News

By Uzair Adam


Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has disclosed that his administration spent more than N1.5 billion on the 2026 mass wedding programme organised for 1,500 couples across the state.

The governor said the expenditure was aimed at fulfilling a campaign promise while providing the beneficiaries with financial, household and social support to help them establish their marriages.

Yusuf disclosed this on Saturday while speaking at the wedding ceremony for the 1,500 couples under the state’s mass wedding initiative, popularly known as Auren Gata.

He explained that the programme was designed not merely to facilitate the marriages but also to support the couples as they begin their lives together.

According to him, the mass wedding was among the promises he made to the people of Kano during his campaign across the state’s 44 local government areas ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“Alhamdulillah, to the glory of Allah, today we have continued to fulfil that promise,” he said.

The governor noted that all prospective beneficiaries underwent comprehensive screening before being admitted into the programme.

He said the process included medical examinations, marriage counselling, workshops and seminars aimed at preparing the couples for the responsibilities of married life.

Yusuf stressed that the medical screening was particularly important in safeguarding the health of the couples and their future children.

He further disclosed that each bride received N100,000 as dowry and an additional N100,000 capital grant to enable her start a small-scale business and achieve economic independence.

The beneficiaries, he added, were also provided with household furniture and essential items, including beds and mattresses, as well as foodstuffs and other materials intended to reduce the financial burden of setting up new homes.

The governor urged the couples to regard marriage as an act of worship and to build their homes in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

He advised them to demonstrate patience, fairness and mutual respect, while resolving disagreements peacefully and maintaining understanding in their homes.

“Always remember that marriage is an act of Ibada. Therefore, strive to conduct your matrimonial life in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of our noble Prophet Muhammad,” Yusuf said.

He prayed for Allah’s blessings upon the marriages and for the couples to be blessed with righteous children who would contribute positively to their families, society and humanity.

Yusuf also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, Islamic scholars and other guests who attended the ceremony and contributed to the success of the programme.

He specifically acknowledged members of the Kano State Council of Emirs, including the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the emirs of Rano, Karaye and Gaya, for their guidance, prayers and support.

The governor equally thanked Islamic scholars and clerics who travelled from different parts of the country to participate in the programme and counsel the newly married couples.

The 2026 mass wedding programme was implemented across Kano State’s 44 local government areas and was designed to provide selected couples with financial, household and social assistance as they begin their marital lives.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria’s total public debt has increased to N159.35 trillion as of March 31, 2026, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The latest debt portfolio report released by the agency showed that the figure represents an increase of N9.96 trillion, or 6.7 per cent, from the N149.39 trillion recorded at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Despite the yearly increase, the country’s debt stock remained almost unchanged from the N159.28 trillion recorded at the end of December 2025.

On a quarterly basis, the debt rose by N75.51 billion, which represents a 0.05 per cent increase.

The DMO report showed that domestic debt accounted for N87.4 trillion, representing 54.85 per cent of the total debt, while external debt stood at N71.95 trillion, or 45.15 per cent.

Domestic debt increased by N8.64 trillion, or 11 per cent, compared with the N78.76 trillion recorded in March 2025.

External debt also recorded a year-on-year increase of N1.32 trillion, representing 1.9 per cent, from N70.63 trillion in the first quarter of 2025.

A comparison with the December 2025 figures showed that domestic debt rose by N2.55 trillion, or three per cent, from N84.85 trillion.

External debt, however, dropped by N2.48 trillion, or 3.3 per cent, from N74.43 trillion recorded at the end of December 2025.

The DMO said the Federal Government accounted for N82.88 trillion of the domestic debt, while state governments and the Federal Capital Territory contributed N4.52 trillion.

In dollar terms, the country’s total public debt stood at $114.95 billion as of March 31, 2026. This compares with $97.24 billion recorded in March 2025.

According to the DMO, the external debt was converted to naira based on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official exchange rate of N1,386.2156 to the dollar as of March 31, 2026.

The development came after the National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to obtain $6 billion in external borrowing on March 31.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nasarawa State now receives between N14 billion and N16 billion monthly from federal allocations, compared with about N3.8 billion to N4.5 billion before the removal of the petrol subsidy, Governor Abdullahi Sule has said.

Sule made the disclosure on Saturday in Lafia, the state capital, when he received journalists and members of the presidential media team who were in the state to inspect federal and state government projects.

The governor attributed the increase in revenue available to the state to economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.

He said the reforms had created more fiscal space for state governments to implement projects without depending heavily on loans.

Sule said Tinubu “took bullets” for state governors after the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he said resulted in higher allocations to the states.

According to the governor, Nasarawa previously received between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion monthly, while the state’s local governments received between N1.9 billion and N2.5 billion.

He said the state’s monthly allocation has since increased by more than twice its previous level.

“All the projects we are doing in Nasarawa state today, without borrowing from the bank, are as a result of president Bola and his support,” he said.

“So, you must give him the credit for that. Without the reforms, we would not have had the resources to do what we are doing. So, I can’t take credit for those projects.

“The office of the SSG is better than my own office. And there is nothing wrong with that because at the time they built my own office, Tinubu was not there. We didn’t have the resources that we have today. So, there is nothing wrong with me doing it better today because we are receiving the resources better today.

“I came from the private sector, so for every contract, I give the amount that we are spending on that contract so that people can make a difference with the kind of money we are receiving. I can tell you for free.

“You are right when you say that president Tinubu took the bullet on our behalf. In my first four years, everybody knows the federal government was sharing between maybe N590 billion to about N620 billion a month as the total FAAC allocation.

“For Nasarawa state, what we were getting was between maybe N3.8 billion and about N4.5 billion for the state. For the local government, it was between N1.9 billion and N2.5 billion every month.

“With the removal of the fuel subsidy, I can tell you for free that Nasarawa state today is receiving an average of N14 to N16 billion a month. But you have to go back and find out [about] our expenses. That is why Onanuga said president Tinubu took the bullet on our behalf.

“That is why they accused me of being very straightforward in criticising anything not right, arguing that I am no longer a straightforward person now that I am commending the government. So, anytime I tell the truth about the good thing happening, I am no longer a good person.”

Sule said his administration had undertaken several projects without obtaining bank loans. He maintained that the increased revenue had made it possible for the state to finance more development projects.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, also said state governments were benefiting from the removal of the petrol subsidy through the implementation of major projects across the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Sixteen people have been rescued after a residential building collapsed in the Dan Dishe area of Kwanar Yashi, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.

Several other people are feared to remain trapped under the debris, according to reports.

The Kano State Fire Service said its emergency response team was alerted to the incident at about 4:32am on Saturday and personnel were immediately dispatched to the location.

Saminu Abdullahi, spokesperson for the state fire service, said the collapsed structure measured about 20 by 30 feet.

He said rescuers pulled 16 people from the rubble, including three children who were found unconscious.

The children were identified as Affan Yusuf, five; Hassana Yusuf, seven; and Ummulkursum Yusuf, nine months.

“The Kano State Fire Service wishes to inform the general public that at about 4:32 am today, Saturday, 8 August 2026, the Service’s Emergency Response Unit received an emergency call from one of our staff, Aminu Sani Warure, reporting the collapse of a building at Dan Dishe, Kwanar Yashi, Fagge Local Government Area,” the statement reads.

“Upon receiving the report, men of the Service from the Headquarters were immediately mobilized to the scene. On arrival, they discovered that a residential building of about 20 × 30 ft had collapsed.”

The fire service said the reason for the collapse had not been established, adding that an investigation was underway.

“The Kano State Fire Service urges members of the public to observe all necessary safety precautions, particularly during the rainy season, to prevent similar incidents,” it added.

The latest incident occurred less than one month after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

One person died in that incident, while three others were rescued.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A survivor of the mass abduction of residents in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has disclosed that 13 children died during their six months in captivity.

Saliu Amira, a nurse and one of the 163 victims rescued by security agencies, said the children died under difficult conditions while 12 others followed their abductors during the period.

She also described the poor feeding conditions faced by the victims, who were reportedly given little food throughout their captivity.

“The kind of food that they are giving us over there… The day that we reached there, they just dropped guinea corn for us with salt and Maggi,” Amira said.

“They left us inside the river; the children that died are almost 13, and those people that followed them are 12 in number; that’s 25.”

The victims were rescued through a joint operation by security agencies, according to Nicholas Rume, commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade.

“Today I am happy to introduce to you the people whom, through the combined efforts of the security agencies, we have been able to rescue,” he said.

He commended other security agencies for their contribution to the operation.

“Thank you to the other security agencies who have been very helpful in all the efforts we’ve been making; today is an example of the synergy that exists within security agencies in the country.”

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq received the rescued victims in Ilorin on Friday and praised the security agencies for securing their release.

The governor said the establishment of a new army brigade in the state would further improve security across Kwara.

He also disclosed that 46 of the rescued persons had been admitted to a government hospital for medical care.

“I have since directed that the appropriate medical attention be extended to everyone to ensure their well-being. Prior to this time, our government has extended various forms of support to the rural community,” he said.

The victims were abducted on February 3 after armed men attacked Woro, Nuku and other communities in Kaiama LGA.

The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 75 people and forced several residents to flee their communities. Many communities were also severely affected by the attacks.

Although the precise number of people abducted was initially unclear, reports indicated that about 170 people, including women and children, were taken.

The Kwara State Government announced on August 5 that the victims had been released after spending about six months in captivity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Social media platform X has announced plans to discontinue its current revenue-sharing programme and replace it with a new scheme designed to reward creators for producing original content.

The company, formerly known as Twitter, announced the change through its X Creators Team on Friday.

According to the platform, the new “Original Content Rewards Program” will focus on creators whose posts contribute meaningfully to discussions and engagement on X.

“Today, we’re introducing the Original Content Rewards Program — a new way for creators to earn on X by sharing original content and contributing meaningfully to the conversation,” the company said.

X said its existing Revenue Sharing programme will officially end on September 7, 2026. Creators who are currently enrolled will continue to receive earnings until the programme ends.

“If you’re currently enrolled in Revenue Sharing, you’ll continue earning through September 7, 2026, and your final Revenue Sharing payout will be issued on September 11, 2026.”

The platform said applications for the new rewards programme would open on September 8 for creators who satisfy the required eligibility conditions.

Creators can determine whether they qualify through the Creator Studio section dedicated to the Original Content Rewards programme.

X also said creators who have already completed identity verification and linked an approved payment method would not need to undergo the process again.

“Once approved, you’ll continue earning under the Original Content Rewards Program and its Terms and Conditions,” it said.

Explaining the reason for the new programme, the company said creators remain central to the platform’s appeal because of the range of content and perspectives they bring.

“X has always been powered by people who share something only they can: breaking news, expert insights, unique experiences, creativity, and commentary that moves culture forward.

“We want to reward the people who make X worth opening every day, so we’re evolving how creators earn here.”

The change is expected to affect creators who currently depend on X’s revenue-sharing system as part of their earnings from content posted on the platform.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Lagos State Government has arrested a man accused of vandalising a concrete road barrier at Kosofe Bus Stop, Mile 12, along the Ikorodu Road.

The barrier was installed to stop pedestrians from crossing the expressway through unauthorised points.

The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the arrest in a post on X on Saturday.

Wahab said the suspect was apprehended during monitoring and enforcement operations conducted at the location.

“During monitoring and enforcement operations yesterday, our team apprehended a suspect at Kosofe Bus Stop, Mile 12, along the Ikorodu Road, for vandalising a concrete barrier installed to prevent pedestrians from crossing the expressway at unauthorised points,” he wrote.

He said the suspect was caught removing components of the structure that are essential to its stability.

“The suspect was found deliberately removing iron rods, cables, steel reinforcements, and other critical structural components that contribute to the stability and effectiveness of the concrete barrier.

“The suspect has been arrested and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. This enforcement action underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting public infrastructure and ensuring the safety of all road users and residents”

The commissioner said the arrest was part of the state government’s continued efforts to protect public infrastructure from vandalism.

The development comes amid concerns over the persistent removal of metal components from public structures across Lagos. Authorities have warned that such acts could weaken infrastructure, endanger road users and result in losses of public funds.

The latest arrest also follows the recent apprehension of 27 suspected hoodlums over the alleged vandalism of a bridge linking Festac Town with Alakija.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered the arrest and prosecution of persons suspected of vandalising the bridge.

By Oladoja M.O

I won’t even sugar coat. There really is a quiet arithmetic we seem to forget whenever we speak about financing health, and that is; “money not spent is money saved”. It sounds almost too simple to be taken seriously in policy circles, yet it is perhaps a foundational principle of any sustainable system, economic or otherwise.

In recent years, the conversation around health financing has become so popular yet increasingly narrow, that whenever it’s being discussed, the theme of bigger budgets, expanded insurance schemes, increased donor flows, and new funding mechanisms is the only thing in lens. Though all of these are unarguably important, they are only one side of the equation, as financing health is not merely about how much money enters the system, but also about how much unnecessary expenditure we can prevent from ever occurring. And this is where preventive health quietly stands as one of the most underutilized financing strategies.

Often preached, prevention is prevalently taken as some moral or clinical responsibility, something good to do for public health, but not worth framing as a fiscal strategy. Yet, at its core, prevention is economic discipline. 

I don’t think it should be difficult to interpret that a well-prevented illness is not just a life improved; it is a cost avoided, a drug regimen that was never needed, and in many cases, a financial burden that never fell on a household.

In a country where out-of-pocket expenditure still defines access to care for many citizens, this distinction matters deeply. Because when people stay healthier for longer, they spend less on treatment. When communities adopt preventive behaviors, the strain on health facilities reduces. When systems prioritize early detection and risk reduction, the cost curve bends—not because we spent more, but because we needed to spend less.

This is not an argument against mobilizing more funds for health. On the contrary, it is a call to think more intelligently about what “financing health” truly means. Generating revenue is one part. Structuring systems efficiently is another. And, crucially, reducing avoidable expenditure must sit at the center of that conversation.

Interestingly, this broader view aligns with deeper conversations around governance and federal structure. True federalism, as many have argued, is not just about distributing resources but about enabling systems to function efficiently at all levels. The recent legislative developments in that direction are, for once, a step that deserves cautious commendation. It suggests that perhaps we are beginning to think beyond surface-level reforms and towards more grounded, structural solutions.

But policy frameworks alone will not carry this shift. Preventive health requires something more subtle: a cultural and systemic reorientation. It asks us to value the absence of disease as much as the treatment of it. It asks governments to invest in awareness, early screening, community-based interventions, and primary care, not as afterthoughts, but as core financing strategies.

It also demands that we confront an uncomfortable truth that reactive healthcare is expensive. A system that waits for illness to occur before acting will always spend more than one that works to prevent it. Hospitals will remain congested, costs will continue to rise, and households will keep absorbing financial shocks that could have been avoided.

On the other hand, a preventive-focused system redistributes that burden, spreading cost-saving across individuals, communities, and institutions. It is quieter, less dramatic, and often less politically celebrated, but far more sustainable.

A bit further to that is the human dimension that cannot be ignored. Financial protection in health should not just be about insurance coverage or subsidies; it is about reducing the likelihood that people will need to spend in the first place. Every avoided illness is, in a real sense, a preserved livelihood.

So, perhaps it is time we expanded our definition of health financing. Beyond budgets and allocations, beyond policies and programs, we must begin to recognize prevention as a financial instrument in its own right.

Because in the end, the most efficient health system is not the one that spends the most, but the one that needs to spend the least.

And that is an arithmetic we can no longer afford to ignore.

Oladoja M.O (Oladoja Mark Olamilekan) writes from Abuja and can be reached at: mayokunmark@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has claimed that “34 and a half” state governors are supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.

Galadima made the claim at the inauguration of the NDC’s national reconciliation committee, where he discussed the political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to him, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has kept his distance from both Tinubu’s political camp and the opposition coalition.

He, however, described Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as being undecided over which side to support.

Galadima said Mohammed had attended a meeting with NDC stakeholders but later reconsidered his position after receiving advice against joining a political party that has a strong presidential candidate.

“There are thirty-four and a half governors. The one who is not with him, visibly shown, is Seyi Makinde. The half is Bala Mohammed,” Galadima said.

He explained why he classified the Bauchi governor as “half” among the governors he said were not firmly aligned with Tinubu.

“Mohammed is half, because Bala Mohammed met with us after the wee hours of the night, 3:00 a.m. We parted; we were both at the NDC together. Just for him in the morning to call that he has rescinded his decision, that he was advised not to go into any party with a strong presidential candidate,” Galadima said.

The NDC chieftain said Mohammed’s current political position remained uncertain, as he could still choose to work with either the opposition coalition or the ruling party.

“So, it means Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us; he may work with them. That’s why he’s half, as far as I’m concerned.

Galadima also contrasted the resources available to political parties in power with those available to opposition groups when negotiating with politicians.

“So if you are in power, you have the authority to say, look, we are only fielding this man; all of you step down. Or they can compensate you. We have nothing to compensate anybody, except we reason, except patriotism, that we need to salvage this country.”

The comments come as political parties and opposition groups intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 elections, with the question of possible alliances among governors expected to remain a major issue.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over an unauthorised payment made into one of his private bank accounts by an unidentified person.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the transaction was described as a “Contribution Electioneering Campaign” but was neither requested nor approved by him or his campaign organisation.

His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

The statement described the circumstances surrounding the transaction as “deeply troubling” and questioned how an unknown person obtained details of an account whose information is not publicly available.

“The transfer originated from a person totally unknown to His Excellency,” the statement reads.

“Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment.”

Atiku questioned the source of the information used to make the payment, particularly because the affected account is a private one.

“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” he asked.

‘NO NIGERIAN’S FINANCIAL PRIVACY IS SAFE’

The former vice-president said the incident raised concerns that could extend beyond his personal circumstances.

He argued that unauthorised access to the banking information of a former vice-president and presidential candidate could indicate a broader threat to the financial privacy of Nigerians.

“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” he said.

Atiku also warned about the potential consequences if the information had been obtained through people with privileged access to banking records.

“If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added.

The ADC presidential candidate linked the development to what he described as a series of “suspicious activities” ahead of the 2027 general election.

Despite the incident, Atiku said he would remain focused on his political objectives and would not allow the development to distract him.

“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” he added.

“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again. The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.”