There is a kind of fatalism in our public conversation nowadays. It resurfaces in group discussions, on panels; you hear it in the weary asides of professionals who have done their best to the point of giving up: "Nigeria", they say, "is not working and cannot work as presently constituted".
In this landscape, the argument that "Nigeria as presently constituted cannot work" sounds more like a clear-eyed description. But if we allow historical records to help interrogate these convenient analogies and claims, the "Balkanise Nigeria" slogan begins to falter, and the "all forged nations fail" becomes very hard to sustain

In the last quarter of 2025, Nigeria faced credible threats of American intervention over allegations of Christian persecution. The Federal Government reached for its diplomatic arsenal and found the storeroom empty, exposing Nigeria's acute diplomatic capacity crunch. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, once home to titans like Joe Garba, Bolaji Akinyemi, Joy Ogwu, Ike Nwachukwu and Joe Keshi could not field a credible team. In the scramble, a ranking senator, Ali Ndume, publicly proposed recruiting Chief Emeka Anyaoku, 93, and Professor Akinyemi, 84, Babagana Kingibe, 80, from retirement. In the end, the National Security Adviser, a man with near-zero diplomatic experience, led the delegation to Washington.

Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State is once again under the shadow of insecurity after armed men abducted six residents from the Unguwar Barkonu community in Maraban Kajuru.

PSJ UK, a United Kingdom–based Nigeria-focused Social Justice advocacy organization, formally calls on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Nigerian High Commission in London and its newly appointed High Commissioner, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, to urgently initiate a full, transparent, and independent public inquiry into the mass abduction of innocent Nigerian citizens from three (3) churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Residents of Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been thrown into fear following the abduction of more than 160 worshippers during coordinated attacks on several churches.

A Catholic Bishop in Niger State, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has issued a public appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging urgent action to address persistent insecurity in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas.

An explosion struck a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, during evening prayers on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, according to local security sources.

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Joint Task Force North East (Operation Hadin Kai) were targeted in a drone attack by terrorists operating in Borno State, leaving three soldiers wounded. The engagement took place during clearance operations and represents a worrying escalation in the tactics used by terror groups in the region. 

A major joint security operation across Kogi and Kwara states has resulted in the rescue of 309 hostages, the arrest of 129 suspected terrorists, and the killing of 55 armed attackers, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed. No security personnel were harmed during the mission.

In a concerning development for security in Northwest Nigeria, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has reportedly re-emerged to launch new offensives in Sokoto State. This comes just weeks after a significant military operation led by the United States targeted his network in December 2025

As 2026 begins, Nigerians are calling on the Federal Government to ensure that the current year is not defined by the same wave of kidnapping and banditry that plagued the end of 2025. Following a series of brutal attacks on schools, farms, and religious gatherings across states like Benue, Plateau, Niger, and Kaduna, citizens are demanding more than just verbal condemnations from the presidency.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally classified kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, marking a significant escalation in the country’s response to abductions and rural violence. The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during an end-of-year press briefing in Abuja.

The United States has confirmed that it carried out airstrikes against militant groups linked to the Islamic State (IS) in parts of northwest Nigeria in late December. The operation targeted suspected militant camps in Sokoto State, close to Nigeria’s border with Niger

For more than a decade, terrorism has turned Nigeria into a nation at war with itself — from Boko Haram’s savagery ravaging communities in the North-East to so-called bandits and kidnappers in the North-West and on to the Fulani-Ethnic Militias attacking the north-central under the guise of farmer-herder narratives. Yet despite years of multiple streams of bloodshed and anguish, the Nigerian state has not built or led a serious international coalition to defeat these forces. Instead, the government clings to its fragile notion of sovereignty while its citizens cling to survival.

On November 1st, U.S President, Donald Trump issued what many are calling an unprecedented threat to a sovereign African nation. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump declared on his social media platform, adding that he has instructed the Department of War to prepare for possible action.

The air in Abuja is thick with outrage. It’s not the familiar stench of insecurity or the chronic haze of corruption that hangs over the nation, but the collective indignation triggered by President Donald Trump’s threat of military action against Nigeria, contingent on the government’s failure to stop the ongoing massacres of Christians

The International Organization for Peace and Social Justice UK (PSJ UK) is a non-profit dedicated to creating a more peaceful, just, and developed society. We advocate for policy change, raise awareness about critical social and political issues, and strengthen communities within the Nigerian and African diaspora in the UK. Our work involves public engagement and strategic partnerships to drive peace, security, and sustainable development                                  

https://www.psjuk.org

ROLE TITLE:  Events and Campaign Team Lead 
DEPARTMENT: Events and Campaign
LEVEL: Volunteer 

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Events and Campaign Team Lead will oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of events and campaigns that align with PSJ UK’s mission and strategic objectives. The role requires creativity, strong organizational skills, and the ability to lead a team of volunteers to deliver impactful and well-coordinated events.
 

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:
·  Plan and coordinate both physical and virtual events, including awareness campaigns, webinars, workshops, and outreach programs.

•   Work closely with other departments to ensure alignment between campaign goals and organizational priorities.
•  Supervise and guide team members in the execution of tasks and ensure timely delivery of assigned responsibilities.
•  Develop event concepts, timelines, and promotional strategies to ensure high participation and engagement.
•  Liaise with external partners, guest speakers, and stakeholders for event participation and collaboration.
•  Oversee logistics, publicity, and post-event evaluation to measure impact and identify areas for improvement.
•  Maintain proper documentation and reports for all campaigns and events.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Strong leadership and coordination skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Creative and strategic thinking abilities.
• Good time management and multitasking skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a remote team.
• Passion for advocacy, social impact, and community engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS/ EXPERIENCES

• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in event planning, campaign management, project coordination, or volunteer leadership (formal or informal settings).
• Proven track record in organizing successful events or leading advocacy initiatives, preferably within nonprofit or community-focused organizations.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and managing logistics for online and physical events.

Technical Proficiency:

• Familiarity with virtual meeting and collaboration platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Slack.
• Basic knowledge of design and communication tools like Canva, Google Workspace, and social media platforms for publicity and coordination.
• Ability to use project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana) is an added advantage.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse groups.
• Commitment to PSJ UK’s mission, vision, and values.

Personal Attributes:

• Passionate about social causes and community impact.
• Reliable, proactive, and result-oriented.
• Creative and resourceful thinker with a positive attitude.
• Flexible and able to adapt to dynamic team environments.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.

EXPECTATIONS & BEHAVIOURS

We have a clear set of Behaviors and Expectations of our people at PSJ UK and the following are essential to this role:

Valuing People:
• Is always equitable, fair and works with integrity. Proactively looks for ways to develop the team and is comfortable providing clarity by explaining the rationale behind decisions. 
Taking Ownership: 
• Is highly self-aware, looking for ways to improve, both taking on board and offering constructive feedback. Inspires others to take accountability for their own areas. 
Forward Thinking: 
• Drives the development, sharing and implementation of new ideas and improvements to support strategic objectives. Engages others in the improvement process. 
 

[1] I have always believed that it is our innovative spirit that will get Nigeria out of the economic doldrums and give us a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2trn in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, this cursed liquid called crude oil is acting as a huge distraction at the moment. It is a real fly in the ointment and at some stage we need to turn the taps off to get us thinking