Press Releases

In Nigeria's 60 years of self-rule, her democratic journey has been chequered. From the First Republic government which took the reins from the colonial administration to the present Fourth Republic, Nigeria's attempts at democratic rule have been interrupted by a cumulative 29 years of military interregnum. The country is currently enjoying her longest unbroken spell of democratic rule since 29 May 1999.

As the world marks this year’s International Day of Democracy, with the theme ‘Democracy under Strain: Solutions for a Changing World’, and this year’s celebration coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasis should be to support human rights, the rule of law, peace and stability, which are all critical democracy development indicators.

On Monday, September 7th, 2020, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) published a press release titled “Matters of Urgent Attention”, in which it x-rayed the state of the national economy and expressed a number of reasoned concerns over the poor state of performance of some critical economic indicators affecting the country. Treatises like the release have become, for several years now, a common feature of the country’s dialogue on the economy.  They serve an extremely useful purpose because these publications permit individuals and organisations that embark on this course, not only the opportunity to ventilate important, topical, subjects in the widest possible manner, but also to enable those views come to the attention of several organs of governance responsible for policy formulation and implementation. 

It is also the case that the reaction to these exercises would often be gauged by the credentials of the author whose antecedents will, typically, determine the depth and appreciation of the reading audience.  That thermometer reading, therefore, is dictated by credentials of the author.  The more accomplished; the greater the interest in the contents.  This, it appears, is what happened following the public circulation of the NESG press release.

Statement on Literacy and Reading For International Literacy Day by The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity)

“The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation… steadily but surely introducing education that enables our children to exploit their similarities and common goals, while appreciating the strength in their diversity”.
-  Address by President Nelson Mandela at the Africa Presidential and Premier Education Awards, 22 November 1997.

As the world commemorates the International Literacy Day 2020, it remains pertinent to bring attention to the dearth of opportunities for many in Nigeria to achieve the basic levels of reading and writing, which has been made worse by the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) is extremely concerned about the resurgence of killings in Southern Kaduna. Kaura, Zango-Kataf, Kajuru and Jema'a local government areas of Kaduna state have continued to witness an orgy of killings in the past few weeks that has left people traumatized.

It is worrisome that despite the imposition of a 24-hour curfew and deployment of security agencies to the troubled area, rather than stem the tide of killings it has done the opposite. Suspected Fulani militia beat military checkpoints and in one fell swoop, killed 33 people in some villages in Zango-Kataf Local Government Area. The inability of the security agencies to stop the reign of terror has fuelled allegations of genocide against Christians in the area. 

The attention of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has been drawn to a viral video posted by a Nigerian politician with a cheeky rider: ‘everyone loves Dino..... even pirates (sic).

The Pyrates song is not a frivolous exercise of the panygerics of owambeism, already rejected, when our seven founders sayled first at Tedder Hall Quadrangle in the University College, Ibadan led by Wole Soyinka, the dogged human rights activist we know as CB of Tortuga.

A Rivers State High Court in another landmark ruling by Justice A. Enebeli in suit no PHC/879/2018 delivered January 30 2020 between the Registered Trustees of the National Association of Seadogs and Rivers State House of Assembly/ Rivers State Government has unequivocally declared that National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) is not a Secret Cult. See ruling:

The National Association of Seadogs has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to halt the killings of Nigerians in South Africa following Monday’s xenophobic attack against Nigerians living in the former apartheid enclave.

The “World Health Day” is an annual global health awareness programme celebrated on every 7th Day April. The thematic thrust for the day is initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as other health development institutions.