Month: February 2025

By Anwar Usman

The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to resolve the ongoing land dispute between Bayero University Kano and neighbouring communities.

Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaibu Ahmed made the call on Saturday in Kano during the 39th convocation ceremony of the university.

He called on the governor to take swift action by issuing the university’s title deed to resolve the matter.

He stressed the importance of securing the institution’s land.

Regarding infrastructure, Tinubu acknowledged the lack of perimeter fencing at the university’s new campus. He assured that the Federal Government had allocated funds for the project.

She stated that, “The Federal Government has already provided funding, and work is underway”.

The president reiterated the administration’s commitment to upgrading university infrastructure nationwide.

Tinubu stated that the government was supporting research and infrastructure improvements through the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities Intervention.

He called on Nigerian universities to include research into teaching and learning to build a knowledge-driven society.

The President further explained that the future of Nigeria depended on quality human capital.

He emphasized the government’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for national development.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) celebrated a significant milestone on February 15, 2025, by conferring honorary Doctorate Degrees on Colonel Sani Bello, former Military Administrator of Kano State, and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, CEO of A. A. Rano Group of Companies, during its 39th Convocation.

The honorary degrees recognised their exceptional contributions to education and socio-economic development in Kano State and Nigeria. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Sa’id, praised the honourees and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to human capital development through education.

BUK’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, highlighted the graduation of 3,400 students, including 295 from the Dangote Business School and 275 PhD graduates, with 176 achieving First Class Honours. 

Pro-Chancellor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna encouraged graduands to uphold the university’s reputation, noting BUK’s recent ranking of 43rd in Africa by the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, inspiring them to strive for excellence and service to humanity.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Bayero University Kano (BUK) celebrated its 39th Convocation by conferring Emeritus Professorships on Professor Garba Dahuwa Azare, Professor Julius Afolabi Falola, and Professor Musa Borodo for their significant contributions to academia.

The ceremony featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Sa’id. Before her appointment, Sa’id was also a member of the Bayero University, Kano, staff.

Tinubu congratulated the honourees and graduates, emphasised the importance of education in fostering national progress, and assured ongoing support for the education sector to boost global competitiveness.

BUK Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, praised the awardees as influential figures in shaping the nation and celebrated the graduation of 3,400 students, including 176 who achieved First Class Honours.

Pro-Chancellor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna encouraged graduates to become ambassadors of the university, noting BUK’s recent ranking of 43rd among African universities. The conferral of Emeritus Professorships reaffirms BUK’s commitment to honouring excellence in education.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, following a hard-fought election that took five rounds of voting.

Youssouf emerged victorious after defeating Kenya’s Odinga Odinga in the fourth round, which marked the end of a competitive race that had observers initially predicting Odinga’s win.

Youssouf’s election means he will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who completed two terms at the helm of the AU Commission. Mahamat’s tenure, which lasted eight years, was marked by significant efforts to push for deeper integration across the African continent.

The race for the AU Commission’s top post was contentious, with Odinga, widely considered the favorite, leading early on in the first round of voting.

However, the momentum shifted as the election progressed. Despite a strong start, Odinga saw his support wane in later rounds, even after the third candidate, from Madagascar, dropped out of the race.

The turning point came when Odinga, during his speech, spent a significant portion of his allotted time—three minutes out of the five allowed—detailing the history of Pan-Africanism and African solidarity.

This left him with little time to present his vision for the AU, and the electronic timer cut him off before he could finish.

In contrast, Youssouf delivered a more concise and convincing vision, which ultimately swayed the voters in his favor.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano has confirmed that 16 people lost their lives in a road accident at the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover in the Hotoro area of the state on Friday.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, disclosed this in a statement released the same day.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the FRSC Kano rescue team, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, promptly moved to the scene to carry out a rescue operation and restore normal traffic flow,” he said.

According to Labaran, preliminary findings indicated that the accident involved a DAF trailer loaded with goods and carrying 71 passengers. He attributed the incident to reckless driving caused by excessive speed, which resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle.

“The total number of people involved was 71 while the total number of injured was 52 and total fatalities were 16,” he stated.

The injured victims were immediately taken to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in Kano for urgent medical attention.

Labaran added that in response to the tragic event, the FRSC Kano Sector Commander, CC U.M. Matazu, had dispatched an investigation team to conduct a thorough inquiry into the crash.

He further extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The sector commander urged motorists to strictly follow traffic regulations.

He also cautioned against the dangerous practice of overloading trailers with goods, animals, and passengers, stressing that such actions significantly increase the risk of fatal accidents.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has rejected allegations from a viral video suggesting that its fuel products are substandard. NNPC called the claims false and based on unverified amateur research.

The company stressed that its fuel is formulated for optimal performance and that a significant portion of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sold in Lagos is sourced from the Dangote Refinery, which meets strict quality standards.

NNPC described the video’s spreading as a tactic by “economic saboteurs” to misinform the public and harm its reputation.

The company plans to take legal action against those disseminating false information and urges Nigerians to rely on verified sources for accurate updates.

By Safiyanu Ladan 

The Kaduna State government recently announced that it has entered a peace deal with notorious bandits, particularly in the Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Government Areas. The aim of the deal is to end banditry in the region. This development is a positive step forward.

For years, bandits have wreaked havoc on local communities, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. Their actions have severely disrupted the socioeconomic activities of these areas.

According to the government, the peace deal is yielding positive results. Relative stability has returned to the affected regions. A cattle market that had been closed for decades has resumed operations, and residents can now go about their daily activities without constant fear of attacks or kidnappings.

However, although relative peace has been observed in the northern part of the state over the past few months, the situation in the southern part is significantly different. Recently, residents of Anguwan Ate in Kachia Local Government Area have staged protests due to the ongoing attacks and kidnappings carried out by bandits.

The resurgence of kidnappings in certain areas of the state following the peace deal is concerning. The government and other stakeholders involved in brokering this peace agreement need to reassess the situation and address any existing loopholes to prevent an escalation of violence.

Safiyanu Ladan wrote from Kaduna.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian government has issued a strong statement dismissing recent accusations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American official at Binance, following his trial in Nigeria for financial crimes.

The government describes Gambaryan’s claims as outrageous, defamatory, and misleading, urging the public to disregard his statements.

In a press release, the Federal Government clarified that Gambaryan and his colleagues visited Nigeria voluntarily, with no official involvement from the government.

However, when an alleged bribery demand surfaced during the visit, the Nigerian authorities swiftly launched an investigation, despite the absence of a formal complaint.

Gambaryan’s second trip to Nigeria, according to the government, was part of a broader investigation into criminal activities related to the manipulation of the Nigerian currency through platforms like Binance.

The statement alleges that Gambaryan and his team used tactics to obstruct the investigation, which frustrated Nigerian officials.

In October 2024, Gambaryan was released from custody on humanitarian grounds following high-level diplomatic intervention, which the Nigerian government claims resulted in tangible benefits for the country.

The statement revealed that Nigeria rejected a $5 million offer from Binance for Gambaryan’s release, instead choosing a more advantageous agreement with the U.S. government.

The government categorically denied Gambaryan’s retaliatory accusations against Nigerian officials, stating that his claims are baseless and motivated by a desire to discredit those who ensured he faced legal consequences.

They also expressed confidence that both Nigerian and American courts would provide Gambaryan with a fair chance to present evidence supporting his claims.

Until then, the Nigerian government urged the public to exercise caution and dismiss the unsubstantiated allegations made by Gambaryan.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the continued detention and possible execution of Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu on blasphemy charges. The resolution, adopted on Thursday, urges the Nigerian government to immediately release Sharif-Aminu and abolish blasphemy laws that violate human rights.

Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano State on August 10, 2020, for allegedly composing a song with lyrics deemed derogatory to the Prophet Muhammad. His trial was conducted without legal representation, and his family has reportedly faced harassment and persecution since his arrest. 

Although the Kano State High Court ordered a retrial in January 2021 and later upheld by the Court of Appeal in August 2022, the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws was affirmed, raising fears that the death sentence might still be enforced. His appeal to the Supreme Court, filed in November 2022, remains pending.

The European Parliament highlighted that Sharif-Aminu’s health is deteriorating due to inadequate access to food, clothing, and medical care while in detention. The resolution calls for his unconditional release, guarantees for his safety, and an expedited and fair appeals process at the Supreme Court.

The Parliament further criticised Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, stating that they contravene international human rights commitments, the African Charter, and Nigeria’s own constitution, which upholds freedom of expression and religion. It also highlighted that blasphemy accusations frequently lead to mob violence and extrajudicial killings, putting religious minorities at risk.

In addition to demanding Sharif-Aminu’s release, the European Parliament urged the Nigerian government to abolish blasphemy laws, impose a nationwide moratorium on executions, and take concrete steps to prevent impunity for those inciting or perpetrating violence over alleged blasphemy cases. It also called on the European Union and its member states to raise human rights concerns with Nigerian authorities and observe future legal proceedings related to blasphemy cases.

The resolution commended the recent acquittal of Rhoda Jatau and the release of Mubarak Bala, both previously detained on blasphemy-related charges. It reaffirmed that blasphemy laws should be abolished to protect fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.

The European Parliament’s President has been instructed to forward the resolution to the European Commission, the European Council, the European External Action Service, and the Nigerian government and parliament for immediate action.

By Maryam Ahmad

A groundbreaking congressional investigation has forced lawmakers to acknowledge a long history of U.S. government involvement in financing extremist organisations, including Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, the Taliban, and ISIS.

The findings, revealed in a classified report leaked to the press, outline decades of covert operations, indirect funding, and intelligence blunders that have inadvertently empowered terrorist groups worldwide.

The report details how U.S. aid, weapons, and financial resources intended for allied forces or opposition groups often ended up in the hands of militants.

It cites instances where American-made arms supplied to anti-Soviet fighters in the 1980s ultimately bolstered the Taliban and where funding to Syrian opposition forces found its way to ISIS affiliates.

Lawmakers from both parties have responded with shock and calls for greater oversight. “This is a sobering moment,” said Senator James Holloway (R-TX). “We must rethink our foreign policy strategy to ensure that American resources are never again used to fuel extremism.”

The White House has yet to issue a formal response, but officials insist that past mistakes should not overshadow ongoing counterterrorism efforts. Meanwhile, critics argue that these revelations confirm long-held suspicions about U.S. interventionist policies and their unintended consequences.

The investigation’s full findings are expected to be declassified in the coming months, raising further questions about accountability and the future of American foreign aid.