The Power of Your PVC: A Civic Awakening
By Haladu Muhammad
As a young Nigerian from the North-East, one issue that has deeply concerned me for over a decade is the widespread apathy among our youth toward the electoral process. When you engage young people from my region or across the country, many express scepticism, asking, “Why should I vote when votes aren’t counted? Why bother standing under the sun?”
They seem to forget the fundamental definition of democracy. As Abraham Lincoln famously stated, democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It is anchored in the rule of law and guarantees us the freedom and civic right to cast our ballots, oversee the counting process, and await the legitimate results.
It saddens me that many young citizens overlook the power of their vote. They abandon their civic duty, claiming that enduring the elements to vote is pointless. My key message to everyone is simple: believe in the power of your participation.
Consider recent gubernatorial elections, such as the one in Osun State. When citizens turned out in large numbers, stood patiently in line despite the rain or heat, and ensured their votes were counted transparently, it proved that the system can work. Similarly, when voters in Zamfara State stood firm behind their preferred candidate in the 2023 election, their votes were reflected in the final outcome.
If all Nigerians emulate this level of dedication, we can drive meaningful change across the nation.
This is why I continuously advocate for young Nigerians, especially those in the North, to register for and secure their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). As we approach the 2027 general elections, we must prepare to participate fully. You cannot sit comfortably at home, voice your preference for leadership, and yet refuse to engage in the democratic process required to elect them. Expecting change without participation is a major contradiction.
Consider this a wake-up call. To those who already hold a PVC, treat it as a vital instrument for your future. Your PVC acts like a master key or a bank card—it grants you the authority to elect leaders who align with your vision and vote out those who fail to deliver. It is a powerful tool for self-determination for every Nigerian.
I urge our youth to mobilise, ensure their voter registration is up to date, and prepare to vote in massive numbers in 2027. Let us use our collective voice to shape the future of our nation.
Haladu Muhammad is a Concerned Citizen of Nigeria. He wrote from Maiduguri.
When Governance Becomes a Philosophy, by Maji Bappa Maina
By Maji Bappa Maina
Governments are often judged by what they build.
But the more important question is what they are able to sustain.
For Governor Mai Mala Buni, governance appears to extend beyond the boundaries of projects, institutions and even the state itself.
His recent engagement in Chad provides another dimension to a governance philosophy shaped by continuity, institutional strengthening, peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, regional cooperation and inclusive development.
The report of his visit to Nigerian refugees in Kaya, Chad, may appear to be simply a humanitarian engagement. But viewed through the wider lens of governance, it represents something deeper.
Governance does not end where a political boundary begins when the problems themselves cross that boundary.
Insecurity does not recognise borders. Neither does displacement, climate pressure, trade or the movement of people.
The Lake Chad region therefore requires more than individual government interventions. It requires institutions that can cooperate across borders and leadership capable of seeing the region as an interconnected system.
This is where Governor Buni’s role as Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum becomes significant.
His visit to the Nigerian refugees in Kaya was not merely about seeing displaced people. It was about listening to them, understanding their circumstances and discussing pathways towards sustainable solutions.
When the refugees described him as the first Nigerian government official to visit them, the significance went beyond protocol.
Presence itself became a form of governance.
But the engagement did not stop at sympathy. The discussion around livelihoods, peaceful coexistence and voluntary return demonstrates an important principle of humanitarian governance: support should not merely sustain vulnerability; it should help people move towards dignity, productivity and resilience.
The Governor’s engagement with the Chadian authorities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission further reinforces this approach.
The emphasis on sustainable security, economic growth, institutional partnership and opening waterways reflects an understanding that the future of the Lake Chad region cannot be secured through security measures alone.
Security creates the space for development.
Development strengthens stability.
Stability creates the conditions for peace to endure.
This connects directly with the broader governance philosophy of the Buni Administration.
A road is more than infrastructure when it connects communities and markets.
Agricultural support is more than an intervention when it enables people to become producers and employers.
And humanitarian assistance becomes more meaningful when it forms part of a pathway towards stability, livelihood and reintegration.
In each case, development becomes an ecosystem rather than a collection of projects.
Perhaps this is the deeper story behind the Buni Administration, not simply what has been constructed or commissioned, but the attempt to build systems capable of moving from recovery to stability, from stability to development, and from development to sustainability.
The journey is neither instant nor complete.
Governance is always a work in progress.
But when leadership begins to think beyond individual projects and toward institutions, systems, communities and generations, development acquires something more valuable than visibility.
It acquires continuity.
And perhaps the strongest measure of leadership is not how loudly achievements are announced, but how quietly the systems created continue to improve people’s lives long after the announcement has ended.
That is when governance becomes more than administration.
It becomes a philosophy.
Maji Bappa Maina is a Political Writer, PhD Researcher, Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight.
Tinubu Appoints Abel Enitan As Head Of Federal Civil Service
By Sabiu Abdullahi
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 27, 2026.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson, who said Enitan would take over from Didi Walson-Jack.
Walson-Jack is expected to retire from the federal civil service after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is currently the most senior permanent secretary in the federal civil service, according to the statement.
“He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President,” the statement reads.
The statement added: “He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.”
Enitan’s appointment places him at the head of the federal civil service as Walson-Jack prepares to leave office at the end of her statutory service period.
Bank of Ghana Appoints Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar to Head Islamic Banking Council
By Muhammad Sulaiman
The Bank of Ghana has appointed prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), to chair the council overseeing interest-free banking operations in the country.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Pandit Asiama, formally inaugurated the new members of the council at a brief ceremony held in Accra.
Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar’s appointment highlights the growing role of Islamic scholars and experts in the development of interest-free banking and Islamic finance.
Professor Umar is a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and a prominent scholar of Islamic studies. The council is expected to help ensure that interest-free banking operations in Ghana comply with the principles and requirements of Islamic law.
The appointment comes at a time when Islamic banking and finance are gaining increasing acceptance in different parts of the world.
Study Links Short-Form Videos to Reduced Brain Activity in Cognitive Control Regions
By Muhammad Abubakar
Frequent exposure to short-form videos on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts may affect brain systems involved in self-control, attention and memory, according to emerging research.
A neuroimaging study found that watching preferred short videos was associated with increased activity in the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion and reward, while areas of the prefrontal cortex responsible for cognitive control showed reduced activity. The researchers said the effect was more pronounced among people with lower levels of self-control.
Other recent research has reported similar concerns. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis covering 71 studies and nearly 98,300 participants found that greater use of short-form video was associated with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in attention and inhibitory control.
A separate study published in npj Science of Learning also found that learning through fragmented short videos was associated with poorer memory accuracy and reduced activity in several brain regions involved in information integration, cognitive control and semantic processing.
However, researchers caution that the findings do not mean that watching TikTok, Reels or Shorts literally “deactivates the brain.” Most studies examine associations or short-term changes in brain activity, and more longitudinal research is needed to establish whether frequent short-form video consumption causes lasting cognitive changes.
The findings nevertheless add to growing concerns about the cognitive effects of endless scrolling and rapidly changing, algorithmically selected content, particularly when such platforms are used for prolonged periods.
Nigerian Police Arrest Tutor, Father in Child Defilement Crackdown
By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects, including a private home lesson teacher and a father, over separate allegations of child defilement across the state.
The arrests were disclosed during a press briefing by Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who also unveiled a major shift in the command’s operational strategy aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable citizens.
“Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command,” CP Daaor said. “We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State into a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment.”
In one of the cases, 52-year-old Daniel Erumudonmoh Okhuilegbe, a home lesson teacher, was apprehended on August 5, 2026, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old pupil entrusted to his care.
“The complainant alleged that the suspect was engaged as a home lesson teacher but allegedly abused the trust placed in him and sexually assaulted the child,” Daaor stated.
Following the conclusion of investigation, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14, 2026, and subsequently remanded at Oko Correctional Centre, Benin.
In a separate incident reported on August 6, 2026, a 42-year-old father was apprehended in Iyahmo over the alleged defilement of his 15-year-old daughter. Following a discrete investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspect was charged to court on August 14, 2026, and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre.
The command also arrested 29-year-old Samson Amachie following an August 10 report transferred from the Okhoro Police Station to the Gender and Family Support Unit. Amachie allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl into an uncompleted building behind his shop. He has since been arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at the Oko Correctional Centre.
In another case reported on August 12 in Okpella, police arrested 26-year-old Otaru Jonathan for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building in Afokpella, where he assaulted her and gave her ₦2,000.
“The survivor was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and attention,” CP Daaor noted, adding that the suspect remains in custody pending arraignment.
Alongside the gender-based violence arrests, police operatives recorded success in tracking down stolen property following a late-night home invasion.
According to the commissioner, on August 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., six armed hoodlums invaded a residential compound on Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, dispossessing residents of mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair, and a Lexus 350 saloon car bearing registration number BWR 988 DH.
“The scene was immediately visited, all divisions were alerted for possible recovery of the vehicle, and patrols were intensified within the community,” Daaor explained. “In a major breakthrough, at about 0900hrs the same day, the stolen Lexus 350 was recovered at Oba Market.”
The police chief assured residents that investigations remain active to track down the fleeing members of the robbery gang and recover the remaining stolen items.
Tinubu to Address UNGA in New York on September 23
By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will represent Nigeria at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver a national address on September 23, 2026, in New York City.
According to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tinubu will be the 10th speaker on the roster during the morning session of the second day of the high-level debate. His speech is scheduled for approximately 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM New York time, which corresponds to 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM Nigerian time.
The theme for this year’s General Assembly is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Beyond his main address, the Nigerian leader is expected to participate in several side meetings and summits focusing on climate change, pandemic preparedness frameworks, and West African border security.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Tinubu may also hold a bilateral meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the margins of the assembly, although this meeting has yet to be officially confirmed.
The annual UN General Assembly brings together world leaders to address pressing global challenges and chart a course for international cooperation.
Murray-Bruce To Tinubu: Nigeria Needs More ‘Mad Men’ in Government
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint more officials who are willing to challenge established interests and pursue measurable results.
Murray-Bruce made the call while urging the president to make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of Nigeria’s government-owned refineries a top priority.
His comments followed Tinubu’s recent statement that his administration remained committed to restoring the nation’s refineries to productive capacity and ensuring that they become profitable.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Murray-Bruce used the expression “mad men” to describe officials who would confront ineffective systems, challenge powerful interests and take difficult decisions in the national interest.
“Mr President, Nigeria needs more mad men in your government,” he said.
“And before anybody deliberately misunderstands me, let me explain what I mean by mad men.
“I mean men and women who are crazy enough to confront a broken system, step on powerful toes, offend entrenched interests and refuse to accept mediocrity simply because mediocrity has become normal.
“We need people who wake up every morning obsessed with results. We need people who are prepared to become unpopular in Abuja if that is the price of becoming useful to Nigeria.”
The former senator said such an approach was particularly necessary in the petroleum sector, where he wants the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries revived alongside efforts to increase crude oil production.
“Mr President, make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries a national obsession,” he said.
“And please, no more excuses. Nigerians have heard enough explanations about turnaround maintenance, contractors, technical reviews, committees, timelines and billions spent. We want products coming out of those refineries.”
Murray-Bruce also advised the Federal Government to explore alternative ownership and management arrangements if such options would make the refineries efficient and profitable.
“If government cannot operate them efficiently, find the structure that can. Bring in world-class technical partners. Introduce private capital where necessary. Restructure them. Concession them if that produces the best outcome,” he said.
“But whatever model is chosen, the objective must be brutally simple: MAKE THE REFINERIES WORK.”
He pointed to the Dangote refinery as proof that large-scale petroleum refining could operate in Nigeria. The facility has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
According to him, the three government-owned refineries should aim for at least half of that capacity, which would amount to about 325,000 barrels per day, as reliable and commercially viable output.
The former senator further called on Tinubu to appoint a person who could drive the administration’s target of increasing crude oil production to four million barrels per day by 2030.
“Find somebody who considers 1.5 million barrels unacceptable when the national ambition is 4 million,” he said.
He said such an official should be prepared to tackle crude oil theft, bureaucratic obstacles and other challenges that limit production while also attracting fresh investment and unlocking dormant assets.
“I don’t want another committee chairman. I want a mad man. I don’t want somebody who will spend four years explaining why something cannot be done. I want somebody crazy enough to do it,” he said.
Murray-Bruce named Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as examples of the type of officials he believes the president needs.
“Two mad men are not enough for a country of more than 200 million people,” he said, urging Tinubu to bring more officials into government who are “obsessed with results”.
“Four million barrels per day. Working refineries. A Nigeria that refines its own crude and exports petroleum products to the world. No excuses. No clowns. No passengers. Only results,” he added.
INEC To Deploy 1.4m Ad Hoc Staff For 2027 Elections
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections.
The commission disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when it hosted a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), led by its president, Dan Twining.
The IRI team is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21 as part of a pre-election assessment aimed at reviewing INEC’s preparations and identifying areas where international technical assistance could support the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the planned personnel would be deployed across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He said the commission was also improving its logistics arrangements, expanding early deployment of personnel and materials, and strengthening cooperation with transport unions to facilitate the movement of election officials and election materials.
Amupitan described the IRI visit as timely, particularly after the recent Osun governorship election and ahead of the 2027 campaign season.
He said recent off-cycle governorship elections and legislative by-elections had provided opportunities for INEC to test its technology, logistics and security arrangements.
According to him, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal have continued to perform reliably, with more than 98 per cent of results uploaded in recent elections.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was introducing measures to improve voter registration. The measures include online registration, continuous updating of the voters’ register and efforts to ensure that voter information remains accurate.
He said additional measures would be introduced to make the electoral process more accessible to persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
Amupitan identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as some of the emerging challenges that could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections.
He said INEC had established a unit focused on artificial intelligence to develop guidelines for responsible technology use and tackle false information capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.
The chairman reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, stating that INEC would not favour any political party or candidate.
He said the commission’s primary duty was to conduct elections that represent the wishes of Nigerians, with the recent Osun governorship election cited as part of efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections.
Amupitan also acknowledged the need for the commission to take further steps to increase voter participation in future elections.
Speaking on the purpose of the IRI mission, Twining said the organisation wanted to support a competitive, peaceful and credible electoral process in Nigeria.
He said the delegation would examine INEC’s preparations, identify possible challenges and consider ways the international community could assist Nigeria’s democratic development.
“We know how committed Nigerians are to exercising their democratic rights,” Twining said.
“Our interest is a competitive, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria, and we look forward to learning how we can support that objective.”
FCTA Begins Demolition of Structures Built on Abuja Waterways
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started demolishing houses and other structures erected on designated waterways across Abuja.
The enforcement exercise began in Maitama on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following a directive from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Officials of the FCTA deployed heavy-duty equipment to remove some of the structures identified as obstructing water channels.
Wike gave the directive after inspecting areas affected by flash floods that swept through parts of the Federal Capital Territory after heavy rainfall on Saturday.
The minister blamed the severity of the flooding partly on buildings constructed on waterways and warned that the status of property owners would not prevent the removal of illegal structures.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.
He said the demolition exercise would continue from Tuesday to Saturday.
The minister also ordered the immediate desilting of drainage channels identified across the FCT as part of measures to reduce the risk of further flooding.
The recent flooding affected several parts of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse 2, Gudu and Lokogoma, where residents were stranded and vehicles were submerged.
According to Wike, the flooding resulted from both natural and human factors. He identified construction on waterways, blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate disposal of waste as some of the factors that worsened the situation.
The FCT Administration said it would strengthen enforcement of development regulations to prevent structures from blocking the natural flow of stormwater.