Good morning,
A minimum-wage worker in Kano earns ₦70,000 a month. A 50-kilogram bag of rice costs more than that. School fees are a luxury. Healthcare is a gamble. The government talks of reserves and debt-to-GDP ratios, a language spoken in a different world. Nigeria has fallen to 56th place in Global Finance’s 2026 ranking of the world’s poorest nations by purchasing power parity, down 12 places from 44th in 2025. The country recorded a PPP-adjusted GDP per capita of $9,532.92, a figure that stands well above its nominal GDP per capita of approximately $1,500, yet reflects a severe erosion in comparative living standards. The government points to macroeconomic stabilisation: reserves above $51 billion, inflation moderating to 15.43 percent, GDP growth projected at 4.2 percent. But in Adamawa, food inflation is 51.36 percent. The gap between the numbers and the reality is the crisis of our time. The question is whether the government will bridge it or let it widen.
While the economy struggles, the security crisis deepens. President Tinubu has ordered the military to launch an immediate operation to rescue about 600 women, children and elderly people abducted from a mosque in Niger State last week. At least 30 people were killed and buried on Sunday. At least 2,000 residents reportedly fled to neighbouring Benin Republic. The abduction of 600 people from a place of worship is one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria’s recent history. The government’s rescue operation will be a test of its capacity to respond to such large-scale incidents. The question is whether the rescue will succeed or the victims will remain in captivity.
The scale of the ransom economy is staggering. Boko Haram collected 90 percent of the ₦7.78 billion paid as ransom in Nigeria between July 2025 and June 2026. Two mass abductions accounted for ₦7 billion of that total. In April 2026, 416 people were abducted from Ngoshe in Gwoza, Borno State, and kidnappers reportedly received ₦5 billion. Earlier, 315 pupils and staff of St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, were abducted, and about ₦2 billion was reportedly paid for their release. The cycle is clear: ransom funds attacks, attacks fund ransom. The government must break the cycle or the kidnap economy will continue to grow.
In the middle of all this, the police are fighting cybercrime. The Police National Cybercrimes Centre has arrested seven suspects over money laundering, sextortion, romance scams and business email compromise operations. The operation, executed in collaboration with the German and Canadian police, revealed over 12.5 million victim email logs across more than 50 countries. One suspect made in excess of ₦100 million from the criminal enterprise and purchased a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 with the proceeds. The arrests are a significant victory. The question is whether the police can sustain the momentum.
And the FCT Police Command has denied reports of kidney sales in Nyanya, urging the public to disregard unverified social media claims. The clarification is a reminder of the danger of misinformation. The question is whether the public will learn to verify information before sharing.
But there is some relief. Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has hailed Hausa language and culture as important pillars of African identity, unity and development, as the world celebrates International Hausa Day. The 2026 celebration, tagged ‘Our Culture, Our Future’, offers an important opportunity to preserve language, culture, history and traditions for future generations. Hausa remains an important lingua franca in West Africa. The culture survives.
Warmly,
Lolade