Public Affairs Analyst

  Tomorrow is Christmas, a Christian holiday celebrated worldwide. From the start of the month, the greetings have changed. You’ll hear people say, ‘Season’s greeting’ or ‘Compliment of the Yuletide’ or ‘Merry Christmas in advance’. The time-honoured ‘Father Christmas’ viewing wasn’t missing this year as many schools, churches and media outfits organised Father Christmas Grottos, where children pay a token sum to visit Father Christmas, who also shares gifts with the visitors. Some organisers make it part of their end-of-the-year party with a DJ on hand to dish out good, danceable songs and music to visitors’ delight. Some organisations partner with media outfits that also do live streaming and transmission on their channels, and give visitors a chance to greet their loved ones at home. Another unique feature of the Christmas season is the carol. There’s no Christmas without carols, where choristers sing in honour of Jesus Christ, whose birth is being celebrated tomorrow, even th...

  Several media channels (News Central TV, Daily Trust, Rapid 96.5 FM, Umuahia and Metro 97.7 FM, Lagos) have interviewed me on today’s protest against insecurity organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress. They all wanted to know if the Comrade Joe Ajaero led labour union was right to organise the protest. Of course, I responded without equivocation that the exercise had my full support and was even long overdue. Recall that the media had widely publicised last Sunday that NLC had said its planned nationwide protest on December 17 aimed to draw attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and compel urgent action from stakeholders. NLC president reportedly stated this in Gombe last Saturday while speaking with journalists after meeting Governor Inuwa Yahaya on labour-related issues. Ajaero said the protest would demand decisive government action against insecurity, stressing that the situation now affects every Nigerian, regardless of status or occupation. He said banditry and vi...

  Trade is a form of exchange. This can be of commodities or services; even ideas. Trade practice has been from time immemorial and is as old as mankind.   AI Overview says “Trade is the voluntary exchange, buying, or selling of goods, services, or financial products between individuals, companies, or countries for mutual benefit, creating links between producers and consumers and boosting economies by allowing specialisation and access to a wider variety of goods. It can be local (domestic) or international (imports/exports) and involves various forms, from simple bartering to complex financial market transactions. Many of us will remember the phenomenon of “trade by barter” where people exchange products they have for the one they need. For instance, we’re told that before the advent of money, people exchange good and services such that a person who has yam and need corn will go to the market to look for who has corn and need yam. Or someone who has farm produce and needs ...

  “Detty December” is a popular slang for the lively, month-long festive period in Nigeria mostly beginning from mid-December to the New Year and has been loosely described as letting loose and indulging in some fun and merriment. I had a sneak peek of that from November 19 – 23, 2025 while in Lagos on an official assignment. It was a retreat by the Department of Conflict and Dispute Resolution of the Niger Delta Development Commission. It was organised by Peace and Development Projects headed by rights activist, Francis Abayomi. With the business meeting done and dusted on Thursday, November 20, the Friday and Saturday was spent by the participants to bond, recreate and network.    On Friday, November 21, 2025, the team was at the Badagry Heritage and Slave Museum. The museum offers deep dives into the region's history, particularly its role in the slave trade. We were also at the First Storey Building in Nigeria built between 1842 and 1845 by Rev. C.A Gollmer, this bu...