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A turbulent journey to nationhood, survival

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From October 1, 1960, the future of Nigeria has been perpetually bright. It is always a promising country.

Despite its prevailing precarious situation and years of avoidable setbacks, many African nations still envy the acclaimed ‘Big Brother.’ It is because of the country’s vast endowments.

At independence, many world leaders anticipated a progression towards the emergence of an African giant, a medium-ranking global power that would be sustained by steady economic growth, political stability, military prowess, and technological breakthroughs.

They believed Nigeria had what it takes to be a great country.

The population has remained huge, signifying a big market, resilient manpower, and a colourful blend of cultures. Nigeria is big.

Population experts believe that one of five Africans should be a Nigerian.

In fact, neighbouring countries do not pray for an explosion because the effects would take big tolls on Togo, Benin Republic, Chad, Cameron, Ghana and Niger.

Besides the vital human capital, also exemplified by the amazing quality of population, Nigeria is blessed with a limitless endowment, including the typical black gold – oil – and a large land mass filled with enumerable mineral deposits.

It is only now that concerted efforts are been made to maximise the opportunities offered by the non-oil resources.

Nigeria is also blessed with vast arable lands which can boost agriculture and ensure food security for its people.

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As the British flag was being lowered, world leaders hailed the most populous black country in the world.

They trusted that the nationslist politicians who were stepping into the shoes of the departing colonial masters would really build a virile country and protect the interests of their diverse people.

Many challenges were inherited, including lack of competent personnel to replace the expatriates. Some colonial institutions had to give way.

The regions were developing at their own pace. Political contest was fierce. But the country, at least up to 1960, had a sort of shock absorber. There was federalism and an agreement on unity in diversity.

Barely six years after, the hopes had evaporated. The legitimate authorities were displaced by indigenous interlopers.

There were drawbacks. Civilians and soldiers started alternating governance. Political instability retarted growth across the sectors. Citizens had to endure a prolonged lean period.

At 64, the country is still agonising. But its people are hopeful. According to analysts, the vision of the founding fathers is yet to be fully realised.

While it cannot be said that the country has been static, the progress made, compared to other nations that were on the same pedestal as Nigeria six decades ago, particularly the Asian Tigers, falls below expectations.

To many observers, the national tribulation attests to the failure of indigenous leadership. Patriotic leaders became scarce after independence.

The soldiers of fortune posed as modernisers. They too derailed and started festering their nests.

Nigeria has expanded structures for function performance at federal, state and local levels.

The country is now made up of 36 states, a federal capital territory that is also more or less a state; 774 local governments and many wards.

There are 109 senators, 360 House of Representatives members, 36 Houses of Assembly and other apparatus.

However, service delivery has been dismal. The transition to a welfarist state pales into day dreaming. State and local government creation may have given hope for a redress of inequality and identity problems, but the lopsided distribution in the polity has also triggered agitation for equity and balance.

As it turned out, the exercise only offered the elite access to public resources and monopoly by a few.

Nigeria has created a towering political elite that is so rich at the expense of the common man. The class has the country under its toes.

The country has opted for an expensive presidential system, which can better be moderated, if patriots are in political control across the tiers. Politicians come to voters periodically for endorsement. After that, there is no point of connection until another four years.

Also, there is a wide gulf in the country’s democratising experience. Nigeria has achieved self-rule. But democracy ought to be the destination to redress injustice and restore rights, ensure equity and fairness to all.

Currently, there is a government led by a rational leadership in place at the centre. But curiously, those profiting from the accumulated national rot prefer ‘business as usual.’

Until now, when the umpire is determined to maintain a clean break from the past, Nigeria had been assailed by the crisis of the ballot box.

It has implications for the legitimacy of leadership. When elections remain a nightmare and the battle often shifts from the ballot box to the court, the discerning is left wondering what democracy truly represents in this clime. The cost of litigation is burdensome and stressful.

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The nation’s blind rush for power is driven by the alluring pecks of office and the perception that it holds limitless privileges and uninhibited personal acquisitions.

Fundamentally, those seeking power have an intention to corruptly enrish themselves. Even, some townspeople chide their children in power for not acquiring much, claiming that it is their turn.

The country has been grappling with weak institutions, a trend that has strengthened the overbearing influence of power barons who monopolised and personalised power, even in the first two decades of the Fourth Republic.

This is another burden on the current administration in its bid to reposition the country. Not all the moves to rebuild and revatalise the critical institutions seem to be going down well with those eager to maintain the status quo.

From a country of three, and later, four regions, there is a 36-state structure with little bearing on the quality of living. The paradox of a rich country with poor people is confounding.

The Federal Government claims that it is making more money, which it is channelling towards the states. The question is: what are the states doing with the increased allocations?

From few schools at independence, the country now boasts of over over 200 universities belonging to federal, state, and private operators.

Many of the public schools are now underfunded. Whereas the acquisition of education should be fundamental for all citizens, it has now been so commercialised that getting its basics is like a camel passing through the eye of the needle.

Private university graduates see themselves as products of skewed or lopsided cost sharing in the Ivory Towers. Some of them feel they have no allegiance to the state beyond the national anthem and the pledge.

Those in public universities overstay on campuses due to regular teachers’ strike over unfavourable conditions of service and poor infrastructure. The university lecturers are still threatening industrial action.

Even after acquiring it through thick and thin, the job market has become so saturated that thousands of graduates struggle daily to find just any job. In the end, they run away from their land of birth which is ill-prepared to offer them the means to fend for themselves.

Many undergraduates live in perpetual fear of what life holds for them after their academic pursuits.

Today, many youths have lost confidence in their country. They are eager to migrate to Europe or America or anywhere else in search of real and imagined greener pastures. Many of them do not hope to return.

It is gratifying that the Tinubu administration has now set up the students’ loan scheme to assist indigent students. This may prevent dropouts and rekindle youth confidence in the country.

Nigeria survived the threats of disintegration, particularly the civil war foisted on it by parasitic interlopers, the soldiers who loomed large on the polity for 29 years. But, their legacies have remained a factor in retrogression. During the military regimes, Nigeria had a lot of money earned from oil, but government did not know how to spend the money. There was wrong prioritisation. To whom was the military regime accountable?

The nation’s industrialisation is signposted by abandoned projects. The manufacturing sub-sector is on its knees. Gone are the giant firms and industries of old that generated jobs and produced great technocrats. They have been converted to commercialised churches. Power outage is the problem, although the nation is savouring some respite now,following improved electricity at a huge cost. If the stability in the sector is sustained and the mess in the oil and gas sector is cleared, Nigeria would be on the right path to recovery.

Nigeria laments the foreign exchange debacle, but it loathes productivity. It has become a country of imports with attendant capital flights. Oil alone is not enough. Nigeria must revive its manufacturing sub-sector, agriculture and agro-allied industries. The civil service can only offer little outlets for youth employment. With the right policy targetted at the private sector, job creation is more achievable.

The country has not lived up to its role as a model for Africa. Although it has not become a failed state, Nigeria has become an obviously fragile entity. There are danger signals in every region. The national fragility is potentially a stepping stone to state failure. If inequality persists, the development of a national outlook would be very hard. Fortunately, Nigeria has at the helm of affairs a President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a detribalised leader; a symbol of unity.

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As Nigeria celebrates its flag independence, Labour, seems to have shelve its war-mongering approach. This year, there is no plan for a strike to protest the high cost of living triggered by the inevitable removal of fuel subsidy. President Tinubu had approved the N70,000 minimum wage for workers. It is expected that states would muster the strength to sustain the wage system and even improve on it. Feelers from the states do not give such optimism.

The subsidy removal is not the problem. It has prevented few individuals or groups from profiting from certain loopholes. But, the greater issue is that the sixth-largest producer of crude oil in the world does not have a functional refinery.

Until recently, crude was exported to bring in revenue and refined products. But the by-products or petrochemicals are lost in inexplicable circumstances. The proceeds are said to be used to import refined fuel for home consumption. In most cases, the revenue and the products always throw up controversies. Given the number of barrels produced daily, a huge revenue is expected to accrue therefrom. But the nation’s sales account has always been hidden in mystery. It is laughable.

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Today, the reality stares Nigeria in the face. Its oil is both a blesing and a curse due to mismanagement. The rich country is in pain. The natural resource is domiciled in a region. Ironically, the zone is in penury. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which was established to fast-track development in the oil-bearing region became a bastion of graft, where the steal-and-go mentality ruled the minds of the agency’s handlers. The steal and go appears to be abating now, following the setting up of a new management. The management is turning a new leaf under the current administration.

Life expectancy has dropped abysmally in Nigeria. Basic amenities, including potable water, electricity, medical facilities, and roads, are in disrepair. The only prosperous people are those who have been in government, cornered state power and appropriated public resources. This is the reason many analysts have described Nigeria as a big contract up for grabs.

The poverty is more pronounced in the North. Lack of planning, early marriage and disdain for family planning have led to over population that has drained its meagre social infrastructure. Education and enlightenment are very important. There may be a correlation between poverty and insecurity which has been ignored to a collective peril.

Insecurity, banditry and kidnapping for ransom are not peculiar to the North. No geo-political zone is insulated from the violence. The dimension in the South is also worrisome as yahoo yahoo and ritual killings are on the rise.

Put succinctly, across the six geo-political zones, there is no peace. There are security challenges: terrorism, banditry, herder/farmer clashes and unprovoked violence in the North; kidnappings, ritual murders and Yahoo Plus in the West, as well as the unknown gunmen that are always on the prowl in the East.

In Nigeria, the state is the corrupter of society. The military milked Nigeria without challenge. Civilian authorities also deepened the culture of graft and sleaze among public officeholders, despite prosecution by anti-graft bodies.

What has Nigeria learnt from Asian countries, including India, Singapore and Malaysia? They have left Nigeria behind in the march towards development. Although they are not more endowed than Nigeria, they became the Asian Tigers because they had good leadership.

These Asian countries resolved to move forward under their patriotic leaderships to conquer poverty and make impact in the modern world. Many Nigerians who went there for studies are back home. Their impact on governance is not felt because Nigeria suffers from a systemic problem.

It has been a tortuous journey to a problematic future since 1914. Colonialism was devoid of benevolence. The interlopers were only interested in mobilising the resources of colonised people for the development of their home country. The colony and protectorates wobbled in their hard journey to a difficult future.

Even, as the colonial masters were prepared to go, they politically incited ethnic groups against one another. At independence, Nigeria was a country of many rival and competing people struggling for relevance. It could not become a nation, but a complex and highly heterogeneous nation-state in coerced cohabitation. The ray of hope was the subscription to federalism by the leaders who sought to build on the foundation laid by the colonial masters.

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The three premiers tried to lay examples of transformational leadership in the Western, Eastern and Northern regions. But, deep-seated rivalry, mutual suspicion and bitter competition for power at the centre upset the polity. The nationalist politicians – Zik, Sardauna, Balewa and Awo – despite their pioneering efforts, refused to play politics of tolerance, accommodation, understanding, and harmony. There was a clash of egos. Each leaned on his ethnic group to sharpen their arrows.

As electoral crisis erupted from the ‘wild wild’ West, it engulfed the country. It should be noted that the mismanagement of the Western regional election was the last straw that broke the back of the camel.

The 1966 military coup that followed unleashed monumemtal disasters. It deepened the distrust and suspicion among the unequal regions. Legitimate authorities gave way to dictatorial leadership. Again, to whom were the soldiers accountable? Surely, they were not answerable to the “bloody civilians.”

The mistake of the first military ruler, Major-General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, who foisted the strange unitary system on the country through his controversial unification decree, marked the beginning of the journey to gloom. He was a fine soldier, a professional military man. But, as an administrator, his government was not impressive. He was an ethnic bigot in national uniform; clannish, discriminative, inexperienced, incompetent, ill-prepared and slow and indecisive. He created more problems than he met on ground.

Also, dis unfortunate death unleashed more challenges relating to politico-military succession. The chain of events led to the avoidable 30-month civil war.

Today, some leaders may be dodging the national question. Yet, its resolution is critical to peace and harmony. The crux of the matter is that it was not Nigeria that was colonised by the British. It was the kingdoms – Yoruba, Nupe, Fulani, Kanuri, Ebira, Efik, Ibibio, and Bini, among others – that were colonised.

Nigeria has aptly been described as a mere geographical expression. Diverse people from incompatible social formations were lumped together to coexist. The question is: on what terms?

The 1999 Constitution has continued to lie against itself. What is the basis for peaceful coexistence? Restructuring, the anticipated elixir for true national cohesion, should not be put in abeyance. If Nigeria desires security, it should also consider state and community policing. It is gratifying that President Tinubu has given his nod to state police.

Nigeria is still being confronted by an identity crisis. Why is a section still pushing for disintegration or balkanisation? Is it not due to feelings of alienation, marginalisation and injustice?

The country has also continued to grapple with a distribution crisis. How the wealth is generated is usually less important than how it is distributed. Thus, fair play is said to be absent.

There is hope under the current administration. Its people oriented policies and programmes are reassuring. Many problems were inherited by the administration. They cannot be resolved within a year.

But, speed is also required to sustain the cooperation of the distressed citizens for the government.

The past is consigned to history. But the present can be devoted to reforms and other corrective measures, which should permeate the sectors.

Nigeria yearns for great leadership. An opportunity is presented to President Bola Tinubu to lead the country through these lean and challenging times. Expectations are high for him to implement his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ with utmost fidelity.

If President Tinubu can restore regular power supply and revive the ailing refineries, Nigeria will be on the path to survival.

The informal sector would have been liberated and the measures would be an incentive to local and foreign investment.

The government should refocus public spending in a way that will trigger productive activities and wealth generation.

The country should pay attention to agriculture to guarantee food security. President Tinubu is doing that.

Leadership should have a national outlook. This is being demonstrated by the President’s critical appointments.

Nepotism will only accentuate suspicion and generate nasty thoughts about ethnic domination which would fuel the fear of marginalisation and exclusion.

Where should Nigeria be in the next 63 years?

Hopefully, a technological giant; a great federal democracy; a self-sufficient country; an industrial hub; a secured polity; a united nation-state; and a world power should be birthed sooner than later, if all goes well. What will, however, point in that direction is the foundation that is being laid today.

The government and people of Nigeria should dream big about the future, jettison habits that impede development in private and public, and lay a concrete foundation for future prosperity under a rational and responsible leadership.

 

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Africa

Why Every Nigerian Should Learn Combat Skills — CDS

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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to acquire combat skills such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to protect themselves in the face of increasing danger.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, August 21, General Musa likened learning martial arts to other essential survival skills, including driving and swimming.

“That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim.

Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct,” he said.

He added that in Europe, swimming and basic security education are compulsory because citizens must understand and practice personal safety.

The defence chief emphasised that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should incorporate unarmed combat training into its programme to prepare graduates for real-world threats.

He explained, “That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks. Self-defence is very important.

Unarmed combat, swimming, driving these are critical aspects of human survival. We should never take them for granted because they prepare us for the future.”

General Musa further encouraged Nigerians to remain situationally aware of their environment, alerting authorities to any suspicious activities or individuals.

He said, “The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason.”

Highlighting evolving threats, General Musa disclosed that terrorists increasingly use gold to finance their operations.

He noted that complex international networks make it difficult to immediately expose or prosecute these financiers. “Gold is the main source.

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They circulate it through various channels, including foreign links, which complicates intervention,” he explained.

General Musa acknowledged that bad roads and challenging terrains hinder rapid military response to attacks.

He said, “Many Nigerians expect immediate intervention from the Armed Forces without understanding the logistical challenges. By the time information reaches us, terrorists have already struck and vanished because they move more quickly in these regions.”

He added that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the North-East further slow troop movement.

Regarding the Southeast, General Musa noted that the arrest of pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland in November 2024 has improved security in the region.

He said, “Troops are actively pursuing Ekpa’s lieutenants in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states. We will continue operations until all threats are neutralised.”

The CDS also praised the synergy among the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Navy, which led to the arrest of Ansaru terrorist leaders, describing it as a major success in the fight against terrorism.

General Musa concluded by announcing an African Chiefs of Defence Staff conference to foster continental collaboration and enhance regional security efforts.

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Africa

‘Misplaced Priority’: Peter Obi Blasts FG’s ₦142bn Bus Terminal Project

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Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria, describing it as a reckless misplacement of priorities.

Obi issued a statement on Friday, August 22, via his Official X formerly Twitter platform, warning that the project reflects poor leadership and lack of focus in managing Nigeria’s limited resources. He titled his statement, “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals.”

According to him, the true test of leadership is how scarce resources are prioritized.

He stressed that investing such a huge amount in bus terminals while critical sectors like healthcare suffer shows a government that is out of touch with citizens’ realities.

Obi said: “The difference between success and failure in any nation is how leaders prioritise resources.

The decision to spend ₦142 billion on six bus terminals exposes a lack of competence and vision. It is a clear sign of poor leadership.”

The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the funds for the construction of one modern bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones.

The government described it as part of efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and improve mobility nationwide.

But Obi strongly disagreed. He compared the allocation to healthcare funding, pointing out that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres in Nigeria is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.

“This is disturbing,” Obi continued, “because health remains one of the most critical sectors of development. Yet it is underfunded and deteriorating rapidly.

The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million Nigerians live with mental health conditions.

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This is a tragic irony. How can the government ignore this crisis and focus on bus terminals?”

He argued that the health sector, alongside education and poverty reduction programs, deserves priority attention.

Obi insisted that until government spending reflects the real needs of Nigerians, the country will remain trapped in poor governance.

Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to express anger, echoing Obi’s concerns. Critics argue that the decision proves the Federal Government is disconnected from the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.

For Obi, the ₦142 billion project is not just a case of wrong timing.

He sees it as a clear example of governance failure and misplaced priorities.

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Africa

Canada Announces Permanent Residence Lottery Results for Foreign Workers

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Canada ends visitor work permits policy

Canada has carried out a new Express Entry lottery, inviting thousands of skilled workers to apply for permanent residency.

Financial Express report that the Announcement which came on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, marks one of the most significant rounds this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 4,200 candidates in the latest Express Entry draw.

The invitations were sent under the no-program-specified category, which means candidates from all economic immigration programs were considered.

To qualify, candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 507 points.

This cut-off is higher than several recent rounds, showing rising competition in Canada’s immigration pool.

Breakdown of Recent Express Entry Draws

The August 20 general draw came just a week after Canada held two smaller, targeted draws.

On August 14, 2025, IRCC issued 1,500 invitations in a Healthcare category-based draw, with a minimum CRS of 430.

On August 13, 2025, another STEM occupation draw invited 1,000 candidates, with a CRS cut-off of 481.

This means Canada has invited more than 6,700 candidates in August alone, highlighting its steady demand for skilled workers.

Why Express Entry Remains Key

The Express Entry system is Canada’s main pathway for skilled migration. It manages applications for three major programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Through this system, candidates are ranked by CRS points based on age, education, work experience, language skills, and adaptability. Higher scores improve the chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Impact of the Rising CRS

The 507-point cut-off has sparked concern among applicants.

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Many worry that higher thresholds make it harder to qualify unless they boost their profiles with stronger English or French test results, higher education, or Canadian job offers.

Immigration experts note that Canada is prioritizing candidates who are more likely to integrate quickly into the economy.

With rising competition, applicants may need to explore provincial nomination programs (PNPs), which can add up to 600 extra CRS points.

Canada’s Immigration Targets

Despite higher CRS cut-offs, Canada’s immigration outlook remains ambitious.

The government has pledged to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

Skilled workers make up a large share of this intake.

With labor shortages in sectors like healthcare, technology, and construction, Canada continues to use Express Entry to attract foreign talent.

What Applicants Should Do

Experts recommend that prospective migrants keep their profiles updated and monitor both general and category-based draws.

Targeted draws for healthcare, STEM, and trades occupations often have lower CRS cut-offs, giving candidates more opportunities.

For those struggling to meet the high CRS threshold, exploring study routes in Canada, provincial nominations, or job offers may increase chances.

The August 20 Express Entry draw shows Canada’s ongoing commitment to skilled immigration.

With over 4,200 invitations issued and CRS cut-offs climbing, the competition is intense.

However, the system continues to provide multiple entry points for determined applicants worldwide.

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Africa

Japan Designates City as Hometown for Nigerians

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The Japanese government has officially designated the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians, marking a major step in strengthening cultural diplomacy and workforce collaboration between both nations.

The announcement was made during the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) and confirmed by the Director of Information at Nigeria’s State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

According to the agreement, the Japanese government will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians who are willing to relocate to Kisarazu to live and work.

This initiative also extends to artisans and blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill and contribute to Japan’s economy.

At the same event, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designated three other cities as hometowns for African nations:

Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania,

Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.

These hometown designations aim to foster manpower development, cultural exchanges, and economic partnerships that will benefit both Japan and the participating African countries.

Nigeria-Japan Partnership

Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, received the certificate on behalf of Nigeria alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu.

The ceremony highlighted the city’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, as Kisarazu was the official host town for the Nigerian contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes trained and acclimatised before moving to the Olympic village.

Local Japanese authorities hope that designating Kisarazu as Nigerians’ hometown will boost the city’s population, enhance regional revitalisation, and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

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Japan’s Vision for Africa

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in his address at TICAD9, announced $5.5 billion in new investments across Africa.

He stressed the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative development, focusing on three key areas:

Private sector-led sustainable growth,

Youth and women empowerment.

Prime Minister Ishiba also acknowledged Japan’s challenges with an ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, calling on African nations to support Japan while benefiting from expanded cultural and economic opportunities.

What This Means for Nigerians

For Nigerians, the recognition of Kisarazu as their official hometown in Japan provides more than symbolic value.

It creates new employment opportunities, encourages skills transfer, and opens a pathway for closer cultural integration between both nations.

This strategic move underscores Japan’s commitment to forging deeper ties with Africa, while offering Nigerians a platform to thrive abroad

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Africa

Kenyan Police Exhume Five More Bodies Linked to Starvation Cult

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At least five more bodies, including two children, have been exhumed in coastal Kenya in connection with the country’s most infamous starvation cult.

Police confirmed on Friday, August 22, 2025, that the discovery is linked to the “Shakahola Forest Massacre,” a tragedy that shocked the world in 2023.

The fresh graves were found near Binzaro village in Kilifi County’s Chakama area, according to Robert Kiinge of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

He revealed that officers had excavated at least 27 sites spread across a five-acre plot.

“We retrieved five bodies,” Kiinge confirmed.

He explained that most of the remains were in advanced stages of decomposition, suggesting they had been buried more than a year ago.

However, one of the victims may have been buried as recently as seven to eight months ago.

Tragically, two of the bodies were those of children, estimated to be between five and seven years old.

Kiinge added that the evidence strongly pointed to a link with the original Shakahola massacre, where more than 400 victims of a starvation cult were discovered in 2023.

The cult was led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is currently on trial in Mombasa for multiple counts of manslaughter. Mackenzie has denied all charges, but his followers have continued to draw scrutiny from investigators.

So far, 11 people have been taken into custody in connection with the new graves.

Three of them, however, are being treated as victims rather than suspects.

“The people we have in custody today are followers of Mackenzie,” Kiinge told reporters, stressing that investigations remain ongoing.

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Post-mortem examinations are expected in the coming days to determine the exact cause of death.

Until then, police have avoided speculation.

The renewed discoveries come just weeks after a Mombasa court adjourned Mackenzie’s trial due to new evidence.

The case has reignited national debate about the regulation of fringe religious movements in Kenya.

Following the Shakahola tragedy, the Kenyan government introduced stricter oversight measures for religious organizations.

However, these proposals have been met with resistance from some groups, who argue that tighter controls infringe on constitutional protections separating church and state.

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