By Ekunode Ayomipo

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security nationwide following a series of violent incidents that have heightened concerns over the safety of citizens across the country.

The association’s call comes amid reports of fresh abductions in the Old Oyo National Park and attacks on schools in parts of Borno State, incidents that have once again brought the nation’s security challenges to the forefront of public discourse.

CAN expressed deep concern over the continued rise in kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of violent crime, stressing that urgent and decisive measures are needed to prevent further deterioration of the security situation.

According to the association, the increasing insecurity has not only claimed lives but has also disrupted economic activities, educational pursuits, and the daily lives of millions of Nigerians. The group maintained that ensuring the safety of citizens remains one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government at all levels.

The latest security concerns have sparked renewed conversations among stakeholders, with many Nigerians urging authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve coordination among security agencies, and adopt more proactive strategies in tackling criminal activities.

Security analysts have repeatedly warned that persistent insecurity could negatively affect national development, discourage investment, and undermine public confidence in government institutions. They argue that addressing the challenge requires a comprehensive approach that combines military operations, intelligence-driven policing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions.

The reported abductions within the Old Oyo National Park have also raised questions about the security of tourists, visitors, and communities surrounding major national assets.

Similarly, attacks targeting educational institutions continue to threaten access to education in vulnerable regions, particularly in the North-East.

CAN further urged political leaders, religious organizations, traditional institutions, and civil society groups to work together in promoting peace, unity, and national security. The association emphasized that insecurity should not be viewed as a regional issue but as a national challenge requiring collective action.

As concerns continue to mount, many citizens are calling for stronger measures to safeguard lives and property, while hoping for lasting solutions to the security challenges confronting the nation.

With insecurity remaining one of Nigeria’s most pressing issues, the call by CAN adds to
growing demands for urgent reforms and more effective strategies aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.

“Justice Peter Lifu is a Threat to Democracy”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment concerning its de-registration, describing the ruling as a threat to democracy and political stability, and warns of the dire consequences that may follow any effort to remove the party from the ballot.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that the curious judgment is yet the clearest evidence of the desperation of the ruling party and the government to ensure that President Tinubu holds on to power by any means necessary, even if it means subverting democracy and throwing the country into a crisis of immense proportions.

The party emphasised that the Constitution grants only INEC the power to register or de-register a political party. However, this judgment has flagrantly contradicted INEC’s position on affidavit and ignored a subsisting order of stay of proceedings of the Court of Appeal. The ADC therefore vowed to challenge the ruling through all lawful means, while urging its members to remain calm and await further directives.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis.

We are deeply alarmed by the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case filed by the so-called National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the de-registration of the ADC and four other political parties. This judgment stands in direct conflict with constitutional principles and all known judicial processes and procedures.

The facts are straightforward. The plaintiffs had argued that the ADC and four other political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to continued registration. However, in its counter-affidavit filed before the court in May, INEC, the constitutional body empowered with the registration, regulation, and supervision of political parties in Nigeria, categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its de-registration.

INEC further made it clear that the de-registration of a political party cannot be driven by political pressure, sentiment, or the wishes of interested parties. It must be based strictly on constitutionally established grounds, none of which had been proven against the ADC.

Apart from INEC’s firm position in support of the party, the ADC finds it troubling that the trial judge was aware of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal issued on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings on the matter. The judge, however, chose to flagrantly and contemptuously disregard a clear order of a superior court in a manner that brings into question all known judicial traditions.

The ADC considers this development not merely a legal dispute, but a dangerous escalation capable of destabilising the nation’s democratic process. Our position is anchored on the role that agents of the ruling party have played in this matter. It would be recalled that the case has been championed directly by individuals working with the President’s Chief of Staff. The decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is a second defendant in the matter, to join the matter as a plaintiff in April, is an absurdity, which sends a signal that is impossible to ignore.

We are therefore left in no doubt that this latest development is a continuation of the ruling party’s persistent efforts to undermine the opposition, especially the ADC. We also find the timing of this ruling quite curious. Despite all the obstacles placed in its way, the ADC has risen to the task and met all benchmarks and deadlines. Therefore, coming at a time when the party has concluded its primaries and is fielding candidates for all positions in the next election, especially the presidential election, it is clear what this is all about.

However, the ADC would like to warn that any attempt to eliminate the country’s major opposition party through judicial manoeuvring, thereby sabotaging the political aspirations of hundreds of its candidates, is a direct invitation to anarchy.

This is why we consider this ruling reckless, provocative, and even incendiary. Those who believe they can manipulate institutions of state to narrow the democratic space must understand that they are playing with forces far greater than partisan interests.

At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling under crushing economic hardship, escalating insecurity, widespread unemployment, and growing national anxiety inflicted by the APC, it is deeply disturbing that powerful forces appear more interested in eliminating political opposition than confronting the real crises facing the country.

From our standpoint, the issue before the country is no longer simply about party registration. It is about whether the Nigerian people will be allowed genuine political choices in 2027. It is about whether democracy will remain a contest decided by voters at the ballot box or by powerful interests operating through institutions that ought to remain impartial.

Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not stand by while the democratic rights of millions of Nigerians are threatened. We reject any and all attempts to intimidate, suppress, deregister, or politically extinguish our party and other opposition parties through means that offend both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution.

Nigeria is a nation of law, not a nation governed by the whims and caprices of agents of the ruling party. Therefore, as a law-abiding political party, the ADC will vigorously challenge this judgment through every lawful and constitutional avenue available to us. We shall mobilise all democratic stakeholders. We shall defend the rights of all our candidates, members, supporters, and the millions of Nigerians who are looking to the ADC as a credible alternative for national renewal.

Make no mistake, this is another act of desperation by the ruling party and the government to hand President Tinubu a second term without contest. This will not work. We therefore warn those who are seeking to manufacture a civilian dictatorship to understand that democracy cannot be strangled without consequences for national stability.

The responsibility for any tension or crisis arising from efforts to weaponise the judiciary against legitimate political opposition will rest squarely with those who are pursuing this dangerous and illegitimate path.

Meanwhile, the ADC will petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the judicial rascality demonstrated by the presiding judge of the Federal High Court, whose conduct has continued to bring the institution of the judiciary into disrepute.

We call on all our members, candidates, supporters, and coalition partners across the country to remain calm, vigilant, and steadfast. Whatever it takes, the ADC will be on the ballot so long as the 2027 election is to hold.

Further directives will be communicated through the appropriate channels.

Signed:

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)

By Anjorin Fehintola Stella

 Bloomberg has named four Nigerian startups among its 25 African companies to watch in 2026. A list published yesterday that signals not just Nigeria’s growing innovation strength, but a decisive shift in how Africa’s startup ecosystem is being financed.

Nigeria tied with South Africa and Kenya as the most represented nations on the list, with four companies each. The selection spans 13 African countries and covers sectors including healthcare, fintech, defence technology, security, climate resilience, and transport, a reflection of a continent building solutions for its own most urgent problems.

The most dramatic story among the four Nigerian entries belongs to Terra Industries. Founded in 2024 by two young Nigerian engineers, Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, the Abuja based company develops pilotless aircraft and autonomous defence systems designed to protect African nations from growing security threats. In just over a year, Terra Industries has raised a total of $34 million, including backing from 8VC, the venture firm co-founded by Palantir Technologies, Joe Lonsdale. The company currently protects critical infrastructure including power plants and mining operations in Nigeria and Ghana, and has announced plans for a second factory in Ghana.

Also on the list is 10mg Health, founded in 2022 by pharmacist Christian Nwachukwu. The startup is tackling one of the most stubborn bottlenecks in Nigeria’s healthcare system, the requirement for upfront payment before treatment. By making healthcare financing accessible at the point of care, 10mg Health is addressing a gap that has long kept quality medical attention out of reach for millions of Nigerians.

Sycamore brings a fintech angle, focusing on digital onboarding and rapid loan disbursement to reach Nigerians in credit markets where traditional banking penetration remains limited. The company is already expanding beyond Nigeria, with international operations now targeting Africans in the diaspora, including in the United Kingdom.

The bigger story running through this year’s Bloomberg list is the funding shift. Nearly half of the capital raised by featured companies came from African investors rather than foreign sources, a marked departure from previous years when the ecosystem relied heavily on overseas venture capital. African startups almost doubled their debt fundraising in 2025, even as equity investment from international VC firms declined sharply. The global artificial intelligence boom has pulled significant venture capital toward the United States, with AI-related investment doubling to $259 billion globally last year, three-quarters of it flowing to American companies. That pressure has forced African founders to look closer to home, to development finance institutions, pension funds, local VCs, and debt providers.

For Nigeria specifically, startups collectively raised $176 million in the first half of 2025. While below peak funding years, the figure keeps Nigeria firmly among Africa’s top four startup destinations alongside South Africa, Egypt and Kenya.

Bloomberg’s recognition of four Nigerian companies is more than a ranking. It is a signal that Nigeria’s founders are building for real, systemic impact rather than chasing convenience driven applications. From defending borders to financing hospital visits, these companies are confronting the gaps that government and traditional institutions have left open and the world is paying attention.