Amid the deplorable state of our nation on all fronts, we have a virtually indifferent President who continues to display alarming insensitivity to our situation. How does one explain that a President who only recently returned from Brazil is now heading back to the same country—leaving behind unresolved crises at home? According to his latest itinerary, President Tinubu will depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for a two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In Japan, he will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. Notably, the schedule is silent on his return date to a nation visibly in distress. It is deeply troubling that our President—who has yet to visit any of Nigeria’s most troubled states—seems to find joy in foreign travel at the slightest invitation, often departing days before the events he is meant to attend. In his last foreign trip, for example, he spent a week in St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit—where Nigeria was only present as an observer, despite the role being dressed up as that of a “partner.” In contrast, leaders of actual member countries typically arrived just a day or two before the event. Meanwhile, insecurity, economic hardship, and human suffering in Nigeria have reached unprecedented levels. We now rank among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies, and the hungriest countries in the world. This dire reality demands the President’s full attention—not prolonged absences for conferences that yield little tangible benefit. If his upcoming trip is unavoidable, it should be no longer than five days—given that the Japan conference begins on August 20—rather than the planned 12 days abroad. Nigeria today needs security of lives and property, economic stability, and policies that put food on citizens’ tables. Our country requires leadership marked by competence, capacity, compassion, and sacrifice. The President should embark on tours of Nigeria’s states with the same enthusiasm he has for foreign trips—seeing firsthand, listening directly, and understanding deeply the struggles Nigerians face. Nigerians know our problems won’t be solved overnight, but they expect 100% effort and visible commitment. Most importantly, Mr. President must remember that he is not a tourist. He is the Chief Executive of a nation in crisis, and his schedule—both at home and abroad—should reflect that urgent reality.

By Kamal Yalwa: August 14, 2025 The Federal Government has restated its zero-tolerance policy towards examination malpractice, pledging continued reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and educational quality. Education Minister, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, made this known in a statement on Thursday signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations. According to Dr. Alausa, the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results showed significant improvement, with 91.14% of candidates obtaining at least five credits (with or without English and Mathematics), compared to 73.79% in 2024. However, the percentage of candidates with five credits including English and Mathematics declined to 62.96% from 72.12% last year. Malpractice cases dropped from 16.29% in 2023 to 9.70% in 2025, a feat attributed to WAEC’s anti-cheating measures, including question paper serialization in core subjects. The Minister announced that WAEC and NECO will begin Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for objective papers in 2025, with full adoption for all papers in 2026. Dr. Alausa urged parents, teachers, and communities to work together in promoting discipline, supporting students, and creating an environment that enables every child to excel.

The White House has confirmed that Friday’s summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska — their first meeting in six years. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the talks as a “listening exercise” aimed at gaining a “better understanding” of the situation in Ukraine. The framing comes amid European concerns that the meeting — with only Putin in attendance — could sideline Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Putin’s reported demands for the remainder of Donetsk and the wider Donbas region, warning that surrendering them would dismantle key defence lines and expose Kyiv to future attacks. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, are holding multiple calls with Zelenskyy and separately with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance ahead of the summit. The talks are being billed as “transparent,” though analysts see little prospect for a breakthrough, with Russia seeking territorial gains and Ukraine unwilling to concede.