W. E. Orukpe

This study examines China and infrastructural development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023, with particular attention to the evolution, nature, and impacts of Chinese involvement in key infrastructure sectors such as railways, roads, ports, and energy. It situates the analysis within the broader framework of Nigeria–China relations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has significantly expanded China’s infrastructural footprint in Nigeria since 2013. The study adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach relying on secondary sources, including journal articles, policy reports, and official documents. Findings reveal that China has become a dominant external partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure financing and construction, particularly through loans from the China Exim Bank and China Development Bank. Major projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan railway, Abuja–Kaduna rail line, and several highway and port developments demonstrate China’s central role in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding infrastructure deficit. Evidence suggests that these projects have improved connectivity, reduced transportation costs, enhanced trade facilitation, and contributed to job creation and technology transfer. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including rising external debt exposure, concerns about project sustainability, delayed project execution in some cases, and debates over sovereignty and dependency. Critics argue that while infrastructural gains are visible, Nigeria’s heavy reliance on Chinese loans raises long-term fiscal and policy risks. The study concludes that China’s infrastructural engagement in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023 has been both transformative and contentious: transformative in addressing critical infrastructure gaps, yet contentious due to financial and governance implications. It recommends stronger contractual transparency, improved domestic capacity, and diversified funding sources to ensure sustainable infrastructural development in Nigeria.

Military coups have re-emerged as a major challenge to regional security and democratic governance in West Africa in the 21st century. Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger have experienced repeated unconstitutional changes of government, raising concerns about political instability, weak institutions, insecurity, and the declining trust in democratic leadership. This study examines the causes, implications, and regional security consequences of military coups in West Africa. The study adopts a qualitative research approach using secondary sources such as journals, textbooks, reports, and online publications. It explores factors including poor governance, corruption, electoral irregularities, economic hardship, terrorism, and external influence as major drivers of military intervention in politics. The study further evaluates the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional bodies in managing conflicts and restoring democratic order. Findings reveal that recurring coups undermine regional integration, economic development, peace, and security efforts within the sub-region. The study concludes that strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance, addressing insecurity, and improving socio-economic conditions are essential to reducing the occurrence of military coups and enhancing regional stability in West Africa.

This study explores the nature and dynamics of diplomatic relations between the Ukwuani and Urhobo people in pre-colonial Nigeria. It examines how both groups, through geographical proximity and shared socio-economic interests, developed systems of interaction that fostered peaceful coexistence, mutual cooperation, and conflict resolution. The study argues that diplomacy in this context was not formalized in the modern sense but was embedded in indigenous institutions such as kinship ties, marriage alliances, trade partnerships, and the use of emissaries and traditional rulers. The research further analyzes the role of trade particularly in agricultural produce and local crafts as a major driver of diplomatic engagement, alongside cultural exchanges that reinforced inter-group solidarity. It also highlights mechanisms for resolving disputes, including the intervention of elders, councils, and ritual practices that maintained balance and order. Despite occasional conflicts, these indigenous diplomatic strategies ensured relative stability and continuity in relations. The study concludes that Ukwuani–Urhobo relations in the pre-colonial era reflect a sophisticated system of indigenous diplomacy rooted in reciprocity, respect, and shared values. It underscores the relevance of these traditional practices as a foundation for understanding inter-ethnic relations and conflict management in contemporary Nigerian society