Good morning,
A police checkpoint is supposed to be a place of safety. A place where a traveller’s documents are checked, where suspicious vehicles are stopped, where the state asserts its presence. But in the mind of a traveller on the Sagamu-Benin expressway, a checkpoint is often a place of dread. Will they demand a bribe? Will they find a reason to delay me? Will they pass my details to the men in the bush? The Nigeria Police Force has now invited social media influencer VeryDarkMan to provide evidence for his explosive claims that officers at checkpoints share travellers’ information with kidnappers. The allegations, made at the NBA conference in Port Harcourt, have been rejected by the police as unsubstantiated. But the invitation is a tacit admission that the claims must be addressed. The question is whether VDM will produce the evidence, or whether the allegations will remain just words.
While the police battle allegations of complicity, the National Economic Council is battling a different kind of threat. The NEC has reported that Nigeria’s economy is stabilising, with real GDP growth reaching 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. Full-year growth is projected to exceed four per cent. The Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, presented the figures to the Council, which endorsed the economic stabilisation. But the Council also issued a warning: no policy reversals ahead of the 2027 elections. The message is clear: the reforms must continue, regardless of the political cycle .
There is better news from the telecommunications sector. Airtel Nigeria is approaching 18,000 active cell sites, adding over 1,000 new towers annually to broaden high-speed connectivity across rural communities. The expansion covers all 774 Local Government Areas, with more than 99 per cent of sites now 4G-enabled. Communities like Kukawa in Borno, Chimbi in Niger, and Aran-Orin in Kwara are now connected. For farmers, it means real-time access to crop prices and weather updates. For small businesses, it supports digital payments and commerce. The infrastructure is being laid. The question is whether the government can sustain the momentum .
And the NPFL has secured a major financial lifeline. The league has unveiled a $7.5 million three-year title sponsorship deal with EUROMATCH, worth $2.5 million per season. Under the agreement, 60 per cent of the proceeds will go directly to clubs, potentially providing much-needed financial muscle for improved players’ salaries and welfare. The NPFL champions for the 2026/2027 season are expected to receive a record ₦1 billion prize. The deal is a major boost for Nigerian football. The question is whether the funds will be transparently managed and translated into better club administration .
But the news is not all good. The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has resigned, along with other board members. The resignation comes amid intense pressure following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup for the first time in history. The NFF has also faced scrutiny over the management of a ₦17 billion Federal Government intervention fund, with the Department of State Services investigating the utilisation of the funds. The resignation is a significant development. The question is whether it will lead to meaningful reform or just a change of faces.
Have a great weekend,
Lolade