Opinion

The Fulani Herdsmen Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

Published

8 months ago

April 29, 2025

Eric

By Oyinkansola Andu

There’s a dangerous storm brewing in Nigeria’s hinterlands, and it’s one we’ve seen before. The resurgence of violence linked to Fulani herdsmen is more than just a regional skirmish; it’s a national crisis with far-reaching consequences.

From Benue to Plateau, Kaduna to Ondo, the familiar scenes of bloodied farmlands, torched homes, and mass displacements are once again dominating headlines. But beyond the surface-level narratives of “herders vs farmers,” we need to ask: Why is this conflict spiralling out of control again, and why has the government failed, time and time again, to get a grip on it?

For years, the Fulani herdsmen crisis has simmered beneath Nigeria’s fragile peace. Traditionally, these pastoralists roamed freely across West Africa, coexisting (albeit tensely) with settled farming communities. But as climate change shrinks grazing lands and desertification pushes herders southward, the inevitable clash over land has escalated into a brutal and unrelenting war for survival.
This is not a new story. What’s new, however, is the sheer scale and frequency of the violence. What was once a seasonal dispute has morphed into a full-blown security nightmare, with reports of well-armed militia groups, organised attacks, and retaliatory killings spiralling into what some now call a “slow-motion genocide.” The question is, how did we get here?

Government Inaction

Nigeria’s leadership has been criminally negligent in addressing this crisis. Despite years of bloodshed, we still hear the same empty rhetoric: “We condemn this act,” “We will bring the perpetrators to justice,” “A committee has been set up.” Yet, on the ground, nothing changes.

In some cases, government responses have been outright suspicious. When Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State pushed for anti-open grazing laws, he was branded an ethnic provocateur. When communities organized vigilante groups to protect themselves, they were accused of taking the law into their own hands. And when security forces have intervened, their neutrality has often been questioned—why do they crack down on community militias but appear slow to act against well-armed herder groups?

A Hidden Layer: Resources, Migration, and the Erosion of Sovereignty

Beyond the pastoral conflicts and economic desperation, another silent crisis is fueling the chaos: the scramble for mineral resources in Nigeria’s northern states. States like Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger sit atop untapped mineral wealth—gold, gemstones, tantalite, and more. In the absence of strong governance, these resources have become magnets for armed groups, both local and foreign.
Under the Buhari administration, there were widespread allegations that Fulani populations from other African countries—Mali, Niger, Chad—were allowed to move freely into Nigeria, taking advantage of porous borders and political goodwill disguised as ECOWAS “free movement” policies. Instead of integrating peacefully, many of these migrants found opportunity in Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces—spaces now defined by resource theft, armed conflict, and mass displacement.
The mineral-rich territories quickly became battlegrounds—not just for herders seeking pasture, but for heavily armed groups seeking control of lucrative mining sites. In states like Zamfara, so-called “bandits” transformed into organized crime syndicates, merging cattle rustling, village raids, kidnapping, and illegal mining into a violent business model. What began as a herder-farmer conflict has thus morphed into a multidimensional war over land, minerals, and survival—a conflict Nigeria’s leadership either failed to understand or deliberately chose to ignore. The consequences are catastrophic: food insecurity, mass internal displacement, and the systematic erosion of national sovereignty as foreign-backed armed groups carve out territories within Nigeria’s borders.

A Battle Beyond Cattle: The Criminal Elements

Let’s be clear: This is no longer just about cows and farmlands. The rise of criminal elements—banditry, kidnappings, and arms trafficking—has added a dangerous new dimension to the conflict. The lines between herdsmen, militants, and organized crime syndicates have become blurred. Reports of Fulani militias storming villages with AK-47s, seizing farmlands, and demanding ransom payments suggest something far more coordinated than mere pastoral disputes.
Is someone bankrolling these attacks? Are there political or economic interests benefiting from this chaos? These are uncomfortable but necessary questions.

The Road to Hell: Where Are We Headed?

If Nigeria does not decisively address this crisis, we are hurtling toward a grim future. Food security is already at risk—farmers are abandoning their lands in fear, while hunger and inflation rise. Ethnic and religious divisions are deepening, fanned by conspiracy theories and dangerous rhetoric. With each violent encounter, the social fabric of the nation unravels a little more.
At this rate, it is only a matter of time before the Fulani herdsmen crisis becomes the next Boko Haram—a festering security disaster that the government ignored until it exploded beyond control.

We need real solutions, not more press statements. The government must:
Enforce Anti-Open Grazing Laws – Ranching is the future. If other livestock industries worldwide operate through controlled systems, why should Nigeria still be stuck in an outdated and unmanageable practice?

Hold Perpetrators Accountable –

The idea that attackers can massacre entire villages and disappear without consequences must end. Justice must be swift, public, and firm.

Strengthen Local Security – Communities must be empowered to protect themselves without being branded as insurgents. A well-regulated, state-supported local security force could be a game-changer.

Address the Root Economic Causes – The herder-farmer conflict is also an economic problem. If herders have no alternatives, the crisis will persist. Investment in ranching infrastructure, irrigation projects, and grazing reserves could turn this around.
De-Weaponize the Region – The unchecked proliferation of arms in Nigeria has turned every minor dispute into a full-blown war. There must be a systematic effort to disarm all violent groups.

The Fulani herdsmen crisis is a test of Nigeria’s ability to protect its people, manage its diversity, and enforce law and order. If we fail this test, we are signing up for a future of perpetual violence, deepening ethnic hatred, and a state that continues to lose control of its territories.

The choice is clear: Act now, or wait for the inevitable explosion. But one thing is certain; Nigeria cannot afford to sleepwalk into another disaster. The time for decisive leadership is now.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

7 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

1 week ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

1 week ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!