Daud Olatunji

As preparations intensify ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, electoral logistics across several local government areas have shown a mixed pattern of smooth distribution, personnel deployment, and welfare concerns for ad hoc staff.

Findings from multiple Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state on Thursday, as provided by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to PLATFORM TIMES, indicated that while election materials were being distributed in several locations without major disruptions, gaps in welfare provision, delayed mobilisation in some centres, and minor disagreements over deployment arrangements were also recorded.

In Oye Local Government Area, at St. Mary Primary School, Oye Ekiti, the RAC was observed to be empty as of 3:38pm, with the school gate locked and no officials on ground, raising concerns over delayed activation of the centre ahead of the poll.

However, in Moba Local Government Area at Moba Grammar School, Otun, distribution of election materials was progressing smoothly, with Senior Presiding Officers (SPOs) briefing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to prepare them for election duties.

Despite the progress, welfare concerns emerged at Methodist Primary School, Ilupeju, also in Oye LGA, where only about five corps members and an RAC official were present as of 4:21pm. The RAC official reportedly lamented the absence of basic welfare items such as mattresses and buckets for corps members, saying none had been provided.

In Emure Local Government Area, at St. Paul’s Primary School, ward 5 and 8, orientation and briefing sessions were ongoing for Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), with personnel already on ground as preparations advanced steadily.

At Ilejemeje LGA INEC office in Iye Ekiti, distribution of materials was also ongoing, though minor disagreements were reported over deployment arrangements and the utilisation of corps members, with some tensions arising among officials. Security operatives were, however, present to maintain order.

At a central INEC logistics point in Ekiti, materials were being distributed to various wards, with some vehicles still awaiting loading while others had already moved out to their respective destinations ahead of Saturday’s election.

In Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, at the INEC office in Ijede, electoral materials were confirmed on ground as of 4:43pm, although loading into buses had not commenced at the time of reporting. More than 20 police officers were stationed at the centre.

At Ido/Osi Local Government Area (Ido II), SPOs confirmed availability of all essential materials and logistics, but concerns were raised over accommodation, with corps members reportedly provided mats instead of beds.

Meanwhile, at a super Registration Area Centre in Ise/Orun Local Government Area, Ofigba community, distribution to multiple wards (Odo Ise I, II and III) was carried out under tight security, with police officers deployed around the facility as officials processed materials for movement.

 

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* Unveils new Golden Penny Penne 500g

Golden Penny Foods, the iconic brand of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), convened its nationwide dealer network in Lagos on 16 June 16, 2026 for the brand’s annual Dealers Conference, an event that delivered on three fronts: celebrating dealer excellence, launching a new product, and laying out a sharp commercial agenda for the year ahead. Held at the Balmoral Hall, Ikeja, and themed ‘Reset, Rebound, Win Big,’ the conference brought together leading dealers, key organisation’s spokespersons, management and leadership from across Nigeria for a day of strategy, recognition and renewed partnership with the brand.

The conference comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s FMCG sector, shaped by shifting consumer demand, evolving distribution realities, and rising operating costs. Against this backdrop, Golden Penny used the occasion to position itself not merely as a brand that nurtures valuable relationships, but as one that grows with them.

Speaking at the conference, the Managing Director of Golden Penny Foods Limited, Mr. Devlin Hainsworth, described the significance of the event for the brand and its dealer network.

“If you go the length and breadth of Nigeria, you will find a Golden Penny product in most households, but we could never have achieved that without our dealers. They work tirelessly every day to ensure our products reach wholesalers, retailers and ultimately Nigerian families. Many of these partnerships have spanned decades, making them far more than commercial relationships. Today’s conference is about recognising that contribution, strengthening those bonds, and

preparing to win even bigger together in the year ahead,” he said.

Golden Penny’s leadership team also shared the company’s commercial priorities and growth agenda for the coming year, highlighting Golden Penny’s continued investment in dealer support programmes designed to strengthen route-to-market execution and improve product availability nationwide, the Sales Director, B2C, Golden Penny Foods, Mr. Ademola Adeoye, noted:

“Over the years, we’ve invested heavily behind supporting our distributors and getting to the last mile. We have almost 2,000 secondary sales points across Nigeria attached to our distributors. This year, we’re investing close to about N45 billion behind redistribution infrastructure for our dealers, helping them move products from warehouses to wholesale and retail channels to enable them run profitable businesses representing Flour Mills of Nigeria”

A major highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the all-new Golden Penny Penne 500g, the latest addition to the brand’s premium pasta portfolio. Engineered with a unique ridge texture designed to hold more sauce, the new Penne delivers an explosion of rich flavour in every mouthful: whether tossed in a vibrant stir-fry, paired with a creamy weekday sauce, or simmered in a rich tomato base for special occasions. The product is positioned as an everyday companion for turning ordinary family meals into extraordinary moments of connection.

Speaking on the launch, the Director of Marketing – Food, Golden Penny Foods, Mr. Ilyas Kazeem, said the introduction of Penne reflects the brand’s commitment to continuously meeting evolving consumer preferences.

“For over six decades, Golden Penny has remained committed to nourishing families and bringing happiness to Nigerians everyday through quality products. The launch of Golden Penny Penne reflects that promise. As consumer preferences continue to evolve, we remain focused on understanding their needs and bringing innovative, high-quality products to the market,” Kazeem said.

The conference also honoured dealers whose performance, loyalty and resilience have continued to strengthen Golden Penny’s market presence across Nigeria. Winners received a combination of cash prizes, vehicles, and other incentives designed to support their continued growth and success.

In the highly coveted National Core Category, Alhaji Idris Saleh Nigeria Limited, represented by Alhaji Idris Saleh, emerged as the overall winner, receiving a brand-new 2025 Toyota Hilux and a cash prize of N15 million. Fulcrum Golden Heritage, represented by Mrs. Adebayo Rukayat Oladunni, secured second place and was rewarded with a 2025 Toyota Hilux and N12 million, while Kay Jay Zenith Limited, represented by Hajia Khadijat Amoo, claimed third place, receiving a 2025 Toyota-Hilux and N10 million.

The Rising Star Category, which recognises newer entrants to the dealer network who have demonstrated exceptional commercial momentum, was won by Opeyemi Baking Industry, represented by Alhaja Sanusi Modinat. Kay Jay Zenith Limited placed second, while Fulcrum Golden Heritage rounded out the top three.

Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, the Chief Executive Officer of Kay Jay Zenith Limited, Hajia Khadijat Amoo, described the recognition as a testament to the strength of the partnership between Golden Penny and its dealer network.

“This recognition means a great deal to me, and I’m proud to be a key distributor with Flour Mills. Being here today is something everyone wants to participate in. It’s been a very good business, we’ve been with the number one food company in Nigeria and I’m proud to be a part of it,” she said.

The 2026 conference builds on Golden Penny’s tradition of dealer engagement and product innovation, following the successful unveiling of Yumbowl at the 2025 conference.

It reaffirms the brand’s identity as one attuned to evolving consumer needs and nutritional trends across Nigeria. As one of Nigeria’s most endearing FMCG brands, Golden Penny continues to anchor its market presence in the trust, performance and loyalty of its dealer network, a relationship it regards as foundational to its mission of nourishing Nigerian families with quality, accessibility and affordable food products.

Golden Penny is the iconic brand of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), a leading food and agro-allied company in Nigeria. For generations, the Golden Penny brand has been a source of tasty, affordable and superior-quality nutrition for Nigerian consumers. With a broad product portfolio spanning flour, pasta, noodles, spreads, ball foods, breakfast cereals, edible oils, and more, the brand supports millions of households with food options designed to satisfy their diverse nutritional needs and everyday cravings.

Three months after its last sitting, the Rivers State House of Assembly has come under intense public scrutiny over its prolonged inactivity, with stakeholders warning of looming governance gaps in the oil-rich state.

The Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, adjourned indefinitely after a plenary session on March 9, 2026, during which commissioner-nominees were screened.

Since then, no legislative business has been conducted, leaving several critical ministries — including health, information, environment and justice — without substantive commissioners.

The development has triggered widespread criticism from civil society organisations, political actors and youth groups, who described the situation as a threat to democratic governance and effective service delivery.

A civil society advocate, Obinna Ebogidi of the Rivers Peace Initiative, warned that the absence of legislative activities carries far-reaching consequences.

“The real cost of prolonged legislative inactivity is measured in the uncertainty it creates for citizens, businesses, investors and development partners,” he said.

Similarly, a prominent stakeholder, Chief Sunnie Chukumele of the Coalition of Rivers Elders of Thought, accused lawmakers of prioritising political interests above public service, alleging that the Assembly had abandoned its constitutional responsibilities.

Adding his voice, a former federal lawmaker, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the legislature’s failure to reconvene for plenary sessions contravenes constitutional expectations, stressing that lawmaking and oversight functions cannot be suspended indefinitely without consequences.

Youth organisations, including the South-South Youths Initiative, also condemned the development, describing the Assembly’s silence as a betrayal of the electorate’s trust. The group noted that the absence of debates, motions and oversight activities had weakened accountability mechanisms in the state.

In the same vein, the Civil Liberties Organisation cautioned that democratic institutions risk erosion when legislatures fail to function, urging immediate steps to restore parliamentary activities.

While critics have largely blamed the Assembly leadership for the impasse, political observers say the lingering rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has compounded the crisis.

The political standoff, they argue, has paralysed governance in the state, with both arms of government locked in a struggle for control.

With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, stakeholders have called on residents of Rivers State to demand accountability from their representatives and prioritise competence over political patronage at the polls.

They warned that failure to address the current legislative vacuum could have long-term implications for governance, policy implementation and public trust in democratic institutions.

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June 19 (THEWILL) — Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sparked international outrage after calling for a devastating escalation against Lebanon, declaring that “all of Lebanon must burn” following the killing of four Israeli soldiers in combat with militants from Hezbollah.

The remarks came on Friday after the Israel Defence Forces confirmed that four troops, including a senior commander, were killed when their tank was struck during fighting near Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon.

The incident marks one of the most serious battlefield losses in recent months and has further intensified already fragile tensions along the Israel–Lebanon frontier.

Reacting to the fatalities, Ben-Gvir rejected calls for restraint and insisted Israel should escalate its military response despite growing international pressure to de-escalate the conflict.

In a series of posts on X, the minister said Israel must send a clear message of overwhelming force.

“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn. With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit”, he wrote.

Ben-Gvir also criticised what he described as limited military responses, arguing that Israel should abandon restraint entirely.

“Enough with the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint — you need to go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror”, he said.

The Israeli military identified one of the slain officers as Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armoured Brigade, from Beit HaShita.

The army said three additional soldiers were killed in the same engagement, while their identities were pending official clearance for publication.

The Israel Defence Forces also reported that an explosive drone strike in southern Lebanon critically wounded a reserve officer, while four other soldiers sustained minor injuries in separate incidents.

Following the deaths, Israeli forces launched overnight air and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon, targeting what they described as Hezbollah operatives, weapons depots, and military infrastructure.

Lebanese local reports indicated that at least 18 people were killed in the bombardment, though the breakdown between civilians and combatants remained unclear at the time of reporting.

The escalation comes amid heightened diplomatic activity in the region, including reports of a preliminary understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at reducing hostilities linked to the broader Middle East conflict.

Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has replied to allegations made by Emmanuel Obasi, Judy Austin’s ex-husband, claiming he blocked him from visiting his children.

Yul responded to the claim on his social media account on Friday.

“Some of my fans have reached out to me, saying, ‘pls allow him to see his children’.

“I have never stopped anybody from seeing his children.

“In this era of social media, people prefer chasing clout and chasing social media money with my name, rather than doing the right thing.

“Tell him to call his ex-wife, if he wants to see or take his children, let them discuss it.

“He has her number. It has nothing to do with me.”

A French appeals court confirmed on Friday that Moroccan footballer Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for suspected rape of a woman in 2023, a charge he denies.

In February 2023, a lady, then 24, told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one.”

“At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said.

A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything, he remains steadfast in his defence,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said.

The plaintiff’s lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo said the decision brought her client “relief and hope”.

The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.

She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.

She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.

Speaking to the press for the first time in a Mediapart article published Thursday, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added.

Mary Nnah

Lagos is set to host what organisers call a direct challenge to Nigeria’s leadership deficit on Saturday, June 20, 2026, with the 3rd Daniel Taiwo Odukoya Memorial Lecture at The Fountain of Life Church (TFOLC), Ilupeju.

 TFOLC, in a statement, said  that the event scheduled for 12 noon is free and open to the public, and it is designed to do more than honour its late founder. It is a call to confront a national culture of transactional leadership that leaves no lasting harvest.

Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya died in 2023, but his influence has not. For three decades he built institutions, mentored thousands, and pushed a people-first model of leadership through ministry, entrepreneurship, and community impact. The institutions remain. The people he raised remain.

The question TFOLC is now asking is whether Nigeria has enough leaders willing to replicate that model in a time when quick wins are prized over legacy.

This year’s theme, “One Life, Many Harvests: The Multiplier Effect of a People-Centered Life,” argues that true leadership cannot be measured by personal accomplishments alone. It is measured by lives transformed, systems built, and influence that multiplies across generations.

In a country where the multiplier effect often runs negative, the lecture is positioning itself as an antidote. 

To drive the point home, TFOLC has named former Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, as guest lecturer. A respected tech executive and corporate leader, Johnson is expected to draw from her experience in innovation, public service, and nation-building to speak on influence, service, and sustainable impact in a rapidly changing world.

Speaking ahead of the event, Head of the Memorial Lecture Planning Committee and Pastor Odukoya’s daughter, Dr. Deborah Enuha,  said the lecture was created to preserve values, not just memories.

“This lecture is more than a remembrance event. It is a platform for preserving timeless leadership values and inspiring individuals to build lives that create lasting impact. It is a call to influence, serve, and leave a legacy that outlives us,” she said.

Attendees can expect thought-provoking conversations, practical leadership lessons, and reflections on how a single life can shift outcomes for a nation. Business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, policymakers, and the public are expected at the Ilupeju venue.

With Nigeria’s youth demanding accountability and ethical leadership, the Odukoya memorial is framing the issue in stark terms: if one life can create many harvests, how many harvests is Nigeria losing because its leaders are only planting for themselves?

Olawale Ajimotokan  in Abuja 

The University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club over the weekend partnered with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Area Councils Services Secretariat and the Abuja Markets Management Agency (AMMA) embarked on voter sensitisation campaign in major markets in Abuja.

The exercise, that also created awareness on electoral malpractices was held at Garki Main Market, Garki International Market and Wuse Market.

 The President of the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club, Dr. Chioma Uzo-Udegbunam noted that the initiative was to mobilise traders and customers of their civil duty to register as voters, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the 2027 electoral process.

She said the market place engagement was occasioned by widespread aparthy among residents regarding the ongoing voter registration exercise and procedures for obtaining or replacing PVCs.

“We discovered that a large number of people are unaware that voter registration is ongoing. Some do not know where to register, while others whose PVCs are missing are unsure of the steps required to replace them. This information gap informed our decision to take the message directly to the people,” Uzo-Udegbunam said.

She added that over 1,000 fliers containing voter education information were distributed during in the markets that were selected because they offered access to a large number of residents within a short period. 

The President of Unical graduates elite club assured that the campaign would be sustained across communities in the Federal Capital Territory, while efforts would be made to involve the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in future exercises to provide official clarification on issues raised by residents in relation to voter registration procedures and PVC replacement processes.

She urged residents not to lose confidence in the democratic process, describing voting as a fundamental civic responsibility that will contribute to building a better society.

The Chairman of Garki International Market, Mr. Onyawan Chukwu, lauded the initiative as timely and beneficial to democratic development.

According to him, Garki Main Market, with over 3,000 shops and more than 10,000 traders, presented a strategic location for voter mobilisation and registration activities.

He also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider establishing temporary voter registration centres within major markets to make registration accessible to traders and other residents.

He assured organisers of the market’s commitment to supporting voter education campaigns and mobilising traders to register, collect their PVCs and participate in elections.

Precious Ugwuzor 

Outspan Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of olam food ingredients (ofi), used the 2026 World Milk Day commemoration in Kano State to spotlight the role of women dairy farmers and reaffirm its commitment to growing the local dairy value chain through strategic backward integration. The event, held on Thursday, June 4, highlighted the business’ ongoing support for more inclusive and productive dairy farming communities.

As a key driver of rural development, dairy production provides essential nourishment while creating jobs across farming, transportation, processing and marketing. Improved productivity in the sector can expand nutrient availability, raise household incomes and strengthen livelihoods in rural communities. World Milk Day therefore offers an important platform for stakeholders to spotlight progress and encourage greater investment in the sector.

Outspan Nigeria Limited is one of several players providing crucial support for dairy farming communities. For more than half a decade now, through a partnership with the Kano Dairy Union, the business has embarked on a backward Integration programme targeted at improving dairy farmers’ capacities, through improving milk collection efficiency and cattle health, enabling more farmers’ children to attend school and encouraging more women’s participation in the value chain. 

Speaking during the commemorative event, Dr Isah Abukakar, Manager, Backward Integration Program (Dairy), Outspan Nigeria Limited, explained, “Our work in the dairy sector is guided by a clear and focused backward integration strategy built on four key pillars: Genetic improvement, feed support, animal health improvement and livelihood support for the pastoralist communities.”

He added, “We are enhancing breed quality through artificial insemination, helping farmers achieve higher milk yields and better productivity from the improved breed. We support farmers with access to quality feed and improved feeding practices, training them on crop residue utilisation and pasture cultivation, ensuring consistent milk production. Through veterinary services and extension support, we are strengthening herd health, reducing losses, and improving overall performance through annual vaccination campaigns and deworming of vulnerable animals. Also, we are committed to improving farmer incomes through training, market access, and initiatives that strengthen resilience at the household level.”

Alhaji Abba Yusuf, District Head, Dawakin Kudu, who delivered a goodwill message at the event, thanked Outspan for  offering consistent support that helps dairy farmers in his district to raise milk production, gain market linkage and grow income level, as well as enable more children to attend school through the donation of educational materials  such as school bags and writing materials.

Meanwhile, in line with this year’s World Milk Day theme, ‘Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers’, the business recognised women amongst the top participants in the Kano dairy value chain. Rakia Saadu emerged as the Best Female Participant in her category. She was elated: “I am happy to be recognised by Outspan for my efforts in our local dairy business. I feel encouraged. I thank them very well.”  

Further commending the business, Yahaya Sanni Abbas, the representative of the Kano State Ministry of Livestock Development, said, “I wish to commend the Kano Dairy Cooperative Federation and Outspan Nigeria Limited for their dedication to promoting dairy development and supporting smallholder dairy farmers, especially women. Their collaboration serves as an excellent example of how partnerships can drive agricultural transformation and rural prosperity.”

The future war over Nigeria may not begin at the border. It may begin in the feed, argues

K BOLANLE ATI-JOHN

For too long, social media has been treated as entertainment, expression, youth culture, political noise or private choice. That view is now dangerously inadequate. The digital public square has become something far more consequential. It is a behavioural environment, a psychological marketplace, a political amplifier, a social battlefield and, increasingly, a national security domain.

Nigeria and Africa must therefore ask a question that goes beyond technology: who is shaping the mind of the nation?

The issue is not simply whether children spend too much time online. That is only the visible surface. Beneath it lies a deeper struggle over attention, identity, aspiration, social cohesion, public trust, truth and national destiny. A country may protect its borders, oilfields, banks, ports and military bases, yet still lose control of the forces shaping the imagination of its next generation.

That is the new sovereignty question.

The digital environment is not neutral. More importantly, it is asymmetric. The ordinary citizen enters social media with curiosity, boredom, grievance, loneliness, ambition, insecurity, desire or fear. The dominant platforms arrive with engineers, behavioural insights, machine learning systems, psychological design, engagement metrics, advertising incentives and vast quantities of personal data. The individual thinks he is merely scrolling. The system is learning him.

It learns what angers him, what frightens him, what flatters him, what makes him compare himself with others, what keeps him awake, what brings him back, what makes him share, what makes him attack and what makes him believe. That is not a neutral exchange. It is human vulnerability meeting industrialised behavioural optimisation.

This is why the old argument that people should simply be left to choose for themselves is insufficient. Choice assumes a reasonably equal field. But in the digital environment, the field is unequal. The user sees content. The platform sees patterns. The user reacts. The platform predicts. The user thinks he is exercising freedom. The platform has already designed the room in which that freedom is being exercised.

In an asymmetric digital environment, non-intervention is not neutrality. It is exposure to manipulation.

Children are the first victims because they are the most vulnerable. Their judgment, impulse control, identity, self-worth, emotional regulation and attention span are still developing. Yet they are placed before systems designed to defeat adult discipline. They face infinite scrolling, autoplay, streaks, likes, notifications, algorithmic feeds, public comparison, stranger contact, sexualised content, bullying, grooming, sextortion and the fear of missing out. Childhood becomes a marketplace. Attention becomes inventory. Emotion becomes data.

But adults are not immune. They too are caught in loops of outrage, vanity, tribal loyalty, political suspicion, social comparison, conspiracy, gambling, influencer worship, religious manipulation and permanent distraction. The same mechanisms that weaken a child’s concentration can weaken an adult’s judgment. The same algorithmic rabbit holes that capture teenagers can radicalise voters, inflame communities and delegitimise institutions.

This is where the matter moves from welfare to statecraft.

Nigeria offers a painful example. Our social media spaces are not merely arenas of debate. They have become theatres of digital combat. Every election, killing, court judgment, policy failure, police incident, religious controversy or ethnic dispute is quickly dragged into the furnace of suspicion. Algorithms then reward the loudest, angriest and most divisive voices because outrage produces engagement. In such an environment, grievance does not remain linear. It becomes geometric. A careless post becomes a trend, a trend becomes a tribe, a tribe becomes a mob, and a mob can become a security threat.

The platform may claim neutrality, but in a fragile society, algorithmic amplification is never neutral. It can turn national disagreement into national combustion.

Nigeria has already seen glimpses of this. During moments such as #EndSARS and recent election cycles, digital platforms did not merely carry public anger; they shaped its tempo, visibility, emotional register and international reach. The grievances were real. The mobilisation was not invented by algorithms. But the digital environment altered the speed, scale and volatility of the contest over legitimacy.

That is why Nigerians now often combat one another online with frightening ferocity. The individual actor believes he is defending his tribe, faith, party, region, leader, grievance or moral position. But beneath the surface, invisible forces may be shaping what he sees, how often he sees it, which voices are amplified, which enemies are framed, which emotions are triggered and which reactions are rewarded.

The most dangerous manipulation is the one citizens experience as their own anger.

Many Nigerians fighting one another online do not realise that they are also being fought over. Their anger is harvested, their identity is activated, their fears are amplified, and their loyalties are converted into data, influence, money and sometimes political power. A country is in danger when its citizens become foot soldiers in information battles they do not know they are fighting.

South Africa offers a continental warning. Xenophobic violence there long predates the smartphone age, and it would be dishonest to pretend that social media created the underlying grievances of unemployment, crime anxiety, migration pressure and political failure. But the digital layer matters. Anti-migrant narratives, vigilante mobilisation, inflammatory claims and misrepresented videos can travel faster than institutions can verify them. What begins as local resentment can become continental anger, diplomatic strain, retaliatory threats and a wider crisis of African solidarity. Platforms may not create a society’s fractures, but they can accelerate them, monetise them and make them harder to contain.

It is important, however, to distinguish between two related but different dangers. The first is commercial: platforms optimise for engagement, attention and advertising value, often rewarding outrage, novelty and emotional intensity. The second is strategic: hostile actors, political entrepreneurs, extremist networks or foreign influence operations can exploit that already-primed environment for mobilisation, disinformation or destabilisation. The platform may not intend national harm. But by organising attention around emotional intensity, it can create the terrain on which others conduct influence operations.

This leads directly to fifth-generation warfare.

Fifth-generation warfare, however debated as a term, captures a real strategic condition: conflict increasingly targets perception, identity, behaviour, legitimacy, trust and decision-making before the target even realises it is under attack. The battlefield may not look like a battlefield. The attacker may not wear a uniform. The weapon may not be a missile. The combatant may not know he is a combatant. The platform may not admit it is a battlespace.

The objective is simple: make the target society weaken itself.

In this form of warfare, hostile actors do not always need to create new grievances. They can exploit existing ones. They can amplify ethnic suspicion, deepen religious resentment, promote institutional cynicism, flood public discourse with contradictions, mobilise outrage, manufacture trends, distort elections, delegitimise courts, discredit security agencies, and make citizens believe nothing is true except the version supplied by their tribe.

The goal is not always to persuade everyone of one lie. Sometimes it is enough to destroy confidence in truth itself.

Once citizens distrust one another, distrust institutions, distrust elections, distrust media, distrust courts, distrust security agencies, distrust leadership and distrust national purpose, the state becomes difficult to govern except by patronage, coercion or cynicism. Development becomes nearly impossible. Reform becomes suspect. Compromise becomes betrayal. National imagination collapses into permanent accusation.

This is why social media can no longer be treated only as free expression. Free expression is vital. Citizens must be free to criticise government, expose injustice, challenge incompetence, debate policy and hold power accountable. No serious society should use digital safety as an excuse for censorship or partisan repression.

But the defence of free expression must not blind us to the existence of algorithmically amplified social harm. A democracy must distinguish between legitimate dissent and engineered destabilisation. It must distinguish between opinion and manipulation. It must distinguish between open debate and behavioural exploitation. It must distinguish between criticism of government and systematic destruction of public trust by foreign or domestic actors who profit from national fracture.

Any doctrine of cognitive security must therefore begin with distrust of both unchecked platforms and unchecked government. Nigeria cannot protect citizens from algorithmic manipulation by handing vague censorship powers to the state. Any framework must be statute-based, judicially reviewable, transparent, independently audited, time-bound in emergency use and insulated from partisan control. No administration should be allowed to secretly throttle dissent, criminalise criticism or label civic mobilisation as destabilisation merely because it is inconvenient.

The target is not dissent. The target is asymmetric behavioural power operating in a low-trust, high-grievance society without adequate constitutional governance.

China’s approach to children and digital platforms is politically unsuitable for a constitutional democracy, but strategically revealing. It recognises that the digital formation of children and youth is a matter of national destiny. Britain, the European Union and Australia are also moving, from different constitutional traditions, toward the same broad conclusion: serious states no longer treat children’s digital environments as harmless private consumption. The lesson is not authoritarian control. The lesson is seriousness.

A serious state does not leave the attention, habits, discipline, values and aspirations of its young people entirely to commercial algorithms.

A country that allows foreign-owned, profit-driven platforms to shape what its children admire, what its youth imitate, what its citizens fear, what its voters believe and what its communities resent has surrendered part of its sovereignty. Sovereignty is no longer only territorial. It is cognitive. It concerns the power to protect the mental, moral and informational environment in which a people forms judgment and pursues destiny.

Africa must understand this quickly.

The continent is young. Nigeria is exceptionally young. If the habits of this generation are shaped by fraud glamour, betting addiction, sexual exposure, ridicule culture, tribal contempt, religious manipulation, political rage, shallow celebrity, consumer fantasy and permanent distraction, then Africa’s demographic advantage may become a demographic liability.

This is not an indictment of young Nigerians. Many use digital platforms for learning, business, creativity, activism, humour, community and survival. The problem is not youth expression. The problem is an economic and technological environment that converts frustration into spectacle, vulnerability into profit and grievance into mobilisation.

A continent cannot build industrial power, scientific depth, military seriousness, ethical citizenship and productive economies on a digital culture that rewards vulgarity, impatience, resentment and illusion. A nation’s future is shaped by what its young people repeatedly see, admire, imitate and desire.

This is why Nigeria needs a doctrine of cognitive security and digital sovereignty. Not censorship. Not thought control. Not protection of government from criticism. A serious doctrine would protect children, citizens, institutions and national cohesion from behavioural exploitation, algorithmic manipulation, foreign influence and digitally amplified self-destruction.

Such a doctrine should begin with children. Children should not use the same internet as adults. Platforms operating in Nigeria should be required to provide mandatory youth modes with time limits, night restrictions, no stranger messaging, no targeted gambling advertising, betting inducements or gambling-like design features aimed at minors, no sexualised recommendation pathways, no predatory livestream features and strict protections against grooming, sextortion and bullying. Targeted advertising to children should be heavily restricted. Addictive design features aimed at minors should be treated as public harm.

The doctrine should then extend to platforms. Companies that shape Nigeria’s public conversation must be accountable to Nigerian law. They should provide algorithmic risk assessments, transparency on political advertising, mechanisms for detecting coordinated inauthentic behaviour, local channels for lawful escalation during crises, and independent audits of systems that amplify harmful content. A platform that profits from Nigerian attention must carry obligations to Nigerian society.

Nigeria cannot compel global platforms by rhetoric alone. It will need lawful market-access rules, regional coordination through African institutions, alignment with emerging global standards and credible technical capacity. Nigeria’s leverage will be limited if it acts alone, which is why this agenda should ultimately become an African regulatory project rather than a purely Nigerian complaint.

Schools must become part of the defence. Digital literacy should not be a decorative subject. It should teach children how manipulation works, how algorithms reward emotion, how disinformation spreads, how images can deceive, how influencers monetise trust, how FOMO weakens judgment and how to verify before sharing. Attention discipline should become part of education. A child who cannot concentrate cannot learn deeply. A society that cannot concentrate cannot build seriously.

National security institutions must also adapt. Nigeria needs capacity to understand cognitive threats, foreign influence operations, extremist propaganda, digital mobilisation patterns, financial panic narratives, ethnic hate campaigns and fifth-generation warfare dynamics. This does not mean spying on citizens for political purposes. It means recognising that hostile influence today may travel through memes, influencers, hashtags, short videos, diaspora networks, anonymous accounts, artificial amplification and manipulated grievance.

The state must also improve its own conduct. Governments create information vacuums when they communicate late, defensively, arrogantly or dishonestly. In a digital age, silence is not empty. It is occupied by speculation. If government wants citizens to resist manipulation, it must earn trust through speed, transparency, competence and accountability. Strategic communication is now part of national security.

Implementation should be phased and disciplined. First, child digital protection law: youth modes, age-appropriate design, restrictions on betting inducements and stronger protections against predatory contact. Second, platform transparency: political ad libraries, crisis escalation desks and public reporting on coordinated manipulation. Third, education: digital literacy, verification, attention discipline and civic reasoning. Fourth, national security capacity: cognitive threat analysis under law. Fifth, oversight: courts, parliament, data protection regulators, child experts, civil society and independent technical auditors. Because child protection, data governance, cyber regulation and platform accountability cut across federal, state and sectoral jurisdictions, the framework would require careful legislative design rather than executive improvisation.

Nigeria and Africa must move beyond the false choice between authoritarian control and helpless laissez-faire. The real choice is between algorithmic domination by private and foreign interests, and constitutional governance of the digital environment in the public interest.

This is the age of the battle for the mind. The strategic assets of the twenty-first-century state include not only territory, oil, minerals, data centres, ports, satellites, armies and currencies. They include attention, trust, childhood, truth, social cohesion, institutional legitimacy and national imagination.

A country can lose its future without losing a war. It only needs to lose control of the forces shaping its children, citizens, emotions, loyalties, aspirations and public truth.

Nigeria must not wait until the damage becomes irreversible. The feed is no longer merely a feed. It is a school, a market, a battleground, a pulpit, a casino, a theatre, a parliament, a recruiting ground and a mirror. If we do not govern it wisely, it will govern us silently.

The battle for Nigeria’s mind has already begun. The question is whether we understand the battlefield before it is too late.

Rear Admiral Ati-John (Rtd) psc(+) fdc(+) is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Defence College, Abuja, and writes from Lagos.