News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service and the American Business Council have agreed to expand structured engagement to improve trade facilitation and boost investor confidence.

This understanding followed a courtesy visit by a delegation of the American Business Council to the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were received on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

While welcoming the visitors, Adeniyi said the Service has taken deliberate steps in recent years to entrench transparency, stakeholder consultation and consistent interaction with private sector operators.

He stressed the importance of collaboration between Customs and business communities that operate through Nigeria’s ports and borders.

“No modern Customs administration can thrive without meaningful dialogue with the people who drive business across our ports and borders,” he said.

The Comptroller-General explained that Customs reforms now focus on creating predictability for traders. He pointed to the rollout of the One-Stop-Shop initiative in major commands, which he said has simplified procedures and reduced delays linked to cargo examination and documentation.

Addressing concerns raised by member companies of the Council, Adeniyi assured the delegation that the Service would continue to tackle operational challenges within its statutory powers. He noted that trade facilitation involves several government agencies and said continuous engagement remains vital for resolving issues promptly.

Earlier in her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, said the visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Council and the Nigeria Customs Service.

She commended Customs for what she described as “clear improvements in port processes, communication channels and the ease of resolving trade-related enquiries.”

Olele said several American firms operating in Nigeria have observed clearer Customs procedures over the past year. According to her, “Predictability and transparency are essential for businesses. We are encouraged by the modernisation steps taken under the legal framework of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and we look forward to deepening this partnership to address remaining concerns.”

She also thanked the Comptroller-General for personally hosting the delegation, describing his engagement as a strong signal of Customs’ commitment to collaboration. Olele added that closer cooperation between Customs and the private sector would help to further improve Nigeria’s investment environment.

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to institute quarterly engagement sessions. The sessions will review progress, address emerging concerns and sustain open communication for American companies operating in Nigeria.

Representatives of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco, Mantrac and the United States Embassy, among others, attended the meeting.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

WWE icon John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling, closing a 24-year career after his final appearance at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.

Cena made his last stand at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced Gunther in a highly anticipated farewell contest.

The 48-year-old legend suffered defeat after Gunther forced him to submit to a sleeper hold in a match that lasted just under 25 minutes, bringing an end to one of the most accomplished careers in WWE history.

Inside the arena, fans watched in shock as Gunther maintained pressure in the decisive moments. Loud chants echoed through the building as supporters urged Cena to continue fighting. When he finally tapped out, emotions spilled over, with several fans seen in tears.

The conclusion surprised many. Throughout his career, Cena had built a reputation for resilience and was rarely known to submit. On this occasion, he was forced to give in for the first time, succumbing to Gunther’s sleeper hold.

After the final bell, members of the WWE locker room came out to pay tribute. Cena then placed his wristbands and boots in the ring, a traditional signal of retirement, before walking up the ramp. He paused, turned back, and offered one last salute to the crowd and cameras.

Cena leaves the ring as a 17-time world champion, holding the record for the most recognised title reigns in WWE. He also headlined WrestleMania six times and earned widespread recognition as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.

His famous “You Can’t See Me” catchphrase became one of the most identifiable slogans in sports entertainment.

His WWE journey began in 2002 with a loss to Kurt Angle. Early struggles followed before a breakthrough arrived with the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, which featured freestyle rap promos and quickly won over fans.

Beyond wrestling, Cena built a successful acting career, becoming one of the few WWE stars to achieve lasting success in Hollywood.

Cena first announced his retirement plans at the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event on July 6, 2024, where he revealed that he would step away from in-ring competition at the end of 2025.

His farewell run started at the Royal Rumble in January, where Jey Uso eliminated him. He later shocked fans at Elimination Chamber on March 1 by adopting a villain role for the first time since 2003.At WrestleMania in April, Cena captured his record-breaking 17th world title by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

He later dropped both the title and the villain persona back to Rhodes at SummerSlam in August. WWE then organised a tournament to select Cena’s final opponent, with Gunther emerging victorious.

Speaking after the event, current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes reflected on Cena’s influence, visibly emotional as he spoke.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Mahmud Abubakar Gumi, has publicly endorsed the appointment of former Zamfara State governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, arguing that his approach to insecurity prioritises dialogue and community engagement over purely military solutions.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Gumi said security experts have long maintained that communal conflicts cannot be resolved through force alone, noting that military action accounts for “only about 25 per cent” of effective conflict resolution. He described Matawalle as one of the few political leaders who recognised this reality during his tenure as Zamfara governor.

According to Gumi, Matawalle’s outreach to aggrieved groups significantly reduced banditry in the state at the time, reopening major roads and markets that had been shut for years due to insecurity. He cited personal travel experiences along routes such as Gusau–Anka–Gummi and Wurno–Isa–Shinkafi–Gusau, which he said had become safe during that period.

“Cattle markets were opened, and life was returning to normal,” Gumi wrote, adding that the gains were later reversed following what he described as “military non-cooperation,” which led to renewed hostilities.

The cleric argued that Matawalle’s current role at the Ministry of Defence places “round pegs into round holes,” urging Nigerians to set aside “petty local politics” in support of what he called a new federal government paradigm shift in addressing insecurity. He concluded by praying for unity, peace, and progress for the country.

Gumi’s intervention has once again sparked debate, given his controversial role in public discussions on banditry and insecurity in northern Nigeria. While some supporters credit him with advocating dialogue as a pathway to peace, critics have accused him of being sympathetic to armed bandits—allegations he has repeatedly denied.

Security analysts remain divided on the effectiveness of non-kinetic strategies, with many arguing that dialogue must be carefully balanced with law enforcement and accountability. The federal government has yet to officially respond to Gumi’s remarks, but officials have consistently maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges require a mix of military action, intelligence-led policing, and community-based initiatives.

As the administration continues to recalibrate its security strategy, Gumi’s comments contribute to the ongoing national conversation on how best to end violence and restore stability across conflict-affected regions.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Army has formally inducted 3,439 new soldiers, following their graduation from the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria.The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, charged the recruits of the 89 Regular Intake to uphold the highest standards of loyalty, discipline, and professionalism.

He stated this today as the Reviewing Officer at their Passing Out Parade, marking the end of six months of intensive training.

Addressing the new soldiers, General Shaibu said their induction boosts the Army’s manpower and reinforces its commitment to national security amid emerging threats.

“Your successful training reflects hard work, dedication, and discipline. You are now entrusted with the sacred duty of safeguarding the territorial integrity of our nation,” the Army Chief said.

He reminded them of the Oath of Allegiance they took, urging them to avoid any act that could tarnish the image of the Army or the nation.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining discipline, integrity, and respect for human rights in all operations.

The COAS commended the Depot Nigerian Army for its historic role in producing soldiers since 1924, assuring continued support for the institution.

He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Emir of Zazzau, the Kaduna State Governor, and security agencies for their support to the Nigerian Army.

By Isah Kamisu Madachi

On Thursday, 4th December 2025, my cousin Tajuddeen bade us farewell on his way to Lafia, Nasarawa State. They left early in the morning in a Hummer bus. Around 10 a.m., they had a terrible accident in a town near Bauchi metropolis. All the passengers in the vehicle were badly injured. Tajuddeen, along with the bus driver and two others, instantly slipped into coma.

Other passengers were either with more than one fracture or several wounds. On the evening of 6 December, the driver’s suffering came to an end as he passed away. The following day, another one of the passengers in the coma also died. On 8 December, the third victim in coma breathed his last, leaving my cousin still in the ICU section of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

The cause of the accident was tyre failure. While they were on the road hoping to reach Jos in the afternoon, their back tyre burst and the bus somersaulted several times. The primary cause of the tyre failure was actually overload. Coincidentally, as I was on a phone call with a friend, he narrated how another terrible accident occurred close to my hometown as a result of tyre issue which instantly claimed two lives and left others badly injured.

I was really shocked and worried because not long ago, on a trip to Lagos, our own bus was carrying two commercial vehicles in addition to overloaded luggage of passengers and waybills. Even before the vehicles were brought, one had to ask whether humans would still get a seat after such loads were mounted. Lo and behold, the vehicles were arranged in a way that you couldn’t even see them inside the boot.

Last month, on our way back home from Kano, we witnessed another accident around Shuwarin town in Jigawa State. It was a jam-packed hummer bus obviously heading to either Damaturu or Maiduguri. They also had a tyre failure which resulted in several deaths. By the time we arrived at the accident scene, out of more than 20 passengers including the driver, only two people were still alive. The rest appeared lifeless.

If I were to narrate all the road accidents I have witnessed, most of them caused by tyre failure, I would have to write a book of a hundred pages. Road accidents are too many across Nigeria. Less than one week ago, I saw a picture on social media that stirred wide reactions. A commercial bus was overloaded to the extent that if one wanted to go out at a transit point, they had to pass through the boot as the doorway was blocked by bags. Even in the case of an emergency, no one could use the door because luggage completely covered the entrance. Many people commented that this is common in Nigerian motor parks.

When we talk about things that claim the lives of Nigerians, I believe road accidents is of course one of the biggest culprits, even more than insecurity in some cases. Anyone who travels widely by road knows this fact. And most of these accidents are avoidable if only we take transport safety seriously.

To bring to an end or at least reduce the intensity of the problem, we need a comprehensive transport policy that tackles overload and the abuse of luggage space. Parks should be mandated to use dedicated cargo buses. If a passenger’s luggage is above 10kg, it should automatically be transferred to a cargo vehicle, not stuffed into a bus carrying humans. For waybills, there should be separate buses whose only function is to transport goods from one state to another; especially the popular routes between Northern and Southern Nigeria or even within the North along routes like Kano-Borno, Taraba-Kaduna, Abuja-Adamawa and others.

Another important solution is the deployment of safety personnel to every major park. Their only job should be to inspect buses and car tyres to ensure they are in good condition before departure. Once there is no compliance, the driver must not be allowed to go. Of course in Nigeria some people may try to offer bribes to bypass checkpoints. To address that, these safety officers should not be local staff. They should report directly to an independent transport safety unit with strict oversight, rotating officers frequently to reduce compromise.

Still, digital systems can be introduced. Each bus should be scanned and cleared through an electronic checklist linked to a central database. If a bus fails safety checks, it should not receive the clearance code required to leave the park. With this kind of structure, even bribery becomes difficult to offer because safety approval will depend on digital authentication, not an individual officer’s discretion.

Nigeria needs to take road safety as seriously as other deadliest national issues. The number of lives cut short on our roads is heartbreaking. Families are losing loved ones every day due to accidents that could be prevented if we enforce discipline, regulate overload, inspect tyres, and treat transport safety as a matter of policy, not luck. 

Isah Kamisu Madachi is a policy analyst and development practitioner. He wrote from Abuja, and can be reached via: isahkamisumadachi@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has commenced an expanded investigation into the pricing structures behind what it described as unusually high airfares charged by some airlines on domestic routes.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, noting that the move followed growing public concerns over possible coordinated manipulation or exploitation in airline ticket pricing.

Ijagwu said complaints had intensified in recent days, particularly as the festive season approached, with passengers raising concerns over sharp fare increases on routes within the South-East and South-South regions of the country.

He added that operators servicing the affected routes are the focus of the ongoing inquiry.

According to him, the investigation aims to determine whether any airline has violated provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, stressing that appropriate enforcement measures would be applied where infractions are established.

He explained that Air Peace has instituted a court action seeking to restrain the Commission from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the FCCPC’s earlier decision to look into its pricing model after widespread public complaints.

However, he clarified that the expanded investigation is proceeding without prejudice to the pending court case.

Ijagwu quoted the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, as reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition in the aviation sector.

“The Commission will not hesitate to act where evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined,” Bello said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board, but the FCCP Act 2018 empowers us to prevent the exploitation of consumers.”

He added that whenever the Commission receives petitions or uncovers credible evidence of unfair practices, it would take decisive action to safeguard Nigerian consumers.

Bello further stated that, in view of the arbitrary spikes in airfares reported by passengers, the FCCPC is extending its review to examine pricing patterns, the justification for the increases, and any practices capable of distorting fair competition in the market.

He assured that the Commission would continue to keep the public informed as investigations into the aviation industry progress.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Cameroon’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign is in turmoil due to a major power struggle between FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto’o and head coach Marc Brys, who remains under contract until 2026. Eto’o unilaterally declared Brys’s role was over.

The dispute has resulted in two rival 28-man AFCON squads.

Eto’o’s faction released a list naming David Pagou as coach and controversially omitted stars Andre Onana, Eric Choupo-Moting, and captain Vincent Aboubakar. Reports suggest Aboubakar was dropped to protect Eto’o’s national scoring record.

Coach Brys responded with his own squad announcement, restoring the high-profile players and questioning the team’s ability to compete in Morocco without them. This internal conflict severely undermines the Indomitable Lions’ preparations.

By Uzair Adam

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence earlier handed to Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after finding her guilty of culpable homicide.

Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, for fatally stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, at their Abuja home in 2017.

Despite spending about six years and eight months in Suleja prison, her sentence was reduced to 12 years after President Bola Tinubu granted her clemency under his executive powers.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had stated that the presidential pardon was based on “compassionate grounds and the best interest of the children,” noting her “good conduct, new lifestyle, role-modelling to other inmates, and remorse.”

However, in a split judgement of four to one, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed the original death sentence. The apex court dismissed Sanda’s appeal, holding that all issues she raised failed to challenge the earlier conviction.

Justice Moore Adumein, who delivered the lead judgement, ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court further described the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal—which upheld her conviction—as sound and without error.

The Supreme Court also faulted President Tinubu’s decision to grant a pardon in a case of culpable homicide while an appeal was still pending, noting that such an action was inappropriate for an ongoing judicial matter.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru M. Hashim, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving water access in public hospitals amid growing concerns over climate-related water stress.

The commissioner made this known in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday.

Dr. Hashim, who has been at the forefront of the state’s environmental interventions, explained that many hospitals continue to face severe water shortages, which hinder sanitation, hygiene, and effective healthcare delivery.

He said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf directed the installation of solar-powered boreholes in major hospitals to ensure a steady and sustainable supply of clean water.According to him, the measure is part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.

“The governor’s directive aims to improve water security and the overall quality of care in our health facilities,” he noted in the statement.

The commissioner disclosed that he inspected the ongoing borehole installations at Sheikh Muhammad Jiddah General Hospital, the Kano State Hospital Management Board, Sir Muhammadu Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Gezawa General Hospital, and Minjibir General Hospital.

He said the visit was aimed at monitoring progress and ensuring that the work meets the standards set by the ministry.

Dr. Hashim added that water samples from the boreholes were submitted to the Kano State Pollution Control Laboratory for analysis.

He said the laboratory confirmed that the water meets acceptable standards for human consumption, describing the development as proof of the government’s commitment to providing safe, reliable water in public health institutions.

He urged the benefiting hospitals to ensure proper maintenance to sustain the facilities. He also appealed to borehole drillers in the state to prioritize water-quality testing.

“We encourage public and private borehole drillers to make use of our laboratory services to safeguard the health and wellbeing of residents,” he stated.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State passed away suddenly on Thursday after collapsing at a private event. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre but was pronounced dead by doctors upon arrival.

The cause of death has not been officially disclosed. State officials are expected to release a formal statement shortly.

The unexpected death has sent shockwaves through the state, creating an immediate vacancy in the executive branch and prompting widespread mourning from colleagues and the public.