₦airaland Forum

Nigerians have taken to social media to react after Hausa language was used to inscribe the name of Nigeria on the proposed currency of international bloc, BRICS.

On Thursday, October 24, Nigeria officially joined BRICS as a partner country, alongside 12 other nations, further strengthening its economic ties with the bloc.

This announcement was made at the ongoing BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, held from October 22 to 24, 2024.

Nigeria’s inclusion comes after significant surge in foreign capital inflows from BRICS nations, which rose by 189% in the first half of 2024, reaching $1.27 billion, compared to $438.72 million during the same period in 2023. Nigeria‘s name was also written on the yet to be unveiled foreign reserve BRICS currency in Hausa fueling speculation that the bloc might have recognized Hausa as the official language of Nigeria.

Bashir Ahmad, former special adviser to former president Muhammad Buhari tweeted;

So glad to see Hausa language proudly representing Nigeria (JAMHURIYAR TARAYYAR NAJERIYA) alongside the Nigerian flag which is prominently positioned within the yet-to-be officially unveiled BRICS currency.

The United States presidential election is only a few days away, and polls show that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are statistically tied, with no clear sign of a victor. This is probably the closest U.S. presidential election ever.

Harris, the Democratic Party’s candidate, and Republican Trump are campaigning tirelessly in the battleground or swing states, where both parties have no overwhelming support and either can win, making the states highly competitive and crucial for the outcome.


Whoever wins the election has serious implications for the rest of the world, especially the continent of Africa. Because what is on the ballot is more than just two persons vying for office; it is competing worldviews, ideologies, and frameworks for global engagement. With the outsize influence of the United States, this is as serious as it can get. Whether interested or not, the November 5, 2024, U.S. presidential election will impact you.

If it were left to some Nigerians, Trump, the Republican nominee, would win hands down. This is surprising considering that Harris, the Democratic candidate, is African-American and the historical ties between the continent of Africa and the Democratic Party, which, when in power, tends to implement more pro-Africa policies than the Republican Party.

Why is Trump so popular among some Nigerian demographics? Three factors could be deduced for this.

1. Many Nigerians were disappointed by the alleged role played by then-President Barrack Obama of the Democratic Party in the 2015 Nigerian presidential election, which saw the defeat of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP by APC’s Muhammadu Buhari. Although Obama didn’t come out for Jonathan or Buhari, many PDP supporters alleged his undertone was pro-Buhari, who was marketed as the anti-corruption candidate. They pointed to diplomatic pressures from the US, the threat to sanction government officials involved in electoral malpractices and some other subtle efforts to intervene in Buhari’s favour. Since then, many of these Nigerians, especially from the southeast, which used to be a PDP stronghold, have switched from supporting the Democratic Party to the Republicans, even though this has no real electoral consequences.

2. The Republican Party ostensibly represents traditional Christian values, especially regarding marriage and family. This connects with many in Nigeria, a deeply religious and homophobic country, where, according to Pew Research, over 90 per cent pray regularly. Many Nigerians, therefore, gravitate to the party with the same conservative outlook. Conversely, they see the Democratic Party as anti-religious and conservative norms, which pushes the LGBTQ agenda and upends the natural order of society.

3. Finally, Trump is perceived as a strong man and leader, mirroring the autocratic leadership style that is greatly admired and popular in Africa, where military dictators, autocrats, and despots who build state institutions around themselves are fairly common.

But is Trump good for Africa?

The short answer is no, based on his records as president and antecedents. A study of the policies, programmes and actions taken by Trump, the 45th U.S. president, shows a preponderance of decisions that could be regarded as anti-Africa. History also shows a pattern of his bias against black people. He was accused of discrimination against blacks in the US as a businessman in the 1970s, with the U.S. Department of Justice successfully suing Trump Management, a company owned by Trump and his father, for racial discrimination by systemically refusing to let apartments to blacks in New York City. He had also been called out several times for racist comments about black people, which may suggest an approach to Africa and its diaspora influenced by this long-standing attitude of racial bias rather than genuine partnership or engagement with the continent.

Trump campaigned for president based on an ‘America-first’ principle, suggesting he would focus primarily on his country and not lend helping hands to less-endowed nations accustomed to looking up to the United States for leadership and support. As president, he implemented a rash of policies that disproportionately impacted Africa negatively. These ranged from immigration restrictions to reductions in aid and strained diplomatic relations.

For instance, one of his first major foreign policies, executed one week after Trump came to power, was a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, many of which were African. It restricted entry into the United States from these predominantly Muslim countries, leading to significant controversy and legal challenges.

In 2020, the travel ban was extended to include Nigeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar (Burma), Sudan, and Tanzania. The prohibition on Nigeria was particularly significant as it targeted immigrants seeking to settle in the U.S. permanently but allowed non-immigrant travel to continue. President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, reversed this ban on his first day in office.

The Trump administration also proposed significant cuts to foreign aid programmes, including those targeting African countries. He also wanted a reduction in funding for USAID, which is the soft-power arm of the U.S. and has historically provided development assistance in many African countries across several spectrums, including health, education, humanitarian support, women’s empowerment, and gender equality programmes.

The policies and actions of President Trump that had serious negative consequences for African countries were too many to be captured sufficiently in one essay. Even several books may not be able to do justice to them. So, let’s list a few: Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO); reduction of U.S. diplomatic and economic engagement in Africa; attempt to end the temporary protected status for African immigrants in the US; and limited support for peacekeeping and conflict resolution on the continent.

In conclusion, many of Trump’s policies and actions, particularly on immigration, aid, trade, diplomacy, and security, adversely affected African countries and their people. But, perhaps, nothing reflects his attitude toward Africa and black people more than the derogatory comments he made in 2018 when he allegedly referred to African nations as ‘’shithole countries.’’ Those two words were packed with his history and attitude of racism and discontent for people of African descent and their origins.

Yet Trump may win, with substantial support from African-American men who see him as a model of strong leadership. If that happens, Africans should brace for a continuation, if not intensification, of his policies that could further discriminate against the continent and people through harsher immigration measures, reduced aid, and a dismissive diplomatic engagement.

givedemwotowoto:
Americans can be resilient and they have this unending fighting spirit especially the Gen Zs, but the extent he went the last time shows it's going to be a struggle for many Americans again. It will definitely be a set back

Kenobsky:
BRICS is a terrorist organisation, they realised the northern Nigeria is predominantly plague with terrorism so they want to drag the northern terrorist organisation to rebel against Nigerian government so that they will ship arms into the country and cause civil unrest.
Nigerian is the cradle of Africa, if nijja scatter then Africa will be in chaos out of the reach of Europe.
Then a multipolar war.
EKUKE BRICS SUMMIT.

iLoveYouToo:
Why are you confusing the figures?

Rubbish carried by a North Korean balloon has landed on South Korea’s presidential compound, authorities have said, in the second such incident in recent months.

South Korea’s presidential security service said in a statement on Thursday that a balloon sent from across the inter-Korean border dumped rubbish onto the compound in Seoul’s Yongsan district, but no dangerous items or materials were discovered.

South Korea’s Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo newspapers reported that the balloon contained propaganda leaflets ridiculing President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.

The incident comes after Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, earlier this week claimed that authorities had discovered and removed “political motivational rubbish sent by the ROK scum”, referring to South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

“The reckless infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK by the ROK military gangsters is a hideous military provocation that can never be pardoned, Kim said, referring to North Korea’s official name, according to a state media report on Tuesday.

“Seoul will have to experience at firsthand so as to know properly how dangerous [of an] act it committed and how terrible and fatal the consequences it brought on itself are,” Kim said, according to a state media report on Tuesday.

Pyongyang has floated thousands of balloons carrying refuse and propaganda leaflets across the border since May in response to propaganda leaflet drops into the North by South Korean activists.

Thursday’s incident marks the second time a balloon has dumped refuse on the South Korean president’s office following a similar case in July, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key South Korean sites in the event of a North Korean attack.

billyG:
People are dieing in nigeria ooo but you never care.

Botragelad:
You are too emotional to engage in this discourse!

Don't start a war and then cry foul! The Israeli flag will fly high over Gaza, Rafah, Hezbollah's strongholds in Lebanon, khan Yunis, everywhere. Wherever you look, you'll see the might of the Israeli nation, and you'll know and accept that Israel will rule with an iron fist.

Am yisreal chai 🇮🇱!

Botragelad:
Oh! You think Arabs cares about your existence? Or did you miss how they brutally murdered your fellow African, an agricultural intern in Israel? What was his crime, exactly? Stop kidding yourself.

Come to Israel and see the truth for yourself; if you're not a terrorist, you've nothing to fear.

When will Hamas release Kfir? If you're not willing to address that, the bombing will continue until nothing's left standing. Listen carefully: everything supporting terrorism will be wiped out.

Photo below: The African butchered and sprayed with bullets by Hamas while they chanted their terrorist phrase on October 7

Righteousness2:
Ok

Botragelad:
Good, now tell Hamas to either release all hostages and surrender!

There's a little baby in Hamas's detention, kfir. Where is he?

A Gazan girl carries her injured sister for an hour to safety.

A young girl in Gaza was seen carrying her injured sister on the side of the road after her younger sibling was hit by a car. The displaced sisters had walked for an hour to reach their displaced persons camp in Burij in the center of Gaza.

Badonasty:
Lol….the ekweremadus have really been humbled….that’s if they have shame sha

004gist:
U are supporting her hoping she will stop supporting Israel

G0Oodharddick:
Wake up from your slumber.

Joe Biden was the only candidate who could've challenge Trump and give him a hard time winning. With this woman on board, it's a game over already. Trump is already the president in waiting.

dominique:
Happy birthday crazy skamala, always laughing like someone that fell off a coconut tree 🌴 and talking incoherently.

Atuero:
Since the death of my Dad,
Anybody can die, I don't care

The Nigerian Army on Sunday debunked reports circulating that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died.