ELVIRA’S PEN

The ancient Benin Kingdom amazed Europeans with its bronze art and organized government. The Oyo Empire dominated the west with military strength. In the north, the Sokoto Caliphate became one of the largest Islamic empires in Africa. And across the east, communities thrived through trade, farming, and local leadership systems. Nigeria was never an empty land waiting to be discovered. It was already alive, already powerful and thriving. But in the 1800s, everything began to change. Europe was hungry for resources, territory, and control. During the period known as the “Scramble for Africa,” European nations raced to claim African lands. Britain set its eyes on the region that would later become Nigeria. At first, the British came as traders. Palm oil, ivory, and other goods flowed through the ports. But trade slowly turned into influence and influence turned into control. In 1884, European powers met at the Berlin Conference, where Africa was divided among foreign nations without a sin...

by EBEN ENASCO As insecurity continues to challenge communities across the country, including Edo State, one often-overlooked solution is keeping proper records of newcomers moving into towns and villages. Kidnapping has become a recurring problem in many local communities across the state.  Areas such as Akoko Edo, Auchi, Ekpoma, Uhromi, Ovia, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde have reported frequent incidents. Most kidnapping exploits in local communities are often reportedly spearheaded by Fulani extract who have been reported to have occupied various forests armed with sophisticated weapons down southern Nigeria. This development has caused the escalation of mistrusts and a further tension around farming villages who are mostly vunelrable to attacks. The few people living in their communities have either abandoned farming practices, or relocated permanently fearing the worst attacks. Food shortage has ravaged the already downward sliding economy and is clearly reflecting on both low an...

YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE –  Environmental advocates and community leaders in Bayelsa State have raised fresh concerns over the continued degradation of the Biseni environment following an oil spill that occurred about five months ago, with parts of the affected area now reportedly set ablaze. Biseni Kingdom, located in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, comprises of 13 communities and hosts oil operations belonging to Renaissance Africa Energy Company and Oando PLC, formerly Shell and Agip. The area is crisscrossed by numerous oil wells and pipelines transporting crude oil and gas to neighboring Rivers State. Over the years, the kingdom has witnessed repeated incidents of oil spills, many of which have devastated farmlands, lakes, fish ponds, and other natural water bodies due to the terrain of the area. Residents, whose livelihoods depend heavily on farming and fishing, say such incidents have had severe economic, environmental, and health consequences. According to co...

Oil and gas polluted communities in the Niger Delta and environmental experts say the life expectancy in the region has dropped to 40-47 years, which is 15 years lower than the national average. This was established at a townhall meeting organized by Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) in Akwa Ibom state, with Eket and Ibeno community members on May 30, 2026, to conclude the Africa Week of Action, themed "Kick Polluters Out of Nigeria". The meeting highlighted the environmental, health and economic impact of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the state, accusing companies like Total Energies, ExxonMobil, and Seplat of perpetuating pollution under the guise of corporate social responsibility. They criticized the Nigerian government's response to oil spills, citing corruption and lack of accountability. Project Manager of CODAF, Endurance Oriakhogba, attributed this 15-year gap directly to the cumulative effects of hydrocarbon pollution, including conta...

PLAYING THE LONG GAME - Elvira Jordan  Good Morning Beloved 😌 It’s a new season and just like everyone else, we all have our expectations for the year, the month, the next quarter and how ever else we measure our seasons. Most times, we look forward to sharp sharp miracles, instant results, quick manifestations and things unfolding sooner than later. I for one, I’m looking forward to making 5 million naira and getting a new iPhone in the next 2 weeks… 😌 Please leave me and my dreams. 😂 On a more serious note, we all look forward to things happening for us, and things happening really fast. However, there are times when we allow things to work themselves out, go through the full circle, spiral a little before landing on our doorstep. There are things we want that need time to settle down, churn itself and marinate before landing on our dinner table. In all of this, I am saying that there are certain things we want, things that belong to us that will need time to grow and mature b...

Credit: Nipe Fagio A growing body of scientific evidence is drawing renewed attention to the environmental dangers posed by landfills, as experts warn that methane emissions from waste disposal sites are accelerating the global climate crisis. A recent study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), identified the world’s top 25 waste disposal facilities with the highest methane emissions using satellite monitoring technology developed by Carbon Mapper. According to the findings, the facilities emit between 3.6 and 7.5 tons of methane every hour. Researchers explained that a single landfill releasing five tons of methane per hour could generate the same level of global warming impact as one million Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) operating for an entire year. Scientists have long recognized methane as one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases because it traps more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over a short period. Environmental advocates say the late...