By Uzair Adam

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed four warehouses and seized banned chemicals worth N560 million during an enforcement operation in Kano State.

The agency also arrested two suspects over the alleged illegal storage, distribution and sale of prohibited chemicals.

Mr Emmanuel Andrew-Baba, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano while speaking during the operation.

He said the exercise was aimed at enforcing the ban on Paraeforce, popularly known as Paraquat, a highly toxic chemical prohibited by the agency.

According to him, NAFDAC banned the importation, distribution and use of Paraeforce-based products in 2022 because of their harmful effects on human health and the environment.

Andrew-Baba explained that exposure to the chemical could cause respiratory and cardiac failure, as well as other serious health complications, including Parkinson’s disease.

He added that the chemical could remain in the soil and contaminate the environment, particularly water sources, thereby posing significant public health risks.

He said NAFDAC began enforcing the ban in January 2024, noting that the quantity of prohibited products discovered during the latest operation was alarming.

The director said the inspection team visited more than 10 warehouses and uncovered suspected illegal products in several facilities.

He disclosed that a warehouse at Panisau was sealed after controlled chemicals suspected to be used in the production of illicit drugs were discovered.

“At Jaba, another house allegedly used for illegal manufacturing and repackaging of chemicals was also sealed,” he said.

Andrew-Baba said the operators used cartons of chemicals sourced from a company in Lagos and the Niger Republic, adding that a sealing machine and other packaging materials were recovered.

He assured that enforcement activities would continue until all illegal stocks were evacuated.

The director further disclosed that NAFDAC sealed another warehouse and arrested two persons, including its owner, after discovering 2,983 cartons of Paraeforce products valued at more than N200 million.

“In another warehouse, the team discovered over 8,000 cartons of Crownquat, another Paraquat-based product containing 2.76 grammes of Paraquat dichloride, worth over N360 million, and another product banned by NAFDAC, Chlopyrifos,” he said.

He added that the warehouses had been sealed and their owners would be invited for further investigation.

The agency also seized 183 cartons of unregistered Dynewell syrup imported from Ghana, which were discovered in an uncompleted building in the Sharada area of Kano metropolis.

Andrew-Baba urged Nigerians to desist from using or distributing banned chemicals, warning that exposure to Paraquat could be fatal as there was no known antidote.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining enforcement operations to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

By Uzair Adam

Health authorities in Kano State have confirmed 12 cases of diphtheria at First Lady’s College, Mariri, in Kumbotso Local Government Area, following the screening of 313 suspected cases at the boarding school.

The outbreak, which affects a school with more than 2,000 students, prompted the deployment of a Rapid Response Team by the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) to investigate the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.

A staff member of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists that the outbreak was detected among students, which prompted health officials to intervene on Thursday.

The source disclosed that one student who developed severe symptoms had been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Kano, while other affected students were receiving treatment within the school premises.

The source added that the response team included officials from Kumbotso, Tarauni and Nassarawa local government areas.

Confirming the development, the Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said the agency received a report of the outbreak on Wednesday and immediately dispatched officials to investigate and contain the disease.

“We tested 313 suspected cases, out of which 12 were clinically confirmed. We conducted active case searches in the school and confirmed the cases,” Abbas said.

He explained that the agency had also administered medication to suspected contacts and sensitised other students on the symptoms and prevention of the disease.

However, Abbas expressed concern over the shortage of vaccines, warning that the school urgently needed a mass immunisation exercise to protect its large student population.

“There is a need for massive vaccination in the school, which we presently do not have. We have to ask for more vaccines to administer to the students,” he said.

The latest outbreak has renewed concerns about the resurgence of diphtheria in Kano, following several reported cases and deaths in the state.

The Daily Reality recalls ast month that a father in the Danbare area of Kano State reportedly lost five children to diphtheria within eight days.

Abbas said the KNCDC was continuing to receive disease reports through its network of Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) across the state’s 44 local government areas.

He added that the agency was intensifying surveillance and response activities to contain the outbreak.

The KNCDC director-general further disclosed that the agency had previously requested nine million doses of diphtheria vaccines to support mass immunisation across the state but received only 500,000 doses.

By Maji Bappa Maina


The inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Yobe State has introduced another important dimension to the state’s political preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the formal inauguration of campaign structures, the gathering provided a platform for the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, to publicly reaffirm his commitment to the APC leadership and declare support for the party’s political direction.

The event, held at the Government House in Damaturu on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, brought together prominent party leaders, political stakeholders and members of the newly inaugurated campaign council.

Governor Mai Mala Buni, who inaugurated the council, called on members to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and work collectively towards the success of all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

For Baba Mallam Wali, the occasion was an opportunity to demonstrate that his governorship ambition is situated within the collective political framework of the party.

His public declaration of support at a gathering led by the state’s political leadership carries significance, particularly at a time when political parties are consolidating their structures ahead of another electoral cycle.

However, the significance of this development should not be restricted to the candidate’s personal political commitment.

It also draws attention to the relationship between party leadership, political succession and institutional continuity.

Governor Buni has played a central role in managing the APC’s political affairs in Yobe, both as a former national chairman of the party and as the state’s governor.

His approach to party administration has frequently emphasised consultation, reconciliation and the need to accommodate different political interests within a common political structure.

Baba Mallam Wali’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate therefore places him within a political arrangement that requires cooperation between the party’s leadership, elected officials, former political officeholders and grassroots structures.

The challenge ahead is how to translate this collective commitment into effective political coordination across the 17 local government areas.

A successful campaign structure requires more than the appointment of coordinators and the inauguration of committees.

It requires sustained communication, mutual confidence, shared responsibilities and meaningful participation by party members.

The presence of Senator Ibrahim Geidam, the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Mohammad Gadaka, and other political stakeholders at the inauguration further reflects the importance of collective responsibility in the party’s preparations.

Ultimately, the 2027 political process will test the capacity of the Yobe APC to maintain internal cohesion while presenting a coordinated campaign around its candidates.

Baba Mallam Wali’s declaration of support, alongside Governor Buni’s call for collective mobilisation, represents an important public expression of that commitment.

The more important question, however, is how effectively this commitment will translate into a united party structure capable of engaging communities across Yobe State.

Maji Bappa Maina is a Political Writer, Voice of Development, leadership and public Insight

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has condemned the disruption of a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos, urging security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The council also denounced the growing incidents of violence at political gatherings ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such actions could threaten public order and democratic participation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dele Alake expressed concern over the attack on the NDC event, where Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, was scheduled to meet supporters.

Daily Trust had reported that suspected thugs invaded the venue and attacked supporters ahead of the meeting.

Alake said the APC campaign council had observed reports of violent incidents at political gatherings in different parts of the country, including Edo, Cross River and Gombe states.

He described the attacks targeting political leaders and supporters, irrespective of party affiliation, as unacceptable.

The statement specifically condemned the disruption of the NDC’s scheduled town hall meeting in Lagos and called on security agencies to strengthen their response to political violence.

It urged the authorities to remain vigilant, prevent further attacks and ensure that those who instigate or participate in political violence are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The council also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint as campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

It stressed that political campaigns should focus on issues capable of improving the lives of Nigerians rather than actions that could provoke violence and create unnecessary tension.

The APC campaign council further urged political actors across party lines to promote peaceful engagement and respect the rights of others to participate in the democratic process.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the commitment of Faisal, son of former Pension Reform Task Team chairman Abdulrasheed Maina, to a correctional centre to serve his seven-year prison sentence following his recent re-arrest.

Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Thursday after granting an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and moved by its counsel, M.K. Hussain.

Faisal was re-arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 14, 2026, and subsequently handed over to the EFCC after allegedly jumping bail and evading trial for about six years.

He was initially arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2019 on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and failure to make full disclosure in an asset declaration form.

After pleading not guilty before Justice Okon Abang, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Faisal reportedly absconded and failed to return to court for his trial.

Consequently, Justice Abang proceeded with the case in his absence and delivered judgment on October 7, 2021, convicting him on all three counts.

The court initially sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment on counts one and three, and 14 years on count two. The judge, however, directed that the sentences should run concurrently and ordered that Faisal be arrested wherever he was found and taken to a correctional centre.

Following his re-arrest, the EFCC approached Justice Omotosho for permission to enforce the earlier judgment, including the issuance of a warrant committing the convict to the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

The commission also sought an order that the prison term should commence from October 14, 2026, the date Faisal was arrested.

Granting the application, Justice Omotosho authorised the EFCC to enforce the judgment and issued a warrant for Faisal’s transfer to the correctional facility.

The judge clarified that, in line with the Court of Appeal’s decision of November 24, 2022, the applicable sentences were three years’ imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and three years on count three.

He directed that the sentences should run concurrently, beginning from October 14, 2026, when Faisal was re-arrested.

The development means Faisal will serve a seven-year prison term, being the longest of the three concurrent sentences.

His father, Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, was also convicted in a separate case involving a ₦2bn money laundering charge and has served his prison sentence.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Sharia Court sitting at the Post Office area of Kano State has ordered the remand of a young man, Ruben Jiliyus, over allegations that he assaulted his mother and poured hot soup on her during a domestic disagreement, Daily Trust reports.

The defendant was brought before the court on Thursday, where the prosecution counsel, Barrister Awaisu Sani Lawan, read the charges against him before the presiding judge, Hamza Garba Malafa.

According to the charge, the incident occurred around 8am on Sunday, November 8, 2026, when Jiliyus allegedly attacked his mother, Amina, after she intervened in an argument between him and his younger sister.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant picked up a pot of hot soup and poured its contents on his mother, leaving her with injuries and burns on her face.

When the charge was read to him, Jiliyus pleaded guilty but told the court that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and only became aware of his actions afterwards.

The judge also asked whether he agreed to be tried under Islamic law, and the defendant reportedly consented.

The court subsequently ordered that he be remanded in a correctional facility and adjourned the case until December 23, 2026, for further hearing.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said he will not accept any political or diplomatic appointment after completing his tenure at the electoral body.

Amupitan made the declaration on Thursday during a panel discussion at Chatham House in London, where he spoke on the topic, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”

Responding to a question on whether he would reject future political or diplomatic appointments, the INEC chairman said his decision to serve at the commission was based on public trust and the responsibility to remain impartial.

“I’m not going to accept any appointment from anybody because coming to serve here is based on trust,” he said.

His remarks came against the background of his predecessor, Mahmood Yakubu, accepting an ambassadorial nomination from President Bola Tinubu after overseeing the 2023 general elections.

Yakubu was among 32 ambassadorial nominees submitted by Tinubu to the Senate for confirmation in November 2025 and was subsequently designated as Nigeria’s non-career ambassador to Qatar.

By Dahiru Kasimu Adamu

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed the petroleum subsidy in 2023, almost every sector in Nigeria has been forced to look for a way out. Farming is no exception.

Before then, rice farmers largely relied on petrol-powered pumps to irrigate their farms. But when the price of petrol skyrocketed, many farmers were pushed to the edge. For some, farming became almost impossible.

Today, the story in Argungu has changed, as rice farmers in Argungu, Kebbi State, have largely moved to solar energy for their agricultural activities. From Farfajiya to Kuyar Masaama, from Janduma to Kwalaga and Dankwali, solar panels now glitter under the sun where fuel cans once dominated.

In this system, farmers place solar panels facing the sun. The energy generated powers a solar pumping machine that pumps water from a tube well or directly from the river to the farm. No fuel. No daily queue. No smoke.

“Without It, I Cannot Farm”

A young farmer at the Kwalaga rice cluster, Ibrahim Usman, expressed his satisfaction with the solar system and acknowledged its contribution to his farming activities.

“I bought it at the rate of N450,000 at the beginning of the rainy season. Without it, I cannot proceed with rice farming because I cannot buy petrol every day to pump water and irrigate my farm,” he said.

For Ismail Usman, solar is not just an alternative  it is survival.

“The inflation of farm inputs and the removal of subsidy have crippled farming. Moreover, the price of rice has decreased, which endangers farmers. If we continue using fuel to water our farms, we can hardly make a profit. We thank God for the gift of solar. Currently, most of those who cannot afford it find it difficult to continue farming,” he said.

Sani Danladi, another young farmer, said he thanks Almighty Allah for the renewable energy alternative.

 “Now I can produce ten bags, but without solar I cannot even produce five bags due to hardship, a hike in fertiliser prices and subsidy removal. Therefore, I urge the government at all levels and stakeholders to distribute solar pumping machines free to local farmers without considering political affiliation, to boost agriculture and food security,” he said.

Despite the success, the farmers still face challenges. The solar system is inefficient in the early morning hours and during sunset when sunlight is low, slowing down irrigation.

Yet, as of the time of filing this report, despite the limited flooding recorded in the 2026 rainy season, farmers in Argungu continue to harvest their produce and are partially preparing for the forthcoming dry-season farming.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has approved a reorganization of its media and communications structure, directing that only three officials may speak on its behalf.

In a press statement dated November 11, 2026, the council said the campaign’s Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari; the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who is the official spokesperson; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, are now authorized to speak for the council.

It said all previously announced persons who had been speaking in that capacity would henceforth become members of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications.

The statement advised radio and television stations to take note of the changes and act accordingly, adding that the campaign would delegate appropriate persons for appearances when necessary.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A notorious bandit leader, identified as Kachalla Bello, has reportedly been killed during a violent confrontation between rival armed groups in a forest around Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening when two rival bandit factions engaged in a fierce gun battle, according to local sources cited by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama.

Bello was said to have been among those killed in the exchange of gunfire, although details surrounding the circumstances of his reported death remained unclear as of Wednesday.

The bandit leader was accused of terrorising farming communities through kidnappings and forced labour.

According to the report, Bello allegedly abducted residents from their farmlands and compelled them to work on his farm before eventually releasing them.

His reported death is expected to bring relief to communities that have suffered intimidation and other criminal activities attributed to his group.

However, security authorities had yet to independently confirm the killing or establish the full circumstances surrounding the clash.

The incident also highlights continuing rivalries among armed groups operating in parts of Katsina State, where disputes over territory, resources and criminal activities have reportedly triggered violent confrontations.

When contacted by TheCable on Wednesday, the Katsina State Police Command spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said he was unaware of the incident but would make enquiries.

“I am not aware of the incident; I will make an enquiry and call you back,” he said.

During a follow-up conversation about three hours later, Sadiq-Aliyu said he was still trying to establish the exact location of the reported clash so he could contact the relevant Divisional Police Officer.

He explained that identifying the precise location would help him reach the appropriate police division and verify the report.

As of the time of reporting, the police had not provided independent confirmation of Bello’s reported death.