Editorial
Subsidy Palliative Loan: Need For Caution
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced that the Federal
Government had borrowed $800 million from the World Bank. According to her, it would be used as a palliative before the total removal of petrol subsidies in June. This announcement sparked outrage among Nigerians. At the official rate, the borrowed amount is equivalent to N368.2 billion, while at the black market, it is N596 billion.
Petrol subsidy has been a cardinal topic in Nigeria’s public space and economy for over 40 years. Reductions in the subsidy and subsequent increases in petrol pump prices have led to nationwide strikes, protests and social upheavals since the late 1980s. These events have been led by trade unions, students, civil society organisations, and professionals. The cost and impact on public finances have been significant. Recently, there have been incremental reductions in the subsidy.
Economic and financial experts have expressed doubts about the viability of the subsidy that is currently being implemented in Nigeria. They suggest that the N368.2 billion intervention will not cushion the economic challenges that will arise from the removal of ‘under-recovery’, as stated by the government. Zainab has said that post-subsidy palliative plans will be distributed to 50 million Nigerians, which represents 10 million households.
The issue of subsidy could have been resolved if previous governments had addressed the root cause. Palliatives are only a temporary solution that barely scratches the surface since the underlying issue will resurface. Marketers and other groups in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry claimed that fuel prices might double once the subsidy is removed, creating a ripple effect on everything.
Debates about the implications of eliminating petrol subsidy have intensified. Those who oppose the withdrawal include labour, trade unions and some oil and gas industry experts. They argue that it would increase inflation and harm Nigerians. Organised labour has always insisted that the refineries must be functional before subsidy is taken off. The incoming government must be prepared to face challenges in sustaining or withdrawing the subsidy.
Nigerians are questioning the lack of transparency regarding the World Bank’s funding and raising concerns about the potential for it to be another fruitless endeavour. In September 2022, a report from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Initiative (NEITI) revealed that over the last 15 years (2005-2020), the country had spent N17.6 trillion ($74.386 billion) on fuel subsidies. Meanwhile, the nation’s total debt stock continues to increase, with the latest figure standing at N44.06 trillion, due to unequal revenue generation capacity.
In 2022, Nigeria’s revenue collection reached N10 trillion, according to Federal Inland Revenue data. The possibility of the country taking out an $800 million loan from the World Bank has caused concern among stakeholders. We believe that borrowing to finance post-fuel subsidy removal palliatives is not feasible. Hence, we insist that the incoming administration should handle fuel subsidy removal and palliatives.
In the past, the country funded palliative care through savings from subsidy removal without resorting to borrowing. That is why the current proposal to fund palliative care through borrowing is unacceptable and unconventional. Additionally, there are policy considerations that need to be taken into account when delivering palliative care. The government should explore fiscal and monetary policy options to encourage investment in sectors that can help alleviate the pain caused by subsidy removal.
Investors in various sectors, such as refineries, pipelines, petrochemicals, marketing, and fertiliser plants, can benefit from incentives that facilitate investment in the power sector and the use of autogas. The elimination of fuel subsidies would reduce the Federal Government’s debt burden and is necessary for the country’s economy.
However, the $800 million loan from the World Bank cannot alleviate the burden of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, who are already groaning loudly. The new government must prioritise restructuring the government’s revenue profile to boost foreign investment in crucial sectors of the economy.
The government must return the borrowed money if the fuel subsidy removal process has indeed been suspended as declared by the Finance Minister after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting last month. Nigeria is at present in a calamitous financial situation, with records from both national and international financial and debt institutions indicating a State in crisis. Continuing to borrow money without a coherent plan for repayment only exacerbates the problem and puts the country further into a debt trap.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s public debt stock reached N44.06 trillion or $101.91 billion in Q3 of 2021. The debt might increase to N77 trillion with the addition of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Ways and Means expenses, which have caused controversy. In just three months, the debt grew by 2.84 per cent, rising from N42.84 trillion or $103.31 billion in Q2 of 2022 to N44.06 trillion in Q3.”
Following far-reaching corruption, the country’s subsidy system is currently unsustainable. It is crucial to carefully and gradually approach this problem to prevent resource waste and financial hardship. The Federal Government must be open about its strategy for removal.
Editorial
Benue Killings: Beyond Tinubu’s Visit

The recent massacre in Yelewata, Benue State, ranks among Nigeria’s deadliest attacks of
2025. While official figures put the death toll at 59, media reports and Amnesty International estimate between 100 and 200 fatalities. This atrocity extends a decade-long pattern of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Beacon Security data records 1,043 deaths in Benue alone between May 2023 and May 2025.
President Tinubu’s visit on 18 June—four days after the 14 June attack—has drawn sharp criticism for its lateness. This delay echoes a history of inadequate responses, with Human Rights Watch documenting similar inaction in Plateau and Kaduna states since 2013, fuelling a culture of impunity. The attack lasted over two hours without meaningful security intervention, despite claims of swift action.
The violence bore hallmarks of genocide, with survivors recounting systematic house burnings and executions. More than 2.2 million people have been displaced in the region since 2019 due to comparable attacks. Data show Benue’s agricultural output falls by 0.21 per cent in crops and 0.31 per cent in livestock for every 1 per cent rise in violence.
Security forces continue to underperform. No arrests were made following the Easter attacks in April (56 killed) or May’s Gwer West massacre (42 killed). During his visit, Tinubu questioned publicly why no suspects had been detained four days after Yelewata, highlighting entrenched accountability failures.
The roots of the conflict are complex, with climate change pushing northern herders south and 77 per cent of Benue’s population reliant on agriculture. A Tiv community leader described the violence as “calculated land-grabbing” rather than mere clashes, with over 500 deaths recorded since 2019.
Government interventions have largely fallen short. The 2018 federal task force and 2025 Forest Guards initiative failed to curb violence. Tinubu’s newly announced committee of ex-governors and traditional rulers has been met with scepticism given the litany of past unkept promises.
The economic fallout is severe. Benue’s status as Nigeria’s “food basket” is crumbling as farms are destroyed and farmers displaced. This worsens the nation’s food crisis, with hunger surges in 2023-2024 directly linked to farming disruptions caused by insecurity.
Citizens demanding justice have been met with force; protesters faced police tear gas, and the State Assembly conceded total failure in safeguarding lives, admitting that the governor, deputy, and 32 lawmakers had all neglected their constitutional responsibilities.
The massacre has drawn international condemnation. Pope Leo XIV decried the “terrible massacre,” while the UN called for an investigation. The hashtag “200 Nigerians” trended worldwide on X, with many contrasting Nigeria’s slow response to India’s swift action following a plane crash with similar fatalities.
Nigeria’s centralised security system is clearly overwhelmed. A single police force is tasked with covering 36 states and 774 local government areas for a population exceeding 200 million. Between 2021 and 2023 alone, 29,828 killings and 15,404 kidnappings were recorded nationally. Proposals for state police, floated since January 2025, remain stalled.
Other populous nations offer alternative models. Canada’s provincial police, India’s state forces, and Indonesia’s municipal units demonstrate the effectiveness of decentralised policing. Nigeria’s centralised structure creates intelligence and response gaps, worsened by the distance—both physical and bureaucratic—from Abuja to affected communities.
The immediate aftermath is dire: 21 IDP camps in Benue are overwhelmed, and a humanitarian crisis is deepening. The State Assembly declared three days of mourning (18-20 June), but survivors lack sufficient medical aid. Tragically, many of those killed were already displaced by earlier violence.
A lasting solution requires a multi-pronged approach, including targeted security deployment, regulated grazing land, and full enforcement of Benue’s 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law. The National Economic Council’s failure to prioritise state police in May 2025 represents a missed chance for reform.
Without decisive intervention, trends suggest conditions will worsen. More than 20,000 Nigerians have been killed and 13,000 kidnapped nationwide in 2025 alone. As Governor Hyacinth Alia stressed during Tinubu’s visit, state police may be the only viable path forward. All 36 states have submitted proposals supporting decentralisation—a crucial step towards breaking Nigeria’s vicious cycle of violence.
Editorial
Responding To Herders’ Threat In Rivers

Editorial
Democracy Day: So Far…

Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 marked a watershed moment in the nation’s political history. After enduring nearly 16 years of successive military dictatorships, Nigerians embraced a new era of civil governance with the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. Since then, the country has sustained a democratic system for 26 years. But, this democratic journey has been a complex mix of progress and persistent challenges.
The formal recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged a long-standing injustice. The annulment of the 1993 presidential election, Nigeria’s freest, betrayed the democratic aspirations of millions. That it took decades to honour this date reflects the nation’s complex relationship with its democratic memory.
One of the most momentous successes of Nigeria’s democracy has been the uninterrupted civilian rule over the last two and a half decades. The country has witnessed seven general elections, with power transferring peacefully among different political parties. This is particularly notable considering that prior to 1999, no civilian government had completed a full term without military intervention. The peaceful transitions in 2007, 2015, and 2023 are testaments to Nigeria’s evolving democratic maturity.
Electoral participation, while uneven, has also reflected a level of democratic engagement. In 2003, voter turnout stood at about 69 per cent, but this figure dropped to approximately 34.75 per cent in 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Although the declining turnout raises concerns, it also highlights the increasing expectations of the electorate, who demand credible and transparent elections.
Another area of progress is the growth of a vibrant and free press. Nigerian media has played a crucial role in holding governments accountable and fostering public discourse. Investigative journalism and civil society activism have exposed corruption and human rights abuses. The rise of social media has further expanded the democratic space, enabling young Nigerians to mobilise and advocate for change, as evidenced by the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Judicial independence has seen mixed results. On one hand, the judiciary has occasionally demonstrated resilience, such as in landmark rulings that overturned fraudulent elections or curtailed executive excesses. On the other hand, allegations of political interference and corruption within the judiciary persist, undermining public confidence in the legal system’s impartiality.
Nigeria’s democracy has also facilitated the decentralisation of power through the federal system. State governments now wield some autonomy, allowing for experimentation in governance and service delivery. While this has led to innovative policies in some states, it has also entrenched patronage networks and uneven development across the federation.
Despite these successes, Nigeria’s democratic journey faces formidable problems. Electoral integrity remains a critical concern. Reports from election observers, including those from the European Union and ECOWAS, frequently highlight issues such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and violence. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results in 2023 elections showed promise, but technical glitches and alleged manipulations dampened public trust.
Corruption continues to be a pervasive issue. Nigeria ranks 145th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 25/100. Democratic institutions meant to check graft—such as anti-corruption agencies and the legislature—often struggle due to political interference and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Security challenges have also strained Nigeria’s democracy. Insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West, separatist agitations in the South East, and herder-farmer conflicts across the Middle Belt have collectively resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, Nigeria ranks as the eighth most impacted country by terrorism. The government’s difficulty in ensuring safety erodes public confidence in the state’s capacity and legitimacy.
The economy poses another critical remonstrance. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita stands at approximately $2,400 as of 2024, with over 40 per cent of the population living below the national poverty line. High unemployment and inflation have fueled discontent and disillusionment with democratic governance, especially among youth. Without addressing economic grievances, the democratic dividend will remain elusive for many Nigerians.
Ethnic and religious divisions further complicate Nigeria’s democratic consolidation. Politicians often exploit identity politics for electoral gains, exacerbating social tensions. Although federal character principles aim to promote inclusiveness, they have also sometimes fostered a quota mentality rather than merit-based appointments.
Gender representation remains inadequate in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Women occupy less than 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, one of the lowest rates globally. Efforts to pass gender parity bills have faced stiff resistance, highlighting deep-seated cultural and institutional barriers to female political participation.
Civil liberties, while constitutionally guaranteed, are under threat. Crackdowns on protesters, restrictions on press freedom, and surveillance of activists reveal an authoritarian streak within the democratic framework. The controversial Twitter ban in 2021 exemplified the country’s willingness to curb digital freedoms, prompting domestic and international criticism.
The political crisis in Rivers State embodies broader democratic struggles. Attempts to control the state through undemocratic means expose weaknesses in federal institutions and the rule of law. Immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State is vital to preserving Nigeria’s democratic integrity and institutional credibility.
Local governments remain under the control of state governors, depriving citizens of grassroots democracy. Last year’s Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy is promising, but state-level resistance threatens its implementation. Genuine autonomy would bring governance closer to the people and foster democratic innovation.
As we mark Democracy Day, we must honour the sacrifices of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Femi Falana, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Pa Alfred Rewane, President Bola Tinubu, and countless others, who fought for Nigeria’s freedom. As democracy in Nigeria continues to evolve after 26 years, this day should inspire action toward its renewal. With despotism and state failure as real threats, both citizens and leaders must take responsibility—citizens by demanding more, and leaders by delivering. Excuses are no longer acceptable.
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