Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The federal government is considering a ‘debt-for-seat’ arrangement that would allow domestic airlines to settle outstanding obligations to aviation agencies by allocating future seat inventory rather than making immediate cash payments.

The proposal comes amid the Federal Government’s broader efforts to address the financial difficulties facing domestic airlines.

In April, President Bola Tinubu approved a 30 per cent waiver of about N25 billion in airlines’ debts to aviation agencies following discussions with industry stakeholders.

A breakdown of the debt profile, airline by airline, could not be independently obtained due to invoicing challenges and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

A proposal presented to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and obtained by The Nation from QuickAir Networks Limited offers an alternative approach to resolving the persistent indebtedness of domestic carriers to government agencies.

QuickAir’s proposal, cited by The Nation, seeks to recover debts through future airline inventory while allowing carriers to preserve their immediate cash flow.

A presentation to officials of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and representatives of aviation agencies indicates that the proposed arrangement would allow airlines to exchange their ‘perishable assets’ to offset part of their outstanding debts.

The proposed mechanism is also designed to prevent airlines from accumulating fresh debts while existing obligations are being settled.

Under the proposal, each participating airline would establish a centralised digital wallet equivalent to its verified debt to the relevant government agencies.

The proposal indicates that the wallet would be made accessible to the ministry or its designated distributor, QuickAir, which would then distribute the allocated seat inventory to large agencies, corporate organisations and interested government institutions.

The proposal indicates that the beneficiaries would be able to purchase discounted tickets from the participating airlines, with the proceeds used to gradually offset their debts to government.

The proposal is contained in a report presented by Dr. Segun Oyebolu, an aviation technology leader.

Oyebolu has been involved in several aviation technology projects.

He was part of the team that designed the current International Air Transport Association (IATA) Billing and Settlement Plan.

He explained that the arrangement would provide airlines with an alternative to outright cash payments.

‘The issue of existing debts owed to the various agencies can be repaid via a more favourable arrangement that allows the airlines to exchange their ‘perishable assets’ in place of outright cash payment for the debts owed to the Ministry and its agencies,’ he said.

Oyebolu said the arrangement would be particularly attractive to airlines facing cash-flow challenges because of increased operating costs.

Dr Oyebolu explained, ‘In view of the cash-poor situation of various airlines arising from higher than normal operating expenses, it is a better, more reasonable as well as an attractive option for airlines to start paying the debts owed to the government via a flexible seat-sale arrangement.’

He added: In practical terms, the solution is based on each of the airlines creating a centralised digital wallet in the amount owed to the various agencies as at date.

‘This digital wallet, holding the equivalent of the agreed debt position, will become accessible to the Ministry or its designated distributor (QuickAir). It is from these wallets that the distribution platform of QuickAir Network will commence distribution of these assigned stocks to large agencies, corporate and interested governmental agencies to access discounted flight tickets of these airlines.’

Oyebolu said the debt-for-seat arrangement will be of little value if accumulation of fresh debts is allowed.

To address the issue, Oyebolu proposed a ‘pay-as-you-issue’ system under which charges due to the government would be deducted automatically as airlines sell tickets.

According to him, about 70 per cent of domestic flight tickets are sold online, providing an opportunity for an automated settlement system.

‘Under this arrangement, since about 70 per cent of domestic flight tickets are sold online, QuickAir will provide an enabling settlement engine that will ensure that as customers of airlines make payments online, the five per cent Ticket Sales Charges will be automatically remitted to the designated account of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, while 95 per cent of the sales shall be remitted immediately to the airline.’

He said the settlement engine works in microseconds such that no visible delay in remission of funds will take place to hamper airline operations.

Oyebolu said the system would not disrupt airline operations because of the speed of the settlement process.

He further revealed that QuickAir has demonstrated its existing ticket distribution and settlement infrastructure.

Oyebolu conducted a route search on the platform, producing results from all 14 active domestic airlines, before displaying the accounting backend showing transactions, revenue generated, and other relevant data.

He said QuickAir is ready to deploy the infrastructure and commence the debt recovery process once the affected airlines under the Airlines Operators of Nigeria umbrella agree to the implementation.

QuickAir management has, however, highlighted the financial implications of the proposed arrangement, emphasising that making money is not its immediate motivation.

‘We are willing to work with the Ministry and will be pleased by whatever the Minister deems fit as fair for assisting the country to solve this intractable problem.’

Chairman of QuickAir Networks Limited, Suleiman Ibrahim, thanked the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Permanent Secretary, ministry directors, and agency representatives for the opportunity to present the solution.

Ibrahim stressed the company’s determination to help resolve the financial disputes between the government and domestic airlines. The proposed system is expected to undergo further consideration and stakeholder consultations before possible implementation.

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised the alarm over delays in the return of empty containers, accusing some shipping lines of frustrating freight forwarders and importers while continuing to impose detention charges.

The association, in a letter alleged that some shipping lines had turned haulage trucks into temporary holding bays by refusing to receive empty containers because of inadequate or unavailable holding facilities.

The letter, signed by the National Coordinator, 100 per cent Compliance Team of NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, and addressed to all shipping lines, said the practice was inflicting unnecessary financial losses on freight forwarders, importers and haulage operators.

NAGAFF said freight forwarders often take delivery of import containers from the ports but encounter difficulties when attempting to return the empty containers to the shipping lines.

According to the association, some shipping lines allegedly wait for vessels to arrive before accepting empty containers, leaving trucks tied down for days or even weeks.

‘This practice is unacceptable because it unlawfully ties down trucks for days or even weeks, preventing transporters from taking on other jobs and causing avoidable financial losses,’ NAGAFF said.

The association warned that the situation was also worsening congestion on port access roads, while importers continued to incur detention charges despite the alleged inability of the shipping lines to receive the empty containers.

NAGAFF described the practice as unjust, arguing that shipping lines should not charge customers for delays allegedly caused by the lines themselves.

‘It is fundamentally unjust for a shipping line to refuse to receive its empty container while simultaneously charging customers for failing to return that same container. No person or organisation should profit from a delay that it deliberately creates,’ the association stated.

The freight forwarding body consequently demanded that shipping lines provide adequate holding bays capable of receiving empty containers without unnecessary delays and in line with applicable regulations.

It also called for the immediate suspension of what it described as unfair detention charges and demanded refunds for detention charges already collected from affected customers.

NAGAFF warned that failure by the shipping lines to address the issue could force the association to pursue all lawful means available to protect freight forwarders and Nigerian importers.

‘Should this unfair practice continue, NAGAFF will have no option but to pursue every lawful means available to protect the interests of freight forwarders and Nigerian importers,’ it warned.

The association said the current system for returning empty containers was unsustainable and detrimental to trade facilitation, port efficiency and the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

It urged shipping lines to urgently review their empty-container return arrangements and end what it described as practices that impose additional costs on port users and constrain the movement of haulage trucks.

The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Commissioner of Police, Port, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Port Managers, Founder of NAGAFF and the National President of NAGAFF.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, has thrown its weight behind the Oyo State Emerging Political Leaders Summit 2026, scheduled for 25 and 26 August in Ibadan.

Among leading figures billed for the event are the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacchaeus Adedeji, who will serve as Chief Facilitator.

Adedeji is expected to deliver a session on ‘Fiscal Renewal, Revenue Mobilisation, and the Economic Future of Oyo State in the Context of Nigeria’s Progressive National Agenda.’

Organisers say the session will connect Oyo State’s future to broader national reform efforts and help emerging leaders better understand the link between politics and economic governance.

Also expected at the summit is the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who is the Special Guest of Honour, while Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will deliver the keynote address on ‘Bridging Political Divides, Building Strategic Alliances, and Mobilising Òyó State for Progressive Victory in 2027.’

His speech is expected to focus on coalition-building, political alignment, and the strategic steps required to unify political strength in the state ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Other featured speakers include Comrade Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, Honourable Minister of Youth Development, who will speak on ‘Youth Mobilisation, Political Inclusion, and Building a New Generation of Electoral Victory’; Mr Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on ‘Emerging Political Leaders and the Future of APC Grassroots Mobilisation in Òyó State’; and Barrister Ismael Ahmed, OON, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, on ‘Energy Reform, Youth Enterprise, and the Politics of Economic Hope.’

Also listed among the speakers are Barrister Seyi Tinubu, who will address ‘Youth Engagement, Political Consciousness, and Mobilising the Emerging Generation for 2027’; Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who will speak on ‘Reconciliation, Political Relevance, and the Power of Inclusion in Òyó State Politics’; Chief Engineer Dotun Sanusi, with a session on ‘Private Sector, Grassroots Mobilisation, and Building Political Strength for Òyó’s Future’; and Honourable Engineer Aderemi Abass Oseni, who will speak on ‘Grassroots Representation, Political Inclusion, and Mobilising Emerging Leaders for APC Victory in Òyó State.’

In a formal endorsement letter dated 11 August 2026 and addressed to the Convener, Wale Ajani, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the forthcoming event as a timely and significant platform for preparing a new generation of leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the summit represents a critical intervention to deepen political participation and strengthen the place of young people in Nigeria’s democracy.

The 2-day summit’s theme is: ‘Bridging the Gap, Uniting Political Strength, and Mobilising Emerging Leaders for 2027.’

The Minister challenged Nigerian politicians to stop treating young people as election-season tools.

He said, ‘I have consistently maintained that young people must not be regarded merely as foot soldiers of politics or mobilised only when elections approach.’

‘They must be recognised as stakeholders, decision-makers and leaders with a legitimate role in shaping the direction of their communities and our country.’

As Nigeria approaches another democratic transition, he said the country ‘must deliberately create platforms that promote inclusion, encourage constructive political engagement and prepare a new generation of leaders with the character, competence and capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance.’

In what may become the defining soundbite of the summit, the Minister laid out a new code of conduct for emerging political leaders heading into 2027:

‘We need young political leaders who can organise without dividing, compete without destroying relationships, disagree without becoming enemies, and understand that politics must ultimately be about service, responsibility and improving the lives of the people.’

The summit, convened by renowned political strategist Wale Ajani, is expected to draw emerging political leaders, youth stakeholders, grassroots mobilisers, women leaders and other influential voices from across ?`y?´ State.

The Minister commended the organising team and urged participants to see the gathering as more than ‘another political gathering.’

‘I encourage all participants to see the Summit as an opportunity to build bridges, exchange ideas, strengthen unity and inspire a new generation of purposeful political leadership,’ Olawande wrote.

‘The future of our democracy will be shaped by young people who are prepared not only to seek leadership, but to demonstrate the character, competence and courage required to lead.’

With federal backing now secured just two weeks before the event, expectations are high that the Ibadan Civic Centre will host one of the most consequential youth political gatherings in the South-West ahead of 2027.

The Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi) has partnered with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to expand artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among young people and educators in underserved communities across the North.

The partnership will introduce the Experience AI programme in Adamawa, Borno, Benue states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marking what the organisations described as the first large-scale implementation of the programme in Northern Nigeria. Under the initiative, 450 educators will be trained as certified Experience AI facilitators to deliver AI lessons to an estimated 16,000 students and community beneficiaries across the participating locations.

The programme is designed to provide learners with foundational knowledge of AI, including how AI systems work, responsible use of the technology and ways it can be applied to address real-world challenges in their communities.

Global Executive Director of AREAi, Prince Gideon Olanrewaju, said the partnership would help extend AI education to communities that could otherwise be excluded from emerging technological opportunities.

He said the initiative would particularly support learners in rural, underserved, refugee and displaced communities.

‘We can’t afford to leave behind refugee populations and displaced learners in this AI revolution,’ Olanrewaju said, adding that the programme would equip young people to innovate, solve problems and contribute to their communities.

The initiative comes amid growing applications of AI in sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, public services and employment, while access to foundational AI education remains uneven, particularly in rural and conflict-affected communities.

Chief Executive Officer of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Philip Colligan CBE, said the partnership would equip teachers with the skills required to teach AI confidently and make the subject relevant to their students.

He said the collaboration would help young Nigerians develop a foundational understanding of AI and its potential impact on their lives.

Experience AI was co-developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a global computing education charity, and Google DeepMind. The programme has reached learners and educators in more than 196 countries through free lesson plans and classroom resources.

Head of Google DeepMind Impact Accelerator, Anna Koivuniemi, said the launch in Nigeria would give young people greater opportunities to understand and engage with AI technology.

She said expanding access to AI education could help young Nigerians make informed decisions about the use of AI applications and promote safe and responsible use of the technology.

AREAi said the partnership builds on its work over the past decade to expand access to education through technology-enabled and offline learning solutions, particularly in rural and humanitarian settings across Africa.

The organisation said the implementation of Experience AI would further support efforts to equip young people in underserved communities with skills needed to participate in the digital economy.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has backed the establishment of the first National Park in the Southeast, to be sited in Abia State.

The governor gave the support while receiving a delegation from the National Park Service, led by the Chairman of its Governing Council, in his office.

Dr Otti assured the delegation of the state government’s support for the initiative, describing it as timely.

He said he had earlier in the day approved a request from the commissioner for environment for the tracing and identification of forest reserves across the state.

The governor said Abia has 19 forest reserves, 18 of which are available for consideration.

This, he said, provided an opportunity to have at least one conservation area in each of the 17 local governments.

He stressed the importance of environmental conservation and the need to preserve the state’s natural resources.

Otti said his administration would constitute a team, to be led by the commissioner for environment, with the participation of climate change and environmental experts, to ensure the establishment of the park.

He thanked the National Park Service for the initiative and congratulated ACG. Ugochukwu Michael on his elevation to the rank of Assistant Conservator-General.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of National Park Service, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, hailed Governor Otti’s achievements in the last three years.

He said the visit was to remind the governor of his commitment to the establishment of a National Park in Abia State, noting its absence in the Southeast had left the zone behind.

Ononogbu said the park would deliver socio-economic benefits to Abia State, including job creation, revenue generation, investment attraction, enhanced security and crime reduction.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, and other members of the State Executive Council were present at the meeting.

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has commissioned a newly completed shopping mall to improve staff welfare and serve other hospital users.

The commissioning ceremony, held on the hospital premises on Wednesday, August 12, was attended by dignitaries from the public and private sectors.

The mall comprises 22 lock-up shops, each equipped with electricity meters, toilet facilities, generators and 24-hour security.

In his welcome address, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, recalled that the hospital previously had shops and a business centre, which were destroyed in a fire.

‘Rather than seek direct government funding for reconstruction, LASUTH adopted a public-private partnership model, with a private investor financing and developing the facility and recouping the investment through rental income.’

Fabamwo explained that, following a competitive bidding process involving three firms, BMC Global Limited, chaired by Asiwaju Igbalaye Mendes, emerged as the successful bidder.

According to him, the project was delivered with the support of the supervising ministry and the approval of the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, with LASUTH providing the land but committing no direct funds to construction.

While commending LASUTH management, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described the shopping mall as a significant development that would enhance staff welfare and convenience for patients and visitors.

‘Healthcare facilities should prioritise staff welfare alongside clinical services; this mall would provide access to essential services within the hospital premises,’ he said.

Abayomi also highlighted LASUTH’s achievements in advanced medical and surgical services, saying the development would help reduce medical tourism.

He disclosed that the Lagos State Government was planning to establish a standalone University of Medicine and Health Sciences and to implement healthcare financing reforms aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare and addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of BMC Global Limited, Asiwaju Igbalaye Mendes, disclosed that the project held special personal significance, as it was inspired by his late son, Babatunde Oriyomi Mendes, who strongly believed in the vision.

He noted that, although the project was secured through competitive bidding, its completion remained deeply meaningful to him.

Asiwaju Mendes commended LASUTH management, particularly Prof. Fabamwo, for its professionalism, integrity and support throughout the project.

Dignitaries present at the commissioning included the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi; the Director of Clinical Services and Training and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Adebowale O. Adekoya; Rev. Fr. Stephen Abiodun Akinsowon, representing the Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See; and others.

D’Tigress forward Amy Okonkwo has joined WNBA side Portland Fire as an injury replacement for Sarah Ashlee Barker.

The two-time Women’s AfroBasket MVP returns to the WNBA after averaging 11 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals in eight appearances for the Dallas Wings during the 2025 season.

Okonkwo also had a brief spell with Atlanta Dream earlier this year after signing a developmental contract.

The latest move gives the Nigerian international another opportunity to showcase her quality on one of the biggest stages in women’s basketball.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly linked to recent killings, armed robbery and cult-related activities in the Ajah axis of the state.

The suspects were also alleged to be involved in robberies around Ajah, Sangotedo and Ibeju-Lekki.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Abimbola Adebisi, a Superintendent of Police, said operatives recovered three local pistols, one live ammunition, two battle axes and a Point of Sale (POS) machine.

According to her, arrests followed sustained follow-up investigations into a robbery case, which led detectives to the suspected members of the gang.

The suspects were identified as Kareem Abiodun, 26; Tansiru Emmanuel, 29; Lateef Usman, 28; and Alashe Azeez, 32.

The police noted that preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were linked to recent robbery activities in parts of the Ajah axis.

The command added that the suspects made confessional statements during preliminary investigation on their alleged involvement in armed robbery, murder and cultism.

The suspects were in police custody and assisting investigators with the ongoing investigation.

The police said efforts were also being intensified to apprehend other members of the gang and recover additional exhibits allegedly in their possession.

The suspects are expected to be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their diligence and sustained follow-up efforts that led to the arrests.

Fatai charged police personnel to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts to apprehend other members of the gang.

He warned cultists, robbers and other violent criminals that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations to track them down and bring them to justice.

The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police through its emergency lines for prompt response.

A mega tractor Assembly plant is being planned by the Federal Government to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported agricultural machinery and strengthen its domestic manufacturing capacity.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari revealed this at a High-Level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanisation yesterday.

Kyari said at the event themed ‘Anchoring National Food Sovereignty through Sustainable Agricultural Mechanisation Policy, Innovation and Strategic Investment, ‘ that the plant, when operational, would produce between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually.

He explained that the proposed plant forms a major component of the National Agricultural Mechanisation Investment Strategy, designed to attract investment, create employment and build a sustainable mechanisation industry in the country.

The minister stated that government’s objective goes beyond importing or purchasing agricultural equipment, with greater emphasis being placed on building a domestic ecosystem for machinery production, agricultural technology and mechanisation services.

Kyari said: ‘Our Investment Strategy also includes plans to establish a mega tractor assembly plant with capacity to produce between 2,000 and 4,000 units annually, aimed at reducing import dependence and building domestic industrial capacity.

‘This is about localising production, creating jobs and building a sustainable mechanisation economy.’

He called on local and international investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural mechanisation sector, stressing that government is looking for long-term partnerships rather than capital solely for the purchase of equipment.

‘Nigeria is open for investment in agricultural mechanisation. We are not seeking capital merely to purchase machines. We are seeking partners to build an enduring agricultural technology and services ecosystem,’ said the minister.

Kyari also identified young people and women as critical to the success of Nigeria’s emerging mechanisation economy. He pointed out that agriculture is increasingly becoming a technology-driven enterprise with opportunities for employment and wealth creation.

There is a lore native to Nigeria’s narrative of power. It fosters a culture and psychology of independence. Or dependence.

That psychology is written into our national constitutions and statutes. Yet, it survives through local folklore, proverbs, and the instincts that shape public behaviour.

It forms the core of political loyalty or what we deem patriotism.

And since patriotism thrives on cultural standards, the politics that Nigerians espouse, the lore of nationhood, and the lyricism of partisan poetry manifest the kernel of our sovereignty and attitude to it.

Sadly, the Nigerian lore reflects two competing impulses. One posits that our salvation must be fashioned by our own hands; the other, however, seeks to outsource national redemption to foreign actors.

This clash of instincts has become the major affliction of contemporary public life. It permeates our social and political culture, entangling politicians, diplomats, civil society and the random celebrity.

Always, amid political tension, someone must alert Washington; someone must write to London; someone must summon the conscience of Europe; someone must report Nigeria to the incumbent occupant of America’s White House.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State, musician David Adeleke, aka Davido, appealed to United States President Donald Trump and the international community, expressing fears about the electoral process. Childish and ill-advised as it is, he simply gave fresh expression to an old habit.

His action followed public remarks in which he suggested that he would take his protest as far as the White House should the election be compromised. So doing, he triggered public debate, and justifiably so, because his action exposed why so many supposedly educated and enlightened Nigerians instinctively seek foreign intervention in local politics.

It is tempting to dismiss Davido’s action as mere artifice designed for greater social engagement. Yet such an action has serially been repeated over time; if it is not a supposedly brilliant author writing American leadership to come overturn the result of a Nigerian democratic election simply because her despised candidate won, it is an incumbent governor threatening to report the federal government to President Trump for ending his doomsday watch and politicisation of bandits’ abduction of school teachers and pupils in his state.

The inclination of supposedly reasonable adults to threaten their compatriots with foreign rebuke mimics the metaphor of livestock bickering over grains within a fenced yard, threatening to invite the wolf from the nearby forest to resolve their avian conflict.

They view their opposition as the ultimate threat, losing sight of the existential danger posed by the apex predator in the forest. The livestock erroneously believe that the wolf will enter the yard, impartially adjudge who deserves the grain, punish the hoarding faction, and quietly retreat back into the woods without demanding flesh in return.

This mindset suffers from the fallacy of benevolent imperialism. Superpowers do not operate on moral altruism or an intrinsic love for foreign countries. They operate strictly on the cold calculus of national interest, energy security, and geopolitical leverage.

It’s an abdication of civil maturity and duty for any Nigerian to demand that a foreign president oversee our local politics. It reduces democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or national courts to irrelevance, rather than doing the difficult work of reforming them.

Lest we define this as a loss of confidence in domestic institutions, the frantic search for substitute authorities abroad stems from a trauma reminiscent of the ‘Plantation Butler Mentality’ of the American slave era.

It erodes local accountability when citizens look outward for validation. It also establishes that beyond territorial control, the colonists succeeded in enslaving the Nigerian mind. The rot runs so deep its cultural. Yet, it is not uniquely Nigerian. Across Africa, Asia and Latin America, post-colonial societies have sought external validation for domestic dilemmas.

Whatever the motivation, constitutional sovereignty had never been fully achieved when the recipient nation or nationals remain psychologically enslaved to colonial powers. This is not to demean the role of election observers, human rights organisations and multilateral institutions as they have, on very few occasions, contributed to greater transparency or drawn attention to abuses that domestic authorities preferred to ignore. But there is a difference between welcoming observation and imagining that another country’s president functions as an appellate authority over the political affairs of a sovereign nation.

Davido and cohorts must understand that foreign governments act only according to their domestic priorities and selfish interests. They may express concern, issue statements, or encourage democratic norms, but they cannot inherit the civic obligations that belong to Nigerian citizens.

History affirms that any sovereign nation that invites Western powers to intervene in its internal governance does so at its own peril. In September 1973, domestic political and military actors in Chile collaborated with U.S. intelligence to depose President Salvador Allende, replacing him with the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

The most instructive example unfolded in North Africa. In February 2011, manipulated by foreign agents, opposition factions in Benghazi rose against the long-standing regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Seeking a swift victory, the National Transitional Council (NTC) appealed directly to the Western powers for military intervention, leading to a devastating NATO bombing campaign, spearheaded by the United States, France, and Britain. Gaddafi was captured and killed on October 20, 2011. But rather than usher in a peaceful, prosperous democracy, the intervention destroyed Libya, costing Africa a very powerful continental actor and one of the largest proven crude oil reserves.

The pattern resonates through the 2003 American invasion of Iraq over non-existent ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ and deep into 20th-century Latin America, where local political elites frequently invited U.S. intervention to depose left-leaning or populist leaders. While local factions squabble over the ruins of their country, external corporate entities secured long-term oil concession contracts, leaving the native population with ruined cities, a degraded economy, and compromised national autonomy.

Nigerians must quit outsourcing the task of building credible political and social institutions. Every time they do so, they diminish their civic responsibilities, and their perceived saviours scoff at them, saying: ‘These monkeys are up to their silly antics again…Let’s go hunting!’

Every nation, Western democracies inclusive, experiences moments when the courts, legislature and electoral commissions disappoint or attract suspicion. But a mature society would avoid surrendering its territorial integrity simply to fight institutional weaknesses or score cheap political points.

Genuine patriotism is neither self-seeking nor destructive. It involves criticising one’s country, constructively, and remaining invested in our society, through good and bad times.

To preserve our sovereignty, Nigerians must learn to resolve electoral disputes strictly within the boundaries of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act. Petitions must be processed through the Election Petition Tribunals and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, rather than through foreign coercion.

It’s about time we ceased using incendiary language that de-legitimises the Nigerian state. No foreign government will salvage the country’s socio-economic issues. National progress, peace and stability are best earned through organised, non-violent civic engagement, and sustained peaceful elections.

There is no salvation in Brussels, Washington, Brussels or any other distant capital. Our redemption will come from our local spaces where democratic cultures are intentionally sustained: polling units, courtrooms, newsrooms, classrooms, community associations and civil conversations among citizens who persistently believe in our imperfect but native institutions.