THE SIGNATURE TRAP The Culture of Casual Signing ACROSS Nigeria and many parts of the world, documents are treated casually—passed across desks, slid through car windows, or handed over with a simple instruction: “Just sign here.” Many comply without reading, questioning, or understanding. This habit, often driven by trust, haste, fear of authority, or social […]
THE SYSTEM ON TRIAL When the Regulator Becomes the Obstacle NIGERIA’S petroleum crisis no longer hides behind excuses. The resignation of the chief executives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has forced the country to confront an uncomfortable truth: the institutions designed to […]
State Failure & Security Accountability Delayed Response, Deadly Consequences: How the Lamurde Crisis Exposed Nigeria’s Security Gaps A Protest Against Inaction THE women of Lamurde did not march for politics or power. They marched against delay. As violence flared between the Bachama and Chobo communities in Adamawa State, residents say security forces were slow to […]
The Norman Conquest and the Birth of Modern English Power Decides What Gets Written FOLLOWING 1066, written English nearly vanished—not because people stopped speaking it, but because it stopped mattering to those who wrote history. French and Latin monopolized authority. English lived orally, transmitted by memory, work, and family. This imbalance shaped what survived in […]
Nzinga Mbande: Power Performed, Power Defended Entering a Trap WHEN Nzinga Mbande walked into the Portuguese governor’s hall in Luanda, she walked into a trap built from protocol. The missing chair was intentional. It was an invitation to accept inferiority, to acknowledge Portugal’s authority over Ndongo without negotiation. Nzinga recognised the trap—and refused it. Reclaiming […]
By NINI NDUONOFIT-AKOH & ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE Africa’s Refining Paradox Africa’s Fuel Trap in a Changing World AFRICA sits on vast crude oil reserves, yet its economies remain dangerously exposed to fuel import shocks. The paradox is stark: the continent produces more than five million barrels of crude daily, but still imports over 70 per cent of […]
The Myth of Instant Victory at the Police Station ACROSS Nigeria, a persistent misconception fuels needless conflict: the belief that reporting a case to the police equals winning it. Many complainants walk out of police stations convinced that justice has already been secured simply because a statement was taken or an arrest made. In reality, […]
How Ordinary Signatures Become Legal Nightmares THE modern legal system does not require force or fraud to bind a person. A simple signature is enough. Every day, employees, professionals and business owners commit themselves to obligations they barely understand, often under social pressure or misplaced trust. These documents may appear routine, but once signed, they […]
Why People Expect Money from Court FOR many litigants, the courtroom is seen as a place of financial settlement rather than legal resolution. This belief often leads to frustration when judgments deliver punishment or clarification of rights instead of money. Fines Are for the State In criminal law, fines serve as punishment. They are payments […]
Beyond Tolerance: Southern Africa’s Approach to Religious Diversity A Peaceful Coexistence LIVING in Southern Africa reveals an unexpected reality about religion in the region. Unlike much of Europe, where religious identity often divides and politicizes societies, Southern Africa presents a model of religious coexistence that is both natural and profound. Countries such as Zambia, Malawi, […]