Even after Pastor Enoch Adeboye had distanced himself from the arrest of a TikToker who disrespected him Olumide Ogunsanwo (SeaKing), the church PR unit still put out a notice overriding him. The church claimed that Pastor Adeboye weighed in before the video was reviewed. After watching it, they think, “It has become necessary to allow the law to take its course.” I will not pretend to know how the church’s PR unit runs, but this is one of the instances in which wisdom would have been profitable to direct them regarding their public communication.

From the clumsy wording of their statement, one is unsure which video they said had not been reviewed when their pastor commented on it. Was it the original one by Ogunsanwo or the Concerned Christian Youth Forum that stated why they got him arrested? Either way, saying their G.O. spoke out of turn is unbecoming. However, that was not the only part of their statement that was poorly thought out. Also, saying the law should take its course on a spurious issue such as this is merely hiding behind a needle. It is, in fact, what moral cowardice looks like.

Even a child in Nigeria knows that no law anywhere fully defines our lives. What we call the law is mostly a bunch of suggestions enforced based on the contingent circumstances. The “law” can easily be set aside if certain characters with money and influence want it. Just recently a legal luminary announced he—and unilaterally too—instructed his lawyers to instruct the police to withdraw a criminal case from the court. That is how the police are remote-controlled by small men with big egos who will pursue a random social media user over comments they should be too important to notice.

Sometimes you wonder why the countries that invented these social media networks do not have incidents of billionaires, pastors, CEOs, politicians, public officials, lawyers, religious organisations, etc., convulsing over online insults. How come their police are not jobless enough to drive across multiple state lines to arrest people over online comments and incarcerate them until some big man instructs otherwise?

Nigeria’s supposed elites can afford to be petty because of the nature of our laws and the defective policing system. The police in Nigeria are not—and we can argue that they have never been either—an autonomous agency that carries out its constitutionally stipulated duty with detached professionalism. They are mostly errand boys for the rich and powerful, and therefore largely shorn of principled competence. Things have grown worse with the current IG Kayode Egbetokun, under whose watch a record number of abuses are being perpetrated by the police. They have always been abusive and oppressive, but under Egbetokun, they have elevated pursuing social media commentators into a defining agenda. Part of the problem, I suspect, is that Egbetokun is overcompensating for the insecurity of being branded an “illegal IG” and cannot rein in the sadistic officers under his watch. His illegitimacy makes him cover his appearance of weakness with needless brutality. His legacy will be that he oversaw an era where the police took their institutionalisation of injustice to stratospheric levels.

The only reason that Ogunsanwo was arrested and detained was because some people who could influence the police decided to flex their power.  What law was the RCCG referring to that had become necessary to be enforced? No law anywhere stops us from disrespecting our elders. Respect is a cultural norm, an ethical requirement necessary for a society to function, but there are no legal obligations to accord them to anyone by default. Even Jesus Christ called Herod a “fox”. If it were present society, some people would have been yelling that Jesus should have respected constituted authority. Jesus routinely criticised the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders, intellectuals, and elders of his time. If someone does the same on TikTok today, people like VDM would jump out and criticise them. What exactly have eyes not seen before?

I hope the RCCG learns a lesson from this and, going forward, knows what it can afford to do or not as arguably the largest Pentecostal denomination in Nigeria. As a church, it owes it to the public to always project higher ethical standards in its conduct and public communication. If the worldly standard is for those with social clout to subject critics to an unjust system of punishment to satisfy their ego, the church must act differently—and better. You are not called to be the same as the world; you are supposed to project higher moral standards. It is not for nothing that Jesus envisioned the church to be a city set on a hill.

Here is what I think is the problem: for far too long, Christians have openly rued how Muslims get away with using violence to settle scores when they feel disrespected. I suppose copying that same propensity to demonstrate power is what drove the Concerned Christian Youth Forum to try and enforce respect “legally” by subjecting a critic to police abuse while vowing to hunt down more. The RCCG’s press statement gave them away as supportive of such initiatives to deter the others who have turned frequent criticism of its G.O. into content-making. Unfortunately, that is a path that is not only unsustainable but also diminishing.

They ought to know that as they grow into a formidable institution, they will naturally attract a lot more anti-establishment sentiment. Their response should not be to outsource their responses to gbàrànmídelérù initiatives like Concerned Christian Youth Forum who will do the dirty work of beating up critics while, like Pontious Pilate who washed his hands off the crime for which he was morally culpable, they pretend it is simply the law doing its thing. If they see themselves as a church organization that will still exist in another 100 years, then they ought to think and act long-term in their approaches to issues like this. They should take cues from centuries-old churches like the Catholic Church that has maintained their institutional dignity in the face of relentless criticism from all sides. Imagine a world where the Pope uses the police to chase down his social media critics.

The RCCG should act with similar self-regard and set aside pushing silly correspondences to the public. They are not the first church that will be criticized, and they are not going to be the last. Powerful religious organizations routinely face scrutiny, and they absorb some of the severe criticisms. I am not talking about simple observations lobbed from the corner of a bedroom by a TikToker wielding a Tekno phone, but critical attacks from formidable cultural organizations who take on churches on aspects of their doctrine. Do those churches fold up and die? No. When they respond, they do not fly into a rage. They project the ideals of Christian ethics and intellectualism.

If the RCCG cannot handle just one TikToker, then what hope is there for them that they would know what to do if someone ever writes a popular book about them like Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code did with the Catholic Church? What if someone makes a popular show that criticizes their doctrines like The Book of Mormon did with the Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church? The Latter-Day Saints first baulked, then turned the popular satire into a promotional tool for their church. It would have been a mess and a missed opportunity if they had chosen to arrest the artist.

The RCCG has a university, a structure from where they can build an intellectual agenda to defend what is best about them (and restructure their shortcomings). Instead of abridging possibilities by taking the shortcut of violence, they should invest in creating their own apologists—people trained in cultural studies/theology who can project the positive side of them to the world to balance the negative narratives about them. That strategy will take exposing their people to the best education, polishing them until they are equipped to push back at their critics with intelligence.

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed the ₦54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The ₦54.99 trillion budget is structured to address key national financial commitments.

Statutory transfers account for ₦3.645 trillion, ensuring funding for constitutionally mandated entities.

A significant portion, ₦14.317 trillion, is allocated to debt servicing, reflecting Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal obligations.

Recurrent expenditure, covering salaries, overheads, and government operations, takes up ₦13.64 trillion, while the highest allocation, ₦23.963 trillion, is earmarked for capital projects under the development fund, aimed at infrastructure growth and economic expansion.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu raised the proposed 2025 budget from ₦49.7 trillion to ₦54.2 trillion, seeking legislative approval.

More details to follow…

[Punch]

MTN Nigeria has publicly apologized to its customers following widespread backlash over a sudden 200% increase in the price of its 15GB digital bundle plan.

The telecommunications giant admitted the adjustment was an error and assured subscribers of better decision-making in the future.

In a statement posted on its official Instagram handle on Thursday, MTN acknowledged the frustration caused by the price hike.

“You dey vex. We know,” the company stated, recognizing the anger among its users. “We know how upsetting it must have been to suddenly wake up to a 200% increase on your favourite digital bundle.”

While the company refrained from offering detailed explanations, it accepted responsibility for the pricing change.

“We could share several reasons, and provide explanations, but omo, all that one na story. We don cast. We get it and admit it. Let’s just say na mistake,” the statement read.

In a bid to mend its relationship with customers, MTN appealed for forgiveness, particularly during the Valentine’s season, emphasizing its appreciation for loyal subscribers.

“In this love season, don’t stay angry with us. Please forgive and forget. You matter die, and we will never stop showing you how much,” the statement continued.

The company concluded by reaffirming its commitment to customer satisfaction. “Let’s continue our relationship. Thank you for your understanding.”

MTN’s apology comes amid growing concerns over rising data costs and telecom services in Nigeria.

The sudden price hike, which raised the cost of a 15GB weekly data plan from N2,000 to N6,000—a 200% increase—caught many internet subscribers off guard and sparked widespread outrage on social media on Wednesday.

The statement, however, did not mention whether the tariff had been reduced.

[Punch]

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, has been in the news recently over the N1 million violation fee it slammed on a restaurateur who violated Article 148 (b) of its Act. Reading the umbrage against the regulatory agency from certain quarters, what comes to mind is Chimamanda Adichie’s admonition in her October 7, 2009 TED talk on the danger of a single story.

The single story of a N1 million fine has achieved the primary purpose of leading people to develop prejudiced ideas about ARCON as a government agency that stifles and ultimately ruins businesses, particularly small and medium scale enterprises. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Granted, a N1 million fine is steep but it is a punishment for an infraction that, ironically, demands only a N15,000 compliance levy. So, the steepness of the fine is deliberate – to serve as a deterrent to those who run afoul of the law.

Article 148 (b) of the Act states that any person who sponsors or benefits from an advertisement without proper authorisation from ARCON, including the exposure of unauthorised advertising, is liable for a fine. The Act, which became operational on June 27, 2022, clearly states that notwithstanding the provisions in any other Act, ARCON has the exclusive power “to determine, pronounce upon, administer, monitor and enforce compliance by persons and organisations on matters relating to advertisements, advertising, and marketing communication in Nigeria, whether of a general or specific nature.”

Not only that, the primary goal of the ARCON Act was “to establish a regulatory framework for the Nigerian advertising, advertisement and marketing communications industry and for this purpose to create an effective, impartial and independent regulatory authority; ensure that all advertisement exposed and directed at the Nigerian market is legal, decent, honest, truthful, respectful, and mindful of… Nigerian culture, constitutional tenets and relevant lawful enactments; prepared with high sense of social responsibility, devoid of misinformation or disinformation in advertising and marketing communication; promote and encourage local content whilst entrenching best practices in the advertising industry in Nigeria.”

The law requires that all advert materials are handed in for vetting beforehand, which attracts N15,000 fee — a nominal charge that covers administrative costs associated with reviewing the content. The review serves common good. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, mandates pre-clearance for pharmaceutical advertisements to ensure claims about drugs are scientifically validated. The idea is to deter would-be offenders and by so doing, the system has been credited with preventing the exposure of 45 misleading drug advertisements to the public.

So, the single story which paints the picture of ARCON as an obtuse government agency, asphyxiating small businesses that are already on life support because of harsh economic environment with excessive fees is misleading.

And a regulated advertising space where sanctions are meted out to offenders is not peculiar to Nigeria. For instance, those in breach of advertising regulations in the United Kingdom risk fines as high as £500,000. It is even higher in the U.S. where breaches attract multimillion-dollar fines.

So, while the highly nuanced narrative of a restaurateur being asked to pay within seven days a violation fee of N1 million for posting about her restaurant on Instagram “without the vetting and approval certificate of the Advertising Standards Panel,” may be seductive to the uninitiated, the truth remains that such a narrative does not paint the whole picture. And the idea that the imposition of fine portrays ARCON officials as scavengers trivializes the matter.

If the argument is on the medium of advertisement, well, in this era of digital marketing, advertisement has migrated online. In 2005, Microsoft founder Bill Gates predicted that the Internet would attract $30 billion in advertising revenue annually within the next five years. But he was remarkably off the mark because barely three years thence, internet advertising leapt to $40 billion, and by 2010, it had grown to $80 billion. It was such a seismic shift that according to current market data, the value of online advertising globally in 2024 was projected at nearly $796 billion. This signifies a substantial growth in digital advertising spending, demonstrating the increasing reliance of businesses on online platforms to reach their target audiences. So, it does not matter whether the advertisement is on Tiktok or Instagram.

It will be understandable if the argument is for a reduction in the vetting fee paid by small businesses in advertising promotional materials. But to argue, as some are doing, that there is no need to vet such materials is self-serving because advertising regulation is not just a bureaucratic exercise, it is an essential mechanism for protecting consumers from misleading claims, financial scams, and public health hazards.

Globally, regulatory frameworks exist to ensure that advertisements uphold truth, transparency, and consumer safety, and no country leaves advertising unregulated because right advertising frameworks are foundational to consumer trust, market stability, and economic growth.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission, FTC, enforces stringent guidelines on truth-in-advertising, and has been protecting consumers for over 100 years. For instance, in 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, fined Kim Kardashian $1.26 million for promoting a crypto currency token on Instagram without going through the statutory processes and disclosing that she was paid $250,000 for the endorsement.

The United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority, ASA, employs a hybrid regulatory model. While broadcast advertisements undergo pre-exposure vetting, digital and print ads are monitored post-publication, with penalties for violations. The ASA’s “CAP Code” requires all advertisments to be “legal, decent, honest, and truthful,” with fines reaching £500,000 for repeat offenders. Such regulations also abound in Europe. The idea is to protect the public from the unethical machinations of unscrupulous businessmen driven solely by quest for profit maximization.

Nigeria cannot be an exception. The need for a regulated advertising space cannot be overemphasized, taking into cognizance the country’s delicate socio-cultural and even economic sensitivities.

In a country where debilitating primordial sentiments, particularly of the religious hue, is an ever-present ticking bomb, the 2022 Sterling Bank Easter advert, which drew an insane comparison between Jesus rising from the grave and the in-oven rising of “Agege Bread” nearly set the country ablaze. Similarly, the 2024 Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, advert – Christ Paid for Sins, Not Taxes – was another thoughtless advertising gimmick. Last December, a banner displayed at the gate of the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, with the inscription, “Jesus Christ is not God. He is a Prophet and Messenger of God!” almost set the State ablaze.

Granted, ARCON doused the sectarian fire these unhinged adverts provoked before it could gain traction and snowball into national crisis, but even at that, that was only because Christians were at the receiving end. Imagine what would have happened if the joke was on Muslims.

But all that could have been avoided if the materials were sent to ARCON for vetting as required by law. Such adverts wouldn’t have seen the light of the day. Viewed from this prism, advert regulation is a national security imperative which should not be trifled with.

Is the ARCON Act perfect? Not exactly. Which means that it could be tinkered with if need be without sacrificing its essence on the altar of the unbridled petulance of an entitled few. But to suggest as some people are doing that it should be discarded wholesale is tantamount to throwing away the baby with the bath water. That will serve no useful purpose. What needs to be done is a more robust stakeholders’ engagement and to ensure that it does not become a tool for vendetta – business, political or otherwise.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has condemned the Canadian government for its decision to deny visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, and other senior military officials.

The officials were due to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans, but only a portion of the delegation was granted visas, leading to strong reactions from Nigerian authorities.

Ribadu and Musa spoke on Thursday at the inaugural annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja.

The event, attended by security experts and government officials, focused on national security challenges and international cooperation.

Addressing the visa denial, Ribadu expressed frustration, describing it as disrespectful, while Musa emphasised the need for Nigeria to assert itself on the global stage and not be taken for granted.

Musa recounted the experience, noting that he and his team had been invited to the veterans’ event but faced an unexpected setback when some members of the delegation were denied entry. He described the situation as disappointing but saw it as a reminder for Nigeria to strengthen its independence and resilience.

He stated, “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event to honour our veterans, those who were injured during battles, and we were supposed to be there.

“We were invited with our team. Half of us have gone, and half have been denied. It’s very disappointing.

“It’s a clear reminder that the country must stand on its own, stand strong as a nation, and should no longer be taken for granted.”

Ribadu, in his remarks, reinforced the importance of making Nigeria self-sufficient, citing the incident as further motivation to work towards national progress.

He commended Musa for his leadership in tackling security challenges, stressing the need for continued collaboration among security agencies.

The NSA said, “Thank you for having the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.

“Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong, and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country.

“Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria thrive. I commend you for providing purposeful leadership in the fight against insecurity.”

The visa denial raises questions about Canada’s stance on Nigerian military officials and its broader diplomatic relationship with Nigeria. While the specific reasons for the refusal remain unclear, the incident has highlighted the bureaucratic and political hurdles Nigerian officials face in international engagements.

[Vanguard]

It is that time of the year again — Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love and romance! While a classic dinner date is a popular choice, why stick to the usual when you can make the day even more special?  

This year, break away from routine and explore new, exciting ways to celebrate with your partner.

Whether you are in the mood for adventure, relaxation, or a touch of creativity, these unique date ideas will help you create unforgettable memories and make your Valentine’s truly special.

• Beach picnic date

Nigeria has some of the most beautiful beaches, making them the perfect setting for a romantic Valentine’s Day.

So, skip the usual restaurant date and have a romantic picnic at a beach like Elegushi, Tarkwa Bay, or Oniru.

For a budget-friendly yet memorable experience, pack a picnic basket filled with homemade meals, snacks, and refreshing drinks. However, some beaches have restrictions on bringing in outside food, so be sure to confirm the rules beforehand.

You could also bring along your favorite games, a Bluetooth speaker for soft music, and a comfortable mat to lounge on. Enjoy deep conversations, playful moments, and breathtaking sunsets with your partner as the sound of the waves sets the mood.

• Paint and sip date

If you and your partner are artistic, a paint and sip date is a fun and romantic way to celebrate the day.

Rather than the regular dinner, spend the day exploring your creativity while sipping your favourite drinks. Several studios and lounges now offer paint and sip experiences, providing all the necessary materials, from canvases to brushes and paints.

For a more intimate experience, you can recreate this date at home. Set up a cozy painting station, grab some wine or juice, and follow an online tutorial together. It’s not about creating a masterpiece but about sharing laughter, bonding, and making lasting memories.

• Arcade date

Relive your childhood fun by trying out different games in an arcade.

The arcade offer several games, from car racing and basketball hoops to dance machines and VR experiences. The thrill of competing and cheering each other on is a good memory to have.

You can also set friendly wagers — whoever loses buys dessert!

• Staycation date

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday, it’s the perfect excuse to turn a romantic date into a weekend-long getaway without leaving your city or spending too much.

A staycation allows you and your partner to escape the usual routine, relax, reconnect and create new memories in a new environment without the hassle of long-distance travel.

• Spa and wellness date

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to relax and unwind with your partner, and a spa and wellness date offers just that.

Instead of the usual dinner outing, treat yourselves to couples’ spa experience, where you can enjoy variety of sessions including massages, facials, in a calm and intimate setting.

For a budget-friendly option, you can create a Do It Yourselves (DIY) spa night at home with scented candles, essential oils, and relaxing music.

Run a warm bath, give each other massages, and enjoy your favourite drinks.

• Museum date

You can as well explore Nigeria’s history and art by visiting cultural centres and museum for a mix of adventure and culture.

[YheCable]

The worst possible outcome of the 2023 presidential election would have been an Atiku Abubakar victory. That would have established such a bad and dangerous precedent, causing serious damage to Nigeria’s unity and worsening the country’s already problematic management of diversity.

Atiku ran for the PDP presidential ticket on the basis that only a northern candidate could win. It was not a subtle campaign but a full-throated one, in which Atiku and Aminu Tambuwal, as well as their associates such as Raymond Dokpesi, went on national TV to cite controversial population dynamics as the reason only a northerner could win the presidency.

The naiveté displayed by these men, who ordinarily should be considered seasoned political strategists because of the positions and offices they had occupied, was outstanding. It was a clear misreading of the Nigerian political system, or even worse, an exhibition of ignorance of the country’s political behaviour and demographics. But, apparently, the desperation to win the PDP’s presidential ticket and check the ambitious and cash-flushed Wike clouded their judgment, making them push a line of reasoning that was not only wrong but clearly against their own long-term interest.

This ‘only a northerner can win’ campaign was so steep that it also impacted the rival APC. I was a strategist for the campaign of a southern presidential aspirant in the APC, and one of our notable challenges was the growing narrative that only a person from the north could win the general election, especially if the PDP elected a northern Presidential candidate.

The argument seemed silly and easily dismissible considering Nigeria’s plural demographics, voting behaviour, and the presidential election results since 1999. But even in casual conversations, one could tell that the narrative was gaining ground, and soon there was chatter of a plot in the Villa to ensure that a northerner emerged as the APC presidential candidate, to make it an all-north final—Atiku in the PDP and the northerner to emerge in the APC.

I wrote an article at that time to repudiate this argument and to call out Atiku for his myopia. My point was that the framers of the 1999 constitution made it impossible for anyone to emerge as President without substantial investments and support from the other regions. That is why regional parties in the mould of Obafemi Awolowo’s UPN and Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NPP have not succeeded in the 4th Republic. To be a successful presidential candidate, one needs a broad coalition straddling both the North and South.

I noted that such an insular mindset made Muhammadu Buhari a serial loser of presidential elections until he formed an extensive coalition of leading northern and southern politicians. I also pointed out that southern candidates, Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, had won the presidency handily in the past through such political alliances. In any case, I argued, assuming Atiku was right that the population of the north gave it such a superior advantage that political parties were compelled to field only northerners to ensure victory, did it mean that northerners would rule Nigeria in perpetuity?

Of course, the results of the 2023 presidential election confirmed my arguments and put a lie to this line of reasoning. Atiku’s PDP, expectedly, performed poorly in the South, losing its strongholds of the South-South and South-East to Peter Obi’s LP. Even in the North, he only won nine out of a possible 19 states, which was insufficient to put him ahead in the presidential race. But imagine he had come out on top despite his alienating campaign against southern demographics. That would have disrupted the gentleman’s arrangement for power to move from one zone to another and validated the argument that political parties don’t have to broaden their outlook to win.

As the opposition rallies towards the 2027 elections, it is necessary to draw attention to the PDP’s error of 2023. The narrow messaging of Atiku, Tambuwal and co cost the party its southern support base, making it impossible for the PDP to win. The emerging coalition must therefore be wary of the inclination of some politicians to mask personal ambition as the group’s own and thereby foist an image on it that is narrow, alienating and limiting.

That was the PDP’s fatal undoing in 2023, diminishing from a national party with a support base sufficiently spread across the country to Atiku’s personal electioneering vehicle that pandered to a limited demographic. The drivers of the new coalition must therefore insist that it remains broad-based, drawing strength from its plurality and diversity, like the APC did in 2013 when it was formed. Anything short of that would be Nunc Dimittis, a funeral for a stillborn, rather than the building of a people-owned political party capable of rescuing the country.

X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has agreed to settle a lawsuit from President Donald Trump over censorship allegations following the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Forbes reported the settlement fee as $10 million.

After the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, X, then known as Twitter, permanently suspended his @realDonaldTrump account, while Meta banned him from Facebook and Instagram for two years.

Trump sued the platforms for being unfairly censored.

X is the second major social media platform to mend the legal fracture with Trump.

Last month, Trump signed a settlement agreement to end Meta’s lawsuit.

Meta is reported to pay roughly $25 million – of which $22 million would go toward a fund for Trump’s presidential library.

Since Trump won the election, tech leaders have worked to score points with the US president whom they were previously vocal against during his first term.

At the time, Musk had described Trump as “unfit” to run the United States, however, the tech billionaire now leads a new federal agency –under the US president — dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The world’s richest man also played a significant role in Trump’s campaign leading to him winning the presidential election.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive officer (CEO), did not endorse Trump in the leadup to the election but Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.

Musk and Zuckerberg were among several tech billionaires present during Trump’s inauguration last month.

[TheCable]

Many years ago, when my son was completing paperwork for a job with the Lagos State government, he was required to fill out a form that included his State of Origin. He paused.

It had been marked a compulsory field, and he wanted to know if not filling it would affect his chances. I said it would. He replied that he wouldn’t fill it, even if it meant losing the job. It didn’t make sense to him that his chances might come down solely not to his competence, merit, or the fact that he was born in Lagos, where he has resided all his life – but to the state where he is from.

He didn’t fill it and didn’t get the job, though I cannot remember if there were other reasons. Nigeria is the only country I know where a citizen or resident is compulsorily required to fill out their state of origin and local government and provide details of their forbears to the fourth and fifth generation as a basis for getting a job or contract.

In the beginning

It’s mainly a public sector thing – the sector that has been our blessing and bane. In its original form, “state representation,” apart from being a core unit of the federation, was also supposed to be a form of affirmative action. It was supposed to be a tool to encourage fair representation and protection, especially for ethnic minorities. The colonial government laid the foundation with the Sir Henry Willink Commission in 1957 to examine the agitation of minorities on the eve of Nigeria’s independence.

But like all good things politicians touch, they have managed to debase it. It’s convenient to argue that it was not politicians but the military that started it. States have been created five times since former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon created 12 from the four regions in 1967 to weaken Biafra.

But Gowon did it at the behest of politicians, as has every other military leader after him, including military President Ibrahim Babangida, who loved it so much he did it twice.

Growing obsession

Nigeria has since grown from 12 to 36 states. Former Head of State General Sani Abacha delivered the last set of sextuplets of states in 1996. Yet, the urge for more has not only become a national pastime. It is perhaps the next single biggest obsession of politicians after “budget padding”, a practice that permits lawmakers to inflate the annual appropriation bill to gratify themselves.

All 10 National Assemblies since 1999 have never failed to mention and pursue the creation of more states. Committees on state creation have travelled the country at substantial public expense, selling new states as the snake oil to “marginalised” communities.

At the end of such jamborees, including the collection of tonnes of memos that only feed the public a false hope, the politicians leave expectant communities high and dry until the following memo collection by a new set of politicians who lie to themselves that state creation is the medicine for social injustice. Not exactly true.

Not a joking matter

State creation is a serious business. For example, the request for a new state in Nigeria must be supported by at least two-thirds of the representatives from the area, from the councils to the state and National Assembly.

That’s the first step. After that, it must undergo a referendum that must be ratified by a simple majority of all the states in the federation and by a simple majority of members of the National Assembly. Military governments in the country created states without much resistance because of their unitary command and control structure. Even at that, deadly disputes among splintered states lingered and still linger on for years.

The assets-sharing dispute between Kano and Jigawa States lasted 18 years, while the boundary dispute between Cross River and Akwa Ibom continues after 38 years, with many lives lost. The Oyo-Osun post-state creation clashes rank high on the violent dispute ladder, stoking agitation for the creation of the New Oyo State. The case between Bauchi and Plateau remained a low-intensity dispute that later morphed into ethnoreligious clashes.

States abroad

It’s not for nothing that none of the world’s most prominent federations, such as India, the US, Canada, or Brazil, has created a new state in the last 50 years. This is not because of a lack of demand or because these countries have no ethnic minorities who feel endangered. Instead, they are evolving ways of managing their diversity that reduce the salience of statism as a basis for social justice, such as prioritising merit and competence.  

Agitation for more states remains a recurring problem in Nigeria because politicians have managed to frame it as perhaps the most viable route to development – the channel connecting neglected communities to Abuja’s drunken sailors.

Many governors have praised state creation not necessarily for the opportunities they have created from the exercise by looking inwards but because of their access to Abuja’s monthly pie. For being a state, however miserably governed, Nigerian states are entitled to 26.72 percent of the monthly revenue from the federation account, which can run into billions of naira. Among politicians, the lust for a share of this pie or monthly allocation is at the heart of the relentless demand for new states.

Making it 67?

The House of Representatives’ bill to create 31 additional states to bring the number to 67 is a joke. As far as demands for new states go, the most rigorous effort in the last 20 years was in 2014, when President Goodluck Jonathan’s government set up the National Conference to discuss mainly structural issues facing the country.

The conference recommended 18 additional states to bring the number to 54. The main arguments were the arbitrariness in previous exercises by the military. In the case of the South East, the point was made that the region has remained maliciously underserved in political representation, making it look like a continuation of Nigeria’s Civil War by other means.

A fundamental difference between the conference’s recommendation and others before and after it is the suggestion for six equipotent zones (with the same number of states), which would form the basis of the federating units with the centre. The conference further recommended that each zone could create more states if it deemed desirable and could finance it.

An unlikely adventure

There was no final agreement. “My experience at the conference,” Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, one of the members representing the South West, wrote in a paper in 2017, “suggests that it is highly unlikely that the establishment of zonal governments now or in the near future can be achieved through voluntary, peaceful negotiations.”

It’s even more unlikely now that the Federal Government is almost broke and only four of the 36 existing states are solvent. A 2023 report by the public sector transparency watchdog, BudgIT, said 32 states relied on Federal Allocation for at least 55 percent of their monthly revenue.

What matters

Are politicians genuinely interested in social justice, inclusiveness and development for their communities? They must look beyond the random creation of new states, quotas, privileges and other forms of affirmative action, often a disincentive to merit, resourcefulness and innovation.

States are not in short supply, yet because of primordial greed, the campaign for more will not abate until each of Nigeria’s 350 ethnic nationalities has one. Politicians know the difference between greed and necessity but will not dare to make the right choice. They earn a living by feeding their communities false hope.