Author: Adejuyigbe Adegoke

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election continues to generate legal and political discourse. A notable contribution to this debate came from Justice Ayo Salami, a retired President of the Court of Appeal, who argued that Peter Obi was not qualified to contest the election under the Labour Party. This report merges prior analytical context with Justice Salami’s detailed remarks, examining his claims, legal implications, and the broader reaction within Nigeria’s judicial and political landscape. Context of the Statement Justice Salami made his remarks in Ilorin during a courtesy visit by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), where he was…

The increasing sophistication and global nature of cybercrime have made cybersecurity a top priority for governments, organisations, and law enforcement agencies worldwide. In Africa, where digital transformation is accelerating, the need for robust cybercrime response capabilities has become especially urgent. Against this backdrop, Kaspersky and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), have collaborated to strengthen the continent’s cyber defence capacity through a comprehensive training programme for law enforcement personnel. This report examines the structure, objectives, and impact of the joint cybersecurity training initiative conducted between November 2025 and March 2026. Background of the Partnership The collaboration between Kaspersky…

The Federal Government (FG), of Nigeria has opened applications for the 2026/2027 foreign scholarship programmes, aimed at strengthening human capital development and equipping Nigerians with globally competitive skills. Two major government-backed schemes are currently highlighted: The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Overseas Scholarship Scheme The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme Both initiatives reflect a strategic effort to build expertise in key sectors, particularly oil and gas, engineering, and technology, while promoting international education opportunities. Overview of the Scholarship Programmes PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme The PTDF scholarship focuses on postgraduate (MSc and PhD), studies in energy-related fields.…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), conducted a major Open Market Operations (OMO) auction, selling ₦2.4 trillion worth of bills to banks and foreign portfolio investors. This auction reflects one of the largest liquidity mop-up exercises in Nigeria’s recent money market operations. The offering initially comprised ₦600 billion across short- and mid-tenor instruments, but overwhelming investor demand led to a significantly higher allotment. Auction Details and Pricing Total allotment: ₦2.4 trillion Total subscriptions: ₦3.0 trillion Bid-to-offer ratio: 5.1x (strong oversubscription) Stop (marginal) rates: 8-day tenor: 21.90% 113-day tenor (mid-tenor): 19.79% The 21.9% yield on the short-tenor instrument highlights extremely tight…

In March 2026, the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), experienced a widespread global outage, affecting users across multiple continents. The disruption prevented normal access to core features such as timelines, posting, messaging, and media loading. Reports indicate that the outage was simultaneous and global in nature, impacting both mobile and web users. Timeline of Events Onset: Reports of service disruption began emerging within hours, with users unable to refresh feeds or access accounts. Peak: Monitoring platforms like Downdetector recorded thousands of outage complaints globally within a short period. Geographic Spread: Users in regions including North America, Europe, Africa, and…

The 2026 World Happiness Report highlights a concerning decline in Nigeria’s global happiness standing, with the country falling to 106th position worldwide. This drop underscores persistent socio-economic challenges and introduces a growing concern: the deterioration of youth well-being, which is increasingly shaping national happiness outcomes. The report, produced through a collaboration of global institutions including Gallup and the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, evaluates happiness based on life satisfaction and key socio-economic indicators such as income, social support, health, freedom, generosity, and corruption perception. Nigeria’s Ranking Trend: A Gradual Decline Nigeria’s current ranking reflects a continuing downward trajectory over recent years:…

In March 2026, tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically when U.S. President, Donald Trump, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran demanding the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. The crisis forms part of a broader conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel, and has triggered global economic, political, and military repercussions. Background to the Crisis Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It is: Responsible for about 20% of global oil shipments A…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving single-digit inflation (6–9%), as it transitions toward a full-fledged inflation-targeting monetary policy framework. This shift represents one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s monetary policy architecture in decades, combining measurable progress in disinflation with a forward-looking institutional overhaul. This position was reinforced during a high-level engagement with the Nigerian Economic Society and members of the academic community in Abuja on March 18, 2026. Inflation Trend: Sharp Decline Since 2024 Nigeria’s inflation trajectory has improved markedly: Inflation peaked at 34.8% in late 2024 Declined to about 15.1% by…

The United States Department of State has announced a five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with Angola under the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy. This agreement commits $121 million in joint funding to strengthen Angola’s health systems, with emphasis on infectious diseases, laboratory capacity, and private-sector engagement. While the agreement is bilateral, its broader significance lies in the expanding network of 27 such MOUs—including one with Nigeria—which signals a shift in U.S. global health engagement toward co-investment, national ownership, and strategic health security. Key Features of the Angola MOU The Angola agreement reflects several defining pillars of…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a major reform in basic education system: the planned abolition of the long-standing Common Entrance Examination used for admitting pupils into junior secondary schools (JSS). This policy shift represents a significant departure from a high-stakes, one-time testing model toward a more continuous and comprehensive system of student evaluation. The reform, disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is part of broader efforts to improve access, retention, and quality within Nigeria’s education sector. Background: The Common Entrance Examination The Common Entrance Examination has historically served as the standardised test taken by pupils…

The United Kingdom has made a significant policy reversal (“U-turn”), by granting the United States access to its military bases for strikes on Iranian targets. This decision marks a major escalation in Western involvement in the ongoing Iran conflict and reflects shifting geopolitical, military, and economic pressures. Initially cautious and reluctant, the UK government ultimately aligned more closely with U.S. military strategy amid intensifying hostilities in the Middle East. Background to the Conflict The development must be understood within the broader context of the 2026 Iran war, which began on February 28, 2026, following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military…

Africa’s Energy Landscape Under Stress The Middle East conflict — largely centred on tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel — has sharply disrupted global oil markets. Key implications include volatility in crude pricing, increased freight costs, and supply chain instability that are reverberating far beyond the region. Many African countries, especially those heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, have seen fuel shortages and price spikes as a result. Why Dangote Refinery Is Gaining Strategic Importance Demand Surge Across Africa In recent weeks, African nations have significantly increased enquiries and fuel purchase agreements with Dangote Refinery. Countries including…