News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Tudun Tagarji in Kano State were left in shock on Saturday after a newborn baby was discovered abandoned inside a carton near a drainage in the Kaura area.

The discovery was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the Commander of the Operation Zaman Lafiya vigilante group, Rabiu Sulaiman.

Sulaiman explained that his team encountered the tragic scene while on routine patrol in the early hours of the morning.

“Yesterday, around 2 a.m., while we were on patrol, we came across a shocking incident inside a pit very close to us. Upon close observation, we noticed a disposed carton, but we had no idea what was inside it.

“To clear our doubt and be sure nothing harmful was kept there, I instructed my boys to open the carton, and behold, upon opening it, we saw a baby already dead,” he recounted.

Following the discovery, the vigilante team immediately informed local community leaders before reporting the matter to the police.

“By morning, we invited the ward head to come and see for himself, along with other members of the community, before conveying the baby to the police station and informing them,” Sulaiman added.

The authorities directed them to a hospital, where doctors confirmed the baby was already deceased.

“We came back home and organised burial rites for the baby in accordance with Islamic teachings,” he stated.

Sulaiman urged community vigilante groups to remain vigilant and stated the importance of parental guidance, particularly in preventing situations that could lead to unwanted pregnancies.

“Unwanted pregnancy contradicts Islamic teachings. Parents must monitor their children’s movements and guide them properly,” he advised.

The incident has sparked deep sorrow within the community, with calls for increased awareness and preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly convened an “emergency meeting” for European leaders to discuss United States President Donald Trump.

According to Fox News, citing Politico, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski hinted at the planned meeting on Saturday during the Munich Security Conference.

The report states that two European Union officials confirmed to Politico that the meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday.

“I’m very glad that President Macron has called our leaders to Paris,” Sikorski was quoted as saying, adding that the discussions would focus on the implications of Trump’s actions “in a very serious fashion.”

Sikorski has been vocal about US politics in the past.

He previously compared President Joe Biden’s weak debate performance to the decline of ancient Rome.

He also acknowledged Trump’s stance on NATO spending, and agreed that member countries should increase their defense budgets.

The report indicated that Macron has maintained a cordial relationship with Trump since his reelection in November 2024.

The French leader had earlier expressed his willingness to work with Trump, writing on X:“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”

Macron also described it as “an honor” to host Trump in December when the US president visited Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

His Royal Highness, the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, alongside New Incentives All Babies Are Equal (NI-ABAE), has launched the All-Babies Livelihood Grant program to enhance routine immunisation rates. The initiative provides ₦5,000 to caregivers who complete their child’s vaccination schedule.

The launch, held at the town’s Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in Dass, was organised by the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board (BSPHCDB). Esteemed guests included local government officials, WHO representatives, and community leaders.

Umar Faruq Abubakar, Head of Administration of Dass LGA, hailed the program as a crucial advancement in healthcare. Dan Asabe Abdullahi, State Director of Public Health, emphasized its importance amid economic challenges. He noted, “If sustained, this program will help reduce childhood deaths from preventable diseases.”

Under the initiative, caregivers will receive ₦1,000 for each of the six immunisation visits, totaling ₦6,000, plus an additional ₦5,000 upon schedule completion, amounting to ₦11,000, the NI-ABAE Stakeholder Relations Director, Nura Muhammad, highlighted the program’s potential benefits.

The Emir called the grant a timely intervention, addressing transportation barriers that hinder healthcare access. He urged caregivers to prioritise completing immunisation schedules and assured traditional leaders’ support in promoting community health.

In his closing remarks, the Emir expressed gratitude to NI-ABAE and partners for their commitment to improving immunisation efforts in Bauchi State.

By Anwar Usman

The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to resolve the ongoing land dispute between Bayero University Kano and neighbouring communities.

Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaibu Ahmed made the call on Saturday in Kano during the 39th convocation ceremony of the university.

He called on the governor to take swift action by issuing the university’s title deed to resolve the matter.

He stressed the importance of securing the institution’s land.

Regarding infrastructure, Tinubu acknowledged the lack of perimeter fencing at the university’s new campus. He assured that the Federal Government had allocated funds for the project.

She stated that, “The Federal Government has already provided funding, and work is underway”.

The president reiterated the administration’s commitment to upgrading university infrastructure nationwide.

Tinubu stated that the government was supporting research and infrastructure improvements through the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities Intervention.

He called on Nigerian universities to include research into teaching and learning to build a knowledge-driven society.

The President further explained that the future of Nigeria depended on quality human capital.

He emphasized the government’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for national development.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) celebrated a significant milestone on February 15, 2025, by conferring honorary Doctorate Degrees on Colonel Sani Bello, former Military Administrator of Kano State, and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, CEO of A. A. Rano Group of Companies, during its 39th Convocation.

The honorary degrees recognised their exceptional contributions to education and socio-economic development in Kano State and Nigeria. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Sa’id, praised the honourees and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to human capital development through education.

BUK’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, highlighted the graduation of 3,400 students, including 295 from the Dangote Business School and 275 PhD graduates, with 176 achieving First Class Honours. 

Pro-Chancellor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna encouraged graduands to uphold the university’s reputation, noting BUK’s recent ranking of 43rd in Africa by the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, inspiring them to strive for excellence and service to humanity.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Bayero University Kano (BUK) celebrated its 39th Convocation by conferring Emeritus Professorships on Professor Garba Dahuwa Azare, Professor Julius Afolabi Falola, and Professor Musa Borodo for their significant contributions to academia.

The ceremony featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Sa’id. Before her appointment, Sa’id was also a member of the Bayero University, Kano, staff.

Tinubu congratulated the honourees and graduates, emphasised the importance of education in fostering national progress, and assured ongoing support for the education sector to boost global competitiveness.

BUK Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, praised the awardees as influential figures in shaping the nation and celebrated the graduation of 3,400 students, including 176 who achieved First Class Honours.

Pro-Chancellor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna encouraged graduates to become ambassadors of the university, noting BUK’s recent ranking of 43rd among African universities. The conferral of Emeritus Professorships reaffirms BUK’s commitment to honouring excellence in education.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, following a hard-fought election that took five rounds of voting.

Youssouf emerged victorious after defeating Kenya’s Odinga Odinga in the fourth round, which marked the end of a competitive race that had observers initially predicting Odinga’s win.

Youssouf’s election means he will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who completed two terms at the helm of the AU Commission. Mahamat’s tenure, which lasted eight years, was marked by significant efforts to push for deeper integration across the African continent.

The race for the AU Commission’s top post was contentious, with Odinga, widely considered the favorite, leading early on in the first round of voting.

However, the momentum shifted as the election progressed. Despite a strong start, Odinga saw his support wane in later rounds, even after the third candidate, from Madagascar, dropped out of the race.

The turning point came when Odinga, during his speech, spent a significant portion of his allotted time—three minutes out of the five allowed—detailing the history of Pan-Africanism and African solidarity.

This left him with little time to present his vision for the AU, and the electronic timer cut him off before he could finish.

In contrast, Youssouf delivered a more concise and convincing vision, which ultimately swayed the voters in his favor.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano has confirmed that 16 people lost their lives in a road accident at the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover in the Hotoro area of the state on Friday.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, disclosed this in a statement released the same day.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the FRSC Kano rescue team, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, promptly moved to the scene to carry out a rescue operation and restore normal traffic flow,” he said.

According to Labaran, preliminary findings indicated that the accident involved a DAF trailer loaded with goods and carrying 71 passengers. He attributed the incident to reckless driving caused by excessive speed, which resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle.

“The total number of people involved was 71 while the total number of injured was 52 and total fatalities were 16,” he stated.

The injured victims were immediately taken to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in Kano for urgent medical attention.

Labaran added that in response to the tragic event, the FRSC Kano Sector Commander, CC U.M. Matazu, had dispatched an investigation team to conduct a thorough inquiry into the crash.

He further extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The sector commander urged motorists to strictly follow traffic regulations.

He also cautioned against the dangerous practice of overloading trailers with goods, animals, and passengers, stressing that such actions significantly increase the risk of fatal accidents.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has rejected allegations from a viral video suggesting that its fuel products are substandard. NNPC called the claims false and based on unverified amateur research.

The company stressed that its fuel is formulated for optimal performance and that a significant portion of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sold in Lagos is sourced from the Dangote Refinery, which meets strict quality standards.

NNPC described the video’s spreading as a tactic by “economic saboteurs” to misinform the public and harm its reputation.

The company plans to take legal action against those disseminating false information and urges Nigerians to rely on verified sources for accurate updates.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian government has issued a strong statement dismissing recent accusations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American official at Binance, following his trial in Nigeria for financial crimes.

The government describes Gambaryan’s claims as outrageous, defamatory, and misleading, urging the public to disregard his statements.

In a press release, the Federal Government clarified that Gambaryan and his colleagues visited Nigeria voluntarily, with no official involvement from the government.

However, when an alleged bribery demand surfaced during the visit, the Nigerian authorities swiftly launched an investigation, despite the absence of a formal complaint.

Gambaryan’s second trip to Nigeria, according to the government, was part of a broader investigation into criminal activities related to the manipulation of the Nigerian currency through platforms like Binance.

The statement alleges that Gambaryan and his team used tactics to obstruct the investigation, which frustrated Nigerian officials.

In October 2024, Gambaryan was released from custody on humanitarian grounds following high-level diplomatic intervention, which the Nigerian government claims resulted in tangible benefits for the country.

The statement revealed that Nigeria rejected a $5 million offer from Binance for Gambaryan’s release, instead choosing a more advantageous agreement with the U.S. government.

The government categorically denied Gambaryan’s retaliatory accusations against Nigerian officials, stating that his claims are baseless and motivated by a desire to discredit those who ensured he faced legal consequences.

They also expressed confidence that both Nigerian and American courts would provide Gambaryan with a fair chance to present evidence supporting his claims.

Until then, the Nigerian government urged the public to exercise caution and dismiss the unsubstantiated allegations made by Gambaryan.