News

By Muhsin Ibrahim

French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to evacuate Gaza, calling it a humanitarian crisis rather than a political manoeuvre.

“You cannot come and tell two million people to leave. It is a humanitarian issue. Human beings. This is not a real estate issue; it is a political issue,” Macron said in an interview with CNN.

Macron added that, “We have to respect the willingness of the Palestinian people to have a state.”

The French leader’s remarks come amid ongoing international debates over the future of Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Many people described Trump’s proposal as ethnic cleansing and condemned it, while Israel’s far-right politicians welcomed it.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly condemned the reported assault of a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) by a student over a TikTok recording.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Senate President of NANS, Babatunde Akinteye, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to upholding students’ rights as he emphasizes the need for discipline, respect for authority, and adherence to institutional rules.

“NANS has always been at the forefront of advocating for students’ rights, academic freedom, and a conducive learning environment.

However, we equally uphold discipline, respect for authority, and adherence to the laws governing our institutions.

“It is in this light that we strongly condemn the reported incident at UNIZIK, where a student physically assaulted a lecturer over a TikTok recording,” Akinteye stated.

He further described the act as unacceptable, stressing that academic institutions should be places of learning built on mutual respect between students and lecturers.

“While students have the right to self-expression, including the use of social media, such rights must be exercised with decorum, responsibility, and respect for others. The reported action of the student is an embarrassment to the student body and does not represent the values of the Nigerian student community,” he added.

Akinteye reiterated that while NANS remains dedicated to protecting students’ rights and welfare, it will not support any student who disrespects lecturers, violates institutional laws, or tarnishes the reputation of the academic community.

“In light of this incident, we call on the management of UNIZIK to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation to establish the facts of the case. Due diligence must be observed, and all parties involved should be given a fair hearing. However, if the student is found guilty, appropriate sanctions should be applied in line with the institution’s regulations to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.

He also noted that the academic environment must be preserved as a space for respect, learning, and professional engagement.

By Saifullahi Attahir

If there was ever anything that gave me goosebumps and immense pleasure, it was being surrounded by intellectuals and mature minds absorbing facts and figures about governance, economics, public health, policymaking, national security, and international relations. In such situations I easily lose myself, forgetting almost all other things.

Even at medical school, my best lectures were those with frequent digressions, whereby the lecturer would discuss the pathogenesis of diseases for 30 minutes and later sidetrack into discussing politics, governance, or other life issues. I always enjoyed classes led by Prof. Sagir Gumel, Dr. Murtala Abubakar, Dr. Rasheed Wemimo, Dr. Aliyu Mai Goro, and co. During such lectures, I often observed some of my colleagues disappointment for such deviation. I rather casually show indifference, for I was eternally grateful for such discussions due to the stimulatory effect they had on my mind.

After such classes, I sometimes followed up with the lecturer, not to ask about a medical concept I did not grasp, but to ask for further explanation on policy making, project execution, budgetary expenditures, why African countries are left behind, and similar pressing issues.

In situations where I can’t catch up with the lecturer, I jotted down the questions for further deliberation.

One of the manifest feature I know about my greediness was at reading books. I can open five different books in a day. I lack such discipline to finish up one before another. I can start reading ‘Mein Kampf’ by Adolf Hitler, and halfway through 300 pages, I would pick up ‘My Life’ by Sir Ahmadu Bello, and would have to concurrently read both until the end.

I often scolded myself for such an attitude, but I can’t help myself. The only way to practice such discipline was to at least read two different books in a day. Such was a triumph in my practice of self-discipline. This was apart from my conventional medical textbooks.

To some of my friends, I was called an accidental medical doctor, but actually it was a perfect fate guided by the merciful Lord that I’m studying medicine. For it was only medicine that makes reading books easier for you. Although time is precious in this profession, but one finds it easier to do anything you are passionate about. The daily interaction we have with people at their most vulnerable state was another psychostimulant. Seeing humans suffering from disease conditions is heartachy. Some of the causes are mere ignorance, poverty, superstitions, and limited resources.

The contribution one can give couldn’t be limited to just prescribing drugs or surgical procedures that end up affecting one person. It’s much better to involve one self in to position that may bring possible change to the whole society even in form of orientation.

What also motivated me more was how I wasn’t the first to traverse this similar path. Bibliophiles were common among medical students and medical professionals.

At international level, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, was a physician. Most of the current economic development of Malaysia was attributed to him. The South American revolutionary figure Che Guevara was a physician. Atul Gawande was an endocrinologist, health policy analyst, adviser to former President Obama, campaign volunteer to former President Bill Clinton, and adviser to USAID/WHO on health policies.

Frantz Fanon was another physician, psychiatrist, racial discrimination activist, and political writer. Dr. Zakir Naik was a renowned Islamic scholar, comparative religion expert, and physician.

At the national level, Prof. Usman Yusuf is a haematologist, former NHIS DG, and currently a political activist. Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Taura was a psychiatrist and former SSG to the Jigawa state government. Dr. Nuraddeen Muhammad was a psychiatrist and former cabinet minister to President Goodluck Jonathan.

During ward rounds and clinics, my mind often wanders to enquire not just about the diagnosis but the actual cause of the disease condition; why would a 17-year-old multiparous young lady develop peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)? Why would a 5-year-old child develop severe anaemia from a mosquito bite? Why would a 25-year-old friend of mine develop chronic kidney disease, and his family would have to sell all their belongings for his treatment? Why are our Accident and Emergency units filled with road traffic accident cases? Was it bad road conditions or lack of adherence to traffic laws and orders?

Why are African countries still battling with 19th century diseases like Tuberculosis, filariasis, and malarial infections? Why issues of fighting cervical cancer and vaccination campaigns are treated with contempt in our societies? Why access to basic primary healthcare in Nigeria was still a luxury 50 years after Alma Ata declaration? The questions are never-ending.

Answers to these questions could be found not in the conventional medical textbooks like Robbins/Cotrand, Davidson, or Sabiston. Answers to these questions are there on our faces. Answers to these questions are tied to the very fabric of our social life, our public institutions, our culture, and our life perspectives.

In order to make any significant contribution towards the betterment of this kind of society, it would be quite easier as an insider rather than an outsider. You can’t bring any positive outcome by just talking or commenting. It was rightly stated that a cat in gloves catches no mice.

The real players in a game are always better than the spectators. A player deserves accolades despite his shortcomings, frequent falls, and inability to deliver as planned theoretically. For the player has seen it all, because so many things in public life are not as they appear. It’s only when you are there that the reality becomes visible. This is the reason why many leaders who have goodwill and enjoy public support appear to have lost track or contributed insignificantly when elected or appointed into office.

But despite all these challenges, one can’t decline to do something good just because something bad might happen. The risk is worth it.

Saifullahi Attahir wrote from Federal University Dutse. He can be reached via; saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A delegation led by Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, the state’s Commissioner of Transportation, recently embarked on a fact-finding mission to Lagos State. This initiative, endorsed by His Excellency Gov. Abba K. Yusuf, aims to learn from Lagos’s notable achievements in transportation.

The delegation comprised several key officials, including Hon. Aliyu Isa (Permanent Secretary), Bashir Ado Gaya (Director of Admin and General Services, Ministry of Transportation), Dr. Nura Ibrahim Hassan (Technical Advisor for Transport Policy and Planning), and Najeeb Mahmoud Abdussalam (Transport Specialist Consultant).

The team toured prominent facilities, including the Ikeja Bus Terminal, the Red Line Ikeja Station, and the Blue Line, to gain insights into their operations and management.

During the visit, Hon. Namadi praised Lagos State for its exemplary transportation system and expressed a strong desire to replicate similar successes in Kano, particularly through the establishment of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Hon. Namadi emphasised the importance of collaboration and pledged to work closely with the Lagos State government and the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LAMATA) to achieve this ambitious goal.

By Uzair Adam

MTN Nigeria has increased its data tariffs following the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a tariff adjustment for telecommunications companies.

The company confirmed the price hike in a response shared on its X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the adjustment was made to improve services.

Reuben Mouka, NCC’s spokesperson, explained that the regulatory body approved a maximum increase of 50% on current tariffs, despite some operators requesting over 100%.

However, MTN’s latest pricing structure reflects a much steeper increase. For instance, the 15GB data bundle, previously priced at N2,000, now costs N6,000, marking a 200% rise.

Similarly, the 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000. Other data plans, including the 100GB and 600GB bundles, have also seen significant hikes.

The development has sparked outrage among subscribers, many of whom have taken to social media to express frustration over the rising cost of internet access amid economic hardships.

By Maryam Ahmad

Brazilian and Real Madrid football sensation Endrick has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his exceptional talent on the pitch, but his love story with Gabriely is just as captivating. In a heartfelt revelation, Gabriely shared how she fell in love with the young star without knowing he was a rising footballer.

Recalling their first encounter, Gabriely described the moment she first saw Endrick at a shopping mall. “When I first saw Endrick, I didn’t know he was a football player. He was sitting on his own,” she said. “I looked at him and thought, ‘What a wonderful man! He has a seductive look and character.’”

It was a moment of instant connection for Gabriely, who felt something special before she even knew of Endrick’s football career. “I saw that he was the man of my life, of my future… I fell in love at first sight, then discovered he was a Palmeiras player,” she added.

The teenage football prodigy, who has already signed with Real Madrid and is set to join the club in 2024, has been making headlines for his performances with Palmeiras. However, his love story with Gabriely adds a personal touch to his journey, proving that true connections can happen in the most unexpected ways.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday arrested and detained three officials of Nasarawa Local Government Council and a Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Mustapha Maifada, over an alleged diversion of N105 million.

Credible sources told SolaceBase that the council’s Director of Personnel Management, Treasurer, and Cashier were instructed to allocate N105,000 for a program but allegedly issued a cheque of N105 million to the governor’s aide in November 2024.

Acting on intelligence from a monitoring team overseeing local government finances, the commission launched an investigation into the alleged fraud.

During interrogation, the detained officials claimed the payment was a mistake—an explanation the anti-graft agency rejected, citing the time lapse and other evidence gathered.

A source disclosed that the suspects might have turned to the police after sensing the arrangement had failed.

Further investigation reportedly revealed that Maifada had used the funds to acquire properties.

The commission stated that investigations are ongoing and prosecution may follow.

Attempts to reach the commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, and spokesman, Kabir Abba, were unsuccessful, as their phone lines were either unavailable or unanswered.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Senior officials at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are up in arms over the appointment of consultants by Governor Olayemi Cardoso.

The officials accused them of wielding undue influence and earning excessively high salaries.

The consultants, Nkiru Balonwu and Daphne Dafinone, reportedly bypass the bank’s hierarchy, issue directives to directors, and earn significantly more than top executives.

Dafinone, who is set to face a fraud trial, allegedly takes home ₦35 million monthly, while Balonwu earns ₦50 million—surpassing even the CBN governor’s salary.

Their appointment, made without a competitive process, has sparked widespread discontent among CBN staff, who view the salaries as obscene and the consultants’ influence as disruptive to the bank’s operations.

By Uzair Adam

With over 837,000 out-of-school children in Kano, the state government has intensified efforts to address the crisis, beginning with a comprehensive assessment tour of rural communities ahead of a planned sensitization campaign.

The Kano State Ministry of Education embarked on the tour to identify the root causes of the problem and engage with communities to find lasting solutions.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve access to education, especially in underserved areas.

Led by the State Coordinator for Girl Child Education, Hajiya Amina Kassim, the assessment team visited several rural settlements, including Bange village in Albasu Local Government Area and Mawashi in Garko Local Government Area.

During the visit, the team engaged with parents, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to understand the challenges keeping children out of school.

Speaking to residents, Hajiya Kassim emphasized that poverty, insecurity, and socio-cultural norms are key factors contributing to the alarming number of out-of-school children.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling these challenges, citing the recent declaration of a state of emergency on education as proof of its dedication to reforms.

“The state government is taking bold steps to improve education outcomes, and this tour is a crucial part of that process.

“We will ensure that our sensitization campaign reaches areas most affected by this issue,” she stated.

Vice Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee, Alhaji Garba Adamu Wudil, described the assessment tour as a critical step in designing effective strategies to curb the crisis.

He stressed that direct engagement with communities would provide valuable insights into the complexities surrounding access to education.

In their remarks, the village head of Kafin Malamai in Garko, Mukhtar Aliyu, and the representative of the village head of Bange, Yau Ibrahim Bange, commended the government’s initiative.

They appealed for the establishment of more secondary schools in their communities to accommodate the growing number of students completing junior secondary education.

The government’s assessment tour sets the stage for a more focused and community-driven approach to tackling the out-of-school children crisis in Kano State.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kano State Police Command has deployed 554 newly trained Police Constables to divisional offices and specialized departments across the state.

This move aligns with the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, to strengthen community security and policing efforts.

During a ceremony at the Command’s Headquarters in Bompai, Kano, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, congratulated the constables on completing their training.

He urged them to uphold discipline, integrity, and professionalism in their duties.

CP Garba was quoted as saying, “You must be good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police Force, adhering to the Police Act 2020 and respecting human rights. Your role is to serve and protect the community while maintaining the rule of law.”

He also advised the constables to plan for their future, including retirement, as they begin their assignments.

The deployment is part of the IGP’s broader vision to enhance community policing and ensure law and order nationwide.