columnist

Epidemic of illicit arms

By Dakuku Peterside From the small handguns of the 15th century to the sophisticated machine guns and other small and light weapons of our time, the world has suffered mayhem and wanton destruction due to the rightful and wrongful use…

Two global wars and our economic plight

By Dakuku Peterside There is fire on the mountain. It seems too far away, and the fire looks more like a smouldering fire than a volcano. However, the molten lava is simmering in the belly of the volcano, waiting to…

Strong abroad, weak at home? 

By Dakuku Peterside President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, in their first 100 days in office, hold the record of the most travelled presidency since 1999. The President’s first trip abroad was to France to participate in the…

How we de-industralised Nigeria

By Dakuku Peterside It is most unlikely that you will visit China and not notice its great industrialisation success. China’s mesmerizing success in creating jobs, lifting 700m people out of extreme poverty, generating overwhelming wealth, improving  living standards and achieved food…

Saving the Naira and ourselves

By Dakuku Peterside Naira, indeed, has no religion, tribe, or tongue. It is common to all of us, and anything that happens to it affects everybody. The value of the Naira is not determined by some gods, prayers, or incantations,…

Challenging the new Ministers

By Dakuku Peterside Three recent developments are the focus of pe ople with a keen interest in the political affairs of Nigeria at the moment. The first is whether ECOWAS, which means Nigeria, in real terms, will go to war…

Niger: Trouble in the Neighbourhood

Niger Republic is Nigeria’s next-door neighbour. She is not the best neighbour Nigeria would desire but, as a sovereign nation, we have no control over her. Her economic statistics, population demographics, poverty and security threats – terrorism, insurgency, and inter-communal…

This deity called petrol

By Dakuku Peterside To be precise from the onset, it is apt to posit that the centrality, omnipresence  and ubiquitous nature of petrol in Nigeria has elevated it to the status of a deity in our daily lives. We revere…