Like everybody else, President Tinubu is back to work after a very intense, traffic-inducing Detty December. But unlike some of you who are yet to draw up your plans for the year, the president has shared the policies he plans to introduce in 2025. 

If you typically yawn at the mention of policies, there are chances that you will enjoy this piece because I asked ChatJibiti (not to be mistaken for ChatGPT) to rank Tinubu’s new policies for me. 

Multipurpose National Identity Card (ChatJibiti rating (2.5/5)

President Tinubu is giving Nigerian fintech a run for their money with the proposed multipurpose National Identity Card. The president has approved the creation of identity cards that also double as payment cards—as in, cards that display your identity and net worth.

With this new ID, you can withdraw money, pay for stuff online, and do anything with a payment card, no matter what bank you use. The federal government is partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Afrigo payments to pull this off. They are also banking (pun is highly intended) on these cards to reach 100 million Nigerian citizens. So, there’s a high chance that you’ll be getting a new identity card soon. 

What ChatJibiti thinks: Collecting this card might be a do-or-die affair judging by the federal government’s history of humbling Nigerians. In 2020, telecom companies and FG formed a toxic bromance, followed by threats to ban  sim cards of Nigerians who hadn’t registered for their National Identity Numbers (NIN). 

You probably know the history better than I do, but the threat led to crazy queues that made the collection of NIN cards look like the devil’s idea. Seeing as the goal is to reach 100 million Nigerians (who are likely not interested in getting new IDs), I’d nicely suggest that you start getting ready for similar threats and queues. The card itself isn’t a bad idea because it will increase financial inclusion (especially in rural areas), which is stuck at 64%. I don’t hate it, and I don’t like it, so it’s a 2.5/5 for me.

National Youth CONFAB (ChatJibiti rating (1.5/5)

For a country whose population is largely made of young people, the Ministry of Youth has been inactive for way too long. Tinubu must be tired of paying the  salaries of everyone in the ministry and seeing no results because he’s finally giving the ministry real work.

In October 2024, President Tinubu’s screen time hit the roof (because Nigerian youths had a lot to say about his administration on social media). Instead of clapping back like any other social media user, he made things slightly more physical by proposing a gathering of youths, fancily named The National Youth Confab. 

The confab will be attended by young Nigerians from all over the country. They will be tasked with putting their heads together to propose solutions to social issues like education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The Ministry of Youth is likely to keep the selection process public and transparent, so there’s a chance you might be invited. 

What ChatJibiti thinks: You might want to reduce your expectations to zero because a similar confab was pulled off during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and was an absolute mess. It was so messy that even the ideas birthed during the confab were never implemented. Forgive my pessimism, but I hope history doesn’t repeat itself. If it works out, though (and a president finally chooses to implement great ideas from the largest demography in the country), it could be a great thing. Very heavy on “could”, so I’d rate it 1.5/5.

National Credit Guarantee Company  (ChatJibiti rating (4/5)

The president wants to “enhance living standards” by making it easier for Nigerians and key sectors of the economy to access credit. 

What ChatJibiti thinks: Nigerians need more loans than ever before (thanks to some famous policies by the same president who’s proposing this new policy). I’m not mad at this at all because it means easier access to loans for average Nigerians and businesses when it kicks off in the second quarter of 2025. I still don’t know all the details, but it’s good thinking on Tinubu’s end. 

 Tax Reform Bill  (ChatJibiti rating (2/5)

The tax reform bills are four separate laws designed to organize everything about taxes and how they’re managed in Nigeria into clear categories.

These bills are still being debated in the National Assembly, but they are expected to be passed in the coming months. Although several Nigerians and some leaders are still against these reforms, President Tinubu doesn’t seem like he can be talked out of implementing them as soon as possible. 

What ChatJibiti thinks: Taxes are important, especially for a country that’s still struggling to monetize its non-oil sectors. But one of the tax reforms the president is proposing includes an increase in Value-Added Taxes (VAT). Not only will this make basic items like food, electricity, and transportation more expensive, but it will also contribute to the financial frustration Nigerians are currently facing. I think the president needs to go back to the drawing board for this one. 

News is boring, but we make it fun. Subscribe to The Big Daily to be the first to know the biggest news of the day.

When Dubem and his wife moved to the UK three years ago, they had no idea that the “for better or worse” part of their vow would become literal. He talks about how he and his partner were able to survive a long-distance marriage, health issues, relocation and financial stress.

When did you start considering japa as an option?

Japa has never been a strange concept to me; It’s a normal thing in my family. All my siblings left the country on the student route, and I left Nigeria using the Spousal Support  Visa route. 

I initially preferred Canada, but my wife got a job in the UK, so we had to move here instead. We made the decision because it felt like we were working hard and earning well in Nigeria but weren’t seeing any results. It just felt smarter to start over in a country with systems in place to make your life easier.

How’s that going?

So, we left the country with a ten-year plan. The idea was to return after ten years and set up our business. We planned to save up at least ₦100 million in capital.

We’ve been here for two years and are about 20% close to our savings goal. But recently, we had to buy a car. We paid in cash because we were still holding on to the Nigerian mentality that you are better off saving than relying on the credit system, which is a working credit system here. I’m only just now starting to accept that it’s a better way to make big purchases. We also had a baby.

Congratulations!

Thank you. That gives you an idea of why we’re still at 20%. I’m confident that we’ll go harder soon. 

When we first moved, we lived in two different towns about seven hours’ drive away from each other, but that allowed us to focus on working as much as we could and earning a lot of money.

We used to travel to see each other once a month and spend a weekend together. Recently, though, things have changed, and we now live together. We now have other things taking our money, but we’re definitely still on track for that long-term goal.

How long did you guys live apart?

Almost a year. 11 months apart.

How did that affect your relationship?

We are not strangers to long-distance relationships. When I met my wife, I was schooling in the north, and she was transferred to work in Abuja. We decided to stay friends, but as time progressed, we started dating. When we started dating, I got a job in Abuja, and she got another job in Lagos. So doing long distance in the UK was no different.

You mentioned that you left on a spousal support visa. What did the process of getting the visa look like?

The UK’s National Health Services is one of the biggest employers of immigrants in the UK. My wife is a radiographer, so there were good job opportunities for her. We started the process before getting married, but COVID-19 forced us to deprioritise it.

The first thing we did was to register with the licensing board here. To do that, you need to present specific certificates showing that your education in Nigeria is equivalent to the UK’s requirement. This stage would also require you to present a statement of result. In our case, getting that document wasted our time because Nigerian universities can be somehow.

Once you can satisfy their requirements for that award, you get a license proving you have the right to practice in the UK. Once you pass that stage, you pay the registration fee and everything else.

The next thing is to apply for jobs that offer sponsorship. Those are the kinds of jobs that can give you the documents you need to apply for your visa. In our case, relocating with this visa took almost 10 months because we had issues with our passports. We both decided to renew our passports before leaving, and even though we paid for the fast track, it took us about two months to get that passport. We also had to prove that we were married.

We got our marriage certificate from a small court in my wife’s hometown, so we worried it wouldn’t be internationally acceptable. The court in question had no verifiable email or contact information, so a friend advised us to attach a PDF containing pictures of our wedding day, and that was what we did. 

Another process that frustrated us was getting the tuberculosis test. You can only take the test in a UK-approved home centre. Getting a date for the test was hell; Something that should typically take weeks ended up lasting for about two months. We nearly lost the sponsorship from her employer because they thought she was unserious. Thankfully, everything worked out in the end.

Thank God!

Yeah. The final thing we needed was a police character certificate to prove that we were not criminally wanted in our country. Some parts of the application process for this certificate can be done online, but you have to go to the police station for your biometrics and other things. I remember my wife leaving the house around 8 am and getting back around 6 pm. That was because there was a long queue, and the process was unnecessarily stressful. She even had to pay a policeman about ₦2,000 to quicken the process.

God abeg. So, what was it like settling into the UK?

My wife’s employer had an apartment ready for her when she arrived in the UK, but there was a rule against me living there. She was living close to London while I  had to move to Newcastle.

I was squatting with a friend whose apartment was big enough for two people. But getting a job wasn’t easy for me even though I was well educated and had a great portfolio. 

After some rejections, I realised that they didn’t necessarily respect my Nigerian education. It wasn’t a question of competence because I wasn’t even getting interview invitations. Some Nigerians in the UK advised me to apply for factory or supermarket jobs, and that was what I did. I didn’t even last up to two weeks before I fainted at work–I had to do lots of heavy lifting while working from 6 am to 6 pm, and we weren’t allowed to sit at all during those 12 hours.

At first, it was just a fall, but I picked myself up immediately then I fell again, and I was asked to go home. I was stuck at the bus stop for hours, and it was freezing. I hadn’t made enough money to buy a proper winter jacket. The one I had was the second-hand jacket I bought from Yaba. I can’t remember the details, but it was at the bus stop I ultimately passed out.

I somehow ended up at my friend’s place, but  I insisted on not going to the hospital (as I was later told). I was unconscious for three days, and when I regained consciousness, the first thing I did was put in my resignation.

So sorry about that experience. Did you get a better job after you quit?

I got a customer care representative offer about a week after that experience. It felt like a big downgrade because I was the head of marketing in a company when I lived in Nigeria. I was about to sign the offer when I got led by the Holy Spirit to check the company review. Thank God I did because it was about two stars out of ten. So, I just emailed HR to inform them that I won’t be moving forward with the role.  I started applying again and eventually got a job by recommendation. The job would make me move to Kent, much closer to my wife’s location.

I took the job, and I’ve been working there ever since. One of the reasons why I’m still there is because I have empathetic employers. My wife had a complicated pregnancy, and we used to be in and out of the hospital.

At some point, the NHS stopped paying her because she had been sick for more than 60 days in nine months. But my employers were very understanding. I had to be in the hospital as much as my wife; we didn’t have anybody else to help, but my employer never complained about my absence. All they asked me to do was to take my laptop to the hospital, join a few meetings in the morning, get some tasks done, and that’s all. Then, they allowed me to take another one or two days off, and my income was never deducted based on all of this.  They are great people.

Love that for you. Do you have any tips for couples that want to japa through the spousal support visa?

This is more of an advice than a tip. Be open to not being physically together for a while. Go where the money is, even if it means maintaining a long-distance relationship. Other couples might be lucky enough to get a well-paying job in the exact location, but they should keep an open mind.

Another thing you should do is work hard. You should both be working if you’re coming into the country as a couple. Nobody should sit around waiting for a dream job when other options exist to make money. But you should also make life easier for anybody with the sponsorship. For instance, I do the hospital runs for our baby while my wife focuses on not slacking at work because my job is more flexible.

What happens if she slacks at work?

If her employer isn’t satisfied with her performance, they can choose not to renew her visa. God forbid, but if that happens, she can apply for another job that comes with sponsorship before the visa expires. In the worst-case scenario that she doesn’t get a job, the UK government will give her about 60 or 80 days before declaring her an illegal immigrant.

Interesting. What’s one thing you love most about living in the UK?

It’s the constant access to power supply. As little as it may seem, that’s my favourite thing.

How happy are you with your life in the UK?

Oh, very happy. Things have fallen into place in the last three years. I love my job and my church.

I have a strong community here–We watch each other’s kids, celebrate, and help each other in many ways. Since my wife gave birth, we’ve not had her mom or mine come for omugwo, but the mothers in our church haven’t given us a reason to feel their absence. My wife gave birth to our baby through cesarean section, but these women were so helpful during the healing process. They would bring both of us food and help with the baby. That’s to give you an idea of the kind of community we have.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Gender-based violence (GBV) is not just a serious and pervasive issue that affects people across all demographics in Nigeria; it also hinders societal progress.

You probably already know this, but GBV includes a wide range of harmful behaviours directed at people based on their gender. But while all genders are affected by this issue, women and girls suffer it the most.

Every now and again in Nigeria, reports of different forms of GBV, like rape, domestic abuse, femicide, and many more, make the news, and each time, we ask what can be done to stop this— the answer to that question is not a straight one, as deep fundamental societal issues and norms cause GBV but there is a major solution that can be used to reduce the prevalence of GBV— the law.

How to fight GBV with the VAPP Act

Even though there are several laws in place to combat Gender-based violence in Nigeria, this crime has remained a huge issue in the country, mostly because many victims do not understand the legal frameworks available for combatting it.

This article provides a guide to clear, actionable information about legal avenues available to victims of GBV in Nigeria; this guide will help lead victims to healing and justice.

Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act: The VAPP Act, enacted in 2015, is at the heart of Nigeria’s legal response to Gender-based violence. This landmark legislation represents significant progress in protecting individuals from various forms of violence, particularly women and girls.

What are the key provisions of the VAPP Act? 

1. Comprehensive Definitions: The VAPP Act defines various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. This broad definition ensures that multiple forms of GBV are recognised and addressed.
2. Penalties for Offenders: Offenders face severe penalties, including imprisonment ranging from two years to life, depending on the nature of the crime. This serves as a deterrent against GBV.
3. Victim Protections: The Act guarantees confidentiality for victims and protects their identities throughout their legal proceedings. This encourages more victims to come forward without fear of stigma or retaliation.
4. Access to Legal Representation: Victims can seek legal aid to navigate the complexities of the legal system, ensuring they have support during what is typically an overwhelming process.
5. Protection Orders: This is a special legal tool in the VAPP Act designed to prevent further violence against victims. This order can be used to prohibit an abuser from contacting or approaching the victim. Section 28(1) of the Act allows victims to apply for protection orders that are effective throughout the country. Additionally, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law (PADVL) in Lagos State provides further provisions for individuals in domestic relationships to seek such orders. 

Step-by-step guide to reporting GBV

Reporting GBV is a crucial step in seeking justice and holding offenders accountable. Here’s how this can be done effectively:

Gather Evidence 

Preserving evidence is crucial for constructing a compelling case against an offender. The types of evidence that can be collected include:

1. Medical Reports: Obtain medical documentation that records any injuries sustained.
2. Photographs: Capture images that clearly show visible harm.
3. Eyewitness Accounts: Gather testimonies from individuals who witnessed the incidents, as their accounts can corroborate your story.

Reporting 

Victims can report incidents at local police stations, NGOs specialising in GBV support, or through dedicated hotlines established for immediate assistance. These hotlines include: 

1. International federation of women lawyers (FIDA) –  2347088496115

2. The Mirabel center – 08155770000, 08187243468, 07013491769

3. Women at Risk International Federation (WARIF) – 08092100009, 08092100008

4. Lagos DSVA – +2349167802222

When reporting, it is important to include details such as dates, locations, descriptions of the incident, and any witnesses who may have seen or heard what happened.

Legal Processes involved in the fight against GBV

The journey through the legal system can be daunting, but understanding each stage can help manage expectations:

1. Investigation

Once a report is made, law enforcement will gather evidence through interviews with witnesses and forensic analysis if necessary. Legal advisors play a crucial role in ensuring that victims’ rights are upheld during this phase. During this process, victims have certain rights, including the right to be treated with respect and dignity by law enforcement officials and the right to be duly informed about their case’s progress and any developments during investigations.

2. Prosecution

Once sufficient evidence is collected, charges are filed in court. Victims retain rights throughout the trial process; they should feel safe and supported while testifying and to ensure their comfort and safety, the court may implement measures such as closed hearings or allowing testimony via video link if there are concerns about intimidation.

3. Judgment

The outcomes may vary from conviction to acquittal based on the evidence presented. For example, if the accused is found guilty, appropriate sentencing measures may include restitution for victims—financial compensation for damages suffered due to violence.

The case timeline varies, but staying informed and persistent ensures better outcomes.

Profiles of Some Organizations Offering Pro Bono (free) Legal Support

1. International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Nigeria: Offers legal representation and advocacy for women’s rights while providing education on legal rights
2. Women Impact Nigeria (WIN): Committed to combating social injustice and violence against women and girls through a comprehensive legal aid system.  
3. Mirabel Centre: Specializes in providing medical care and legal assistance specifically for survivors of sexual violence. 
4. LEEDAP: Provides free legal representation to poor and vulnerable victims of human rights violations.
5. Project Alert: Focuses on raising awareness about GBV while offering support services such as counselling and legal aid. 

These organisations play a crucial role in empowering victims by providing essential resources and support networks tailored specifically for those affected by GBV.

In addition to the VAPP Act, other relevant laws include the Criminal Code, Penal Code, and Child Rights Act. These laws collectively address various forms of violence and discrimination. For example, the Criminal Code outlines offences related to sexual violence, while the Child Rights Act provides specific protections for minors.

These laws operate at both federal and state levels, with some states, like Lagos and Ekiti, implementing additional gender-based violence laws that complement the VAPP Act. Understanding how these laws interact is essential for effectively navigating the legal landscape.

Gender-based violence is a grave issue, but victims are not powerless. Armed with knowledge of their rights and Nigeria’s legal framework, survivors can hold perpetrators accountable and begin their journey to healing. With the support of dedicated organisations and advocates, the path to justice becomes clearer and more attainable.

You are not alone. Seek justice, find support, and break the cycle of violence.

This article was written by the We Believe You Initiative.

We are not sure if this is to be categorised as a high or low-quality problem, but some Nigerians might be in for the mother of all modern inconvenience– a telecommunication shutdown. 

On December 31, just as Nigerians said goodbye to  2024, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said that they might suspend their services in some regions of the country if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not okay their demand for a tariff increase.

In a statement signed by ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, the association said that Nigeria’s telecom industry is hanging by a thread and would need to increase the current tariff as a matter of survival as they currently suffer high energy costs, rising inflation, high cost of operation, unstable exchange rates, and other issues.

The ALTON chairman emphasised that telecom operators need to, as a matter of survival, raise the tariff to reflect the unfortunate impact of the Nigerian economy on their businesses but have been able to do so due to the NCC’s refusal and have experienced stagnancy as a result.

Although they were not specific on time and location, ALTON said it’d be cutting telecommunication services in certain regions of the country and at certain times. In the words of its chairman: “If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as Service Shedding; operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected…”

How will a telecommunications shutdown affect you?

Actually, the question should be, “How will it not affect you?” because a telecommunications shutdown is on the same level (if not worse) as an electricity blackout. If telcos go ahead with their plan to suspend their services in some regions of the country, this means that people in those regions will literally be catapulted back to the Stone Age, as they will only be able to use their devices at certain times of the day. Imagine using your phone only when the rationing allows you to.

On a larger scale, a suspension of telecom services would be potentially catastrophic for Nigeria, as essential sectors like healthcare, education, security, and commerce would be mad  stranded without those services.

What does a tariff increase mean for you?

Telecom operators have explained how the current tariff weighs heavily on their operations, and Nigerians will definitely be singing the same song if the NCC agrees to a tariff increment.

Currently, the tariff stands at ₦11.00 per minute for voice calls,  ₦4.00 for Short Message Services (SMS), and  ₦1,000 for one GB data bundle. If the tariff increases, customers will be charged  ₦15.40 per minute for voice calls,  ₦5.60 for SMS, and  ₦1,400 for one GB data bundle.

So, in addition to paying more for almost everything, Nigerians will have to dig into their pockets for extra cash to afford services as essential as telecom services.

What is the solution to this problem?

The obvious solution here might seem to be for telecom operators and the NCC to come to an agreement, but according to all that ALTON has said, the only acceptable agreement in their books is a tariff increase, which unfortunately brings us back to the issue of being forced to pay more.

The only real solution is the not-so-obvious one—an economic turnaround. Nigeria is currently experiencing what has been termed its worst economic crisis on record, and its impact has been felt on just about everything in the country.

From an increase in the cost of air and road travel to an increase in food prices and more, people in the country have barely caught a break, and neither has its industries. In 2023, following the impact of fuel subsidy removal and bold monetary policies, several companies like  Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline (which had operated in the country since 1972), and Jumia Food all left the country for similar reasons. 

Also, in 2023 alone, about 767 manufacturing companies in Nigeria had to shut down their operations due to the same old culprit– the economic crisis. Now, telecom operators are asking for a tariff review, citing the same issues.

From all angles, there hardly seems to be a solution or an end in sight to the current telecom threat. As it stands, the NCC might have to finally agree to the tariff hike and Nigerians might have to pay extra for telecom services.

In a lot of ways, 2024 was a hell of a year for Nigerians; from fuel scarcity and hikes in fuel prices to sky-high inflation, poor power supply, and crazy exchange rates, people living in Nigeria braved so much to survive.

Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) were no different. Like every other year, 2024 came with its ups and downs, but the lows were so severe that their impact was felt nationwide. From the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) announcing that unsold products worth about ₦1.24 trillion were stuck in different warehouses across the country (just by the first half of the year) due to the inability of their owners to sell them, to the Bank Of Industry (BOI) stating that MSMEs in Nigeria need about $160 billion bailout funds, the country didn’t exactly prove itself as a good business environment.

As the year comes to an end today, Zikoko Citizen spoke to three young micro business owners to understand how the Nigerian economy affected their businesses in 2024 and what they look forward to in the coming year.

Chisom, 27– Fashion Designer, Abuja.

I don’t want to sound cliche, but doing business in Nigeria this year was hard. I consider this one of the most difficult times to be a young adult in Nigeria. The economy and everything is just so difficult. The cost of living is high, and the cost of doing business is even higher.

The crazy thing is that because customers struggled, they didn’t understand that business owners had it difficult as well. It’s even worse with my kind of business because some people feel like you just want to overcharge them or think you are overpriced.

You might just tell a customer the price for something this minute, then go to the market the next minute to buy that same thing, only to find out that the price is way higher than what you’ve already charged. Only a few people understand when you come back to them to say you’d need to increase the initial price you told them. I’ll give you an example– one time within the year, a bundle of lining was about ₦9000 to  ₦1000.  A few weeks after I bought some, I felt like the prices of sewing accessories might go up, so I went to the market to restock, but I was super shocked to find that it had increased to  ₦35K and the sellers at the market were not even begging or haggling price. The energy they gave was like, “If you’re not buying, go.”

Navigating price increments and incorporating them into my business was not easy for me this year, and I don’t think it was easy for others, either. It came to a point where I needed to charge more to sustain my business. A lot of things came into play and I  had to consider all those factors to be able to charge appropriately for my brand, so you have to accept the reality that not everybody who could afford me before will be able to afford me presently and just be fine with it.

People who appreciate the services you offer enough will keep patronising you, while those who can’t handle the price increase will go to another place that is cheaper and more affordable for them. It has nothing to do with the quality you offer; it’s just about what they can afford.

I don’t think there’s a specific thing that’ll make my business easier in 2025. I’m saying this because I don’t think it’s a matter of specifics– as it stands, everything and everyone is struggling. Even middle-income earners now are not fully able to afford our (fashion designers) services.

Every aspect of the economy is struggling right now. I can’t even say that access to loans, funding, or policies that’ll increase the ease of doing business will ease things for me in 2025 when every other aspect of the economy is suffering. It won’t really make sense because I can now have access to that funding or loan, and then find that my customers are still struggling, so everything just needs to be better in 2025 for other things to be better. I don’t know if that makes sense.

Sarah, 25. Jewellery Vendor– Warri

Living and doing business in Nigeria as a jewellery vendor in 2024 came with its own unique challenges and opportunities. The jewellery industry in Nigeria is already highly saturated due to its profitability, but 2024 was slightly stressful for a number of reasons.

This year, the cost of procurement and shipping became drastically high. Import prices, for instance, climbed by about 35%, and this affected the amount of goods I was able to purchase at a go.

Normally, doing business in Nigeria is quite difficult, so you have to be strategic, but this year required extra strategy to avoid running mad due to the way prices skyrocketed. The country’s economic environment was just unpredictable, with fluctuations in currency exchange rates, inflation, and government policies affecting the cost of doing business.

2024 has been a tough year for me and my brand, but I was able to scale through and make the best of it through careful planning, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the local market and culture. Coming up with the right strategy and mindset helped me achieve good results.

My initial plan for my brand was to sell super affordable jewellery, but with the increase in procurement and shipping, I just had to increase my own prices to avoid running at a loss. However increasing my price due to the whole exchange rate madness and other things actually brought in new customers, who are now my target audience. Because of that change, I strategised and moved from just selling regular earrings to luxury items like custom-made unique designs and venturing fully into niches like wedding rings and male jewellery accessories. 

So yes, I lost a few clients because most of them were no longer able to afford me due to the increase in prices, but I also gained newer customers.

My business will be four years old next year, and this year, we recorded lots of sales than we’ve made in the past four years, not because the environment was encouraging but because I was strategic in adding new niches

When it comes to things that’ll make business easier for me in 2025, I’ll say the exchange rate first of all– I know it’s sort of decreasing right now, but I need the Nigerian government to look into it next year. If the exchange rate was actually good, people won’t be complaining, and businesses won’t be struggling. 

A lot of the time when I’d reach out to my suppliers to calculate the prices of goods, I realised over and over again that the gap between the exchange rate in 2023 and this year was just too much. 

Another thing I want the government to take a look at is this whole custom-clearing thing. To clear goods has now become another issue. The payment for clearing goods has become so heavy that many business owners now have to order bit by bit because ordering so much at once brings a lot of issues. The delay is also insane. These things just need to be better for businesses to thrive in 2025.

Ugonna, 29. Footwear Vendor– Lagos

Doing business in Nigeria was very challenging for me this year, and I tried to evade and minimize costs as much as possible.

The exchange rate didn’t make things easier either because it affected me like mad and this made me withdraw from importing by myself and buying from a friend that had a stronger capacity than I did. I’ll explain– When we order from shipping companies, the goods take about two months to get to Nigeria, but you can’t really monitor the exchange rate and take advantage because even though you had ordered two months away, you’ll still have to clear the containers at whatever price the exchange rate is at when you goods finally arrive. You also have to settle Alayes and Owo da boys. 

I didn’t make as much profit as I set out to this year and I couldn’t take my business offline because the crazy costs of rent in prime locations were way more than I could afford.

What will make my business easier in 2025? Access to funding. This is particularly important to me because I need to diversify and look into other sectors because having more than one source of income will shoot me up the ladder. One of those sectors is entertainment/full-scale film production. I’m already working on this. My production company is set to release its first film by January, but there are so many ups and downs in the industry that make this type of venture unsustainable by a singular individual, so going into 2025, I need avenues to access more that’ll enable me to run my film production and footwear businesses properly and profitably.

Currently, MSMEs account for 40% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide 90% of jobs in the country, making them the backbone of the economy, without which the country will experience more harsh times than it already is. Just like the young entrepreneurs who spoke to us, we hope that 2025 is a better year for MSMEs in Nigeria.

Before you read them: Hi, I’m Margaret (call me Mikun, please), and I’ve risked my mental health at least 100 times to bring these stories to you. I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts and never-heard-before details from each of these stories. 

1. “My Husband Ghosted Me. Now I Live With His Brother in the UK”

This story was loved by some and hated by others, but everybody agreed on one thing – it was interesting. I found it striking that Instagram folks were happy to help the subject of this story, while people on Elon’s app had countering reactions. Read the story to figure out where you stand. 

2. “My Aunt Brought Me to The U.S. and Tried to Marry Me Off” 

For many reasons, this is probably my favourite Abroad Life story of 2024. Ofonime, the subject of the story, has seen the worst side of humans, yet she’s determined to live as freely and happily as possible. Imagine leaving the love you have at home just to go and experience real-life horror in the diaspora. The interview felt like therapy and all I wanted to do was cry with her. Read the full story here.

3. “I Left a Comfortable Life in Nigeria to Share a Room with Seven People in the UK”

Typically, we expect people’s lives to automatically get better after relocating, but for Mariam, the subject of this story, it was the opposite. She went from living comfortably to enduring the worst accommodation arrangement in the UK. Mariam’s story forced me to ask myself how I would have handled such a big change. I didn’t figure out the answer, but you should read the full story to see how Mariam handled it

4. “I Became Poorer In Germany After T-Pain Became President”

This story is proof that anybody can be touched by this T-pain economy, even the people who japa’ed to avoid it. Akin’s story is more than his financial situation,; I personally think the guy won in life. This story made me appreciate real love and look within to figure out if I’d be as supportive as Akin’s partner if my partner and I ever find ourselves in the same situation. It is probably one of the most heartwarming stories of the year. 

5. “My Sudanese Partner’s Bride Price is $10,000. We Might Just Elope” 

I was having a bad day before I interviewed Daniel. Ten minutes into the interview, I was already having the best laugh of my life. Daniel is an interesting man who will probably need a GoFundMe campaign to marry the love of his life, but he’s not bothered. I don’t know what I find more amusing – his love for Ibadan or his girlfriend’s way of indulging him. After writing this story, I decided that I was going to visit Ibadan to see what Daniel loves so much about the town. When you read the full story, you’ll probably do the same. 

With that, the 2024 season of Abroad Life comes to an end. Next year, we’ll be back with more fascinating stories from the diaspora. 

Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT). 

Politicians in the country were no better either; in different ways, they added to the frustrations of Nigerians either by idly watching as citizens suffer due to harmful policies, helping implement those policies themselves, supporting them, or generally incompetent at their jobs. As the year slowly comes to an end, we thought to remind you (and the politicians) of their bad characters within the year by giving them awards that represent all they did in 2024.

Godswill Akpabio- Best in Agbaya behaviour

Godswill Akpabio is Nigeria’s Senate President, but this year, he did and said things that were in no way appropriate for the leader of the Nigerian Senate. On July 31, for instance, while Nigerians prepared for the Hunger Protests, Akpabio was in the news for mocking the protest plans of many Nigerians.

While he attended a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) event, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbukwu, made a solidarity statement saying the Niger Delta region was in support of the present administration and wasn’t pushing for a regime change to which Apkabio responded. “…You said we are not interested in regime change; let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating.” 

The Senate President was famous in 2024 for insulting the sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians, and there are other instances of this, but that was not the only thing he was guilty of this year. He also had a thing for showing his loyalty and support to the Tinubu administration to the detriment of the reputation of his office as the leader of the Senate, an arm of government which is supposed to keep the executive in check.

In May 2024, in the thick of suffering for Nigerians, Apkabio thought Tinubu’s intention to phase out the country’s national anthem for the old anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee”, was a fantastic idea, and he didn’t just show this by skipping an essential step like a public hearing and ensuring that the bill was hastily passed in a matter of days, he also thought it’d be fun to voice his thoughts on the bill even if they didn’t make sense to anyone. 

On June 18, a few weeks after the bill passed, Akpabio implied that the national anthem change was the best thing since sliced bread because, according to him, insecurity, one of Nigeria’s biggest problems, wouldn’t exist if the anthem hadn’t been removed. In his words: “If we kept the anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria because if you took your neighbour as your brother, you would not want to kill your brother…”

Akpabio probably saw the criticisms that followed this development as haters hating because, in December, he topped off his pro-Tinubu theatrics with an even more distasteful drama. On Wednesday, December 18, when Tinubu walked into the Senate chamber to present the controversial 2025 budget, Akpabio, like a true Agbaya, started singing, “On your mandate, we shall stand!” (and other senators joined in) even before the President had a chance to begin his presentation.

This behaviour is wrong on all fronts, and Nigerians called him out for it, but the thing with the winner of the Agbaya prize is that he does not seem to care that his behaviour is unbecoming his position. Just like an Agbaya wouldn’t. We couldn’t think of a more fitting winner for this award.

Remi Tinubu– Best in “Innovative Solutions”

Like the previous politician, this award-winner was mighty proud of her decisions, but there is something quite unique about her. No, it’s not her position as the wife of Nigeria’s President; her one big thing is that she wasn’t in the news for merely supporting her husband’s ideas and performance (or of others in his government); she backed up her support by coming up with innovations of her own.

Like most things, food was costly for Nigerians in 2024, but Remi Tinubu did not think this crisis would be solved by finding solutions to insecurity, inflation, climate change, or any other cause of the problem; she felt that food would suddenly become affordable if all Nigerians started cultivating a garden in their backyard, so she came up with the “Every Home a Garden” farming Initiative in July to “boost food production” in the country.

In September, ahead of the country’s Independence Day, Remi Tinubu came up with yet another brilliant innovation— a unity fabric.

The Unity Fabric is a special project, which envisions the end to national issues caused by tribal differences through the help of a fabric (Unity Fabric) which would be worn by all.

Haters will say that these brilliant innovations did not yield any results, but what did they say about haters hating again?

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji– 1st Runner Up, Innovative Solutions category

The position of the most innovative Nigerian politician of 2024 was hotly contested, but the speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, held his own and came out second only to Remi Tinubu, all thanks to a bright idea he came up with in the first half of the year.

On May 10, Sarkindaji announced that he was going to marry off 100 orphan girls who lost their parents due to attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. Sarkindaji probably took a look at obvious solutions like scholarship programs and scoffed because he believed in his genius idea. Even when he came under fire for his plan, he stuck to it and was able to marry all 100 of the girls off in separate ceremonies on Friday, May 24.

Yahaya Bello– Best in audacity

This year, Yahaya Bello proved that you can get away with just about anything in Nigeria with the right amount of audacity.

Bello’s journey to this award first started in April 2024 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said he used $720,000 of state funds (during his time as governor) to pay the school fees of his children in advance to the American International School in Abuja. The EFCC shortly attempted to arrest Bello on April 17 over corruption charges it brought up against him, but the former governor evaded the arrest and was declared wanted. Bello continued to play in Nigerians’ faces until November when he submitted himself to the EFCC. If another politician won the audacity category, it’d insult what Bello pulled off this year.

Adebayo Adelabu– Best in incompetence

This is by far the most hotly contested award category because by default, both President Tinubu and everyone in his administrations were eligible for this award but the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, worked extremely hard to emerge the winner of this category.

This year under Adelabu, Nigerians, on top of having an epileptic power supply were thrown into complete darkness as a result of the collapse of the national grid.

In 2024, the national grid fell so much that Nigerians stopped being surprised when it happened. In a particular week in October, for instance, the grid collapsed three times, and by December, it had collapsed 12 times in total.

The award for this category should naturally go to Tinubu, but that would be stating the obvious, so for this reason, because Adelabu’s failures are the only ones as loud as Tinubu’s, he gets to go home with the award for most incompetent Nigerian politician of the year.

Tinubu– Grandpatron award

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gets this position not only because he is the leader of all the politicians in the country but simply because there is nobody badder. Tinubu’s doings are so loud that his policies from the previous year are still showing an immeasurable amount of shege to Nigerians.

While Nigerians battled with the unending consequences of the removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the Naira, and many others, the grand patron taxed them more while continuing to promise things that he never did.

Under President Tinubu, the exchange rate skyrocketed, several factories closed down, the manufacturing sector went into life support, and Nigerians suffered hunger more than ever. This translated to what has been described over and over by the international media and experts as the worst economic crisis on record witnessed by Nigeria.

In response to this hardship, Tinubu has been adorned with nicknames like T Pain, so we cannot think of a more deserving winner than him.

Going into 2025, we hope for better representation and leadership from Nigerian politicians, and we’ll be on the alert to report their bad and hopefully good behaviours to you. 

In 2024, we promised to find the perfect way for you to japa, and thanks to the Zikoko subjects who are not fans of gatekeeping life-changing information, we found the best japa routes for you. From free schools to high-paying international jobs, there’s something for everyone in this end-of-the-year version of 1,000 Ways to Japa. 

P.S. I’m Margaret (the cool kids call me Mikun), and I get the best tips from these amazing people. I will share some inside gist from my conversations with each of these subjects while I rank their japa routes from “Ate” to “Meh”

Attend a free school in Switzerland (Ate down 1000/10)

The best things in life are free, even if those things take you away from your 6-figure business in Nigeria. For the second edition of 1k Ways to Japa, I spoke to this businessman who left his thriving business to study in Switzerland. At first, I thought he was crazy because if my hand touched what he earned in Nigeria monthly, best believe I would be enjoying a capitalism-free life in Ogbomosho.  But when he explained that his school is technically free and he gets the chance to restart his life with his savings in a stable country like Switzerland, I rated his move like mad. If you’re looking for the most affordable way to say goodbye to this country, he shared all the details in this article. 

Start a business in Rwanda (Ate – 9.5/10)

Visiting Rwanda is one of the highlights of my  2024, so when I found Daniels, the subject of this story, I knew I had to book an interview.  Before you go, “Why would I leave Nigeria for Rwanda?” Think again because it’s a highly functional country with impressive systems and amazing people.

The subject of this edition of 1k Ways to Japa got so tired of being profiled by police in Nigeria that he moved to Rwanda. It was supposed to be a temporary move, but he fell in love with Kigali, and the move became permanent. Moving to Rwanda is easy; you get a 30-day free visa and peace of mind. Read more about this japa route in this Daniels’ story.

Get a funded study opportunity in the US (Ateeee – 10/10)

When I think about scholarship opportunities, the US is always the last country on my mind. I think that’s mostly because I never really hear about those opportunities. Thanks to Tunde, the subject of this 1k Ways to Japa story, I now know that there’s something called “assistantship programs” that can help you japa to America in 2025. Read more about Tunde’s japa story here.

Apply for a UK Global Talent Visa ( Ate 8/10)

I used to think I knew everything about this visa, but I didn’t know anything. Micheal, the subject of this story, took me to the school of immigration and walked me through the process of getting this visa. If you work in tech and have at least two years of working experience, this is probably the perfect opportunity for you. It’s one of the most-read japa stories of 2024, and you’ll understand why when you read it here.

Move to Canada with a work permit (Ate 7/10)

It took weeks to get Isreal, the subject of this edition, to tell his japa story, but it was worth it. Israel is a pro when it comes to getting jobs from your favourite international companies, so I knew I had to pick his brain. If you’re trying to make it out of the trenches by moving to Canada with a work permit, Israel’s story is one you need to read.

It’s been a great year for 1,000 Ways to Japa. We’ve told interesting stories, found affordable japa routes and learnt lessons that people would typically gatekeep from our amazing subjects. We’re curious to see how much more we can achieve next year. Be the first to know when a new edition drops next year.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

I don’t have plans to trigger any PTSD, but what’s a 2024 recap without a compilation of the worst policies that hit Nigeria within the year? 

From “God abeg” to “Affliction shall not arise again”, here are 2024’s most interesting policies. 

New National Anthem Bill

In May 2024, Nigerian lawmakers signed the National Anthem Bill, pushing for a return to the old anthem ( written by a British man), “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

Even though we’ve learned to live with it, the decision didn’t sit right with many Nigerians, especially given how quickly it was passed when the country had more pressing issues to address. Despite public criticism, this bill wasn’t withdrawn, and Nigerian lawmakers didn’t act like they gave two shits about public opinion.

We’ve gone through all five stages of grief as a country. Some of us have arrived at acceptance while others are somehow stuck in the sixth stage of national grief – the no be Tinubu go tell me wetin I go do stage. 

6-year presidency bill

In June 2024, a group of 35 lawmakers proposed a bill that would have extended the maximum number of presidential and gubernatorial leadership from four years to six years for a single term. The proposal attempted to amend Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmakers involved claimed the bill would cut governance costs and lead to a more stable political climate. But Nigerians haven’t had enough luck with good leaders to buy into that dream. 

The lawmakers behind the bill have lowkey ghosted, and we haven’t heard about it for a while.

VAPP repeal bill

In August, the worst fear of many Nigerian women happened. Senator Jibrin Isah, a MAN in governance, started pushing to repeal the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. If this is your first time hearing about this act, the first thing you need to know is that it offers protection against gender-based violence (GBV) for men and women and helps keep all genders safe, empowered, and educated throughout Nigeria. You should also know that Nigeria didn’t have a national law on violence against women before the VAPP Act.

In 2002, over 55 groups formed the Legislative Advocacy Coalition Against Violence Against Women (LACVAW) to advocate for women’s protection. Their efforts led to the VAPP Act, which was passed and signed into law in 2015. 

Senator Jibrin’s main argument in calling for the repeal is that the act is not comprehensive and has unclear parts that make it hard to enforce properly. He argues that the law needs to be updated to reflect today’s issues. After being met with criticism from women’s rights groups and Nigerian women, the bill’s future started looking shaky. It’s hard to figure out whether Senator Jibrin is still standing on business, but we won’t be surprised if he pops up again in 2025 with the same energy.

Road Safety Special Armed Squad Bill

In October, a bill proposing that Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officers should be allowed to carry guns to perform their duties passed its second reading, with the majority of the lawmakers in the House of Representatives supporting it.

Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen, who also inaugurated the constitution review committee, even called it a “straightforward bill” before sending it to the FRSC committee for further review and action. 

This was a questionable move because some FRSC officers have a history of demanding bribes from drivers and assaulting them when they resist.

Young Nigerians were at the receiving end of Police brutality under SARS and still suffer Police brutality even after SARS was scrapped;  if patterns are anything to go by, they are at the greatest risk of being profiled and assaulted by power-drunk officers of the FRSC once they get their guns. To make sure this doesn’t happen, tons of them took to social media to speak out against this bill when the news hit the street, arguing that officers of the FRSC don’t need guns to perform their duties. Still, lawmakers have been really quiet about this kickback from young Nigerians, and like many other things in Nigeria, the future of the bill is still uncertain.

Bill seeking to expand Sharia law

On October 24, Aliyu Misau, a Nigerian lawmaker, proposed a bill that would have given the Sharia  Law more power in the Nigerian constitution. Many Northern lawmakers were on board with the idea despite the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious country. After some spirited back-and-forth, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu put the bill to a voice vote, and a majority of lawmakers voted against it. But to some Nigerians, the fact that it was even raised was enough reason to be concerned. 

VAT increase bill

October was definitely the month of unpleasant surprises because that was the same month that the National Assembly started considering a bill that would increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) paid by Nigerians from 7.5% to 10%.

If you think 10% doesn’t sound that bad, you’d hate to know that the 10% increase is the first of three VAT increases these lawmakers are discussing. The bill proposes that the 10% will take effect in 2025, while another  12. 5% increase will take effect in 2026 and last until 2029.  This VAT hike (if it happens) will be charged on every taxable item, so you might have to throw your “I’ll buy it in 2025” plans into the trash now. We can still hope for a Christmas miracle because your favourite lawmakers are putting the bill on pause till 2025 to enjoy their oblee plans.

Telecom tax bill

The people around President Tinubu must have forgotten to remind him that he once publicly advocated for poor people’s right to breeffff because we saw the worst of billing in October.

A bill, which has a weird long name (“A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters,”), hit the National assembly. The bill proposed a 5% increase in the cost of telecom services that over 215 million Nigerians use every day.

This bill didn’t just target telecom services; it was also designed to introduce gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting taxes. It hasn’t been passed yet but don’t be surprised to see it in the news again after Detty December.

Nigerian lawmakers had us screaming “blood of Jesus” every three market days with these questionable policies. Given that we still don’t know what happened to some of these bills, we’re not sure that the craziness will not extend into 2025.

Band A, Band B, freezer drama

The thing about this particular event was that it happened so close to April Fool’s Day, it almost seemed like a dumb prank because many Nigerians were on different social media platforms saying “ain’t no way” in different forms immediately after the news dropped.

On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced it was going to increase the electricity tariff on Band A feeders by 230.8%. The implication of their announcement was that Band A customers would be billed ₦225 per kilowatt hour (kWh) instead of the ₦68 per kWh they were being charged.

NERC said they were introducing the increase to reduce the burden of the electricity subsidy the government was paying.  According to them, FG was going to spend an estimated 3.13 trillion on subsidising electricity in 2024, but with the increment of tariff price for Band A customers (who enjoy up to 20 hours of electricity), the government’s payment would be reduced by 63.58%, making the amount they’d pay to be ₦1.14 trillion.

Nigerians were so livid about this because the economy was already showing everyone pepper due to the removal of fuel subsidies. As if this wasn’t painful enough, less than 24 hours after the announcement, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu told Nigerians to start turning off their freezers once in a while if they want Nigeria’s power issue to get better.

Fuel scarcity

Nigeria experienced fuel scarcity at different points of the year, but in April 2024, the fuel queues in different parts of the country became too long. People complained about this on the streets and on social media platforms, but that was all they could do because the NNPCL was busy arguing with the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (PETROAN) over whose fault it was that there was no fuel. The scarcity lasted way into May, but you know what they say about Nigerians and the survival spirit.

Mass marriage of orphan girls

Nigerians were still being crushed under the weight of the fuel scarcity when a lawmaker dropped his own shocker. On May 10, Speaker of the Niger State Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, decided that marrying off 100 girls orphaned by banditry attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State was a genius idea that would help alleviate the poverty the girls were suffering.

Sarkindaji’s Plan was met with criticism from different quarters; one of the most promising pushback was from the former Ministry of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, but Nigerians barely got the opportunity to dance in celebration before she grabbed an invisible mic and yelled sike! In our faces— after some back and forth, Uju backtracked, saying, “I did not intend to stop the marriage but to ensure the girls are of marriageable age and were not being forced into it.” On Friday, May 24, two weeks later, all 100 of the girls were married off in separate ceremonies.

Minimum wage gbas-gbos

No thanks to the five-year Minimum Wage Act (of 2019), Nigerian workers were paid ₦30,000 minimum wage, but the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) could hardly do much about it. Following the expiration of the Act in April 2024, the NLC said it was time for a review because the ₦30,000 was barely going anywhere for workers.

NLC demanded 615,000 from the Federal Government (FG), but FG said they didn’t have it, and both parties entered a boxing match that lasted from April to July when they finally settled on ₦70,000 which has now been passed into law as the country’s official minimum wage.

National anthem change

In May, Nigerians realised that surprises might be one of President Tinubu’s love (or torture) languages because his last surprise announcement (fuel subsidy removal) was still showing Nigerians shege but just in time for the commemoration of his one year in office, the President pulled out another shiny surprise from his pocket— a new national anthem.

The bill legalising the anthem change was an even bigger shocker because it literally came out of nowhere. For context, this bill was passed in one week—the House of Representatives debated it on Thursday, May 23, and passed it on the same day. Then, it was handed over to the Senate, which passed it on Tuesday, May 27, while President Tinubu signed it into law the following day, Wednesday.

Dangote rants

Before now, Billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote was on that laidback mysterious aesthetic but after the astronomical levels of shege Nigeria showed him in 2024, he has now left that aesthetic for Beyonce.

Dangote had plenty of back and forth with oil institutions and officials this year, but it all mostly began with him coming out to raise the alarm about alleged plots to sabotage his new refinery. Dangote said that the  Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) refused to sell him the crude oil needed to start production at his refinery, so he had to go all the way to the United States (US) to buy some. 

As if that wasn’t enough stress for him, the CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed alleged that Dangote’s oil was substandard and that the imported ones were better than it. Alhaji was stressed but had to pick up a mic to debunk the claim. He also had another spat with the NNPC over the petrol pricing as well as other side frustrations surrounding his refinery. It’s just been a hell of a year for Alhaji, and we all sort of went through it with him.

National asoebi

Albert Einstein shakes when Nigeria’s First Lady enters the conversation because only she can rival his genius. This year. Remi Tinubu spiced up our lives with her bright innovations; after starting her own garden and telling Nigerians to do the same (“to boost food production”), she launched an Asoebi for the country.

The asoebi  (or national unity fabric if you’re fancy) was launched ahead of Nigeria’s independence day in order to help Nigerian citizens “break down tribal barriers to identify as a people of one nation.”

She didn’t just launch with an empty hand, either. The unity fabric was rolled out with a Fabric Designs Competition with a ₦25m prize money. We stan an innovative queen.

Hunger protests

2024 has been an especially hard year for Nigerians. What was even more frustrating was that the government seemed not to be listening. In August, Nigerians trooped out to make their voices heard through the #EndBadGovernance or hunger protests.

But the 10-day protests, shadowed by subtle threats even before they started, did not end well as protesters were met with brutal force by the Nigerian Police. Later, on November 28, Amnesty International released a report revealing that at least 24 protesters were killed as a result of this force. Amnesty International said that “in all cases, the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill.

Cabinet reshuffle

On Wednesday, October 23, President Bola Tinubu shook the internet when he surprised everyone and announced his cabinet reshuffle. The reshuffle involved the sacking of five ministers from his record-high 45-member cabinet, hiring of seven new ministers, and reassignment of ten others to new positions.

This move got Nigerians talking, with some saying not enough ministers were sacked and others saying the President should have included his own name in the list of sacked people.

Arrest of minors

Another thing the government did this year was show Nigerians it wasn’t above manhandling kids as much as it did adults. On Friday, November 1, the Inspector General of Police arraigned about 72 minors at a Federal High Court in Abuja on ten-count charges over their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protests of August. The minors, who had been detained for three months, were accused of treason and trying to destabilise Nigeria, among other things. But after many Nigerians and Civil Rights Organisations (CSOs) condemned the government and pointed out that it was against several laws to detain minors in the way that they did, President Tinubu ordered that they be released, and a committee set up to look into the arrest and detention of the minors.