A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes an argument appear stronger than it actually is. Understanding common fallacies does two things: it helps you identify weak arguments when others are making them, and it helps you avoid making them yourself. The most common in everyday Nigerian discourse are worth naming clearly. The ad hominem fallacy attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself. When a politician's policy is dismissed because people dislike the politician, the policy has not been evaluated — only the person has. The straw man fallacy misrepresents someone's position to make it easier to attack. If you say 'I think we should reform the police' and someone responds 'you want to abolish all security in Nigeria,' they have replaced your actual argument with a weaker version they can defeat. The false dilemma presents only two options when more exist — 'you are either with us or against us' leaves no room for nuance or third positions. Appeal to authority uses the credibility of a respected person or institution to make a claim seem true, when the authority may have no expertise in the specific area being discussed. And slippery slope argues that one step will inevitably lead to a catastrophic final outcome without demonstrating that the chain of events is actually likely. Recognising these patterns in real time — in political speeches, in social media arguments, in conversations with colleagues — is one of the most practically useful thinking skills you can develop.