Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines with our advocacy calls for today, 18 March, 2025.

1. ‘Houses burnt as violence breaks out in Plateau community’ – Punch

Once again, our beloved Plateau State has been turned into an open-air inferno, this time, the Shimankar community in Shendam area. 

Was it really about tradition, or is it just another excuse to keep communities divided while the powerful feast on our disunity? How many more ‘disagreements’ must escalate into funerals before we demand real security and accountability?

Our Take: If disputes over traditions can lead to mass violence, we should question who is really pushing the buttons behind the scenes. Community leaders must take responsibility for fostering peace, not fueling fires. The Plateau State government and security operatives should stop reacting after the blood spills. We need proactive security strategies, not just condolence messages.

2. ‘Nigeria-Brazil $1.1billion green project kicks off’ – The Guardian

While Nigerian farmers are still battling herdsmen clashes, inadequate infrastructure, and skyrocketing fertiliser prices, the government is signing billion-dollar deals to ‘boost agriculture’. And let’s not forget Cuba, a country grappling with its own economic crises, is now our new best friend for healthcare and education.

Our Take: The Green Imperative Project sounds great on paper, but Nigerians need to see tangible results. There is a need for a public audit of all agricultural initiatives to ensure they are not just another avenue for corruption. 

The government must focus on implementing and revitalising existing agricultural and healthcare programmes before committing to new foreign-funded projects

3. ‘Six years after court judgment, Sokoto man shot by State Security Service operatives gets justice’ – Premium Times

In a shocking turn of events that proves even the slowest wheels of justice eventually squeak into motion, a Sokoto-born businessman has finally received justice, six years after being shot by Department of State Security Service (DSS) agents and five years after the agency decided court judgments were more like ‘suggestions’ than actual rules.

Our Take:

The DSS, known for its impeccable record of ignoring court orders, has finally coughed up the compensation it owed, proving that even the most stubborn mule can be taught to drink water if you wait long enough.

However, this is not a victory for justice; it is a damning indictment of a system that allows security agencies to act like they are above the law. Meanwhile, the victim spent half a decade fighting for what should have been his right from day one: accountability.  

The government must establish a mechanism to ensure victims of state violence receive compensation without having to fight for years in court.