I write this as a concerned citizen of Kano who genuinely wants your administration and our state to succeed.

First, I must acknowledge the progress your administration has made. The visible investment in road construction, rehabilitation and urban infrastructure across Kano deserves recognition. Your government has also intervened in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors. These efforts should be sustained regardless of political differences.

However, Your Excellency, I believe Kano can do even more.

The recently concluded mass wedding involving 1,500 couples, reportedly gulping the state more than ₦1.5 billion, has made me reflect on our priorities. 

I am a Muslim, and I respect marriage and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW). I therefore do not oppose helping genuinely vulnerable people to marry.

My concern is sustainability and priority.

Marriage does not end at the wedding. After the ceremony come food, rent, healthcare, children’s education and other responsibilities. If someone lacks the economic capacity to establish a household, helping him marry does not necessarily solve the problem that made marriage difficult.

We should not only help people get married; we should help them build families that can stand on their own.

This is why I respectfully urge your administration to place greater emphasis on the following:

Education: Kano’s children are our greatest investment. We need stronger public schools, better teacher development, learning materials, technical education, girls’ education and serious programmes to return out-of-school children to classrooms. Questions have already been raised about the relatively small allocation to some out-of-school-girl programmes compared with the mass-wedding expenditure.

Youth employment and skills: Our young people need sustainable opportunities, not only temporary grants. Vocational training, agriculture, ICT, manufacturing, apprenticeships, and affordable business financing can help young people earn and eventually support their own families.

Healthcare and water: Functional primary healthcare, maternal care, essential medicines, clean water and sanitation must reach ordinary citizens, particularly in rural communities.

Agriculture: Kano has enormous agricultural potential. The government should strengthen irrigation, storage, processing and market access so that farming becomes a profitable industry and a source of employment.

There is also the important issue of monitoring government assistance.

I recently saw a large number of mattresses being distributed under the mass-wedding programme, which raised questions for me about what happens to them after distribution. I cannot confirm whether what I observed involved legitimate transfer, resale or something else, and I do not wish to accuse anyone without evidence.

But it highlights an important question:

What mechanism monitors government assistance after it reaches beneficiaries?

I respectfully suggest post-distribution verification, proper documentation and follow-up assessments. The government should know who received assistance, whether they received the full allocation, and whether the intervention actually improved their lives.

Public money deserves public accountability.

Your Excellency, you have shown that your government can build roads.

Please build people too.

You have shown that government can support marriages.

Please build the economic foundation upon which those marriages can stand.

Let us measure Kano’s progress not only by kilometres of roads constructed, but by how many children are in school, how many young people have sustainable jobs, how many families escape poverty, and how many empowerment beneficiaries remain economically active years later.

I do not want a Kano where people continually wait for government assistance.

I want a prosperous Kano where the government creates the opportunities that allow people to become self-reliant.

That is the Kano many of us want.

Umar Abdullahi Huguma writes from Kano State and can be reached at umarhuguma2023@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja, has concluded a four-day capacity-building programme for stakeholders on conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and peaceful coexistence.

The training, which ended on Friday, brought together representatives of security agencies, government ministries, farmers and pastoralists, traditional and religious institutions, women and other stakeholders involved in the livestock sector.

The Daily Reality reports that the programme was organised to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders and existing conflict committees at state and local government levels to identify early warning signs, prevent conflicts and respond appropriately to emerging disputes.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of L-PRES in Kano, Sule Saleh, who represented the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, said the programme had significantly improved participants’ understanding of conflict prevention and resolution.

Saleh said the participants came from different backgrounds and initially had varying levels of knowledge about conflict mitigation, but had gained practical skills during the four-day engagement.

“To be candid with you, as of today, I believe we are more than learners. We have learned a lot about how to mediate conflict and how to identify what triggers that conflict,” he said.

He explained that the training covered issues including resource control, access to grazing areas and water resources, livestock movement, community-level peacebuilding and the management of conflicts that could arise from development interventions.

According to him, L-PRES had established conflict committees at different levels to ensure that emerging disputes were addressed before they escalated from the community level to local government and state levels.

Saleh cited the construction of solar-powered boreholes and animal drinking points in 36 Ruga communities across Kano State as an example of how conflict-sensitive planning could prevent potential disputes.

He said the project had designed separate water access points for surrounding communities to prevent disagreements between farmers and pastoralists over the use of the facilities.

“The intervention may lead to conflicting interests between farmers and herders. So, to solve that issue, right from design, L-PRES designed a separate tap where the communities can access that particular water,” he explained.

Saleh said the approach was intended to reduce tension and promote peaceful coexistence between livestock farmers and members of the wider communities.

Also speaking, the National Conflict Specialist of L-PRES, Nazifi Ibrahim Wada, said the project was supporting existing conflict committees in Kano State because of their important role in preventing farmer-herder conflicts.

Wada explained that the committees had been working to prevent conflicts and needed continuous capacity building, training and relevant materials to strengthen their day-to-day activities.

He said the training focused on early warning and early response, mediation, dialogue and gender inclusion, among other areas.

“We are building the capacity of the conflict committee members in Kano State, that is, both the state and local conflict committees,” Wada said.

According to him, participants were trained on how to detect potential conflicts before they occurred and how to respond promptly when tensions began to emerge.

Wada expressed confidence in the participants, saying their commitment and interaction with facilitators during the programme demonstrated that they were prepared to apply the knowledge gained.

He said the participants represented a broad range of institutions, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ministry of Livestock, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, forestry and land resources.

He added that representatives of farmers, pastoralists, traditional rulers and religious leaders also participated in the programme.

In his remarks, Paul Andrew Gwaza of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja, described the four-day engagement as more than a conventional training, saying it provided an opportunity for critical stakeholders to jointly examine the causes of conflict and possible solutions.

Gwaza said the programme included participatory stakeholder mapping, focus group discussions, multi-stakeholder dialogue and sessions on conflict analysis and peace analysis.

He added that participants were also trained on the Do No Harm framework, gender and social inclusion, mediation, negotiation, traditional peacebuilding methods, grievance redress and referral pathways.

Other areas covered, according to him, included conflict-sensitive investment planning and the legal and policy framework relating to peacebuilding and livestock development in Kano State.

“This four-day engagement is not just training. It is engagement with critical stakeholders in Kano State,” Gwaza said.

He said the institute conducted a pre-engagement assessment to determine the participants’ level of knowledge before the programme and would also conduct a post-engagement evaluation to measure the impact of the training.

Gwaza, however, said the participants had already demonstrated noticeable improvements in their skills, competence and enthusiasm throughout the programme.

He urged the participants to become active peace agents by taking peace messages to their communities, markets, town hall meetings and other public spaces.

“The call that we have been echoing to them is that they are now peace agents. When you are a peace agent, you are expected to propagate peace messages,” he said.

Gwaza stressed the need for inclusion in development processes, warning that ignoring the grievances of individuals or groups could create conditions for wider conflict.

He urged stakeholders to promote social cohesion, unity and peaceful coexistence rather than messages capable of deepening divisions within society.

Also speaking, Hadiza Aminu Kabara, Gender Officer at the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, described the programme as informative and impactful.

Kabara said the training focused on conflict prevention and resolution, referral pathways and appropriate actions to be taken when conflicts were identified.

She said participants were sensitised on the importance of identifying and reporting conflicts at their early stages to relevant authorities and institutions before they escalated.

According to her, the programme was particularly important because of the persistent farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria, which affect both farmers and pastoralists.

Kabara commended L-PRES for providing designated routes for pastoralists to move their livestock without passing through farmlands, saying such initiatives could help reduce clashes and promote peaceful coexistence.

She said the training had increased participants’ knowledge and awareness of conflict prevention, adding that the knowledge acquired would be useful in their respective communities and institutions.

The Daily Reality gathered that the conclusion of the programme is expected to strengthen the capacity of Kano State’s conflict committees and other stakeholders to identify early warning signs, facilitate dialogue, mediate disputes and address grievances before they escalate, thereby contributing to peaceful coexistence and improved livestock productivity across the state.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly arrested a 50-year-old woman in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State for allegedly transporting 300 rounds of live ammunition concealed inside a bag.

According to preliminary military findings, the woman travelled from Zamfara State to Lafia in Nasarawa State, where she allegedly collected the ammunition before heading towards Kaduna State. The Army said the ammunition was allegedly being transported for delivery to suspected bandits operating in the Birnin Gwari forest area of Kaduna State.

The suspect was reportedly arrested during a military operation, while the ammunition was recovered from her possession. She is currently in custody as investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the movement of the ammunition and identify other persons who may be connected to the alleged operation.

The arrest comes amid ongoing military operations against banditry and other security threats in parts of the North-West.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kaduna State Government has approved the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN–ASUU) Salary Agreement for academic staff of Kaduna State University (KASU).

The new salary structure will take effect from the October 2026 salary.

The approval was based on the report and recommendations of a 9-member Government–KASU–ASUU Negotiation Committee established by Governor Uba Sani to review the demands of the union and recommend a sustainable framework for implementation.

The approved package covers provisions contained in the 2025 FGN–ASUU Agreement, including the revised Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and other applicable salary adjustments and allowances.

The state government said the decision reflects Governor Sani’s commitment to education and human-capital development.

According to the government, at least 25 percent of Kaduna State’s annual budget has been allocated to education since Sani assumed office. It added that 3,267 classrooms have been constructed or renovated, alongside 1,194 toilets and 90 boreholes.

The government also said 57,777 units of furniture have been supplied to learners and teachers across the state, while other education projects remain ongoing.

It further highlighted the approval of a 50 percent reduction in tertiary education fees and the extension of the retirement age for school teachers from 60 to 65 years.

On the challenge of out-of-school children, the government said more than 300,000 children have returned to education from an estimated population of over 500,000 out-of-school children inherited in 2023.

It said Kaduna’s household-mapping approach for identifying out-of-school children has since been adopted by the Federal Government as a model for addressing the problem nationwide.

The state government also said 4,050 young people have graduated from its structured vocational-training programme. According to the government, the Federal Ministry of Education has requested Kaduna’s technical and vocational training manuals for use as reference materials at the national level.

The government further pointed to reforms at the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), which it said has been transformed into a more technology-driven and data-based institution.

Following the approval, the state government called on ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT to continue to use dialogue to resolve differences.

It said improved welfare for university staff should lead to better teaching, research, innovation and student outcomes at KASU.

The government also urged the university to pursue measures that would improve its international standing and visibility in global university rankings, including the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings.

The state government commended KASU management, ASUU and other stakeholders for their patience and engagement throughout the negotiation process.

It said the approval represents an investment in the university community and a renewed commitment to making KASU a peaceful, competitive and accountable institution capable of meeting the demands of the 21st century.

The statement was signed on September 11, 2026, by Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, OON, NPOM, Commissioner for Education and Chairman of the 9-Member Government–KASU–ASUU Negotiation Committee.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Acting Commander of the 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Colonel Joseph Umaru, has ordered commanders and troops under the brigade’s area of responsibility in Kebbi State to step up intelligence-led operations against bandits and other criminal groups.

Umaru issued the directive during a familiarisation tour of military units across the state between September 8 and 9, 2026.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Thursday.

The commander called on the troops to improve intelligence gathering and information sharing while strengthening collaboration with sister security agencies, local authorities and other stakeholders.

He said such cooperation would help restrict the activities of criminals and prevent them from operating freely within the state.

Umaru also directed commanders to maintain coordinated and proactive operations. He reminded the troops to remain professional, comply strictly with the rules of engagement and protect civilians during their operations.

The Acting Brigade Commander further highlighted the need to prioritise the welfare, motivation, training and professional development of personnel.

He urged commanders to embrace the Chief of Army Staff’s “Soldiers First” mantra.

Umaru said properly led, motivated and equipped troops would be in a stronger position to maintain operational pressure and successfully carry out their assigned responsibilities.

As part of the tour, he reviewed the operational readiness of formations under the brigade and examined the challenges affecting their operations.

The units visited included the 223 Light Tank Battalion in Zuru, the COAS Intervention Battalion III in Sakaba and 1 Battalion in Birnin Kebbi.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected members of a terrorist network during separate operations across Kaduna State.

Those arrested include an alleged terrorist kingpin, a suspected ammunition courier and a suspected logistics supplier.

The operations took place on Wednesday in Kubau, Igabi and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas as part of efforts to disrupt terrorist groups and their supply networks.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X on Thursday night.

According to Makama, troops conducted a raid on Dabar Dabo in Kubau Local Government Area, which was identified as a hideout used by terrorists.

The operation led to the arrest of the suspected kingpin and two other members of his group.

“The suspects were taken into military custody for further investigation and intelligence gathering,” Makama wrote.

In a separate operation in Igabi Local Government Area, troops intercepted a 50-year-old woman suspected of transporting ammunition.

Security personnel reportedly recovered 300 rounds of ammunition concealed inside a bag in her possession.

Makama said preliminary investigations indicated that the woman had travelled from Zamfara State to Lafia, where she allegedly received the ammunition before proceeding to Birnin Gwari to deliver it to suspected terrorist elements in the area.

Later on Wednesday, troops, with support from a community vigilante group, arrested another suspected logistics supplier in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

“A search of the suspect led to the recovery of four communication devices believed to be linked to terrorist activities,” Makama wrote.

Makama said the suspects and items recovered during the operations remained in military custody as investigations continued.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has called on the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition and support the NDC.

Kwankwaso made the appeal on Thursday when he received members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his residence in Abuja.

The former Kano State governor urged Atiku to step aside for the NDC ticket and assured him that he would be taken care of if the party eventually wins the presidency.

“Step down for us; if we win, we will take care of you,” Kwankwaso said.

The appeal comes amid ongoing efforts by opposition politicians to form a united front against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, a former Vice President, remains one of the prominent opposition figures seeking the presidency in 2027.

Kwankwaso and the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had previously been associated with the ADC before they left the party in May. They cited internal divisions and court cases within the party as reasons for their departure.

Their move to the NDC has added to the realignment among opposition politicians ahead of the next presidential election.

By Onumoh Abdulwaheed 

The water came first to the Ojota Maryland bridge, then to Lekki, then to Oshodi. By mid-morning, offices sat locked, bus stops stood empty, and cars floated where traffic should have been. On social media, Lagosians did what they always do when the rains return: they joked, filmed, and asked again where the government was.

Nigeria has rehearsed this scene for years. Not a single flood, but a season that arrives on schedule, floods a familiar set of streets, and leaves behind the same unanswered question: why does this keep happening?

The numbers say it will keep happening. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s 2026 flood outlook warns that 33 states and more than 14,000 communities sit in high-risk zones this year. It is not a new warning. In 2022, floods killed over 600 people, displaced 1.4 million, and destroyed more than 82,000 homes. By 2024, another million people had been displaced, and 1.3 million hectares of farmland were lost. Economists put the average cost of the 2022 and 2024 disasters at $6.68 billion money that vanishes from an economy that can least afford it, shaving up to half a percentage point off agricultural GDP each bad season.

Nowhere is the pattern of official neglect clearer than at Dasin Hausa. In the 1980s, Nigeria and Cameroon agreed to build twin dams: Lagdo, in Cameroon, to hold back water, and Dasin Hausa, in Adamawa State, to absorb whatever Lagdo released. Cameroon built its dam. Nigeria did not. More than forty years on, Dasin Hausa exists mainly in feasibility studies and press statements, while Lagdo’s floodwaters continue to pour, almost on cue, into Benue, Kogi, Anambra and Delta.

Jonathan Ikwebe, a farmer in Benue whose rice fields were wiped out in 2022, put it plainly: “We are at the mercy of the water.” He said the government keeps promising a dam that nobody sees being built.

That promise has been renewed often. In 2023, the Senate urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the project. In 2025, officials announced a public-private partnership to fast-track it, citing renewed political will. In 2026, the dam is still on paper. Officials cite funding and bureaucracy; critics say what is missing isn’t money but the will to finish what’s been started.

By Dahiru Ƙasimu Adamu 

In northern Nigeria, disability has long been viewed as a one-way ticket to a life of begging. But Imrana Aminu Sifawa is rewriting that narrative through academic achievement.

When a child is born with a disability in northern Nigeria, tradition often dictates their future: they beg. It’s a grim expectation that has consigned countless individuals to a life of dependency rather than dignity.

But Imrana Aminu Sifawa refuses to be a statistic. Born completely blind in 2001 in Sifawa town, Bodinga Local Government Area, Sokoto State, this young man has spent his life shattering stereotypes and reaching academic heights that many sighted individuals never reach.

Imrana’s educational journey began at AA Raji Special School Sokoto, where he completed both primary and secondary education. But he didn’t stop there.

He later earned his National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Islamic Studies, with a specialisation in Special Education in Islam, from Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. Today, he is pursuing a degree in Islamic Studies at the same institution, affiliated with Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).

Recognising that the world is moving rapidly toward technology, Imrana earned a Diploma in Computer from Kebbi State School for Special Needs in Birnin Kebbi, where he mastered computer operation and networking.

“I have knowledge of operating computers,” Imrana declares with quiet confidence. “Even now, if you bring one to me, I will operate it. I understand its features, how it works, how letters are arranged, and how to type.”

Imrana’s intellectual pursuits extend beyond secular education. He has completely memorised the Holy Qur’an and studied Hadith extensively. His command of Islamic scholarship is evident when he quotes Imam Shafi’i: “Kulli yaumil zadal ilmi zadani ilmul bi jahali…” (Every day knowledge increases, and my knowledge of my ignorance increases…)

In Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), he has studied Mukhtasarul Khalil, Lawali, and Sani, among others.

What drives this remarkable young man? A deep-seated rejection of the fate society had planned for him.

“I grew up disinterested in begging, and I completely hate it,” Imrana states firmly.

His determination was fueled by his father’s unwavering support; his father, a retired civil servant, said that politicians and wealthy individuals never helped with his school fees.

Imrana’s path has been anything but smooth. He openly acknowledges the discrimination he has faced.

“The challenges are many, but to mention a few: discrimination,” he explains. “Whenever I set foot in education, some thought I could not do it. Some lecturers clearly hated me. Nevertheless, I endured, I resisted, and now I have attained it.”

He draws strength from the teachings of Ta’alimil Mutaalim: “Bijiddi la bi jiddi kulli muhataji…” (With effort, not with mere desire, every seeker achieves…)

Imrana is unequivocal in his message to people living with disabilities: shun begging, citing a powerful Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He warns: “Anyone who engages in begging on the Day of Judgment will wake up without any flesh on his body; it is the sign of beggars.”

In another tradition, he notes that anyone who begs invites poverty through their own actions.

“Begging is not good,” Imrana insists. “Most of those who rely on begging have many cows and flocks of sheep, but they cannot leave it; they have become addicted.”

Rather than begging, Imrana advocates for entrepreneurship as a path to dignity and self-sufficiency.

When asked about his own source of income, he reveals: “Walima (ceremonial gatherings) is one of my sources of income. When people have occasions like marriages or naming ceremonies, they invite me to present and educate attendees, and I earn income through that.”

Imrana urges wealthy individuals to provide people with disabilities with capital for investments that enable them to pursue their dreams and become stable, contributing members of society.

Several other people like Imrana can do better but have yet to receive encouragement and support.

If our society truly wants to thrive,  we must stop discriminating against people with disabilities. Instead, we must encourage them, integrate them, and support them in learning modern skills that will benefit them, their families, and society at large.

Imrana Aminu Sifawa’s story is not just about one man’s triumph over blindness; it’s a testament to the power of education, the strength of human will, and the urgent need to change society’s view of disability.

Imrana Aminu Sifawa’s message is clear: Disability is not a barrier. Begging is not a destiny. Education is the tool for success.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The endorsement was made on Wednesday during the 2026 synod of the conference held in Abuja.

The event was attended by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Representatives of the CBCN from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones asked Leonard Kawas, the organisation’s president-general, to announce the position reached by the conference.

Kawas said the CBCN has members in 52 countries, including 950 “canonical” bishops in Nigeria.

He recalled that the organisation was among groups that expressed concerns over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket presented by the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 election.

According to him, however, Tinubu’s subsequent appointments of Christians to prominent government positions changed the group’s perception of his administration.

“Suddenly, the man, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, began to roll out his appointments. Before we could say Jack Robinson, a Christian, who is loved by all of us, by Senator George Akume, was appointed the secretary to the government of the federation,” Kawas said.

“Our minds and BPs started coming down. Mr President, if you are watching us, for we, Christians, that was the turning point of your government.

“When we were still celebrating it, before we knew it, you appointed an FCT minister. For the first time in many years, a Christian brother, Barrister Nyesom Wike, was appointed.

“Mr President, when we have sat back and examined the way you balanced the religious imbalance that has existed for long. President Bola Tinubu came and balanced our diversity so very well. There is no iota of nepotism.”

Kawas also cited the appointment of Nentawe Yilwatda, a Christian, as national chairman of the APC as part of what he described as the president’s efforts to promote religious balance.

He further said Tinubu had supported Christian candidates who went on to become governors.

The CBCN president-general said the bishops would continue to support the president through prayers and advocacy.

“We are here today to reassure him of our solid support. We are standing with him in prayers and advocacy for the good programmes he has brought forth for the liberation of Nigeria,” he added.

“We stand with the president today, and as long as he is willing to be our president and even come in 2027, we will still be standing with him.

“So, it is safe to say that this house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency. Let him go ahead.”

The endorsement places the CBCN among religious and interest groups that have publicly declared their positions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.