■ How many states in Nigeria?: From Brigadier Mohammed’s remarks when he received the report of the panel on the creation of new slates, led by Mr. Justice Ayo Irikefe, it is clear that Nigeria's Head of State expects new states to be es tablished. ■ Sahara-not quite a war: With the Spanish governor departed, the post-colonial era has already arrived in the Sahara. Algeria has called up her reserves but the expected war has so far failed to break out. Here, a correspondent discusses the growing tension ■ Benvolence is not enough: The regime of Gen. Sangoule Lamizana in Upper Volta is under seige by the trades unions—which organised a general strike in December. Here, Alexander Kirby, who lived in Ouagadougou for many years and knows Upper Volta well, assesses this latest confrontation. ■ Oil and education: Many states once poor are discovering that money doesn't automatically provide skill; but they are also finding that you can buy training when it is not provided free. Femi Ogunsanwo writes on the new role of the British Council ■ Books and publications: The Gods in the forest: The return of the Gods by Ulli Beier; Orin yoruba: Yoruba songs by J. O. Ajibola ■ Economic and business news: Not an easy answer: A cautionary tale for would-be makers of cartels, dazzled or slightly bemused by the success and riches of OPEC. A couple of years ago Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia decided to get together and take a bigger bite for themselves from the American banana, a trade virtually dominated by United Brands (of notonely), Del Monte and Castle and Cook who between them account for 70 per cent ofthe banana business. ■ Dateline Africa: Ghana: Daily graphic attack plotters: Col. Achcampong's disclosure that another plot to overthrow the government had been uncovered and the plotters arrested must have been a big jolt to Ghanaians as they prepared for Christmas, said an editorial in the Daily Graphic