News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has officially ended the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight tonight, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state’s legislative assembly to their full powers.

The announcement, made in a national address on Wednesday, brings a close to a six-month period of direct federal intervention triggered by a crippling political war between the executive and legislative branches that brought governance in the oil-rich state to a standstill.

In his statement, President Tinubu justified the initial emergency proclamation on March 18, 2025, citing a “total paralysis of governance.”

He detailed a deep-rooted crisis where a faction of 27 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, was locked in a bitter struggle with Governor Fubara, who was backed by only four assembly members.

This impasse prevented the governor from presenting an appropriation bill, cutting off funds for state operations and leading to a breakdown of public order, including vandalism of critical oil infrastructure.

The President noted that the Supreme Court itself had acknowledged there was “no government” in the state.

“Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown,” Tinubu stated, defending his decision to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as necessary to avert “anarchy.”

While acknowledging over 40 court challenges to his decision, which he called a normal feature of democracy, the President expressed gratitude to the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and citizens of Rivers State for their support during the emergency period.

The key reason for lifting the order, he revealed, was a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among all stakeholders in the state, indicating a readiness for a return to functional democratic governance.

“Therefore, I do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer,” Tinubu declared.

With the emergency lifted, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and all members of the State House of Assembly are to resume their offices from Thursday, September 18, 2025.

The President concluded with a stern warning to all state governments across the federation, urging them to learn from the Rivers crisis and prioritize harmony to deliver the dividends of democracy.

All eyes will now be on Port Harcourt to see if the warring political factions have truly reconciled or if the power struggle will resume where it left off six months ago.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed that it has received instructions from the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend the implementation of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) levy on imported goods.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Service expressed appreciation to the Ministry for its intervention and assured that it remains committed to aligning with government fiscal policies.

Following the directive, the NCS disclosed that it has commenced consultations with the supervisory Ministry to obtain guidance on alternative steps to sustain uninterrupted service delivery to stakeholders.

According to the Service, it is hopeful that ongoing talks with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders will produce solutions that balance public concerns with its statutory duties.

It added that the objective is to serve the national interest, boost revenue generation, and support economic growth through efficient customs administration.

Addressing media reports that the 4% FOB was a recent creation of the Service, the statement clarified: “The National Assembly established the 4% FOB provision through Section 18(1)(a) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which stipulates ‘not less than 4% of the free-on-board value of imports according to international best practices’ as a statutory funding mechanism for the Service’s operations.”

The NCS further reassured stakeholders, including the trading community, licensed customs agents, and international partners, that operations will remain unaffected.

It pledged to continue offering efficient service, uphold international standards, and contribute to national economic growth through effective revenue collection and trade facilitation.

The statement was signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, Assistant Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Zamfara State Police Command has verified that eight worshippers were abducted during morning prayers in Gidan Turbe, Tsafe Local Government Area.

Those taken away by the attackers include Liman Yahaya, Dan Garfi, Malam Damu, Bello Natsuhuwa, Yakubu Isa, Audu Minista, Yaquba Ado, and Sabi Usman.

This clarification followed a report circulating online that claimed as many as 40 worshippers were seized in the assault.In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, dismissed the exaggerated figure and confirmed that only eight persons were abducted.

He explained, “The attention of the Zamfara State Police Command has been drawn to a recent report alleging that 40 persons were abducted while observing morning prayers on Monday, September 15, 2025.

“Contrary to the figure reported, the incident occurred at about 05:07 hrs when suspected bandits invaded the Gidan Turbe area of Tsafe LGA and abducted eight individuals.”

Abubakar stressed that the police were collaborating with security agencies and local stakeholders to rescue the victims. He added, “The Zamfara State Police Command is actively working with other security agencies and community stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.

“We urge members of the public and the media to always verify information from official sources before dissemination so as not to cause unnecessary panic.”

Reassuring the public, he emphasized the command’s determination to safeguard lives and property. According to him, “The Command remains committed to the protection of lives and property and will continue to intensify efforts towards combating all forms of criminal activities across the state.

“We appeal to residents to remain calm and report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest police station or through our emergency lines.”

The attack adds to a rising number of assaults on worship centres in Northern Nigeria. Only last month, an incident at a mosque in Lafiagi, Kwara State, left one worshipper dead.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government has filed a criminal lawsuit against activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, as well as the parent companies of Facebook and X, for the alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to the five-count charge, Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is accused of making a false claim against the President by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

The specific charge alleges that on or about August 25, Sowore used his handle, @YeleSowore, to publish a message that read: “THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The prosecution contends that Sowore knew this message to be false and posted it with the intention of causing “a breakdown of law and order” among Nigerians with divergent views on the President.

The charges are brought under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

The lawsuit follows a recent request by the Department of State Services (DSS) for the social media platforms to remove the post in question.

Both Meta (Facebook Inc.) and X Corp. have been joined as defendants in the case.Sowore was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to two Nigerians, Farouk Gumel and Tobi Amusan, for their recent exceptional accomplishments on the international stage.

In a press release issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended Gumel on his appointment as the Chairman of the Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund Limited.

Tinubu described the appointment as a recognition of Gumel’s expertise and dedication, noting that it reflects the high esteem in which Nigerian professionals are held globally.

The President highlighted Gumel’s role as Vice Chairman for Africa at the Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group and his contributions to Nigeria’s food security efforts.

“I am confident he will excel and further cement Nigeria’s reputation for excellence in global finance,’’ the President stated.

The President also celebrated hurdler Tobi Amusan for winning a silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

He praised her relentless drive, resilience, and unwavering spirit, calling her achievement a source of immense national pride.

“Tobi has once again demonstrated that with patriotic fervour, coupled with hard work and determination, any height is surmountable,” Tinubu said.

The President wished both individuals continued success in their endeavours and assured them of the federal government’s full support.

By Uzair Adam The Kano State Censorship Board has placed an immediate ban on all Islamic singers’ debates across the state unless prior approval is obtained from the board.

According to the board, the move is aimed at ensuring peace, harmony, and compliance among stakeholders in the entertainment and religious sectors.

In a statement signed by the spokesman, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, on Tuesday, the board said the decision followed a recent unapproved debate between Usman Maidubun Isa and Shehi Mai Tajul’izzi, describing it as a violation of its operational guidelines.

While inaugurating a fact-finding investigation committee chaired by Malam Isha Abdullahi, Director of Special Duties, the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha, gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the two singers and their moderators to appear before the committee.

The board warned that organizing such debates without official consent contravenes the Kano State Censorship Law and may attract legal consequences.

El-Mustapha reaffirmed the board’s commitment to regulating and supervising the activities of Islamic singers and performers in the state.

He urged the public to remain calm and to support the board by providing useful information that would enhance peace, understanding, and cultural development across Kano State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian chef and culinary star Hilda Baci has once again made history, this time earning recognition from Guinness World Records for preparing the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.

The organisation confirmed the milestone in a post on its official X account, stating:“New record: Largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.”

The record was set during a high-profile food festival on September 12, 2025, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which was themed the Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci, pulled in a huge crowd and dominated conversations across social media platforms.Baci became an international figure in 2023 after achieving the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.

Her latest accomplishment has further solidified her position as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated chefs.Prominent figures such as Funke Akindele, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Tomike Adeoye, and Pastor Idowu were present at the Lagos festival.

Also in attendance was Bamidele Abiodun, wife of the Ogun State Governor, who joined other well-known personalities in supporting Baci’s attempt to secure another global record.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Shock and outrage have trailed the appearance of a notorious militia leader, Babaro, at a government-backed peace dialogue in Faskari Local Government Area on Sunday. The bandit commander, long accused of mass killings and sexual violence, arrived at the meeting heavily armed and in a convoy, alongside his fighters.

Witnesses said Babaro and his gang openly flaunted their weapons, taunted residents, and bragged that “nothing will happen to them” despite years of terrorising communities across Katsina and neighbouring states.

Babaro is accused of carrying out some of the deadliest attacks in the region, including the massacre of more than 50 worshippers during morning prayers at Unguwar Mantau Mosque in August. Survivors say the bloodstains of that slaughter are still visible on the mosque’s walls and floor. He is also alleged to have raped women and girls in front of their families, and, together with fellow warlord Kachalla Isiya Akwashi Garwa, killed an unconfirmed number of people, particularly in the Faskari axis.

In Kankara, Malumfashi, and other parts of Katsina, his name has become synonymous with fear, mass abductions, and relentless bloodshed.

The decision to give Babaro and his fighters a seat at a peace meeting has left victims’ families devastated. Relatives of abducted persons, some of whom attended the dialogue, broke down in tears as they watched the same men who killed their loved ones sit at the negotiating table with impunity.

Amnesty International Nigeria sharply criticised the development, warning that privileging armed groups while silencing victims only deepens injustice.

“The mere notion that it is now acceptable for a group of people in Nigeria to carry arms that are solely used to kill people who are never armed is unbelievable,” said Isa Sanusi, spokesperson of Amnesty International Nigeria. “The assumption that those who are carrying sophisticated arms and decorate themselves with bullet magazines can accept peace or are ready to renounce violence is faulty. Nonsense.”

Sanusi questioned how bandits like Babaro continue to obtain weapons and logistical support while victims are left unprotected, marginalised, and ignored.

The Faskari meeting has reignited anger over the government’s controversial peace overtures to armed groups in the northwest, where thousands of people have been killed, abducted, and displaced in a decade-long wave of violence.

By Anwar Usman

Local communities in the Faskari local government area of Katsina State have entered into negotiations with armed groups, raising fears of a repeat of a sequence whereby the collapse of peace agreements led to renewed violence.

Reports have it that bandit representatives, including figures accused of leading raids and abductions, sat with community leaders at a gathering in Hayin Gada.

The bandits reportedly agreed to stop attacks on villages, allow farmers safe passage, and release abducted persons in exchange for freedom of movement and market access for Fulani and the development of their areas.

In attendance were the notorious kigpin Alero, who spoke on behalf of several armed groups. He said the initiative was “not the first of its kind”, but the turnout was unprecedented.

Also present was Kwashe Garwa, whose name is 19 on Nigeria’s most-wanted terrorists list. Videos shared on multiple local media show Mr Garwa, with ammunition strapped around his waist, condemning the stereotyping of Fulani herders as criminals.

Garwa stated, “In Nigeria, whenever there is a discussion, they call Fulani herders bandits and terrorists. But tell me, which tribe in the world does not have criminals among them? You, Hausawa, who say we are bandits, don’t you also have bandits among you? Yet, no one stereotypes you with such a name.”

Garwa further asserted that killings and kidnappings would not stop until “injustice” against the Fulani was addressed. “There will be no peace if security agencies do not also stop killing our people,” he added.

Reports indicate that similar peace agreements were reached in Jibia and other frontline areas, with residents negotiating directly with bandit leaders for safe passage, a cessation of raids, and the reopening of markets.

Acknowledging the arrangements, Governor Dikko Radda said at the launch of an EU-funded conflict prevention project last week that negotiations were ongoing in several frontline local government areas and credited them with restoring calm in those areas.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Nigerian farmers and food traders have expressed significant concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to slash food prices, warning that the policy, while well-intentioned, could inflict serious financial hardship on them.

The order, intended to ease the cost of living for ordinary citizens, has been met with mixed reactions from key players in the agricultural supply chain.

Malam Abba Sani, a farmer from Kano, highlighted the dilemma facing producers.

“We bought our seeds, fertiliser at an expensive price, how then are we supposed to get our money back?” he questioned.

Sani argued that while the policy may seem good to the public, farmers are the ones who will “suffuffer under the new price regime.”

Echoing these concerns, Bashir Madara, the Public Relations Officer of Singer Market—a major food hub in northern Nigeria—stated that traders holding old stock would be the hardest hit.

“Every good Nigerian… will welcome the President’s order,” Madara told newsmen. “But… whenever there’s a price slash, it is very likely that some marketers have products in stock. This will definitely lead to losses.”

Madara noted that many traders have already adapted to economic volatility by avoiding bulk purchases and instead stocking only enough goods to sell in a short period, a strategy that he says will mitigate the severity of the losses.

He advised fellow traders to quickly sell off their existing inventory and appealed to the government to consider the challenges faced by the agricultural sector when implementing policies designed to help consumers.

Despite the potential for losses, Madara conceded that the policy is ultimately “good for the common Nigerian.”