The Price of Survival

Food inflation hits 20.31%, militia attack in Plateau, $50m ransom fuels al Qaeda, police promise security, Super Falcons coach sacked.

Good morning,

A family in Adamawa now spends 51.36 percent more on food than they did a year ago. That is not a statistic. That is a mother choosing between rice and beans. That is a father wondering if his children will eat tomorrow. Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 20.31 percent in July, its sixth consecutive monthly increase, driven by higher prices of staples including rice, tomatoes, onions, garri, plantain, beef and eggs. Headline inflation slowed to 15.43 percent. That is the good news. The bad news is that the national average masks what people are facing on the ground. For a minimum-wage earner in Lagos, rising staple costs mean fewer meals per week. The CBN may celebrate the slowing headline inflation. Nigerian households are still struggling.

While families struggle to eat, a community in Plateau is struggling to survive. A militia attack on Sunday left several residents of Jwak Maitumbi community feared dead, with about 45 houses destroyed and large quantities of crops belonging to Fulani residents damaged. Troops have been deployed, but the cycle of violence continues. Plateau has a history of tit-for-tat violence between communities. The targeting of Fulani residents adds another layer of complexity to the conflict. The winners: none. The losers: the families of the victims, the displaced residents, and the Nigerian state, which has failed to protect its citizens.

And the threat is not just domestic. A UN report has revealed that a $50 million ransom paid in 2025 to secure the release of a hostage in Mali helped finance al Qaeda-linked militants’ operations across West Africa. Three regional sources identified the UAE as the country that paid the ransom. The funds played a key role in financing JNIM’s offensive in Mali, with the group estimated to have 7,000 to 8,000 fighters in the Sahel. The Nigerian stake is clear. The Sahel is already destabilised, and the flow of funds to JNIM could further strengthen the group. Nigeria’s northern border is vulnerable to spillover. The ransom payments fuel the insurgency.

Amid all this, the police are making promises. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, has assured Nigerians of adequate security ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the police have developed a broad-based security plan covering the pre-election period, campaign activities and the conduct of the elections. Nigerians have heard such promises before. The test will be whether the police can remain neutral and protect voters from intimidation and violence.

And in Lagos, the government is cracking down on dealer number plates. The Lagos State Government has reiterated its prohibition on the permanent use of dealer number plates, warning that 175 vehicles have already been apprehended for violating the regulations. The use of dealer plates for everyday commuting has been a common practice. The government is now enforcing the law.

In Anambra, the police are trying to clean up their act. The command has introduced a monitoring mechanism to supervise checkpoints and patrol teams, aiming to strengthen accountability and eliminate extortion. Extortion by police officers has been a persistent problem. The new mechanism is designed to address the issue. The question is whether it will be effective or just another paper policy.

And then there is the football. The Nigeria Football Federation has sacked Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu and his entire technical crew following the team’s failure to secure a ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The decision comes after a disappointing WAFCON campaign that ended with a quarter-final exit and a subsequent loss to South Africa in the World Cup playoff. The sacking is a predictable response to the Falcons’ failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years. But it also raises uncomfortable questions about the NFF’s own role in the team’s preparation. The Falcons’ poor performance is not just the result of coaching; it reflects deeper problems in Nigerian women’s football. The winners: the NFF, which has taken action. The losers: Justin Madugu and his crew, who have lost their jobs, and the Super Falcons, who face an uncertain future. The question is whether the NFF will address the deeper problems or just change the coach.

Do have a great day.

Lolade