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By Muhammad Abubakar

The Management of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has announced an immediate ban on the charging of privately owned electric motorcycles and other electric vehicles using the university’s electricity supply across all its campuses.

According to a special bulletin issued on Monday, the university said the widespread charging of private electric motorcycles has contributed significantly to rising electricity bills, placing a heavy financial burden on the institution.

The directive applies to staff, students, commercial motorcycle operators, and all other users of electric motorcycles. Management warned that anyone found violating the ban will face disciplinary action in line with the university’s rules and regulations.

The university has also directed Provosts, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, and Heads of Units to monitor compliance and report violations. In addition, a monitoring team will conduct regular patrols across the campuses to ensure strict enforcement of the directive.

BUK urged all affected persons to comply with the new policy, describing it as part of the university’s efforts to reduce energy costs and promote the prudent use of its resources.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Presidency has fixed September 3, 2026, as the date for presenting the proposed executive bill on state policing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consideration.

The timeline was disclosed on Monday by Femi Gbajabiamila, chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, after the committee’s inaugural meeting at the State House in Abuja.

President Tinubu had inaugurated the committee in July to prepare the legal framework required for the implementation of state police across Nigeria.

Gbajabiamila explained that the committee had adopted a seven-week work plan that runs from July 27 to September 14, 2026. He said administrative and technical work on the proposed legislation had already begun.

He said, “The approved work programme is a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.

“The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on September 3.

“Subject to his approval, a national consultation on the completed draft will follow, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.

“The timetable is demanding, but it is not a shortcut.”

Gbajabiamila also addressed questions on the financial implications of establishing state police. He said it would be premature to provide any estimate because the assessment would depend on detailed research rather than assumptions.

“There is no cost to securing life and property. That is the first fundamental reason for being in government,” he said.

“At this stage, giving you a cost will be pulling something out of thin air. So we’re not going to be doing guesswork here or guesstimating as to what the cost is.

“The cost will be evidence-based. It will be based on thorough research and on a state-by-state basis because one state differs from another in terms of personnel, architecture, infrastructure and local security needs.”

He added that members of the public would have the opportunity to contribute to the drafting process by submitting memoranda through the dedicated website, nationalpolicingbill.com.

“I talked about memoranda that will be open to the public from today—hopefully for about ten days. If there’s a need for an extension, we’ll extend that.

“The public is included. No matter your station in life, you have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully, because the whole idea behind state policing is for you and I and everybody sitting here and everybody out there to take ownership.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Tinubu administration’s defence of its economic policies, insisting that government statements cannot hide the hardship many Nigerians continue to face.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. The statement followed recent exchanges between the Presidency and the former vice president over the government’s economic reforms, borrowing, tax policies and the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy.

The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, had defended the administration’s policies. Onanuga argued that one of the major gains of fuel subsidy removal was the significant increase in allocations to states and local governments through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Responding, Atiku accused the administration of focusing on what he described as public relations and “statistical manipulation” instead of addressing the country’s economic challenges.

He questioned the government’s positive assessment of the economy.

“If the economy is doing so well, why are Nigerians getting poorer?” he asked.

According to him, the government’s emphasis on favourable economic indicators does not reflect the realities facing ordinary citizens.

“The State House celebrates macroeconomic indicators while ordinary Nigerians struggle with microeconomic realities,” he said.

“It speaks glowingly about GDP growth while families skip meals. It boasts of debt ratios while businesses shut their doors. It trumpets reforms while millions of citizens slide deeper into poverty.”

Atiku maintained that the true measure of any government should be the welfare of its people rather than economic figures.

“Governments are not elected to improve spreadsheets. They are elected to improve the lives of their people,” he said.

“Nigerians cannot eat GDP. They cannot cook with debt-to-GDP ratios. They cannot pay school fees with statistical projections.”

The former vice president also rejected the Presidency’s position that critics rely on outdated information. He argued that the effects of the administration’s policies remain evident across the country.

“The Tinubu administration is asking Nigerians to forget the very policies whose consequences they continue to endure every day,” he said.

“Economic policy is not a light switch. The consequences of reckless decisions linger long after the announcements have faded.”

Atiku further questioned why the government continues to borrow despite its claims of improved revenue generation and stronger tax collections.

“If revenue has improved so dramatically, if subsidy has been removed, if tax collection has increased, and if debt servicing has supposedly become more manageable, why does this administration continue to borrow at record levels?” he asked.

He also argued that Nigerians have yet to enjoy the promised benefits of fuel subsidy removal.

“Three years later, Nigerians are entitled to ask: where are those dividends?” he said.

“Instead of relief, they have experienced the highest fuel prices in history, unprecedented transport costs, soaring food inflation, collapsing purchasing power and an economy where millions now struggle to afford even one decent meal a day.”

The ADC presidential candidate criticised the administration’s tax reforms. He said businesses are under pressure because of rising production and operating costs. He added that the government’s performance should be judged by improvements in education, healthcare and living standards.

Citing figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Atiku said 767 manufacturing firms have shut down, while another 335 are operating under distress. He also said manufacturers are holding about ₦2.14 trillion worth of unsold finished goods. He noted that multinational firms such as Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Kimberly-Clark have exited local manufacturing operations.

According to him, those developments provide a clearer picture of the economy than official government claims.

“The true verdict on this administration’s economic policies is not written by government spokespersons,” he said.

“It is written in the silent factories, the abandoned production lines, the shuttered warehouses, the unemployed workers and the empty pockets of millions of Nigerians. No amount of propaganda can erase that reality.”

He urged the Presidency to focus on improving the living conditions of Nigerians instead of defending its economic record through public statements.

“Governments are not judged by the elegance of their press statements or the sophistication of their economic theories,” he said.

“They are judged by whether families can afford food, whether businesses can survive, whether young people can find jobs, whether communities are secure, and whether citizens have hope for tomorrow.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Vice President Kashim Shettima has defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying the president should be applauded rather than criticised for the measures.

Shettima made the remarks on Monday during the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba, the state capital.

He also praised Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for publicly supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms. According to the vice president, Soludo stood by his convictions during the 2023 presidential election and argued that electoral victory would come through popular support rather than intimidation.

Speaking on the country’s economic outlook, Shettima said Nigeria had moved from a period of limited capital availability to one of growing investment inflows.

“Professor Soludo, you have done a lot of things for the federal government, especially in informing Nigerians where we were coming from — from reserves of $3 billion,” he said.

“When we were experiencing capital plight and scarcity, now we are experiencing capital inflows.

“Our foreign reserves have gone up to over $52 billion and counting in a turbulent world. Even the president deserves commendation and not condemnation.”

The vice president also assured investors that the Federal Government would continue to support genuine investments and work with state governments to remove barriers that hinder business growth.

Official figures show that Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $35.09 billion on May 29, 2023, when the Tinubu administration took office. The reserves later rose to $51.03 billion in June 2026, which marked the country’s highest level since January 20, 2009.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has reclaimed all lands belonging to schools, hospitals and other public institutions across the state, announcing an immediate ban on the subdivision, allocation and conversion of such properties for private use in a move aimed at curbing illegal encroachment and restoring order to land administration.

The Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar, announced the decision during an inspection of Government Girls Secondary School, Goron Dutse, formerly known as Women Teachers College (WTC), following reports that a large portion of the institution’s land had been encroached upon.

The commissioner said the inspection was carried out on the directive of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after reports indicated that some individuals had illegally entered the school premises and begun demarcating plots for private residential development.

He said the governor immediately directed the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to halt all activities on the site and investigate how the alleged occupants acquired the plots.

According to him, preliminary findings revealed that nearly 100 plots had already been carved out within the school’s premises with the intention of developing private residential houses.

Describing the development as a serious threat to the education sector, Muhammad Umar said the government would not tolerate any attempt to appropriate public property designated for educational and other public purposes.

He warned that individuals or developers who disregard government directives would face legal sanctions, adding that the ministry would strictly enforce all relevant laws to deter further encroachment.

The commissioner announced that, with effect from August 3, 2026, all lands belonging to schools, hospitals and other government institutions across Kano State had reverted to the control and management of the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning on behalf of the state government.

He said the government had consequently placed a total ban on the subdivision, allocation or conversion of lands belonging to schools, hospitals and other state-owned properties anywhere in Kano State.

Muhammad Umar called on residents across the state’s 44 local government areas to support the government’s efforts by reporting cases of illegal encroachment, land grabbing or unauthorized development through the appropriate government authorities and media channels.

Speaking during the inspection, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Goron Dutse, Uwani Ahmad Balarabe, commended Governor Yusuf and the commissioner for their swift intervention.

She described the encroachment as painful and unprecedented, recalling that throughout her more than three decades of service at the college, the institution had always enjoyed a peaceful and conducive learning environment.

Balarabe lamented that illegal encroachment had gradually consumed a significant portion of the school’s land, threatening its future expansion and development.

She expressed confidence that the state government would take all necessary measures to recover the institution’s original land and preserve its educational heritage for future generations.

The latest action forms part of the Kano State Government’s broader efforts to protect public institutions, recover government assets and restore transparency and accountability in land administration across the state.

By Uzair Adam

Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has defended the participation of religious scholars in partisan politics, arguing that clerics who actively engage in governance are making a more meaningful contribution than those who only pray for political leaders from the sidelines.

The debate over whether Islamic scholars should participate in politics has intensified in recent months, particularly following the decision of some respected clerics to seek elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among the prominent scholars who have entered the political arena are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Sheikh Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who recently emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Sokoto-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Sani, who declared his intention in February to contest the Sokoto governorship election in 2027.

Several other clerics have also served or are currently serving in different political positions across the country.

While critics argue that politics is too divisive and morally challenging for religious leaders, supporters believe scholars should not distance themselves from governance when the nation is faced with leadership challenges.

Opponents of clerics entering partisan politics maintain that the political environment exposes religious leaders to insults, attacks and defamation, which could undermine the respect and moral authority they enjoy within society.

They argue that scholars are better positioned to offer spiritual guidance, counsel leaders and hold those in authority accountable without becoming politicians themselves.

However, supporters insist that lasting reforms require capable and principled individuals to participate directly in governance.

They argue that scholars with integrity, knowledge and leadership qualities should not be discouraged from seeking public office if they believe they can serve effectively.

Reacting to the ongoing debate, Gumi said there was nothing wrong with religious scholars participating actively in politics.

In a post shared on his Facebook page on Monday, the cleric stated that scholars who endure the challenges of politics contribute more than those who remain outside the political process.

“A religious scholar who gets involved in politics and bears its rigours is better than one who sits on a prayer mat, offering prayers for politicians,” Gumi wrote.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Minister of Works David Umahi has said President Bola Tinubu refused to bow to pressure from those who demanded his dismissal after the death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to his medical team.

Umahi made the disclosure in a video that surfaced on X on Monday. He said the president instead encouraged him to remain focused on delivering infrastructure projects across the country.

“Power and might don’t belong to social media, it belongs to God,” Umahi said.

“When people took the death of one of my staff and started playing politics with it, they said the president should sack me, but the president surprised all of them and said, ‘Dave, go and build more roads.’”

Habila died on June 27 at Umahi’s residence in Ebonyi State. Her death attracted widespread public attention. Some Nigerians demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations (SOKAPU) later instituted a ₦20 billion lawsuit against the minister. The group alleged a breach of duty of care while the deceased was under his custody.

Umahi said he was deeply saddened by Habila’s death. He explained that he cancelled plans for celebrations during his recent birthday out of respect for the deceased.

He said he instructed his supporters across the world not to organise any birthday activities because he was “mourning”.

The minister also prayed that if he or any member of his family played any role in Habila’s death, they should face a worse fate than she did.

Following the incident, Umahi requested that the Ebonyi State Police Command conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of Habila’s death. He also asked that her body should not be released until the post-mortem examination was completed.

However, members of Habila’s family declined the request. They insisted that no autopsy should be carried out and demanded that she be buried in accordance with their wishes.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has blamed parents for the growing incidence of examination malpractice in Nigeria. He described their role in the practice as the most painful experience of his 10-year tenure at the examination body.

Oloyede made the remarks on Sunday during a THISDAY programme aired on Arise Television, days after he handed over the leadership of JAMB to Prof. Segun Aina.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Aina, a professor of computer engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in May to succeed Oloyede as the sixth registrar of JAMB. Oloyede assumed office on August 9, 2016, under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He later secured a second term in August 2021 before leaving office last week.

Reflecting on his years at the board, Oloyede said he was deeply troubled whenever he discovered that parents were arranging examination malpractice for their children and wards.

“The most painful period of my experience in JAMB has to do with the level of involvement of parents in the organisation of examination malpractice,” he said.

“They are introducing their wards and children to the world of crime. I think most of the candidates are not problematic. They are not the problem. The problem is the parents.

“Every time I was confronted with the reality of what parents are doing, most of the time, I became very emotional about it.

“Most of the time, I feel that how on earth will people hate themselves and their futures to this level. Even if you have deficiency, you won’t want to pass the deficiency to the next generation.”

“For me, it was a fine period (referring to his administration in JAMB. The only lowest period was when I confronted parents over involvement in the planning and introduction of their children and wards into crime (examination malpractice).”

Oloyede also expressed confidence in his successor. He said Aina’s background in computer engineering would help JAMB make greater use of technology in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Morocco has rejected Spain’s account of the number of people who died during the recent mass migrant crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, insisting that the fatalities were far lower than Madrid’s estimate.

Spanish authorities said at least 72 migrants lost their lives during the crossing. Miguel Angel Pérez, the Spanish government’s representative in Ceuta, announced the latest figure on Sunday. His statement came a day after Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, reported that at least 67 people had died while attempting to enter the enclave.

Morocco, however, maintained that only 11 people died in the incident. The country’s Interior Ministry said 10 victims drowned, while another person died after falling from a rocky area near the border.

Spanish officials also disclosed that more than 1,000 people had received medical treatment since Thursday as a result of the crisis.

Pérez said conditions in Ceuta had improved significantly, although he noted that authorities still faced challenges before normalcy could fully return.

According to Spain, about 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta during the influx. The figure exceeds half of the enclave’s population.

Reports attributed the mass movement to worsening economic conditions and rumours that spread across social media platforms.

Spanish authorities said on Saturday that almost all of the migrants had returned to Morocco.

Ceuta is one of the European Union’s only two land borders with Africa. The large-scale migration has raised concerns across Europe and prompted several EU member states to tighten security along their borders.

By Sabiu Abdulahi

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has urged President Bola Tinubu to enrol in adult education. He said the president should return to primary and secondary school despite his age.

Sowore spoke on Monday after proceedings in his defamation case involving President Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The activist criticised Tinubu over the educational information submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He argued that the president did not include details of his primary and secondary education in the documents filed for the 2027 presidential election.

Records submitted to INEC for the election reportedly contained Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate. However, they did not list his primary and secondary school qualifications in the section for educational history.

Speaking after the court session, Sowore said, “President Tinubu didn’t go to primary and secondary school. He only presented a paper from Chicago State University, which was different from the paper he presented in 1999.

“I’m advising him that it’s not too late to take advantage of adult education. Let him go back to primary school online,” Sowore said.