News
Digital Democracy: Nigerians Die 10 Years Earlier Than Her Neighbours. Why Don’t We Use Digital Ingenuity to Fix That?
By Joel Popoola
Nigeria spends more on healthcare than almost any of our neighbours – but we have very little to show for it.
In fact, despite an almost five-fold increase in health spending since 2001, we continue to have far worse health outcomes than countries that spend a lot less.
Individual health expenditure in our nation rose from $19 per person per year in 2001 to $84 in 2019. We spend the third highest amount on healthcare in West Africa.
But Nigerians still have an average life expectancy of 54, the fifth lowest in the world. If you are born in Ghana instead of Nigeria you will live 10 years longer. If you are Swiss or Japanese, you can expect to live for three decades more than the average Nigerian.
Nigeria has 20% of the world’s maternal deaths – deaths of mothers within a year of giving birth – despite Nigerians making up just 2.6% of the world’s population
And we have the fourth highest levels of infant mortality on Earth. Our children are more likely to die before the age of 5 than their counterparts in countries like Somalia with long-term civil instability.
As a businessman, I find the return on our national investment unacceptable.
As a father and a proud Nigerian, I find it scandalous.
For comparison, Senegal, with a lower GDP, and 30% less health expenditure, enjoys much lower mortality, higher life expectancy and lower levels of disability than Nigeria.
Of course, we need infrastructure improvements to improve access to healthcare – particularly in rural areas, but a recent international study of Nigeria’s healthcare system had other valuable suggestions too.
The report, published by the globally-recognised medical research journal The Lancet highlighted to backward state of record keeping in the Nigerian healthcare system, stating:
“Such is the “near-absence” of records that only one in 10 deaths is registered, creating a paucity of data that makes it impossible to take rational decisions about healthcare priorities”
“We call on the Federal Government, working with state governments, to fund and lead the development of standards for the digitisation of health records and better data collection, registration and quality assurance systems”.
The report also calls for:
“A National Medical Research Council with 2% of the health budget and central government funding to award competitive peer reviewed grants (to) support high quality evidence and innovation.”
Digital innovation is something Nigeria does excel at. We are an innovative nation. No African nation has as many unicorn technology businesses – those valued at over $1bn – than Nigeria.
Might Nigeria’s natural genius for digital technology not do for healthcare what we have already done for fintech?
Put simply, the federal government needs to work with our innovative digital firms to close the intelligence gap in our healthcare system.
As it so often the case, our democratic shortcomings are at the heart of our failure on healthcare.
As the Lancet report puts it:
“Health lies at the core of national legitimacy and that, without it, the foundations of democratic government are shaken in a country that boasts Africa’s largest economy and is home to about one in five people on the continent
“If the country confronts its toughest challenges—a complex political structure, weak governance, poor accountability, inefficiency, and corruption—it has the potential to vastly improve population health.”
It is not just our healthcare that needs to be more digitally accessible and transparent. Our democracy does too.
At the digital democracy campaign I lead, we are dedicated to developing simple technological solutions to closing the gap between politicians and the people they serve.
Our free Rate Your Leader app allows registered voters to directly communicate with local politicians – building trust, transparency and accountability, and allowing a two-way flow of information which educates and benefits both parties. This dialogue in turn builds confidence in our political institutions and processes.
Rate Your Leader lets decision makers show themselves to be accessible, accountable and responsive to the people who decide whether or not they’ll have a job after the next election. It also gives them real-time insight into the things that matter most to the people who elect them, and how to address them. Things like access to healthcare.
Health is central to the development of any country.
“(The Lancet report) provides a number of excellent recommendations, some of which are already being implemented but many of which we will carefully consider,” said Vice President Osinbajo recently.
Let us hope that digitisation of our healthcare system is one of the changes that are implemented or considered – not least when our digital industrials have the skills and solutions we need to deliver it.
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, digital democracy campaigner and is the creator of the free Rate Your Leader app.
By Eric Elezuo
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has announced the release of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2025–Second Series.
The examination, according to a statement signed by the Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Ms Moyo Adesina was written between Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, December 17, 2025 with a total of
SIXTY-NINE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND FOUR (69,604) candidates, in 370) centres across the country.
The statement noted that “Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, SIXTY-ONE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE (61,943) candidates, representing 94.21 % have their results fully processed and released while THREE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINE (3,809) candidates, representing 5.79% have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them.”
It further added that “THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINE (33,989) candidates representing 51.69% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics) while TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN (27,727) candidates representing 42.17% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Council said that a total of 1,899 Candidates’ results, representing 2.89 % of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice, and that the cases are being investigated.
The Council therefore, advised candidates to check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with the results.
The Federal government has filed a three-count charge against a former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over the alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Last week, El-Rufai claimed in an interview that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the Federal Government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), filed charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television on Monday, the government stated that El-Rufai admitted that he and his cohorts allegedly intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations.
The charges:
Count 1
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count 2
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count 3
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
News
INEC Consults, Seeks Legislative Intervention As Reactions Trail Release of 2027 Election Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission has acknowledged public concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections, which coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayers for Muslims, and said it may seek legislative intervention if necessary.
This was disclosed in a statement by the National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Friday.
The commission explained that the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general election was developed in strict compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and INEC’s own Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.
The statement highlighted that the Regulations and Guidelines, issued since 2019, prescribe the dates for elections:
Accordingly, INEC fixed Saturday, February 20, 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly Elections.
However, the commission acknowledged public concerns regarding the timing of the elections, which coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.
INEC said it is sensitive to such considerations and remains open to adjustments.
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, the commission has taken due notice of concerns expressed by stakeholders regarding the coincidence of the scheduled dates with certain nationally recognised holidays and observances.
“The commission wishes to assure the public that it remains sensitive to all legitimate concerns that may impact electoral participation and the overall conduct of elections.
“In view of these representations, the commission is currently undertaking consultations and may, where necessary, seek appropriate legislative intervention to address the concerns raised, while ensuring that any adjustment remains consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements,” the statement said.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and the credible conduct of the 2027 general elections, promising to keep the public informed of any changes.
The commission had earlier scheduled party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for the nomination of candidates, alongside the general election dates.
Recall political figures like former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reconsider the February 20, 2027 date announced for the next general elections.
They expressed concerns that the timing coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, which could affect participation by Muslim voters.
The Punch
