News

By Uzair Adam 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocated for the new National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja’s Central Business District.  

The Daily Reality reports that the 12-story building, which has remained uncompleted for two decades, was initially estimated to cost N16 billion when construction began in 2008. 

Despite raising over N62 billion through fundraisers and electoral activities, the project remains unfinished.  

A letter confirming the revocation, signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijoke Nwankwoeze, on behalf of the minister, was addressed to the PDP National Chairman. 

Dated March 13, 2025, the letter cited the party’s failure to pay annual ground rents for 20 years—spanning from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025—as the reason for the decision.  

The letter referenced several public notices issued by the FCT Administration since 2023, urging allottees to clear outstanding dues on their properties. 

It also cited Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which grants the government the authority to revoke land over breaches of the terms of occupancy.  

With the revocation now in effect, the land has reverted to the FCT Administration, which plans to take immediate possession. As of the time of filing this report, PDP had yet to issue an official response.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

U.S. authorities have deported a Rhode Island doctor, Rasha Alawieh, to Lebanon after allegedly discovering “sympathetic photos and videos” related to Hezbollah on her cellphone, officials announced Monday.

Dr Alawieh had been living in the United States for several years. Officials said forensic analysis of her deleted files revealed images and footage of the late Hezbollah leader, as well as militant activities.

Authorities did not specify whether she had direct ties to the group, but her presence in the U.S. was deemed a security concern. She was deported last week following an investigation.

The case underscores the heightened scrutiny of potential security threats, as officials continue to monitor individuals with suspected extremist affiliations.

By Uzair Adam

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has directed property owners in Kwankwasiyya, Amana, and Bandirawo cities to occupy their properties within three months or risk having them revoked.

The directive was announced in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Monday.

It follows the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for Housing Development at the Kano Government House.

“We must continue developing our state, and these three cities were established with that vision in mind. To all property owners in these areas, I am giving a clear directive: either occupy your properties or risk revocation,” Governor Yusuf stated.

He urged those unable to relocate to consider renting out their properties, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring the areas thrive.

“We want these cities to flourish, which is why we have provided all necessary infrastructure, including roads, water, and 24-hour electricity.

“The Governor’s Lodge is also situated in Kwankwasiyya, and I am already operating from there. If you have any complaints, reach out and talk to the Governor,” he added.

Governor Yusuf also announced that the State Ministry of Housing Development would take over the current Housing Corporation headquarters, while the Corporation would be relocated to Kwankwasiyya City to bring the government closer to the people.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.

The appointment is part of efforts to strengthen the leadership of the newly established institution.

In addition to Bishop Kukah, President Tinubu appointed key principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as Bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as University Librarian.

Other members of the Governing Council include Mr. Thomas Etuh (North Central), Chief Fabian Nwaora (South East), Prof. Femi Taiwo (South West), and Zarah Bukar (North East).

The appointees were selected based on their distinguished careers, leadership experience, and commitment to advancing education in Nigeria.

President Tinubu urged them to leverage their expertise to position the university as a center of academic excellence and research, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, formerly known as Nok University, was renamed following the federal government’s takeover of its assets.

The university is set to admit its first cohort of students in September 2025.

President Tinubu called on the new leadership to provide visionary guidance and lay a strong foundation for the institution’s growth.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is facing accusations of involvement in illicit financial dealings, has approached the court in Abuja seeking to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from selling some of her assets.

Madueke also requested the court to retrieve assets that the EFCC has already sold to the public.

In her legal bid, Madueke, through her lawyer Mike Ozekhome, accused the EFCC of violating her rights and denying her the opportunity to defend herself.

She argued that despite receiving a court order for the government to seize her assets, she has not been provided with any official document confirming this action, prompting her to seek the court’s intervention for assistance.

By Anwar Usman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 21 suspected internet fraudsters in Bauchi State.

The operation was conducted by the commission’s Gombe Zonal Directorate on Saturday, March 15, 2025, following acredible report on the suspects’ alleged involvement in cybercrime.

According to a statement from the EFCC on its X handle, the suspects were arrested on Monday in the Kaure New Government Reservation Area and Awala, Maiduguri Road, in Bauchi.

During the operation, several luxury vehicles were recovered, including a BMW car and a Toyota Camry, among others.

The EFCC reiterated that the suspects would be prosecuted when investigations are completed. 

“Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include one BMW and Toyota Camry cars, three PlayStation 5, 30 expensive phones, one flat-screen television set, six Point of Sale, POS, machines, four iPads, and five laptops,” the statement further revealed.

By Anwar Usman

The Kano State Government has instructed all civil servants in the state to validate their March salaries before payment as part of measures to prevent discrepancies in the process.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Faruk, disclosed this while addressing journalists in his office on Monday.

He explained that the decision was adopted in response to workers’ complaints of discrepancies, including deductions in their January and February salaries.

He added that civil servants had been instructed through their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to verify the salaries assigned to their names and report any discrepancies for immediate action.

The SSG reiterated, “Any civil servant who has complaints should go to his/her ministry, department, or agency to verify the salary put on his/her name and report any discrepancy noticed for immediate action.”

The state government has set up a committee headed by the Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, to oversee the verification process. Faruk said, “The committee has been charged to fast-track the exercise to enable the government to pay March salaries as and when due.”

He assured workers that the exercise would not disrupt government operations in the MDAs or local secretariats, as necessary measures had been put in place to prevent any inconvenience.

With the Eid-el-Fitr festival approaching, Faruk reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that salaries are paid before the celebrations.

“The government is not unaware of the approaching Eid-el-Fitr festival and the importance of paying the March salaries before the celebration,” he said.

The SSG urged civil servants to take the validation process seriously to prevent any discrepancies that could affect their salary payments.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested popular Kano TikTok influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, for allegedly abusing and mutilating the Naira.

Kunya was apprehended on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano after evading an earlier administrative bail granted to her in January.

She was initially arrested for allegedly spraying Naira notes in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act but failed to appear in court for her scheduled arraignment.

Following weeks of surveillance, EFCC operatives successfully tracked and detained her. She is currently in custody at the Commission’s Kano Zonal Directorate, awaiting trial.

The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s currency and warned against acts of abuse, including spraying and mutilation of Naira notes.

By Uzair Adam

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has urged Nigerians to prioritize the consumption of locally made products, emphasizing the role of indigenous manufacturing in driving economic growth.

Speaking at a Focus Group Meeting in Awka, Anambra State, NASENI officials and industry stakeholders discussed strategies to enhance the branding and promotion of Nigerian goods.

The agency reiterated its commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening local industries to boost patronage.

Dr. Oluwaseyi Akinyele Ogungbenro, NASENI’s Director of Research and Development, encouraged consumers to actively support Made-in-Nigeria products.

He also called on manufacturers to uphold high-quality standards, stressing that improving product quality is essential to gaining public trust.

“NASENI is dedicated to research and development that addresses national challenges, creates wealth, and supports job creation. While we encourage Nigerians to embrace locally made goods, manufacturers must ensure they meet top-quality standards. This collective effort is vital for revitalizing Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

During the discussion, the Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, highlighted ongoing efforts to improve power supply, a major challenge for local manufacturers.

He expressed optimism that Anambra State could lead in energy efficiency and industrial power supply.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, proposed a policy mandating public officials to use Made-in-Nigeria goods, arguing that such a measure would strengthen local industries and boost the economy.

Panelists from academia, government, and the private sector deliberated on key issues, including policy support, financing, and market access for locally manufactured goods.

The discussions noted the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and consumers to achieve sustainable industrial growth.

By Uzair Adam 

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has dismissed an invitation from former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging opposition politicians to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).  

El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, made the appeal in an interview with BBC Hausa, inviting prominent figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to join him in the party.  

Responding in a separate BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, March 16, 2025, Lamido described El-Rufai’s call as an insult, emphasizing that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was instrumental in shaping the former Kaduna governor’s political career.  

“The party we built, the PDP, is what gave birth to El-Rufai. He is not in a position to make us abandon it,” Lamido said.  

He also criticized El-Rufai’s leadership approach, questioning his sudden shift to the SDP after years in the APC.  

“Leadership requires patience, vision, and commitment to the peace and stability of the country. It should not be driven by anger or personal interests,” he added.  

Reaffirming his allegiance to the PDP, Lamido stated that he had no reason to leave the party, saying, “If I wanted to leave, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed.”  

He advised El-Rufai to prioritize national interest over political grievances, stressing that the PDP remains focused on rebuilding its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election.