Economy

By Isah Kamisu Madachi

The furore over whether the tax laws should be implemented has passed. The nationwide discussions about the discrepancy between the gazetted version and the version passed by the National Assembly have also faded. January 1 has come and gone, and many changes, especially around digital transactions, are already beginning to manifest, as provided for under the new tax law. The consolidated tax laws under the tax reform regime are now in force, and as a citizen, I hope they are backed by strong accountability mechanisms and oversight to ensure that collected taxes are used for the right purposes.

However, I observed a major policy gap in the final moments of the law’s implementation, which, if left unaddressed, could not only undermine the law’s effectiveness but also cause greater harm to its objectives. If I were to estimate, I would say that less than 5% of Nigerians understand what the new tax law contains, how it works, and what it does not do. This knowledge gap has created a fertile ground for misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. 

In the past few days, I have personally encountered many people who told me they had withdrawn all the money saved in their bank accounts and converted it to cash. They said they no longer trust cashless transactions. Some were told that every transaction, regardless of the amount, would incur a flat ₦50 fee. 

Others were also told that keeping money in their accounts would result in monthly deductions, or that 5% of their savings would be deducted each month for tax. None of these claims could be traced to any provision of the law, yet they are widely shared with absolute confidence.

Another unfortunate experience was my encounter with a young and vibrant POS agent from whom I regularly withdraw cash. He told me he had shut down his business. According to what he was told, every ₦500,000 transaction would attract ₦15,000 in tax, every ₦5 million would attract ₦250,000, and any transaction above ₦1,000 would automatically be charged ₦50. 

He was also told these deductions would be accumulated and collected at the end of the month, and that’s what frightened him most. He used to make transactions averaging ₦50 million per month. With this information, he now chose to abandon his livelihood. Whether these claims are true or false is not the most important when one considers the damage such misinformation is already causing.

There is also a growing narrative, particularly on social media, that every transaction must now be clearly explained in the narration section. People are being told they must specify whether the money is for savings, shopping, gifts, rewards, profit, or salary. A counter-narrative exists saying this is false. Sadly, the average Nigerian does not know which version to believe. In an environment where official clarity is weak, rumours travel faster than facts.

If I were to document all the misinformation circulating about the new tax law, it would take more than a newspaper opinion. New versions emerge almost every hour. The most alarming outcome of this misinformation is how people are altering their economic behaviour. Businesses are being abandoned. Trust in digital finance is being eroded. People are deserting the cashless system out of fear, believing their money is no longer safe in the banking system.

The only effort I am aware of to address this information gap is the reported engagement of social media influencers to enlighten the public. If this effort has begun, it is not enough. If it has not, then it is urgently needed. But beyond influencers, one must ask: what happened to local radio stations? Radio remains the primary source of information for millions of Nigerians, especially in rural areas. The law should be broken down and discussed in local languages on local radio. 

There are also a proliferation of online television platforms operating across social media spaces. The tax reform committee should collaborate strategically with them to explain the law in simple, creative ways. Influencers alone cannot carry this burden. Public communication must be broader, more structured, and more deliberate.

The Federal Ministry of Information also plays a central role here. There is an urgent need for a simplified version of the tax law, as well as translations into local languages, and for their dissemination in collaboration with state ministries of information. Students, heads of households, community leaders, traders, and small business owners must all be deliberately engaged. Town hall meetings, especially in peri-urban communities, should be organised. They are necessary to counter the scale of misinformation already circulating.

When people are largely unaware of what a law entails, dysfunction is inevitable. The law may exist, but its implementation will be undermined by fear, resistance, and unintended consequences. By the look of things, those who understand the new tax law are currently the fewest in Nigeria, even among the highly educated. If this gap remains wide open, the law may struggle to achieve its intended outcomes.

Now that it’s here, I hope, and I genuinely pray, that if effectively implemented and properly communicated, the new tax laws will become one of the long-awaited channels for fixing many of Nigeria’s challenges. But without deliberate public education, I doubt if the policy can yield the desired result.

Isah Kamisu Madachi is a public policy enthusiast and development practitioner. He writes from Abuja and can be reached via: isahkamisumadachi@gmail.com.

By Dahiru Kasimu Adamu

Ahead of Argungu International fishing and cultural festival which was scheduled to hold from 11 February to 14 February 2025 we take a look of some tourist centers to visit in the ancient town of Kabawan Kanta.

Argungu International fishing and cultural festival is a unique  global event previously celebrates annually, it rooted in the pursuit of peace and unity. This extraordinary event showcases the rich historical legacy of the Kabawan Kanta and preserves the invaluable cultural heritage of the Kabawa people.

More than a festival, Argungu is a world-renowned tourism destination, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of the town, Kebbi State and Nigeria as a whole.

Most people don’t know that, beside the famous fishing festival, there are so many colorful cultural and traditional activities, which are observed concurrently, during the same period. Some of  these activities which are attached to the festival include, 

1. Traditional Boxing, 
2. Durbar, Horse Racing,
3. Motor Rally,
4. Kabanci Display,
5. The Grand Fishing Competition and many more.

Apart from the series activities of the festival, visitors also would have opportunities to visit historical and tourist centers of the town such as; the famous Kanta Museum.

Kanta Museum, is a Historical and cultural Center, which was the Emirs palace between 1831 and 1940, but it was converted to a Museum in 1942 after the European colonialists built the new Emir Palace in Tudun Wada Area of the ancient town of Argungu during the reign of Muhammed Sani.

Since then, the place has been a tourist center for many years. It showcases the true meaning of diversity with different cultures and histories of the Kabawan Kanta on display. It was named after Muhammed Kanta, who founded the Kebbi Kingdom in 1515. The Museum boasts a collation of historical artifacts and a testament to the ancient architectural beauty of the people.

It has eleven sections and contains historical and cultural elements related to the Kabawa and their history, which include the Royal Palace, then the Cultural section, the people and their religion section, the traditional crafts and the music section, the antiques section, a section dedicated to Surame, the first settlement of the Kabi Kingdom, war equipment, (such as spears, swords, woods, stones, bows and arrows and even drums on display) fishing tools section, amongst others.

Many people, including students from different schools and neighboring countries visit the museum at all times, for different purposes including educational and cultural research, although during the festive season about five to seven hundred people visit the Museum a day.

The Matanfada River

Matanfada river is a very special stage of the famous Argungu Fishing Festival competition. Over five hundreds fishermen storm the river for fishing competition. Visiting the river and the scenario give a deeper appreciation of its cultural and historical importance.

Another river site is the Mala River, which is another significant tributary in the Argungu. It forms part of the fertile river system that feeds the farmlands and fishing grounds of Argungu and its stage of Kabanci display.

The Argungu Bridge:

It is a prominent bridge that crosses the river connecting local governments of Argungu Emirate and also a route to Niger republic. It is a central landmark and a prime viewing spot for spectators during the fishing festival, offering a vantage point over the competitions. If you have a chance to be there during the event, try and climb the bridge!

The Argungu Fadama Land is a vast fadama land, which is nourished by the rivers. It is exceptionally fertile and crucial for agricultural activities, producing crops like rice, vegetables and many others, supporting the local economy of the residents.

The Emir’s Palace: Argungu Emir palace which is also known as Kanta Palace is located at Tudun wada Area of Argungu. The palace is the seat of the Emir of Argungu, the overall constituted authority of the Emirate. The palace also showcases historical and administrative system of government of the Kabawa, and it’s many sections reflecting living heritage of the Kabawan Kanta.

For equestrian culture, the Horse Racing Course roars to life during the festival and NSK Polo Ranch hosts the Polo tournaments and fates illustrating the horse sporting in the region.

There are 7 historical gates in Argungu and all are connected to the history and culture of the town, this gates are; Kofar Maicibi, Sagware, Kofar Tudu, Kofar Mala, Kofar Marina, Kofar Dankoji and Kofar tsohi.

Some of the gates such as Kofar Maichibi, Kofar Tudu had been rehabilitated and they serve as a symbolic of Argungu’s past history, marking and signifying old boundaries and stories of the community, its trade, strength and defense.

All these locations are interconnected elements of Argungu’s geography and culture and they are stages for a major cultural event contributing greatly to the socio-cultural development of Kebbi State and Nigeria at large.

See you there, and you will surely thank me for what you get.

By Aminu Babayo Shehu

Nigeria is entering a period where technology is no longer optional for national development. Around the world, countries that once depended on natural resources are rapidly transforming their economies through innovation, high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-driven industries. Nigeria’s long-term plan, Nigeria Agenda 2050, recognises this reality. One of its key policy directions is to accelerate technology development across all sectors to increase the production of high-technology products. This policy is not simply aspirational. It is urgent, practical and necessary for economic survival.

For decades, crude oil has dominated Nigeria’s revenue base. Yet oil is a finite resource, prone to global price shocks and increasingly less attractive as the world shifts to renewable energy. Technology products, on the other hand, are expanding at a scale that dwarfs resource-based industries. The global tech market is projected to exceed $10 trillion over the next decade. Nations that embrace high-tech production are generating new wealth, attracting investment, and creating jobs at a pace unimaginable under traditional economies.

Countries such as South Korea, Singapore, India, and China were once struggling nations with limited natural resources. South Korea transformed from poverty to a top global economy by investing in electronics, telecommunications, robotics and semiconductors. Today, companies like Samsung contribute more to South Korea’s GDP than the entire oil sector contributes to Nigeria.

China shifted from low-wage manufacturing to high-tech dominance in areas such as electric vehicles, drones, AI, and telecommunications. Its tech exports now reshape global markets. India invested heavily in its tech talent, building the world’s largest IT outsourcing industry and becoming a leading hub for software engineering, fintech, and space technology. These countries show that consistent investment in research, innovation, and human capital produces national transformation.

Nigeria has the potential to make similar progress, but time is not on our side. The world will not wait for us. If we continue to rely on crude oil as our primary revenue source, we will fall even further behind. Our young population, one of the largest in Africa, is an asset only if it is empowered with digital skills, research opportunities, and innovative platforms. Otherwise, it becomes a liability.

High-technology production can reshape Nigeria’s economy in several ways. First, it will diversify national revenue and reduce the need for excessive borrowing. Countries with strong technology sectors generate significant income from intellectual property, digital services, hardware production, and global tech partnerships. Nigeria can do the same by promoting local manufacturing of electronics, renewable energy components, agri-tech equipment, medical devices, cybersecurity solutions, and AI-powered tools.

Second, investment in technology drives innovation across all sectors. Agriculture can be transformed through agri-drones, smart irrigation and data-driven farm management. Healthcare can be strengthened through telemedicine, diagnostic tools and biotechnology research. Security agencies can rely on surveillance drones, satellite imaging and digital intelligence rather than outdated methods. Education can be improved through digital learning platforms, simulation labs and computing infrastructure. These are the kinds of advancements that lift entire nations.

Third, high-tech development creates high-quality jobs. Instead of exporting raw materials, Nigeria can export advanced products and services. Instead of depending on foreign technology, we can build our own solutions. Instead of losing talented youth to migration, we can build an economy that retains and rewards them.

However, none of this will happen by accident. Nigeria must deliberately invest in research and development, strengthen universities and technical institutions, build innovation hubs, support local manufacturing, and fund STEM programs from primary school through postgraduate level. Policies must be consistent, leadership must be committed, and institutions must have the resources needed to produce world-class results.

If Nigeria takes the Nigeria Agenda 2050 technology policy seriously, we can transition from a raw-material exporter to a high-tech producer within a generation. But if we continue to postpone action, the cost will be grave. Nations that invest early in technology win the future. Nations that delay are left behind.

Nigeria has the talent, the population and the potential. What we need now is the political will and the investment to match our ambition. High-technology production is not just an economic option. It is the pathway to sovereignty, prosperity and long-term stability.

Aminu Babayo Shehu is a Software Engineer, Mobile Developer, and Technology Advocate. He can be reached at absheikhone@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has officially unveiled its new institutional logo, formally marking its transition from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to a newly established revenue authority.

The unveiling ceremony took place in Abuja on Wednesday and was announced in a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser to the chairman of the NRS.

Speaking at the event, Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the NRS, described the new brand identity as a major milestone in the ongoing reform of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework, reflecting a renewed mandate and institutional vision.

Adekanmbi noted that the service became operational after President Bola Tinubu signed the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025 in June, paving the way for the transition from FIRS to NRS.

The new logo, officials said, symbolises efficiency, accountability, and a modernised approach to revenue generation in Nigeria.

By Isah Kamisu Madachi

For over a week now, flipping through the pages of Nigerian newspapers, social media, and other media platforms, the dominant issue trending nationwide has been the discovery of significant discrepancies between the gazetted version of the Tax Laws made available to the public and what was actually passed by the Nigerian legislature. Since this shocking discovery by a member of the House of Representatives, opinions from tax experts, public affairs analysts, activists, civil society organisations, opposition politicians, and professional bodies have been pouring in.

Many interesting events that could disrupt the pace of the debate have recently surfaced in the media. Yet the Tax Law discussion persists because public interest is deeply entrenched in the contested laws. However, while many view the issue from angles such as a breach of public trust, a violation of legislative privilege by the executive council, the passage of an ill-prepared law and so on, I see it from a different, narrower, and governance-centred perspective.

What brought this issue to public attention was an alarm raised by Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki, a Member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, during a House plenary on 17 December 2025. He called the attention of the House to what he identified as discrepancies between the gazetted version of the Tax Laws he obtained from the Federal Ministry of Information and what was actually debated, agreed upon, and passed on the floor of both the House and the Senate. He requested that the Speaker ensure all relevant documents, including the harmonised versions, the Votes and Proceedings of both chambers, and the gazetted copies, are brought before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny. The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a serious breach of his legislative privilege.

Beyond that, however, my concern is about how safe and protected Nigerians’ interests are in the hands of our lawmakers at the National Assembly. This ongoing discussion raises a critical question about representation in Nigeria. Does this mean that if Dasuki had also been indifferent and had not bothered to utilise the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to obtain the gazetted version of the laws from the Federal Ministry of Information, take time to study it, and make comparisons, there would have been no cause for alarm from any of Nigeria’s 360 House of Representatives members and 109 senators? Do lawmakers discard the confidence we reposed in them immediately after the election results are declared?

This debate serves a latent function of waking us up to the reality of the glaring disconnect between public interest and the interests of our representatives. The legislature in a democratic setting is a critical institution that goes beyond routine plenaries that are often uninteresting and sparsely attended by the lawmakers. It is meant to be a space for scrutiny, deliberation, and the protection of public interest, especially when complex laws with wide social consequences are involved. 

We saw Sen. Ali Ndume in a short video clip that recently swept the media, furiously saying during a verbal altercation with Sen. Adams Oshiomhole over ambassadorial screening that “the Senate is not a joke.” The Senate is, of course, not a joke, and neither should the entire National Assembly be. Ideally, it should not be a joke to the legislators themselves or to us. Therefore, we should not shy away from discussing how disinterested those entrusted with the task of representing us, and primarily protecting our interests, appear to be in our collective affairs.

It is not a coincidence that, even before the current debate over the tax reform law, it has continued to generate controversy since its inception. It also does not take quantum mechanics to understand that something is fundamentally wrong when almost nobody truly understands the law. Thanks to social media, I have come across numerous skits, write-ups, and commentaries attempting to explain it, but often followed by opposing responses saying that the authors either did not understand the law themselves or did not take sufficient time to study it.

The controversy around the gazetted Tax Reform Laws should not end with public outrage or media debates alone. It should prompt deeper reflection on how laws are made, scrutinised, and defended in Nigeria’s democracy. A system that relies on the alertness of a single lawmaker to prevent serious legislative discrepancies is neither resilient nor reliable. Representation cannot be occasional, and vigilance cannot be optional. 

Nigerians deserve a legislature that safeguards their interests, not one that notices breaches only when a few individuals choose to be different and look closely. If this ongoing debate does not lead to formidable internal checks and a renewed sense of responsibility among lawmakers, then the problem is far bigger than a flawed gazette. When legislative processes fail, it is ordinary Nigerians who bear the cost through policies they did not scrutinise and consequences they did not consent to.

Isah Kamisu Madachi is a public policy enthusiast and development practitioner. He writes from Abuja and can be reached via: isahkamisumadachi@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will automatically function as a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) for Nigerians starting from January 2026, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced.

According to the FIRS, the policy is part of broader efforts to harmonise government databases, improve tax administration, and expand the country’s tax net. By linking tax records directly to the NIN, authorities aim to reduce duplication, enhance compliance, and make it easier for individuals and businesses to fulfil their tax obligations.

Officials said the integration would streamline identification across government services while strengthening transparency and efficiency in revenue collection.

Nigerians are therefore encouraged to ensure their NIN details are accurate and up to date ahead of the January 2026 implementation.

The move aligns with ongoing digital reforms by the Federal Government to modernise public administration and improve service delivery nationwide.

By Ahmed Usman

As the year 2025 draws to a close, moments of reflection naturally set in, especially for an economy that has endured sharp shocks, painful adjustments, and cautious reforms. In an era of global economic turbulence marked by uneven commodity prices, persistently tight financial conditions, rising geopolitical tensions, regional insecurity, and an international retreat from development aid, many emerging economies have suffered currency instability, capital flight, and fiscal distress. 

For Nigeria, however, the year presents an unusual picture. Amid global uncertainty and domestic strain, key economic indicators are beginning to stabilise, prompting a deeper question about whether the country is merely ending the year on a fortunate note or finally turning a policy-driven corner.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Nigeria’s economy will grow by about 3.9 per cent in 2025, with growth expected to strengthen modestly to around 4.1 per cent in 2026, driven by macroeconomic stabilisation and reform efforts across key sectors. While these numbers may not yet place Nigeria among the world’s fastest-growing economies, they mark a notable improvement from the passive growth of recent years and signal a gradual return of confidence.

One of the most significant recent developments is Nigeria’s GDP rebasing, which revealed that the economy is about 30 per cent larger than previously estimated. This adjustment is not merely a statistical exercise. It reflects the growing importance of services, digital trade, creative industries, and telecommunications, sectors that employ millions of Nigerians, particularly young people.

For households, a larger and more diversified economy is essential because it reduces overdependence on oil and expands opportunities for income outside traditional sectors. For policymakers, it improves Nigeria’s standing in global markets and provides a clearer picture of where growth is coming from, enabling more targeted policies.

The rebasing has also reshaped Nigeria’s debt profile. The debt-to-GDP ratio now stands at about 40 per cent, well below the levels seen in many peer emerging economies. More importantly, debt service as a share of government revenue has fallen to below 50 per cent, from much higher levels in previous years. This easing of fiscal pressure means the government now has slightly more flexibility to allocate resources to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection. However, the challenge remains that Nigeria’s revenue base remains among the weakest globally, making sustained revenue mobilisation critical.

Perhaps the most tangible improvement for households and businesses has come from the foreign exchange market. After years of volatility and sharp depreciation, recent months have seen a reduction in exchange rate volatility, a narrowing of the gap between official and parallel market rates, and a gradual buildup of external reserves, now estimated at over $36 billion. This stabilisation has practical consequences. It helps slow imported inflation, reducing pressure on food, fuel, and medicine prices. Foreign portfolio inflows have also picked up, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

Nigeria’s capital markets are also telling a positive story. The stock market is enjoying its strongest rally in nearly two decades, with the All-Share Index posting record gains. This surge reflects expectations of improved corporate earnings and better macroeconomic coordination. Similarly, Nigeria’s bond market has entered a bullish phase, with falling yields and strong demand from both domestic and foreign investors. Lower bond yields reduce government borrowing costs and can eventually translate into lower interest rates for businesses and households seeking credit.

After reaching painful highs, inflation (food inflation) has begun to ease, FX conditions have improved, and supply pressures have eased. Although prices remain elevated, the slowdown in food prices offers some relief to households whose purchasing power has been severely eroded over the past two years.

Perhaps the most encouraging fiscal development is the sharp rise in government revenue. This improvement reflects tax administration reforms, subsidy removal, and better compliance. Higher revenue is central to Nigeria’s long-term stability. It reduces reliance on borrowing, strengthens public services, and allows targeted social spending to cushion vulnerable households from reform-related shocks.

Despite these gains, Nigeria’s resilience should not be mistaken for strength. The economy remains vulnerable to oil price swings, climate shocks, global financial tightening, and domestic security challenges. Monetary pressures, fiscal constraints, and external risks continue to interact in ways that could quickly reverse progress.

However, resilience built on sound fiscal management, credible monetary policy, and structural reform is fundamentally different from resilience driven by temporary luck. Strengthening domestic revenue, managing debt prudently, investing in human capital, and deepening diversification are not optional; they are essential.

Is the question whether Nigeria’s current resilience is the product of good policies or good luck? The evidence increasingly points toward policy-driven stabilisation, though aided by favourable timing and improved coordination.

The fundamentals are improving, confidence is returning, and the economy is stronger than it has been in years. The challenge now is to convert this fragile resilience into inclusive and durable growth, growth that raises living standards, creates jobs, and restores hope for millions of households.

Ahmed Usman wrote via ahmedusmanbox@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has assured that all outstanding earned academic allowances owed to staff of state-owned universities will be fully paid before the end of December 2025.

The governor also directed the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning to conduct a comprehensive assessment of land belonging to Northwest University, Kano, with a mandate to revoke any illegal allocations or encroachments linked to the previous administration.

These decisions were disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

Governor Yusuf spoke during the 35th State Executive Council meeting, which featured a courtesy visit by the Pro-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, alongside members of the Governing Council and the university’s management.

The visit was to formally present Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero as the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Prof. Bayero, a pioneer academic staff member of the university, recently made history as the first female Vice-Chancellor to emerge from within the institution’s academic ranks.

According to the statement, the governor commended the Governing Council for concluding a rigorous and transparent process that led to the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.

He urged Prof. Bayero to carry out her responsibilities with diligence and to work closely with all stakeholders to enhance academic excellence throughout her five-year tenure.

Governor Yusuf further reassured the new management of his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges confronting the university, while expressing optimism that the institution would witness improved academic standards and institutional growth under the new leadership.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, revealed that the selection process for the Vice-Chancellor lasted ten months and received unanimous approval from the Governing Council.

He added that the appointment of the university’s first female Vice-Chancellor had been widely welcomed.

In her remarks, Prof. Bayero expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged her full commitment to the task ahead.

She also unveiled a 14-point agenda aimed at repositioning Northwest University, Kano, for greater academic and administrative excellence.

By Isah Kamisu Madachi

On Thursday, 4th December 2025, my cousin Tajuddeen bade us farewell on his way to Lafia, Nasarawa State. They left early in the morning in a Hummer bus. Around 10 a.m., they had a terrible accident in a town near Bauchi metropolis. All the passengers in the vehicle were badly injured. Tajuddeen, along with the bus driver and two others, instantly slipped into coma.

Other passengers were either with more than one fracture or several wounds. On the evening of 6 December, the driver’s suffering came to an end as he passed away. The following day, another one of the passengers in the coma also died. On 8 December, the third victim in coma breathed his last, leaving my cousin still in the ICU section of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

The cause of the accident was tyre failure. While they were on the road hoping to reach Jos in the afternoon, their back tyre burst and the bus somersaulted several times. The primary cause of the tyre failure was actually overload. Coincidentally, as I was on a phone call with a friend, he narrated how another terrible accident occurred close to my hometown as a result of tyre issue which instantly claimed two lives and left others badly injured.

I was really shocked and worried because not long ago, on a trip to Lagos, our own bus was carrying two commercial vehicles in addition to overloaded luggage of passengers and waybills. Even before the vehicles were brought, one had to ask whether humans would still get a seat after such loads were mounted. Lo and behold, the vehicles were arranged in a way that you couldn’t even see them inside the boot.

Last month, on our way back home from Kano, we witnessed another accident around Shuwarin town in Jigawa State. It was a jam-packed hummer bus obviously heading to either Damaturu or Maiduguri. They also had a tyre failure which resulted in several deaths. By the time we arrived at the accident scene, out of more than 20 passengers including the driver, only two people were still alive. The rest appeared lifeless.

If I were to narrate all the road accidents I have witnessed, most of them caused by tyre failure, I would have to write a book of a hundred pages. Road accidents are too many across Nigeria. Less than one week ago, I saw a picture on social media that stirred wide reactions. A commercial bus was overloaded to the extent that if one wanted to go out at a transit point, they had to pass through the boot as the doorway was blocked by bags. Even in the case of an emergency, no one could use the door because luggage completely covered the entrance. Many people commented that this is common in Nigerian motor parks.

When we talk about things that claim the lives of Nigerians, I believe road accidents is of course one of the biggest culprits, even more than insecurity in some cases. Anyone who travels widely by road knows this fact. And most of these accidents are avoidable if only we take transport safety seriously.

To bring to an end or at least reduce the intensity of the problem, we need a comprehensive transport policy that tackles overload and the abuse of luggage space. Parks should be mandated to use dedicated cargo buses. If a passenger’s luggage is above 10kg, it should automatically be transferred to a cargo vehicle, not stuffed into a bus carrying humans. For waybills, there should be separate buses whose only function is to transport goods from one state to another; especially the popular routes between Northern and Southern Nigeria or even within the North along routes like Kano-Borno, Taraba-Kaduna, Abuja-Adamawa and others.

Another important solution is the deployment of safety personnel to every major park. Their only job should be to inspect buses and car tyres to ensure they are in good condition before departure. Once there is no compliance, the driver must not be allowed to go. Of course in Nigeria some people may try to offer bribes to bypass checkpoints. To address that, these safety officers should not be local staff. They should report directly to an independent transport safety unit with strict oversight, rotating officers frequently to reduce compromise.

Still, digital systems can be introduced. Each bus should be scanned and cleared through an electronic checklist linked to a central database. If a bus fails safety checks, it should not receive the clearance code required to leave the park. With this kind of structure, even bribery becomes difficult to offer because safety approval will depend on digital authentication, not an individual officer’s discretion.

Nigeria needs to take road safety as seriously as other deadliest national issues. The number of lives cut short on our roads is heartbreaking. Families are losing loved ones every day due to accidents that could be prevented if we enforce discipline, regulate overload, inspect tyres, and treat transport safety as a matter of policy, not luck. 

Isah Kamisu Madachi is a policy analyst and development practitioner. He wrote from Abuja, and can be reached via: isahkamisumadachi@gmail.com

By Isyaka Laminu Badamasi

It is becoming glaring that the Federal Government is taking Nigerians for granted. A few months back, we were all here condemning the new tax reform introduced by the APC administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a reform whose implications will be deeply felt by Nigerians, especially the downtrodden.

Though some analysts and experts argue that the new tax reform is the right step, particularly for an economy whose revenue depends almost 70% on crude oil, my little contribution to the debate is not to analyse the reform or weigh its positive and negative impacts on our well-being. Rather, it is to raise a few critical questions arising from my thoughts on the matter at hand.

My concern is specifically about content creators who were engaged to sensitise Nigerians on the new bill—a development that sparked another debate, one that again exposed our disunity as a people and our lack of seriousness about matters of national importance and those inimical to our well-being. Nigerians, especially Northerners, instead of examining the bill and preparing for constructive criticism, began complaining that none of the selected content creators was from the core North. As if having a core Northern content creator in the sensitisation team would somehow change or reduce the taxes that will eventually be imposed on core Northerners.

With or without any sensitisation or awareness campaign, the new tax reform has come to stay. Regardless of how people accept or reject it, it will be implemented as planned. The content creators engaged by the government may not even understand the policy themselves, let alone be able to sensitise the public properly.

For me, therefore, this entire conversation about the “selection of content creators” is unnecessary. To my understanding, it was technically designed to divert Nigerians’ attention. Instead of focusing on constructive criticism of this inhumane policy, we have been pushed into arguing over who should be involved, when, and how—a distraction that does not help an already fragmented country.

Let us not forget that we are in 2025, in the 21st century—111 years as an amalgamated entity and 65 years as an independent nation, with more than two and a half decades of an uninterrupted democratic dispensation. It is high time we appreciate our togetherness despite the odds and chart a path toward unity. This is especially crucial at this moment, when we are facing serious and multidimensional security challenges, particularly here in the North, ravaged by bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers, with pockets of ethnic and religious conflicts here and there. Do we so easily forget that Nigeria was once declared a “country of particular concern” by the US President, Donald Trump?

It is important for policymakers and implementers to avoid introducing issues that, instead of fostering peaceful coexistence, end up dividing us. Meanwhile, those in positions of authority continue siphoning our meagre resources—resources that have failed to address our critical challenges in health, education, security, and other essential sectors.

On the issue of not engaging or selecting content creators from the core North for this “all-important” sensitisation campaign, the situation is both baffling and questionable. It is strange that the PR unit of the FIRS/FGN did not consider the three major languages—Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba—alongside English, our official language, as part of their information-dissemination strategy. However, it is still not too late to make corrections.

Whatever the reasons may be, Nigerians—regardless of region or religion—should prepare themselves, as the policy will take effect come January 2026.

Isyaka Laminu Badamasi wrote via makwalla82@gmail.com.