Author: Boma West

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…