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By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly appointed Controller General (CG) of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, was officially decorated with his new rank today in Abuja.

The ceremony was performed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, at the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) Hall.

The Minister praised the outgoing CG, Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu, for his outstanding service, while the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene N. Ajani, urged the new CG to uphold national interest and work within the law.

In his response, CG Adeyemi thanked President Tinubu and other officials for their trust, promising to reposition the agency for greater efficiency.

The event was attended by top government officials, lawmakers, past FFS leaders, and heads of sister security agencies.

A reception followed at the FFS headquarters, marking the occasion with celebration and unity.

The CDCFIB expressed hope that the new CG would justify the confidence reposed in him by the President and Nigerians.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, has announced a three-week medical leave to focus on his health.

The leave will begin on Monday, August 18, 2025.

In a press release by the State Ministry of Information and Culture, Governor Radda expressed gratitude to the people of Katsina for their support and prayers.

He stated that prioritizing his health would enable him to return to office with renewed energy and continue serving the state effectively.

“Taking the necessary steps to address my health is crucial so I can make the best decisions for our state,” he said.

During his absence, Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal, HCIB (Sarkin Fulanin Jobe), will act in his capacity.

Governor Radda expressed confidence in the Deputy Governor’s ability to oversee state affairs smoothly.

The government assured residents that all ongoing projects and programs under the “Building Your Future Agenda” will proceed without disruption.

The administration looks forward to the Governor’s return in good health.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

The decision, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday, aims to address declining standards and infrastructure challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

The ban, which takes immediate effect, is intended to curb duplication, optimize resources, and improve existing institutions.

Alausa stated that Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 polytechnics, and 28 colleges of education, yet many struggle with low enrollment and inadequate facilities.

“Access to tertiary education is no longer the problem—quality is,” Alausa said.

He cited alarming statistics, including 199 universities with fewer than 100 applicants in the 2024/2025 academic session and 34 institutions with zero applicants.

Similar trends were observed in polytechnics and colleges of education.

The minister emphasized that the moratorium will allow the government to focus on upgrading infrastructure, enhancing staff capacity, and expanding the carrying capacities of current institutions.

He also warned that unchecked expansion risks producing unemployable graduates. Meanwhile, FEC approved nine new private universities, clarifying that these were long-pending applications.

Alausa noted that stricter guidelines would soon apply to private institutions to prevent unchecked growth at the expense of quality.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on the federal and state governments to heed the concerns of Nigerians rather than dismissing their grievances.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of NASFAT’s 30th-anniversary history book, the Sultan urged leaders to show empathy and avoid oppressive measures when addressing citizens’ hardships.

Amid rising inflation and economic challenges, the Sultan emphasized the importance of justice in governance, stating, A nation can endure with unbelief, but it cannot endure with injustice.”

He advised leaders to act with fairness and truth while urging Nigerians to pray for their leaders instead of cursing them.

NASFAT President, Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulrauf, highlighted the organization’s growth over 30 years, from a small prayer group to a global faith-based body promoting social welfare and education.

The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

By Musa Abdurrazak

A 25-year-old lady was allegedly found murdered today in the morning at Kabuga Janbulo along Gwarzo Road in the Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State.

Eyewitnesses expressed their shock and trauma over the disturbing incident. Shu’aibu Bala, whose shop is located nearest to the scene, recounted, “It was around 6 AM when I was opening my shop that I spotted the dead body on the ground by the roadside.”

Another witness, Khalifa, described the scene as “the biggest calamity” he has ever encountered, noting, “The woman was brutally slaughtered, and her dignity has been violated.” He further speculated that the victim may have been killed at a distance and later dumped by the roadside, as he mentioned that police officers arrived shortly after the discovery.

In an effort to gather more information, the Daily Reality (TDR) reached out to Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, via call and message. However, TDR could not get any response at the time of this report.

This tragic incident adds to a growing concern in the community, as reports of unidentified bodies being discovered have become alarmingly frequent, instilling fear and uncertainty among residents.

By Anna Gabriel Yarima

I write to and call and throw a challenge at all graduated health educators and the potential ones concerning the deadly diphtheria disease that annually claims the huge number of lives of infected Nigerians, which, according to reports, is more than 1,376 deaths being recorded in the high-burden states infected with the cases: Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, and Kaduna states. And, from around 2022 to 2023, WHO reported that over 600 deaths were recorded with a case fatality ratio of 13% among confirmed cases in the past.

Instead of the cases significantly dropping annually, on 14th January 2024, according to the WHO African Region Health Emergency Situation Report, “A cumulative total of 27,991 suspected cases of diphtheria resulting in 828 fatalities have been reported across Nigeria, Guinea, Niger, Mauritania, and South Africa. Nigeria is the most severely affected, accounting for 80.1% of cases and 72% of deaths.” Even though the cases in Nigeria are underreported.

The deadly diphtheria that is caused by exotoxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae is spread between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via viral respiratory droplets. The disease can affect all age groups; however, unimmunized children are particularly at risk.

Therefore, avenues for an awareness have to be created by the health educators in our communities so as to make parents ’fully informed of the signs and symptoms of the disease as well as the dangers of being infected and how easily uninfected children could be infected. Though vaccine-preventable it is!

The government at all levels has to be very cautious in attacking the deadly diphtheria that consumes lives annually. I therefore suggest the federal government collaborate with primary health care centres across the nation so as to have unimmunised children who are at risk immunised.

I hope the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare will put more effort into making sure that the number of cases and deaths that are recorded annually are reduced or totally diminished.

Anna Gabriel Yarima writes from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.

By Anna Gabriel Yarima

When the internet and digital platforms emerged from the rapid growth of information and communication technology, journalism experienced a fundamental transformation. Traditional newspapers and mainstream media organisations around the world embraced these tools, prompting universities and journalism schools to introduce online journalism courses. The goal was clear — to equip students with the skills to navigate and manage digital media while preserving the profession’s core principles and ethics in a new online environment.

Today, another major technological shift is underway: the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). From established newspapers to online-only platforms, media organisations are experimenting with AI in reporting and content creation. But this raises important questions: Do all journalists possess the skills to use AI effectively and responsibly? At what point in the reporting process should AI be applied — and in what ways? For example, should it be used to create images for advertisements or event coverage? And if so, how do we reconcile that with journalism’s commitment to accuracy and objectivity?

If AI is here to stay in the newsroom, the profession must find ways to use it without eroding the ethical foundations of journalism. This makes it imperative for journalism educators, researchers, and training institutions to include AI literacy in curricula at universities, polytechnics, and media schools.

Professor Farooq Kperogi has written extensively on the potential dangers of AI in journalism and academia. In his commentaries, he has pointed out how misuse of AI can undermine truth and credibility, warning of ethical lapses and factual distortions if its use is left unchecked. His examples are sobering reminders of the stakes involved.

Integrating AI instruction into journalism training is no longer optional — it is essential. Without it, journalists risk damaging the profession’s reputation and eroding public trust. The benefits of such training are clear, especially when we consider recent cases that have attracted global attention.

A lack of AI literacy is already causing problems. Many journalists remain either unfamiliar with AI or unaware of the ethical implications of its misuse. For instance, The Guardian US reported on an experienced reporter who used ChatGPT to produce news stories, adding fabricated quotes that were later denied by the supposed sources. This journalist had 15 years of professional experience — a fact that raises serious concerns about what could happen when inexperienced or student reporters misuse such tools.

In another case, The Guardian exposed how the Chicago Sun-Times published a summer reading list generated by AI. While the authors named in the list were real, the books themselves did not exist. Titles such as Hurricane Season by Brit Bennett and Nightshade Market by Min Jin Lee were entirely fabricated. The paper later admitted the content had come from a syndicated partner, not its own newsroom, but still apologised and pledged to investigate. “This should be a learning moment for all of journalism,” the paper said, emphasising the unique value of human reporters and editors.

The fallout spread beyond Chicago. On Threads, AngelaReadsBooks accused the Philadelphia Inquirer of publishing the same AI-generated list, prompting outrage from library advocates who viewed it as a betrayal of journalistic integrity at a time when libraries are under constant pressure.

In Nigeria, the Nigerian Guild of Editors has recognised the risks and announced the creation of a dedicated fact-checking desk to address AI misuse and protect the credibility of the media.

Professor Umar Pate, a respected communication scholar, has also warned of the broader implications of AI in education and employment. Speaking at the University of Maiduguri, he noted that 92 million jobs could disappear in the coming years, even as over 100 new job categories emerge. As Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, he confirmed that the institution is already preparing to teach students about the responsible and ethical use of AI. Extending such measures to journalism education nationwide would greatly strengthen the profession’s resilience in the face of technological change.

Anna Gabriel Yarima writes from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Rano Local Government Council, Alhaji Muhammad Naziru Ya’u, for three months over alleged misconduct.

The decision followed Tuesday’s plenary presided over by Speaker Alhaji Jibril Isma’il Falgore, after the House Committee on Public Petition presented its investigative report.

According to the committee’s chairman and Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Hussaini Dala, the probe was triggered by a petition signed by nine of the ten councillors in Rano.

The petition accused the chairman of financial recklessness, sale of shops, and diversion of fertilizer meant for the council, among other allegations.

Although the chairman denied the claims, the lawmakers, citing Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 55 (1–6) of the Kano State Local Government Law 2006, recommended his suspension to allow for further investigation.

The House also directed the immediate submission of Rano LGA’s 2025 financial statement and ordered that the vice chairman take over in an acting capacity during the suspension period.

After deliberations, the recommendations were unanimously adopted, placing the council under temporary legislative oversight.

By Uzair Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it has arrested 49 suspects for various drug-related offences involving different quantities of illicit substances in the state.

Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Kano.

He said the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids on August 7 and August 8, as part of intensified efforts to curb drug crimes.

“On August 7 and 8, the agency dislodged several key locations known for drug-related activities, arresting 34 suspects at Massallacin Idi, Fagge Plaza, Kofar Mata, Kofar Wambai, Kofar Dan’agundi, Makabartar Dan’agundi, Ladanai, Zage, and Tashar Rimi at Rimi Market,” he said.

He added that NDLEA operatives also raided Kano Line Motor Park and Tashar Rami Motor Park in Na’ibawa, where 15 additional suspects were arrested.Items recovered from the suspects included cannabis sativa, Pregabalin, diazepam, codeine syrup, Rohypnol, “suck and die,” rubber solution, and locally made weapons.

The NDLEA State Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, said the operation was part of ongoing measures to dismantle drug joints and disrupt dealers’ networks in the state.

“Since the elevation of the NDLEA’s operations to a strategic command level, there has been a notable increase in the effectiveness and scope of our work,” Idris-Ahmad stated.

He commended the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba-Marwa, for his unwavering support and leadership, noting that his commitment to a drug-free society had strengthened the resolve of the Kano Command.

Idris-Ahmad urged those involved in drug trafficking to desist, warning that the NDLEA would not relent in its mission to protect the public from the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.

He said investigations were ongoing, and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion.

By Uzair Adam

A total of 1,000 youths, women and less privileged persons have completed a six-week skills acquisition training in Kano, organised by Islah Consult and Training Limited in collaboration with Ar-Riddoh Islamic International Foundation and the Islamic Forum of Nigeria.

The training covered seven areas – solar installation and repair, tailoring, phone repairs, ICT, bedsheet production and catering – and was designed to give participants practical skills for self-reliance.

The Daily Reality reports that in an event on Tuesday in Kano, the Association of Zakat and Waqf Operators in Nigeria (AZAWON) distributed financial support to some of the graduates.

Speaking during the exercise, Prof. Dahiru Muhammad, Chairman of Islah Consult and Training Limited and National Secretary of AZAWON, said 500 graduates each received N50,000 as start-up capital.

“We wanted to ensure this support went only to those who were serious about the training. That is why we required them to present their certificates before receiving the money. It’s our way of encouraging commitment and accountability.”

He explained that the funds came from zakat contributions, notably from businessman Alhaji Ibrahim Sabi’u of Kantin Kwari market, as well as from AZAWON’s national body and Ja’iz Bank.

“Zakat is not just charity; it is a right ordained by Allah. We must use it strategically to lift people out of poverty,” Prof. Muhammad added.

According to him, 20 less privileged persons also received N30,000 each, while more than 45 others – including new converts to Islam – from Rano, Gaya and Karaye benefited from similar support.

He further urged beneficiaries to use the money wisely, saying, “We will follow up. We want to see success stories, not wasted opportunities.”

Prof. Muhammad also called on the government to promote zakat and waqf in the same way it handles tax collection, saying, “It is a duty from Allah, mentioned in the Qur’an. If properly managed, zakat can address many of our social challenges.”

Alhaji Ibrahim Sabi’u Linda, who contributed to the fund, said giving zakat brought him fulfilment.

“I am happier than the recipients because I know I have done what Allah commanded,” he said.

He further noted that, “if the government can bring together wealthy traders from markets like Kantin Kwari, Singer, Wambai and Dawanau, and direct their zakat towards youth empowerment, I believe crimes like phone snatching will drastically reduce.”

One of the beneficiaries, Nafi’u Isa, who trained in ICT, expressed gratitude for both the skills and the financial support.

“This has opened a new chapter in my life. We pray Allah blesses our businesses so that one day, we can also give back,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Nafisa Tahir, who learned tailoring, said she never imagined she would receive such assistance.

“When I came here, I didn’t even know how to use a sewing machine. Now, Alhamdulillah, I can sew bedsheets that will impress you,” she said with a smile.