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Latest

On the National Red Line Negotiating Nigeria’s ‘Non-Negotiable’ Unity

January 27, 2021

For the Community, By the Community COVID-19, Design and Handwashing Infrastructure in Nigeria

January 25, 2021

Tunrie Bisi-Afolabi

‘Writers are Guardians of Truth.’ Tunrie Bisi-Afolabi’s First Draft.

January 22, 2021

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President Buhari replaces military service chiefs.

President Buhari replaces military service chiefs.⠀
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On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, replaced the top military commanders after months of pressure over his response to the widespread insecurity in the country. The spokesman for the presidency, Garba Shehu, said to Reuters news agency that some of the commanders had resigned while others retired.⠀
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In 2020, the Nigerian house of representatives and other notable governors in the country demanded the resignation of the military service chiefs as they felt they were underperforming—given the widespread insurgency in the North and the dramatic rise of criminal gangs who kidnap for ransom.⠀
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Shehu announced the newly appointed service chiefs; Maj-Gen Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Gen I Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air-Vice Marshal I O Amao as Chief of Air Staff.⠀
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The replaced chiefs were appointed by Buhari in 2015 after he was elected for his first presidential term. They have served for more than five years—making their tenure the longest since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. President Buhari thanked the outgoing commanders for their ‘overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country’. ⠀
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According to the BBC, Nigerians, who see this move as long overdue, hope the new security chiefs will work to make the country safer, but analysts say more needs to be done to provide the military with the right equipment and funding, as well as looking after the welfare of troops before any tangible changes will be seen.⠀
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📝: Tomisin, Editorial Assistant.⠀
📷: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari speaks at a campaign for his re-election, in Uyo, Nigeria December 28, 2018. Tife Owolabi / REUTERS

Questioning Nigeria’s unity =/= asking for seces

Questioning Nigeria’s unity =/= asking for secession. #OnSite⚡
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In our latest online essay, writer, Chukwudi Ukonne, examines the negotiation of Nigeria’s ‘non-negotiable’ unity and how it differs from calls for secession.
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According to Ukonne, the sovereignty and unity of Nigeria should be given room for democratic assessment, without being regarded as a plot to break up the country. He explains that, ‘Nigeria, having come into being through the forceful imposition of foreign rule which denied the indigenous peoples the opportunity to determine the terms of their co-existence, continues to be held together by bonds of superficial unity.’
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Ukonne argues that requests made for renegotiating the terms of Nigeria’s unity should not be automatically equated with calls for secession. He explains that though the basis of Nigeria’s unity is a question the nation continues to grapple with, the formation of new independent nations does not guarantee the absence of the internal strife that has plagued Nigeria for decades. This, according to Ukonne, is evident in the ‘social intimidation and political ostracization’ that was present in the former secessionist state of Biafra.
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Ultimately, Ukonne argues that the establishment of Nigeria’s unity, which has always been considered non-negotiable by Nigerian leaders, begins with the government’s commitment towards a unity that is ‘subject to periodic appraisals and democratic renegotiations.’
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Do you agree with Ukonne? Let us know in our comments. For more on this topic, click the link in our bio.
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📝: Chukwudi Ukonne
📷: Nigeria's independence in 1960. Nigerian Archives.

Biden cancels Trump’s ban on transgender America

Biden cancels Trump’s ban on transgender Americans joining the military.⠀
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According to BBC News, newly-sworn-in American President, Joe Biden, issued an executive order on 25 January that reversed former president Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military.⠀
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According to Aljazeera, Trump first ordered the ban in 2017. The policy was challenged in courts and described as ‘discriminatory’ before it eventually took effect in January 2019. It drew protests from gay rights advocates who slammed the ‘bigoted’ and ‘irresponsible’ order.⠀
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Trump’s announcement of the ban on Twitter in 2017 indicated ‘tremendous medical costs and disruption’ as reasons for the ban. Transgender people already serving were allowed to continue, but new transgender recruits were banned from enlisting. According to data from the US Department of Defence analyzed by the Palm Center, there were 8,980 active-duty transgender troops in the US military in 2019.⠀
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📝: Wemimo, Editorial Assistant.⠀
📷: American troops training soldiers near Agadez, Niger. April 2020. Tara Todras-Whitehill / New York Times.

Today in 1950, the Indian constitution took effect

Today in 1950, the Indian constitution took effect.⠀
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On 26 January 1950, the Indian constitution took effect, making the Republic of India the most populous democracy in the world. Today is also celebrated as Republic Day in India.⠀⠀
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The constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949. It replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. The original Constitution of India was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, an Indian calligrapher. ⠀
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The Constitution of India is described as the supreme law of India and provides its citizens with six fundamental rights. These rights are the right to freedom, right to equality, cultural and educational rights, right to constitutional remedies, right against exploitation, and right to privacy. The constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, and is the longest constitution of any sovereign country in the world, having a preamble, 22 parts with 448 articles, 12 schedules, five appendices and 115 amendments.⠀
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Additional Historical Fact: Did you know that Nigeria-India relations date back to the 1950s? According to the High Commission of India, India established its Diplomatic House in Lagos in November 1958, two years before Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960. Presently, India is one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners and Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa.
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📝: Etashe, Editorial Assistant⠀
📷: Members of the Constituent Assembly signing the Constitution. Bloomberg Quint

Nigerian soldiers reportedly shoot civilians in Im

Nigerian soldiers reportedly shoot civilians in Imo State. ⠀
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According to Premium Times, residents of Orlu community in Imo State, eastern Nigeria, reported heavy shootings by officers of the Nigerian army on Monday, 25 January 2021.⠀
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The shootings were said to have resulted from a clash between officers of the Nigerian army and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) established by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group. ⠀
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According to Arise News, reports from eyewitnesses state that the clash occurred after an attack was made on some soldiers, who had assaulted some youths in the town on Sunday, 24 January. The reports note that the soldiers returned later at night in retaliation, and with reinforcements on Monday. The army is reported to have shot sporadically at civilians, leading to the death of several residents.⠀
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Following the shoot-out, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodima, held an emergency security council meeting and directed security agencies to ‘fish out without fail, all those behind the carnage and immediately bring them to book.’ As an interim measure to restore peace, the governor has ordered a dusk to dawn curfew (6 pm to 6 am) in some local government areas within the state, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwerre. ⠀
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📝: Etashe, Editorial Assistant⠀
📷 Nigerian soldiers stand at the ready at the headquarters of the 120th Battalion in Goniri, Yobe State. AUDU MARTE / AFP

An African solution to COVID-19? #OnSite⚡ - In o

An African solution to COVID-19? #OnSite⚡
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In our latest online essay, design practitioner, Mambidzeni Madzivire, and industrial designer, Nifemi Marcus-Bello, explain a design-driven approach to developing an effective handwashing station in response to COVID-19.
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They explain that COVID-19 has increased the demand for handwashing infrastructure and has 'generated high levels of contribution and collaboration in the fields of clinical medicine, scientific research, and engineering globally'. One of these contributions is an effective design-driven handwashing system the authors designed.
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According to Madzivire and Marcus-Bello, in designing this system, they used different design techniques. These techniques included human-centred design, accessibility design, inclusive design, and industrial design.
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The authors explain that human-centred design is 'anchored by using ethnographic methods to develop insights about a person, their needs and their environment.' For the handwashing station, Madzivire and Marcus-Bello conducted 'in-depth interviews with various stakeholders in the healthcare environment, including nurses, doctors and users living with physical disabilities'. This, the authors argue, allowed them to design a solution that completely matches the handwashing needs of the public.
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Another design technique they note is the accessibility design which provides accessibility to every human including those living with a disability. 'In order for a product to be considered accessible', they explain, 'it must make the experience available to all, including people living with disabilities'. Ultimately, according to Madzivire and Marcus-Bello, creating a handwashing station in a Nigerian healthcare facility will have 'greater long-term impact not only for COVID-19 but for other infectious diseases as well'.
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For more on this topic, their research and the designs, click the link in our bio.
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📝: Mambidzeni Madzivire & Nifemi Marcus-Bello
📷: Three healthcare workers at C.H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata, Margibi County in Liberia. Dominic Chavez / World Bank.
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The effective handwashing station designed by Marcus-Bello and Madzivire.

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