By Isyaka Laminu Badamasi

If it is true that there were anti-party activities and discord between the state assembly candidate representing the Disina constituency in Shira Local Government and certain key APM stalwarts that contributed to his defeat in the recent by-election, then this matter must be urgently investigated and addressed.

This situation may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as it happened at the right time and will help leaders and stakeholders identify similar issues in other constituencies, preventing a recurrence in the future. 

There are many ways to resolve this problem, but I will focus on emphasising the importance of reconciliation between aggrieved stakeholders and including everyone who matters to ensure the party’s victory as we head into the 2027 general elections. 

Some might say it is too late because the candidates have already been selected, but this is actually the perfect opportunity to bring about reconciliation in the party. This matters if we remember how disunity crippled the APC after the 2015 general elections, and again in 2019 and 2023. We don’t need to allow this to happen in APM.

Observers have already begun identifying some reasons the candidate for the Disina constituency failed to make it to the state assembly. While some believe the selection process itself was faulty, others describe the candidate as disrespectful to the elders and party stakeholders of his LGA. 

Furthermore, some argue that instead of supporting the die-hard loyalists who worked tirelessly for this administration’s emergence and remain faithful to this day, the administration has prioritised defectors, leaving its original supporters to wallow in discomfort. Whatever the reasons, the solutions are not far-fetched, and the time is now.

I do not need to tell the stakeholders what to do, but in my simple understanding of the matter at hand, and considering the number of constituencies in the state, which totals about forty-six (46), including the 12 National Assembly constituencies and 3 senatorial districts, bringing aggrieved party members to the negotiating table is paramount at the moment. 

If ensuring that peace reigns and securing the party’s success are what led the member representing the Bogoro constituency in the State Assembly, Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada, to relinquish his candidacy to Mr Isahaya Dangana, then similar uncomfortable decisions must be replicated elsewhere, if needed.

On supporting decampees and leaving party loyalists unattended, I must confess this administration has done very well in supporting those who worked tirelessly for its emergence. Many were appointed to strategic positions and are doing very well. However, the issue shouldn’t be ignored or discarded; there is a need to revisit it and put the house in order

While these underground touches are paramount to preventing a recurrence of the Disina experience, the campaign directorate should consider publicising His Excellency’s good works that have put the state on the path of progress as part of the campaign messages. 

The achievements of this administration are unquantifiable, but unless they are displayed, the common man at the grassroots (polling unit) will never know about them; this is a must and is non-negotiable. On this, I recommend adopting the slogan: “Girman ka Akwatin Ka”.

It is also important for candidates seeking election to come together strategically and work tirelessly in their respective constituencies, as campaigning in isolation will not bode well for the party.

As the title of this post, humility costs nothing; I still insist: Sunkuya wa Wada ba Gajiyawa ba ne. 

Isyaka Laminu Badamasi writes from no 555 Ajiya Adamu Road, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr are reportedly arranging a private jet to fly Portuguese forward João Félix back to Saudi Arabia immediately after his international assignment, in a move aimed at ensuring his availability for their crucial encounter with Al-Ahli.

Saudi newspaper Al-Youm reported on Tuesday that the club’s management were making arrangements for a special flight to transport the forward to Jeddah following Portugal’s international fixture against Wales.

The plan is intended to minimise his travel time and avoid possible delays associated with commercial flights, giving him a better opportunity to feature in the highly anticipated league fixture.

Félix has established himself as an important member of Al-Nassr’s attacking unit since joining the club. His creativity and attacking contributions have made him one of the players relied upon by the coaching staff to unlock opposing defences.

However, his return on a private jet does not automatically guarantee his inclusion in the matchday squad. The technical team will first assess his fitness and physical condition after his international commitments and journey before deciding whether he is ready to play.

The proposed arrangement underlines Al-Nassr’s determination to have the Portuguese forward available for the high-profile meeting despite the demands of the international calendar.

The Saudi Pro League Matchweek Nine encounter between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr is scheduled for Friday, November 20, 2026, at Alinma Stadium, King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah.

Kick-off is set for 8:30 pm Saudi time, corresponding to 6:30 pm Nigerian time.

The November FIFA international window runs from November 9 to 17, with national teams expected to play up to two matches during the period.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mele Kyari, has denied allegations that N210tn was unaccounted for in the company’s financial records, insisting that the discrepancies arose from accounting entries rather than missing funds.

Kyari made the clarification on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to respond to audit queries covering the company’s financial records between 2017 and 2023.

He maintained that no funds were lost during his tenure as head of the national oil company between 2019 and 2025, describing the flagged figures as bookkeeping issues that had been misinterpreted as financial misconduct.

“I wish to confirm that nothing was lost. It is simply not possible that such an amount could have been lost under my care and leadership. The matter relates to accounting entries, which have nothing to do with any financial loss.

“They are bookkeeping issues, and I believe the appropriate explanations have been provided in my report,” he said.

The former NNPC boss also dismissed claims that the company spent N5bn to change its name from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to NNPC Limited after the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021.

Addressing questions about the company’s incorporation, Kyari explained that NNPC initially paid the expenses on behalf of the Federation before recovering the amount through deductions from government revenue.

He said, “At the time of incorporation, the company was not owned by the federation in the same manner. The federation was therefore responsible for the payment relating to the incorporation of NNPC.

“However, NNPC made the payment on behalf of the federation and subsequently charged it to the federation’s revenue, which was reflected in what we referred to as the former NAPIMS account of NNPC.

“This was simply an accounting entry, involving approximately N2.99bn. It was a payment made to government institutions responsible for providing the relevant services. I have also seen comments suggesting that N5bn was paid for the naming of the company. That is incorrect.”

Kyari further defended his leadership record, claiming that his administration turned the national oil company around from a loss-making entity into a profitable organisation.

Appearing before the committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, who represents Gombe North, he disclosed that the company recorded a loss of about $803bn in 2018, a year before he assumed office as Group Managing Director.

He said his administration introduced changes that eventually enabled the company to achieve sustained profitability for the first time in its 44-year history.

“Mr Chairman, you may be aware from the financial records that the company recorded a loss of about $803bn in 2018.

“I took over in 2019, and we did everything possible to transform the company into a profitable organisation, which made it, for the first time in its 44 years of existence, record sustained profits.”

In his response, Dankwambo said the committee would scrutinise the figures and documents submitted by the former NNPC chief before determining whether another invitation would be necessary.

“We shall interrogate the figures submitted by the former GMD to know whether to invite him again. For now, he has responded to the two issues relating to his leadership of NNPC during the period under review,” he said.

Kyari’s appearance followed months of controversy surrounding the Senate’s investigation into unresolved audit queries and financial discrepancies in NNPC’s accounts for the 2017–2023 period. The issues reportedly involve more than N210tn.

The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation had forwarded the queries to the Senate committee for examination.

Before his appearance, the committee had threatened to use its constitutional powers to compel Kyari to honour its invitations after he allegedly failed to attend several previous sessions.

The pressure intensified after Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, moved a motion over the former NNPC chief’s continued absence.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole had also called for Kyari to appear personally before the lawmakers to account for his stewardship, while urging the committee to issue an arrest warrant against him.

The Senate, however, clarified that committees could not independently issue, authorise or execute arrest warrants outside the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and without the express approval of the Senate President.

The upper chamber also distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s description of the NNPC as “a bunch of criminals and thieves”, stressing that the statement did not represent the official position of the Senate.

The committee is expected to review Kyari’s explanations and supporting documents to determine whether they sufficiently resolve the outstanding audit queries.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A 66-year-old former councillor in Sunderland, United Kingdom, Glenn Gibbins, has been convicted by a court over a Facebook post in which he called for Nigerians living in the city to be melted down and used to fill potholes.

Gibbins, a former Reform UK councillor, was found guilty of making grossly offensive comments following a three-hour trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, according to UK-based media outlet Chronicle Live.

District Judge Zoe Passfield subsequently handed him a 12-month community order, which requires him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

The case centred on a Facebook post Gibbins published in March 2024. The former councillor acknowledged that his statement was offensive but maintained that it did not amount to grossly offensive conduct.

In the post, he wrote, “Can’t believe the amount of Nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the potholes!!”

The controversial statement attracted attention after the campaign group Hope Not Hate examined Gibbins’ social media activity following his announcement as a Reform UK candidate for Sunderland City Council. Authorities were reportedly notified of the post after his election in May.

During the trial, prosecuting counsel Emma Dowling argued that the statement was deeply offensive and portrayed Nigerians as less than human.

“The comment about melting them down conjures up despicable images.”

She further argued that the remark implied Nigerians were “somewhat less than human, stripping people in that group of humanity”.

A Nigerian community leader in Sunderland, Godwin Ejeh, also testified about the incident. He said he organised a demonstration outside the City Hall on the day Gibbins was expected to be sworn in as a councillor, with the hope that he would apologise to the Nigerian community.

However, Gibbins had already been suspended by Reform UK after the Facebook post became public and did not attend the ceremony.

Ejeh, who contested the May council elections under the Liberal Democrats, rejected suggestions that he was exploiting the controversy for political advantage.

“We are talking about humanity here; it’s way beyond politics,” he told the court.

In his defence, Gibbins maintained that the statement was intended as humour rather than a genuine threat against Nigerians.

“I thought it was a tongue-in-cheek joke. It was an unreal scenario. No one took it literally.”

He told the court that he operated a business at the Bridges shopping centre, where he had previously interacted with some Nigerians who approached him about purchasing his printing equipment.

According to his testimony, their conversation involved friendly exchanges, which he described as good-natured banter.

He said that later that evening, after “a couple of cans of beer”, he came across a Facebook post about Nigerians. After failing to share the original post, he decided to write his own message and publish it on his public profile.

When Dowling asked about his intention, Gibbins said, “It was tongue-in-cheek, a bit naughty, but I thought it was fun.”

He also recalled his earlier encounter with the Nigerians at his business premises, saying, “They had done my head in, in a funny way, not a bad way.”

When asked to explain the humour behind his Facebook statement, he responded, “It’s an unreal scenario; you cannot melt people down. Anyone who takes that literally… you cannot do that. I wouldn’t dream of joking about killing people.”

Gibbins further told the court that he had little interest in politics before Reform UK approached him in March to contest for a council seat. He said he viewed the position as an opportunity to earn some money “to tide me over” during the quieter summer months of his business.

He added that he enjoyed assisting residents during his short time in office before his suspension.

However, Dowling maintained that the prosecution had established that the post was deliberately offensive and intended to humiliate Nigerians living in Sunderland.

She told the court that it was shared “for no reason whatsoever other than to offend and humiliate people from Nigeria who live in Sunderland”.

Defence counsel Adam King described the Facebook post as “unfunny” and “an unpleasant joke/non-joke”.

He also referenced jokes made by professional comedians, including Jo Brand’s remarks about throwing acid on Nigel Farage and Jimmy Carr’s jokes about gypsies and the Holocaust. He argued that those comedians had not faced prosecution over their comments.

Despite the defence’s arguments, the court ruled that Gibbins’ remarks crossed the legal threshold of gross offensiveness as understood by reasonable members of the public.

Reacting to the conviction, Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service in the North East warned against the use of social media to spread racially offensive comments.

“Racially charged and grossly offensive comments like this cross the line between free speech and criminal behaviour. They can be particularly upsetting and dehumanising for those in affected communities.

“I would remind anyone using social media that grossly offensive commentary of the type used by Glenn Gibbins is a criminal offence, and those posting similar material could face prosecution as a result of their actions.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has introduced a N52,500 minimum monthly pension guarantee for 173,209 eligible retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, bringing an end to a 22-year wait for the implementation of the provision.

The President also unveiled the Pension Industry Healthcare Plan for Retirees, known as PenCare, which is designed to provide free access to essential medical services for pensioners with low incomes.

The initiatives were launched on Tuesday at the Presidential Pension Security Initiatives ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. Tinubu was represented at the event by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

While declaring the minimum pension guarantee operational, the President said, “By the authority vested in me as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby declare the Minimum Pension Guarantee Scheme commenced.”

Tinubu explained that the policy was originally contained in the Pension Reform Act of 2004 and maintained in the 2014 legislation. However, successive administrations had failed to implement it.

“From this day, there is a floor beneath the Nigerian retiree. No one who contributed under the Contributory Pension Scheme will ever be allowed to fall below,” he said.

He also urged future governments to sustain the policy and improve its provisions rather than discontinue it.

“Raise it. But never remove the floor.”

On the healthcare component, Tinubu said PenCare would shield financially vulnerable pensioners from medical bills that could deplete their retirement savings.

“PenCare gives our low-income retirees access to essential health care without charge,” he said, adding that beneficiaries would receive healthcare access cards in the coming months.

The President further revealed that his administration had issued a N758bn bond to clear outstanding pension obligations and approved a N32,000 monthly consequential adjustment for affected federal pensioners.

He also disclosed that state governments had collectively spent more than N1tn to settle pension liabilities, partly due to improved revenue following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Citing a World Bank report, Tinubu said state revenues rose by approximately 93 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, while the proportion of state budgets allocated to capital projects increased from 46 to 61 per cent.

He added that government-supported credit programmes had facilitated more than N64bn in loans for 174,000 borrowers, while approximately N53bn in consumer credit had reached over 350,000 Nigerians.

Earlier, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed that the minimum monthly pension under the new arrangement had been set at N52,500.

“The minimum pensions in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is 52,500 naira every month,” she said.

Oloworaran explained that 173,209 pensioners qualified for the scheme, with federal retirees accounting for 34 per cent, state retirees representing 12 per cent and private-sector retirees making up the remaining 54 per cent.

She said the approved amount was determined through actuarial assessment and would undergo periodic reviews.

“The figure was not plucked from the air. It has been validated by an actuary, and it is subject to review,” Oloworaran noted.

The PenCom director-general also announced that the Pension Protection Fund had more than N400bn available to finance the guarantee.

She further disclosed that over 65 per cent of retirees from the private sector currently receive monthly pensions below the newly established minimum.

On the pension obligations inherited by state governments, Oloworaran revealed that their outstanding liabilities exceeded N2tn, although N1.07tn had already been paid.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Senate has approved a N100m donation to the country’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the financial reward during Tuesday’s plenary session while presiding over a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, to celebrate the team’s achievement.

Moving the motion, Ningi described the triumph as a landmark accomplishment, noting that the young footballers had achieved what several other Nigerian national teams had yet to accomplish.

He said the victory was particularly impressive because the team had not attracted much attention or high expectations before the tournament.

The lawmaker expressed disappointment over what he considered inadequate media coverage and national appreciation of the players’ achievement. He insisted that the team deserved greater recognition for bringing pride to Nigeria and the African continent.

Ningi also criticised the insufficient official reception and recognition accorded to the players after their return to the country.

Supporting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, praised the Flamingos for overcoming Japan in the final, describing their success as proof of the determination and capabilities of Nigerian youths.

Oshiomhole urged citizens to acknowledge the country’s accomplishments instead of concentrating exclusively on its difficulties. He also called on the Senate leadership to provide financial assistance to the players to support their education while they pursue their football careers.

The Senate subsequently adopted the motion, congratulating President Bola Tinubu for his contributions to sports development, the Nigerian public on the historic achievement and the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Shehu Dikko.

The lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the players receive appropriate rewards and compensation for their outstanding performance.

In his remarks, Akpabio described the Flamingos’ triumph as a major achievement for Nigeria and Africa, particularly because of their victories over established football nations, including Brazil and Japan.

He urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation to retain the team and invest in their development for future competitions.

The Senate President also encouraged wealthy Nigerians and sports enthusiasts to support the young footballers and inspire more children to take up sporting activities.

He explained that the N100m contribution from the National Assembly was meant to appreciate the players’ efforts and motivate them to achieve greater success.

“I want to commend the Flamingos, the U-17 youth team of Nigeria, for defeating major countries such as Brazil and Japan to win the Under-17 World Cup for Africa for the first time and for Nigeria.

“We also urged, and we pray that the Federal Government will recognise these children accordingly and give them adequate rewards.

“The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” Akpabio said.

He concluded by congratulating the players, the Senate Committee on Sports and Nigerians on the team’s historic World Cup victory.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to the Niger Republic in 2026 to escape insecurity, while hundreds of others have reportedly sought refuge in neighbouring Benin Republic, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Dominique Hyde, UNHCR spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, attributing the movement of people to worsening attacks by Islamist militants and armed gangs.

Hyde said the influx was placing additional pressure on Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, which already hosts more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. At least 327,500 of them are Nigerians.

“Thousands of newly arrived refugees, many of them children, are struggling to survive with limited access to food, clean water, shelter and essential services, as humanitarian resources fall critically short,” the statement said.

Most of the new arrivals have settled in the border regions of Diffa and Tahoua. Reuters reported that more than 23,000 people, over two-thirds of them children, had arrived in Diffa alone since the beginning of the year.

The UNHCR spokesperson said many displaced families were living in makeshift shelters, while women often travelled several kilometres daily to obtain water.

Aid agencies have also reported increasing cases of malnutrition, respiratory infections and poor sanitation among the new arrivals.

The humanitarian situation has been further complicated by difficulties with refugee registration. Only about five per cent of Nigerians who arrived in Niger this year have been formally registered, leaving many without the documents required to access assistance and public services.

Hyde also identified insecurity and climate-related challenges as factors worsening humanitarian needs. She disclosed that more than 70 per cent of reported security incidents in Niger this year occurred in the Diffa region.

UNHCR is seeking $11.4 million to expand its humanitarian response across Niger, Nigeria and Benin. The agency warned that thousands of displaced families could be left without essential assistance if additional funding is not secured.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Several leading universities in the United Kingdom have begun advertising a proposed interest-free student loan scheme designed to accommodate Muslim students who have religious objections to conventional interest-based borrowing.

The Alternative Student Finance scheme is expected to become available as early as next year. It will operate under the Islamic finance principle of Takaful, which promotes mutual financial support among members of a group.

Under the arrangement, students will make contributions equivalent to the repayments required under the conventional student loan system. However, instead of the money going into the Treasury’s general funds, it will be ring-fenced to support future beneficiaries of the scheme.

The initiative is open to students of all faiths, although it is primarily intended to address concerns among Muslims whose religious beliefs prohibit the payment or receipt of interest.

According to a report by The Telegraph, the University of Bristol, University of Leeds, University College London, City St George’s and Newcastle University are among institutions that have informed prospective students about the proposed arrangement.

The University of Bristol described it as an interest-free UK government loan compatible with Islamic finance principles, while Newcastle University referred to it as non-interest-bearing and sharia-compliant finance.

The scheme has, however, attracted criticism from some political figures who argue that it could create divisions within the education system.

Suella Braverman, Reform UK’s education spokesperson, described the arrangement as a potential two-tier system and questioned why taxpayers would bear the cost of loans that are not fully repaid.

She also criticised the decision to ring-fence repayments for future participants rather than direct them into the government’s general funds.

The report noted that the Government paid the Islamic Finance Council UK more than £365,000 in public funds to develop the scheme.

Although the Department for Education has yet to announce a specific launch date, the arrangement is expected to form part of wider changes to student finance beginning this year.

The department has defended the initiative, insisting that it does not give Muslim students preferential treatment.

A spokesperson said it would be “completely false to assert that Alternative Student Finance arrangements would give favourable treatment to Muslim students”.

“All graduates will be repaying their loans in full regardless of which system they use, including an equivalent alternative to interest,” the spokesperson added.

The department said the scheme would enable more students to access higher education without compromising their religious beliefs.

A 2021 Muslim Census survey involving nearly 39,000 British Muslims found that 80 per cent of student respondents felt conflicted about conventional student loans, while 71 per cent believed the existing system discriminated against Muslims.

Meanwhile, some Islamic scholars consider the existing student loan arrangement permissible. The University of Cambridge, for instance, informs students that conventional student loans are backed by the UK Fatwa Council.

The new scheme will be certified by the Islamic Finance Supervisory Board, while the Government will remain responsible for covering any shortfall if borrowers fail to repay their loans in full.

By Muhammad Sulaiman 

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has reacted to Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s claim that prominent political figures in Jigawa State, including himself, are supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shettima had made the claim while listing Lamido among those allegedly backing the APC administration.

However, Lamido expressed surprise at the statement, questioning how he could have joined the APC in 2026 when he did not join the party in 2014.

In his response, Lamido said:

“God works in mysterious ways! I did not join the APC in 2014, but I have supposedly joined now in 2026? Although a Kanuri man said it, I am not surprised. But my response, in your language, is ‘Kattuwunum!’”

Lamido’s remarks indicate his rejection of Shettima’s claim that he is among those supporting the APC.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Medical students from Kano State under the 2020/2021 MBBS set have raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the payment of their bonding allowances, appealing to the state government to urgently address the situation.

One affected student, who requested anonymity, told The Daily Reality that the students had expected payments to begin more than a year ago, but none had received any payment so far.

The student also expressed concern over the absence of official communication from the relevant authorities explaining the delay or indicating when the payments would begin.

He said the delay had worsened the financial difficulties many students face, particularly amid the country’s prevailing economic challenges and the high cost of medical education.

The students have therefore appealed to concerned individuals and public figures to draw the attention of the Kano State Government to their plight and prevail on the relevant authorities to fulfil the commitment.

They described themselves as future members of Kano State’s healthcare workforce and urged the government to take necessary steps to ease their financial burden and ensure that the bonding allowances are paid.

Efforts to reach the Kano State Government for its reaction to the matter have so far been unsuccessful.