News

By Uzair Adam

Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, has stated that his political ambition is to become the governor of Kano, not to remain the party’s chairman.

He made the remark in an interview with the BBC while reacting to recent comments by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, who had threatened to leave the party.

Ata had warned that he would quit the APC if Abdullahi Abbas was re-elected as the party’s chairman for a fourth term.

The Daily Reality reports that the minister’s strong remarks, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, have further heightened political tension in Kano.

However, Abbas dismissed Ata’s stance, stating that the minister was never a party member.

“For us in the party, he was never a member. In the whole of Kano, in his local government, we came third,” he said.

“We didn’t even know when he was appointed as a minister. We even told the president that he is not our party member, that he engaged in anti-party activities.”

Abbas expressed surprise over Ata’s ministerial appointment, adding, “We are really surprised at how this happened, honestly. He is just a politician at the local government level.”

By Ishaka Mohammed

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, has suspended its indefinite strike action following an agreement with the state government.

The decision followed the congress meeting held on February 22, 2025 and the approval of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC). 

In a statement released on Sunday, the branch leadership headed by Dr Peter Adamu appreciated the Kaduna State government for demonstrating goodwill towards resolving the issues that prompted the strike. 

According to the statement, the government is releasing funds immediately to pay the 60% withheld September 2017 salaries and the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) supervision allowances for five sessions. It has also set a timeline for the payment of five months’ withheld salaries (May – September 2022), promotion arrears, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), pension remittances from 2009 to 2019, as well as death benefits and Group Life Assurance.

The statement also featured the government’s commitment to implementing a wage award and granting full autonomy to KASU.

The Daily Reality last week reported the above issues as the causes of the strike.

The KASU chapter of ASUU praised Governor Uba Sani for deviating “from the dark days of the past where members [of ASUU] were victimized for participating in lawful strike actions”.

By Uzair Adam  

On Sunday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, distributed 61 cars and 1,137 motorcycles to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.  

The distribution, held at Meena Event Centre on Lugard Road near the Kano State Government House, was attended by key party stakeholders, including the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.  

The vehicles and motorcycles were allocated to party chairmen in the 44 local government areas and 484 wards of the state as part of efforts to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure.  

Speaking at the event, the Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, lauded Barau for consistently supporting the party since the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) took over the state in 2023. 

He emphasized that ahead of the 2027 elections, aspirants would be assessed based on their contributions to the party’s development.  

Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, expressed confidence in the APC’s resurgence, predicting that the NNPP would be defeated before 1 p.m. on election day in 2027.  

In his remarks, APC National Chairman Dr Ganduje commended Barau for the initiative, describing it as a step towards consolidating the party and improving the livelihoods of its members. 

He also highlighted the increasing defections from the NNPP to the APC, suggesting that the opposition party’s influence in Kano was waning.  

Senator Barau, while addressing the gathering, described the empowerment initiative as just the beginning of a broader program targeting various sectors, including youths, students, farmers, women, traders, and clerics. 

He reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the initiative and urged continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.  

He noted that Tinubu’s policies were beginning to yield positive results, citing the gradual reduction in fuel prices, stabilization of the Naira, and improvements in food prices.  

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will empower all spheres of society. Let’s continue to support Mr. President for the success of his programs,” Barau said.

By Uzair Adam

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its recent decision to increase Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees, calling it “unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, and unjust.”

The CBN recently introduced a new charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal from an ATM not located within a bank’s branch premises.

Additionally, withdrawals at shopping centers, airports, and standalone cash points will attract a N100 fee along with a surcharge of up to N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.

In a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking a judicial review of the CBN’s decision, arguing that the policy contradicts the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.

The organization wants the court to declare the fee hike illegal and issue an injunction preventing its enforcement.

According to SERAP, the increase disproportionately affects low-income Nigerians, creating financial barriers for those who rely on ATMs for daily transactions.

The group further claims that the move violates constitutional provisions, consumer protection laws, and international human rights obligations.

SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, asserts that the new charges should be borne by banks and their shareholders rather than being passed onto consumers.

They argue that the CBN is acting in a manner that prioritizes banks’ profits over the welfare of Nigerians, with many banks declaring substantial annual profits.

The lawsuit also challenges the CBN’s authority to unilaterally impose such fees without the consent of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). SERAP is urging the court to nullify the CBN’s circular on the fee hike and restrain banks and financial institutions from implementing the charges.

A date for the hearing of the case has not yet been set.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Four people, including three children, were burnt to death, while 10 others sustained injuries when a commercial Hummer bus caught fire in Gwaram, Jigawa State, on February 22, 2025. The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m., near the Government Girls Unity Secondary School.

The bus, a white Hummer with registration number ZAK 382 XA, was driven by 40-year-old Dalha Saleh from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State. The vehicle was carrying 44 passengers—25 adults and 19 children—from Zaki LGA in Bauchi State to Rabadi Village when the fire broke out.

Sources indicate that the fire originated from the bus’s exhaust system after a mattress tied to the back of the vehicle caught fire due to sparks from the exhaust.

The victims, all from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State, have been identified as Ziwaira Hassan, Fatima Hassan, Iyatale Hassan, and Halima Muhammad (10 years old). Ten other passengers were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital with varying degrees of burns. The remaining passengers escaped unharmed.

The charred remains of the victims will be released to their families for burial after medical examination.

In related news, the issue of reckless overloading of commercial vehicles continues to be a serious safety concern in the region. Buses and vans meant for passengers are often stuffed with goods meant for trailers, creating dangerous hazards on the roads. Despite numerous security and road safety checkpoints, many of these vehicles pass unchecked due to bribery, exacerbating the risks of road accidents.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police, and other security agencies have been criticized for their failure to effectively enforce regulations. The lack of proper oversight contributes to the deterioration of road infrastructure and increases the likelihood of deadly accidents. It also opens the door for criminal activities, such as terrorists smuggling weapons and fuel under the guise of commercial transport.

There is an urgent need for stronger enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, weight limits, and more thorough inspections at checkpoints to prevent further tragedies. The government must take decisive action to ensure that safety standards are upheld and that security personnel are empowered to carry out their duties without compromise.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A Nigerian Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), Abdulfatai Odutola, has been killed by kidnappers after a delay in the payment of his ransom.

Odutola, who was traveling to Yola, Adamawa State, was abducted on February 15, 2025, along the Abuja-Jos highway.

The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N20 million for his release.According to a military internal memo, Odutola had been en route from Ilorin and was staying in Abuja before continuing his journey when he was abducted.

The memo requested urgent assistance from the appropriate authorities to secure his release.

However, a subsequent update revealed that Odutola’s lifeless body was found by police in the Jos forest.

The kidnappers had reportedly killed him after the deadline for the ransom payment passed.

His car was also recovered at the scene.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Donald Trump has fired the United States’ top military officer, Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, in a significant reshuffling of the country’s armed forces leadership.

Gen. Brown, who was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff less than two years ago, had been serving a four-year term.

In a brief statement posted on his Truth Social network, Trump expressed his gratitude toward Gen. Brown for his more than four decades of service to the country.

“I want to thank Gen. Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote.

No further explanation was provided for the decision to dismiss the highly regarded general.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has confirmed that the new moon crescent for 2025 will be visible in Nigeria on February 28.

According to a statement released by the Director of Communication and Public Relations of NASRDA on Saturday, the crescent will appear at exactly 1:45 AM Nigeria time (WAT).

This moment, known as the “Crescent Zero Hour,” marks the earliest point at which the new moon can be observed under optimal conditions using telescopes or special viewing equipment.

However, for those without such equipment, the crescent will be visible to the naked eye on the evening of Friday, February 28, between 6:17 PM and 7:35 PM in various parts of the country.

In Kachia, Kaduna State, the crescent is expected to be visible between 6:38 PM and 7:12 PM.

NASRDA has advised the public to use telescopes or special viewing glasses if necessary, and to choose open areas with unobstructed views of the western horizon after sunset.

Clear sky conditions are crucial for optimal viewing of the new moon crescent.

By Uzair Adam 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command has intensified efforts to curb the dangerous practice of mixed overloading of trailers with goods, animals, and human passengers. 

It was gathered that the initiative aims to enhance road safety and prevent fatal crashes resulting from unsafe transportation practices.  

In a statement on Friday, FRSC Kano Public Relations Officer CRC Abdullahi Labaran disclosed that the sector command, led by Sector Commander CC UM Masa’udu, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, conducted a special public sensitization campaign on February 20, 2025. 

The exercise took place along Kano-Maiduguri Road, near the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover, Hotoro, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  

The campaign was prompted by the tragic road crash on February 13, 2025, at the same location, which claimed 23 lives and left 48 others injured. 

Investigations revealed that the accident was caused by a dangerously overloaded trailer, a practice that significantly increases the risk of fatal accidents.  

During the sensitization exercise, CC UM Masa’udu warned drivers, transport operators, and stakeholders about the severe dangers of mixed overloading and emphasized the need for strict compliance with safety regulations. 

He reiterated that the FRSC will not tolerate traffic violations that put lives at risk.  

The campaign was attended by representatives of key transport unions, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who pledged their commitment to raising awareness among their members and ensuring safer road transport practices.  

The FRSC Kano Sector Command reassured the public of its continued efforts to promote road safety awareness and strict enforcement to prevent further tragedies. 

It urged road users to cooperate with authorities and adopt safer transportation practices for the well-being of all.

By Anwar Usman

The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has thwarted all mining activities in the state due to security concerns.In an executive order dated Friday, February 21, Mutfwang said the suspension, which is with immediate effect, subsists until further notice.

He added that his administration would undertake a rigorous review of the security situation in all the mining areas in the Plateau and ensure an appropriate Community Development Agreement to address the socio-economic contributions of the rights holders.

The statement reads, “There is the need to ensure measures taken to protect places of mining activities in Plateau State and to ensure only persons that are licensed to conduct mining can enter or leave such premises. The suspension of all mining activities has become necessary.There is an increase in illegal mining activities and insecurity associated with such mining activities in various Local Government Areas in Plateau State.

“There is an increased influx of foreigners in the mining areas of Plateau State, which significantly increased insecurity in the State, including but not limited to offences of Rape, Banditry, Illegal Possession of Firearms, Drug trafficking and Kidnapping.

He further stated that “I, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Muftwang, the Executive Governor and Chief Security Officer of Plateau State, deemed it necessary to suspend all mining activities in Plateau State for security reasons.”

The governor said his administration will partner with the federal government to come up with appropriate standards and monitoring framework between the state, local government areas, host communities and minerals right holders.