Nigeria Cannot Save West Africa—But It Must Secure Itself
Executive Summary: Had the military coup d’état of December 7, 2025, in the Republic of Benin succeeded, it would have posed a fundamental challenge to ECOWAS. More importantly, it would have presented Nigeria with a strategic dilemma cutting to the core of its foreign policy posture and national security priorities. In the end, Nigeria’s response was central to ensuring that the crisis remained contained. The rapid deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets, complemented by the swift mobilisation of ground troops under the ECOWAS Standby Force, allowed the Benin authorities to quickly neutralise the attempted overthrow of the country’s constitutional government. The symbolism of a successful coup in Benin would have been significant. For decades, Benin has been regarded as a rare example of democratic continuity in Francophone West Africa. Its largely peaceful transfers of power, though imperfect, stood in clear contrast to the breakdown of constitutional order in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. For Nigeria, Benin represented more than a shared border; it functioned as a democratic buffer, evidence that the region’s drift toward militarised politics was neither inevitable nor irreversible. With a successful coup, that buffer would have disappeared. Nigeria’s western flank and the northern approaches to its key coastal economic zones—from Lagos westward—would be bordered almost entirely by states under military rule. This would expose Nigeria to a belt of political uncertainty and security risk, fundamentally altering its strategic environment and narrowing its room for diplomatic and security manoeuvre.
The Welfare–Security Nexus: A Framework for Transforming the Nigeria Police Force
Executive Summary Nigeria’s internal security crisis cannot be resolved without confronting the structural neglect of police welfare. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) remains constrained by low pay, poor housing, delayed pensions, and weak health coverage. These persistent deficits erode morale, encourage corruption, and weaken operational efficiency. Despite the Police Act 2020 and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act 2019, reforms have failed to deliver sustainable welfare improvements. This policy brief proposes the Welfare–Security Nexus Framework (WSNF)—a four-pillar strategy that situates welfare at the heart of policing reform. It calls for constitutional and fiscal safeguards to guarantee stable funding; comprehensive welfare and post-service guarantees; integration of professional development and ethics with welfare incentives; and transparent oversight through an independent Police Welfare and Remuneration Commission and a Police Ombudsman. Drawing lessons from South Africa, Kenya, India, and the United Kingdom, the brief demonstrates that predictable, rights-based welfare systems improve morale, professionalism, and public trust. Implementation between 2025 and 2030 would ensure fair pay, affordable housing, full health coverage, and performance-based incentives. Investing in police welfare is not an act of generosity—it is a national security imperative. A well-supported, accountable police force is essential to restoring public confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Digging into the Future: Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Mining on Education in Bauchi and Plateau States, Nigeria
Executive Summary This paper explores the complex interplay between mining activities and school dropout rates in Bauchi and Plateau states, Nigeria. Mining is a significant economic activity, yet its social and environmental impacts often go unaddressed. In rural and peri-urban communities, mining displaces families, exposes children to labour, and compromises access to quality education. As highlighted by UNICEF (2022), access to education is fundamental to poverty reduction, and disruptions caused by mining deepen socio-economic inequalities. Comparative insights from Ghana and South Africa demonstrate that effective policy interventions—such as community reinvestment, mobile schooling, and child protection services—can mitigate these effects. This paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, mining corporations, NGOs, and local communities to ensure educational resilience in mining zones