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Editorial: The Need for a Strong Opposition in Nigeria

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As Nigeria continues to navigate its democratic journey, one crucial element that has been lacking is a strong and effective opposition. The importance of a robust opposition cannot be overstated, as it provides a necessary check on the ruling party’s power and ensures that the government is accountable to the people.

A strong opposition is essential for promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability. It helps to prevent the concentration of power, which can lead to authoritarianism and undermine democratic institutions. Furthermore, a vibrant opposition fosters a culture of debate, criticism, and constructive engagement, which are essential for a healthy democracy.

In Nigeria, the opposition has been weak and fragmented, allowing the ruling party to dominate the political landscape. This has resulted in a lack of accountability, alleged corruption, and poor governance. The opposition parties have failed to provide a credible alternative to the ruling party, leading to a sense of disenchantment among citizens.

To address this challenge, Nigeria needs a strong and united opposition that can provide a credible alternative to the ruling party. This requires opposition parties to put aside their differences and work together to promote a common agenda. They must also engage in constructive criticism of the government’s policies and programs, rather than resorting to mere rhetoric and grandstanding.

Moreover, the opposition must be committed to promoting democratic values and principles, such as transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. They must also be willing to work with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to promote good governance and hold the government accountable.

A strong and effective opposition is essential for Nigeria’s democratic development. It is crucial for promoting good governance, accountability, and transparency. Opposition parties must put aside their differences and work together to provide a credible alternative to the ruling party. By doing so, they can help to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and promote a better future for all citizens.

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EDITORIAL: Is Nigeria winning the war against terrorism?

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No fewer than six teenage girls, aged 15 to 17, were reportedly kidnapped by armed terrorists during a house-to-house raid in Pandogari Community, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State last Wednesday.

The attack which was said to have occurred about midnight when the insurgents stormed the community – left a local vigilante named Aliyu Aminu dead before the girls were abducted.

Credible reports have it that the heavily armed terrorists infiltrated the kidnapped village in large numbers, entering from the Birnin Gwari axis through Mamman Kontagora Technical College, Pandogari.

Sources indicated that the abducted girls were later taken to Kwangel Forest which marks the third attack on the community within a week.

Commenting on the incident, locals expressed dismay in the surge of kidnappings on their area – despite the negotiations between the Kaduna State Government and some armed groups terrorising the state.

One too many. Or how else could anyone best describe the incessant cases of abductions of hapless citizens of Nigeria – especially at sub-national levels?

Since 2009 when the Nigerian government got involved in the war of terrorism with militant Islamist and jihadist rebel groups, it is pertinent to examine how successful the fight against armed rebellion culminating in kidnappings and related crimes have been.

For the records, it is held that between July 2022 and June 2023, 3,620 people were abducted in 582 kidnapping cases in the nation. About N5 billion ($3,878,390) was said to have been paid in ransoms. In 2024 alone, SBM Intelligence had it that there were about 68 mass abductions in the first quarter of the year.

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Various armed groups have been linked to kidnappings of hundreds if not thousands of people across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. These are indicative of the country’s spiralling security crisis.

From the north-east to north-west, north-central to south-east, south-west to south- south geo-political zones of Nigeria, abductions have continued to reign supreme almost unabatedly. Men, women, students, children including IDPs, have constituted victims.

Although security agencies once declared these insurgents especially Boko Haram terrorists as partially degraded, it remains to be seen if that assertion holds water. This is because the atrocities of these criminal gangs are recorded almost on a daily basis – garnering both national and international attention.

Towards arresting the hydra-headed monster of kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria, therefore, we make bold to chart the way forward – in addition to existing measures.

Just as addressing socio-economic challenges to reduce vulnerabilities is important, the federal government must seek international collaboration in tackling this cankerworm.

What is the security status of our borders? Do we have enhanced control to check entry of illegal aliens? That is a trillion Naira question the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration must answer.

Strengthening the capabilities and welfare of the various law enforcement agencies at this critical moment cannot be overstressed. This is as they would do well to also synergize with one another in the sharing of vital intelligence.

How effective is community engagement of locals in the fight against banditry? This is to be interrogated with a view to ensuring the cooperation of all and sundry in security matters.

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As a matter of urgency, we should be investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and other forms of technology for surveillance and tracking of criminal elements.

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EDITORIAL: Charting A New Course For Humanitarian Affairs Ministry

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Effective this February 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria is to commence the disbursement of N4 billion conditional cash transfers to vulnerable households in the nation.

Making the pronouncement during the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan at the United Nations House in Abuja penultimate week – the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwada – stated that the interventions were aimed at addressing the country’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Designed to support at least 10 million displaced households – with possibility of running through April 2025 – the initiative primarily targets the most vulnerable members of society.

Hear the Honourable Minister: “The President has approved the Ministry’s (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction) plan to begin paying conditional cash transfers to 10 million displaced households between February and April (2025). This initiative aims to support those most in need, particularly vulnerable families affected by displacement.”

Yilwada went on: “Additionally, the government has allocated N2bn to provide interest-free loans to farmers in rural communities. These loans will range from N300,000 to N400,000 per household, helping farmers access necessary resources and linking them to market opportunities.

“Furthermore, a N4bn provision has been approved to support vulnerable groups through cash transfers, targeting families affected by natural disasters and other crises. These interventions are part of the government’s broader strategy to alleviate poverty and provide relief to those in urgent need.”

Highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing the needs of internally displaced persons, returnees and affected communities across Nigeria, the Poverty Reduction Minister remarked that his Ministry’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was developed through extensive consultations. This is targeted to address the humanitarian challenges in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other conflict-affected regions.

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Laudable as the renewed cash transfer and related programmes of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry appear, one major concern to the OBSERVERS TIMES is determining how different the succeeding plans are vis-a-viz their predecessors.

What lessons have been learnt as regards effective and efficient implementation of programmes under the Ministry’s new leadership? Towards avoiding the pitfalls of the past, the essence of repackaging initiatives to attach human faces to them cannot be overstressed. This is moreso for concerned Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

By partnering with relevant donors and multilateral agencies, the Ministry will not only succeed in eliminating possibilities of duplication of efforts – but realize the aggregation of scarce resources and their effective distribution to register impacts in the lives of vulnerable persons.

Moreover, reason dictates that for strategic planning, robust monitoring and effective delivery of humanitarian activities, the Ministry had best not succumb to political pressures from politicians who inundate it with patronage requests for their constituencies.

If interventions are to be timely, effective and life-saving also, it is advised that National Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction priorities align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Lastly but not the least, the Ministry’s proposed Sustainable Training Plan coming up this 1st quarter of 2025 in the Six Geo-political Zones of Nigeria must be conducted dispassionately without any considerations for religious sentiments, tribalism and nepotism.

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EDITORIAL: Optimizing Youth Financial Inclusion

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Last Friday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pledged to accelerate financial inclusion, entrepreneurship support and capacity-building for Nigerian youths in emerging sectors of the economy.

Addressing a Youth Action event themed ‘The Youths Are Here’ which held in Abuja, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, said the financial institution was committed to providing youngsters with the necessary financial tools to excel in their various endeavours.

Speaking through his Deputy Governor of the Economic Policy Directorate – Muhammad Sani Abdullahi – Cardoso reiterated the Bank’s commitment to bridging financial access gaps, fostering innovation, and ensuring active involvement of young people in policy formulation.

Expressly, the bank chief assured CBN’s policies would support youth entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in emerging sectors like the green economy and digital transformation.

Dedicated to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future, the monetary authority is said to have evolved a strategy to strengthen partnerships with civil societies, international organisations and the private sector.

“The CBN is committed to forging strategic partnerships that will empower young people and underserved communities. By working together with urgency and purpose, we can align our efforts with the Pact of the Future to build a Nigeria where the youth can dream boldly and innovate confidently,” Cardoso told the audience.

Remarking that Nigerian youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow but key stakeholders in shaping economic policies and transformations, the CBN helmsman avowed that the reserve institution was focused on ensuring that young Nigerians had access to opportunities that would enable them to thrive as entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators.

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Just as he declared that financial inclusion remained central to the national bank’s mission, Cardoso stressed that the CBN would continue to design and implement policies that bridge financial access gaps.

While congratulating the CBN on the laudable initiative of its under review, Observers Times recommends additional measures towards optimizing youth financial inclusion. However, we must let it be known ab initio that the way forward requires a multi-sectoral approach.

First, Ministries of Education, Finance and Youth Development might consider advancing policies to provide full opportunities to youths in accessing financial services without legal and regulatory framework encumberances.

Second, NGOs, FBOs and CSOs involved in financial literacy trainings should be encouraged to achieve greater outreach.

Third, entrepreneurship programmes that increase financial capabilities of youths must be supported.

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EDITORIAL: Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education

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Globally, the International Day of Education is commemorated on January 24th of every year. Focusing on the power of education to navigate and shape the rapid pace of technological advancements, the theme for the 2025 celebration was “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

Delivering an address on the occasion, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said education is a basic human right and an essential building block for every person to reach their full potential, and for societies and economies to grow and flourish.

“Today’s rapid technological breakthroughs — like Artificial Intelligence — hold enormous promise to support students of all ages across their learning journeys. But the tremendous rewards are matched by some daunting risks. As AI-driven systems become more powerful, human intention and machine-driven impacts can easily misalign,” the UN Scribe maintained.

Emphasising that 2025 International Day of Education reminds humanity that unlocking the potential of Artificial Intelligence also depends on keeping human agency — and human rights — at the heart of rapidly evolving technology, Guterres charged that the world must ensure that Artificial Intelligence supports students and teachers through access to information and cutting-edge curricula and other learning tools.

“And we must work to guarantee that all users have the tools and knowledge required to use this technology smartly, safely and ethically — including through UNESCO’s Competency Frameworks to support learners and teachers as they incorporate Artificial Intelligence into their learning,” he added.

Reeling off statistics, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – in its global monitoring report for 2024/25 – stated that globally 251 million children were out of school. Whereas 129 million of that figure were boys, 122 million were girls. Factors driving this syndrome were given as including poverty, social norms against educational participation and armed conflict.

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Explained the report; “Globally, 251 million children, adolescents and youth are out of school, with a reduction of just 1% since 2015. The out-of-school rate is 33% in low-income, 19% in lower-middle-income, 8% in upper-middle-income and 3% in high-income countries […] conflict also takes a major toll on education development. The primary completion rate has increased four times faster in Togo than in Yemen, two countries that were at the same level in 2006.”

In a sample of 30 low and middle-income countries, we are told, there are 53 adult males from the poorest 20% of households that could read a simple sentence for every 100 males from the richest 20% of households who could do so.

The report further informs that median public expenditure spending on education has fallen from 4.4% of gross domestic product in 2015 to 4% in 2022, representing a total of US$5.8 trillion. The value of overseas aid for education reached a high of US$16.6 billion in 2022, representing 7.6% of global aid. It continued that spending levels were insufficient to meet the increase in enrolment rates.

“Any increases in the prioritization of education in low-income countries are neither uniform nor large enough to compensate for the 24% increase in enrolment levels (from pre-primary to tertiary education) since 2015. In middle-income countries, the deprioritization of education coincides with an 8% increase in enrolment and is only possible to maintain with higher out-of-pocket spending by household,” the report stressed.

UNESCO concluded that globally there has been a shortage of qualified and interested candidates for teaching positions in upper and high-income countries and a shortage of teaching positions in low and lower-middle income countries.

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As regards educational data about Africa’s most populous nation, there are over 10 million out-of-school children roaming the streets in Nigeria. Another 27 million are said to be performing poorly in schools while 30% of the population is described as illiterate.

In a press release issued by Samuel Anyanwu of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja but signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press & PR in the Ministry, January 24, 2025 – Nigeria also celebrated the 2025 International Day of Education by embracing the theme “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

Speaking at an event to mark the day, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of Polytechnics, Dr. Ejeh Usman, highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence in education.

Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to integrating AI and digital technologies to improve Nigeria’s education sector, Alausa noted several achievements, including the establishment of integrated platforms that provide comprehensive data on tertiary institutions and admissions nationwide.

“The introduction of innovative e-learning solutions, such as Inspire for Students and Ignite for Teachers, has enhanced access to quality education. These platforms create virtual classrooms and simplify lesson planning for educators. Additionally, the Nigeria Learning Passport offers over 15,000 educational resources, making it a valuable tool for students,” said the statement.

Underscoring the role of AI in shaping the future of education in the country, the Minister stressed the importance of tools like virtual reality, gamification, and AI-driven grading systems, which transform the learning experience for students and teachers.

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As the 2025 International Day of Education winds up in various parts of the universe, Observers Times wishes to reiterate the role of education as a vital tool for innovation, cultural understanding and building of stronger communities worldwide. We, therefore, implore relevant governments, international agencies and concerned stakeholders to support proactive actions geared towards promoting high quality and inclusive learning for everyone – irrespective of racial, tribal, social, religious and gender identities.

In furtherance of the transformative power of education, we recommend Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to tackling the challenges of out-of-school children, high tuition fees, infrastructural decay of facilities, insecurity of school environments, nepotism in admissions, cultism and the Japa syndrome.

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