Trust and the Nigerian State (Part II)

Fairness, Power, and the Legitimacy Question

By Sola Adebawo

If trust is the invisible infrastructure of the state, then fairness is the foundation on which that infrastructure rests.

Citizens may not always agree with government decisions. They may endure difficult policies and even accept temporary hardship. But what they rarely tolerate for long is the perception that the system is biased, uneven, or selectively applied. At that point, the question shifts from “Is this policy necessary?” to something more fundamental: “Is this system fair?”

And once that question takes hold, legitimacy begins to erode.

This is where the conversation on trust moves beyond economics into a more complex terrain; identity, territory, and belonging. It is in this terrain that the Nigerian state is often most tested.

Consider the recurring tensions around boundary delineation and resource ownership across parts of the country. These are not merely technical disagreements about lines on a map. They are contests over history, identity, economic rights, and political recognition.

A current example is the dispute around Eba Island within the Atijere axis of Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State, where overlapping claims have emerged between Ondo and neighbouring Ogun State. At the centre of this tension is not just geography, but access to oil-bearing territory and the economic implications tied to resource derivation.

For the affected communities, the issue is far more than administrative classification. It is about ancestral ownership, cultural affiliation, and the right to benefit from resources located within what they consider their historical domain.

In such situations, the role of the state is not merely administrative. It is adjudicative.

The state becomes the referee.

And like every referee, its credibility depends not on the authority it wields, but on the fairness it is perceived to uphold.

In the case of Eba Island and the broader Ilaje–Ogun boundary question, communities are not simply awaiting an outcome. They are closely observing the process.

They are asking:

• Was due process followed?
• Were historical and ethnographic realities adequately considered?
• Were all affected communities meaningfully engaged?
• Was the process impartial, or does it appear influenced?

The answers to these questions shape perception far more than official pronouncements.

This is where legality and legitimacy begin to diverge.

A decision may be legally defensible, supported by statutes, commissions, or historical instruments. But if the affected communities perceive it as imposed, selective, or dismissive of their realities, legal correctness alone does little to secure acceptance.

Legitimacy, in this sense, is not conferred by process alone. It is earned through perceived fairness.

And fairness, importantly, is experienced – not declared.

In Nigeria’s context, fairness is rarely uncontested. Competing histories, identities, and economic interests mean that what appears just to one group may feel exclusionary to another. The challenge for the state, therefore, is not to eliminate disagreement, but to build confidence in the integrity of its processes.

In such contexts, legitimacy depends less on universal agreement and more on whether citizens believe the system is fair in how it arrives at decisions.

This distinction matters in a diverse federation where identity and resource questions are deeply intertwined. The management of such complexity requires more than administrative competence. It requires sensitivity, transparency, and a demonstrable commitment to impartiality.

When citizens believe this to be true, even unfavourable outcomes can be accepted with restraint. But when fairness is in doubt, even neutral decisions are met with suspicion.

This dynamic explains why disputes that might otherwise be resolved through technical mechanisms often escalate into broader tensions. What begins as a boundary issue can quickly evolve into a narrative of marginalisation or exclusion.

At that point, the state is no longer just resolving a dispute. It is defending its own legitimacy.

The implications are far-reaching.

In low-trust environments, every decision is interpreted through a lens of doubt. Institutions are not taken at face value; they are interrogated for hidden motives. Communication loses effectiveness because the credibility of the messenger is already weakened.

This is why fairness must be visible.

It is not enough for institutions to act fairly. They must be seen to act fairly.

This requires:

• Transparent processes that can withstand scrutiny
• Inclusive engagement that ensures all stakeholders are heard
• Clarity of reasoning, not just clarity of decision
• Consistency in application, regardless of political or economic interests

These are not abstract ideals. They are operational requirements for building legitimacy.

There is also a deeper lesson here about power.

In many governance contexts, there is an implicit belief that authority can resolve disputes—that once a decision is made at the centre, it will be accepted at the periphery.

But authority has limits.

It can enforce compliance. It cannot compel trust.

Authority can settle disputes temporarily. Only perceived fairness resolves them sustainably.

Trust, in this sense, is not imposed. It is negotiated over time, through a pattern of decisions that reinforce the belief that the system works for all—not just for some.

This is particularly critical in resource-linked disputes, where economic stakes are high and historical grievances often run deep. The perception that one group is being advantaged at the expense of another can quickly undermine social cohesion and fuel long-term instability.

The cost of getting fairness wrong is therefore not just reputational. It is structural.

It shapes how citizens relate to the state, how communities relate to each other, and how future policies are received.

The lesson is clear: in matters of identity and resource allocation, fairness is not a soft consideration. It is a strategic necessity.

As Nigeria continues to navigate complex governance challenges, the ability of the state to act—and be seen to act—fairly will increasingly determine its legitimacy.

Because in the end, citizens may comply with authority for a time. But they commit to systems they trust.

And where fairness is doubted, the state may retain authority—but it begins to lose allegiance.

In the next part of this series, we examine how trust, once weakened, can be deliberately rebuilt through institutional design, strategic communication, and leadership choices that align power with accountability.

Sola Adebawo is an accomplished energy executive and public affairs leader with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He has led Government, Joint Venture, and External Relations strategy, shaping policy engagement and strengthening stakeholder alignment across public, regulatory, and commercial institutions. An author, scholar, and ordained minister, he writes on social, economic, and cultural issues, strategic communication, and principled leadership.

Gambia’s Cany Jobe Wins Industry Pioneer Woman Award for gas sector leadership

By Sanna Camara

The Director of Exploration and Production at Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, Cany Jobe, has received the Industry Pioneer Woman Award for her leadership, technical expertise, contribution to Africa’s upstream sector, and commitment to frontier basin development, collaboration, and opportunities for women in energy.

Her service to the sector has not gone unrecognised in the continent, in West Africa and at home in The Gambia. Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Conakry (MSGBC Basin – the basin that has seen significant natural gas and oil discoveries in recent years, particularly offshore from Mauritania and Senegal, and expected to drive regional economic growth – Oil, Gas and Power Conference kicked off in Dakar, Senegal on 8-10 December 2025.

The MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 Conference closed its first day on December 9 with a gala dinner and awards ceremony, celebrating a transformative year for the region. The evening honored leaders and companies shaping West Africa’s evolving energy landscape, as Senegal, Mauritania and the entire MSGBC basin accelerate investments in hydrocarbons, renewable energy and green hydrogen. Among the awardees was Cany Jobe, affectionately ccalled the Gambia’s queen of the petroleum sector.

“MSGBC, we are here,” said H.E. Birame Souleye DIOP, Minister of Ministère de l’Energie, du Pétrole et des Mines – MEPM, adding, “What we are talking about tonight could shape the future of Senegal. We are making history.”

The conference & exhibition aims to unite the MSGBC region through energy cooperation, supporting cross-border collaboration and shared development strategies to drive sustainable growth and long-term economic integration across the Basin.

GORÉE GEV Senegal received the Excellence in Local Content Award for its role in building national capacity. The company collaborates with MODEC, Woodside Energy and Subsea7 on the Sangomar oil and Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas projects, supporting the creation of skilled jobs, skills transfer and national autonomy.

The Ministry of Energy of Guinea-Conakry has received the Renewable Energy Pioneer Award. The country is establishing itself as a regional leader in the sector thanks to projects such as Souapiti (450 MW) and Amaria (300 MW), the 84 MW CleanPower Generation project, and several programs aimed at universal electrification.

For four years, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power has established itself as the premier platform for industry leaders, innovators and policymakers in the MSGBC region. Each edition has played a crucial role in determining the region’s energy future, driving investment and advancing project development. By connecting governments, energy companies, global operators and financiers, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power facilitates strategic partnerships and regional cooperation.

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• By Sola Adebawo

The philosopher Alfred Korzybski’s maxim, “The map is not the territory,” provides a profound framework for understanding the Nigerian experience. It reminds us that our models of reality—our beliefs, narratives, and perceptions—are never the full, living reality they represent. For a nation as complex and dynamic as Nigeria, this distinction is not a mere intellectual exercise; it is a matter of national survival and a fundamental call to a more mature, development-conscious, and responsible form of journalism.

In the Nigerian context, the “map” is often a collection of familiar, and often limiting, narratives. It is the news headline that screams of ethnic strife, the political speech that paints an entire region with a single brushstroke of corruption, or the sensational social media post that frames our diverse country as a perpetual battleground. This map, while sometimes rooted in real events, is a gross simplification.The “territory,” on the other hand, is the full, sprawling reality of Nigeria. It is the resilience of a young entrepreneur in Lekki, the quiet innovation in a Kano factory, the vibrant inter-ethnic cooperation in a bustling Aba market, and the thousands of daily acts of kindness that go unreported. This is the part of the story that the simplistic map often leaves out.

Nationalism: A Map for Progress or a Fallacy?

Nationalism, at its best, is a powerful and unifying map for development. It is the shared belief in a common destiny and the collective will to build a better future. During Nigeria’s struggle for independence, this map of “One Nigeria” was a potent force, bringing together disparate groups for a common purpose.The danger, however, is the map-territory fallacy, where the idealized map of nationalism is confused with the complex, often messy, territory of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state. When our nationalist map becomes dogmatic—insisting that only one political ideology or one ethnic group holds the key to progress—it blinds us to the nuances of the real-world territory. It leads to the demonization of others and the rejection of alternative perspectives, stifling the very dialogue needed for true development.

Development Consciousness and The Search for the Real Territory

A development-conscious society is one that is constantly and critically checking its map against the territory. It understands that progress is not achieved by repeating the same tired narratives, but by seeking a deeper, more accurate understanding of the challenges and opportunities at hand.• In the Business Landscape: The map of Nigerian manufacturing often suggests a sector crippled by poor infrastructure and foreign competition. However, a journalist committed to exploring the territory would go beyond this easy narrative. They would visit a company like Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM). While the map might show IVM’s struggle with policy inconsistencies and import dependencies, the territory reveals something else: a determined workforce, a growing R&D department, and a conscious effort to build a local supply chain. The responsible reporter would capture not just the problems, but the grit, the vision, and the small victories that make development possible. The story is not just about the difficulty; it’s about the resolve.• In the Policy and Legislative Space: A new government policy or a proposed bill is a map—a theoretical blueprint for change. The map might promise economic growth or a new era of transparency. A responsible journalist knows their duty is to examine how this map translates to the territory of everyday life. An excellent example is the reporting on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. Instead of simply reprinting the official press releases (the map), investigative journalism explores the territory: the affected communities, the environmental impact, the details of the contracts, and the concerns of those who stand to be displaced. This kind of reporting doesn’t just inform; it holds power accountable and enriches the national conversation with the voices of those most affected by the policy.• In the Social Landscape: Perhaps the most dangerous of all maps are those that create an “us versus them” mentality. In a nation with deep historical divisions, irresponsible journalism can easily perpetuate these maps, leading to real-world consequences. We see this with the proliferation of fake news and hate speech, particularly on social media. A sensational headline about a farmer-herder clash (a tragic part of the territory) can be manipulated to create a map of endless ethnic warfare.

Responsible journalism, however, actively works against this. It seeks out stories of bridge-building. It highlights the efforts of civil society organizations that promote inter-ethnic dialogue. It reports on the shared cultural festivals that unite communities rather than divide them. By doing so, it helps to create a new, more accurate map of Nigeria—one that recognizes the diversity and celebrates the shared humanity of its people.

The Way Forward: Building a Better Map

For Nigeria to realize its full potential, a paradigm shift is needed. We must collectively abandon our old, flawed maps and embrace the complexity of the territory. This requires a new breed of nationalistic consciousness, one not built on jingoism or dogmatic ideology, but on a critical, empathetic, and evidence-based understanding of our country.It is a call to every Nigerian, especially the media, to be a cartographer of the truth. To move beyond the easy headlines and sensationalism, and to dive deep into the rich, nuanced, and often contradictory reality of our nation. By doing so, we can create a map that not only accurately reflects the Nigerian territory but also guides us toward a future of true unity and sustainable development.

• Sola Adebawo is an accomplished business leader and communications expert with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He currently serves as the General Manager of Government, Joint Venture, and External Relations at Heritage Energy. Adebawo is also an author, scholar, and ordained minister, known for his writings on strategic communication and leadership.

Empowering the Next Generation of Namibia’s Oil and Gas Leaders

The 3^rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference (NOGC 2025) has announced the launch of the Future Generations Masterclass, a new half-day programme dedicated to inspiring, empowering and preparing Namibia’s future oil and gas professionals. Delivered in partnership with the Namibia Youth Energy Forum, this initiative forms a key part of the conference’s wider mission to create inclusive and sustainable pathways for growth in the country’s emerging energy sector.

The Future Generations Masterclass will offer students, graduates and young professionals a unique platform to explore career opportunities in Namibia’s nascent oil and gas industry, engage directly with seasoned energy leaders and develop the critical leadership and technical skills necessary for success in the sector.

As Namibia’s energy sector transforms, driven by significant offshore discoveries, technological advancement and the global energy transition, the development of skilled local talent has never been more vital. The Future Generations Masterclass will provide attendees with practical tools and insights to navigate this evolving landscape and build fulfilling careers.

Programme Highlights:

Session One: Fostering Leadership and Career Growth for Young Professionals in Africa’s Oil and Gas Sector – Pathways to Success

This session will address key strategies for leadership development, technical training and structured career progression to equip young Namibians for the challenges and opportunities of the oil and gas industry.

Key Discussion Topics:

• Supporting leadership development and career growth for young professionals
• Understanding evolving career trends and emerging opportunities in the energy sector
• Building essential skills through mentorship, training and structured development programmes
• Navigating challenges such as market volatility, sustainability demands, and digitalisation

Session Two: Mentoring and Inspirational Talks

In this engaging session, experienced professionals from Namibia’s oil, gas, and broader energy industries will share personal career journeys, lessons learned and practical advice, providing aspiring professionals with invaluable real-world perspectives on how to succeed and thrive in the energy sector.

Speaking ahead of the event; Jason Kasuto, Chairperson, Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), host of the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference explained; “Our goal is to foster a vibrant ecosystem where young Namibians can see themselves as future leaders of the energy industry. Partnering with the Namibia Youth Energy Forum ensures we are not only inspiring the next generation but equipping them with the right skills and networks to contribute meaningfully to Namibia’s energy future.”

Fanuel Shinedima, Founder, Namibia Youth Energy Forum also explained; “This partnership is more than symbolic — it’s a strategic investment in Namibia’s energy future. Together, we are unlocking doors for young Namibians to lead, innovate, and thrive. The Future Generations Masterclass is a launchpad for bold ideas and bold leadership. We are not just preparing talent — we are shaping trailblazers. The Namibia Youth Energy Forum is proud to co-create this legacy.”

The 3rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference themed “From Exploration to Action – Positioning Namibia as the Next Energy Frontier,” runs from 12–15 August in Windhoek. With Namibia emerging as a rising force in Africa’s energy landscape, the event is set to attract global industry leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers, as it offers exceptional opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking and skills development.

Hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), with a strategic partnership with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), Rhino Resources and SNC Incorporated. The conference is also officially endorsed by Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.

This year’s edition has expanded significantly, doubling its exhibition space to meet rising demand for showcasing new technologies and services. Attendees will also benefit from a broader networking programme that fosters collaboration and sustainable growth across the sectors.

For full conference details and how to attend, visit namibiaoilandgasconf.com.

By Rev. Segun Ikuemonisan

It’s a huge privilege to be here today to review The Paradox of Promise by our precious Reverend Sola Adebawo – whom we all know and fondly refer to as Revo. This is my second time having this rare privilege, and I must confess I significantly struggle to stay with the book instead of talking about Revo himself, because of the immense blessing that he is.

Revo stands at that critical intersection between depth of intellectual prowess and depth of spiritual walk. Not many people can navigate both well – typically one suffers while the other thrives. But the way he straddles both, making it look effortless – that’s grace. He is truly worth celebrating!

Now let me give you just enough taste of this book to leave you with enough thirst for this book. The Paradox of Promise (with the subtitle “Navigating the tension between God’s word and your reality”) explores the challenging yet essential task of reconciling God’s promises with our often-difficult human experiences.

Here’s why these matters: Many people in their faith journey reach points of significant struggle where their inability to reconcile spiritual truths with their reality leaves them either neutralized or damaged. They’re present physically, but something inside is broken. Sometimes we are them. Like the man at the Beautiful Gate whose life was a contradiction – at the beautiful gate yet not beautiful.

People typically respond in two extremes: unfounded optimism that ignores reality, or settling into their problems so completely that even when help comes, they can’t receive it. This book opens by acknowledging that fundamental tension – divine promises existing alongside suffering, disappointment and unanswered prayers.

The paradox isn’t proof of God’s unfaithfulness or that His Word is invalid. It’s part of our faith journey. And when people can’t reconcile this, they often turn the frustration inward: “Maybe I’m the problem.” While sometimes there are issues we need to address, wearing that “problem identity” badge is itself crippling.

One of things you will experience as you go through the book is the blessing of context. You may not have the answers, but context helps. Perspective is key – we might be pushing a door when we should be pulling because we lack context. This book provides that crucial perspective shift. It doesn’t solve all mysteries, but positions you to have better conversations with God about your situation.

One more gift you will see from this book is the power of commonality and communality. Commonality comforts because seeing others face similar struggles reduces that feeling of being uniquely targeted. It demystifies the pain. But communality goes further – it’s where we share the vital context that actually helps, like when Revo shares his personal journey through these tensions. It is so reassuring and refreshing when you read the experiences of a person who has walked through what you’re dealing with and has come out with testimonies that inspire hope.

What makes this book special is the author’s vulnerability. If you know him, you know he’s one of the realest people. Where others put up fronts, he shares openly. That’s why his words land with such power – he writes not as a detached teacher but as a fellow traveler who knows what you’re dealing with. His vulnerable and authentic, yet scripture-rich approach makes this an essential reading for any believer navigating the gap between promise and reality.

Many people are stuck trying to force their life story to follow some predetermined plot. But this book helps you stop struggling to control the narrative and instead partner with God in the paradox. Like Isaiah 45 where God holds Cyrus’s hand in battle – the battle remains, but now there’s divine advantage.

Rev. Adebawo ends the book with a stirring call to legacy-building faith – measuring success by faithfulness, not outcomes, and impacting generations through persistent trust in God’s promises.

This book is a profoundly practical guide for maintaining vibrant faith when life doesn’t match expectations.

This is why I’m so excited to present The Paradox of Promise – a book for all seasons, but especially crucial for today. If you minister to teenagers or Gen Z who have questions religion has silenced, this provides the connection between their reality and genuine faith.

With great joy and honor, I present this gift to the body of Christ – Reverend Shola Adebawo’s The Paradox of Promise. Please, do everything to get your copy. Thank you and God bless you