A lot happened in 2025 that could have easily pushed love to the very bottom of Nigerians’ priority lists. But not even City Boy and his chaos could stop real lovers from yearning loudly and showing out. And guess what? We were right there, front row, collecting every story that sparked sappy moments and loud “God forbid” reactions. You, our readers, were there through it all, too.
Based on the numbers, here are the 10 Love Life stories you couldn’t get enough of this year.
This Love Life couple took post-breakup attachment to impressive extremes that left our readers equal parts fascinated and concerned. Even as they tried to dress it up as a rare sexual connection that keeps pulling them back to each other, the internet wasn’t buying it. What most people saw was two exes stuck in a loop of desire they hadn’t learned how to walk away from yet. Readers also largely agreed that if they continue like this, one of them will end up getting hurt. Because really, sexual soulmates?
In a consistently disappointing dating world where situationships and talking stages stretch on for months, Korede and Susan’s story felt like a breath of fresh air. From their first physical encounter in 2021, they knew they wanted to be in each other’s lives, and three years later, they walked down the aisle. What many readers couldn’t get past was their decision to keep their relationship halal until they exchanged marital vows.
Not a day goes by without older Nigerian couples being held up as proof of enduring love and what marriage is “supposed” to look like. But this Love Life story challenged that idea. Desola spoke about living in fear of her husband in their early years, and how discipline, as he understood it, extended to both her and their children.
Although the couple reflected on how their marriage has changed over time, many readers couldn’t help but question what endurance really means when fear shapes a home. The story sparked conversations about power, discipline, and whether longevity alone should count as a marker of a successful marriage.
Tyla can hit every high note she wants, but it still wouldn’t make Gozie pay attention to the lyrics of her song, “Chanel.” This man approaches money with laser focus, and not even the woman he loves can shake his grip.
After this Love Life episode dropped, the internet had a lot to say about what generosity should look like in romantic relationships, and when being careful with money crosses the line into a real problem.
Everyone wants to bag a royal princess or prince, but not many people understand what it actually means to marry into a family with strong traditional roots. For Hassan, loving Derin also meant dealing with her family’s customs, surprise visits from elders, and expectations that didn’t stop after the wedding. This Love Life was a fave for many because it shows how quickly culture can become a source of tension in a marriage, especially when one partner feels outnumbered and unsure of where to draw the line.
This love story had all the ingredients of an intensely awkward rom-com that made readers smile and squirm simultaneously. Subomi and Damilola shared a genuinely sweet relationship, but a bedroom accident nearly sent them back to the streets. If anything, their story reminded us that love isn’t only about cute, picture-perfect moments. It’s also about staying present, kind and emotionally attentive when things get uncomfortable and vulnerable.
In a dating culture that treats sex as the glue holding relationships together, Adesuwa and Chris decided to slow things all the way down. They’ve been together for over a year without physical intimacy, choosing instead to focus on companionship and learning how to be with each other without crossing that line.
Their decision to prioritise companionship while openly discussing autosexuality sparked debate, curiosity and strong opinions.
Blood oaths sound like a far-fetched idea best left to unhinged Nollywood scriptwriters, but Tony and Esther said, hold our glasses.
Their Love Life story was definitely one for the books. Readers couldn’t get past Esther’s insistence on period sex as a way to keep her man, while others were more stuck on Tony’s decision to stay in a relationship that had crossed firmly into spiritual territory. By the end of it all, everyone seemed to be asking the same question: Is it ever really that serious?
What’s that popular saying about not letting one cheating episode deprive you of a love well experienced with the love of your life? Exactly. Desmond and Deola had the internet thinking hard about whether walking away always has to be the final option when infidelity enters the picture.
Second chances are rarely neat or easy, and their story forced readers to sit with that discomfort. Was choosing to stay an act of deep love, denial, or sheer emotional bravery? By the end, people were quietly asking themselves what they would do if they were in the same situation.
Joy and Declan’s Love Life story read like one of those “be honest, you saw this coming” situations. From meeting as freshers and becoming inseparable almost immediately, to pretending their bond was strictly platonic while feelings kept spilling over, bad timing did a lot of heavy lifting in keeping them apart. When they finally had a chance to be together, religion entered the mix.
Their story had readers debating whether friendship this intense can ever stay just friendship, and how much compromise love should really demand before it becomes too much.
If you want to share your own Love Life story, fill out this form.
Picture this: What if you had invested ₦1 million in the right Nigerian stocks in 2025?
We tracked the top 10 companies that outperformed the market this year, using the latest data from investing.com as of the time of this writing, with rankings verified by TrustBanc Financial Group.
From under-the-radar plays to household names, here’s how much your money would be worth today if you’d gotten in early.
1. NCR Nigeria PLC (NCR)
NCR Nigeria started the year at ₦7.30 per share and ended 2025 at ₦68.00 per share. This growth means that a ₦1 million stake in January would now be worth roughly ₦9.32 million, resulting in a capital gain of ₦8.32 million.
What it does: NCR provides IT infrastructure and payment solutions to banks and enterprises.
January share price: ₦7.30
December share price: ₦68.00
₦1 million in January = ₦9,315,068 in December
Capital gain: ₦8,315,068
2. Eunisell Interlinked PLC (EUNISELL)
Eunisell Interlinked started 2025 at ₦13.48 and ended at ₦83.00. A ₦1 million January stake would now be worth ₦6.16 million.
What it does: Eunisell supplies speciality chemicals and oilfield services.
January share price: ₦13.48
December share price: ₦83.00
₦1 million in January = ₦6,155,787 in December
Capital gain: ₦5,155,787
3. Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC (MBENEFIT)
Insurance quietly had a moment in 2025, and Mutual Benefits Assurance led the pack. Starting the year at ₦0.61 and closing at ₦3.19, a ₦1 million investment in January would now be worth ₦5.23 million.
What it does: Mutual Benefits Assurance provides life and general insurance products across Nigeria.
January share price: ₦0.61
December share price: ₦3.19
₦1 million in January = ₦5,229,508 in December
Capital gain: ₦4,229,508
4. Beta Glass (BETAGLAS)
Beta Glass quietly dominated industrial stocks this year. From ₦71.50 in January to ₦363.50 in December, a ₦1 million investment would have grown to ₦5.08 million, producing ₦4.08 million in capital gains.
What it does: Beta Glass manufactures glass packaging for beverages, pharmaceuticals, and food.
January share price: ₦71.50
December share price: ₦363.50
₦1 million in January = ₦5,083,916 in December
Capital gain: ₦4,083,916
5. Mecure Industries PLC (MECURE)
From ₦13.90 in January to ₦59.75 in December, Mecure Industries also proved that manufacturing stocks could deliver. A ₦1 million investment would now be worth ₦4.30 million.
What it does: Mecure produces industrial and consumer chemical products.
January share price: ₦13.90
December share price: ₦59.75
₦1 million in January = ₦4,298,561 in December
Capital gain: ₦3,298,561
6. Ellah Lakes PLC (ELLAHLAKES)
Agribusiness also had its year. Ellah Lakes rose from ₦3.08 to ₦13.20, lifting ₦1 million to ₦4.29 million.
What it does: Ellah Lakes specialises in oil palm cultivation and food processing.
What it does: Guinness produces alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
January share price: ₦77.00
December share price: ₦318.60
₦1 million in January = ₦4,136,364 in December
Capital gain: ₦3,136,364
8.Champion Brew PLC (CHAMPION)
Champion Breweries closed 2025 firmly in positive territory. A January share price of ₦3.95 grew to ₦15.50 by December, lifting a ₦1 million January investment to roughly ₦3.92 million.
What it does: Champion Breweries produces and distributes beer and malt drinks.
January share price: ₦3.95
December share price: ₦15.50
₦1 million in January = ₦3,924,051 in December
Capital gain: ₦2,924,051
9. The Initiatives PLC (TIP)
TIP didn’t dominate headlines in 2025, but its performance spoke volumes. Starting the year at ₦3.44 per share and ending it at ₦12.70, the stock’s value more than tripled. A ₦1 million investment in January would now be worth ₦3.69 million.
What it does: TIP operates across oil & gas services, engineering, and infrastructure support.
January share price: ₦3.44
December share price: ₦12.70
₦1 million in January = ₦3,691,860 in December
Capital gain: ₦2,691,860
10. Vitafoam Nigeria (VITAFOAM)
Vitafoam’s growth in 2025 wasn’t as explosive as some of the year’s top performers, but it was steady and consistent, moving from ₦31.95 to ₦91.00 in December. A ₦1 million investment at the start of the year would now be worth approximately ₦2.85 million.
What it does: Vitafoam manufactures mattresses, foam products, and household furnishings.
January share price: ₦31.95
December share price: ₦91.00
₦1 million in January = ₦2,848,200 in December
Capital gain: ₦1,848,200
Bottom Line
In 2025, a mix of sectors delivered solid returns. While telcos, banks, and some household names, such as GTBank, MTN, Nestle and Honeywell, recorded notable gains, the top performers were consumer goods and insurance companies. These sectors combined strong fundamentals, steady domestic demand, and improved market sentiment to deliver the most impactful gains.
Editor’s Note: Past performance does not guarantee future returns. This is not financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.
If the Nigerian government isn’t frustrating Nigerians one way, they’re disappointing them in another. The policies come thick and fast. Before you wrap your head around one, the next is already here and most likely worse than the last.
2025 has seen so many policies that have us suspecting the federal government actually doesn’t like Nigerians. Here are ten of the worst policies Tinubu gifted us this year.
Telecom price hike: Can you help me sub?
You might have forgotten, so we’re here to remind you that Nigerians actually started the year screaming, and it wasn’t for joy. Our New Year’s present from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was allowing telecommunication companies to increase their prices by 50%. This was announced on Monday, January 20, 2025.
The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) basically told the government they were drowning.
They said they desperately needed to hike prices because the cost of doing business in Nigeria had become too high. They also pointed out that their industry was the only one that had not increased prices since 2013.
According to the telcos, it was either that the prices went up, or the whole industry would collapse. They actually asked the NCC for a 100% increase, but the NCC managed to talk them down to 50%.
On August 26, 2025, President Tinubu announced an immediate six-month ban on the exportation of shea nuts from Nigeria.
Nigeria is the largest producer of shea nuts in the world. We produce around 40% of the world’s supply. But we don’t have enough processing plants here, so we export the shea nut and import the more expensive finished product, shea butter.
Tinubu’s concerns were very valid, but as has apparently become customary, his solution was batshit crazy. His immediate ban on exports did not magically lead to Nigeria developing the processing plants. All it did was take away the livelihood of the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, mostly women, who made their living through shea nut harvesting.
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Passport fees hike: If we double the price, will you double your hustle?
On September 1, 2025, Nigerians were greeted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) doubling the cost of the national passport. The cost of the 32-page passport, valid for five years, rose from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000. The 64-page passport, which offers a ten-year validity, was also doubled from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000.
The fact that the cheaper option still costs more than minimum wage shows how this government’s policies keep pricing Nigerians out of basic things. It is now a luxury to have a vital means of identification.
APIS $11.5 International flight security levy: Have you considered a road trip?
If you manage to afford the doubled passport price and somehow get a visa, the government is waiting for you at the airport. On December 1, 2025, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) introduced a new $11.5 Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) levy.
Aviation stakeholders were very vocal in protesting the new tax. Alex Nwuba, President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, described the levy as “another blow” to a sector that was already gasping for air.
While APIS is a standard border security system globally, Nwuba pointed out a major difference: most countries actually absorb the cost themselves instead of passing the bill to the passengers.
According to Nwuba, Nigerian travellers are already being squeezed by a mountain of fees, including:
5% Value Added Tax (VAT)
5% Ticket Sales Charge
Passenger Service Charge (PSC)
Security and fuel surcharges
Airport development levies and navigation fees
So adding the APIS fee makes flying so expensive we may start to see reduced tourism and business travel. Kingsley Nwokeoma, President of the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria, echoed this frustration, pointing out that in many cases, Nigerians are paying more in taxes and fees than the actual airfare itself.
International flights in and out of Nigeria are already one of one of the most expensive in Africa at about $180 per ticket. And this new tax only made it worse.
New tax reforms: Widen the tax net
These come in the form of four new tax bills that will take effect from January 1, 2026. The four bills are the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, the Joint Revenue Board Act, the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA).
Tax reform was one of Tinubu’s top priorities. Only two months after he was sworn in, he set up the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms in August 2023. The committee worked on the bills for a year before presenting them to the National Assembly in October 2024. Tinubu eventually signed the bills into law in June 2025.
The reform is meant to update Nigeria’s tax system to fit our present-day realities. That includes widening the tax net to cover informal industries that were previously difficult to tax. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will be renamed the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and given more powers. The new laws also introduce a progressive tax system, which means the more you earn, the more you pay.
Naturally, Nigerians are very suspicious of the new laws. It is hard to see any tangible developments this government has achieved with the resources it already has. So, it is even harder to trust they will do any better with more taxpayer money.
But Taiwo Oyedele, the chairperson of the tax reform committee, has been on a media tour trying to reassure Nigerians. For example, he claims most Nigerians will not even pay tax because anyone making less than ₦800,000 a year is officially exempt.
Now, the reform bills are more controversial than ever after a member of the National Assembly claimed the version given to the public is actually different from the version the lawmakers read and passed.
Fuel 5% surcharge: Fueling our frustrations
Just when you thought the price of fuel could not get more depressing, the government started thinking about adding a 5 per cent surcharge on every litre.
The surcharge is technically not a new tax. It is included in the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Act of 2007, but it has not been enforced until now. Including it in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act of 2025 is basically the government’s attempt to bring it back to life. They claim it is necessary to raise funds for transport infrastructure and green energy projects.
But Nigerians understandably hate the idea of fuel getting even more expensive and have been very vocal about it. The Joint Action Front (JAF), which represents pro-worker civil society organisations, has vowed to mobilise Nigerians against the surcharge if the government tries to implement it.
Even the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have said they will find it “very difficult to obey” if the tax is enforced. Billy Gillis-Harry, the National President of PETROAN, said that if the law is enforced, it could actually force their members to close down their businesses.
The surcharge won’t automatically start on January 1 like the other four tax bills. It needs an official order from the Minister of Finance to happen. But based on how this government has been moving so far, we are already bracing ourselves for the worst.
Tinted Glass Permits: Something for the boys
If the Nigeria Police Force fought crime as hard as they have fought to bring back tinted glass permits, Nigeria would be a much safer place.
Back in March 2022, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) stopped issuing these permits and told officers to stop asking for them during traffic stops. This was a response to constant complaints from motorists about police harassment and extortion.
But by September 2023, just four months into Tinubu’s presidency, the police suddenly changed their minds and announced the permits were coming back. The NPF claims criminals use tinted windows to hide their activities, but with the government in full money-making mode, it feels more like a revenue drive.
At ₦14,200 per vehicle, the police stand to make billions from the millions of cars on our roads. They also seem very eager to seize cars; when enforcement started in October 2025, they impounded over 200 vehicles in just a few days.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is not having it. They’ve dragged the police to the Federal High Court in Abuja, calling the permit a violation of fundamental rights. Another lawyer, John Aikpokpo-Martins, also sued the police at a Federal High Court in Delta State.
This has led to a confusing “start-stop” drama. In October, after a meeting with the NBA, the Police put their plans to enforce the permits on hold.
But on Monday, December 15, 2025, the NPF suddenly announced that enforcement would resume on January 2, 2026.
Then on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, a High Court in Delta State officially ordered the police to stop the policy across the country until the case is finished.
The back-and-forth between the NBA and the police has been incredibly stressful and confusing for Nigerians. Right now, Nigerians do not know if they should pay for the permits or just wait. Hopefully, we get a final answer in the new year.
Free-on-Board 4% levy: You will like local brands
While the police are busy with tinted permits, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is fighting to bring back a 4 per cent Free-on-Board (FOB) levy on imports. This levy is a 4% tax on the FOB value of goods, which was tucked into the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.
To put it simply, the FOB value includes the cost of the item plus all the transport expenses incurred before it even arrives at a Nigerian port. Stakeholders in the import business have really been pushing back against the levy.
Car dealers claim this levy could as much as triple the cost of clearing a single vehicle with customs. Since these huge extra costs are passed straight to the consumer, it makes imported goods like cars a luxury that only the richest Nigerians can afford.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) even estimates that this levy will add ₦2.84 trillion to total import costs, which basically means higher prices for everything, deeper poverty, and less investment.
The NCS tried to start collecting this tax at the beginning of the year, but paused after serious public backlash. However, in June 2025, the Senate hiked the Customs revenue target from ₦6.584 trillion to a whopping ₦10 trillion. With that much pressure to find money, the Service announced that the levy was coming back.
Manufacturers and importers begged for a delay until at least December 2025 to prepare themselves for the levy. Well, the year is almost over, and it looks like we will definitely be talking about this headache again in 2026.
New Education Curriculum: Teacher, don’t teach me nonsense
In September 2025, the Federal Government announced a newly revised curriculum for basic and senior secondary schools.
For a long time, people had criticised the old curriculum for being stale and out of touch with what students actually need. Because of this, the revision was initially welcome, especially since it brought History back to the classroom.
But this government is so talented at stressing Nigerians that it took a potentially good policy and turned it into a massive headache.
While the curriculum definitely needed an update, it is a delicate process that should not have been rushed. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Ministry of Education did, and the result was total confusion for students, parents, schools, and exam bodies.
In November, everyone was shocked to find out that current Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) students would have to write exams on these new subjects for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in 2026. This is after these students had already spent the last three years of their lives studying a completely different set of subjects under the old system.
Fortunately, the Senate has stepped in to try and stop this disaster. On December 9, 2025, Senator Sunday Karimi moved a motion to summon the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Head of the National Office of WAEC, Amos Dangut, to explain what was going on. Karimi warned that if nothing was done, the country would be looking at a “mass failure.”
Supporting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole said the move looked like the usual habit of Nigerian policymakers rushing to implement ideas without doing the groundwork. He pointed out that we cannot just wake up, think of an idea, and start implementing it immediately. In his words, “We should not plan in a way that will embarrass us as a nation.”
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, asked the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education to meet with the Minister and report back in two weeks.
We are honestly amazed at how the federal government could badly botch a good policy and create so much stress out of something that should have earned them praises.
The 2025 Budget is the biggest ever: Where una dey see this money?
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, the National Assembly approved the 2025 budget.
Initially, a ₦49.7 trillion budget was proposed. But Tinubu said he’d done the maths and based on revenue projections from government agencies, Nigeria could afford a ₦54.99 trillion budget. It is the biggest we’ve ever had and is almost double the 2024 budget of ₦27.5 trillion.
By July, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was already warning Tinubu that he had miscalculated his revenue and needed to revise the budget. Crude oil wasn’t selling at the price the government had planned on, so we couldn’t afford our extremely large budget.
This particular policy might be the worst one because it basically inspired a bunch of taxation policies and fee hikes that have really hurt Nigerians this year and will continue to do so in 2026.
Let the poor breathe
Nigeria is a poor country. That is just the fact. The majority of the population lives in multidimensional poverty. So asking for the poor to breathe is to ask for Nigerians to breathe, and for Nigeria as a country to breathe. Policies that hurt the poor hurt the majority of Nigerians and choke Nigeria as a whole.
When Tinubu spoke those words, “let the poor breathe,” one would have thought he understood this. But 2025 has shown he doesn’t. Policies that dip the government’s hands into the pockets of a poor population and take what little they have are anti-people.
Endless taxes, hiking consumer services, banning the source of people’s livelihoods before creating alternatives, and releasing convicted criminals while insecurity is rampant are anti-Nigerian policies. Will 2026 be any better?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in 2025, it’s that this government really doesn’t like Nigerians.
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The scary and unfortunate reality of life in Nigeria right now is that kidnapping is big business. It’s become a billion-naira industry, and under Tinubu, the business has boomed a great deal. But it’s Nigerians who are paying the price of the seeming normalisation of kidnapping.
Maximising shareholder value
According to security research consultancy SBM Intelligence, the numbers have been tracking upward in a manner that would make any shareholders jump for joy.
Between July 2023 and June 2024: 7,568 people abducted (more than twice the previous year); ₦1.048 billion paid in ransom (kidnapping becomes a billion-naira business).
Between July 2024 and June 2025: 4,722 people abducted; and ₦2.56 billion paid in ransom (that’s a 144% year-on-year growth).
Locking in for the last quarter
There’s a real human cost to the growth of this violent industry, and we’ve really seen it play out in the last quarter of 2025. In the second half of November, we witnessed a devastating week of violence and kidnapping that we will not forget any time soon:
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, 64 people were kidnappedat Fegin Baza village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
On Monday, November 17, 25 school girls were kidnapped from Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Maga community of Kebbi State.
On Friday, November 21, over 300 students and staff of the St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state were kidnapped.
Sadly, the kidnappings have not stopped. In fact, as the year comes to a close, they appear to be ramping up. But in a news cycle that feels like it’s moving at 200 miles per hour, these kidnappings can get lost in the constant noise. So here’s a list (that is by no means comprehensive) of some of the recent incidents you might have missed.
13 Women kidnapped in Mussa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, 13 young women were kidnapped in Mussa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno state. The kidnappers let one of them go after she told them she had a newborn that still needed breastfeeding.
The remaining 12 were released a week later on November 29. According to Abubakar Mazhinyi, the president of the local Askira-Uba council, it was the parents of the victims who went into the bush to speak with the kidnappers and secure their release. But Mazhinyi claims that no ransom was paid because the kidnappers realised the army was in pursuit.
₦300 million ransom demand in Isapa, Kwara state
On Tuesday, November 25, 11 villagers were kidnapped from the Isapa community in Kwara state. The kidnappers demanded ₦300 million as ransom.
They gave the community a deadline of December 10 to pay the ransom and refused the ₦5 million offer the community members offered. There have been no further updates and it’s unknown if the victims are even still alive.
The Red Wedding of Sokoto
On the night of Saturday, November 29, armed attackers abducted 13 women and a child in the village of Chacho in Wurno LGA, Sokoto State. A bride and ten of her bridesmaids were among those abducted.
Two days after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the bride’s family, demanding to speak with the traditional ruler of the community. He refused to speak with them, and the kidnappers have declined to negotiate with anyone else. There have been no further updates since.
Snatching royalty in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara
On November 29, Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was kidnapped. The community has accused security agencies of not doing enough to rescue him, which has left the people feeling afraid and uncertain.
Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Kogi
On Sunday, November 30, a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in central Kogi was attacked. About 20 people were taken by the attackers, including the pastor and his wife. The attackers are demanding ₦200 million.
Attack on ECWA Church in Kogi
During the morning Sunday service on December 14, armed men attacked Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the Ayetoro Kiri area of Kogi state. They took over 30 worshippers away. The kidnappers contacted the community on December 16 to demand a ransom of ₦600 million.
It’s someone’s job to stop this, right?
We have security agencies whose job it is to stop this kidnapping epidemic, and those agencies all answer to one person: the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR). In other words, President Tinubu.
So what has Tinubu and his administration been doing about all of this?
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Officially, there is fire on the mountain
As we’ve already made very clear at this point, things are not looking good. It’s been looking bad for a while. But the widespread coverage of the incidents between November 15 and 22 seemed to help our dear president realise what everyone could already see: there is fire on the mountain.
They say whenever you wake up, is your own morning. Tinubu’s morning apparently came on November 26 when he declared a “nationwide security emergency.” He announced a number of steps to address the situation.
The police are to recruit an additional 20,000 officers.
Police training facilities are to be upgraded, and they can also use National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training depots.
Police officers serving as security for VIPs are to be withdrawn and deployed to security-challenged areas of the country.
The DSS are to recruit more forest guards and deploy those who have already been trained as such.
The Federal Government will support state governments that have set up security outfits at the state level.
The National Assembly is to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that need state police forces to establish them.
Mosques and churches in vulnerable areas can request police protection during gatherings.
Who’s worth protecting?
The withdrawal of police security from VIPs has probably been the most talked-about item on that list of emergency responses.
Members of the National Assembly have complained about the withdrawal of their police orderlies, especially when they can see the directive is being selectively enforced.
On Tuesday, December 9, Senator Abdul Ningi raised a point of order to complain about the withdrawal of his police orderly. He called out the selective enforcement of the directive, claiming he had seen certain groups retain their own police protections while senators were being stripped of theirs.
Ningi said, “It should be done across the board. Let us see what happens from the office of the President to the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, ministers, governors, business concerns, and even the sons and daughters of political office holders.”
Added to Ningi’s comments, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, recently criticised Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, for moving with a security team large enough to “take over a small country.”
Honestly, we see the good intentions behind the directive. But it makes no sense for elected lawmakers to be stripped of protection while the President’s son goes about with a small army.
The karate instructor as Defence Minister
I’ve never been president before, so maybe I just don’t know what I’m talking about. But I think that when you have to declare a nationwide emergency because kidnappers are carrying hundreds of school children away at a go, it’s a sign someone at the Ministry of Defence is slacking.
But I guess Tinubu sees it differently because he didn’t sack the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar. Instead, Abubakar resigned on Monday, December 1, 2025, citing health issues.
Still, it offered an opportunity for Tinubu to bring in fresh blood, fresh eyes and fresh impetus. So what did he do? He appointed the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, retired General Christopher Musa.
It feels too much like Tinubu rewarding another ally with an appointment, just like he’s doing by nominating names like Femi Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, and former INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, for ambassadorial positions.
While he was still Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa advised Nigerians to learn martial arts like karate to protect themselves from bandits and kidnappers; the same ones the security agencies claim have “sophisticated weapons.” Forgive me if I’m struggling to be excited that he’s been appointed Minister of Defence.
When asked how these karate skills would protect against bullets, Musa said Nigerians should “avoid where bullets are flying.” I’m still wondering whether the schoolgirls in Kebbi and Niger should have avoided their school in order not to be kidnapped.
Well, from the actions the government is taking, it appears the answer to that is yes.
The “holiday” no one asked for
Between Wednesday, November 19, 2025 and Saturday, November 22, several states announced full or partial closure of schools or boarding houses:
Kwara State
Plateau State
Katsina State
Taraba State
Yobe State
Niger State
On a federal level, the Ministry of Education has shut down 41 of the 104 federal government colleges. By November 26, when the nationwide emergency was announced, 20,468 schools across seven states had been closed indefinitely.
You have to catch them first
One of Tinubu’s security emergency directives was for the National Assembly to work on laws to establish state police forces. But the Senate has decided that what needs immediate attention is increasing the punishment for kidnapping.
The Senate is working on amending the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism. If the amendment bill gets passed, it will make it possible to sentence offenders to life imprisonment.
This implies our lawmakers think that kidnappers are not afraid enough of the current punishment. But I’ll argue that these kidnappers are not afraid of being caught. They are boldly posting videos on TikTok. That’s not the behaviour of people who think they are about to be arrested anytime soon.
So while the Senate’s amendment is good in theory, does it really achieve anything if the kidnappers are never caught in the first place?
“I will look for you, but I will not find you”
So how’s the hunt for these kidnappers going?
Liam Neeson’s character in the Taken franchise might have had a very particular set of skills, but it seems all the Nigerian government has is a particular set of excuses.
Despite the fact that we have bandits and kidnappers posting like content creators on social media, the federal government claims it cannot track them. The explanations for this failure vary depending on which official you ask.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, says it’s because they use the Starlink satellite network, and that makes it impossible for the Nigerian government to track them.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, says they bounce calls over multiple cell towers using special technology.
Yet somehow, according to presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, security agencies were able to secure the release of the 38 worshippers from Eruku by tracking the kidnappers in real time.
And though they could track this group of kidnappers, the security agencies did not pursue and arrest them after they released the worshippers. Apart from the crime of kidnapping, they killed two people in their attack on the church, yet they are allowed to continue roaming free.
This is Nigeria
We can’t deny that the government is making moves to address the insecurity in Nigeria. It’s just so sad to see the same nepotism, corruption, incompetence and all-around anyhowness that have come to define life in Nigeria show up in each of these moves. One can see them in:
The directive to withdraw police security to fight insecurity is being selectively enforced.
The new defence minister is the old Chief of Army Staff under whom kidnapping became a billion-naira industry. As though that’s not bad enough, his solution is for Nigerians to learn karate and avoid bullets.
We’re passing laws to increase punishments when we can’t even track and arrest the criminals.
We cannot track kidnappers because they use Starlink and bounce their calls, except when the case is high enough in profile, then suddenly we can track them in real-time.
The bottom line
It is hard to decide what’s scarier: the fact that kidnapping has become a billion-naira industry with a growth rate to rival tech unicorns, or that the people paid to stop it think “avoiding bullets” is valid advice.
While the “shareholders” of the abduction industry continue to see record-breaking returns, it’s ordinary Nigerians who pay the dividends in trauma, ransom, and lives. We are watching schools close, churches and homes turn into crime scenes, and roads become no-go zones.
Meanwhile, the government plays musical chairs with security appointments and suggests we karate-chop our way out of a national crisis.
Unless this government fixes up or gets replaced by an actually useful one, the only “booming” business will be the snatching and trading of people.
Before you go, help us understand how you and other young people feel about the 2027 general elections by taking this 10-minute survey.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the epidemic of kidnapping or any of Nigeria’s many problems, share your story with us here.We’d love to hear from you!
Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is often reserved for opening leftover presents, small parties, and family gatherings. After the rush of preparing for Christmas and sending Merry Christmas wishes, finding the right Happy Boxing Day wishes to send to your loved ones can feel daunting. But sharing good wishes with the people who matter to you doesn’t have to be a chore.
To make it easier, we’ve put together a list of over 100 Happy Boxing Day wishes you can send to the people who give the festive season its meaning. From heartfelt notes and funny messages to prayers and social media captions, these Happy Boxing Day wishes will help you spread good energy to everyone in your circle.
Short and Simple Happy Boxing Day Wishes
These short and simple happy Boxing Day wishes are short but heartfelt because you don’t need long messages to say something meaningful to those you love this festive season.
Happy Boxing Day! May today bring you peace, rest, and happy moments of reflection.
Wishing you a calm Boxing Day. I hope you got everything you wanted and more.
Happy Boxing Day! I hope today gives you time to relax and slow your pace ahead of the new year.
Sending warm Boxing Day wishes your way. May happiness stay close to you and yours as we wrap up the year.
Happy Boxing Day to you and your loved ones. May joy continue to abide in your home for the rest of the year and beyond.
Wishing you a peaceful Boxing Day filled with gratitude. May your heart remain light and full of the joy of having people who love and care for you.
Happy Boxing Day! May today be stress-free and full of smiles.
Sending love and positive energy this Boxing Day. Wishing you a beautiful day.
Happy Boxing Day! May calm and comfort follow you everywhere, and I’m wishing you a day full of contentment.
Happy Boxing Day! May everything you do today bring you joy.
Sending you peace of mind this Boxing Day. May your worries get smaller and smaller as we go into the new year.
Happy Boxing Day to you.Wishing you laughter and ease today as we close for the year.
Happy Boxing Day! Wishing you a heart full of joy and holiday cheer.
Sending warm thoughts your way today. Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day to you. May today be filled with gratitude and smiles.
Happy Boxing Day! May the goodness of the season remain with you.
Happy Boxing Day to you and yours! May the joy of yesterday continue to follow you for the rest of the year and beyond.
Wishing you a joyful day full of enjoyment. Happy Boxing Day.
Happy Boxing Day! Sending you blessings and good vibes today. Enjoy your Boxing Day.
Happy Boxing Day to someone I deeply appreciate. May your day be full of laughter and relaxation.
Happy Boxing Day to you and your household. May today bring you well-deserved rest, peace of mind, and moments that remind you how blessed you truly are.
Wishing you a peaceful Boxing Day full of laughter and gratitude. May everything you need come to you with ease. Happy Boxing Day!
These funny Happy Boxing Day wishes are perfect for injecting the post-Christmas atmosphere with joy and laughter. Send them to your friends and loved ones to have their ribs cracking with laughter.
Happy Boxing Day! May your leftovers taste just as good today as they did yesterday, even if your stomach is starting to get rounder than the sun.
Happy Boxing Day! May your fridge be forever full and your work notifications silent for the rest of the year.
Happy Boxing Day! May your workload today only stretch as far as the journey to the kitchen and back.
Happy Boxing Day! Remember, calories don’t exist on public holidays, enjoy all the food you can!
Happy Boxing Day! May your food be endless, and your laughter be loud.
Boxing Day is for eating like no one is watching and napping like a professional. May you master both today.
Happy Boxing Day! May the only thing on your to-do list be deciding which leftover to eat first.
Happy Boxing Day! May the family drama that you escaped yesterday also pass over you today.
Today is officially Christmas Part 2. May your meals taste twice as nice! Happy Boxing Day.
Happy Boxing Day! I hope no one notices the drool you left on the couch after you fell asleep on it yesterday.
Happy Boxing Day! May your stomach forgive you for all the celebrations.
Happy Boxing Day! Remember your age o and spend today mastering sleeping in the afternoon.
Happy Boxing Day! May your fridge never run out of food because I’m coming over with an appetite big enough for a horse.
Today, we celebrate the post-Christmas laziness with pride. Happy Boxing Day.
These happy Boxing Day Wishes for family are perfect to celebrate family warmth and share gratitude for the year passed as you open your Christmas presents. No gift is more precious than family, and these messages will help you highlight that and wish your relatives the best of the year.
Happy Boxing Day to my amazing family! May today bring us closer together in love and laughter, and may every corner of our home be filled with peace and joy.
Wishing us all a Boxing Day full of joy and relaxation. May we share more laughter, memories, and delicious food than ever before.
Happy Boxing Day! I hope today reminds us of how blessed we are to have each other and that our bond continues to grow stronger every year.
Happy Boxing Day. May our family always find comfort in each other’s company, and may our hearts be full of gratitude for every moment we share.
Happy Boxing Day to the people who make life brighter! May love, peace, and laughter fill every room in our home.
Wishing our family plenty of joy this Boxing Day. May today remind us how much we mean to each other.
Happy Boxing Day! May our home be filled with warmth, our hearts with joy, and our conversations with laughter that lingers long after the holiday ends.
Happy Boxing Day to my family. May we continue to grow in love, patience, and understanding through every season.
Wishing our family a restful and reflective Boxing Day. May the joy we feel today spill over into the new year.
Happy Boxing Day! I am grateful for every one of you and the love we share that makes every celebration memorable.
Happy Boxing Day to the people who make my world brighter! May today remind us that family is the greatest gift we could ever have.
Wishing us laughter, rest and love, this Boxing Day. May all the little moments we shared during this holiday bring us closer together.
Sending warm wishes to everyone today. May blessings find our home, and may every moment from now till the new year be filled with joy.
Happy Boxing Day to my forever people! May our bond stay unshakable and our homes continue to be filled with joy.
May our family experience peace, love, and gratitude today. Happy Boxing Day, and may happiness stay longer than just today.
Happy Boxing Day! May today be a reminder of how much we care for each other and how lucky we are to share life together.
Happy Boxing Day, everyone. May our hearts remain full of love and our days full of wonder as we approach the new year.
May peace reign in our home today and always. Happy Boxing Day, and may we cherish the blessings we share.
Happy Boxing Day to the people I hold dear! May today remind us that family is our greatest treasure and may we learn to cherish it even more in the new year.
Happy Boxing Day! May the blessings of love, joy, and togetherness overflow in our home today and beyond.
Sending warm wishes to my incredible family. May we always find happiness in each other’s company, especially on this Boxing Day.
Friends make the season brighter, and Boxing Day is perfect for reminding them how much they mean to you. These Happy Boxing Day wishes for friends combine warmth, appreciation, and a touch of fun to celebrate your day ones.
Happy Boxing Day, my dear friend! May today bring you peace, laughter, and the kind of happiness that lingers long after the celebrations are over.
Wishing you a Boxing Day filled with joy and calm. May we continue to create memories together that we will cherish for years to come.
Happy Boxing Day! I hope today reminds you how much you are loved and appreciated, not just by me, but by everyone who knows your heart.
May your Boxing Day be full of soft moments, quiet smiles, and laughter that echoes in your heart. Thank you for being such an amazing friend.
Happy Boxing Day to someone who makes life brighter! May your day be as joyful and lighthearted as the laughter we share whenever we meet.
Wishing you a peaceful and happy Boxing Day. May all the stress of the season fade away, leaving only warmth and good vibes behind.
Happy Boxing Day! May today be a reminder of how much I treasure your friendship and how grateful I am for every shared moment.
Sending you love and positive energy this Boxing Day. May your heart be filled with contentment and your day be full of little joys.
Happy Boxing Day, my favourite person! May today reward you with laughter, comfort, and everything that makes you feel truly valued.
Wishing you a Boxing Day full of happiness and gratitude. May the bond we share continue to grow stronger with each passing year.
Happy Boxing Day! May your home be filled with warmth, your heart with joy, and your mind with peace today and always.
Sending you thoughtful Boxing Day wishes. May every moment of today remind you of how much you are loved and appreciated.
Happy Boxing Day, my friend! May today bring calm after the excitement, and may your soul feel refreshed and light.
Wishing you laughter, good food, and happy memories this Boxing Day. May everything you touch today turn into something beautiful.
Happy Boxing Day! I hope today gives you a chance to relax, reflect, and simply enjoy the little blessings that surround you.
May your Boxing Day be soft, peaceful, and filled with love. Thank you for always being a source of happiness in my life.
Happy Boxing Day! May your day be bright, your heart be light, and your worries feel distant as you enjoy every moment.
Wishing you joy, calm, and comfort this Boxing Day. May our friendship continue to bring laughter and support in the year ahead.
Happy Boxing Day, my cherished friend! May today remind you how important you are to me and how blessed I feel to have you in my life.
Sending you Boxing Day wishes full of warmth and happiness. May today be gentle with you and your heart feel at ease.
Happy Boxing Day! May every small moment of today bring a smile to your face and a glow to your heart.
Wishing you a Boxing Day full of love, laughter, and beautiful memories. May we continue to make each other happy for years to come.
Happy Boxing Day, my friend! May today bring unexpected joy, peaceful moments, and the kind of happiness that lasts.
Sending you warm Boxing Day vibes. May your heart feel light, your mind feel calm, and your spirit feel renewed.
Happy Boxing Day! May the laughter we share today echo in your heart and bring you comfort for days to come.
Wishing you rest, joy, and delightful surprises this Boxing Day. May today remind you how special you are to everyone around you.
Happy Boxing Day! May the small blessings today multiply and leave you feeling thankful and happy.
Sending you love and warmth this Boxing Day. May your heart feel full and your day feel like a gentle celebration of life.
Happy Boxing Day, friend! May peace, laughter, and contentment be your companions throughout the day.
Wishing you a Boxing Day that feels calm, joyful, and endlessly memorable. May our friendship continue to grow stronger every year.
These romantic Happy Boxing Day wishes for your love will remind your partner how important they are to you and how much you love them. Celebrate the season by wishing them the best of the closing year and that to come.
Happy Boxing Day, my love! May today bring us closer together, fill our hearts with joy, and remind us of the beautiful moments we’ve shared this year.
Wishing you a Boxing Day full of love and peace. May every laugh and smile we share today make our bond even stronger. Happy Boxing Day, my darling!
Happy Boxing Day! I hope today gives us time to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and create more memories that we will cherish forever.
My love, may your Boxing Day be as bright and beautiful as your smile. I am thankful for every moment we spend together and every holiday we get to celebrate together.
Happy Boxing Day to the one who holds my heart! May today remind us of how much we mean to each other and how grateful we are for the love we nurture.
Wishing us peace, and laughter as we celebrate this Boxing Day together. May our love continue to grow deeper with every passing day.
Sending you warm wishes this Boxing Day, baby. May our hearts feel full, our spirits feel light, and our love feel endless.
Happy Boxing Day to the love of my life! May today be gentle with us and be filled with moments that leave us smiling long after the day ends.
Happy Boxing Day, babe. Wishing us laughter, comfort, and happiness today. May our love shine brighter than ever and remind us why we choose each other every day.
Happy Boxing Day! I am grateful for your love, your kindness, and the way you make life feel lighter and brighter. Wishing is many more Boxing Days together.
Happy Boxing Day, my heart! As we enjoy today together, I pray for many more holidays with you.
Happy Boxing Day! May today remind us that our love is our greatest gift and that our bond is unbreakable. May the new year bring even more opportunities for us to create lasting memories together.
Happy Boxing Day, darling. May every moment we’ve shared during this holiday deepen our affection and teach us to be more feeling thankful for each other.
Happy Boxing Day, baby. May our love continue to grow and shine through every season.
Happy Boxing Day! May today bring us closer and leave us feeling happier than we ever imagined.
To my love, may this Boxing Day be joyful and filled with the kind of happiness only we can share together. I hope you loved your presents.
Happy Boxing Day! May today remind us of our commitment and the joy of being together.
Happy Boxing Day, my love! May today be as warm and comforting as your presence in my life.
Sending warm Boxing Day wishes to the one I cherish most. These days together have been the highlight of my year and I pray we have many more days to share together next year.
Happy Boxing Day! May our love be the centre of our celebrations and may joy continue to fill our hearts as we spend our days together.
These Happy Boxing Day prayers are perfect for giving thanks for a successful year and praying for blessings for yourselves and your loved ones. These heartfelt prayers carry the essence of the season and are perfect for sharing with friends and relatives.
May God bless you abundantly this Boxing Day and fill your heart with peace that lasts far beyond today. I pray that joy, good health, and comfort locate you wherever you are.
Happy Boxing Day! May your home be a place of rest and happiness, and may every challenge of the past year turn into a lesson that strengthens your spirit and prepares you for the next level of your success.
I pray that this Boxing Day brings calm to your family and clarity to your mind. May you experience the gentle presence of God and His goodness in every moment.
May blessings, peace, and happiness follow you throughout this Boxing Day and into the new year. I pray that your home is filled with peace and joy this season.
Happy Boxing Day! May God renew your strength, and surround you with people who bring joy and comfort into your life.
Happy Boxing Day. May today be a reminder of God’s mercy and the generosity of His blessings. I pray that peace, love, and joy fill your home today and always.
Happy Boxing Day! May every worry you carry be lifted, and may your heart feel safe in God’s care.
I pray that this Boxing Day opens doors of opportunities for you and fills your life with abundance and happiness. May you continue to feel loved and cherished as we head into the new year.
May your family experience love, laughter, and peace this Boxing Day. I pray that your home remains a sanctuary of warmth and comfort.
Happy Boxing Day! May God’s grace shine on you today, and may His protection keep you safe in every step you take.
May blessings come to your door this Boxing Day and surprise you with joy. I pray that your soul feels peace that lingers long after the day ends.
Happy Boxing Day! May you be surrounded by love and positive energy, and may God guide your steps in the year ahead. Happy Boxing Day!
I pray for patience, understanding, and happiness in your life today. May Boxing Day come with blessings that will fill your heart and your home. Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day! May the goodness of the season reach every part of your life and leave you feeling thankful to God for His grace. Wishing you an amazing Boxing Day.
I pray for peace, joy, and prosperity for you and your loved ones today. May this Boxing Day open a season of blessings and ease for your home.
May your spirit feel light, and your heart feel full this Boxing Day. I pray that every moment brings you peace and satisfaction.
Happy Boxing Day! May God’s love surround you, and may your home be filled with laughter, warmth, and gratitude today.
I pray for peace and joy as you enter this year’s Boxing Day. May your soul be renewed and your heart find peace always.
May the blessings of comfort and love follow you today and always. I pray that today fills your life with happiness that endures into the new year.
Happy Boxing Day! May every worry you have be miraculously resolved by God’s grace. May your spirit be filled with renewed strength to take on any challenge.
I pray for harmony, laughter, and love in your home this Boxing Day. May peace be your constant companion and joy always within arm’s reach.
Happy Boxing Day! May the light of God guide your path today, and may His blessings multiply in your life abundantly.
I pray that every joy of today grows into lasting happiness. May this year’s Boxing Day be the last time your spirit is troubled by any problems.
May peace, love, and divine favour locate you this Boxing Day. I pray that your heart remains open to blessings and your spirit feels renewed. Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day! May today be filled with joy and may you feel refreshed for the year ahead and the opportunities that await you.
I pray for peace, love and happiness to fill your home today. May today bring satisfaction and hope that carries you into the new year and beyond.
Share good vibes online this festive period with these happy Boxing Day captions. They’re the perfect way to wish your followers and online communities the best of the holiday.
Still riding the Christmas wave, but today is all about rest and relaxation with family. Happy Boxing Day to everyone celebrating!
Currently enjoying the calm after the Christmas festivities. May your Boxing Day be filled with peace, laughter, and plenty of good food.
Full stomachs, fave movie rewatches and leftovers in the fridge. That’s the perfect Boxing Day formula! Enjoy your day, all.
Relaxing is my full-time job today. Happy Boxing Day to everyone taking it easy after Christmas.
Today is all about gratitude and opening presents. I hope you all get what your heart desires. Happy Boxing Day, friends!
Boxing Day feels best when you’re surrounded by warmth, good food, and family. Take it easy and smile today. Have a good one!
Happy Boxing Day! May your day feel light, and your heart feel full.
Taking a pause to enjoy the calm and appreciate every blessing. That’s my Boxing Day, and I’m wishing you the same quiet joy today.
Don’t let the vibe die, the party continues on Boxing Day! There’s always room for joy and gratitude on this wonderful day.
Boxing Day is for reflecting, and taking note of the small blessings. May your day be warm, and full of love.
Happy Boxing Day, everyone! Wishing you the best of the season and a wonderful new year!
Happy boxing day internet people, don’t forget to share the love with those around you. I hope you get everything your heart desires in the new year.
Ofure*, 40, remembers exactly how long it took to trigger a financial crisis: 10 minutes.
It was December 2024. As a single mother of three, she was staring down the barrel of a bleak festive season. Her petty trading business was capital-starved, and the cost of living in Nigeria was soaring. When a loan app notification popped up on her phone offering instant funds, it felt like a lifeline.
“I needed ₦400,000 to restock for the December surge,” she says, her voice quiet. “I was convinced I’d make enough profit to repay it comfortably. The money hit my account before I could even second-guess it.”
Ofure hadn’t gone to a commercial bank because they require paperwork, collateral, and the luxury of time, none of which she had. The app requested only her Biometric Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Number (NIN), and access to her contacts.
When the festive sales failed to materialise, the business collapsed. Ofure managed to meet only the first month’s repayment before hitting a financial wall. Over the remainder of the six-month window, aggressive compound interest and default penalties caused the original ₦400,000 principal to grow into an ₦800,000 burden.
In a desperate attempt to stay afloat, she began borrowing from new loan apps to service the old debt. But without any income to break the cycle, this game of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul only dug the hole deeper.
Her inability to keep up with the compounding interest caused her total debt exposure to balloon to ₦1.5 million over the course of a year. Today, despite struggling to make payments, nearly half of that sum remains unpaid.
Ofure is one of millions of Nigerians caught in the gravitational pull of digital lending. It is a sector that promises financial inclusion but often delivers a modern form of indentured servitude, enforced by algorithms, public shaming, and relentless psychological warfare.
The Algorithm of Harassment
The mechanics of Nigeria’s digital lending boom are built on speed, with apps designed to trap borrowers. In a country where inflation hovers near 20 per cent and traditional credit is non-existent for low-income workers, fintech apps have filled the vacuum. But the ease of entry often obscures the brutality of the exit.
“It was one of the worst decisions of my life,” Ofure admits. “Now, it feels like I’m working solely to repay the loan. The interest keeps piling up every time I miss a payment window.”
When borrowers default, the “fintech” gloss wears off, revealing a crude engine of intimidation. Ofure’s phone rings relentlessly. When she misses a payment, the threats begin. But the true weaponisation of digital lending lies in the data users unknowingly surrender.
Jalaal*, 26, an unemployed university graduate who turned to loan apps to survive, describes the moment his privacy was shattered.
“I woke up to see they had sent a broadcast message to every single person on my WhatsApp,” Jalaal says. “Friends, old classmates, neighbours, even distant family. The message painted me as a chronic debtor and a fraud. For someone who tries to carry himself with dignity, the shame was unbearable.”
This strategy of digitised public shaming is not an accident; it is an industrialised process.
Nneka* knows this better than anyone. She worked inside the machine, first as a telemarketer and later in the “Collections and Recovery” department of a major digital lender.
“We were given 50 to 70 contacts of delinquents every day,” Nneka explains. The pressure inside the call centres is as intense as it is on the borrowers. Agents have daily recovery targets ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦240,000.
“If you don’t meet your target, they sack you fast. No grace,” she says.
While company policy often officially forbids threats, the targets make them inevitable. “Most times, Nigerian borrowers become stubborn and tell you to do your worst,” Nneka notes. “That results in the insults. When I threaten to post a borrower’s picture to their friends, sometimes they start begging. It’s a pressure cooker.”
“The borrower was often treated like a slave to the lender,” admits Odanje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC. “We had situations where an app would pop up, entice you, and the next moment, you are defamed and harassed. The DEON regulation is a blueprint to stop that.”
The new rules, on paper, appear stringent. They require:
Mandatory Registration: Every digital lender must register, revealing the humans behind the corporate veil.
Suitability Assessments: Lenders are legally required to verify that a borrower can afford to repay, thereby ending the practice of lending to desperate individuals without proper consideration.
Data Sanctity: A strict ban on accessing contacts, photos, or using shaming tactics.
“In the past, operators never bothered to check if consumers could pay back,” Ijagwu notes. “Now, not doing so is an offence. We can hold individual operators and corporate organisations responsible. The penalties are severe, with up to ₦100 million or a suspension of operations.”
The Gap Between Law and Reality
However, three months into this new regulatory regime, the gap between the law and the people remains wide.
Raheemah Olawuyi, a Data Protection and Privacy Expert, argues that the violation is by design: “The apps are built to strip-mine a user’s phone, seizing access to private data purely to gain leverage over the borrower. A bank doesn’t ask for your entire contact list,” Olawuyi says. “The fact that these apps do is already a violation of the principle of ‘Data Minimisation’ under the Nigeria Data Protection Act. They collect information for ‘guarantors’ but use it for intimidation.”
While the DEON regulations and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) provide a pathway for recourse, access to justice is unequally distributed.
“The NDPC has made complaint channels available and translated the Act into Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba,” Olawuyi acknowledges. “But does the average woman on the street, the primary target of these loans, know that? When a loan agent calls to threaten, does she know that it is a reportable offence, or does she just feel shame?”
“Most consumers try to keep things quiet,” Bantale says. “They are reluctant to seek help because they feel they are in the wrong for owing money. This silence allows for exploitation. Although the law requires lenders to assess repayment capacity, many lenders bypass this requirement. And truthfully, borrowers sometimes provide wrong information just to get the cash.”
Feeding the Addiction
The country’s high cost of living does not solely drive the crisis. The frictionless nature of digital loans has also weaponised addiction.
“In 2024, I borrowed up to ₦1 million from 20 different loan apps to fuel my addiction,” Ayodeji says. “I borrowed as much as I wanted, and didn’t pay all of them back.”
For Ayodeji, the shaming tactics lost their power through sheer volume. “They always called and texted, threatening to post my obituary. I just repaid the ones I felt like paying and deleted the apps. Their threats didn’t scare me at all.”
If a borrower can cycle through 20 different apps, leveraging one to pay another or to fund a betting spree, it proves that the systems central to a healthy financial market are evidently failing to flag high-risk behaviour in real-time.
A Long Road to Recovery
The DEON 2025 regulations have undoubtedly raised the barrier to entry for digital lenders. The days of faceless Asian-operated shell companies are numbered, as the FCCPC now demands to know exactly who is pulling the strings.
But for Ofure, these high-level policy shifts feel abstract. She is still receiving threatening calls today, months after the regulations took effect.
“I’m not even aware of any new digital lending rules,” she says wearily. “The pressure and harassment haven’t changed. When I make a late payment, I still get pressured.”
To keep the agents at bay, Ofure added her teenage son’s number as her secondary contact—a decision she regrets deeply. “They called and sent vile messages to him. I loathed myself for dragging him into this. It was devastating.”
The tragedy of the digital lending trap is that it works until it doesn’t. It provides liquidity at the speed of light, but extracts value at the speed of compound interest.
“No one envisages such things happening,” Ofure says, “Before you collect that kind of money, you have hope that you’ll pay back. You have hope.”
For now, that hope is the only currency she has left.
“I’m not worrying myself anymore,” she concludes, a note of resignation in her voice. “Whenever I get money, I’ll pay. If I don’t have it, there’s nothing I can do. As long as I’m still alive, there’s hope.”
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: The DEON 2025 Borrower’s Guide
The Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON) 2025 have rewritten the rules of engagement. If you are taking a digital loan, these are your non-negotiable rights:
1. The Right to Privacy: This strictly prohibits lenders from accessing your contact list, photo gallery, or social media accounts. They cannot contact your friends, family, or employer to shame you into repayment. If an agent messages your contacts, they are breaking the law.
2. The Right to Full Disclosure: No more hidden fees. Before you click “Accept,” the lender must display a Key Facts Statement that shows the full cost of the loan, including the interest rate, total repayment amount, late fees, and the tenor, in plain English.
3. The Right to a Suitability Assessment: Lenders can no longer throw money at you if you cannot afford it. They are legally required to assess your ability to repay the loan before granting it. If they give you a loan without checking your income or creditworthiness, they are liable for reckless lending.
4. The Right to Fair Recovery: Harassment is illegal. Lenders must conduct debt collection ethically and within reasonable hours (8 AM – 8 PM). Threats of arrest, physical harm, or the creation of “wanted” posters are criminal offences under the new framework.
5. The Right to Redress: If a lender violates these rules, you have the right to report them directly to the FCCPC. The regulator now has the power to suspend the lender’s license and impose fines of up to ₦100 million.
Finding perfect Happy New Year wishes to send to the people in your life shouldn’t feel like a chore. Whether you’re texting your best friend, posting on your WhatsApp status, sending a formal message to your boss, or writing something deeply romantic to your partner, the right words can set the tone for their entire year.
Like with did with our Merry Christmas wishes list, we’ve done the heavy lifting of crafting over 250 Happy New Year wishes across every category and relationship that’ll help you express exactly what you feel this festive season.
Short and Sweet Happy New Year Wishes
Sometimes, the most powerful New Year messages don’t need paragraphs to touch someone’s heart. These short and sweet Happy New Year wishes are brief but perfect for when you want to say something meaningful without overwhelming the moment.
Happy New Year, my dear! I’m wishing you a year where every door you knock on opens and every dream you chase comes true. You deserve all the good things coming your way.
As we step into this new year, I just want you to know how much you mean to me. May this year bring you peace, joy, and countless reasons to smile. Here’s to your best year yet!
Happy New Year! I’m praying this is the year everything finally clicks for you, the year your hard work pays off and your patience is rewarded. Keep believing, it’s coming.
Wishing you a blessed new year filled with good health, genuine happiness, and beautiful surprises. Thank you for being such a light in my life. May God continue to favour you.
Happy New Year, love! May this year be kinder to you than the last, may your blessings multiply, and may you experience breakthrough in every area you’ve been waiting on. You’ve got this.
As this new year begins, I’m grateful you’re part of my life. Wishing you 365 days of growth, grace, and moments that remind you how special you are. Cheers to new beginnings!
Happy New Year! I hope this year brings you closer to everything your heart desires and further from anything that steals your peace. May you walk in favour all year long.
Wishing you a year where your faith is stronger than your fears and your dreams feel more real than your doubts. You’re going to do amazing things this year, I just know it.
Happy New Year, my friend! May this year surprise you with blessings you didn’t plan for, opportunities you didn’t expect, and joy you didn’t think possible. You deserve it all.
As we enter 2026, I’m praying for your health, your happiness, your success, and your peace of mind. May this be your year of uncommon favour and answered prayers.
Happy New Year! Thank you for being you, for showing up, for staying strong. This year, may life finally give you back all the good you’ve been putting into the world.
Wishing you a year where every sacrifice you’ve made starts making sense, where every struggle turns into strength, and where you finally see the fruit of your labour. Keep going, your time is coming.
Happy New Year, darling! May this year treat you with kindness, bless you with abundance, and remind you daily that you’re loved, valued, and appreciated more than you know.
As this new year unfolds, I’m praying that God’s protection covers you, His provision meets your needs, and His presence brings you peace. May you lack nothing this year.
Happy New Year! I hope this is the year you stop doubting yourself and start seeing what everyone else sees: someone brilliant, capable, and destined for greatness. Believe in yourself like I believe in you.
Wishing you a year filled with laughter that heals, love that’s genuine, and success that’s undeniable. May your journey be smooth and your blessings be plenty. You’ve earned this.
Happy New Year, sweetheart! May this year bring you everything you’ve been praying for and some things you didn’t even know to ask for. Trust the process, your breakthrough is near.
As we step into this new year, I want you to know I’m rooting for you. May your plans work out beautifully, your dreams manifest quickly, and your heart stay hopeful always.
Happy New Year! I’m praying this is the year where closed doors finally make sense, where delays turn into divine timing, and where you realise everything was working out for your good all along.
Wishing you a blessed new year, my dear. May God’s favour go before you, His angels surround you, and His peace guard your heart. Here’s to a year of supernatural breakthroughs.
Happy New Year! May this year bless you with people who genuinely care, opportunities that align with your purpose, and experiences that make you grateful to be alive. You deserve the best.
As this new year begins, I’m grateful our paths crossed. Wishing you a year of growth, healing, and becoming even more of the incredible person you already are. Keep shining!
Happy New Year, my love! I hope this year is everything you’ve been working toward, the year where preparation meets opportunity and faith meets fulfillment. It’s your season.
Wishing you a year where your mental health is prioritised, your boundaries are respected, and your peace is protected. May you finally learn to choose yourself without feeling guilty.
Happy New Year! May this be the year you receive everything you’ve been giving to others: the love, the support, the grace, the understanding. It’s time for reciprocity.
As we enter 2026, I’m praying for your elevation. May you rise above every limitation, break through every ceiling, and step into the fullness of everything God has prepared for you.
Happy New Year, dear! I hope this year brings you clarity in confusion, strength in weakness, and hope when things feel hopeless. Remember, you’re not walking this journey alone.
Wishing you a year where you trust yourself more, compare yourself less, and realise that your timeline is perfect even when it doesn’t match anyone else’s. Your time will come.
Happy New Year! May this year remind you how resilient you are, how far you’ve come, and how much you’re capable of. You’ve survived 100% of your worst days; that’s powerful.
As this new year unfolds, may you be surrounded by love that’s real, blessed with divine opportunities, and filled with joy that’s unshakeable. Here’s to your year of abundance!
These funny Happy New Year wishes are for the people who make you laugh until your stomach hurts, who get your weird sense of humour, and who know that sometimes the best way to say “I love you” is through a perfectly timed roast.
Happy New Year! This is officially the year we stop saying “next year I’ll finally…” and actually do the thing. I’m giving us until January 15th before we’re back to our regularly scheduled procrastination. But hey, those two weeks of motivation will be legendary.
Here’s to another 365 days of saying “we should really catch up soon” and then proceeding to not catch up for another six months because life is chaos and we’re both exhausted. But when we finally do meet, it’ll be like no time passed at all.
Happy New Year. Honestly, looking back at everything that happened this year, I’m just impressed we’re both still standing. Thanks for being my anchor when things got weird.
I’m skipping the big, life-changing resolutions this year. My only real goal is to keep hanging out with you and making sense of the chaos as we go. That feels like enough.
Here’s to another year of late-night talks, venting about things we can’t control, and laughing at things we probably shouldn’t. I wouldn’t trade our dynamic for anything.
We survived another one. I don’t know how we do it, but I’m really glad we do it together. Let’s see what happens next.
Happy New Year. I love that I never have to perform or pretend when I’m with you. Thanks for being the one place where I can just be myself, flaws and all.
I hope this year brings us more quiet moments and stupid inside jokes. Those are usually the only things that get me through the hard weeks anyway.
Life is messy, but doing it with you makes it feel like an adventure instead of a chore. Thanks for making the ride a lot more fun.
The world feels pretty heavy sometimes, but you have this specific way of making everything feel lighter just by being there. I’m really grateful for that.
Happy New Year. Thanks for being the one constant thing in my life I never have to question. That means more to me than I usually say.
I was trying to think of a profound wish for you, but honestly, I just hope we get to spend more time doing absolutely nothing together. That’s when I like us best.
May this be the year you finally respond to messages within the same week you receive them, stop leaving people on read by accident, and remember why you walked into a room before you get there. If you accomplish even one of these, I’ll be genuinely impressed.
Hey bestie. Here’s to 365 new days of acting like we have our lives together when we’re really just winging it and hoping nobody notices. May our confidence continue to fool everyone, including ourselves. We’ve perfected this performance art.
Happy New Year, my G! Wishing you a year where your exes stay exactly where they belong (blocked and forgotten), your haters stay pressed while you remain blessed.
May this be the year you finally stop overthinking everything, or at least overthink a little less. Who am I kidding? You’ll still overthink this message after I send it. But hey, at least you’re consistent.
Here’s to another year of starting strong in January, maintaining momentum through February, questioning our choices by March, and fully embracing chaos by April. The rest of the year is just us pretending we remember our New Year’s resolutions.
My G! Here’s to another year of adding “lol” to messages that aren’t actually funny, using “haha” when you’re not really laughing, and responding with emojis when you have absolutely nothing to say. Communication is an art form and we’ve mastered it.
Hey bestie. Here’s to another 365 days of our mothers asking when we’re getting married, our aunties asking why we’re still single, and us perfecting the art of changing the subject. New year, same family interrogations.
When it comes to New Year messages for the person who holds your heart, generic messages just won’t cut it. These romantic Happy New Year wishes for your love are crafted to express the depth of what you feel.
Happy New Year to the person who makes every single day feel like a fresh start. Standing here at the beginning of another year with you reminds me that I didn’t just find love, I found home. Here’s to 365 more days of building this beautiful life together, one moment at a time.
As we step into this new year, I want you to know that you’re not just my partner, you’re my safe place, my biggest cheerleader, and the reason I believe in tomorrow. Thank you for loving me on my worst days and celebrating me on my best. Here’s to another year of choosing each other.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, my love. If I could give you one thing this year, it would be the ability to see yourself through my eyes, to see how incredible you are, how much you’re capable of, and how deeply you’re loved. May this year bring you everything you deserve and more.
Happy New Year to the one who turned my “me” into “we” and made it the best decision I ever made. Every year with you teaches me new ways to love, new reasons to be grateful, and new depths of what partnership really means. Here’s to growing old together while staying young at heart.
As midnight strikes and a new year begins, I’m not making wishes on stars; I’m counting my blessings, and you’re at the top of that list. Thank you for being my constant in a changing world, my peace in the chaos, and my forever in a lifetime of moments.
Happy New Year, sweetheart. I don’t know what this year holds, but I know that as long as I’m holding your hand through it, we’ll be okay. Here’s to facing every challenge together, celebrating every victory as a team, and loving each other through it all.
Wishing you a year as beautiful as the life we’re building together. Every day with you feels like a gift I didn’t know I needed, and every year we share feels like a chapter in the greatest love story ever written. Ours. Here’s to many more chapters.
Happy New Year to my favourite person, my best friend, and the love of my life. You make ordinary days extraordinary, hard times bearable, and good times unforgettable. May this year bring us even closer and give us countless more reasons to smile at each other across the room.
As we welcome this new year, I’m reminded that the best decision I ever made was choosing you and continuing to choose you every single day after. Thank you for choosing me too. Here’s to another 365 days of choosing us.
Happy New Year, my love. I hope this year brings you closer to every dream you’ve whispered to yourself in the quiet moments. And I hope you know that whatever you’re chasing, I’m right here beside you, cheering you on and believing in you every step of the way.
Wishing you a year filled with all the things that make your soul happy, but mostly, I’m wishing you a year where you never doubt how loved you are. You are my today and all of my tomorrows. Happy New Year to us.
Happy New Year to the person who taught me that love isn’t about finding someone perfect, it’s about finding someone who makes all your imperfections feel like they belong. Thank you for accepting every part of me. Here’s to another year of being beautifully imperfect together.
As this new year begins, I want you to know that you’re the reason I look forward to tomorrow. Not because tomorrow promises to be easier, but because I get to face it with you. Every sunrise is better when I know you’re in it.
Happy New Year, my darling. May this year bring you success in everything you touch, peace in every decision you make, and the constant reminder that you’re loved beyond measure. And may we continue to build something so strong that even our toughest days can’t shake it.
Wishing you a year where all your dreams start coming true, but also where you realise that some of your best blessings are already here in this life we’ve built, in these moments we share, in this love we’ve created. You are my answered prayer.
Happy New Year to my person. The one who gets my weird, tolerates my moods, celebrates my wins, and holds me through my losses. Thank you for being the kind of partner that people write songs about. Here’s to composing another beautiful year together.
As we enter this new year, I’m not making resolutions; I’m making promises. To love you harder, support you stronger, and appreciate you more deeply. You deserve someone who shows up for you the way you show up for everyone else. I want to be that person.
Happy New Year, love. I hope this year gives you everything you’ve been working toward and some surprises you didn’t even know to hope for. But more than anything, I hope it gives us more time, more memories, and more reasons to look at each other and think “we’re really doing this.”
Wishing you a year of growth, healing, and becoming even more of the incredible person you already are. And through it all, know that I’ll be here, not trying to fix you or change you, but loving you exactly as you are while supporting who you’re becoming.
Happy New Year to the one who makes my heart skip a beat and my soul feel at peace at the same time. You’re the perfect contradiction — my excitement and my calm, my adventure and my home. Here’s to another year of being everything to each other.
As this new year unfolds, I want to experience all of it with you — the highs, the lows, the mundane Tuesdays, and the magical Saturdays. Because it’s not about what we do or where we go, it’s about who we’re with. And I choose you, always.
Happy New Year, my love. Thank you for being patient with my growth, gentle with my fears, and excited about my dreams. Thank you for seeing potential in me even when I couldn’t see it in myself. Here’s to a year of becoming better together.
Wishing you a year where you feel as loved, appreciated, and cherished as you make me feel every single day. You give so much of yourself to everyone around you — this year, I hope the universe pours back into you everything you’ve poured into others.
Happy New Year to the person I want to call first when something good happens, the one I want to hold when something bad happens, and the one I want to laugh with when nothing is happening at all. You’re my everything, and I don’t say that lightly.
As we step into this new year, I’m grateful that out of all the people in the world, I get to do life with you. Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re perfectly mine. Here’s to another year of loving each other through everything.
Happy New Year, sweetheart. May this year bring us more inside jokes that nobody else gets, more comfortable silences that say everything, more spontaneous adventures that become our favourite memories, and more proof that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.
Wishing you a year as wonderful as you’ve made my life. Before you, I didn’t know love could feel this safe. Before you, I didn’t know partnership could feel this easy. Before you, I didn’t know home could be a person. Thank you for being my always.
Happy New Year to my forever person. Every year I fall more in love with you, not because you’re different, but because I discover new layers of who you’ve always been. Here’s to spending another year uncovering all the reasons why you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.
As this new year begins, I want you to know that whatever happens, wherever life takes us, whatever challenges we face, we face them together. You’re not just my partner; you’re my teammate, my co-pilot, and my ride-or-die. Let’s make this our best year yet.
Happy New Year, my love. I don’t need fireworks or champagne to feel like celebrating, I just need you. Because every moment with you is a celebration of what love is supposed to feel like. Here’s to 365 more days of this beautiful thing we’ve built.
Wishing you a year where you achieve everything you’ve been working toward, but also where you take time to rest without feeling guilty. Where you chase your dreams, but also enjoy the present. Where you become who you want to be, while knowing I already love who you are. Happy New Year to the love of my life.
Friends are the family we choose, the ones who know our embarrassing stories and love us anyway. These Happy New Year wishes for friends are for those who feel like home.
Happy New Year to the friend who’s seen me at my absolute worst and somehow still chooses to be seen in public with me. Thank you for never judging my chaos, always matching my energy, and reminding me that I’m not too much, I’m just enough for the right people. Here’s to another year of being ridiculously us.
Wishing you a year as incredible as the friendship you’ve given me. You’re the person I call first with good news, the one I text at 2 a.m. with random thoughts, and the one who understands my silence as clearly as my words. May this year bring you everything your beautiful heart deserves.
Happy New Year, my friend. Thank you for being the kind of person who celebrates my wins like they’re your own, who holds space for my struggles without trying to fix everything, and who reminds me who I am when I forget. Here’s to another year of growing together instead of growing apart.
As we enter this new year, I’m grateful that life gave me a friend like you, someone who gets my humour, tolerates my rants, calls me out when I’m wrong, and hypes me up when I’m right. May this year bring us more memories to laugh about when we’re old and gray.
Happy New Year to the friend who’s been there through every era of my life, the messy parts, the glow-up moments, and everything in between. Thank you for never leaving, even when I gave you plenty of reasons to. Here’s to another year of ride-or-die friendship.
Wishing you a year filled with blessings that match your beautiful spirit. You’re the kind of friend who makes people believe in genuine connection, who restores faith in loyalty, and who proves that real ones still exist. May this year reward you for being so authentically you.
Happy New Year, bestie. I hope this is the year all your plans work out, all your prayers get answered, and all your efforts finally pay off. You’ve been patient, you’ve been faithful, and you’ve been working; now it’s time for harvest season. I’m here to celebrate every single win with you.
As we step into this new year, I want you to know that your friendship has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. You’ve made the good times better and the hard times bearable. Here’s to another 365 days of inside jokes, deep conversations, and being each other’s person.
Happy New Year to the friend who knows all my secrets and still keeps them, who’s seen me cry ugly tears and didn’t take pictures, and who’s witnessed my worst decisions without saying “I told you so” (even though you definitely told me so). Thank you for loving me through everything.
Wishing you a year where life finally gives you back all the kindness you’ve been spreading, where your generosity comes back to you multiplied, and where you realise how many lives you’ve touched just by being yourself. You’re a blessing, and I hope this year reminds you of that daily.
Happy New Year, my friend. May this year bring you less stress and more rest, fewer toxic people and more genuine connections, less doubt about your path and more confirmation that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.
As we welcome this new year, I’m praying that every door you knock on opens, every risk you take works out, and every dream you chase becomes reality. You deserve everything you’ve been hoping for, and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold for you this year.
Happy New Year to the friend who’s practically family at this point. You’ve been at my table for so many meals, heard so many of my family’s stories, and still choose to come back. That’s real friendship. Here’s to another year of being honorary siblings.
Wishing you a year of personal growth, spiritual peace, and financial abundance. May you level up in every area that matters, while staying grounded in the values that make you who you are. And may our friendship continue to be a safe space for both of us to evolve.
Happy New Year, friend. Thank you for being someone I can be completely myself around. That’s rare, and I don’t take it for granted. Here’s to another year of authentic connection.
As this new year begins, I want you to know that watching you grow has been one of my favourite parts of our friendship. You’re not the same person you were last year, and I mean that in the best way possible. Keep evolving, keep learning, keep becoming. I’m proud of you.
Happy New Year to the friend who answers my calls even when you’re busy, who listens to my problems even when you have your own, and who shows up for me even when it’s inconvenient. That kind of friendship is priceless. May this year show you the same loyalty you’ve shown me.
Wishing you a year where you finally stop doubting yourself and start seeing what everyone else sees. Your time is coming, and I have a front-row seat to watch you shine. Let’s make this year unforgettable.
Happy New Year, my dear friend. I hope this year brings you the courage to walk away from what’s draining you, the wisdom to invest in what’s feeding you, and the strength to build the life you actually want, not the one people expect you to have.
As we step into 2025, I’m grateful for a friendship that doesn’t require daily check-ins to stay strong, that picks up where we left off no matter how much time passes, and that feels like home no matter how far apart we are. Distance means nothing when friendship means everything.
Happy New Year to the friend who’s seen my journey from the very beginning. Thank you for sticking around for the unfiltered version. Here’s to more realness this year.
Wishing you a year of breakthroughs in your career, peace in your relationships, joy in your daily life, and growth in your spiritual journey. May you end this year looking back and saying “that was my year”, because it will be.
Happy New Year, friend. I hope this year you surround yourself with people who add to your life the way you add to theirs, who appreciate your energy the way you appreciate theirs, and who show up for you the way you’ve always shown up for everyone else. You deserve that reciprocity.
As we welcome this new year, I’m reminded that true friendship isn’t about being inseparable; it’s about being there for each other even when life pulls you in different directions. Thank you for being that kind of friend. Here’s to staying connected no matter what.
Happy New Year to the friend who’s taught me that real friendship survives disagreements, outgrows differences, and deepens over time. We’re not the same people we were when we met, but somehow our friendship has only gotten better. Here’s to continuing to grow together.
Wishing you a year where your hard work finally translates into visible results, where your patience pays off in ways that amaze you, and where you look around and realise that everything you’ve been building is finally coming together. Your season is here.
Happy New Year, bestie. May this year bring you less comparison to others and more confidence in yourself, fewer people who drain you and more people who energise you, less settling for less and more claiming what you deserve. Level up season starts now.
As we step into this new year, I want to thank you for being the friend who genuinely celebrates my success without envy, who supports my dreams without skepticism, and who believes in me even when I’m struggling to believe in myself. That’s real love, and I hope I give that back to you.
These Happy New Year wishes for family are for the people who’ve known you since day one, who share your blood or your table or both. Whether you’re messaging your parents, siblings, cousins, or chosen family, these words honour those irreplaceable bonds.
Happy New Year to the family that has been my foundation, my shelter, and my constant through every season of life. Thank you for the sacrifices I’ll never fully understand, the love I could never repay, and the home I can always return to. May this year bless each of you the way you’ve blessed me.
Wishing you all a year filled with good health, genuine happiness, and the kind of peace that makes everything else easier to handle. Thank you for being the family that shows up, that sticks together, and that reminds me what unconditional love actually looks like. Here’s to another year of us.
Happy New Year to my family. You’ve seen me at my absolute worst and still set a place for me at the table. That’s the kind of love that changes lives. Thank you.
As we enter this new year, I’m praying for protection over our family, provision for our needs, and God’s presence in our home. May we continue to be each other’s safe place, our children’s strong foundation, and a testimony to what family should be.
Happy New Year to the ones who taught me my first words, held my hand through my first steps, and continue to guide me through life’s biggest decisions. Your wisdom has shaped who I am, and your love has made me who I’m becoming. May this year honour everything you’ve poured into me.
Wishing our family a year of unity, understanding, and unwavering support for each other. May we continue to be the kind of family that celebrates together, prays together, and pushes each other to be better. Here’s to another year of being blessed to call you my people.
Happy New Year, family. I hope this year brings us more moments around the dinner table, more laughter that echoes through the house, and more memories that we’ll talk about for years to come. Distance may separate us sometimes, but love always brings us back together.
As this new year begins, I’m grateful for a family that taught me the value of hard work, the importance of faith, and the power of staying together through storms. May God continue to shield us, guide us, and keep us rooted in what matters most.
Happy New Year to my siblings: my first friends, my biggest rivals, and the people who know exactly how to annoy me and comfort me at the same time. Thank you for making childhood memorable and adulthood bearable. Here’s to another year of being stuck with each other in the best way possible.
Wishing you all a year where our family bonds grow stronger, our individual dreams come closer to reality, and our collective blessings overflow. May we continue to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders and most honest critics. That balance is what makes us unbreakable.
Happy New Year to my parents, who gave up so much so I could have so much more. Your sacrifices didn’t go unnoticed, your prayers didn’t go unanswered, and your love didn’t go unappreciated. May this year reward you with rest, joy, and the fulfilment of seeing your children thrive.
As we step into this new year, I’m praying that our family remains covered by God’s grace, protected from harm, and positioned for elevation. May we walk in favour, operate in unity, and experience breakthrough in every area where we’ve been believing for change.
Happy New Year, family. Thank you for being the kind of people who tell me the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, who correct me with love, and who remind me of who I am when the world tries to tell me differently. Your honesty has kept me grounded, and your love has kept me going.
Wishing our family a year of financial breakthrough, spiritual growth, physical health, and emotional peace. May every member of this family experience upgrade in their personal lives while we remain each other’s constant support system. We rise together or not at all.
Happy New Year to the family that defined what loyalty means, what sacrifice looks like, and what unconditional love feels like. You set the standard for every relationship in my life. May this year bring you the same devotion and care you’ve always given so freely.
As this new year unfolds, may our family table always have room for one more, our home always have space for those who need shelter, and our hearts always have grace for those who are struggling. Let’s continue to be the kind of family that reflects love to everyone we encounter.
Happy New Year to my cousins, who are more like siblings; my aunts and uncles, who are like second parents; and my grandparents, who are the foundation of everything we’ve become. Thank you for expanding my understanding of what family means. Here’s to keeping these bonds strong.
Wishing you all a year where we make more time for family gatherings, where we prioritise being present over being perfect, and where we remember that no achievement in the world matters more than the people sitting at this table. May we never get too busy for each other.
Happy New Year, family. I hope this year we have more honest conversations, more grace for each other’s differences, and more celebration of each other’s victories. Our strength isn’t in always agreeing; it’s in always staying committed to each other despite our disagreements.
As we enter 2026, I’m thankful for a family that prays together, stays together, and faces challenges together. May this year bring us closer in ways we didn’t expect, strengthen us in areas where we’ve been weak, and remind us daily why we’re blessed to have each other.
Happy New Year to the people who shaped my values, influenced my character, and showed me what it means to be part of something bigger than myself. Everything good in me started with you. May this year give you reasons to be as proud of yourselves as I am of you.
Wishing our family a year of restored relationships, healed wounds, and renewed connections. For those we’ve drifted from, may we find our way back. For those we’ve hurt, may we find the courage to make amends. For those who’ve stood by us, may we show greater appreciation.
Happy New Year, family. May we be the generation that breaks negative cycles, builds generational wealth, creates new traditions, and leaves a legacy that our children will be proud to inherit. Let’s make our ancestors proud and give our descendants something to aspire to.
As this new year begins, I’m praying for every member of our family—for those facing battles we don’t talk about, for those carrying burdens we don’t see, and for those putting on brave faces while fighting internal wars. May this year bring healing, hope, and help to those who need it most.
Happy New Year to my family, the people who’ve forgiven my worst mistakes, celebrated my smallest wins, and believed in my biggest dreams. Thank you for being my safe space in a world that can be so harsh. Here’s to another year of being each other’s refuge and strength.
Professional Happy New Year Wishes for Boss or Colleagues
These professional Happy New Year wishes are crafted for workplace connections, whether you’re messaging your supportive boss, your collaborative colleagues, or your entire team.
Happy New Year! I’m grateful to work alongside professionals who inspire excellence and make collaboration genuinely enjoyable. Here’s to another year of shared successes, continued growth, and achieving goals we haven’t even set yet. Looking forward to what we’ll accomplish together.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year filled with career milestones, professional development, and well-deserved recognition. Thank you for the leadership and guidance you’ve provided. May this year bring you continued success and personal fulfilment in all your endeavours.
Happy New Year to a team that turns challenges into opportunities and obstacles into stepping stones. Working with you has made professional growth feel less like a climb and more like a journey worth taking. Here’s to raising the bar even higher this year.
As we enter this new year, I want to express my appreciation for your mentorship and the professional environment you’ve cultivated. Your leadership style has taught me valuable lessons that extend far beyond the workplace. Wishing you a successful and rewarding year ahead.
Happy New Year! May this year bring our team greater achievements, smoother collaborations, and innovative solutions to every challenge we face. Thank you for making the workplace feel less like work and more like a community. Here’s to our continued success.
Wishing you a New Year filled with strategic wins, valuable partnerships, and career advancement that reflects your dedication and expertise. Your professionalism sets a standard worth emulating. May 2026 exceed all your professional and personal expectations.
Happy New Year to colleagues who’ve become more than just coworkers; you’ve become collaborators, motivators, and proof that the right team makes all the difference. Looking forward to another year of learning from your expertise and contributing to our shared vision.
As we step into this new year, I’m thankful for a work environment that values growth, encourages innovation, and recognises effort. Thank you for being the kind of leader who brings out the best in your team. May this year reward your investment in us.
Happy New Year! Here’s to a year of exceeding targets, implementing fresh ideas, and maintaining the positive work culture that makes Monday mornings manageable. Grateful to be part of a team that balances professionalism with genuine human connection.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year marked by professional breakthroughs and personal satisfaction. Your expertise and work ethic have been invaluable to our team’s success. May this year bring you opportunities that match your ambition and talents.
Happy New Year to a boss who leads by example, inspires through action, and supports through challenges. Your guidance has been instrumental in my professional development. Here’s to another year of growth under your leadership and achieving new heights together.
As we welcome 2026, I’m looking forward to another year of productive collaboration, shared learning, and collective achievement. Thank you for being colleagues who make excellence look effortless. May we continue to push each other toward greater success.
Happy New Year! May this year bring our organisation continued growth, our team enhanced synergy, and each of us individual victories worth celebrating. Grateful for the professionalism and positivity you bring to the workplace daily.
Wishing you a New Year where your career trajectory continues its upward momentum, your professional goals materialise ahead of schedule, and your leadership continues to inspire those around you. Thank you for setting such a strong example for the rest of us.
Happy New Year to the team that proves success isn’t just about individual talent, it’s about collaborative spirit, mutual respect, and shared commitment to excellence. Here’s to building on last year’s achievements and creating new benchmarks this year.
As this new year begins, I want to acknowledge your contributions to our team’s success and express my appreciation for your professionalism. May 2026 bring you recognition, advancement, and fulfilment in all your professional pursuits.
Happy New Year! Looking forward to another year of working with people who challenge me to think bigger, perform better, and grow professionally. Your collective expertise makes coming to work feel less like an obligation and more like an opportunity.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year filled with career accomplishments that reflect your hard work, strategic thinking, and dedication to excellence. Thank you for being a leader worth following. May this year validate everything you’ve been building toward.
Happy New Year to colleagues who understand that professionalism and personality aren’t mutually exclusive. Thank you for creating a workplace that feels balanced. It’s serious when needed, lighthearted when possible, and always focused on our shared goals.
As we enter this new year, may our team continue to exemplify what effective collaboration looks like, may our projects reflect our collective talent, and may each of us experience professional growth that translates to personal satisfaction. Here’s to our best year yet.
Happy New Year! I’m grateful for a professional environment where ideas are valued, contributions are recognised, and growth is encouraged. Thank you for being part of a workplace culture that brings out the best in everyone. Looking forward to what we’ll achieve together.
Wishing you a New Year where your professional expertise gets the recognition it deserves, your career path unfolds exactly as you’ve envisioned. Your work-life balance finally finds its sweet spot. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to our team’s success.
Happy New Year to a team that handles pressure with grace, meets deadlines with determination, and celebrates victories with humility. Working alongside you has raised my professional standards. Here’s to maintaining that excellence throughout 2026.
As this new year begins, I would like to thank you for fostering an environment that encourages professional growth, treats mistakes as learning opportunities, and celebrates success collectively. May this year bring even greater achievements for our team.
Happy New Year! May 2026 bring our organisation new opportunities, our team stronger cohesion, and each of us personal wins that make the professional grind worthwhile. Grateful to work with people who make collaboration feel natural rather than forced.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year marked by career milestones, professional validation, and the satisfaction of seeing your hard work produce tangible results. Your dedication to excellence inspires everyone around you. May this year exceed your highest expectations.
Happy New Year to the colleagues who’ve made the office feel less like a workplace and more like a community. Thank you for your support, collaboration, and occasional moments of laughter when deadlines felt overwhelming. Here’s to another year of teamwork and triumph.
As we step into 2026, I’m optimistic about what our team can accomplish with the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit we bring to the table. May this year showcase our best work and reward our collective efforts. Looking forward to the journey ahead.
Happy New Year! Here’s to a year where our professional goals align with organisational growth, where innovation is rewarded, and where each team member’s contribution is valued. Thank you for being colleagues who make excellence the standard, not the exception.
Wishing you a New Year filled with strategic successes, meaningful professional relationships, and career advancement that honours your expertise and commitment. Thank you for your leadership and for creating a work environment where people actually want to show up. May 2026 be your best year yet.
Short Happy New Year Wishes for WhatsApp Status or Captions
Your WhatsApp status and social media captions deserve Happy New Year wishes that capture attention in a scroll, convey genuine feeling without paragraphs, and resonate with everyone who reads them.
New year, new energy, same commitment to becoming the best version of myself. Here’s to growth that actually sticks this time.
365 new days to get it right, make it count, and build something I’m actually proud of. Let’s make this year legendary.
Entering 2026 with gratitude for the lessons, excitement for the possibilities, and faith that my breakthrough is closer than I think.
This year I’m choosing peace over popularity, progress over perfection, and purpose over pressure. Growth season officially activated.
New year reminder: You’re not behind, you’re not running out of time, and you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Trust your journey.
2026 mood: Less explaining myself, more enjoying myself. Less people-pleasing, more peace-keeping. Less settling, more leveling up.
May this year bring you everything you manifested, everyone you prayed for, and everywhere you dreamed of going. Your time is now.
Starting this year with clear boundaries, high standards, and zero tolerance for anything that doesn’t serve my peace. Protection season.
New year, same dreams, but this time with a better strategy, stronger faith, and the wisdom that only experience teaches. Watch what happens.
This is the year I stop waiting for permission, stop second-guessing my decisions, and start trusting that I know what’s best for me.
365 opportunities to choose myself, bet on myself, and remind myself that I’m capable of more than I’ve been settling for. Let’s go.
Entering 2026 grateful for who stayed, unbothered by who left, and excited about who’s coming. New levels require new circles anyway.
This year is about alignment. Aligning my actions with my goals, my circle with my values, and my energy with my peace. Everything else can wait.
May your 2026 be filled with plot twists that work in your favour, blessings you didn’t see coming, and proof that your patience paid off.
New year resolution: Love harder, stress less, save more, worry none. Life’s too short to spend it anxious about things I can’t control.
2026 is the year I trade my excuses for execution, my doubts for determination, and my “someday” for “today.” No more waiting.
This year I’m protecting my peace like it’s my most valuable asset—because it is. Not everyone deserves access to my energy anymore.
Starting 2026 with a grateful heart, a clear mind, and the understanding that everything I need is already within me. Just have to unlock it.
New year affirmation: I am worthy of success, deserving of peace, and capable of achieving everything I set my mind to. No more playing small.
May this year bless you with financial increase, spiritual clarity, mental peace, and physical health. Everything else is just details.
2026 energy: Main character vibes only. This is my story, my timeline, my journey, and I’m done living it on anyone else’s terms.
This year is about subtraction as much as addition; it’s about removing toxic energy, limiting draining relationships, and eliminating habits that don’t serve my growth.
Entering 2026 with the confidence that comes from surviving 2024, the wisdom that comes from learning, and the faith that better is coming.
New year goal: Build a life so fulfilling that I don’t need a vacation from it. Create a reality that feels as good as my dreams looked.
May your 2026 be filled with unexpected wins, divine connections, healing breakthroughs, and confirmations that you’re on the right path. Trust the process.
This is the year I stop performing for people who aren’t even paying attention and start living for myself. Authenticity over approval, always.
365 days to prove to myself what I’m capable of when I actually commit: no more half-efforts, no more excuses, just results.
Entering 2026 with the mentality that my breakthrough isn’t coming, it’s already here. I just need to walk in it with confidence.
New year reminder: Your past doesn’t define your future, your mistakes don’t disqualify your destiny, and your setbacks are setups for comebacks. Keep going.
This year I’m choosing joy over judgment, growth over guilt, and faith over fear. Everything I need is already working itself out; I just need to trust that.
Self-love isn’t selfish, and wishing yourself well isn’t narcissistic. These Happy New Year wishes are for the conversations you have with yourself in the quiet moments, the affirmations you need to hear, and the promises you make to the person who matters most: you.
Happy New Year to me, the person who survived every hard day that almost broke me, who kept going when quitting seemed easier, and who’s still standing despite everything that tried to knock me down. This year, I’m celebrating my resilience.
As I step into this new year, I’m making a promise to myself: to be kinder to my reflection, gentler with my mistakes, and prouder of my progress. I’ve come too far to be my own worst critic still. This year, I become my own biggest fan.
This year, I’m giving myself permission to rest without guilt, to say no without explanation, and to prioritise my peace without apology. I’ve spent enough years putting everyone else first; 2026 is about pouring back into myself.
Happy New Year to the person I see in the mirror, you’ve been through a lot, you’ve grown tremendously, and you’re becoming someone worth being proud of. This year, I’m choosing to see myself the way the people who love me see me: worthy, capable, and enough.
As this new year begins, I’m releasing myself from the prison of perfectionism, the burden of people-pleasing, and the exhaustion of trying to be everything to everyone. This year is about authenticity, not performance. I’m done living for applause.
This year, I’m committing to the hardest relationship work there is, the work I do on myself. Healing my wounds, challenging my limiting beliefs, and becoming the person I’ve always had the potential to be. Growth isn’t comfortable, but it’s necessary.
Happy New Year to me. I’m done waiting for external validation to feel valuable, for perfect conditions to start moving, and for permission to live the life I actually want. This year, I’m trusting myself enough to take the leap even when I’m scared.
As I enter 2026, I’m making peace with my timeline, accepting that my journey doesn’t look like anyone else’s, and trusting that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Comparison is the thief of joy, and I’m done letting it steal mine.
This year, I’m choosing myself in every decision, every relationship, and every situation that requires me to pick a side. I’ve sacrificed my own needs for too long; now I’m learning that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s survival.
Happy New Year to the person who’s been working quietly, growing privately, and healing silently. Your transformation doesn’t need an audience. This year is about becoming, not performing. And I’m proud of the person I’m becoming.
As this new year unfolds, I’m releasing the version of myself that people fell in love with but that I’ve outgrown. Growth means disappointing people who loved who you used to be. This year, I’m okay with that.
This year, I’m giving myself grace for the days I’m not productive, compassion for the moments I’m not strong, and patience for the journey that doesn’t happen overnight. Healing isn’t linear, and neither is growth. I’m allowed to take my time.
Happy New Year to me. I survived every challenge that was supposed to destroy me, learned from every mistake that was supposed to define me, and grew through every season that was supposed to break me. This year is my proof that resilience wins.
As I step into this new year, I’m claiming my space, owning my story, and walking in my purpose without shrinking myself to make others comfortable. My presence is not a problem, it’s a privilege. And this year, I’m acting like it.
This year, I’m done romanticising struggle and glorifying hustle at the expense of my wellbeing. Success without peace isn’t success—it’s exhaustion with a nice title. I’m building a life I don’t need to recover from.
Happy New Year to the person I’m becoming, someone who knows their worth, protects their peace, and isn’t afraid to walk away from what no longer aligns. This year is about alignment, not attachment. And I’m ready to let go.
As this new year begins, I’m setting boundaries that honour my mental health, making choices that protect my peace, and building relationships that add value to my life. I’m done being accessible to everyone at the cost of being available to myself.
This year, I’m redefining success on my own terms, measuring progress by my own standards, and celebrating wins that matter to me, not those that impress others: my journey, my rules, my timeline.
Happy New Year to me. I’m giving myself permission to change my mind, to outgrow old versions of myself, to want different things, and to take paths that don’t make sense to anyone else. This is my life, and I’m done living it for an audience.
As I enter 2026, I’m choosing to invest in myself the way I’ve been investing in others—through my education, my health, my dreams, and my peace. I’ve been everyone else’s safe bet—now I’m betting on myself.
This year, I’m releasing toxic patterns, healing generational trauma, and breaking cycles that were never mine to carry. I’m not just changing my life, I’m changing my lineage. And that starts with the work I do on myself.
Happy New Year to the person who kept going when no one was watching, who stayed faithful when nothing was working, and who believed in possibilities when evidence suggested otherwise. This year is your harvest season. Reap what you’ve sown.
As this new year unfolds, I’m making a commitment to radical self-love, the kind that isn’t conditional on my productivity, my appearance, or my achievements. I’m worthy simply because I exist, and this year I’m living like I believe that.
This year, I’m choosing myself in ways that might disappoint others, setting standards that might seem unreasonable, and building a life that might look unconventional. And I’m finally okay with that because this is my life to live.
Happy New Year to me. I’m entering this year with the wisdom that only experience brings, the strength that only struggle builds, and the clarity that only growth provides. Everything I’ve been through was preparing me for everything I’m about to walk into.
As I step into 2026, I’m releasing the need to have everything figured out, the pressure to be perfect, and the belief that I’m running out of time. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, learning exactly what I need to learn.
This year, I’m protecting my peace like it’s my most valuable possession because it is. Not everyone deserves access to my energy, my space, or my life. Boundaries aren’t mean, they’re necessary.
This year, I’m done apologising for my ambition, downplaying my achievements, and making myself smaller to accommodate others. I’m taking up space, owning my success, and walking confidently in my purpose. And if that intimidates people, that’s their issue to resolve, not mine.
These Happy New Year prayers combine faith with expectation, gratitude with petition, and acknowledgment of where you’ve been with anticipation of where you’re going. Whether you’re deeply religious or simply spiritual, these prayers offer words for when you want to commit the new year to something bigger than yourself.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As we enter this new year, I pray that Allah blesses you with good health, protects your family from harm, grants you success in your endeavours, and makes every step you take a step toward righteousness. May this year bring you closer to Jannah and further from what displeases Allah. Ameen.
Heavenly Father, as we step into this new year, I pray for Your continued guidance and protection over everyone reading this. May Your presence go before us, Your wisdom direct our paths, and Your peace guard our hearts. Let this be a year where we walk closer to You and experience Your goodness in ways we’ve never seen before. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ya Allah, grant us the strength to face our challenges with patience, the wisdom to make decisions that honour You, and the gratitude to recognise Your blessings even in difficult times. May this year be one of spiritual growth, answered prayers, and divine favour. Protect us from evil, guide us to righteousness, and accept our worship. Ameen.
Lord, I’m praying that this new year brings breakthrough in every area where we’ve been experiencing delay. Financial breakthrough for those struggling, emotional healing for those carrying pain, and spiritual renewal for those feeling disconnected. Open doors that no man can shut and make ways where there seems to be no way. Amen.
Alhamdulillah for allowing us to witness another year. May Allah grant us the opportunity to make the most of these 365 days, to worship Him sincerely, to treat others with kindness, to seek knowledge, and to grow in faith. May He protect us from trials we cannot bear and grant us success in both dunya and akhirah. Ameen.
Father God, I pray that this year we experience Your favour in ways that can’t be explained by our own efforts. Position us for opportunities we didn’t even know existed, connect us with people who will add value to our journey, and remove every obstacle standing between us and our destiny. Let this be our year of supernatural elevation. Amen.
Ya Rahman, Ya Raheem, as we begin this new year, I ask that You shower Your mercy upon us, forgive our shortcomings, and accept our repentance. Grant us the ability to forgive those who have wronged us and seek forgiveness from those we have wronged. May this year purify our hearts and strengthen our iman. Ameen.
Lord, I’m asking that You protect our mental health this year. Guard us from anxiety that steals our peace, depression that robs our joy, and overthinking that blocks our progress. Replace our fear with faith, our worry with trust, and our doubt with confidence in Your promises. Let Your perfect love cast out all our fears. Amen.
Bismillah. I pray that Allah blesses our homes with barakah, our families with unity, our hearts with contentment, and our sustenance with halal provisions. May He guide our children on the straight path, bless our parents with long life and good health, and strengthen the bonds between us. Ameen.
Heavenly Father, I pray for physical healing for bodies battling illness, emotional healing for hearts carrying pain, and spiritual healing for souls feeling empty. You are Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and we trust You for complete restoration in every area of our lives. Amen.
Ya Allah, grant us sabr in times of difficulty, shukr in times of ease, and tawakkul in all circumstances. Help us remember that every test is an opportunity to draw closer to You, every blessing is a reason to increase in gratitude, and every moment is a chance to earn Your pleasure. Ameen.
Lord, I pray for divine connections this year. Remove people who are only in our lives to drain us or mislead us. Send people who will challenge us to grow, support us genuinely, and celebrate our success without envy. Connect us with those who are aligned with our purpose and committed to our progress. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Alhamdulillah for the gift of life, the blessing of Islam, and the opportunity to start fresh. May Allah accept our good deeds, forgive our sins, and grant us Jannatul Firdaus. May He protect us from the whispers of Shaytan, guide us when we go astray, and keep us firm on the path of righteousness. Ameen.
Father, I pray that this year we walk in the fullness of our identity as Your children. Remind us daily that we’re chosen, loved, and equipped for everything You’ve called us to do. When insecurity tries to creep in, let Your truth be louder than the lies. Help us see ourselves the way You see us. Amen.
Ya Muqallibal Quloob, Turner of Hearts, I ask that You keep our hearts firm upon Your deen, protect us from hypocrisy, and purify our intentions. Make us among those who worship You in sincerity, who stand for justice, who help the needy, and who spread peace wherever we go. Ameen.
Lord Jesus, I’m praying that this year our faith increases to the point where we stop living by what we see and start walking by what You’ve promised. When circumstances look contrary to Your Word, help us stand firm. When delays test our patience, remind us that Your timing is perfect. Amen.
Subhanallah, all praises belong to Allah. I pray that this year brings us closer to understanding His infinite wisdom, experiencing His boundless mercy, and reflecting His beautiful attributes in our character. May we be a source of good in the world and a light that guides others to His path. Ameen.
Heavenly Father, I pray for every home represented here. Bring peace where there’s been conflict, restoration where there’s been brokenness, and unity where there’s been division. Let our families be testimonies of Your grace and our homes be sanctuaries of Your presence. Amen.
Ya Allah, we ask for Your protection in this new year, protect us from seen and unseen dangers, from accidents and illnesses, from evil plans and harmful intentions. Station Your angels around us, guard our families with Your care, and keep us safe in Your refuge. You are Al-Hafiz, the Protector. Ameen.
Lord, I pray that this year we prioritise our relationship with You above everything else. When life pulls us in different directions, help us remain rooted in prayer, grounded in Your Word, and dependent on Your Spirit. Let intimacy with You be our greatest pursuit and our strongest foundation. Amen.
Allahumma barik lana. O Allah, bless this new year for us. Make it a year of increased sustenance, expanded knowledge, strengthened faith, and abundant mercy. Grant us success in our halal pursuits, acceptance of our worship, and steadfastness upon Your path until we meet You. Ameen.
Father God, I pray that we become people of integrity, character, and honour this year. Help us keep our word even when it’s inconvenient, speak truth even when lies would be easier, and do right even when no one is watching. Let our character be our testimony and our lives be our witness. Amen.
Ya Mujib, the One Who Responds, I call upon You to answer the duas we’ve been making, to fulfill the hopes we’ve been holding, and to grant us what’s best for us even when we don’t know what that is. You know what we need before we ask, grant us from Your infinite bounty. Ameen.
Lord, I pray for contentment with what we have while we work toward what we want. Help us appreciate our current season while we prepare for our next level. Teach us that gratitude and ambition can coexist, that we can be thankful for where we are while believing for where we’re going. Amen.
Alhamdulillah for the breath in our lungs, the food on our tables, the roofs over our heads, and the people in our lives. May Allah increase us in gratitude, generosity, and goodness. May He write this new year as a year of blessings for us and make us among those who are grateful in all circumstances. Ameen.
Heavenly Father, as we begin this new year, I pray for everyone reading this. Whatever they’re believing You for, whatever they’re hoping for, whatever they’re working toward. Every promise You’ve made, every seed they’ve sown, every prayer they’ve prayed, let this be the year they see the manifestation. Amen.
Ya Allah, Ya Rabb, as we conclude these prayers, we ask that You accept them, answer them according to Your perfect wisdom, and make this year a turning point in our lives. Grant us the ability to live these 365 days in a way that pleases You, benefits others, and brings us peace. Ameen, and Amen.
Love Life is a Zikoko weekly series about love, relationships, situationships, entanglements and everything in between.
Ani* (29) and Jessy* (32) met in 2019 at a beach in Lagos during a secondary school reunion party. But when Jessy impulsively proposed to Ani at a club in 2023, she turned him down because she needed him to take her more seriously.
On this week’s Love Life, they talk about bonding over party culture, navigating Jessy’s impulsiveness, and whether you can build a stable life with someone who makes decisions on the fly.
If you want to share your own Love Life story, fill out this form.
What’s your earliest memory of each other?
Jessy: 2019, at a beach party in Lagos. It was my secondary school’s 10-year reunion. We’d hired out this section of the beach, set up games, drinks and food. I was excited because I hadn’t seen most of these people since we graduated, and it was nice catching up with everyone. I noticed Ani pretty early in the party. She was participating in all the games, taking shots with people, laughing, dancing, and just having a great time. I thought she was one of my old schoolmates that I’d somehow forgotten. So I walked up to her and said, “Hey, what class were you in? I feel like I should remember you.”
Ani: I laughed and told him I didn’t go to his school. I was just there with my sister. He looked so confused for a second, like he was trying to reconcile how someone who didn’t go to the school could fit in so well. But yeah, that party was also my first memory of Jessy. The only difference is, I didn’t notice him until he walked up to me. We ended up talking for a while after that.
What did you guys talk about?
Jessy: About the party, about Lagos nightlife, about what we did for fun. She told me she loved going out, trying new places, and meeting new people, and I knew right away she was my kind of person. Before the party ended, I asked for her number. I told her I hosted parties regularly with my friends, and she seemed like the kind of person who’d enjoy them.
Ani: I gave him my number because he seemed genuine. Some guys ask for your number just to shoot their shot, but he was actually inviting me to an event. Plus, I was always looking for new places to party, new crowds to meet. So I thought, why not?
Right. Did you actually follow up after that?
Jessy: Yeah, about two weeks later. I was planning another party with some friends, and I remembered Ani. I texted her the details and asked if she wanted to come. I wasn’t expecting her to say yes; you know how it is, people give you their number and then ghost you. But she responded almost immediately and said she’d be there.
Ani: I was in my party phase at the time. Like, properly in it. I went out almost every weekend, sometimes during the week too. I loved the nightlife and the freedom of just letting loose. So when Jessy texted me about another party, I was in.
What was that second party like?
Ani: It was really fun. I brought some of my friends along, and we had a great time. But what stood out to me was how Jessy cared for us. He wasn’t just hosting, he was making sure everyone was good. He’d check in on people, make sure they had drinks, and introduce people to each other. He had this way of making you feel like you belonged, even if you’d just met him.
Jessy: I just like creating good vibes. If I’m throwing a party, I want everyone to have a great time. What’s the point otherwise?
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Fair enough. So did you stay in touch after the party?
Jessy: We did. I’d hit her up whenever there was a party, a club night, a beach hangout, whatever. And she’d always come through. Sometimes she’d bring friends, sometimes she’d come alone. It became a thing. Like, if I was hosting something, Ani was going to be there.
Ani: And he didn’t just invite me to parties. Sometimes we’d meet up during the week for drinks, or we’d go check out a new restaurant someone had recommended. It was casual. We were just two people who enjoyed each other’s company and liked going out.
Hmmm. Did people assume you were dating?
Ani: All the time. My sister would ask, “So what’s going on with you and Jessy?” I’d tell her we were just friends, but I don’t think she believed me. I mean, we were always together, we had great chemistry, and we clearly enjoyed each other’s company. I get why she and other people thought there was more to it.
Jessy: I never corrected anyone when they assumed we were together. Honestly, I kind of liked that people thought that. But at the time, I genuinely saw her as a friend. A really cool friend who I loved hanging out with, but still just a friend.
So when did the relationship stop being platonic?
Jessy: For me, it was gradual. Sometime in 2020, during the lockdown, things began to shift for me. We couldn’t go out anymore, so we’d just talk on the phone for hours. And I started realising I really enjoyed those conversations. We’d talk about our childhoods, dreams, what we wanted out of life, and random philosophical stuff.
I learned that Ani is incredibly driven. She was studying for ICAN, working, and still managing to have a social life. I was impressed by her discipline. I also learned that she’s very family-oriented. She talked a lot about her siblings, her parents, how important they were to her. That made me see her in a different light.
Ani: Same. Lockdown forced us to connect on a different level. Before that, our friendship was mostly about going out and having fun. But when we couldn’t do that anymore, we had to actually talk and get to know each other beyond the party scene.
However, I was actually seeing someone at the time. A guy who was based abroad. We’d been talking for a while, making plans for him to visit Nigeria, but something always came up. He’d say he was coming in December, then it would change to March, then June. After a while, I got tired of waiting. Meanwhile, Jessy was right there. He was making an effort and I started comparing the two of them, and Jessy won every time.
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When did you make it official, Jessy?
Jessy: February 2022. We’d been talking about it for a few weeks, making sure we were both on the same page about what we wanted. Then one day, I just asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. That was it.
Sweet. What were the early days of your relationship like?
Ani: Really smooth. We already knew each other so well by that point. There was no awkward phase, no discovering deal-breakers we hadn’t known about. We just transitioned from friends to partners seamlessly.
Jessy: The dynamic didn’t change much, honestly. We still went out together, still had fun, and talked for hours. The only difference was that now we were intentional about it. We were building something real and not acting on vibes.
Ani: And we balanced each other well. I was studying for ICAN, which meant long hours of reading and practice. Jessy was working full-time in marketing, so he also had busy weeks. But we understood each other’s schedules. During the week, we’d focus on work and responsibilities. On weekends, we’d go out, unwind, and have fun. It worked.
My only issue was Jessy’s impulsiveness.
Tell me more.
Ani: I started noticing maybe three or four months into the relationship. Little things at first. He’d see something online and buy it immediately without checking if it was in the budget. He’d decide on a Wednesday that we should drive to Ibadan for the weekend and just expect me to drop everything. It was fun sometimes, but it also worried me. I’m the kind of person who plans everything. I budget, schedule, and think ahead. Jessy doesn’t operate like that at all.
And I tried to talk to him. I’d say things like, “Babe, we need to plan these things. We can’t just wake up and decide to spend money we haven’t budgeted for.” And he’d promise to do better. But then a week later, he’d do the same thing again. It started to feel like a pattern.
Jessy: I know I’m impulsive. I’ve always been like that. If I don’t act on something immediately, I overthink it, and then I don’t do it at all. So I’ve learned to just go with my gut and figure things out as I go. I was trying, though. I know it didn’t always seem like it, but I was. It’s just hard for me to change something that’s so ingrained in who I am.
Ani: The craziest one he pulled was in April 2023. We’d been together for over a year, and we’d talked about marriage a few times. Not in depth, but enough for me to know he was thinking about it seriously. One Saturday night, we were at a club with some friends. The music was loud, everyone was dancing, drinks were flowing. And then, out of nowhere, Jessy gets down on one knee in the middle of the dance floor.
I looked at him kneeling there with the ring, and all I could think was, “Are you serious right now? You’re proposing to me in a club?” People around us started cheering, recording on their phones, and I just felt so disrespected. Like, this is supposed to be one of the most important moments of my life, and you’re turning it into a spectacle?
Jessy: I genuinely thought she’d love it. She loves clubs, she loves energy, she loves attention. I thought it would be romantic to propose in a place that represented how we bonded and connected. But I was wrong. She turned me down and walked out of the club.
Curious, how did you feel in that moment?
Jessy: I wasn’t thinking straight. I went after her, feeling embarrassed and hurt. Everyone in the club had just watched me get rejected. When I caught up with her outside, she was already fuming. I tried to explain that I thought she’d like it, but she wasn’t hearing it. She said I’d disrespected her, that I’d made the whole thing about me and my impulsiveness instead of about us.
She said that if I really wanted to marry her, I needed to put thought into it and plan properly. She also said I needed to show her that she was worth more than a spur-of-the-moment decision made in the middle of a party.
Right. And how long did it take to recover from that?
Jessy: Weeks. Maybe a month. Things were really tense between us. She was distant, while I was hurt and defensive. We weren’t communicating well, and I started wondering if I’d ruined everything. Eventually, I realised I needed to fix it. So I sat down and really thought about what she’d said, and I understood. She deserved better than what I’d given her.
So did you plan another proposal?
Jessy: Yeah. I took my time with it. I thought about what she’d like, what would be meaningful to her, what would show her that I was serious about this. In December of that same year, I proposed again. This time, it was just the two of us. Just me telling her why I loved her and why I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
Ani: The second time was a lot better and felt intentional. He’d put thought into it. He’d planned it. And that’s all I wanted. So I said yes.
Jessy: We got married in March 2024. We had a small ceremony with close family and friends. It was beautiful, intimate, exactly what we both wanted.
Awwwn. How has marriage been so far?
Ani: It’s been really good. We still go out together, we still party, and we still have fun. But we’ve also built a life together outside of that. We support each other’s careers, and we’re learning how to be partners in every sense of the word.
But is Jessy’s impulsiveness still there?
Ani: It is. And honestly, it still worries me. It’s always in the small things and the big things. Like when he woke up on a random Friday and decided we should drive to Ibadan for the weekend without checking our schedules. He once booked a flight to Abuja without telling me first. There’s the financial bit too: a new gadget, an expensive dinner, concert tickets. And sometimes, it’s in major decisions, like when he switched jobs without having a solid backup plan.
Jessy: That worked out fine, though.
Ani: It worked out because I pushed him to think it through. Because I made him sit down and plan what he’d do if things didn’t work out with the new job. Left to him, he would’ve just quit and figured it out as he went along. That’s rattling.
I always remindhimwe’re not just two people dating anymore. We’re married and building a life together. Our personal decisions affect both of us.
Jessy: I hear her, and I’m trying to do better. I’ve gotten better at communicating with her before I make big decisions. I don’t just do things anymore without running them by her first. But the impulse is still there. I feel it all the time. I see something, and I want to just go for it. But now I pause, and I think about how it will affect us. I think that’s progress.
Neat. What’s the best thing about being married to each other?
Jessy: Ani gets me. She understands my need for fun and excitement, but she also grounds me when I need it. She’s my balance. And she’s incredibly supportive; when I wanted to switch jobs, she didn’t just criticise me. She helped me figure out a plan and encouraged me throughout the process. That means everything.
Ani: He makes life exciting. Before I met him, I was fun, but I was also kind of stuck in a routine. Jessy showed me how to live more freely, how to take risks, how to enjoy the moment. He also makes me laugh constantly, which is so important because life gets sad. And when things get serious, he shows up. He’s not perfect, but he’s trying.
Rooting for you guys. How would you rate your love life on a scale of 1-10?
Jessy: An 8. We’re solid, but we’re also still figuring out how to navigate our differences. I think we’ll get to a 10 as we keep growing.
Ani: I’d also say 8. We’re in a good place, but there’s room for improvement. I need him to be more intentional with his decisions, and he needs me to loosen up a bit and trust him more. If we can find that balance, we’ll be unstoppable.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.
If you want to share your own Love Life story, fill out this form.
After meeting Jide* at a basketball game, Bisi*(25) knew she had feelings for him. But what started as a cute campus romance slowly deteriorated into a relationship built on secrecy, religious guilt, and emotional manipulation.
In this story, Bisi shares how she became entangled with Jide, and how it took distance, time, and hindsight for her to finally understand what she was lucky to escape.
How it all started
I met Jide in 2019 at my school’s stadium. I’d gone there with a few friends to watch a basketball match. After the games ended, people stayed back, and it turned into a small party.
One of my female friends already knew Jide, so she introduced us. We started talking casually about school and places we’d lived. He mentioned he attended my primary school in Lagos*, though only briefly. At the time, it felt like an insane coincidence. Looking back, I don’t think it was true.
He said he had moved to Ibadan* to live with his grandparents, but he didn’t talk much about his family or his religion, and I didn’t press for details. We exchanged numbers, and that same night, we started texting.
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I usually had night classes, and because of that, we saw each other often. He didn’t stay on campus, but he’d come over after my classes and sometimes stay the night. I eventually started going to his place too. I realised early on I liked him, so letting him into my life felt easy.
The relationship
About a month in, Jide asked if I had a boyfriend. I didn’t. My previous relationship ended after the guy moved abroad. I didn’t like him that much, so there wasn’t any significant heartbreak baggage. I wanted to give dating another shot, so I said yes when Jide asked me out.
What started as something casual quickly turned serious. He insisted we define the relationship, even though we’d known each other for barely a month. I hesitated, but he stayed persistent, and I fell. It didn’t help that he was charming, fine, and attentive. We kept the relationship lowkey. Only a few close friends on both sides knew. Jide often talked about how girls liked him and threw themselves at him, including the same girl who had introduced us. He didn’t want to take any chances.
At first, everything felt sweet. We saw each other almost every week, spent long hours together, and enjoyed each other’s company. In hindsight, that constant reminder of how desirable he was should have been a red flag, but at the time, I brushed it off.
Our first major issue came a few weeks later when I bought tickets for us to attend a school play together. We had discussed it beforehand, so I assumed it was settled. On the day of the play, he went silent and was unreachable.
When he finally responded the next day, he claimed he had to rush to church. That was when he casually mentioned that he was a Jehovah’s Witness. The revelation caught me off guard. I asked why he hadn’t mentioned it earlier, and he explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t allowed to date people outside their faith. That meant he technically wasn’t even supposed to be with me.
At first, I didn’t believe him. I went online, researched it, and fell into a rabbit hole. That was when I realised he wasn’t lying. Their belief system differed sharply from what I was used to, and dating outside the church was forbidden.
I apologised for doubting him, and that moment changed the dynamic of our relationship. From then on, he constantly framed himself as someone “breaking the rules” for me, like I was the reason he was constantly at war with his conscience.
When COVID hit in early 2020, we became long-distance. At first, we talked every day. Then communication slowly declined. Calls stopped, replies became shorter, and sometimes he disappeared completely.
Once, he stayed offline for almost two days. I got worried and kept trying to reach him. When he finally responded, he told me an elaborate story about injuring his hand with a mirror, fainting, and ending up in the hospital. I immediately apologised for being insensitive.
I tried everything to revive the connection after that, but nothing worked. Each time he disappeared and resurfaced, he always had a new excuse.
In June 2020, he told me he was getting baptised. He explained that baptism meant full commitment to the church. He also said he had confided in a mentor about our relationship, who advised him to end things because I wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness.
That conversation broke me. I deleted his number to protect myself from the heartbreak, but I was visibly affected. My mum and friends knew something was wrong, but I didn’t tell them anything. I cried constantly and tried to distract myself by learning how to sew.
Getting back together
A month after the breakup, Jide texted again. He said he couldn’t hold it in anymore and just wanted to check on me. We started talking again as friends, until he suggested getting back together. He said we had to pretend we weren’t dating so his conscience wouldn’t bother him. Against my better judgment, I agreed. That was when things got worse.
Once, he asked me to send nude photos. When I refused, he got angry and told me I wasn’t the only girl he was talking to. His words shocked me. I told him never to use other women’s interest in him as a threat. Before we resolved that fight, I noticed a coursemate had started posting his pictures on her status. When I confronted him, he explained it away, claiming he was just being kind and she was using that opportunity to throw herself at him.
When school finally resumed after the COVID break, Jide started acting increasingly strange. He grew inconsistent, avoided plans, and constantly locked his phone. Something he never did before. He spent a lot of time with another girl in my class, Sarah*. He insisted nothing was happening and said he was only mentoring her.
A few weeks later, at a birthday gathering with Sarah, I saw a sexually suggestive photo of him on her phone. He had sent the same photo to me privately. That moment confirmed he’d been playing me the entire time.
The next time we hung out, I went through his phone and checked his messages. I saw how he texted Sarah, giving her just enough attention to keep her interested without committing to anything. When I confronted him, he admitted he had kissed her once but insisted nothing else had happened. I didn’t know what to believe. My feelings clouded my judgment, but I knew his actions hurt me, and I wanted out. After that, I stopped believing anything he said.
Not long after, during our last time together, I stayed over at his place. I told him clearly that I didn’t want to be touched and I wasn’t in the mood, but he ignored me and tried to force himself on me. When he saw blood, he stopped and started apologising.
I didn’t know how to process what had happened, so I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even know what to call it. He apologised repeatedly, and somehow, we kept talking. I don’t know why I didn’t cut him off then, but something inside me was already broken.
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The aftermath
Soon after, he grew cold and distant, avoiding me out of his own guilt. When I confronted him, he said he was “just tired” and wanted to end things. Later, our mutual friends told me he framed the breakup as a moral decision. He claimed his religious conscience forced him to leave because I wouldn’t let go otherwise. I couldn’t believe it.
After we broke up, I found out he had already moved on to four other women, referring to one as his girlfriend. He lied to them, saying we had broken up long before and made sure we never crossed paths in school. He told them the same story he told me: that he only showed me kindness and that I was throwing myself at him. After I told a friend everything, she got so upset on my behalf that she gathered the other girls, and we all confronted Jide together. When we asked him to show us the messages he sent each of us, he claimed his phone had been formatted. The audacity was crazy.
Looking back, the lies, exaggerations, and manipulation were always there; I don’t know why I indulged him for so long. But that confrontation allowed the last scales to fall off my eyes, and I cut him off completely.
He had a case with the school and struggled to graduate that year. I reached out once to check on him, but in his usual fashion, he told me lies and details that didn’t add up, so I just left him to his devices. Someone that untruthful is dangerous, and I’m glad he’s no longer in my life.
The terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers in Nigeria are not afraid to flaunt their weapons and ransom cash on social media. They post videos of hostages begging their families and friends to pay for their release, all in the full glare of the public.
It honestly feels like you’re almost as likely to see them on your timeline as you are to see streamers and influencers. Anyone who has come across their posts must have, at one point or another, asked a crucial question: How are they getting away with this, and how has their online presence not yet led the government to track and arrest them?
Why is there a terrorist on my feed?
You open up your favourite social media app for another doomscrolling session, and instead of another silly argument on X or cute dance videos on TikTok, you see something very different. It’s men in faded khakis with machine guns, counting massive stacks of cash.
These men are terrorists, bandits, or kidnappers and the cash is ransom money. So you’re probably thinking, “I shouldn’t be seeing this. It does not belong on this platform,” but you open TikTok again another day, and it’s there; you don’t want it to be, but it just is. That is the bizarre reality we are living in Nigeria. Terrorists and bandits have decided that kidnapping and mass murder are not enough; they now need to be content creators.
But why do they feel the need to rub their crimes in our faces?
Everyone’s an influencer now… even terrorists
If you think the terrorists posting videos on social media are out of place amongst your favourite influencers, you are dead wrong. They are influencers too, just with different goals in mind.
Social media may be a new platform, but terrorist groups have, for a long time, used mass media to publicise their activities. This is because it allows the world to know what their motivations are. Most importantly, it is a great job advert.
We have previously discussed how extremist groups in Nigeria use money to recruit soldiers from poor communities. Like in early 2025 when the terror group known as Lukarawas offered ₦1 million to new recruits. The terrorists of Nigerian TikTok are showing off their cash because they want potential recruits to see just how much money they too can make if they join their ranks. The goal is to turn their crime into a successful brand.
To the poor and desperate youths in the Northern parts of Nigeria, where there is little education and few options, these videos advertise crime as a rewarding career path.
At the end of the protests, which were sparked by widespread hunger, the Nigerian government charged a group of minors with treason for taking part in the protest. Treason carries the death sentence. So for those poor boys, the option becomes: die protesting your hunger, or join the extremists in the forests, counting cash.
In all the madness, there are two nagging questions: Why are the terrorists so bold, and why can’t the government use their digital footprints to track and arrest them?
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Where did you buy your audacity?
These extremists appear in these videos barefaced, completely unafraid of being identified. Security experts believe it is a deliberate strategy to show the government just how fearless they are.
Basically, they are saying there is nothing the government can do about it. And so far, the Nigerian government is proving them right. So, if you are asking where they bought their audacity, the answer is that the government sold it to them.
The one group of influencers the government can’t dox
Government mouthpieces who have spoken on the issue seem to want us to believe that the problem is technical.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that terrorists operating online cannot be tracked because they do not use local internet service providers. According to Bwala, Nigerian security agencies can easily track local internet users because there are regulatory bodies that maintain a database of citizens and their phone numbers. But he claims the terrorists use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, and that makes it impossible for the Nigerian government to track them.
Too many Nigerians have had the harrowing experience of negotiating a loved one’s release over the phone with kidnappers. Well, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, says the bandits’ phones cannot be tracked either. Tijani claims they are especially hard to track because they use special technology to bounce their calls over multiple cell towers.
We can’t track them… except when we can
We might have bought Bwala and Tijani’s stories if this government could keep its story straight.
In November 2025, armed men invaded a church in Eruku in Kwara state and kidnapped 38 worshippers. Days later, the worshippers were released. During an interview with Arise News on November 24, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said that the federal government had made contact with the kidnappers and demanded they release the hostages or face consequences.
He said, “They made contact with the bandits to secure the release of the captives. Our security agencies have systems for tracking these criminals, which allow them to monitor developments in real time.”
So which is it? Can the government track these criminals or not?
According to Onanuga, the kidnappers released the hostages because they were afraid of the force the government would come down on them with if they continued to hold them. There is so much to unpack in that statement.
Why did the government get involved in that particular case and not others? Why is the government allowing armed groups to go scot-free after releasing hostages? Aren’t they just going to find another group to kidnap?
We have so many questions.
No more excuses
Whatever the technical limitations that are preventing the government from tracking and neutralising these violent extremists, it should be a priority to fix and address them.
Upgrading the digital capabilities of our security forces must be top of the agenda for any spending on defence. We need more than excuses from this government. We need solutions. We need answers. We need a safer Nigeria. And we need it now.
But if we’re going to get them, we have to demand it. We have to be loud and clear that we are not buying excuses anymore. We want to see results and we want to see action.
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