Feature

Makoko’s waterfront stilt settlements were razed with little warning amid government claims that the move was essential for sanitation and security. By Valentine Benjamin, The Guardian UK It was 12.30pm when amphibious excavators escorted by armed police roared through Makoko, crushing wooden shacks built on stilts. “It was the second time this year,” says Augustine Agpoko, 42, a fisher and father of eight whose six-bedroom bungalow was demolished on 16 January. Like many of his neighbours, Agpoko was already dismantling his home piece by piece in an attempt to save some of the materials before the machines arrived. “I was…

By Lidia Bastianich I traveled to US to highlight food. What I found was community. When I came to the United States as a young refugee, my family had very little – except for the kindness of the neighbors who welcomed us. They brought us food, helped my mother find work and reminded us, in a new and uncertain world, that we were not alone. Those early experiences shaped my life and my cooking. And memories of them came rushing back as I traveled across the country this year filming my new PBS special. In every place I visited –…

"This town is truly beautiful at night now. Kai, the sight is so eye-catching. I'm pleased with this. Look at the streetlights on this street, all working perfectly; they weren't like this before. God Almighty bless the government agency that handled this." An obviously enthralled Emeka Felix uttered these words to his colleague as both leisurely trekked to the nearest bus stop at Apo Bridge from where they hoped to catch a vehicle to Mararaba, a bustling commercial hub in neighbouring Nasarawa State,where they reside. Time: 11.50pm. Mararaba, the closest Nasarawa town to Abuja, the nation's capital, is, barring gridlocks…

By Adesomola Adedayo When the Nigerian art collector, curator and dealer Kayode Adegbola was given a pair of Yorùbá twin statuettes – ère ìbejì – in 2022 as a reward for a successful art deal, it was the start of a new passion. While he had seen a few ìbejì carvings in his uncle’s collection of African traditional art, the gift resonated with Adegbola. “I have always been conscious of ìbejì but I will say my passionate research was definitely a 2022 moment. “I’ve been collecting them since then,” says Adegbola, who trained as a lawyer in London. “I buy…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi He was a bandit, armed militia member, known, feared and reportedly did what armed non-state actors in the country are said to do. But there comes a time when a man says "no more" and looks to live clean and be on the right side of the law. After all, in Biblical times, Saul, a military leader and human demolition ally of the ruling Israelite elite, personally participated in the torture, imprisonment of several early Christians as well as consented to the murder of the martyr, Stephen. Indeed, he was on his way to visit more…

*Promises Of Legitimate Jobs Turn Hellish *Passports, Others Instantly Confiscated *Beatings, Starvation, Sex Abuse Rife Note: People&Politics is publishing this piece as a social responsibility initiative to enable potential Nigerian immigrants make proper, informed choices. Within hours of landing in Bangkok from Nairobi, Kenya last December to start a job as a customer service agent, Duncan Okindo knew something was wrong. The 26-year-old had sold his cattle, borrowed money from friends and used his savings to pay a recruitment agency 200,000 Kenyan shillings (£1,150; about N2.3m). “I felt it would be good to go outside [the country] and look for…

By Funmilayo Adeyemi As Nigerian schools wind down for the long summer holiday, many parents and students are advocating for skill-building and rest over academic summer classes. In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, a cross-section of parents and students said the shift is in recognition of the need for non-routine, more balanced and reflective approach to how children spend the break. The parents noted that beyond the cost implication of summer lessons, new experiences, skill-building and spending quality time with their children, are crucial for their overall development and well-being.…

Drastic cuts to humanitarian aid in North-Eastern Nigeria could prove a boon to one of the world's most deadly militant groups, Boko Haram, aid agencies have warned. A reduction of funding in recent months has forced the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) to ration its support, and now it has completely run out. "It will be much easier for militants to lure youths to join them and spiral insecurity across the whole region," Trust Mlambo, Head of Operations in the area for WFP, told the BBC . Notorious around the world for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls from the town…