By Maji Bappa Maina


Poverty often forces people to think about today at the expense of tomorrow.

For a widow struggling to feed her children, a woman displaced by insurgency, or a household living under severe economic pressure, immediate needs can leave little room to consider long-term financial security.

This is why initiatives that connect social support with asset ownership deserve closer attention.

Governor Mai Mala Buni’s approval of ₦230.62 million for the purchase of Dangote Refinery shares for 43,928 vulnerable women across Yobe State introduces an important dimension to the state’s recovery efforts.

Under the proposed arrangement, the Aliko Dangote Foundation is expected to provide an equivalent matching grant, bringing the projected investment to approximately ₦461.24 million, subject to applicable IPO conditions and successful allotment.

The significance of this initiative goes beyond the amount involved.

It raises an important question about how government can help vulnerable citizens move from receiving assistance to participating in economic opportunities.

Beyond Conventional Financial Assistance

Traditional welfare interventions often focus on immediate needs.

Such assistance remains essential, particularly for households affected by conflict, displacement and extreme poverty.

However, lasting economic inclusion also requires opportunities for people to acquire assets and participate in the formal economy.

The proposed share initiative seeks to introduce that additional dimension by giving eligible women an opportunity to own shares in a major Nigerian industrial enterprise.

According to the government’s announcement, each participating woman is expected to receive 20 shares in her own name, credited to her individual Central Securities Clearing System account, subject to successful allotment.

This is significant because ownership gives the beneficiary a documented financial interest rather than merely a temporary benefit. However, shares are investments, not guaranteed income.

Their value can fluctuate, and returns depend on the company’s performance and applicable investment conditions.

For this reason, financial education must accompany the programme so that beneficiaries understand their rights, the value of their holdings and the risks associated with investment.

The Value of Partnership and Strategic Engagement

The proposed matching arrangement with the Aliko Dangote Foundation illustrates how government resources and private philanthropy can potentially combine to expand opportunities for vulnerable citizens.

The role of strategic engagement also deserves recognition.

According to the government’s announcement, the initiative followed discussions led by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, with the Aliko Dangote Foundation during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

This engagement illustrates how international platforms can be used to explore partnerships that connect private-sector resources with local development priorities.

The next measure of its value will be the successful completion of the arrangement and the delivery of the promised ownership opportunities to the women concerned.

By prioritising internally displaced households, widows with multiple dependants, women with disabilities and those living in extreme poverty, the initiative also recognises that economic recovery must reach people facing substantial barriers to participation.

Yet the success of this approach will depend on implementation.

Beneficiary selection must be transparent, ownership properly documented and the shares successfully allotted.

Women must also be able to verify their accounts and access information about their investments without unnecessary difficulty.

These safeguards are essential to ensure that the programme delivers its intended benefits fairly.

From Approval to Measurable Impact

The approval of funding marks an important step, but the ultimate value of any development initiative is established through implementation and results.

Yobe State can strengthen this programme by monitoring the number of women who successfully receive their shares, ensuring that beneficiaries understand their ownership rights and evaluating whether the initiative contributes to their longer-term financial security.

Such evidence would help distinguish the number of people reached from the actual benefits achieved.

It would also provide useful lessons for future programmes designed to support households recovering from conflict and economic hardship.

The wider policy lesson is that social protection and economic participation need not be treated as separate objectives.

With appropriate safeguards, an intervention can address vulnerability while opening a pathway into formal investment.

For Yobe’s 43,928 intended beneficiaries, the real milestone will be the successful transfer of ownership and the ability to understand and exercise the rights attached to it.

Governor Buni’s initiative presents an opportunity to connect public support with financial inclusion on a substantial scale.

Its lasting significance will depend on transparent delivery, genuine individual ownership and measurable benefits to the women it is designed to serve.

Maji Bappa Maina, Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight

‎The Shareef brothers, Abdul and Umar M. Shareef, seem to have a strong fondness for playing romantic heroes. This likely inspired them to produce an emotional love story in which they take on their favourite leading roles. The production, entitled ‘Soyayyata’ (Translated as ‘My Love’), also appears to be their first series under the ‘Shareef Studio’ banner.

‎Soyayyata (though they mistakenly wrote the name as “Soyayya ta”) is a romantic drama exploring unrequited love, mistaken assumptions, and the complexities of family ties. The series primarily follows a love triangle involving Abbas (Abdul M. Shareef), Zuhra (Maryam Booth), and Haneef (Umar M. Shareef).

‎Abbas and Zuhra are cousins raised together within a shared family compound. Since childhood, his mother had betrothed Zuhra to him, as is customary in Hausa tradition. Abbas grows up to love Zuhra, but she sees him as nothing more than a brother. Meanwhile, she meets Haneef at a wedding, where he falls in love with her at first sight – an affection she fortunately reciprocates even more deeply.

‎Noticing something unusual in Zuhra’s behaviour, Abbas’s younger sister, Suhaima (Madina Abdul), persuades their parents to formally approach Zuhra’s family about the intended marriage. However, while Zuhra’s father, who is Abbas’s uncle, approves, her mother rejects the proposal. Abbas also learns the painful truth that Zuhra does not love him romantically, igniting emotional turbulence and family conflict.

‎Meanwhile, Haneef’s mother opposes his choice of Zuhra because of her humble background but later concedes because of his persistence. However, his father falls ill and dies suddenly on the day of his wedding to Zuhra, setting off a chain of dramatic twists that reshape the course of the story.

‎Despite its compact premise, the series sustains engagement through the gradual introduction of new narrative layers and characters. For instance, Ilham (Asmeey Wakili), introduced in a pivotal role towards the end of Season 1, breathes new life into the story. Despite its rather slow pace, the series keeps audiences engaged with steadily mounting tension.

‎Soyayyata is indeed worth watching for its relatable theme, which resonates strongly with young audiences. It dramatises the familiar scenario of a childhood-betrothed ‘cousin’ losing out to a ‘newcomer’. Young women with early betrothal experiences will identify with Zuhra’s predicament, while those nursing a secret crush will empathise with Abbas, who suffers in silence, enduring the pain of unrequited affection.

‎Additionally, beyond its central love story, Soyayyata explores themes of class discrimination, parental materialism in marriage arrangements, and the far-reaching consequences of such decisions. It also highlights how a lack of open communication can make arranged marriages fragile enough to break even the strongest familial bonds.

‎The series, however, scores little in terms of production quality. Continuity lapses are evident, and the editing lacks finesse. Also, while the interconnection across episodes is reasonably sustained, Episode 4 largely recycles scenes from Episodes 1 and 3. Nevertheless, these shortcomings are pardonable, given the competent direction and commendable performances that make the series ultimately captivating.

‎Finally, if you are struggling to keep pace with the endless YouTube series being released every day, Soyayyata is one you shouldn’t overlook. It is well worth your time.

‎Rating: 3/5

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A community hunters’ leader and member of the Forest Guard Corps, Shuayibu Danladi Ciroma, has died after sustaining a gunshot wound during a clash with suspected bandits in Andamin community, Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Ciroma was reportedly part of a joint security team that mobilised on Monday evening after receiving intelligence about a planned attack on the community.

In a statement dated October 13, 2026, the community leader, Tanko Bobbo Andamin, said the team comprised military personnel and local hunters who set out to prevent the suspected attack but encountered armed men along the way.

“A joint team of military personnel and hunters mobilised towards the area to prevent the suspected attack but encountered the armed men along the way, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire,” the statement said.

Ciroma reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the exchange and lost a significant amount of blood.

The statement said the team returned to its base after the confrontation but later discovered that Ciroma was missing. A search party returned to the scene early the following morning and found his body.

Andamin mourned the deceased, describing him as a man who died defending his people, land and humanity. He also extended condolences to Ciroma’s family, the Andamin community and fellow hunters.

The community leader called on the Taraba State Government, security agencies and intelligence authorities to strengthen security operations in the area.

He expressed concern that persistent insecurity had disrupted residents’ livelihoods, with many reportedly unable to travel safely to their farms, visit markets in neighbouring communities or conduct routine business without fear of attacks.

According to the statement, the situation had worsened poverty, hunger and starvation as residents’ economic activities continued to suffer.

The community also alleged that armed groups initially entered Taraba from neighbouring states but had since moved closer to local settlements.

It called for urgent, coordinated security measures to protect lives and property, restore peace and rebuild public confidence.

When contacted, the Taraba State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Victor Mshelizah, said poor network connectivity had prevented him from reaching the Divisional Police Officer for details of the incident.

He promised to provide further information after establishing contact with the officer.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has urged federal and state governments to adopt and fund the Girls Act model to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women, citing poverty, school dropout and limited access to information as factors that increase their vulnerability.

The advocacy group made the call on Tuesday during activities to mark the International Day of the Girl Child in Abuja.

AHF said although progress had been made in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, adolescent girls and young women continued to face a disproportionate risk of infection, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Steve Aborisade, AHF’s Advocacy Lead, cited data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which indicate that women account for more than half of people living with HIV globally and about 60 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

The data also show that adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 are up to two to three times more likely to acquire HIV than males in the same age group.

“Adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years are up to two to three times more likely to acquire HIV than young males of the same age.

“Biologically, women face a roughly two-fold higher acquisition risk per unprotected heterosexual act due to a larger mucosal surface area and longer exposure to seminal fluids.”

The report further highlighted challenges that prevent adolescents from accessing HIV testing, including physiological, psychological, legal and social barriers.

“Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years face distinct physiological, psychological, legal and social factors that make them disproportionately vulnerable to low uptake of HIV testing,” the data indicated.

AHF said gender inequality, poverty and inadequate information often restrict girls’ ability to make decisions about their health and personal lives.

“A girl who cannot afford menstrual products, who has dropped out of school, or who depends on others for money, has fewer options, including options about sex. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) thrive in exactly those conditions,” AHF said.

Girls Act Targets Health, Education And Leadership

The organisation said its Girls Act programme seeks to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections, support girls living with HIV to remain on treatment, reduce unplanned pregnancies and help girls stay in school.

According to AHF, the initiative had more than 4,500 girls actively participating as of 2026.

The programme operates across four areas: health, education and livelihoods, leadership, and results.

Under its health component, girls living with HIV receive support to remain on treatment, while HIV-negative participants learn how to prevent infection and make informed decisions.

The programme also provides free menstrual health products to girls and surrounding communities. It teaches participants to make and maintain reusable sanitary pads to improve access beyond direct supplies.

On education and livelihoods, AHF said the programme supports girls who wish to return to school and provides life-skills training and business support to those who have dropped out.

Its leadership component creates opportunities for mentorship, advocacy and access to resources to enable girls to take active roles in their communities.

“Girls are turning up empowered, able to negotiate safe sex and exercise bodily autonomy.

“Negotiating safe sex is the difference between exposure and protection, and bodily autonomy is not a slogan but a public health asset.”

AHF Seeks Government Funding

AHF called on federal and state governments to incorporate the Girls Act model into HIV, education and youth development plans, with dedicated funding for its activities.

The group said the funding should cover menstrual health products, skills training and start-up support for out-of-school girls, assistance for girls returning to school, leadership opportunities and stronger links to HIV testing, treatment and care.

“This means dedicated budget lines for menstrual health, so no girl misses school for want of a sanitary pad; skills training and start-up support that reach out-of-school girls where they live; support for girls to return to, and stay in, school; leadership platforms for girls in schools and communities; and clear pathways linking young people to HIV testing, treatment and care,” the advocacy group said.

The organisation also urged stakeholders in the national HIV response to give greater attention to the needs of girls and young women.

“Some will say the country has more pressing priorities. They should weigh the cost of inaction: new infections among young people, lifelong treatment, interrupted schooling and lost productivity.

“Prevention that also builds livelihoods and leadership is among the smartest investments a government can make.

“Our girls have shown what is possible when someone invests in them. They have earned the right to be treated as a key population in the national response, not as an afterthought.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Indian police have arrested a Nigerian national, Ezeaputa Chijioke, over allegations that he supplied cocaine to club-goers and partygoers through intermediaries in Chandigarh and surrounding areas.

According to a report published by The Times of India on Tuesday, Chijioke was arrested on October 6 with approximately 70.5 grammes of cocaine.

The arrest followed a crackdown on an alleged drug distribution network that led to the arrest of three suspected dealers, from whom police reportedly recovered a combined 113 grammes of cocaine and an ATM card.

The operation began on October 4, when officers arrested Rakesh Kumar, also known as Karan, near Sector 23-C market. Police reportedly recovered 22.1 grammes of cocaine from him.

“During interrogation, he named Jaskaran Gill as his supplier. Jaskaran was arrested in Dehradun the same day,” the police reportedly said.

Gill allegedly identified Chijioke as his source of supply, leading to the Nigerian’s arrest two days later.

The report said Chijioke was unable to produce his passport and was suspected of staying in India illegally. The allegation has not been established in court.

Police alleged that Kumar, a private cab driver, delivered cocaine to customers on Gill’s instructions and received Rs 500 for each delivery.

Gill reportedly obtained the drugs from Chijioke and coordinated deliveries through Kumar, while payments were allegedly collected through QR codes and online platforms.

Investigators also reportedly recovered 21.30 grammes of cocaine, a Mercedes-Benz, a Mitsubishi Pajero, a Tata Safari and an SBI ATM card allegedly linked to financial transactions from Gill.

The vehicles were suspected by police to have been purchased with proceeds from drug trafficking. The report said Chijioke had been living in Kharar before his arrest.

Police investigations into the alleged network are ongoing.

The arrest comes less than three months after four Nigerian nationals were reportedly arrested in India over alleged links to a drug trafficking network, with narcotics valued at approximately Rs 15 crore, equivalent to about N2.1bn, recovered during several operations.

The Hindu reported that those arrests followed coordinated operations by the Narcotics Control Bureau, state police and other security agencies targeting foreign nationals suspected of drug trafficking and overstaying their visas.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering assets worth more than N1.23 trillion and securing 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026.

Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the eighth EFCC and National Judicial Institute (NJI) workshop for judges and justices.

The three-day workshop, which ends on Thursday, October 15, is themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age”.

The president said the commission had made significant progress in tackling financial crimes, recovering illicit assets and improving Nigeria’s standing in the international financial system.

He also praised the EFCC’s efforts to combat cryptocurrency fraud and recover virtual assets.

“The EFCC’s recent momentum in tackling cryptocurrency fraud and its commendable strides in recovering virtual assets is highly reassuring,” he said.

Tinubu cited the prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreign nationals arrested over alleged cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud as evidence of efforts to address technology-driven crimes.

According to figures released by the EFCC, the commission received 49,673 petitions and investigated 39,615 cases between October 1, 2023, and July 31, 2026.

The investigations led to 14,476 court filings and 10,872 convictions, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 per cent.

The commission also reported recovering N1.233 trillion, $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million during the period.

Tinubu said the growing sophistication of financial crimes, particularly those involving blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, made continuous training essential for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.

He pledged the government’s continued support for judicial capacity development and described an independent, reform-oriented judiciary as crucial to the fight against corruption.

The president urged the EFCC and the judiciary to strengthen prosecutorial discipline and address procedural gaps that could delay trials or allow defendants to frustrate proceedings.

He warned that major corruption cases lost on procedural technicalities could weaken public confidence in the justice system.

Tinubu added that the fight against corruption required cooperation among all arms of government, rather than being treated as the sole responsibility of the executive.

He also said asset recoveries had supported social intervention programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).

EFCC Seeks Faster Trials, Stronger Investigations

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the commission had introduced operational reforms to improve asset recovery and increase convictions.

He said the agency was expanding intelligence-led investigations, strengthening forensic capabilities and improving domestic and international cooperation while building its capacity to investigate emerging financial technologies.

“We do not seek simply to investigate more people; we seek to investigate more intelligently,” Olukoyede said.

“We do not seek merely to prosecute more cases; we seek to prosecute cases that are properly investigated and capable of meeting the required standard of proof.”

Olukoyede said the commission also wanted to ensure that asset recoveries were lawful, transparent and sustainable.

He identified institutional bottlenecks, procedural delays, frivolous adjournments and frequent changes of legal counsel as obstacles to the prosecution of complex financial crime cases.

He warned that prolonged trials could weaken evidence, affect witnesses and undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

The EFCC chairman urged judges to handle corruption cases with integrity, judicial courage and respect for the rule of law.

He stressed that the commission was not asking judges to compromise due process or manufacture evidence to secure convictions, but to ensure that cases were decided rigorously and without unnecessary delays.

He added that effective prosecution required investigators to understand evidentiary standards, prosecutors to anticipate legal challenges, forensic specialists to present digital evidence clearly and judges to understand emerging forms of financial crime.

CJN Insists On Fair Hearing In Financial Crime Cases

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, called on the judiciary to strengthen its capacity to handle emerging financial crimes without compromising fair hearing, due process or judicial independence.

She said cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications, electronic records and cross-border financial activities had introduced new complexities into criminal proceedings.

Kekere-Ekun said judges needed to understand how digital evidence was collected, preserved, authenticated and assessed in court.

She emphasised that the seriousness of an allegation must not determine the outcome of a trial, noting that prosecutors must establish their cases through credible and legally admissible evidence.

The CJN also urged judges to apply the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, effectively by preventing unnecessary delays while protecting the rights of all parties.

She said continued judicial education had improved judges’ ability to handle financial crime cases.

Kekere-Ekun cited Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list on October 24, 2025, as an important milestone that required sustained commitment from relevant institutions.

She urged the judiciary to maintain high professional standards in cases involving corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight alleged kidnappers and four suspected informants, during security operations in Millennium City and Maraban Rido.

The command also announced the deployment of three additional Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) provided by the Kaduna State Government to strengthen operations against kidnapping and other criminal activities in the affected communities.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said the operations involved clearance exercises, targeted raids and patrols conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.

The eight suspected kidnappers were identified as Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.

The four alleged informants were identified as Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew.

According to the police, preliminary investigations suggested that some suspects had allegedly supplied criminal groups with information about security operations.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that two of the suspects allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements, thereby undermining security efforts and endangering the lives of security personnel and residents,” the statement said.

The command did not identify the two suspects who allegedly confessed or provide further details about the recovered firearms.

Police said investigations were ongoing to establish the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement, identify other accomplices and bring those connected to the crimes to justice.

In a related development, the command said the state government had released three additional APCs to improve security operations in Millennium City and neighbouring communities.

The vehicles are expected to support surveillance, strengthen police response and facilitate operations against suspected criminal hideouts.

The statement added, “The command assures the residents that clearance operations of criminal hideouts will be sustained to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities, and facilitate the rescue of kidnapped victims.”

The police also disclosed that a government delegation led by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Malam Sani Kila, met traditional rulers, residents and other stakeholders in the affected communities on October 10 to discuss the security situation.

During the meeting, Kila called for greater cooperation between residents, community leaders, government officials and security agencies.

“He reiterated that security is a collective responsibility and urged residents, community leaders, landlords, and youth groups to promptly report individuals suspected of aiding or abetting criminal activities and to continue supporting security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and public safety,” the statement said.

The command noted that the forested areas surrounding Millennium City presented geographical challenges for security operations and urged residents to provide credible information to help identify suspected collaborators of criminal gangs.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu, directed the immediate deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles and other security resources to the affected communities.

The statement said the deployment was intended to “intensify surveillance, improve response times, and prevent further criminal activities.”

Rabiu urged residents to remain calm, report suspicious movements to the nearest police station and cooperate with security agencies.

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kaduna State, adding that operations against kidnapping and other criminal activities would continue.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The legal team of Isa Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) until Wednesday, October 14, to include his name in the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The lawyers made the demand in a letter dated October 12 and addressed to INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan. The letter was signed by Ahmed Raji, A.T. Kehinde, Abdul Mohammed, Wale Balogun and Tunde Falola.

They challenged the omission of Pantami’s name and that of his running mate from the final list published by the electoral commission on Saturday, October 10.

The lawyers argued that “the removal of a nominated candidate’s name is exclusively a judicial act”, adding that INEC’s role in primaries is to attend, observe, monitor and report, “not to disqualify, and not to cherry-pick”.

INEC published the names of 16 governorship candidates for Gombe State but did not include Pantami, who emerged as the PDP candidate following a fresh primary election. The commission also omitted Ladi Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, without stating its reasons.

Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, was declared the winner of the PDP’s fresh governorship primary conducted across the 11 local government areas of Gombe State on September 29.

Lawyers Cite Court Order, Electoral Act

In their letter, the lawyers maintained that Pantami was a duly registered PDP member whose name appeared in the party’s membership register submitted to INEC.

They said the party submitted his personal particulars through Form EC9 on August 8, 2026, after he won the initial primary held on May 26. INEC subsequently published his name on August 29.

“The PDP submitted his personal particulars (Form EC9) to the Commission on the 8th day of August, 2026 pursuant to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission published his name on the 29th day of August, 2026 pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Act,” the letter reads.

“Up to this point, no step was taken by the Commission to question any aspect of his emergence.”

According to the legal team, the initial primary was challenged in two cases, marked FHC/GM/CS/10/2026 and FHC/GM/CS/9/2026, before the Federal High Court in Gombe.

The court, in a judgment delivered on September 24, nullified the primary and ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary.

The lawyers said the party complied with the order and notified INEC before conducting the new exercise on September 29.

“In compliance with the Court Order, the PDP gave the Commission due notice of the court-ordered primary, and conducted the fresh gubernatorial primary election on Tuesday, the 29th day of September, 2026,” the lawyers said.

“At the conclusion of that exercise, Isa Ali Ibrahim emerged the winner, and his name was again submitted to the Commission as the nominated candidate of the PDP.”

Citing legal precedents, the lawyers argued that INEC could not remove a nominated candidate from the list without a judicial order.

They therefore demanded that the commission publish Pantami’s name by Wednesday, October 14, alongside the other candidates already listed for the election.

“In the circumstances, we have our Client’s firm and unequivocal instructions to demand, and we hereby demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday the 14th day of October, 2026, publish and circulate the name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the office of Governor of Gombe State in the 2027 general elections, in the same manner and with the same prominence as the names of all other candidates published on the 10th day of October, 2026,” the lawyers stated.

The legal team expressed confidence that INEC would take what it described as “immediate corrective action” and provide written confirmation of the steps taken to resolve the matter.

By Muhammad Abubakar

ARISE News announced that political analyst Anthony Kila will no longer appear on its platform after a Premium Times investigation alleged he falsified his academic credentials.

In a disclaimer issued by its Editorial Board, the television network said it contacted Kila on October 3, 2026, over the allegations. However, he requested more time to respond and had not done so ten days later, according to the statement.

ARISE News said it was unaware of the allegations when Kila appeared on its platform as a freelance political analyst.

The network, which emphasised its commitment to credibility and integrity, said his continued contributions were no longer tenable.

“Mr Kila will not be appearing on our network now or in the future, effective immediately,” the statement added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An additional 17.9 million Nigerians became multidimensionally poor between 2021 and 2024, marking the largest increase recorded by any country during its latest assessment period, according to the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.

The report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), showed that Nigeria’s progress in reducing multidimensional poverty between 2018 and 2021 was reversed in the subsequent three years.

Afghanistan followed Nigeria with an increase of 5.3 million people living in multidimensional poverty during its latest assessment period.

The report stated, “In absolute terms, the largest increase in the number of poor people is seen in Nigeria, where although poverty had decreased in the previous period (2018–2021), in the recent period (2021–2024), 17.9 million people became multidimensionally poor, followed by 5.3 million in Afghanistan.”

Nigeria was among five countries that recorded increases in multidimensional poverty during their respective assessment periods. The others were Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Guinea and Kyrgyzstan.

The report stated, “In contrast, five countries reported increases in multidimensional poverty. These are Afghanistan (2015/16–2022/23), Central African Republic (2010–2018/19), Guinea (2016–2018), Kyrgyzstan (2018–2023) and Nigeria (2021–2024).”

Poverty Rate Rises To 38.7 Per Cent

Unlike conventional poverty measures based on income or consumption, the Multidimensional Poverty Index assesses overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards.

These include inadequate nutrition, limited access to healthcare and education, poor sanitation, insufficient drinking water, lack of electricity and substandard housing.

The report’s harmonised historical comparison showed that Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty rate increased from 33 per cent in 2021 to 38.7 per cent in 2024, a rise of 5.7 percentage points.

The number of people affected rose from 72.21 million to 90.07 million, while the country’s Multidimensional Poverty Index value increased from 0.175 to 0.208.

However, the report’s separate national estimate for 2024 put the number of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty at 113.32 million, representing 48.7 per cent of the population. This estimate was based on the latest survey without the adjustments used for the historical comparison.

The report also found that 28.7 per cent of Nigerians experienced severe multidimensional poverty, while another 18.1 per cent were vulnerable to it.

It explained, “In Nigeria, poverty incidence declined from 2018–2021, then increased from 2021–2024.”

Significant Differences Across States

The report highlighted wide variations in the causes and severity of poverty across Nigeria’s states. Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto were among the states with the highest multidimensional poverty burdens, while Lagos recorded the lowest MPI value.

It used Yobe and Sokoto to illustrate how similar levels of poverty can arise from different forms of deprivation.

The report noted, “Compare, for example, the poorest subnational regions of Nigeria: Yobe and Sokoto, which have similar MPI values. Deprivations in nutrition and child mortality contribute more to poverty in Yobe, while in Sokoto, deprivations in water and electricity are stronger contributors.”

It stressed that identifying these differences was important for developing interventions that respond to the specific needs of individual communities.

Sub-Saharan Africa Records Largest Share Of Global Poverty

Globally, the report estimated that 1.2 billion people, representing 18.9 per cent of the population covered by the index, lived in acute multidimensional poverty.

Of this number, 534 million experienced severe poverty, while another 952 million people were classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 616 million people living in multidimensional poverty, more than half of the global total.

Children bore a disproportionate share of the burden, with 617 million people under the age of 18 classified as multidimensionally poor worldwide.

The report stated, “Roughly one in every three children is multidimensionally poor, compared to one in seven adults.”

The findings raise concerns about Nigeria’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing poverty in all its forms and dimensions by at least half by 2030.

Utomi Raises Concern Over Economic Hardship

The findings come amid concerns about the cost of living, food insecurity and the widening gap between wealthy Nigerians and citizens struggling to meet basic needs.

Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi recently warned that rising poverty, hunger and insecurity, alongside declining public confidence in government institutions, were putting pressure on the country.

He also urged Nigerians to resist the erosion of democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections.

Utomi warned that growing inequality between wealthy politicians and impoverished citizens could threaten national stability.