A separatist group, the Restoration Fighters of the Ambazonia Interim Government, has issued a warning that Nigeria’s football stars invited by the President of the Cameroonian Football Association, Samuel Eto’o, for a ceremonial tournament in Victoria City, Cameroon, on November 30, 2023, will be killed if they attend.

The group, advocating for the independence of Southwest Cameroon, warned former national football skipper Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, and other ex-Super Eagles stars not to honor Eto’o’s invitation, emphasizing that their security would not be guaranteed. The separatist group described the tournament as a mockery and ordered a total lockdown on Victoria City and entire Fako County on the specified date. Residents were warned to stay indoors, and violation of the order was threatened with death. The group expressed concerns about the timing and location of the tournament, considering the ongoing conflict in the Ambazonia territory.

Off-cycle gubernatorial elections took place on November 11, 2023, across three states in the country. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had assured the public of an improved, seamless, and transparent process leading up to the elections. However, the aftermath of the polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states mirrored the disappointments experienced during the February 25 Presidential Election, where promises made by INEC turned out to be unfulfilled.

The year 2023 had already been marred by electoral challenges, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25 marked by disruptions, impunity, and criticisms from both local and international observers. Despite high expectations and trust in INEC, the general election was considered one of the worst in the country’s history.

Before the off-cycle elections, INEC, under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had implemented measures such as the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the use of technological devices to prevent rigging, and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The enthusiasm of the youth population led to a significant increase in voter registration.

However, the positive anticipation was shattered as INEC failed to transmit the election results as promised, leading to a series of legal challenges. Despite INEC’s post-election promises to improve conduct, enhance transparency, and learn from past mistakes, the off-cycle elections on November 11 were marred by controversies, allegations of pre-written results, disruptions, and security agencies aiding ballot box snatching.

Various political parties, including the Action Alliance (AA), PDP, and SDP, rejected the election results in Kogi and Imo states, citing fraud, ballot box snatching, and irregularities. Despite widespread criticism and allegations of compromised elections, INEC declared the winners in favor of the APC candidates in both states.

Public confidence in INEC eroded further, with observers and political analysts expressing disappointment in the conduct of the off-cycle elections. The incidents of pre-filled result sheets, alleged manipulation, and the absence of electronic transmission of results raised concerns about the effectiveness of INEC in delivering free and fair elections.

As the nation grapples with the fallout from the November 11 elections, calls for electoral reform, a shift from the winner-takes-all system, and a move towards proportional representation have been suggested as potential solutions to address the persisting challenges in the electoral process.

Professor Abdulazeez Lawal, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has highlighted that the removal of fuel subsidies and the fluctuating exchange rate have created obstacles for many Nigerians in accessing food items.

Lawal made this assertion during his presentation at the 244th UNILORIN Inaugural Lecture, titled ‘Making Ends Meet With Food Security.’ He referred to statistics from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealing that the consumer price index increased from 22.22 percent to 24.41 percent between April and May 2023.

“Food inflation rate rose from 24.61 percent in April to 24.82 percent in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, this was 5.33 percent higher than the 19.5 percent recorded in May 2022,” he noted.

Lawal, a faculty member at UNILORIN’s Faculty of Agriculture, pointed out that an estimated 17 million people were at risk of food insecurity in October 2022. He emphasized that without urgent measures to address the ongoing surge in food prices, Nigeria would continue to face acute food insecurity.

The professor proposed that agriculture is a crucial component of the global food system and is highly significant for many countries in terms of employment, nutrition, and rural development. He suggested that agriculture appears to be the primary driver of economic and social development in many countries in the near future.

Lawal noted that smallholder farmers contribute to over 80 percent of global food production. Paradoxically, people in rural areas across all countries are most vulnerable to food insecurity due to limited access to food and financial resources.

With a population of over 200 million people, approximately 80 percent of Nigerians rely on small-scale agriculture for their food needs. Lawal stressed the need to enhance agricultural production and rural livelihood activities to increase food supplies and boost the income of farming households.

He also recommended that governments at all levels improve funding and the effective implementation of food security programs. Lawal called for policy strategies that encourage technology transfer and the adoption of modern farming techniques by smallholder farmers.

Furthermore, he urged the government to prioritize the security of lives and properties through development and peace-building policies in conflict-affected areas.