1 JUL 2024 · On June 12, precisely on the occasion of Nigeria's Democracy Day, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State addressed a diverse array of pressing national issues at an event hosted to commemorate the day. Such issues bordered on the new national minimum wage, federalism, local government autonomy, and economic sustainability. It was a mixed bag of contentious perspectives, commendable foresight and pragmatic considerations depending on who is assessing. These opinions both partially and fully captured by the media are what one could refer to as his governance philosophy.  Here, we weigh the recent words of Governor Soludo on Democracy Day on key national issues and how these may impact developmental policies of his government and invariably affect the life of the Anambra citizen. 

30 JUN 2024 · SUNDAY MESSAGE  A look at 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-15 and exploring why idleness can be the devil's workshop. Discovering how embracing diligence not only honors God but also transforms lives. 

30 JUN 2024 · Misconduct encompasses various forms of unethical behavior and actions contrary to established norms or laws. These can include sexual harassment, human trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery, fraud, bullying, child molestation, extortion, and more. Such is the case in the two stories we focused on in this discussion. In the first story, which took place in Anambra State, a suspect identified as Ike Okoye was accused of molesting and allegedly engaging in homosexual acts with young boys in Isuofia community.  In the second story, which occurred at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, some lecturers within the Department of Political Science have been accused of extorting postgraduate students to the tune of sometimes 100,000 Naira for the purpose of building a befitting toilet for the lecturers.  Now, several questions arise. How prevalent are these forms of misconduct? What institutional failures contribute to their occurrence and persistence? Will the victims receive justice, and how can we save those in similar situations but are unable to find reprieve.  Here, we look at these two specific misconducts, the underlying causes, and the solutions in addressing them as well as other forms of misconduct and abuse of power.

30 JUN 2024 · Reviewing the recent fire outbreak at Dangote Refinery and all other matters that have cropped up since operations began at the refinery. 

24 JUN 2024 · There are drums beating for the creation of an additional state for the south east region of Nigeria.  One of such is from the member representing Ideato North/South federal constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere who is advocating for the creation of Orlu State. In a similar vein, the Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko is pushing for the creation of Anioma State.  For proper context, these drum beats stem from a need for equity and balance given that, out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, only the south east has five states while the rest have six states ,with the exception of the north west region which has seven states. Is the recent call for the creation of Orlu and Anioma States the solution to cries of marginalisation from the region or is it just an unecessary distraction.  Here, we look into all sides in this quest for Orlu and Anioma States, and the broader implications for Nigeria's political space.

24 JUN 2024 · It's no longer news that when it comes to human capital development indexes, Nigeria ranks very low. This reality was underscored on Democracy Day when Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, lamented the country's hunger index ranking, highlighting Nigeria's struggles with food insecurity and poverty. According to Mr. Obi, Nigeria ranks 109th out of 125 countries measured on the Global Hunger Index.  Given this data and other poor rankings, the resultant effect is telling. Street begging has emerged as a visible symptom of Nigeria's poverty crisis.  In our discussion here, we look into the complexities of street begging in Nigeria, exploring its causes, impact on communities, and potential strategies for curbing this societal challenge.

24 JUN 2024 · Last week, cholera cases were reported in 30 states across Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over 1,000 cases were documented, with fatalities numbering 30 since the outbreak started in January, 2024.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. In Nigeria, cholera outbreaks are unfortunately not uncommon, especially during the rainy season when flooding and compromised water systems facilitate the spread of the disease. Given the annual occurrence of cholera in Nigeria, how can we effectively combat it? Here, we look into the factors contributing to the current cholera outbreak across Nigeria. We also look at strategies for immediate containment and long-term prevention. 

17 JUN 2024 · Debates and controversies have been brewing following the approval of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for commercial cultivation in Nigeria.  The federal government of Nigeria in January 2024 approved the commercial release of four varieties of genetically modified maize known as Tela maize. These varieties, engineered for insect resistance and drought tolerance, aim to bolster agricultural productivity and address food security challenges across the country. Here, we discuss the multifaceted issues surrounding GMO adoption in Nigeria, weighing the promises of increased yields against the backdrop of health, environmental, and socio-economic concerns. 

17 JUN 2024 · A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives is championing a series of constitutional alterations. The lawmakers led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, lawmaker representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency under the aegis of "The Reformers," while addressing a press conference argued that a Six-Year Single term will curb the politicking associated with reelection campaigns while enhancing administrative effectiveness. Here, we dig in into this occasional proposal of single Six-Year Term for Executives in Nigeria and other proposals brought forward by the lawmakers. 

12 JUN 2024 · Recently, the Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, expressed deep concern over the vandalisation going on at the Second Niger Bridge. Umahi's remarks came in the wake of a discovery revealing the vandalization of rail fittings on the bridge. This discovery was brought to light through a viral video circulating on social media. In the video, an individual by name Lord Zeus narrated the wanton destruction of railings on the Bridge, cautioning drivers, particularly during night-time travel, about the potential hazards posed by the compromised structure. Regrettably, this is not the first instance of vandalism at the Second Niger Bridge. A similar incident occurred in 2023, with authorities promising a quick action. Unfortunately, this has continued.  The question is, why has the Second Niger Bridge been subjected to the activities of vandals.  In this discussion, we look into the reasons behind the continuous vandalization of the Second Niger Bridge and  potential solutions to the menace.