By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State Chapter, has accused Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration of nonchalance over the reported outbreak of diphtheria in the state.

In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, AbdulKadir Ahmad Dukku, on September 13, 2026, the party said reliable reports indicated that diphtheria had broken out in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central and North-Eastern regions, including Gombe State.

The PDP described diphtheria as a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the throat and airways. It listed symptoms to include sore throat and pain when swallowing, fever and chills, weakness and tiredness, nasal discharge and, in some cases, a bloody cough. Severe cases, it said, could cause a rapid heartbeat and complications affecting the heart and nerves.

The party noted that the disease is preventable through vaccination, including DPT/DTaP/Td vaccines, and advised anyone suspected of having diphtheria to go to a health facility immediately and avoid close contact with others until properly assessed.

According to the PDP, schools have already been closed in Plateau and Bauchi states, while intensive public enlightenment, sensitisation, vaccination and other health interventions are being undertaken in affected areas. It added that reports also indicated the disease was spreading in neighbouring Yobe State.

Citing its situation report, the party said the disease, which predominantly affects children, had reportedly led to the admission of nine persons at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, with additional cases reported at the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo, as well as General Hospitals in Bajoga and Billiri.

The PDP strongly condemned what it called the failure of the APC-led state government to take sufficiently proactive measures to contain the reported spread of the disease, despite indications of its presence in the state.

It also challenged Governor Yahaya to demonstrate greater commitment to human capital development and public healthcare, arguing that while the government continues to commit substantial resources to infrastructural projects, the health and wellbeing of citizens must remain a priority.

The party called on the state government to publicly clarify the status of diphtheria in Gombe State and explain steps being taken to contain and prevent its further spread.

It also demanded that the government immediately announce and implement preventive measures to protect schoolchildren and the general public, publicise sustainable health intervention strategies—including sensitisation, public enlightenment, surveillance, testing, treatment and vaccination—and strengthen collaboration with relevant health authorities and institutions for prompt detection, treatment and containment of suspected and confirmed cases.

The PDP reminded the APC-led administration that the lives and wellbeing of the people of Gombe State must not be treated with levity, urging urgency and transparency in responding to the public health concern.

It added that after reportedly spending millions of Naira on Hausa praise singers from Kano, the people of Gombe State were entitled to know how much the state government was prepared to commit towards protecting their lives and preventing the further spread of the disease.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has rejected former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the plan as a threat to the reforms introduced in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The government argued that returning to subsidy could create fresh legal and fiscal challenges while discouraging investment in domestic refining, including the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.

The position was conveyed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in response to Atiku’s proposal.

Onanuga described the former vice-president’s position as retrogressive and fiscally unsustainable, accusing him of making the proposal out of “desperation to win the presidency”.

He maintained that Nigeria’s petroleum sector had undergone fundamental changes since Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, also defended the policy, saying subsidy removal generated N15.8 trillion for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

According to Oyedele, the Federal Government received N5.4 trillion from the resources, while N10.4 trillion was distributed to state and local governments.

Tinubu has also criticised Atiku’s proposal, arguing that it reflects a lack of understanding of governance and economic management.

The President made the remarks when he received Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the State House.

Atiku, who is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has made the restoration of petrol subsidy a major part of his 2027 campaign.

The former vice-president had supported subsidy removal during the 2023 election campaign but now argues that Nigerians have not seen sufficient benefits from the policy.

He has said the revenue generated after the subsidy removal has not translated into improved living conditions or affordable food for ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku has proposed a different intervention for the oil and gas sector, with emphasis on domestic refining. He said any government support should be capped, included in the budget and tied to verifiable production and measurable benefits for consumers.

He also proposed that crude allocated under the programme should be tracked to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the intervention.

Atiku said his proposal would not amount to a return to the opaque subsidy arrangement of the past. Instead, he described it as a controlled mechanism designed to support Nigerian refineries and ensure that cheaper crude feedstock benefits consumers.

However, economists have expressed differing views on whether restoring subsidy would provide a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s economic difficulties.

Prof. Uche Uwaleke, President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, CMAN, said the debate should focus beyond the immediate appeal of cheaper petrol.

He argued that the central question should be how scarce public resources could be used sustainably to improve citizens’ welfare.

Uwaleke noted that the former subsidy system placed a heavy burden on public finances and created opportunities for arbitrage, smuggling and rent-seeking.

“The success of subsidy removal should not be measured simply by whether government stopped paying the subsidy.

“It should be measured by whether it succeeded in converting that difficult sacrifice into a more productive economy, stronger public services, increased domestic production and a better quality of life for the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

Prof. Ken Ife, a global financial analyst and development economist, also opposed the idea of returning to a blanket subsidy regime merely to reduce petrol prices.

Ife argued that Nigeria should focus on addressing the structural problems affecting fuel supply and the wider economy instead of artificially reducing pump prices.

He warned that a return to the previous consumption-based subsidy system could recreate the inefficiencies, distortions and financial leakages associated with the former arrangement.

“In broad macroeconomic terms, and even in development economies, you do not subsidise consumption. What you subsidise is production.

“You cannot borrow money to pay for subsidy. That is unlawful when you consider Fiscal Responsibility Act. It does not recognise that as a legitimate expenditure or as a legitimate borrowing,” he said.

Despite the government’s defence of subsidy removal, some Nigerians say the policy has brought severe economic pressure.

A civil servant, Ibrahim Abbas, said workers had expected the savings from subsidy removal to enable the government to accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen the economy.

“The only thing we civil servants have experienced since subsidy was removed is economic hardship and a huge depletion of the purchasing power of the Naira.

“The implementation of the new minimum wage is still shrouded in confusion, and all these make Atiku’s proposal attractive to ordinary Nigerians ” he said.

A retired civil servant, Sule Aliu, similarly said the economic situation had been particularly difficult for retirees since the subsidy was removed in 2023.

The disagreement over petrol subsidy is expected to remain a major issue in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election, with the Tinubu administration defending its decision to end the policy while Atiku presents its restoration as part of his campaign promise.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Some Nigerians on social media have expressed jubilation over the reported abduction of Islamic clerics who were said to have visited the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, to pray for President Bola Tinubu’s success in the 2027 presidential election.

The clerics were reportedly abducted by bandits after leaving Yari’s residence, according to a report shared by BBC Hausa.

The report has triggered a wave of reactions on Facebook, with some users appearing to celebrate the incident because of the clerics’ reported political prayers.

One Facebook user, Auwal Sulaiman, commented, “Dole sai sun hada da kudin fansa,” suggesting that the clerics would have to contribute money towards their ransom.

Another user, Yusuf Sani, wrote, “Gaskiya tsaro ya inganta shikenan hanun karba hanun mayarwa hadda riba xa’aci akansu,” sarcastically suggesting that the country’s security situation had improved and that the abductees would be returned, even with interest added to the ransom.

Usman Jidda simply reacted, “Allah Shi…….”

Musa Haruna asked, “Kowa yakiji bayaki gani, Ina gani bazaiga DA kyauba,” while Sagir Abdullah said, “muna masu addu’ar Allah yayimasu mafita, indai ohmologo ne bazamu zaba ba,” expressing a prayer for their safe resolution but also linking the incident to political opposition.

Other commenters took a more celebratory tone. One user wrote, “Masha Allah Allah Allah yasa su kàshèshu ko b@nza anrage mugún iri,” while Kasim Ibrahim described the incident as evidence that the victim had “seen the truth.”

Mahamadou Hamidou Arzika commented, “Masha Allah, Allah ya sa su yanka su,” while Khalifa Bellobb wrote, “Karshen Kwadayi, MashaAllah barakallah me ya kai su,” implying that the incident was a consequence of greed or political ambition.

The reactions have drawn attention to the deep political divisions surrounding the 2027 election, with some social media users showing little sympathy for people perceived to be supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The comments have also raised concerns about the extent to which political disagreements and frustration over insecurity have influenced public reactions to incidents involving kidnapping and banditry.

The Daily Reality could not independently verify the identities of all the abducted clerics or the circumstances surrounding their abduction at the time of publication.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The security situation in Zamfara State has come under fresh scrutiny after suspected bandits reportedly abducted several Islamic clerics who attended a prayer gathering at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.

The reported abduction occurred after the clerics joined more than 2,000 Islamic scholars and imams at Yari’s residence for a special prayer session ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development was made public on Saturday evening by Northwest-based crisis reporter Bakatsine in a post on his X handle.

According to the report, some of the clerics allegedly taken away included Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.

The clerics reportedly travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to participate in the gathering.

The prayer session was reportedly held to seek peace, national unity and the success of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The reported incident has raised concerns over the reach of bandit groups in Zamfara, particularly because the alleged abduction occurred after a gathering at the residence of a prominent political figure.

Bakatsine described the development as disturbing and linked it to the wider security challenges confronting communities across the state.

“If people can be abducted while attending a gathering at the residence of a prominent political figure, then where exactly are ordinary citizens supposed to feel safe?” he asked.

Zamfara has continued to experience attacks and abductions attributed to armed bandit groups, with several communities facing persistent security threats.

However, the reported abduction had not received immediate official confirmation from the police or other security agencies as of the time of filing this report.

The identities of all those allegedly abducted and their current whereabouts also remained unclear.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A 51-year-old woman has died in Brazil days after undergoing six cosmetic procedures during an eight-hour operation.

The woman, identified as Andreia Vieira Gaspar, was living in Spain before travelling to Goiânia, Brazil, for the procedures. She reportedly spent two years saving 118,000 Brazilian reals, equivalent to about $22,918, for the treatment.

According to G1, the procedures included a facelift, blepharoplasty, liposuction and facial fat grafting. Andreia died on August 12, several days after the surgery.

Her sister, Djiane Vieira, has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and raised questions about the medical care she received.

Djiane alleged that Andreia did not undergo a pre-procedure consultation in Brazil and claimed that her pre-operative tests were carried out in Spain.

She further alleged that her sister developed severe swelling of the tongue after the operation. According to Djiane, she attempted to contact the medical team but believed Andreia did not receive adequate treatment.

She also claimed that Ankar Hospital, where her sister was receiving treatment, lacked an intensive care unit and an emergency ambulance.

Djiane said her sister eventually died in her arms after medical personnel made several attempts to revive her.

Lessandro Martins, one of the doctors involved in the procedure, declined to discuss Andreia’s medical condition, citing medical confidentiality.

“Out of respect for medical confidentiality — which persists even after death, as mandated by the Medical Code of Ethics — no interviews will be granted, nor will comments be made regarding clinical data,” he said in a legal statement.

Martins added that he was confident the investigation would establish that the medical care provided to Andreia was appropriate.

Ankar Hospital, through its lawyer, maintained that Andreia received immediate emergency treatment after complications developed.

The lawyer also said “necessary measures were taken” to treat her.

Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

The case comes months after the death of Nigerian-British influencer Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo following a cosmetic procedure in Thailand.

Ubiribo, who died in March at the age of 43, was buried in London in May.

The Department of Health Service Support, DHSS, under Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, later disclosed that Ubiribo had received four penile enlargement injections between 2024 and 2025, with a fifth procedure taking place before his death.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the final list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 presidential election.

The list, titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for Jan, 2027 – Presidential Final List of Candidates”, was signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Among the major contenders listed by the electoral commission are Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, AAC.

Atiku is paired with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate, while Tinubu will contest alongside Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Obi’s running mate is former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, while Sowore is paired with Haruna Magashi.

Other candidates on the list include Rufai Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, AA; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, ADP; Yusuf Kabiru of the Allied Peoples Party, APP; Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM; and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party, BP.

The commission also listed Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA; Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party, LP; Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party, NDP; and Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement, NRM.

Former Delta State Governor, Donald Duke, will represent the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, while Adewole Adebayo is the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

The remaining candidates are Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

The final document provides details about the candidates and their running mates, including their ages, gender and academic qualifications.

INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has declared his support for the re-election bids of President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Musa made his position known on Friday during a meeting with local government coordinators of GCG Musawah 4 PBAT 2027, a political mobilisation group in Kaduna State.

The meeting brought the minister together with mobilisers from the state’s 23 local government areas as well as representatives of more than 300 affiliated interest groups.

According to a statement by the group’s Secretary, James Swam, Musa urged members to sustain their mobilisation efforts in support of Tinubu and Sani.

He also called for greater commitment to the development of the country, stressing that Nigerians could achieve more through unity and collective effort.

“I will continue to work hard for Nigeria to succeed,” Musa said.

“We should remain determined to build this country because together we are stronger as a nation.”

The defence minister also spoke about the importance of religious tolerance, national unity and peaceful coexistence, citing his childhood experience in Sokoto State.

“I grew up in Sokoto; there is no way I can object to any religion,” he said.

Musa recalled celebrating Sallah with Muslim friends and neighbours during his childhood.

“I remember that during Sallah, as children, we were the ones who would hold the ram to be slaughtered,” he said.

He further argued that Nigeria possesses sufficient human and material resources to achieve significant development if citizens remain united and dedicated to the country’s progress.

“God put us in Nigeria to build this country, and we have the capacity to do it, both in human and material resources,” Musa stated.

The minister urged Nigerians to regard the task of developing the country as a shared responsibility, regardless of their religious or other differences.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Regularly sleeping with earbuds in the ears may expose users to prolonged sound and increase the risk of hearing problems, ear infections and excessive earwax accumulation, ear, nose and throat specialists have warned.

The experts said the risk could become greater when earbuds are used at high volume or left in the ears for several hours. They explained that wearing the devices throughout the night denies the ears the breaks needed between periods of sound exposure.

Apart from prolonged noise exposure, keeping earbuds inside the ear canal for extended periods may trap moisture and disrupt the natural movement of earwax. According to the specialists, these conditions could contribute to infections and other ear-related problems.

The World Health Organisation has warned that hearing damage is influenced by the volume, duration and frequency of exposure to sound. Prolonged exposure to loud noise may initially result in temporary hearing loss or tinnitus, while repeated or continuous exposure can cause permanent damage to sensory cells and structures within the inner ear.

The WHO estimates that more than one billion people between the ages of 12 and 35 are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe recreational exposure to loud sounds, including those produced by personal audio devices. It recommends keeping audio volume below 60 per cent of the maximum level and taking regular breaks.

Nigeria also faces a significant hearing-loss burden, with a WHO regional report estimating the prevalence of disabling hearing loss in the country at 6.7 per cent. The report lists impacted earwax, chronic otitis media and age-related hearing loss among major causes.

Findings from a Nigerian study involving 272 people who regularly used headphones and earphones showed that 17.6 per cent of the users had hearing loss, compared with 7.4 per cent among an equal number of non-users. The researchers found that most cases among the users were mild, affected both ears and involved sensorineural hearing loss, with high-frequency hearing particularly affected.

A Specialist Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, Dr Mustapha Lawal, said the impact of prolonged earphone use depended largely on the loudness of the sound and the duration of exposure.

Lawal told PUNCH Healthwise that warning signs could emerge before permanent hearing damage occurs, including tinnitus, dizziness and unusual sensations in the ear.

“Long-term hearing loss; short-term, there will be some symptoms, like tinnitus, dizziness, and sensations in the ear,” Lawal explained.

He said prolonged exposure could first produce what is known as a temporary threshold shift, which causes hearing sensitivity to decline for a period.

According to him, the problem could develop even when the sound level was not particularly high if a person remained exposed for several hours.

“If the noise is not that loud, however, it is on for several hours,” Lawal stated.

The specialist stressed that allowing the ears to rest was important because continued exposure could turn temporary hearing changes into permanent damage.

“Once it has gone through what you call a permanent threshold shift, permanent threshold shift, then that one is irreversible,” Lawal stated.

He added that excessive exposure to noise could also affect concentration, communication and overall quality of life when hearing difficulties begin to interfere with daily activities.

A Professor of Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Adoga Agida Samuel, also raised concerns about the physical effects of sleeping with earbuds.

Samuel explained that prolonged blockage of the ear canal could promote inflammation and infection. He added that some users might also develop reactions to materials used in the manufacture of earbuds.

Another concern, according to him, is the retention of earwax. He said accumulated wax could obstruct the ear canal and result in conductive hearing loss.

“Wax retention takes a while but becomes a problem because it builds up,” Samuel stated.

The professor further warned that exposure to sound above safe levels could temporarily reduce hearing ability and cause permanent damage when the exposure continued.

“Exposure of greater than 85dB over 8 hours has different effects. Some immediate injury, causing a temporary threshold shift,” Samuel stated.

He explained that continued exposure could eventually destroy the sensory hair cells responsible for hearing.

“Persistent or continuous exposure will cause oxidative injury; many chemicals will be released, leading to hair cell death and permanent hearing loss,” Samuel stated.

Samuel urged people who experience symptoms such as ear pain, severe itching, tinnitus or reduced hearing to seek medical attention rather than dismissing them.

He noted that some symptoms could point to an underlying ear infection.

“For infections, pain and severe itching may be fungus,” Samuel stated.

The professor advised people who use earbuds regularly to reduce their exposure and avoid wearing them while asleep.

“Moderate use of earbuds if it cannot be avoided. Sleep without them,” Samuel advised.

Experts therefore recommend regular breaks from earbuds and caution against sleeping with the devices, particularly when they are used at high volume or for prolonged periods.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Army has opened an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse involving a serving officer, Cap Etim Essien, attached to the Headquarters 3 Division in Jos, Plateau State.

The investigation followed reports of the alleged incident that circulated online, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Division, Lt. Col. Olumide Olukoya.

Olukoya said the Army had begun efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the allegation, stressing that cases involving sexual abuse, particularly those involving minors and other vulnerable persons, were taken seriously by the military.

“The Nigerian Army takes all allegations of sexual abuse, particularly those involving minors and other vulnerable persons, with utmost seriousness. Accordingly, appropriate steps have been initiated to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the reported incident.

“As the allegation is currently under process of investigation, it would be inappropriate to make definitive comments on the culpability or otherwise of any individual at this stage. The Nigerian Army remains committed to due process, fairness and the protection of the rights and dignity of all parties involved,” he said.

The Army spokesperson further stated that relevant civil authorities were also investigating the matter and assured that the military would work with them to ensure a comprehensive investigation in line with the law.

“The Nigerian Army is also aware that the relevant civil authorities are looking into the matter and will cooperate fully with them to ensure that the allegation is thoroughly and transparently investigated in accordance with extant laws and regulations,” he added.

Olukoya said the Army maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards actions that contravened the law or military regulations.

He added that any personnel found culpable after the investigation would face appropriate disciplinary measures.

“The Nigerian Army places a high premium on discipline, professionalism and respect for human dignity. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, any personnel found to have acted contrary to the law or established service regulations will be dealt with appropriately,” he stated.

The Army also called on members of the public to avoid speculation or the circulation of unverified information that could interfere with the investigation or expose those involved to further harm.

The military specifically urged the public to exercise caution in discussions concerning minors, stressing the need to safeguard their privacy and welfare throughout the investigation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected bandits have reportedly abducted several Islamic clerics who attended a prayer gathering at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The reported incident was disclosed on Saturday by Northwest-based crisis reporter, Bakatsine, through a post on his X handle.

The clerics were said to have been taken away after attending a special prayer session at Yari’s residence, where more than 2,000 Islamic scholars and imams had gathered ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among those reportedly abducted were Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.

According to Bakatsine, the affected clerics travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the gathering.

The prayer session was reportedly organised to seek peace, national unity and the success of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Bakatsine expressed concern over the reported abduction, noting that the incident occurred at the residence of a prominent political figure.

He said the development was another indication of the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, where banditry and kidnapping have continued to threaten residents.

“If people can be abducted while attending a gathering at the residence of a prominent political figure, then where exactly are ordinary citizens supposed to feel safe?” he asked.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the police or other security agencies regarding the reported abduction.