News

By Anwar Usman

The Bauchi State Government has announced its plans to temporarily close and divert of some major roads within the metropolis ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to the state.

The government said the President is expected in Bauchi to commiserate with the family and followers of the late renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

This was disclosed in a statement issued late Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado.

According to the statement, the affected riads include major roads leading to the Sheikh Dahiru Baushi’s mosque and other strategic locations, which will be closed or diverted between 1pm and 6pm on Saturday for security and traffic control purposes.

Gidado explained that the measures were adopted to ensure the safety of people in the State and the smooth conduct of the presidential engagement.

“The public is hereby notified that some major routes leading to the Sheikh’s mosque and other key locations will be temporarily closed or diverted from 1pm to 6pm for traffic control and security reasons.

“These measures are purely for safety and effective traffic management during the President’s visit,” the statement read.

He urged residents of the state to plan their movements accordingly, obey traffic instructions, avoid restricted areas during the period and cooperate fully with security agencies deployed across the state.

The government also appealed to residents to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly during the visit.

Recall that, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday announced that Tinubu would depart Abuja on Saturday for a three-state visit to Borno, Bauchi and Lagos states.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will begin a three-state visit tomorrow, Saturday, before settling in Lagos for the end-of-year holidays.

His journey will first take him to Maiduguri, Borno State, where he will commission projects executed by Governor Babagana Zulum in collaboration with the Federal Government. During his stay, the President will also attend the wedding of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno Governor Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to Hadiza Kam Salem.

The President will then travel to Bauchi State on a condolence visit. He will pay his respects to the state government and the family of the late revered Muslim cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood, who passed away on November 27.

Following the visit to Bauchi, President Tinubu will proceed to Lagos, where he is scheduled to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays.

His itinerary in Lagos includes several engagements, notably as the Special Guest of Honour at the Eyo Festival on December 27.

The event, to be held at Tafawa Balewa Square, will pay tribute to notable personalities, including the President’s late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, as well as former Lagos State Governors Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Michael Otedola.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved sweeping improvements to teachers’ service conditions, including raising the retirement age to 65 years.

Effective August 1, 2025, the mandatory retirement age for teachers increases from 60 to 65, while the service years cap extends from 35 to 40.

The government also approved a new special allowance for teachers deployed to rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The move implements the federal Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which acknowledges the pivotal role of educators in national development.

State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated the policy underscores Governor Sani’s dedication to worker welfare and educational revitalisation. He emphasised that retaining experienced teachers is crucial for quality education and improved learning outcomes.

A formal circular detailing the approval has been issued by the Governor’s Office and signed by the Permanent Secretary (Establishment), Mrs. Felicia I. Makama. The State Civil Service Commission will release further implementation guidelines.

Governor Sani expressed optimism that the reforms will enhance teacher motivation, improve retention rates, and significantly raise educational standards statewide.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian soldiers who were earlier held by authorities in Burkina Faso have arrived at an Air Force base in Accra, Ghana, as arrangements continue for their onward movement to Portugal.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the development in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.

According to Ejodame, the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft was already scheduled to travel to Portugal for depot maintenance, with stopovers planned in Banjul and Casablanca. He added that the aircraft and its crew remained in good condition.

“The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has confirmed that its C-130 aircraft, which made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, has safely arrived in Accra, Ghana, ahead of its onward journey to Portugal,” Ejodame said.

He reassured Nigerians that safety standards were fully observed throughout the incident.

“We will continue to operate to the highest standards of safety and professionalism. We thank Nigerians for their concern and support during the precautionary event,” Ejodame said.

The soldiers were detained after the aircraft made a forced landing in Burkina Faso, which led to their temporary holding by the ruling junta in the Sahel country.

Burkina Faso has since released the Nigerian Air Force aircraft along with 11 personnel, bringing the incident to a close as the crew proceeds with its planned mission.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has explained why it invited the two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to a meeting amid the leadership dispute within the party.

The Commission stepped into the internal crisis after summoning representatives of both camps to its national headquarters in Abuja on Friday. The intervention followed growing tension within the opposition party.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the decision became necessary after the electoral body received contradictory letters from the factions involved in the dispute. He noted that the conflicting communications made it important for the Commission to hear directly from all sides.

According to Amupitan, the meeting was intended to provide a platform for dialogue and clarity ahead of future electoral activities.

“We felt that by rubbing minds together, it’ll be a good opportunity for us to forge the way forward concerning the elections,” Amupitan said.

He also stressed that INEC remains guided strictly by existing laws in carrying out its duties.

“Actually, INEC sits on the tripod of three legal regimes, the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the regulations that have been made,” he said.

Amupitan further assured that the Commission would act within the limits of the law in addressing the situation.

“So we are determined to ensure that we follow the provisions of the various laws, the Constitution, and the regulations that we have made.”

The PDP has been grappling with internal disagreements, which have raised concerns about its preparedness for forthcoming elections. INEC’s move is seen as an effort to ensure order and compliance with electoral regulations as political activities intensify nationwide.

By Maryam Ahmad

Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with renewed focus on trade, investment, energy cooperation, and multilateral engagement.

The commitment was restated during a high-level meeting held on 17 December 2025 in Abuja, where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD, received the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, His Excellency Gholamreza Raja.

The meeting marked one of Ambassador Raja’s first formal engagements following the presentation of his Letters of Credence to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained diplomatic dialogue and collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

They also expressed readiness to explore new opportunities that would further strengthen ties between the two countries and contribute to regional and global cooperation.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has assured that all outstanding earned academic allowances owed to staff of state-owned universities will be fully paid before the end of December 2025.

The governor also directed the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning to conduct a comprehensive assessment of land belonging to Northwest University, Kano, with a mandate to revoke any illegal allocations or encroachments linked to the previous administration.

These decisions were disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

Governor Yusuf spoke during the 35th State Executive Council meeting, which featured a courtesy visit by the Pro-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, alongside members of the Governing Council and the university’s management.

The visit was to formally present Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero as the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Prof. Bayero, a pioneer academic staff member of the university, recently made history as the first female Vice-Chancellor to emerge from within the institution’s academic ranks.

According to the statement, the governor commended the Governing Council for concluding a rigorous and transparent process that led to the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.

He urged Prof. Bayero to carry out her responsibilities with diligence and to work closely with all stakeholders to enhance academic excellence throughout her five-year tenure.

Governor Yusuf further reassured the new management of his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges confronting the university, while expressing optimism that the institution would witness improved academic standards and institutional growth under the new leadership.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, revealed that the selection process for the Vice-Chancellor lasted ten months and received unanimous approval from the Governing Council.

He added that the appointment of the university’s first female Vice-Chancellor had been widely welcomed.

In her remarks, Prof. Bayero expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged her full commitment to the task ahead.

She also unveiled a 14-point agenda aimed at repositioning Northwest University, Kano, for greater academic and administrative excellence.

By Maryam Ahmad

Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant tone in a speech to his defence ministry, insisting that Russia’s goals in the war in Ukraine “will undoubtedly be achieved,” either through diplomacy or by “military means.”

While signalling openness to what he described as “substantive talks” with the United States, Putin dismissed European leaders in crude terms, referring to them as “little pigs” as they discuss proposals to increase funding for Ukraine.

The comments come as diplomatic activity intensifies in Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday, where discussions will focus on continued political, military and financial support for Kyiv amid the protracted conflict.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Burkina Faso has released a detained Nigerian Air Force aircraft and its 11 military personnel, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed Wednesday night.

The release followed a meeting in Ouagadougou between Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

“The aircraft and personnel have been released,” ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated.

The Nigerian military plane had been held after making a forced landing in Burkina Faso earlier.

The swift diplomatic resolution underscores ongoing efforts to maintain regional cooperation amidst political shifts in the Sahel.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kano State Government has completed the payment of N15.67 billion in outstanding allowances to former local government councillors, settling a financial obligation that had lingered for over ten years.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced the conclusion of the process on Wednesday, fulfilling an earlier pledge to clear the backlog before the end of 2025. The final tranche of N8.26 billion was disbursed to 1,371 councillors who served between 2021 and 2024.

This payment marks the third and final phase of a settlement initiative begun earlier this year. In May, the state paid N1.8 billion to 903 former councillors from the 2014–2017 term. This was followed by a N5.6 billion payment to 1,198 councillors from the 2018–2020 batch in August. In total, more than 3,400 former council members have benefited.

Governor Yusuf described the exercise as a “restoration of dignity, trust, and justice.” He stated, “We are not just closing a ledger; we are opening a new chapter. Never again should those who serve the public be left in uncertainty about what is rightfully theirs.”

The governor also confirmed that current councillors, whose tenure began in 2024, have received 50% of their furniture allowance, totaling N1.27 billion.

He credited several agencies, including the Ministry for Local Government and the Office of the Accountant-General, for ensuring a transparent verification process in collaboration with the Former Councillors’ Forum.

To prevent a recurrence, Governor Yusuf announced ongoing institutional reforms such as digitalizing records and upgrading payroll management systems.

The announcement event was attended by former councillors, senior officials, and labour representatives. Many beneficiaries expressed relief, calling the payment long overdue but welcome.