The torch has since been carried by Aruna Quadri, who became the first African to break into the ITTF world top 10. His runs at the 2014 and 2016 World Cup, where he stunned higher-ranked opponents, established Nigeria as a force in world table tennis.

No story of Nigerian sports is complete without the Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s football team. With 11 AFCON titles, they have been untouchable on the continent. Their finest moment came in 1999, when they reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, becoming the first African team to do so.

Beyond football, Nigerian women have excelled in the Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games, racking up medals in athletics, boxing, wrestling, and weightlifting. These triumphs have made Nigerian women symbols of resilience and excellence in sport.

From Dick Tiger’s fists in the 1960s, to the Super Eagles’ magical nights in 1994 and 1996, from Ajunwa’s historic leap to Amusan’s world record, Nigeria’s sporting history is a rich tapestry of triumphs. Basketball dominance, boxing legends, table tennis pioneers, and women’s football queens have all added to this heritage.

For a nation often tested by challenges, sport has always provided moments of unity, joy, and belief. These achievements remind Nigerians that no dream is too high, no goal too distant. As the story continues beyond 2025, the world watches, knowing that when Nigeria takes the stage, history is always within reach.

Bridges and roads are critical infrastructure that make the movement of people and goods from one location to another easy. However, in recent months, communities across many parts of the country have been grappling with the devastating impact of floods that have washed away bridges and cut off vital road networks. In this report, Weekend Trust looks at how the destruction of bridges and roads are taking tolls on the people.

Commuters in communities cut off from others by multiple incidents of bridge collapse have been crying over the situation they found themselves. Our correspondents who visited some of the collapsed bridges and damaged roads found that most of them had lasted for years without proper attention.

Plateau’s Kufai bridge

In Plateau State, Kufai bridge, located near Yelwa community in Shendam Local Government Area, was built over three decades ago, serving as a crucial link for motorists and pedestrians in the southern part of the state.

A significant volume of water passes under the bridge, especially during the rainy season, making its structural integrity, which is crucial for the safety of users, shaky.

Commuters within and outside the state frequently use the bridge for social and economic purposes.

People moving from Plateau to either Nasarawa or Taraba states rely on the bridge, as well as truck drivers carrying food items to the North-East and North-West.

Unfortunately, with the collapse of the bridge, it has become extremely challenging for road users to cross the river, particularly during the rainy season when the water volume is high.

Those familiar with the route often wait for the water level to subside before attempting to maneuver through the river, posing significant risk to their safety and livelihood.

This precarious situation underscores the urgent need for the reconstruction of the bridge to restore connectivity and ensure a continued flow of goods and services across the region.

Our correspondent reports that the bridge collapsed in 2022 but remained in a state of disrepair until this year when a partial repair was undertaken in a bid to restore its functionality.

But residents and commuters claim that barely two weeks after the repair, the bridge collapsed again in August during a heavy rainfall that washed away the makeshift work, causing significant difficulties for road users, who now face treacherous conditions and increased travel times.

Motorists lament that more often than not, when they reach the bridge, they pay labourers to push their vehicles to the other side of the road before continuing their journey.

A resident of the community, Wayu Bamga said, ‘The collapse of the bridge has been causing hardship. We have been struggling. The government should please come to our aid because the situation here is very difficult without the bridge. The bridge initially collapsed last year and a partial repair was done, but it didn’t work. That is why it collapsed again.’

Another resident of the community, Nanlong Nyas said, ‘I remember that last week, the bridge was repaired, but after the recent rainfall, it collapsed again. We have been suffering to cross the river with goods.’

A regular user of the bridge, Celina Nankup, also pleaded for urgent repairs by the government.

A driver who plies the route regularly, Umar Sa’adu complained that, ‘The collapse of the bridge is causing a lot of hardship for people like us that use it on a daily basis. People passing from Shendam to Garkuwa are not finding it easy at all. It is very challenging.’

Abubakar Haruna, another driver complained: ‘This bridge collapsed since 2022. I ply the road, but anytime I get to this point, it is never an easy thing for us, forcing other people to seek an alternative.’

Namnai bridge in Taraba

One year after the collapse of Namne bridge, along Jalingo-Wukari, a Trunk A road in Taraba, the state and federal government have not done anything to address the suffering of thousands of travellers plying the road.

It was learnt that promises by the federal government, Governor Agbu Kefas, whose hometown, Wukari, is located along the road, and the North-East Development Commission to reconstruct the bridge have not been fulfilled.

The bridge, which collapsed after a heavy rainfall in August 2024, links states in the North-East to South-East, South-West, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

There is a diversion of goods and services on trucks and luxurious buses, which had thrived for over 43 years, to Garba-Chede town.

However, only small vehicles, such as motorcycles and people pass through the river near the collapsed bridge on engine boats and canoes on charges by ferry operators. It is said that in the past, over 1,000 people plied the route in a day.

Findings by Weekend Trust revealed that the cost of transportation and prices of essential items have gone up as result of the distance drivers cover before reaching their destinations.

Vehicle owners and commuters now face additional delay in their journey, as well as the danger involved in crossing the river on ferries as many people are unfamiliar with the movement inside a ferry.

A commercial vehicle driver, Adamu Hamman, recalled an ugly incident where a pregnant woman and a three-year-old child were on the engine boat ferrying them across and it capsized.

Findings further revealed that not long ago, more than 50 vehicles fell from boats into the river, resulting in the destruction and loss of passengers’ properties in the water.

Another driver, Adamu Jafaru, complained that boat operators were exploiting vehicle owners by charging them high fees to cross their vehicles – from N4,000 during the dry season to N6,000 when the water level rises.

Muhammed Umar, another driver, said he plied the road three to four times every day, and on each crossing, he would pay N3,000. He called on the federal government to rebuild the bridge to ease the movement of goods and services.

A trader from the eastern part of the country, Felix James, said it’s unfair for the federal government not to fix the bridge for traders who transport goods to Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi states.

James advised stakeholders in Taraba State, including the governor, minister and members of the National Assembly, to mount pressure and lobby, as well as send a high-powered committee to see the president over the bridge so that immediate and permanent solution would be provided.

The senator representing Taraba Central, Alhaji Haruna Manu, said there were ongoing efforts to ensure that work on the bridge begins.

Manu said that apart from raising the matter on the floor of the Senate under Matters of Urgent Importance, he visited the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) last year and discussed the need for a speedy reconstruction of the bridge.

The senator further said that stakeholders from the state were concerned about the bridge, and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to listen to the cry of the people of Taraba by approving the immediate construction of the bridge, just like Larmurde bridge in Adamawa State.

Also, the member representing Bali/Gassol federal constituency, Ja’faru Yakubu Chiroma, said he had equally raised the issue of Namnai bridge on the floor of the House of Representatives under Matters of Urgent Importance and begged the federal government to urgently construct the bridge.

The lawmaker disclosed that immediately after the bridge collapsed on August 23, last year, he mobilised two ferries to the site to assist motorists in crossing the river without cost.

Investigation by Weekend Trust also revealed that three more bridges in the state are on the verge of collapse, namely, Pampatel bridge, along the Jalingo-Wukari road, which is located about 12 kilometres away from Namnai bridge; Pamanga bridge and Mayo Kam bridge, along the Jalingo-Bali road. Erosion has destroyed a section of the two bridges.

Zango-Gwallaga bridge, Bauchi

Commercial activities have been paralysed at the Zango-Gwallaga Mayaki community at the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis following the collapse of the bridge during a heavy downpour last month.

Findings indicate that no life was lost during the incident, but the aftermath has continued to unleash lots of difficulties, with reports of some of the affected residents selling their houses to relocate to another place within the metropolis.

A resident, Muhammad Idris, told Weekend Trust that the collapsed bridge has weakened small and medium enterprises and plunged residents into untold hardship, noting that gully erosion is adding to the bad situation.

Idris added, ‘The most disturbing thing now is that you cannot move any heavy thing or large commodities from or out of Gwallaga Mayaki due to the bridge collapse. Commercial activities have been put on a standstill. Commercial tricycles and motorcycles have stopped patronising the community since the collapse of the bridge, which moves in and out of the community.’

Another resident of Gwallaga Mayaki, Abubakar Sadiq, popularly known as Mai Adoran Tashi, said the collapse of the bridge had created a very difficult situation for the people.

‘Although the state government is constructing a new road in a different direction linking Gwallaga Mayaki with Zango, even

before the unfortunate incident, floodwater has consumed and destroyed many houses, especially in the western part of the collapsed bridge,’ he said.

Sadiq pleaded with the Bauchi State Government to urgently intervene and tackle the ravaging gully erosion that is expanding and destroying houses and farmlands so as to rescue the people of Gwallaga Mayaki.

Another resident, Mohammed Sani, said the collapsed bridge had paralysed business activities and affected other social services, as well as children going to school, traders and farmers residing along the old road. The new road under construction is a long-distance for the people of the area

The Commissioner for Works and Transport in Bauchi State, Professor Titus Soul Ketkuka, had during a media scorecard programme organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Budget and Multilateral Coordination, in collaboration with media organizations, on a radio programme monitored by our correspondent, said the ministry was aware of the collapsed Zango-Gwallaga Mayaki bridge and had sent engineers to assess the damage.

Sokoto’s Gwalli bridge

In what has become a recurring tragedy across northern Nigeria, the lives of ordinary citizens are being lost almost on a daily basis, not just to banditry but years of neglect, failed infrastructure and government’s inaction.

On Saturday, communities in Gwalli in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, were plunged into mourning after a locally made bridge collapsed under the weight of an overloaded commercial bus, killing 19 people. Survivors and eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing scenes as the vehicle carrying 40 passengers to a wedding plunged into a river.

The passengers, mostly from Zuru and Jega in Kebbi State and Fass in Zamfara, were heading to Sakaba village for the wedding ceremony of Hafsa Kabiru when the tragedy struck. The Toyota Hummer bus, built to carry 18 passengers, was packed with more than twice its capacity.

Eyewitnesses described the wooden bridge constructed by residents after the original one collapsed years ago as a ‘known death trap,’ particularly during the rainy season. The overloaded vehicle became stuck on the bridge, prompting the driver to offload some of the female passengers, including the bride. Moments later, the bus lost balance and tumbled into the river.

‘Seventeen corpses were pulled out on Saturday, one was found Sunday and one is still missing,’ Liman Bello Muhammad Gwalli, a resident said.

One of the lucky survivors identified as Rabi said she was alive because a friend persuaded her to get off the bus and wait for a second trip. ‘We watched it sink. One woman was found lifeless, still clutching her dead child.’

Another survivor, Habiba Musa recalled, ‘My friend, Safiya and I got off against our will, not knowing that the decision would save us. I lost two close friends that day.’

The police later confirmed overloading as the primary cause of the accident.

The representative of the area in the state House of Assembly, Adamu Gumi, expressed frustration, saying he had raised motions in the House and appealed to the Zamfara State governor to fix the bridge.

Gumi said, ‘It was even budgeted for but nothing was done. Residents were forced to create dangerous makeshift paths. This accident was waiting to happen. Now, 19 people are gone.’

Residents of Sabon Birni and neighbouring Shinkafi in Zamfara State now face a different kind of crisis – a combination of floods and fear – forcing them to pay armed escorts to travel safely to the state capital.

The Sokoto State deputy governor, Idris Gobir, confirmed government’s intention to construct a new access road after visiting the collapsed areas.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu has also distributed 20 motorised boats and 2,000 lifejackets to boost safety in riverine communities.

Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Dundaye village of Wamakko Local Government Area, Governor Aliyu said the initiative was aimed at safeguarding the lives and property of riverine dwellers who depend largely on water transportation for their daily activities.

‘We were touched by the recent cases of boat mishaps recorded in some local government areas, which claimed lives and destroyed property. I want to use this medium to warn captains of these boats to desist from overloading. Anyone found doing so will be dealt with accordingly,’ the governor cautioned.

Also speaking, the special adviser to the governor on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, commended him for his sustained support to the agency, especially during emergencies.

According to him, the government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had expended over N3 billion on the purchase of food and relief items distributed to displaced persons across the state.

The managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, represented by Muhammad Bello, an engineer, praised Governor Aliyu for the gesture, which he said would go a long way in protecting the lives of rural dwellers.

He disclosed that Sokoto was the second state after Lagos to make such procurement, and further commended the governor’s support for federal establishments in the state, describing it as worthy of emulation.

Fana bridge, Kebbi

Kebbi State recorded devastating havoc caused by floods in the past few weeks of heavy rainfall. Some of the bridges linking communities in the state were washed away by floods, as well as the ever-busy Birnin Kebbi-Makera road linking the country with the Republic of Niger.

Also, Fana bridge in Dandi Local Government Area of the state was washed away. Because of this, the Kamba-Kyangakwai-Fana-Dakingari international road is now a no-go zone for vehicles.

The bridge had collapsed on three trucks as they were crossing it and they went into the river. The drivers, Womino Kwami, Yahaya Mumini and Siriyakan Afumumuni, said they were Togolese heading to Togo from Niamey, Niger Republic at the time of the mishap in Fana.

Also, travellers on the ever-busy Birnin Kebbi-Jega-Koko-Lagos road had to traverse a long distance through Dakingari due to the collapse of Liba bridge on the highway.

The Commissioner for Works, Abdullahi Umar Faruq Muslim, an engineer, during the assessment of the damage caused by floods in the state, said Kebbi was critical to the food supply chain of the federation.

‘When there are no roads and bridges for transportation, the consequences are severe. We are fearful that Kebbi can be cut off from other parts of the country,’ he said, adding that this year’s flooding is massive and merciless.

Realising the dangers of Kebbi being severed by floods from the rest of the country, Abba Aliero, younger brother to Senator Adamu Aliero, got the nod of Governor Idris to repair the damaged sections of the bridges to restore vehicular movement on the road.

Because of the havoc caused by floods to many communities in the state, Governor Nasir Idris raised a committee to assess the level of damage caused by floods in Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Dandi and Suru local government areas of the state. He also paid compensation to owners of farmlands at Kamfani village, where those affected by floods are resettled

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Abubakar Muhammad, said 14 hectares of land were acquired for allocation to households to begin the construction of new homes.

‘The government has quantified each hectare of land at N1 million. One hundred and eighty-two people were displaced by flooding, but they can now return to normal life because land has been acquired by the government, which is allocated free of charge to them to construct new houses on higher ground. Interim relief items comprising foodstuffs and building materials were also provided to the victims on the approval of Governor Nasir Idris,’ he said.

Following the collapse of the bridge, locals in the communities said it caused untold hardship for them as they were practically cut off from the rest of the state.

A paddy rice trader in Fana, Sanusi Fana said: ‘We could not come out of our community because of the collapse of the bridge. We couldn’t do anything while our businesses suffered. Many of us take our paddy to the Sunday market in Kamba for many weeks. We couldn’t do that; we couldn’t even move out of our community. It was a terrible experience because many people suffered.’

A farmer, Aliyu Sambawa recounted the pain caused by the collapse of the Makers mridge, which he said stopped him and many others from going about their daily farming activities.

The vice chairman of Dandi Local Government, Bala Isah Buma and the district head of Fana, Muhammad Sani Abubakar, expressed appreciation to Governor Idris for donating N50 million and rice consignment to the victims of the disaster as interim relief, while calling on individuals in the state to render their assistance to those affected by floods.

Niger’s Babban Rami bridge

While the state continues to grapple with poor road network, another setback occurred on September 3, 2025 when the Babban Rami bridge in Mashegu Local Government Area collapsed following a heavy rainfall that washed it away.

The bridge was completely destroyed, cutting off passage between Kontagora and Makera.

This road, which serves as a major link between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, had been in poor condition for years before finally collapsing. It is also the route frequently used by travellers from Zamfara and Sokoto states, heading South.

Speaking with Weekend Trust, Bello Yahaya, the secretary of the Truck Drivers Association, Minna Farm Centre branch, said the deplorable state of roads in Niger State was the major cause of incessant accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.

One of such places is the Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida road, where construction has been ongoing since the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Residents and heavy-duty vehicle drivers decried the slow pace of the construction and called on the federal government to complete the project to ease their suffering.

Several other roads are also in deplorable conditions, including portions of the Suleja-Minna road, the Birnin Gwari-Bokani-Jebba road, as well as the Minna-Zungeru-Regina-Kontagora road.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State.

President Tinubu was in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Saturday for the burial of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

Reacting in a post on his official X handle on Saturday, Atiku described the visit as a political funeral which afforded the President an opportunity to ‘celebrate and make merry with his party elite.’

He said, ‘With large swathes of the country still under siege from unrelenting insecurity and thousands of innocent lives lost, it is deeply unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu has not, for once, found it worthy to visit any of the affected states to commiserate with the grieving citizens.

‘Today, however, the President suddenly remembered Plateau State, one of the most terrorized parts of the North Central, not to share in the people’s pain, but to attend a social event under the auspices of his party’s national chairman.’

Atiku also noted that the President’s decision to attend the event showed his lack of empathy for the victims of insecurity in some regions of the country.

‘It is a sad reflection of priorities and a glaring mockery of leadership that while families in Plateau continue to bury their loved ones, President Tinubu chose to grace a political funeral rather than stand with the people in their darkest hour.

‘Between the APC National Chairman and his President, what we witnessed today is a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the dignity of human life.

‘From Benue to Niger and most recently Kwara, the entire North Central region has endured some of the most horrific waves of violence in recent history. Yet, not once has the APC-led government deemed it necessary to physically stand by the victims or console their families.

‘Even when Tinubu made a symbolic visit to Benue State in June, he never bothered to set foot in Yelewata, the epicentre of the massacre. Instead, he ended his trip comfortably in Makurdi, turning his back on the people whose tears and blood still stain the soil.

‘Now again, he is in Plateau State, not to console the bereaved or reassure the broken, but to celebrate and make merry with his party elite while the people mourn.

‘The message could not be clearer: this is a President who would rather feast than feel-a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain.

‘The Nigerian people are watching, and they will remember. -AA’

‘Amalgamation a continua!’ This coinage could as well have been the befitting mantra for Nigeria’s march to nationhood, right from the amalgamation exercise in 1914 under the auspices of Frederick Lugard, who moulded hitherto disparate, autonomous, ethnic nation states into one political entity, to the present. In its basic meaning, the word amalgamation is the action of uniting or combining two or more factors, substances or even entities to create a new form or dispensation. Hence by referring to the convergence of the disparate ethnic entities as amalgamation, the context ostensibly was that a new political creation would emerge that is different from any of its constituents. In that case it would be the uniqueness of the new entity, that offers assurance of safe berthing with it, by any of its legacy constituents.

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th independence anniversary considerations are rife over contemporary developments and whatever linkages they have with history especially in the context of the amalgamation exercise which birthed the nation in 1914. Against the backdrop of contemporary realities in the country it is clear that the country as it stands today is a far cry from what the amalgamation is and laid the foundation for. Nigerians question tendencies like the cleavages in the country’s social fabric and linkages of such with foundations of the nation and invariably the amalgamation.

One of such areas is the raging contention over the unity question. It is of wide spread concern that even after living together for so long, several sections of the country find the present political system suffocating and want out. While the immediate attention on those who want out may rest on the protagonists in the South East, South West and other areas of restiveness, the deepening insurgency in the northern parts of the country amplify the crisis most graphically.

Such tendencies also invariably raise questions on the amalgamation terms and processes. Put succinctly some of the questions include how successive governments have managed the amalgamation dispensation to lead the country to the present state of affairs where unity is severely threatened. Did the amalgamation end in 1914? And if not what has been happening since then as the country moved from one level to another? Has the country attained optimally from the enterprise of generations of leaders courtesy of the amalgamation?

The straight forward answer is that while a major challenge of the country in 2025 remains the question of unity, it points to a failure in driving the vision and mission of the amalgamation, which apparently did not end in 1914, but has been mismanaged along the years. Put in proper context what the British did in the amalgamation was simply to launch a process of nation building, which has largely been construed by many Nigerians including those who should know better, more as an event than the commencement of a process.

Hence the fact that the context of the 1914 amalgamation of the country is seen from different perspectives today – 111 years after its execution, 65 years after the resultant political entity gained independence from its colonial master and 62 years after it became a formal Federal Republic of Nigeria, accentuates the playout of an ontological miasma – a disconnect of leadership from the expectations of the followership which demands deeper interrogation of same.

From the perspective of the colonialist, the amalgamation made great political and business sense as it provided administrative convenience with respect to effective exploitation of the territorial expanse of the new country Nigeria. However, for many Nigerian nationalists, the parochial, colonial context of the amalgamation had served as a basis for them to strip it of whatever merit it offered to the emergent country Nigeria. It is also in that context that some observers still refer to the amalgamation as Frederick Lugard’s ‘1914 mistake’, on the grounds that no input was made by the people of the country Nigeria, as it was purely a colonial government affair.

Yet, like any typical political dispensation, seeing the amalgamation from only one perspective to the exclusion of others, remains a poor reading of the script. Hence while seeing the amalgamation from the parochial interests of the colonialist gives depth to the sense of nostalgia for the country, another perspective also provides consideration for what the erstwhile, disparate constituent ethnic entities have gained with the emergence of a country as Nigeria and its inherent capacity as well as global ranking.

For instance, but for the amalgamation, hardly would any of the constituent, ethnic constituent nationalities have individually achieved as much dividends as they are doing by belonging to a Nigerian nation. According to the imperative of common humanity, once the opportunity of close contact with each other under friendly terms comes up, people naturally blend for mutual benefits, through social interactions, inter-ethnic marriages and even business partnerships. Hence even as successive leadership dispensations may not be toeing the course the vision and mission of the amalgamation, Nigerians in their respective corners are doing so. And the amalgamation was notionally conceived to build a new nation on that premise. This was also why most of the early nationalists saw the amalgamation from the positive side and embraced the vision driving it.

In the context of the foregoing lie a legion of lessons for the current Bola Tinubu administration, especially as it concerns the national unity question. With an ear to the ground, the administration will invariably appreciate that Nigerians are questioning several tendencies that border on the failure of his administration to see beyond the deepening cracks in the country’s fabric and hence its unity. Already the activities of insurgents have redrawn Nigeria’s map by their control of sections of the country as established at amalgamation. Let him pray and work so that during his tenure, Nigeria does not end up formally balkanised. That will be it.

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has asked the Niger State and the Federal Governments to rise up to their responsibilities and protect communities from daily bandit attacks.

The National President of the Association, Dr. Usman Akanbi Oladipo, in a statement, expressed deep concern over assaults on farming communities in Magama, Mariga, Kontagora, Borgu, Rijau and other parts of Niger State.

He said the continuous attacks on the affected farmers not only threatens the safety of victims and other law abiding citizens, but also have a deep negative impact on the country’s food security as well as the agricultural revolution of the Niger State Governor.

He urged the state and the federal governments to immediately deploy adequate and effective security measures using relevant technology like drones to secure the affected communities to enable the displaced farmers return to their homes to harvest their farm produce.

He said, ‘The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) is deeply concerned by the daily bandits’ attacks on farming communities in Magama, Mariga, Kontagora, Borgu, Rijau, and other parts of Niger State. These relentless attacks have caused displacements of thousands of farmers, including women and children, destroying livelihoods, and causing severe trauma.

‘ANA is concerned about the complete disruption of children’s education in the affected areas. For several years, these children have lost access to education and meaningful upbringing after the killing or displacement of their parents by bandits.

‘As writers, educators, and conscience-keepers of Nigerian society, we wish to draw the attention of the Niger State and Federal governments to the lingering plight of these hapless farmers whose contributions to the food security drive of the country and indeed of the Farmer-Governor, His Excellency Umar Bago, can never be underestimated.

‘The continuous attacks on these farmers not only threatens the safety of victims and other law abiding citizens, but also have a deep negative impact on the country’s food security as well as the agricultural revolution of the Niger State Governor,’ the president added.

The Association also called on both state and federal governments to provide immediate humanitarian support to the displaced families, including food, shelter, and medical care, and as well as prioritise the safe re-opening and protection of schools.

‘The Association of Nigerian Authors stands in solidarity with the people of Niger State and all other states affected by violent crimes across the country.

‘Securing the lives and livelihoods of rural communities is securing the future of the nation.’ he added.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the demolition of properties owned by Igbos in Lagos State, saying the exercise has brought pain at a time many Nigerians are struggling.

Speaking during the commissioning of projects in Aba, Abia state, Kalu urged the president to prevail on the Lagos state government to stop the demolitions and allow affected owners to regularise their documents.

‘Mr president, I also want to say that the destruction and demolition of the houses and offices of our brothers in Lagos makes our hearts bleed,’ Kalu said.

He appealled to the Lagos State government to continue to accommodate those yet to obtain their documents.

According to him, ‘For some of them who have not gotten the right documents, my plea to you is to appeal to the governor of Lagos state to keep accommodating our brothers.

‘Allow them to rectify their documents instead of destruction. Let them come into the room, find a way, and regularise some of these documents. It bleeds our hearts that houses are being destroyed in these hard times’, he added.

The Lagos State Government had recently demolished plazas at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo Local Government Area.

The exercise was carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.

Earlier in the week, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, visited the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) section of the market with lawmakers including Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh.

Obi faulted the exercise, insisting that the structures had valid approvals.

But Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, said the buildings lacked approvals and were unsafe.

He stressed that the demolition was not targeted at Igbo traders.

Kamilu Ibrahim is an artist, a script writer, a director and a producer known in the Kannywood as Dan Hausa. In this interview with Weekend Trust, the producer talks about his mission in the industry among other things.

Who is Dan Hausa?

My name is Kamilu Ibrahim born 31 years ago, and people in the filmmaking industry know me as Dan Hausa. I was born in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano state. After my formal education, I got trained at the High Definition Film Academy in Abuja, SAE Institute, and also took part in the U.S. Embassy’s Filmmaking for Impact program. After completion of several trainings, I joined the kannywood filmmaking industry and started directing in 2017. That was how I ventured into the industry and it has been one good story or the other ever since I joined the industry.

Why film directing, when you can be an actor?

My journey into the entertainment sector began with my love for storytelling; I started as a scriptwriter, then worked closely with experienced filmmakers in the industry before directing my first film. Over the years, I have learned that directing isn’t just about cameras and lights, but it is about understanding people, culture, and the power of narrative ability.

However, while growing up, I came to learn how films could educate and inspire people. In Arewa, to explore our talents, cinema is more than entertainment; it’s a mirror of the larger society. I want to use that mirror to reflect our values, challenges, and hopes. That desire to make meaningful films kept me moving and finally succeeded in pushing me into directing.

What is your motivation in today’s Kannywood?

For me, it’s merging modern cinematic techniques with our Hausa cultural identity. I love bold visuals and tight storytelling, but I never want to lose that traditional heartbeat of my origin, I am a Hausa personality and I will not fail to show that in my films. My goal has always been to raise our production quality to international standards while staying true to our roots’, you can see the proof of that in my current and biggest project, ‘Wata Shida’.

How would you describe your directing style?

I like to call my style ‘realism with purpose.’ I focus on authenticity in every scene, every performance; every frame must feel true to life. But I also ensure that there’s always a message, something the audience can take home and reflect on.

What are some of your notable works?

Some of my notable works include, Wata Shida which is currently airing and the feedback we are receiving shows that the film has an overwhelming response from the public and there are others like Lulu Da Andalu a myth-inspired adventure series showing on AREWA24 and YouTube.

It will interest you to note that YouTube is what pushed us to think bigger in terms of story and production. My film Mijin Hajiya earned me Best Director at the 2024 Kano Entertainment Awards, while Tataburza made waves at film festivals. Earlier films like Bakon Yanayi (2019) and my debut Kulba Na Barna (2017) helped me define my style. However, my latest project, Amaryar Lalle which starred actress Rahama Sadau, it is good to understand that each project is a step forward in showing what Kannywood can achieve.

What awards and recognitions have you earned?

I have also been recognised by the Arewa5050 Awards and Kaduna International Film Festival (KIFF) for Lulu Da Andalu, which even won Best Indigenous Hausa Film. There is also an AMVCA nomination for best African indigenous language, which is exciting because it means Hausa stories are getting wider attention.’

Who are your key collaborators?

Filmmaking is teamwork and single individuals can’t succeed in the sector without effective collaboration. Prominent actor and singer TY Shaba have been a creative partner on several projects that I have executed, especially on Lulu Da Andalu. I have also worked with Rahama Sadau on Amaryar Lalle.

What themes do you usually explore in your films?

I like telling stories where modern life clashes with traditional values, family conflict, cultural identity, gender roles among others. These are real issues in our society, and I try to explore them honestly but cinematically. I believe film should make people feel and also think right.

What is your next project?

I am working on Wata Shida Season 2, it is a story about a woman who enters a six-month sham marriage to protect her inheritance. It’s a socially meaningful but also very entertaining film. I am currently working on the continuation of season 2 of ‘Amaryar Lalle.’

Can you tell us a little about your latest project?

This latest project of mine is very close to my heart. It follows a story of a young girl fighting to get educated in a society full of obstacles that ranges from socio-religious huddles. However, through her character we see how family, tradition, and resilience collide, and how hope can survive even in the harshest situations.

What inspired you to make this story?

Growing up, I saw so many bright young girls whose dreams were cut short just because they were girls. I felt a sense of responsibility to tell this story as a fiction, but as a mirror of what is happening around us.

How do you balance tradition and modernity in your work?

It’s about understanding and respect for traditions. I respect our traditions, but I also embrace new technology and ideas. In my films, I make sure traditional values are represented truthfully, while using modern techniques to improve production quality.

What challenges do you face as a director in Kannywood?

Budgets are often limited, and resources can be scarce. But the biggest challenge is sometimes societal misunderstanding of what we do as filmmakers. People forget that film is also an art form and a tool for change, not just entertainment.

What advice would you give to aspiring directors?

Learn the craft and don’t rush. Watch other people’s films, study scripts, spend time on set even if it’s just to observe. Most importantly, stay humble and focused. Filmmaking is about patience, teamwork, and vision.

How would you want to be remembered?

I would want to be remembered as someone who had tried to blend two conflicting concepts in making one single and meaningful piece. That is how I would want to be remembered.

Even as former president Goodluck Jonathan is yet to speak about his intention to run for the presidency in 2027, speculations that he will run are rife.

Rather than attenuate, such projections have fuelled further debate about the former president, while his continued silence over the matter has served to heighten the suspicion that he is considering running for the position.

The projections appear even more probable due to recent happenings around the current president, which include the fact that his interactions with political parties have increased, his public appearances have also multiplied, while his close associates have been unusually upbeat about his chances of winning should he decide to contest.

Hitherto, the 2027 projections had centred around the three major presidential candidates that contested the 2023 elections: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP; Peter Obi of the Labour Party; and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the NNPP. Former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, had also been factored in, given his renewed interest.

There are, however, strong indications that the former president is making serious consultations on the possibility of running for the office. Only last week, the former president paid a visit to his long-time political associate, former Senate President David Mark, who is now the national chairman of the African Democratic Party (ADC), and had lengthy discussions believed not to be unrelated to the former’s intention to run.

This week, former minister for information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who is a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also came out to say point-blank that Jonathan would contest the 2027 election. Speaking to journalists shortly after a PDP congress in Minna, Niger State, Gana said Nigerians had experienced two other leaders after Jonathan and were now yearning for his return.

‘I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as president again,’ he added.

There was also an event to celebrate the ‘good qualities’ of the former president slated for the Independence Day, which was, however, put off due to what the organisers described as ‘pressure from outside.’

The much-advertised stage play entitled The Patriot was to celebrate the patriotism and statesmanship of former president Jonathan. Posters, billboards, and clips on various social media platforms announcing the staging of the play with images of former president Jonathan conspicuously on them were placed at strategic points in Abuja and shared across various media platforms.

As many turned out at the venue to watch the play as advertised, the producer, Patrick Otoro, came on stage to explain that it would no longer be staged and had been replaced with another one titled Our Yard Our Bond. He explained that shortly after the adverts for The Patriot went out, they received several calls alleging that they were staging it to campaign for Jonathan.

Though he did not say where the calls were coming from, he said they made it clear that it was not yet time for campaigns.

‘We got calls that we were campaigning for Jonathan. That was not our intention. No, we’re not campaigning. We don’t belong to any political party. We just wanted to honour him for making that call,’ he said.

Among the dignitaries that turned up at the event were the former minister of information and PDP chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana, and former secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

On Friday, the former president was also at the presentation of a book, Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by a former chief of defence staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd).

Analysts said if the former president is not interested in contesting in 2027, he would have made that clear by now instead of keeping people guessing.

Presidency, PDP worried

In a shocking development, the presidency did not wait for Jonathan to declare before responding to Prof. Gana. Special Adviser to the president on information and strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the comment by Gana as an absurdity.

He said Gana even deluded himself, asserting that the former president would defeat President Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years.

He added: ‘However, we should caution former president Jonathan to be wary of the PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders. Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.’

The National Working Committee of the PDP also joined the fray, saying Gana does not have the authority of the party to disclose that former president Goodluck Jonathan would become its presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said the party does not lack presidential materials for the next general election, as there are competent and performing governors from the South that could easily become its presidential candidate, if they so desired.

65 years of recycling leadership

A peep into Nigeria’s political history shows that if former president Goodluck Jonathan succumbs to pressure and agrees to run for the presidency in 2027, he will be counted as the fifth Nigerian former ruler who lost power and tried to stage a comeback.

The others are Nnamdi Azikiwe, Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, and Ibrahim Babangida. Impliedly, it is only Shehu Shagari, Ernest Shonekan, and Abdulsalami Abubakar that did not make an attempt to return after leaving office.

Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was president during the 1st Republic, tried both in 1979 and 1983 to come back. Gowon, who was overthrown in 1975, made an attempt for the presidency under Option A4 but was defeated at the primary.

Olusegun Obasanjo was not overthrown, but he still contested election in 1999, won, and stayed in office for eight years as president.

Shehu Shagari, who was overthrown after winning a second term in 1983, though lived till 2018 seeing through six elections after his overthrow, never made any attempt to return to the presidency. But his vice president, Alex Ekwueme, did in 1999 and 2003.

Muhammadu Buhari, who overthrew Shagari but was sacked by his friends and colleagues in 1985, joined politics and contested in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before he won in 2015.

Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in 1985, also tried to stage a comeback through democratic means in 2011 but was defeated at the primary.

Ernest Shonekan, who lived till 2022 to the ripe age of 82, is among the few that showed no interest in returning to power. Abdulsalami Abubakar was not overthrown but, unlike Obasanjo, did not attempt to come back.

With the majority of those who left their seats making attempts and sometimes succeeding in coming back, analysts say it is likely that Jonathan will succumb to pressure.

Nigerians and nostalgia for former leaders

Some analysts say Nigerians prefer their former leaders because they believe the past had always been better. Prof. Murtala Muhammad of the Department of History and International Studies, Northwest University, Kano, said Nigerians frequently believe that the former government is superior to the current one.

He said: ‘According to social psychology, when people are faced with the harsher realities of the present, collective memory and nostalgia frequently exaggerate the apparent stability or modest accomplishments of previous governments. Although this phenomenon is not exclusive to Nigeria, the cyclical nature of governance failures makes it more severe.

‘People selectively ignore the very criticisms they once made of those same administrations when comparing their current struggles with selective memories of the past. The result is a vicious cycle of disappointment in which the government of the past is recast as the lesser of two evils and the government of today is vilified.

‘Every administration has a history of overpromising and under delivering, which has led to a drop in living standards, increased insecurity, and a worsening of poverty. Nigerians turn to the relative stability or modest growth of past regimes when promises of reform and transformation fall flat due to corruption, poor management, or inconsistent policies. Thus, the idea that ‘the past was better’ reflects both psychological nostalgia and the instilling lack of trust in governance.

‘By portraying current administrations as incompetent and former ones in gentler terms after they leave office, the media and public debate reinforce these narratives,’ he added.

Those who are in support of Jonathan say he is better poised to win the votes in the North because he is statutorily bound to do only one term, and that if the South-South and the South-East support him, then he is good to win.

But not all are in support of Jonathan’s return. Chief Asara A. Asara, a close political ally of the former president, said the optics are not in his favour.

‘He is a global icon, so as far as I’m concerned, that is enough. He has built a name for himself, so except he has forgotten something in the Villa, in my own personal opinion, I don’t see anything that he is going there to do because, even the economy today, the Nigeria situation today is worse than when he was there. He is not a small boy, also he has read, so he is supposed to look at the indices, both political, economic, and otherwise. Most of his supporters have left, most of his supporters cannot even support him again, so why are you coming to put the reputation you have built over the years, because a few groups of people who want to benefit from your presidency tell you go and run, you will win.’

Analysts say there is also the challenge of political platform, as the PDP where the former president belongs is experiencing turmoil that may not favour his contesting on that platform. All the major opposition parties already have a surfeit of aspirants who may not want to step down for the former president.

Legal issue

There’s also the legal issue which is being debated on his eligibility to contest in 2027, given that he had taken oath for the office twice.

Barrister Ugochukwu Osuagwu, when contacted, said Jonathan is not constitutionally eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, having taken the oath of office on two previous occasions. He said the constitutional amendment catches up with him because he had taken the oath twice, adding that the recent judgement of a high court in Bayelsa, clearing the way for the former president to contest, had not been tested at the appellate courts.

‘The essence of the amendment is to prevent somebody who had taken the oath twice in the past, so the amendment is both retroactive and prospective.

‘Aside arguments on taking oath twice, Jonathan has ruled for six years; if he contests and wins, he will now rule for 10 years,’ he added.

A former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), said he is of the view that Jonathan is entitled to contest the 2027 presidential election, as the constitutional amendment that forbids somebody from being sworn in more than two times does not have a retroactive effect.

‘The constitution is prospective, not retrospective,’ he said.

‘The Ondo State Governor (Lucky Aiyedatiwa), who was sworn in on December 27, 2023, cannot do another term now because the constitutional amendment was already in operation when he was completing his boss’s term,’ he said.

The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has decried loss of talented staff to better opportunities within and outside the country.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the 63rd anniversary of the institution in Zaria, Prof. Ahmed lamented that aging infrastructure and poor renumeration have dampened staff motivation, noting how the University lost nearly 2,000 staff in the last five years.

He said currently, the institution is in dire need of a replacement and additional staff to strengthen its research and academic activities.

‘Presently, there is a particular programme run by the University whose staff are 95 percent professors.

‘This development may risk non-accreditation of the programme in subsequent time and result to shortage of mentees who will take over from the existing high caliber staff.’ he noted.

The Vice Chancellor, who identified funding constraint as a serious problem affecting institutional operation, said the situation has compressed capacity for infrastructure renovation, library acquisition and research support.

Prof Ahmed, however, highlighted the University’s plans to strengthen Distance Learning and contribute meaningfully to inclusive education.

‘We shall strengthen the Distance Learning Centre (DLC), the largest in Nigeria, to increase the pace at which education is taken to every home, ensuring that no family is left behind.

‘In this way, ABU will not only expand access but also contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), especially in inclusive education and reducing inequality.’

The Vice Chancellor challenged alumni community of the University to give back to the institution through endorsement gifts, annual giving and generous donations to secure its future.

Prof Ahmed also applauded the commitment of the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu for its bold reforms across the economy and the education sector in the country.

As the race to raise chicken for Christmas and New Year begins, smallholder poultry farmers are struggling with rising prices due to shortage of day-old chick supply across the country.

From September every year, smallholder poultry farmers raise broilers, targeting the yuletide season (Christmas and New Year), when the demand for chicken meat is high.

However, this year, farmers are concerned that prices are very high compared to last year, raising concern that many families may not afford meat during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The Delta State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria first raised the alarm in a WhatsApp post, where its leadership expressed concern that the scarcity of day-old pullets was hitting the roof ‘on a daily basis.’

‘Pullets just added money. Somebody will be asking: What’s the sudden scarcity in broilers and pullets? What’s actually the reason behind this despite availability of raw materials and downward review of prices by various feed companies,’ the post asked.

The poultry industry in Nigeria has suffered many setbacks since COVID-19, pushing many small and medium scale farmers out of business.

Sources said about 80 per cent of the total day-old hatched in Nigeria are supplied to other African countries widening demand gap domestically.

Weekend Trust gathered that these African countries pay upfront at a uniform price making them a preferred choice for most Nigerian hatcheries.

‘True, but.

The scarcity of day-old chicks and pullets has been blamed on supply to other African countries like Ghana, Cameroon, among others following the high demand for Nigerian birds in those countries.

A former ECWA Farm Manager in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Yilkes Zumunci Bitrus, who is now the chief executive officer of Holy-Right Agro Veterinary Services in Jos, acknowledged this fact.

He explained that the reason for this is that there is much outbreak of diseases in those countries and the quality of their birds is not as that of Nigeria.

The manager said there was high demand for Nigerian birds in those countries, so farms and hatcheries in those places endeavour to meet their demands and supply them, to the detriment of local farmers.

According to the chief executive officer, the farms sell at a higher price to those who come from the neighbouring countries, but they won’t tell local farmers, who they deny the birds.

‘Again, those neighbouring countries come to Nigeria to get birds because they see the country as their own abroad, just as there is always cravings for goods and services from abroad.

‘I liken this to Nigerians having preferences for goods and services from other countries. For example, we have good locally made shoes and automobiles, but we go to other countries to purchase those products, with the mistaken thought that the products outside are always superior to those locally made at home,’ he said.

Zumunci explained that in addition to the supply of birds to neighbouring countries is also the forthcoming yuletide, which is also another reason there is scarcity of day-old chicks and pullets.

According to him, many farms are now saving and nurturing the birds ahead of yuletide in December (Christmas) to sell at a higher price because as at then, the price will be high and the sellers will make more profit.

Another issue, according him, is that in January and February, prices of birds crashed and farms made losses; so people will make much gain in December so that they can make up for the loss in January and February. He stressed that it is for that reason that they are not selling day-old chicks and pullets now; they are keeping them to mature for sale in December.

He revealed that the crash in prices of birds in January and February was so severe that farms even burned the birds since there was less patronage.

Asked why the farms won’t distribute to farmers who are their customers, he explained that if that was done, the farmers would take advantage of it and make it a habit to lessen their patronage and wait for the period when they would be given free chicks.

The public relations officer of the Plateau State Poultry Association, Solomon John, also agreed with Zumunci on hoarding day-old chicks and pullets ahead of the yuletide, adding that the hatcheries too have issues as some complain about parent stock not laying many eggs.

On her part, Madam Grace, a poultry owner around Yelwa Club junction in Jos South, said she booked for day-old chicks and pullets in a hatchery farm but they told her that she could not get it until next year.

She said she was looking for how to get day-old chicks and pullets from alternative sources.

She said the prices of pullets and day-old chicks were between N1,800 and N1,820, while that of broilers is N1,750.

Farmers speak

In Kano, Hajara Sani, a housewife, was disappointed when, on enquiry about the availability of day-old broilers, she was told that booking was required and it would take two or three months to get supply.

Hajara was told that N1,700 is the price for a day-old broiler, while a day-old layer is N1,300, with a local breed known as merger costing N600.

Women are usually seen in clusters waiting for their turns to take delivery of day- old chicks at different poultry outlets in Kano, suggesting that such chicks, especially broilers, are not readily available for would-be buyers.

The chairman of the Kano State Poultry Farmers Association, Dr Usman Gwarzo, explained that certain factors were responsible for the scarcity, which invariably affects the price.

He said the problem was traceable to production challenges in which the major hatcheries in the country like Olam are struggling with foreign exchange to procure the parent stocks that usually lay the eggs.

‘The parent stock is the one that usually lays the eggs that can be hatched; and you need foreign exchange to buy. And everybody knows the volatility of the forex market.

‘Lack of government support to poultry farmers is another factor for the scarcity. Farmers do not get any kind of support to thrive in this kind of business, unlike other aspects of agriculture.

‘Again, no bank supports poultry farmers with any kind of loan. The profit margin of a poultry farmer is between 19 per cent and 20 per cent, but the least interest bank offers is 30 per cent,’ Dr Gwarzo said.

He said a day-old broiler from the hatchery was N1,700, but it would arrive in Kano at approximately N1,900, noting that a parent stock is N8,500 for a day-old.

According to him, farmers like him wait for three months after placing an order for day-old broilers because the hatching period takes about three weeks with demand from different farmers.

Dr Ismail Abdulsalam, another poultry farmer, corroborated what the chairman said. He, however, added that farmers were struggling to replace the aging birds with limited lifespan, creating increased demand on the hatcheries all over the country.

Abdulsalam said the process of hatching broilers and layers was the same, but the broilers give the hatcheries a bit more profit; and therefore, an incentive to hatch more to meet increasing demands.

He said, ‘The process of hatching broilers and layers is the same. But because broilers are a bit more expensive than layers and the hatcheries profit higher, they tend to hatch more broilers, especially as the festive period of Christmas approaches.

‘In the past, just for Christmas sales alone, a farmer could place an order of 100,000 chicks, but that has dropped to maybe 50,000. From now, until Christmas, the price of broilers will remain high because of the likelihood of increasing demands for chicken during the celebration of the festive season.’

According to Abdulsalam, the price of a day-old broiler is between N1,800 and N2,000, while a day-old layer is about N1,500-600, linking the scarcity to the growing population in the country.

Similarly, Abba Abdu, who sells poultry feeds and live birds at Ahmad Chicks, told Weekend Trust that a day-old chick cost at least N1,700 but after a long wait.

‘I have just sold mine, and it will take another month before I get the next supply. You cannot get a day-old chick without waiting for some time after booking. That is how the market is working,’ he said.

Abdu attributed the scarcity to the activities of some poultry farmers who tend to make huge profits supplying nearby Arab countries.

He gave the name of one Saheed, whom he said was given a contract to supply chicks to Arab countries in Africa. Abdul, however, could provide any detail on how farmers supply foreign markets with live birds, leaving customers at home waiting.

Nigeria had in the past experienced significant scarcity and price hike of day-old broilers driven by a combination of factors like the impact of COVID-19 pandemic forex crisis, which limited importation of fertilised eggs, as well as logical challenges in supplying the hatcheries to the farms.

Other dynamics

Ms Nanji Gambo-Oke, the immediate past public relations officer of the Poultry Farmers Association in Plateau State, said farmers often overlooked the dynamics of demand and supply.

‘When egg demand drops, feed prices remain high. They lament, but now that feed prices have dropped and egg prices are rising, you meet silence. It is clear that demand drives the market. Citizens have more disposable income at the moment due to harvest, so they are prioritising protein in their diet.

‘Some hatcheries have faced challenges like scarcity due to lack of parent stock or disease outbreaks, forcing them to cull parent stock.

‘Setting eggs for pullets is more demanding; and there are periods hatchery owners tend to focus on broilers, which are easier and more profitable for hatcheries. And sometimes when poultry production seems more profitable, others are tempted to join, unaware that this influx can flood the market, leading to surplus supply and crashing prices,’ she said.

She added that many factors were causing the hike in the price of day-old pullets and broilers, noting the high demand to meet up with seasonal demand for end products.

‘For broilers, it is Christmas festivities; and for pullets, it is the fasting of March,’ she added.

Power is also the number one factor affecting the price of chicks, according to Gambo-Oke, who said that many hatcheries were operating on diesel 75 per cent of the time.

‘Many hatcheries have downsized, operating at 25-50 per cent capacity due to poor demand off season, causing huge financial losses. Take for instance, doc broilers are sold at N50 and N100 during off season like December to early January when no one is picking birds.

‘The list goes on. Even if the price of feed is relatively cheaper, there are other intricate inputs and decisions to be made when producing day-old chicks,’ the farmer said.