₦airaland Forum

Originalsly:
Are the cars given to the magistrates?... as in personal cars? .... or given to the offices of the magistrates?... as in if the magistrate retires.. is fired .. dies .. is replaced ... the car remains at the office and is used in carrying out the duties of the next magistrate?
We need a military coup ... for better or for worse.. but I doubt if it can be for worse. No military government has ever had the country in the gutters.

Military is infinitely worse. The lack of choice is most frustrating… violence is always the only choice.

In a democracy or a pseudo-democracy like ours, you can still organize with free speech, which will not be available under military rule, at a local level. Major issue is Nigerians, despite their common problems, are divided by ethnic and religious lines. It is difficult for Lagosians to demand as urbanites for potable water, electricity and a safe environment. Instead we argue about who owns Lagos or Ikoyi. Working class people arguing about ownership of Ikoyi?!

SecurityNgr:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beacgn7qD4U

What do you think? Should Governor Bassey Otu be praised for investing in the judiciary, or should the government prioritise roads, hospitals, schools and job creation?

Share your opinion in the comments!

I wouldn’t be surprised if the magistrates do not have tools of work. No laptop.. still recording proceedings by hand… no judicial assistants to help with the workload..

blessedchild234:
Exactly how it should be, other states should follow through too, its a gradual process.

Zero debates. State house assemblies are where the law should be broken down to buts and pieces for the masses to understand. Let people understand the real consequences of the law.

helinues:
I am not even a fan of Yayi or his supporters but you see Ladi who is from the same region as the current governor who is about to complete 8 years is a CAPITAL NO to me.

What kind of disrespecting is that? Their region currently have ruled more than others, 16 years already while Ogun Central is on 12. Yewa none, Imala side none.

Why Ogun East again in 2027
No No No

When Nigeria splits up, we will still need zoning and counter-zoning. It is ridiculous.

At what point do we elect people based on the pure and unadulterated good governance we deserve.

iwaeda:
Aja pada si bi ebi e. A dog just swallowed it's vomit. This man that construct pako bridge, gave them 1000 liter water by Falolu. Our politicians can't stand on integrity, but depend solely on godfather.

It’s because Nigerian politics is so dysfunctional that a legislator is expected to execute developmental projects. We are all impliedly endorsing corruption because how else is a legislator supposed to lay his hand on project money.

The main job of a legislator is seemingly invisible. He is to make sure our laws are updated and fair and properly considered. There are too many outdated laws, too many gaps in the law and the judiciary which viciously is underfunded is focused into a law making role it was not designed for simply because legislators are building substandard bore holes about their communities.

You have to consider our horrible waste disposal methods. Batteries of all types are dumped at dumpsters without regard. The danfo vehicles contribute an unhealthy degree of air pollution.

Factories which dump their noxious wastes into rivers and into our groundwater.

Cancer clusters growing about Lagos

Kajaard:
This is very commendable.

We should stop promoting despicable western vices that are not our key African norms.

Just imagine a Nigerian movie promoting LGBTQ

Arrant nonsense

I have always wondered what these ‘African’ norms are. First of all there are no African norms. They are Nigerian or Togolese or Ghanaian or Tunisian norms. Africa is not homogeneous to talk of a universal norm. Secondly, these norms that have been diluted by the West itself. Homophobia came from Victorian norms. Our Criminal Codes were written by Lord Macaulay and foreign pens. Also Christianity is a major factor in how we Africans perceive these trends.

I’m more interested in discovering our attitudes to these eccentricities. We should be able to accept nuances.

Worryingly:
Una matter just tire me for this country. Everything is about money and thats why crime is on the rise.

Its a shame how increasingly commercialised relationships have become in Nigeria. Yes, money matters. Financial hardship can create enormous pressure in a marriage, but the idea that if a marriage loses its spark, the man simply needs to make more money is a shallow diagnosis of a complex problem.
Money can pay rent, provide comfort and reduce stress, but it cannot automatically buy love, intimacy, respect, trust, loyalty, communication or sexual compatibility. Yet we are increasingly creating a culture where every relationship problem is treated as a financial problem. The marriage is struggling? Make more money. There is no intimacy? Make more money. Your partner is unhappy? Throw more money at it.

It's like how the Nigerian government throws a bag of rice at every problem.

This mentality allows people to avoid the difficult work of being better partners. Nobody examines their behaviour, communication, emotional availability, selfishness or contribution to the marriage.
The truth is, financial provision and relationship competence are not the same thing. A person can be an excellent provider and a terrible spouse. There are wealthy people in miserable marriages, just as there are couples with modest means who have genuine friendship, love and peace.
I am not romanticising poverty. Love cannot pay bills, feed children or solve financial irresponsibility. Money is important. But it should be a tool for building a better life together and not a substitute for effort, emotional maturity and genuine partnership.

We need to stop teaching people that becoming rich is the cheat code to a successful marriage. Make money, absolutely. But also learn how to communicate, show affection, resolve conflict, respect your partner and build together. Otherwise, we risk creating marriages and relationships that are financially comfortable but emotionally bankrupt.

Most men who preach the gospel of money buys everything are always the same that say women are bixtches when the women are actually bought by money by someone else or they can’t buy the women with their money or worst when their money can’t buy the loyalty of the women.

Ultimately, most money buys everything purveyors are simple minded men who fail to understand human nature. They forgot their motherly love or love for their mother was not purchased. Their love for music or arts was not bought. Their love for women, beautiful and intelligent, was not bought by money.

flokii:
Which yeye virgin?.. the girl is most likely into hookup. She probably felt cheated, became depressed and ended her own life.
Had it been the Asaba dude gave her the complete amount they agreed on, she'd still be around looking for her next customer.

You should note that because evil looks like you or seems relatable to you doesn’t not mean it cannot come for you.

The main issue is did a man take liberties with a woman without her consent? Most times the people who do these things are serialists at it. There are better men to defend that a man who clearly raped this girl.

Nigeria’s institutions are breaking down and more evil like this will continue.

EpicDude123:
Naija which way? God abeg o, Split this country at once make everybody dey Im dey. Haba

Do you think Islamists would disappear because the country is divided into pieces? Don’t you think they will gobble up the constituent pieces?!

Nigeria love false cure all solutions.

villagereporter:
How I wish we can establish another form of government other than democracy and military-both of them have failed in dis country.

I have come to realize how vital political culture is. Nigerians have to participate in politics. It doesn’t mean buying forms to contest office. It means scrutinizing leaders and engaging in political discourse. Making demands on all levels of government.

Dogalmighty17:
When Boko Haram says Western education is sin, this is what they mean.

As much as that organisation needs to be eradicated in its entirety from the face of the earth and its members made to face the full wrath of the law, there may be a method to their madness.

Polished, educated and learned folks are the reason why this country is in this mess. Over 800 billion dollars has been looted from Nigeria in the past 40 years. Men whose education should have made them assets but their greed turned them into cancers and a curse on this nation. They loot from Nigeria to buy houses for themselves and their kids outside the country. Everyone of them. Your governor and mine inclusive. Your uncle and mine, your aunty and mine in one government office or another are all engaged in pillaging this country. You and I may even be doing same right now.

This is who we are as a people. A sad lot. Petty thieves with opportunities. May God help us all.

It’s the lack of governance structures and institutions. You can’t entrust public funds and powers to individuals without checks. Remember that this is a religious country.

Commentor:
Are you saying US would not refund our money or what?

If they aren't, they for kuku allow Okoronkwo enjoy the money.

Better a Nigerian.

Africans!

Why don’t they do community service. Our prisons are congested. They could use them to clear mounts of human waste and trash.

adenigga:
Bros! Visit your economics library. Nigeria is practising mixed economic system, that's Capitalism plus Socialism economic systems.

You can consult encyclopedia &Google it for more understanding. Therefore, protest can not make sense, Dangote refinery’s for example........

Until you are sold by the government.

helinues:
Hustle smartly and get money to enjoy your life to the fullest. Life no get duplicate

That's why it's called private beach, too many exclusivity and packages

This mindset that one should be rich in money terms is fueled by circumstances of poverty. Because to the impoverished man, money solves all his problems… Rather than protesting against the privatization of public goods… we are deliberately fed with the propaganda that we should blow first. That one man can live well in the midst of illiteracy and poverty.

Whenever we see a functioning proper society we are captivated. We are amazed a man can earn honestly with dignity and can afford healthcare, procure good public education for his children, live comfortably in a modest home with proper and invisible security.

There is deep lack of democratic processes in this country. People take political decisions and actions without consensus or consultation with people.

doncartel:
I knew Ghana must be there because they are enjoying good governance and democracy.

The priority should be job creation and power supply. If I achieve 95% employment rate and 95% electricity access as governor of Anambra state, then we don turn to Europe be that.

China and Singapore have proven that you don’t need to be a democracy to enjoy the benefits and prosperities of global trade and good governance.

Niccoloimhotep:
These northerners are something else

It’s not a Northern problem.. it’s a Nigerian problem. The imagination that the South is somewhat better is even dangerous.

Nigeria’s political culture lacks the demand for accountability.

writeprof:
WHY WOULD HE NOT
A SYSTEM WHERE GOVERNORS JUST RECEIVE ALLOCATIONS & BORROW LOANS WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY TO ANYONE WOULD CONTINUE TO BREED THESE TYPES OF WICKED WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECTS WHICH IS A COMMON FEATURE OF NIGERIA'S BRAND OF DEMOCRACY.



NIGERIA MUST BE RESTRUCTURED.

GOVERNANCE MUST BE DEVOLVED TO BE PART TIME JOB.

REQUISITE QUALIFICATION MUST BE UPGRADED TO FIRST DEGREE FOR GOVERNORS, SENATORS, REPS, & PRESIDENT.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS MUST BE ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THEY ARE IN THESE POSITIONS.

CAN KEBBI STATE GENERATE THIS AMOUNT MONTHLY BECAUSE THIS SO-CALLED LOAN IS NOTHING BUT TRAVEL SUPPORT FOR THE RECEIVERS

There is no restructuring that can replace the political culture of a polity. We have a terrible one.

franchasofficia:
Black Africans really need God's intervention because this failure in leadership and refusal to leave after decades of failure seems to be a common natural deficiency

We sometimes do not need these type of deadend analysis. It is more likely that most African states lack credible political institutions to carry democracy. Simple. Tribal or clan politics are so low in political development that they often breed dictatorships.

Russia, Belarus and the Central Asian states have the same problem too.

Cum4me:
First of all a lot of women marry guys they don't love aren't sexually attracted to. They marry who's ready because they have limited time unlike men. Do you think it's easy for a woman to leave a good DK and live with 2min man all because of marriage. She tolerate sex with her husband because they need to have kid's. Just as a man prefer a woman who cooks very well same applies to the woman who's body has feel different DK. That's why you should try to marry a virgin or a lady with low body count.

A virgin could also have a high libido. A virgin can only be a virgin because of her tender youthful age. I don’t understand why people never judge others based on the quality and values of such people.

Some men or women will never cheat on their spouses based on their strong opinions and values. It is simple. Virginity is absolutely immaterial.

izzou:
[color=royalblue]Your comment reeks of serious, gross ignorance

The Nigerian labour law compels him to have a Union. You think PENGASSAN woke up and picked on him?

All Oil companies in Nigeria have a Union for its staff. It's a Labour law in Nigeria. PENGASSAN did not write the law. Nigeria did.

So he either forms that Union, or follows your advice to sell it off. Shebi he has yam and knife?[/color]

But does a union have the power to instruct its members not to provide a service which their employer has guaranteed to the target? Shouldn’t the target’s workers be on the strike and not other industry players?

AqualinaXYZ:
This 13% thing dey pain me die



Rivers state alone is supposed to be getting 15%



Other south south states 30%



South east 25%



Then the remaining will be thrown to the barren. Regions that doesn’t contribute anything meaningful other than skull

Do you know the government can make far more from proper taxation.

Softmirror:
Where is Sowore Mr Voltron defender of the Universe? Hahaha hahaha. The only time Lagos doesn't smell is between December and January, during Christmas stroke New Year holiday. Please don't ask me why? 😁

Modified: Some Nigerians have been very careful to not badmouth the United States of America because the know the consequences which is to be denied VISA. This is the same country that preaches freedom of speech around the world in the name of Democracy.

Why is the U S punishing you for speaking ill about them? It simply means there are consequences for bad actions. The same applies to U S citizens when the exceed their limit, example is when you support Palestine over Israel and you voice out. The whole point is always use common sense to pass your message in a way that will not land you into trouble.

This is easier said when the abuse is not directed at you.

With the sacrifices people make for the national service, NYSC should not be politicized.

VeeVeeMyLuv:
He are his predecessor were very poor managers.

Go and investigate how Yaradua and Dr GEJ managed to keep things stable and running despite the unprecedented scale of insecurity never witnessed before!

They didn’t do any better. They ought to have invested the oil surplus in the good times.

Believeintruth:
The way you people twist facts ehnnn even Satan will marvel. You assume Nigerians are naive abi!! Tinubu destroyed the value of the naira by more than 500% even in black market the value of the naira plunged. The rushed subsidy removal without any plan even worsened the situation. Inflation rose by more than 300% from 2023 to 2025 far more than Buhari and GEJ.

Let's assume you know how the FX market works.

I am sure you know it is about the demand and supply of dollars. The FGN is burning its reserves of dollars at such a flow and quantity to drop the price of the dollars. Obviously, it is trying to flood the FX market with dollars so it becomes cheaper to buy. But as you see, there is a cost to it. Everyone knows that this flooding strategy fails when FGN's reserves of dollars finish.

So it is not a matter of fiat or law that the FG fixes the price of dollars. It is with dollars which could be used for something else. In other words, opportunity costs for housing, security, food security, investment, healthcare etc. Remember the principal question of economics, "how do we satisfy our unlimited wants with our limited resources."

Tinubu had to slow down the flooding strategy. it will be a shame if we return to the full measure of the strategy.

Dogalmighty17:
I bought a 50kg bag of foreign rice for a friend's wedding for 6k then. Can I try such a thing now?

Salaries are not the same level too. You know.

kettykin:
This is becoming very serious, in a space of 10 years , Nigeria's economy has been gutted by a single individual and his warped economic views

Economics and history may have to be compulsory subjects alongside maths and English language.

Tinubu didn’t bring down the Nigerian economy. The responsibility is largely with Goodluck and Buhari and Nigerian government’s overdependence oil revenue. We didn’t save in surplus times and when the hard times came we borrowed and didn’t cut down expenses. Fuel subsidy was a bad idea. All that money should have been invested in something tangible.

Let’s not pretend that the country was in a very good place financially before Tinubu came. It is time Nigerian politics be discussed in an intelligent fashion.

One of my many problems with political parties in Nigeria is the absence of an ideological based party which has a consistent and credible vision for the country. Even if it is restructuring in a federal way, there should be a party of diehard Federalists which all Federalists can relate with.

onuman:
Crab mentality!!

"Crab mentality, also known as crabs in a bucket mentality, refers to a way of thinking where people try to pull down or discourage others who are trying to achieve success or improve their situation, even if that success doesn't negatively affect them." Courtesy of AI.

Betwwen 1967-1996, military dictators from Northern Nigeria created a skewed and lopsided political structure for Nigeria through proliferation of mostly non viable states and local government areas in the old Northern region, supervised a constitution to legit the political structure, and devised a quasi unitary government system for Nigeria. They even established quota system for admissions to federal government institutions. All boiled down to: you can't grow unless I grow at the same time with you. Crab mentality.
Beginning 1999, the same constitution was raped when 12 far north states started to adopt unconstitutional sharia criminal justice system. Islamic extremists emerged thereafter and say they are fighting for a country to be governed with Sharia criminal justice system. Insecurity from that with its accompanying mass poverty has enveloped Nigeria since then.

You still want to hold on to the political status quo?
FYI, in all the developed countries of the world, industrialization started from one part of each of the countries and quickly extended to other parts of the country. But Crab mentality rules for Nigeria. No amount of proceeds from crude oil, gas, gold and other natural resources can stop mass poverty and insecurity in Nigeria governed as it is today.

Your take is too simplistic. Nigerian constitutional history is more than just “military dictators in the North” made it that way. There was a Constituent Assembly in the 70s to discuss the constitutional arrangement of the country. The deliberation was in the shadows of the failed first republic. At the Ene of the day, we should not be afraid to experiment but we should know what we doing when removing those picket fences.

UncleAyo:
Nigeria is a richly diverse nation with over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages. Yet, despite this diversity, the current centralized structure of governance does not fully reflect the nation's cultural, economic, or political realities. The call for a regional government is not a call for division, but for true federalism—a structure that ensures equity, autonomy, and accelerated development for all constituent parts of the country. A regional system, especially one based on linguistic and ethnic identity, is not only logical but necessary for sustainable progress.


Why Regional Government is Important

1. Restoration of True Federalism
Nigeria started as a federation of regions, each with autonomy over its resources and policies. This structure allowed for healthy competition, innovation, and rapid development. Returning to a regional system would restore that spirit and eliminate the overdependence on the federal government.


2. Better Representation and Leadership
In a regional structure, each region can elect a leader that truly understands and represents its people, values, and aspirations. For instance, the South-East could choose Peter Obi, a visionary known for his administrative prudence (Yinmu), to lead its affairs, while the South-West might choose any Yoruba leader with integrity and experience.


3. Faster Economic Development
Each region can focus on its strengths—agriculture in the Middle Belt, oil and gas in the Niger Delta, technology and finance in the South-West, and commerce in the South-East. Without the bottlenecks of a central authority, regions will be free to grow their economies, attract investment, and create jobs.


4. Reduced Ethnic Tensions and Political Friction
Much of Nigeria's ethnic conflict stems from a perceived or real sense of marginalization. When people are governed by those from their cultural background, there is more trust, accountability, and peace. Regional governance eliminates the "us vs. them" mentality in national politics.


5. Efficient Use of Resources
A centralized government often leads to duplication of efforts and wastage. With regional governance, resources will be better managed and tailored to local needs. For example, a Yoruba regional government can implement policies suited to its socio-economic structure without interference from a distant Abuja.


Why Regionality Should Be Based on Language and Ethnicity

Nigeria’s major problem isn’t just bad leadership—it is a lack of structural compatibility. A nation that groups people of vastly different cultures, languages, and histories under a one-size-fits-all government is bound to experience friction.

1. Cultural Cohesion and Unity
People naturally feel more connected to those who speak the same language and share the same history. A Yoruba man from Kogi will naturally relate more with someone from Lagos or Osun than with a neighbor from another tribe. By grouping regions along ethnic-linguistic lines, we ensure unity and loyalty within regions.


2. Educational and Media Benefits
Language-based regions can teach and promote their languages, histories, and values in schools and media. This revives endangered languages and preserves culture.


3. Tailored Governance
Different regions have different ways of life. For instance, laws and policies that work in the North may not suit the South. Regional governments based on ethnicity can create context-sensitive policies and governance systems. E.g Sharia + Hisbah police in the North vs Amotekun in the South


4. Freedom of Association and Identity
Every ethnic group has the right to protect its identity and development. A Yoruba from Kwara or Edo should be allowed to belong to a Yoruba region instead of being lumped with people who don't share the same values or interests.




Examples of Regional Leaders in a Functional System

South-East Region: Peter Obi — known for transparency, frugality, and youth empowerment. (Yinmu)

South-West Region: A visionary Yoruba leader focused on innovation, education, and cultural preservation.

Middle Belt Region: An agrarian reformer with experience in food production and conflict resolution.

South-South Region: A resource-focused leader who can negotiate resource control and environmental justice.

North-West & North-East: Leaders chosen by their people, with deep roots in local traditions and equipped to tackle regional security and education challenges.



A regional government system in Nigeria is not only feasible—it is essential. The current centralized system is too disconnected from the people, too prone to abuse, and too fragile to sustain peace and progress. Let each region determine its path, develop at its pace, and choose its leaders. Let the Yoruba speak for themselves, the Igbo for themselves, the Hausa-Fulani, the Ijaw, the Tiv, the Idoma, and so on. Only then will we see a Nigeria that is just, peaceful, prosperous, and united in diversity.

Great write-up.

My first problem with it: you organize Nigeria strictly on ethnic lines - and based on the majority tribes. The ethnic minorities such as the Brass, Nembe, Ibibio, Efik, Birom and Kanuri do not figure in your paradise. No mention is given to the growing class consciousness of urban Nigerians. Many Yorubas do not merely identify as Yorubas. There is more to them. Some are also feminists, some are multiethnic, some are multi-nationals.. etc.

What about the rights of those who migrate away from their regions and integrate in other regions? Can they be civil servants, judges and governors of those regions?


My second problem is that it is too fantastic. All the points you have made, were similarly made for local governments. You have no experiment to fall back on as proof that regions will work as you have said. And you make so many unfounded assumptions. If the proper institutional pillars of fair and true elections or independent judiciary is missing, how can anything work?

onuman:
"This arrangement, upturned by the military after it hijacked power in January 1966, is what the Patriots seek to restore."

Nigeria is the only country in the world where military dictators from one region created its political structure and supervised the country's constitution - no consultation of the country's people through a referendum on the political structure, constitution and governance system.

The call for "true" federalism is shallow and without content. There are a thousand ways to organize a federation, and there is no blue print from the heavens that dictate how it should look like in a super-multicultural society like ours.

It is amazing that we do not, or rather refuse, to learn the lessons of Nigerian history and overglamourize the 1960s. The so-called regionalism was not as appealing as most people make it out. First, the regions were not working because all the minorities within those regions felt overshadowed. The North was an amalgamation of hundreds of ethno-cultural identities which was more than just Hausa-Fulani; just as the Western and Eastern regions were. The 36 states directly came out of these agitations. The so-called true federalism was unable to withstand the very first challenge to its legitimacy. The country was more divided then than now.

If the so-called federalists read the final report of the Constitution Drafting Committee, they would have known that there was a deliberate step-away from the Westminster system and the confederated federalism because a fragile country like Nigeria requires a strong centre to hold the entire country together.

It is a joke to create a system where the regions or states collect revenue and distribute to the centre - the centre that has massive bills to pay in form of the maintaining a standing military, customs and big public service. if the states fail to pay what will happen? An invasion by the centre? The Constitution of 1960 created the Consolidated Revenue Fund where all the monies of the federation were pooled. Section 140 of the same constitution directed the Federation to pay each region a sum of 50% of proceeds of mining proceeds and rents collected in the region. Section 141 has a sharing formula which is much maligned today for the Federation to pay to each region. Back then, the Federation charged the regions for the costs of administration for collecting customs and excise duties which it set off from their share.

I think the real problem is the poor revenue generation of the states. The states have immense ambitions but no purse to pursue it. The taxes they collect are meagre not as juicy as the income taxes. Maybe, it is high time states be given full tax powers concurrent with the Federation.

Please note that the revenue from raw materials cannot beat the tax to be collected from 200m strong productive economy.