In recent years, the obsession with weight loss in Nigeria has morphed into an alarming public health concern. Across cities and rural communities alike, men and women are adopting extreme and unsafe methods to shed kilogrammes quickly, often driven by social media trends, celebrity culture, and deeply rooted societal expectations. The beauty ideal has become narrower, more Westernised, and unforgiving, causing many to chase an often unattainable version of “slimness”. As a result, dangerous practices such as unregulated drug use, prolonged fasting, extreme calorie restriction, cosmetic surgery tourism, and consumption of herbal concoctions have become widespread. Body image perception in Nigeria has evolved rapidly. Where once fuller bodies were celebrated as symbols of wealth, fertility, and health, today’s beauty standards, fuelled by social media influencers, Nollywood celebrities, and Western media, place a premium on slimness. Terms like “snatched waist,” “figure 8,” and “slim thick” have become aspirational labels, encouraging people to conform at any cost. According to a 2023 study by the Nigerian Institute for Health and Human Behaviour, over 68 per cent of urban Nigerian women aged 18–35 reported dissatisfaction with their bodies, citing social media as the top influence.   The rise of diet pills and slimming teas Weight loss pills and teas are among the most common and accessible methods for fast-track weight loss. These products, mostly unregulated and sold via social media vendors, promise quick results without exercise or dieting. However, many contain banned substances like sibutramine, which has been linked to heart complications. In March 2024, a 24-year-old Lagos-based influencer was hospitalised after collapsing at a photoshoot. Doctors later traced her condition to a toxic weight loss supplement imported from Asia. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has struggled to stem the influx of these products due to porous borders and a booming underground market. During the course of this story, our correspondent saw several social media vendors advertising various weight loss products. Ranging from teas and herbal mixtures to ointment and pills, these vendors promise fast results. One promised that the results would be ‘massively visible in only three days’. Experts have noted that weight loss is gradual and cannot be sustained over a few days’ plan of consuming untested, unlabelled concoctions.   Prolonged fasting, starvation diets The intersection of religion and weight loss has also produced some troubling behaviours. Prolonged fasting, often inspired by spiritual goals, is increasingly co-opted as a weight loss method. In one such case, a 32-year-old banker in Enugu reportedly engaged in a 40-day dry fast for “spiritual and weight loss purposes” and collapsed on day 28. Starvation diets promoted by self-styled wellness coaches can deprive the body of essential nutrients, leading to anaemia, hormonal imbalance, and organ damage. An auditor with one of the big four corporations, who chose to be identified as Eden for personal reasons, told our correspondent that he had gone on a 19-day water fast, consuming only table water for the period. “On Day 19, my eyes went completely blank, and I fainted at work. When I woke up, I was in the hospital, and the doctors said I lacked several macro and micro nutrients. When he asked if I was eating, I opened up to him that I was on a weight loss journey,” Eden said. According to Eden, the doctor was shocked as he was only 78 kilogrammes and was over 6 feet tall. “The thing is, my ex-girlfriend told me that I had a big stomach, and I wanted to change that, so I read somewhere that if I fasted continuously for 30 days, the stomach would go inside. “Did it work? Honestly, I don’t know but I knew that I was lacking energy and couldn’t sleep, and my entire body changed. I just knew it was not sustainable,” he said. A registered dietician and nutritionist, Emmanuel Udoh, had stressed that intermittent fasting could be done with the guidance of an expert, but that prolonged hunger strike could have long-term consequences. “Our bodies need these nutrients. I know that fasting has its own benefits, but it should be done with guidance and utmost care. Going for prolonged days without any medical advice can cause serious harm to the body,” he said. Udoh advised anyone who wanted to lose weight sustainably and maintain a leaner frame to visit a hospital and speak to a nutritionist for a meal plan that would work for their body type, considering all factors, including health risks and medical history.   Unsafe herbal mixtures, concoctions Locally brewed herbal mixtures, or “agbo,” are widely consumed for weight loss. While some herbs have medicinal value, most agbo formulations are unregulated, with unknown ingredients and dosages. Vendors often mix diuretics and laxatives, creating a toxic cocktail that can cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and kidney failure. In Kano, a 2022 study found that 41 per cent of women aged 18 to 40 had consumed at least one herbal product for weight loss in the past year.   Laxative abuse, colon cleansing The misuse of laxatives as a weight loss tool is another growing concern. Social media influencers frequently recommend “detox” routines that include excessive laxative use. Medical professionals warn that such abuse leads to chronic constipation, dependency, and damage to the digestive tract. Colon cleansing kits are also popular despite little scientific backing. A University of Ibadan study in 2023 found that 25 per cent of university students had used some form of colon cleansing to lose weight.   Excessive exercise, gym dependency While exercise is a healthy part of any weight management plan, compulsive exercising without rest or nutritional support can do more harm than good. Gym culture in cities like Lagos and Abuja has become increasingly competitive. Personal trainers with no formal education in physiology often push clients beyond safe limits. Overtraining syndrome, characterised by insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, and hormonal dysfunction, is on the rise. In 2023, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital reported a 32 per cent increase in exercise-induced hospital admissions over the past five years.   Mental health, eating disorders, stigma The conversation around weight loss in Nigeria rarely includes mental health. Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, previously thought to be rare in African populations, are now being diagnosed with growing frequency. Cultural silence and stigma make it difficult for sufferers to seek help. A 2022 survey by the Nigerian Psychological Society showed that less than 10 per cent of respondents had ever heard of bulimia nervosa. Those struggling with weight-related anxiety and body dysmorphia often mask their symptoms, increasing the risk of psychological breakdowns.   Liposuction and BBLs Cosmetic surgery clinics have mushroomed across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, driven by demand for procedures such as liposuction and Brazilian Butt Lifts, popularly known as BBLs. Though some of these centres are reputable, others are poorly equipped and staffed by underqualified personnel. The tragic death of a 29-year-old woman in July 2023 after a botched BBL in Lekki sparked nationwide debate. Her death was one of at least 14 linked to cosmetic surgery complications between 2021 and 2024, according to a report by the Nigerian Association of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeons. The lack of regulatory oversight, coupled with patients’ desperation and secrecy, contributes to an environment where profit trumps safety.   The price of perfection Many Nigerians are spending beyond their means to attain the ideal body. From N15,000 slimming teas to N3m cosmetic procedures, the financial toll can be staggering. Some borrow or enter exploitative relationships to fund their weight loss journeys. An investigation by a leading Nigerian newspaper in 2023 found that one in seven young women in Lagos had taken out a loan to fund a beauty-enhancing procedure or product. The pressure to meet beauty standards is fuelling economic decisions that jeopardise long-term well-being.   Regulatory silence? Regulators have been slow to catch up. NAFDAC has warned against some weight loss products, but prosecutions are few. Influencers operate unchecked, peddling unverified products with zero consequences. Hospitals are seeing more botched procedures, but a culture of shame and secrecy keeps stories buried. Society, too, bears guilt. Fatphobia is rampant. From classrooms to boardrooms, comments like “You’ve added o!” are not just frequent, they are expected. For many Nigerian women, weight is a constant, public negotiation of value. Men, though often overlooked in the conversation, are not spared. Gym culture, steroid abuse, and male fasting trends are on the rise, albeit in less documented terms. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, warned Nigerians to always check for the agency’s unique number on a product before patronising any vendor. She also warned that anyone caught selling untested and undocumented products would be met with stiff sanctions and face the long arm of the law.   Safer, healthier alternatives Medical consensus remains clear: sustainable weight loss must be gradual, balanced, and behaviour-focused. The National Institutes of Health advises a daily caloric deficit of 500 to 1,000 kcal as a safe and effective strategy. This typically translates to a loss of 0.5 to 1 kilogramme per week. A key aspect of this is consistent physical activity. The Guardian UK highlights a study recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise weekly, with additional strength training, to reduce body fat and support long-term weight management. A public health expert in Abuja, Abubakar Bello, suggests integrating local, affordable foods into nutrition plans. “Nigerian diets are naturally rich in fibre, legumes, vegetables, and lean proteins. If prepared healthily, our local dishes can actually support a very effective weight loss journey,” he said. Udoh also warned of overeating. He said, “The problem with people who gain weight is that most of them overeat. There are hormonal and genetic issues, but most of the problems are that Nigerians consume too much processed sugar, especially in liquid forms, and we also have the tendency to binge-eat and eat at very odd hours.” Experts also encourage mental wellness as part of the solution. Behavioural therapy, food journaling, group support, and goal-setting are all proven tools to help individuals make mindful, lasting changes. Some even advocate intuitive eating and the ‘Health at Every Size’ approach, which shifts focus from appearance to overall well-being. The dangers of unhealthy weight loss practices are not limited to the individual. These habits can contribute to a wider national crisis of disordered eating, malnutrition, rising non-communicable diseases, and poor mental health. Public health officials are urging stronger regulation of slimming products, clearer labelling, and nationwide health education campaigns. A 2024 report from the WHO posits that while new pharmacological tools (like GLP-1 receptor agonists) show promise, they must be integrated responsibly within a broader system of care and not marketed as silver bullets.

In Nigeria, countless citizens are languishing in prison for years without trial, often forgotten by the justice system and society. Many of them are victims of wrongful arrests, police brutality, or mere suspicion, with no legal representation. VICTOR AYENI writes about the ordeal of these individuals and their journey to freedom Gospel Kinanee was lost in thought and detached in spirit as he looked outside from behind bars at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre in Rivers State. With distant eyes which radiate sadness from deep in the soul, the Ogoni native barely spoke unless spoken to first. And when he responded, his thoughts seemed to be fragmented. But there was something in Kinanee that called out for help, healing and sought justice. Sunday PUNCH gathered that Kinanee went missing from his family home in 2007, when he was just 14 years old. He had been sleeping outside one night when, according to his account, a group of policemen swept into his remote Ogoni village and forcefully took him. Some witnesses alleged that the police had raided his community during a crackdown on suspected cultists. The adolescent was first taken to a holding cell and was eventually transferred to the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre. Sunday PUNCH gathered that no charges were filed against Kinanee, and no explanation was given to him as to why he was arrested. He only recalled waking up behind prison walls a few days after his arrest, a sordid reality which put a brutal end to his childhood. Since that fateful day, the distraught teenager, now a 32-year-old and aged beyond his years, has watched from behind the prison bars as the sands of time slipped by. On the other hand, for years, Kinanee’s family desperately searched for him. They knocked on doors, reported to authorities, prayed, hoped, and eventually mourned him as dead. However, in September last year, Kinanee saw the first rays of hope beam on him when volunteers of Haven360 Foundation, a non-profit organisation that focuses on justice reform, visited the correctional centre during one of its outreaches. The ‘ghost’ who returned home When the volunteers of the Haven 360 Foundation dug deeper, they encountered a shocking discovery: there was no record of Kinanee in the prison system. He was incarcerated, but had no case file or documentation, and was practically ‘invisible’ behind bars. These kinds of inmates are known as ‘ghost prisoners.’ Due to missing files or a lack of documentation, they are neither convicted in a trial nor formally accused. They are languishing away in correctional centres, but they do not exist in legal terms. They are forgotten by the prison system and bereft of hope. Despite Kinanee’s mental condition and difficulty in communicating, the team of Haven360 Foundation was determined to help him regain his freedom. After months of letters, investigations, petitions, and sleepless nights, they traced his family and confirmed his identity. Last week Thursday, after being locked away in silence and forgotten for 18 years, Kinanee was formally discharged by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi. The move was part of efforts to reduce the congestion in correctional facilities across the state. Justice Amadi confirmed that no charge had existed against Kinanee, and he was one of the freed 21 awaiting-trial inmates at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre. It was an emotional moment on July 17, as Kinanee walked out of the prison and was reunited with his family. In a video posted on the Haven360 Foundation’s Instagram page on Tuesday, Kinanee could be seen with his elder brothers and three nephews back in his family home. “We can’t imagine the years that have been taken away from him, and we can’t imagine the loss that he has suffered, but we believe with God’s support from the foundation, he is going to do better. “By tomorrow, that is, Monday, we will ensure that he receives medical attention, mental and otherwise, that he urgently needs,” a member of the team standing next to Kinanee said. The state Chief Judge further explained that the decision to release the 21 inmates from the correctional facility was based on a review of their cases. Justice Amadi further disclosed that two inmates released alongside Kinanee, who were mentally challenged persons, had also spent almost a decade behind bars, and urged the police to conduct diligent investigations before charging suspects in court. ‘Life in prison was too tough’ David Eddiong, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, was a pipeline welder in the city of Port Harcourt, where he lived with his widowed mother. However, due to financial constraints, Eddiong could not afford to buy the equipment required for his occupation and in a bid to survive, he decided to become a commercial driver. One day in 2020, he was arrested alongside some other individuals by SARS officers. According to Eddiong, the other individuals who were arrested that evening were able to bail themselves out of the police cell, but he had no money, so he was left there all alone. “The next day they asked me if I would call anybody, and I told them I didn’t have anybody living with me in my house then, so they took me to SARS detention the next day. “From the SARS facility, I was taken to prison. The case had no ground, there was no complainant, no charges filed against me, so I was just there since 2020 without going to court. I was left alone in there. “Life in prison was so tough for me. There was no food; everything was just about money. If you want to eat, you have to bring money; if you want to bathe, you pay. Even if you want to use the toilet, you pay,” Eddiong said, in a video posted on the Haven360 Foundation website.  SARS, a Nigerian Police Force unit, was created in 1992 to tackle crimes associated with robbery, vehicle theft, and kidnapping. The unit was controversial for its links to forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, extortion, framing and torture, among others. On October 11, 2020, the unit was disbanded after widespread protests across Nigeria themed #EndSARS were staged. Recounting what took place while her son was in prison for four years, Eddiong’s mother said after she sought help from people, without success, she prayed to God to spare her son’s life in prison. “I didn’t have a husband, brother or sister,” she said, wiping tears from her face. “Sometimes I would cry, and there were times I was hungry, because my son, who was supposed to help me, had been taken away from me. “Whenever he called me and told me he was hungry, I would wander in my thoughts. The little money I could gather, I would send someone in the family to give him, so he wouldn’t die. “There was a day his sister called me on the phone and told me that there was no food for my son in prison, that the available food was not good, and he couldn’t eat it, so he wouldn’t die, because people were dying in there. Sometimes, his sister would send him money.” Stuck with no financial means, with his mother being unable to provide much help due to her age, Eddiong sought the help of a team member of an NGO who promised to help him regain his freedom. “That day, I started to pray to God to help him so he could take me out of prison, and God answered my prayers. I was released in October last year. I’m so happy,” he added. Sunday PUNCH learnt that Eddiong was released alongside four other detainees from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre. The other inmates unjustly imprisoned for years were Nwekeala Chizoba, Innocent Lagbai, Gabriel, and Lokpia. Chizoba was said to have been awaiting trial in the correctional centre for over eight years. All of the inmates had been wrongly imprisoned without any documentation, which made the NGO’s legal team unable to locate the necessary courts that ordered their remand. Three other inmates – Samuel Justice, Victor Poko, and Sokoma- who had been awaiting trial for over six years were not charged in court because they had no files and the courts which remanded them could not be ascertained. “We persistently petitioned and reached out to key officials from Rivers State to Abuja. Eventually, we caught the attention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief Judge of Rivers State. Noting our persistence, the Chief Judge made an unexpected visit to the prison to specifically inquire into the case and ordered their discharge. “We were at the Port Harcourt prison late into the day to ensure the administrative process for their release was completed. They are now free and being treated to decent care by our directors, with plans for rehabilitation and reunification with their families underway,” the Haven360 Foundation stated on its website. Indefinite detainment illegal – Lawyer Speaking on cases of individuals who were arrested and held in custody without a time limit, a lawyer, Cyril Ugonna, described such actions as an infringement of human rights and a slap in the face of the country’s justice system. “According to Section 35 of the Constitution, any person who is arrested or detained following the law must be brought before a court of law within 24 hours if a court of competent jurisdiction is within 40 km of the place of arrest. “The law also says that in any other case, the arrested person should be brought before a court within 48 hours. And if the person is not charged in court within this time, they must be released, either unconditionally or on bail. “Again, under Section 35 (1)(c ), it clearly states that a person can only be detained to bring them before a court based on reasonable suspicion of having committed a crime. Detaining suspects without charge or trial for an extended period, even in some cases, up to 10 years, is illegal and it should be frowned upon,” Ugonna told Sunday PUNCH. The lawyer decried delayed justice, which he described as a “disturbing problem” with the country’s legal system. “Section 35(4) mandates a trial within a reasonable time frame, after which the defendant must be freed. Holding detainees in custody for long, even for years, contributes to court and prison congestion,” Ugonna added. 16 years in Kirikiri On one night in June 2008, operatives of the now-defunct SARS unit barged into the home of Kazeem Adesina, a commercial driver in Sango Ota, Ogun State. The officers dragged Adesina out of his house, picked up other men from the area before they drove them all to the SARS office, which was in Ikeja. At the SARS office, Adesina and the other men who were rounded up were subjected to horrific torture.  According to him, his friend, Femi Olaniyan, who was arrested along with him, died in SARS custody after he was shot by the officers.  Not until the 53-year-old appeared in a courtroom did he realise that he was being tried for attempted armed robbery. “I didn’t even know most of the people they paired me with as case mates; they just grouped us to fit their narrative. We were remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison after a brief appearance at the Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja. “I told the Magistrate I wasn’t a thief and didn’t know the other suspects, but she told me to put my hand down. That was the last time I saw a courtroom,” he said. Adesina’s mother, a street sweeper, struggled to secure bail for her son by selling some of her property, but there was no headway in the case as the months rolled into years. During his years in detention, Adesina’s wife passed away while his son, a dispatch rider, barely knew his father. Ten years later, Adesina was granted bail, but the lawyer who was tasked with his case did not inform him, and he continued to languish in unconstitutional detention. In 2022, team members of the Ray of Hope Prison Outreach learned of Adesina’s unfair detention and took up the case. They arranged a lawyer for him and worked together on the necessary paperwork to secure his release. Eventually, in July 2024, after 16 years behind bars, Adesina walked freely out of prison. Figures provided by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s pretrial detainees as of 2023 are many without proper legal representation.  According to the 2021 Annual Report by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the council is faced with very inadequate funding and human resources to cater for the demand for legal representation. It stated that about 80 per cent of inmates who need legal representation cannot have access to such, which has left many prisoners behind bars without good court representation. “For this reason, most NGOs mount vital legal assistance services for indigent prisoners to supplement the government’s efforts. Organisations such as the Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, and Access to Justice are among those on the front line, lending counsel and admonitions, legal representation, and promotion of policy changes best ensuring access to justice,” a study published in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, stated. Why many inmates await trials Data provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime showed that in July 2025, Nigeria’s correctional centres held 81,686 inmates, with a significant portion, around 66 per cent, still awaiting trial. This figure of inmates still awaiting trial was lower than the figure presented a year ago in the same month. A chart published by Ray of Hope Prison Outreach last year showed that as of July 8, 2024, out of 82,895 inmates in Nigerian correctional centres, 69 per cent still awaited trial, while only 31 per cent were convicted. However, the Nigerian government, alongside organisations like the UNODC, has expressed its willingness to collaborate on reforms to improve conditions and reduce pre-trial detention. The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), decried the current state of the country’s correctional centres, which he said are overcrowded, under-resourced, and lack basic sanitation and healthcare. He described this as a reflection of a failure of infrastructure, justice, and humanity, adding that thousands of citizens are held in pre-trial detention for years due to poverty and lack of access to justice, while the rich have greater access to quality legal defense and bail, perpetuating systemic bias. Ojukwu urged the Nigerian government, judicial authorities, private sector, and civil society to prioritise comprehensive reforms in detention facilities and correctional centres, including improving conditions, investing in alternatives to pre-trial detention, ensuring speedy trials, and upholding the rights of inmates. Imprisoned for years On July 1, 2016, at just 18 years old, Abubakar Saidi’s life was stolen by injustice, one that left a deep scar on him. On that fateful day, Saidi was wrongfully arrested by police in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and thrown into prison. Without trial, formal charges, or evidence against him, Saidi endured incarceration for nine years, and he lost contact with his family in Kano State, who had assumed the worst. However, in August last year, he was set free after the court granted him an unconditional discharge. Garuba Yahaya (not his real name), suffered a similar fate in 2019, when he was wrongfully accused of kidnapping and arrested by the police. There were no formal charges filed against him, and his cries for help were ignored. For almost six years, Yahaya, who was 25 years old at the time he was imprisoned, was subjected to hardship and inhumane treatment ranging from starvation to assault to molestation. However, the tide changed towards good in his favour in May last year, when his case was taken up by a legal team from a non-profit organisation. Finally, on July 24, 2024, the court struck out the charges against Yahaya and ordered his discharge. The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, lamented that law enforcement agencies abuse legal procedures as well as the legally stipulated safeguards against abuse of discretionary powers. “Many who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024 were subjected to arbitrary detentions without proper identification or cause by the arresting authorities, resembling abductions rather than lawful arrests. “Many were held incommunicado and denied access to family, legal representation, and medical care.” Nwanguma added, “Many persons in detention have no reason to be detained. The detention conditions and the exposure of young innocent persons to hardened criminals can negatively influence them. “Families are often uninformed and kept in the dark about the status, location, and conditions of detained individuals, exacerbating their suffering and compounding their distress. This is a flagrant violation of the due process safeguards provided under the Police Act 2020.” Lack of implementation Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Executive Director of Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, Yusuf Nurudeen, blamed the unjust arrests and incarceration in correctional centres on a deliberate lack of implementation of the country’s law. He explained that from 2015 onward, Nigeria has continually and progressively made laws that are now in compliance with international best standards in terms of the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. Citing the Lagos State enacted the Criminal Law of Lagos State and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, as well as the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, Nurudeen noted that these laws have progressively made clear provisions of how people behind bars and forgotten could be carefully addressed. “We also have clear provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, that were enacted to directly address the use of police brutality and the human rights of people who find themselves in connection with the police. “But the point is, most of these officers have been employed before these laws were enacted, but I have not seen a deliberate attempt made to interpret these laws to officers so they could understand them in the various services, and this gives us the problem of the implementation of the law. “For instance, the last Police Act that we had was enacted in 1943, which was 70 years before the Police Act 2020. So we now have officers who have been employed before this law was enacted, but there is no deliberate attempt to acclimatise them to the implementation of the law that establishes their operations and forms the fulcrum of their activities,” Nurudeen explained. Highlighting some solutions, he urged that a campaign for a full implementation of the law should begin. “There are several provisions in the Criminal Law of Lagos State of 2011 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, that even if you arrest a person, you must get details of that person, capture their faces and biometric data, and forward them to the Chief Judge of that state. “In the National Correctional Service Act, too, there are several provisions that say that once people are arrested and detained, the National Correctional Service in each state must compile the list of people in their custody and forward it to the Chief Judge of each state. The Chief Judge will now determine and describe what they are to do with that list. “These were deliberate attempts to see how our prisons will be decongested. We have similar provisions in the Police Act 2020, which says that the police must collect the data, process it and send it to the appropriate authorities for necessary actions to be taken. Sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Justice Act require that magistrates should go to police stations within their jurisdictions and do so as frequently as possible. “This, again, will make the police accountable for the number of people that are held in their custody from time to time,” Nurudeen added.

Aviation anxiety is rising globally as 49 crashes within the first six months of 2025 have killed over 529 people, sparking renewed fears over the safety of air travel, once considered the world’s safest transport mode. Experts, however, insist aviation remains safe, writes OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN Panic is growing both in the aviation industry and among passengers as what is believed to be the safest and fastest means of transportation begins to take human lives in droves. Just midway into 2025, the industry has experienced commercial and non-commercial aircraft incidents and accidents globally, resulting in the loss of hundreds of passengers. Private and military aircraft have not been spared in the fatal crashes. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives, there have been a total of 49 aircraft crashes between January and June 2025, claiming more than 529 lives, while many landed on hospital beds fighting for their lives. As alarming as these numbers are, aviation experts agreed that the severity and fatalities associated with the recent unfortunate incidents have increased compared to past years but insisted air travel remains the safest. In the first six months of the year, the National Transportation Safety Board said, since the beginning of 2025, at least 106 people have died in 20 aviation accidents in the U.S. alone. A mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with all 67 individuals on board both aircraft perishing. The Washington crash was the first fatal commercial aviation crash in 2025 and in the past 15 years in the US. Also, a Learjet 55, operating as Med Jets Flight 056, crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board and one person on the ground. Two days earlier, a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Eagle Air on behalf of Light Air Services crashed shortly after takeoff from GPOC Unity Airstrip en route to Juba International Airport in South Sudan, claiming the lives of 20 out of 21 occupants. In another surprising scenario, Bering Air Flight 445, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, disappeared from radar before its scheduled arrival in Nome. The wreckage of the plane was later found 34 miles from the destination, killing all 10 individuals on board. Like Bering Air Flight, in February, a U.S. military EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay near Shelter Island. Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued by a nearby fishing boat. No fatalities occurred. Not so long after Delta Connection Flight 4819, a Bombardier CRJ900, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping upside down. A mid-air collision between a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II occurred near Marana Regional Airport, resulting in two fatalities; the Cessna landed safely. The highest fatality in a single crash in the first six months of 2025 was recorded with the crash of the 787-8 Dreamliner operated by India Air, where a total of 274 persons lost their lives, expanding the scale of the worst single-aircraft disaster in the history of Indian aviation. The aircraft with 241 passengers and crew crashed on the campus of Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College, killing an additional 33 medical students, workers, and others in the Meghaninagar neighbourhood. Varying causes of crashes Although all crashes resulted in unpalatable stories, they all happened on different accounts. For instance, Air India Against the popular belief that the unfortunate Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner owned by the India Air airline, which has claimed the largest number of casualties this year at the time of filing this report, crashed over a faulty locking mechanism in the captain’s seat. A preliminary report published by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau published in mid-July 2025 showed that soon before the June 12 crash, fuel to the aircraft’s engines was cut off. Fuel control switches for the engines of an Air India flight that crashed last month were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before impact, starving both engines of fuel. The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, also indicated that both pilots were confused over the change to the switch setting, which caused a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff. A midair collision near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on the evening of Wednesday, January 29, also claimed the lives of 67 persons. The crash occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time when an American Airlines regional jet, arriving from Kansas, collided with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter operated by the U.S. Army. Initial reports suggest that the air traffic control staffing during the time of the incident was below normal levels, according to The New York Times. Preliminary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that the air traffic controller managing helicopter traffic was also overseeing planes departing and landing at the airport when the crash occurred. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation. In the same month, a pilot was killed while four others were injured after a Bombardier Learjet 35A veered off the runway on landing at Scottsdale Airport and crashed into a Gulfstream 200 business jet parked on private property. According to initial reports, the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision. One person died upon impact, according to Scottsdale Fire boss Capt. Dave Folio. He was identified Wednesday by the Scottsdale Police Department as 78-year-old Joie Vitosky, a pilot on the Learjet flight. The Maricopa County medical examiner will determine the cause of death, police said. Two individuals were in critical condition and sent to local trauma centres. Another person was sent to a local hospital, and a fourth refused treatment at the scene, he added. Also prominent among the unfortunate records was the case of a Cessna Caravan commuter plane operated by Bering Air that took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. on February 6 on a routine flight and disappeared from radar just an hour into the flight. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, an “event” occurred around 3:18 p.m., leading to the sudden drop in speed and altitude. By the time rescue crews arrived at the last known coordinates, they discovered wreckage scattered across the icy Bering Sea, with all 10 persons on board killed. Alaska State Troopers, the Coast Guard, and the NTSB launched an extensive investigation, sending a multi-state NTSB team to the site. The flight went missing in conditions of light snow and fog, with temperatures hovering around 17°F, aligning with the harsh realities of aviation in Alaska’s rugged and remote terrain. The third major U.S. aviation mishap in just over a week heightened national concern over an apparent spike in aeroplane tragedies. Year-on-year data The number of deaths already recorded in just six months of 2025 has surpassed the data recorded yearly in the last seven years. From records, in 2024, the number of aviation deaths stood at 416, higher than the 229 in 2023 but consistent with the averages of previous years: 578 in 2019, 463 in 2020, 414 in 2021, and 357 in 2022. The last time fatalities surpassed 1,000 was in 2018, when two Airbus planes crashed in Ethiopia and Indonesia.   Fear grips passengers With this significant spike in the number of deaths noticed in air accidents in the 2025 record compared to years past, air passengers, particularly in Nigeria, are concerned about aviation safety, taking into consideration accidents that have characterised the first half of the year. Many passengers’ phobia of air transportation seems to have increased, as many are trying to either minimise flying or avoid it as much as possible. While some blame the apparent rise in plane crashes on “random clustering,” where multiple incidents occur in a short timeframe, public perception has not been encouraging. A London-bound passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Dairo Ajediran, said that with the recent incessant crashes, there is a possibility of a recurring mistake ravaging the global industry. Ajediran, who met our correspondent on transit in June, said he ought to have returned to work in London on May 13, but the fear of incessant crashes kept holding him back. He noted that the tragic death of his friend, whom he said was unfortunately a victim of a crash in February, has remained fresh in his mind. “I can’t explain my feelings toward air transport anymore; this is really unspeakable! Aviation is global, and for this to have continued, it means there is an error that experts are yet to either identify, pay attention to, or try to keep away from the public.  “This year alone, I have lost two people to air accidents, and this is too much for me. The most painful was that of my very close friend, who was my neighbour in London. He recently completed his PhD programme. As a matter of fact, we are already planning a party for his convocation, only for him to die in a crash in February.” He added his discussion with an aviation expert showed that accidents will always be sudden, but incessant crashes are “mostly not of God but human errors.” He appealed to aviation handlers to rise to the occasion to minimise needless deaths across the world. Another Nigerian traveller also narrated his harrowing experience of flying with domestic airlines in the country, describing it as a “terrifying ordeal” marked by chronic delays, safety concerns, poor customer service, and deteriorating aircraft conditions. Olufemi Owoeye, a frequent domestic flyer, shared a deeply personal account that reflects growing public frustration with Nigeria’s aviation industry. “Flying with Nigerian airlines fills me with dread. Not just for delays, but for my safety. I wake early, eager for a 9 a.m. flight, only to learn at the airport it’s now 4 p.m., with no warning.” Owoeye described the anxiety caused by these unexplained delays, citing fears over aircraft safety. “The recent reports of frequent aircraft crashes haunt me; I am honestly terrified. Each delay increases my fears of a disaster waiting to happen.” His concerns go beyond flight schedules. According to him, cramped and worn-out seats make air travel uncomfortable, while cabin crew behaviour adds to the distress. Customer service is another source of frustration, as Owoeye painted a grim picture of long queues, unresponsive staff, and complaints that often go unheard. “Complaints about safety concerns vanish into thin air, leaving me feeling helpless and ignored.” He also raised the alarm over treatment in economy class, describing it as physically and emotionally exhausting. “Economy Class feels like a gamble with my life; passengers are treated like they are being done a favour,” he complained. “These issues are so common that I brace for them every trip. My heart races at the thought of a crash,” Owoeye added. While acknowledging that a few carriers strive to maintain higher standards, he argued that most appear indifferent to passenger fears, calling for stricter regulations, improved customer service, and a commitment to safety and professionalism across the board. “I long for stricter regulations, safe travels, and airworthy planes to ease my mind,” he said. “Until then, flying in Nigeria is a terrifying ordeal, where I pray for safe landings and dream of a day when reliable, safe air travel is the norm and not a rare hope.”   Experts intervene  Meanwhile, aviation experts say that although there were increased accidents and incidents, they insisted that the causes cannot be ascribed to shortcomings in the industry globally. The professionals also said the cause of the accidents cannot be generalised, as the unfortunate incidents happened on different grounds. Although some industry experts with various focuses in the industry raised concerns over the shocking development, they also allayed passengers’ fears, insisting that the aviation development had continuously recorded a forward progression, though with pockets of challenges. Citing the Air India aircraft accident in retrospect of the crashes and incidents, experts spoke differently but agreed that the causes of air incidents should not be a subject of speculation, as such might be counterproductive and unprofessional. Also baring his mind, a renowned aircraft engineer and retired Nigerian Air Force officer, Air Vice Marshal Moses Onilede (rtd), called for immediate disregard of circulating claims that a seat defect was responsible for the recent crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Speaking with our correspondents, Onilede emphasised the importance of waiting for the official accident investigation report, which is currently being conducted by Boeing and India’s Accident Investigation Body. “Firstly, and most importantly, I want the public to disregard the claim about the aircraft seat. That cannot be tenable at this time. This is not the first year in the existence of the aircraft type in question, and it would be professionally irresponsible to jump to conclusions without the full findings,” he asserted. Onilede also warned against misinformation being spread via artificial intelligence, noting that AI-generated content can appear realistic, including fabricated videos: “I received one of such videos a few days ago. I advise everyone to disregard such materials in their entirety.” While not ruling out the possibility of human error or technical failure, Onilede stressed that both are common immediate causes of air accidents. He cited scenarios such as bird strikes as potential triggers but maintained that technology and proper analysis would eventually reveal the truth about the incident. Beyond immediate causes, he called attention to the importance of reviewing remote factors such as maintenance standards, pilot training, and regulatory oversight once the investigation is concluded. Despite the tragic incident, Onilede reaffirmed that air travel remains the safest mode of transportation globally. He said, “When you compare the casualty rate with the vast number of air travellers, aviation still stands out as the safest. What we must keep pushing for is proper training, not just for pilots, but for everyone involved in flight operations.” Focusing on the Nigerian aviation sector, Onilede praised the recent interest shown by the Minister of Aviation in improving the industry, urging sustained efforts, particularly from the regulatory authorities. While stressing the importance of ongoing training and refresher courses in maintaining aviation safety, the industry expert added that “no airline should be allowed to operate without meeting the required safety and operational standards. If any operator falls short, they should be grounded until full compliance is achieved.” Also, Managing Director of Belujane Consult and former spokesperson of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Chris Aligbe, stressed that it will be inaccurate to generalise the cause of the incessant crashes and air incidents, stressing that the unfortunate developments have different peculiarities. The industry expert added that the report of the crashes by the accident investigators will better show where global aviation currently stands and where improvements are needed. He said, “For instance, the Air India incident has been said to have been caused by the seat of the aircraft, and I think some of the planes in India have been grounded to further investigate the issues, especially as it has to do with the seats. To then attempt to generalise the causes of the incidents will be very counterproductive. “Aside from the seat of the Air India, there was a head-on collision and all other incidents that have been recorded recently. So, we can only deal with each of the incidents in accordance with their peculiarity after the report of the incident by the accident investigation body of different countries makes their reports public.” A retired chief pilot, Muhammed Badamosi, echoed concerns over the growing number of crashes recorded globally within just six months. While corroborating Aligbe’s assertion, Badamosi said that while the cause of some of the crashes may be said to be human error, he added that some others may be mechanical. Comparing the Air India accident and the collision of two aircraft in Tokyo as a case study, Badamosi said, ”From statistics, there are about 52 air accidents in the first half of this year, with seven of the accidents fatal. Each accident has its own identity and has to be treated differently. Let us take Air India and the collision of two aircraft in Tokyo as a study. “For Air India, the accident was caused by a design error. A preliminary investigation report indicates that the captain’s seat railed back at the beginning of the takeoff climb. It shouldn’t have happened if a fail-safe mechanism had been incorporated in the design. The accident that claimed the lives of many people shouldn’t have been a case study. “This accident can be classified as human error on the side of the manufacturer of the aircraft series and not that of the pilot.” He further said, unlike the Air India, the Tokyo collision was a case of inattentiveness. He added, “As for the accident on the Tokyo runway in which a border guard aircraft made an unauthorised incursion on the active runway while a passenger aircraft was landing on the same runway, it was a clear case of inattentiveness of the border guard crew members. “Fortunately, only four members of the border guard aircraft died, and all passengers on the other plane and the captain of the border guard aircraft survived the accident. With this report, you will agree with me that every aircraft accident has to be treated differently depending on the cause.” He, however, added that such accidents happen when the “chain of doing the right thing is broken.” Another expert, Capt. Peter Adenihun, said the crashes that have occurred this year call for action in the aviation industry, stressing that reports from several of the accidents pointed to mechanical failure, technological vulnerabilities, and others. He observed that “Air crashes in 2025 have raised concerns about aviation safety. According to recent reports, there have been numerous incidents globally, mostly involving aircraft with fewer than 19 passengers, while commercial jets were also involved in some major crashes. He said, “Preliminary reports point to various factors, including mechanical failure, icy conditions, and potential technological vulnerabilities. Aviation watchdogs are investigating these incidents to identify root causes and improve safety measures. “These incidents have sparked discussions about aviation safety, regulatory oversight, and technological vulnerabilities.”

Every election season in Africa, particularly Nigeria, echoes with a desperate cry for good leaders, redeemers, and miracle-working saviours to rescue the nation from despondency. Campaigns overflow with promises of integrity, reform, and transformation. However, the real power to shape leadership outcomes positively or negatively doesn’t lie solely with the candidates; it rests mainly with the followers. In a democracy, numbers rule, and the majority, if credible, enlightened, and politically conscious, can demand and drive real change. Yet, when this followership is misinformed, transactional, or complicit, even the best intentions collapse under the weight of a corrupt system. The brutal irony, however, is that followership most times is steeped in corruption, tribalism, and transactional politics, while hoping to birth saints from the very system it enables and defends. The question isn’t where the good leaders are; it’s whether the society that produces them even wants good leaders. This contradiction forms the paradox of Nigeria’s leadership crisis, a society riddled with broken values, expecting angelic leaders. It is like planting thorns and expecting roses to bloom. Democracy thrives not only on the legitimacy of elections but also on the vigilance of the electorate. Nations like Norway, Canada, and Germany exhibit strong, transparent leadership not because of extraordinary politicians, but because of the strength of their civic culture. In these countries, citizens are educated, engaged, and empowered. They demand policies, question authority, protest injustice, and vote on issues, not emotions. From local government offices to the highest rungs of governance at the centre, Nigeria is plagued by a leadership problem. But what’s less discussed is that these leaders are not aliens; they emerge from the same communities, where citizens bribe to get ahead, inflate figures to win contracts, or offer money to bypass due process. The same parents who lecture their children on integrity also pressure them to cheat in exams to secure the future. The hypocrisy is both cultural and systemic. The need for enlightened followership is more urgent than ever. For decades, Nigeria’s leadership failures have been attributed to a string of corrupt or incapable leaders. Yet, this diagnosis only scratches the surface. The deeper question is: Who enabled them? Who cheered them into power, turned a blind eye to their past, or demanded ethnic or religious allegiance over merit? The uncomfortable truth is that poor followership, characterised by ignorance, blind loyalty, and political illiteracy, has fertilised the ground from which subpar leaders emerge. The reality is that bad leadership is the fruit borne from the soil of society and shaped by its values, influenced by its culture, and moulded by its expectations. When society tolerates, even celebrates, es shortcuts, dishonesty, nepotism, and mediocrity, it should come as no surprise when those same traits show up in the corridors of power. Where over 150 million citizens live in multidimensional poverty, political awareness takes a back seat as people think first of survival. Politicians exploit this desperation with tokenistic handouts during campaigns. Many citizens view elections as transactions, not a democratic process with long-term consequences. And until this perception changes, power will always go to the highest bidders. Leadership is not merely the product of ballots, constitutions, or party manifestos; it is a mirror, a reflection of the collective values, knowledge, priorities, and moral fabric of its people. When nations are governed by enlightened, informed, and politically engaged citizens, the quality of leadership naturally rises. Conversely, where ignorance, apathy, and transactional relationships dominate the populace, leadership often degenerates into tyranny, corruption, and incompetence. Africa, and particularly Nigeria, offers a sobering case study of this reality. True reform rarely starts in government houses; it often begins with enlightened citizens. The civil rights movement in the U.S., led by ordinary but informed citizens, forced systemic change. In Tunisia, the Arab Spring was triggered by a single act of defiance from a frustrated vendor, but sustained by masses who had reached a tipping point and could not stomach bad leadership and the attendant suffering.  Even in Nigeria, rays of this civic light are emerging. The #EndSARS movement in 2020 signified a new wave of youth-led civic awakening. Though brutally suppressed, it illustrated the potential of an informed and organised followership to challenge the status quo. NGOs, investigative journalists, and youth-led platforms like BudgIT, Enough Is Enough, and SERAP are beginning to redefine the civic space, demanding transparency and people-centred governance. Every four years, many Nigerians cast votes not based on vision, character, or record but along lines of tribe, religion, or personal gain. Politicians, knowing this, do not offer substance. They offer stomach infrastructure, distribute wrappers, or promise to “carry the people along, a euphemism for patronage and favouritism”. The tragedy is that many citizens do not vote to hold power accountable, but to partake in it. The question then arises: Can a society that does not value excellence produce excellent leaders? Can a population that is largely uninformed, uncritical, and transactional hold leaders to standards it does not hold itself? One of the gravest misconceptions in African political discourse is the belief that a society can somehow stumble upon saintly leaders amidst a sea of moral decay. But history shows that great leaders often emerge in societies that demand greatness. They are held accountable by institutions, pressured by informed electorates, and challenged by vibrant civic cultures. Countries like Finland, New Zealand, and Denmark are nations lauded for transparent, people-centred governance. Their leaders are not superhuman. They are products of systems that reward honesty, competence, and public service. These societies don’t just hope for integrity; they demand it, enforce it, and live it. In Nigeria, the pattern is disturbingly predictable. A new leader emerges with a promise to change everything. For a while, hopes soar, but then, the system swallows him, either through compromise or confrontation and the cycle of disillusionment resumes. Meanwhile, the same citizens who decry corruption are often complicit in the very acts they condemn when given the chance. Until the people undergo an inner reformation, leadership will remain a tragic reflection of society: flawed, self-serving, and stuck in a loop of failure. The real transformation, therefore, must begin from the ground up: with the family, in classrooms, through the media, and in everyday interactions. Being an enlightened citizen goes beyond formal education. It encompasses civic literacy, ethical reasoning, historical awareness, media literacy, and the ability to question, critique, and engage power structures constructively. Such citizens do not wait for the government to change their lives; they initiate, innovate, and influence it from the bottom to the top. In Rwanda, for instance, post-genocide recovery wasn’t achieved by leadership alone. A culture of discipline, self-reliance, and civic duty was reignited among the people. Community-based justice systems like Gacaca courts and citizen-driven development efforts helped rebuild trust and accountability. The success of this model underscores the truth: leaders cannot act beyond the consciousness of the people they serve. Leadership, no matter how well-intentioned, will always mirror the values, awareness, and resolve of the people. If followers are passive, uninformed, and ethically compromised, leaders will exploit that void. Nigeria and Africa’s hope lies not in a few saviours, but in millions of torchbearers who, with clarity and courage, light the path of accountability and progress. When the people rise in knowledge and conviction, even the most obstinate regimes must listen. As the 2027 elections approach, what Nigeria needs is not just a change of guard at the top, but a change in the moral compass at the base. A new kind of followership, enlightened, informed, ethical, and courageous, has to emerge. We must stop expecting saints from the same society that excuses corruption as “being smart” or claps for fraudsters because they brought the money home. We must teach integrity not just as a concept, but as a culture. We must build systems that reward merit, punish wrongdoing, and give power back to the people, not through slogans, but through consistent civic action. It is time to flip the script from asking who will lead us to asking how we will lead ourselves. Only then can we move from the shadows of dysfunction into the light of lasting transformation. In the end, leadership is a mirror. What it reflects is the true image of the people it leads. If we want better leaders, we must become better citizens and followers. The tragedy is not that saints are rare in leadership; the tragedy is that our society has stopped producing them. Until that changes, we will continue to elect not the leaders we need but the ones we deserve. Okoronkwo, a leadership and good governance advocate, writes from Lagos via [email protected]