Author: Boma West

NIGERIA’s hospitals are increasingly becoming places where hope goes to die, not because illness is always untreatable, but because negligence, weak protocols and institutional irresponsibility are allowed to flourish. The death of the 21-month-old son of acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has once again laid bare a crisis Nigerians have lived with for decades. Our healthcare system is failing, and it is failing with deadly consequences. According to Chimamanda’s detailed statement, her son was alive, stable, and receiving care when he was transferred between hospitals in Lagos on January 6th. He had developed a serious infection but was well enough…

IN recent months, discussions about a new tax law in Nigeria have caused growing concern among citizens across the country. From traders to civil servants and small shop owners, many Nigerians are worried about how government tax policies may affect their daily lives. A major fear is the belief that Nigerians will now be taxed each time they withdraw money from their bank accounts. This concern has spread quickly through WhatsApp messages, radio discussions, and social media posts. Unfortunately, much of the information being shared is incomplete or incorrect. To understand the reality, it is important to explain what is…

AS 2025 gradually draws to a close, Nigeria finds itself once again confronting a familiar but uncomfortable reality. The nation remains one of the most naturally endowed countries in the world, yet millions of its citizens continue to struggle with poverty, insecurity, and declining living standards. The transition into 2026 should therefore not be treated as a routine passage of time, but as a critical moment for national introspection and decisive policy action. For a country so richly blessed with oil, gas, solid minerals, fertile land, and a large youthful population, the persistent gap between potential and performance is no…

THE recent tightening of United States visa restrictions on Nigerians is not an accident, a conspiracy, or a sudden act of hostility. It is the direct consequence of years of collective failure by both the Nigerian state and a significant number of its citizens. According to the U.S. Department of State and data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Nigeria continues to record high overstay rates for non immigrant visas. This data drives U.S. immigration policy, and no amount of outrage can erase the facts. Visiting visas meant for short term travel have repeatedly been abused. Many Nigerians knowingly…

NOT long ago, air travel in Nigeria symbolized safety, speed, and progress. For many citizens, flying was not a luxury but a practical choice, one that reduced travel time, minimized risk, and allowed people to move across the country with confidence. Today, that reality is quietly disappearing. Air travel is slipping beyond the reach of the average Nigerian, transforming what was once a national convenience into the exclusive preserve of the wealthy. This troubling shift should concern every Nigerian. More importantly, it should alarm policymakers, aviation regulators, and security agencies, because the consequences go far beyond airfare prices. What we…

EVERY year, Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s theme calls on us to unite to end violence against women and girls in the digital space. It is a necessary conversation, but also one we have been slow to fully embrace. We are still more comfortable discussing violence when it is physical, when it leaves marks that can be seen and explained. What happens online is often dismissed as trivial or dramatic, something women should simply learn to ignore. That way of thinking no longer reflects the reality…

NIGERIA is under siege. Kidnappers strike across the nation, from Niger and Kogi to Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, and beyond. Students are snatched from schools, travellers ambushed on highways, worshippers abducted during prayer. And yet political leadership continues to respond with statements and expressions of concern, while citizens pay the ultimate price. Recent months have revealed a troubling pattern. Kidnappers are operating with impunity, exploiting weaknesses in policy, coordination, and governance. On the Kogi highways, commuters still face ambushes along stretches connecting the North and South. In Kwara, worshippers have been taken from churches in rural communities during evening services. Across…