By Uzair Adam

The Hausa language is one of the fastest-growing languages, not only in Nigeria but also in other parts of Africa and countries such as China, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

However, despite its increasing global recognition and recorded successes, Hausa people seem to be neglecting the cultural teachings and traditions of their ancestors.

Hausa customs, norms, and values are gradually fading, turning into historical relics that may soon exist only in books or folktales.

This trend has raised concerns among cultural stakeholders.In response, the I-Care Initiative organized a two-day workshop in Kano from Monday to Tuesday, focusing on the preservation of Hausa traditions in the 21st century.

The event brought together stakeholders from various Hausa-speaking states in Nigeria to discuss the way forward through presentations, Hausa poetry, and other cultural showcases.

The workshop featured prominent Hausa novelists, including Dr. Bilkisu and Hajiya Hadiza Nuhu, as well as renowned traditional musicians such as Aminu Ala.

It also attracted traditional dancers, academics from Nigerian languages and mass communication departments, and other cultural enthusiasts.

According to Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, the Chairperson of I-Care Initiative and wife of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, the event aimed to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Hausa people.

She noted the importance of preserving Hausa culture, stating, “Nowadays, many of our children can hardly speak Hausa without code-mixing or code-switching.”

She also lamented the decline of traditional Hausa cuisine, noting that many young people no longer know how to prepare these dishes.

To address this, the event showcased various Hausa delicacies alongside traditional businesses, allowing attendees to learn and appreciate their heritage.

Hajiya Amina further criticized the growing disregard for Hausa traditions, which has led some to believe they are superior to the Hausa people.

She urged individuals to read Hausa literature and called on Hausa filmmakers to promote authentic Hausa culture in their productions.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Sayyada Rahma Abdulmajid, praised Hausa culture and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to preserving Nigerian traditions.

He highlighted the creation of a ministry dedicated to cultural preservation and the allocation of significant funds for this purpose.

Shettima reiterated the global significance of Nigerian culture, stating, “Our culture commands great respect worldwide.

“Wherever you go, among every five black people, one is Nigerian. Moreover, the best among them is often a Nigerian.”

The event also showcased Hausa crafts and trades, such as hand fans (mafici), woven mats (tabarma), clay pots (tukunyar kasa), and dyeing techniques.

These businesses have historically connected Hausa traders from Kano to Sokoto, Zaria to Timbuktu, Marrakech, and across West and North Africa.

“Through these businesses, the Hausa man built his own house and city, which later contributed to the formation of Northern Nigeria,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Aliyu Bunza from the Department of Nigerian Languages, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, took attendees on a historical journey tracing the origins of the Hausa people and the factors behind their success.

Bunza attributed their resilience to strong cultural and moral values, stating, “The Hausa people are known for their honesty and truthfulness. If you are trustworthy, you will earn their respect, but if they find you deceitful, they will not trust you.”

The event was attended by traditional titleholders, government officials, and wives of former governors, including Dr. Aisha Bala Muhammad, wife of the Bauchi State Governor, and Hajiya Amina Shekarau, wife of former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, among others.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has sought collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to successfully host the African Volleyball Inter-Club Women’s Championship.

During a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Chairman, Shehu Dikko, on Monday, January 27, 2025, CGC Adeniyi reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) dedication to using sports as a means of fostering national unity, boosting Nigeria’s global sporting reputation, and creating opportunities for young athletes.

Commending the Commission’s leadership for its professionalism, he expressed confidence in Nigeria’s return to sporting excellence.

He also highlighted that the tournament, scheduled to take place in Abuja in April 2025, is expected to attract top volleyball clubs from across Africa.

“For the first time in a long time, we have tested and accomplished professionals driving sports development in Nigeria. We have no doubt that the glory days of sports are back,” CGC Adeniyi stated.

He further revealed that the Nigerian Olympic Committee had granted the NCS the right to host the competition in partnership with the Nigerian Volleyball Federation, with matches set to run from April 1 to April 14, 2025.

He assured that Customs would provide full support to ensure a remarkable event that would solidify Nigeria’s standing in sports.

Responding, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko applauded Adeniyi’s vision and described the championship as a vital step in promoting Nigeria’s image and encouraging youth participation in sports.

“This championship is not just an opportunity to showcase our athletes but also a platform to inspire young Nigerians and demonstrate our organisational capabilities to the world.

Sports are a unifying force, and we will work to ensure that this event reflects the best of what Nigeria can offer,” Dikko said.

He pledged the NSC’s full backing, promising access to sports facilities, technical expertise, and logistical support to ensure the tournament sets a high standard for future competitions.

Additionally, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Gumel, praised CGC Adeniyi for incorporating sports into the Customs Service’s activities.

He assured that efforts would be made to make the championship a resounding success.“We must be deliberate in our preparations and ensure that this championship becomes a springboard for hosting more international tournaments. The National Sports Commission is fully committed to providing all necessary support,” he stated.

With this collaboration, the African Volleyball Inter-Club Women’s Championship is set to elevate Nigeria’s profile in international sports and provide a platform for young talents to shine.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc officially took effect on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

One year ago, the three Sahel nations declared their withdrawal from ECOWAS, and now they have taken a further step by introducing a common passport under the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS).

ECOWAS, however, noted that it remains open to dialogue “for the spirit of regional solidarity.”

Despite the introduction of the new passport, ECOWAS has urged authorities within and outside its member states to continue recognizing the ECOWAS-branded national passports and identity cards of citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

The bloc also called for the continuation of visa-free movement, residency, and trade benefits for these countries “until further notice.”

The new Sahel passport is expected to become operational from January 29, replacing the ECOWAS passport for citizens of the three countries.

However, authorities in the Sahel states have assured that existing ECOWAS passports will remain valid until their expiration dates.On January 28, hundreds of pro-junta demonstrators in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger took to the streets to express support for their governments’ decision to leave ECOWAS.

In Niger, military officials led thousands of supporters to the capital, Niamey, where they chanted slogans critical of French President Emmanuel Macron and other regional leaders.

A similar demonstration occurred in Burkina Faso, where Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo and other government officials joined thousands of citizens in a rally in Ouagadougou.

Although no major protests were reported in Mali, observers expect further developments in the coming days.

The departure of these three countries from ECOWAS marks a significant shift in regional dynamics.

Experts warn that the move could disrupt regional integration, complicate trade, and increase travel restrictions.

“Now, the three countries will lose the duty-free trade benefits that ECOWAS members enjoy,” one analyst noted, adding that the landlocked nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger may face higher costs for accessing coastal ports in West African countries like Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana.

According to ECOWAS Trade Information Systems (ECOTIS), Mali recorded $3.91 billion in exports and $6.45 billion in imports in 2022, while Burkina Faso had $4.55 billion in exports and $5.63 billion in imports.

Niger, with a smaller economy, exported goods worth $446.14 million while importing $3.79 billion worth of goods.

With their departure from ECOWAS, these nations may face additional tariffs and trade barriers.ECOWAS introduced its regional passport in December 2000, allowing visa-free movement across member states and granting citizens the right to stay in another member country for up to three months.

With the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, travel restrictions may now come into effect, especially for citizens of these countries and West Africans wishing to visit the Sahel region.

The bloc has given the three countries a six-month grace period, extending until July 2025, to reconsider their decision in case they wish to rejoin.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS has put structures in place to facilitate discussions with the departing nations to minimize disruptions to lives and businesses during the transition period.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin, PhD

Every nation has its beacon of hope. India has Mahatma Gandhi, Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, China, Mao Zedong, South Africa, and Nelson Mandela. In the United States, it’s Abraham Lincoln, while Ghana reveres Kwame Nkrumah. Zimbabwe holds on to Robert Mugabe, Kenya to Jomo Kenyatta, Egypt to Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Ethiopia to Haile Selassie.

Northern Nigeria’s guiding light is Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto—a man whose name is written in gold on the sands of history. A towering figure with a heart as vast as the Sahel, he was a custodian of Islam, a protector of culture, a unifier of regions, and a calculated risk-taker. Bold in action and resolute in purpose, he stands tall as the North’s brightest son.

Almost all of Sardauna’s life and legacy have been well documented and were public knowledge; it has been told through various forms and platforms like nostalgia, reminiscence legends, truth, and myth. Sardauna is generally known for one thing: an unnegotiable love for the North- a love rooted in modernization and unification.

Thanks to Sardauna’s vision for proficient and disciplined graduates to fill the gap in the northern civil service, the all-encompassing, majestic, and larger-than-life ABU Zaria was born. Sardaunan’s vision for institutional independence extends beyond academia: it includes independence in finance, energy, media, aviation, and food security.

Monuments and megastructures in Sardauna’s name that still stand and reverberate speak volumes about the foresight, determination, and vision of this legendary figure. This uncommon vision for the North to develop and be independent fetched Sardauna, both friends and many foes. But it never deterred him. He forged on from strength to strength.

Whether known or unknown to Sardauna’s distractors, he was never anything close to being a bigot. His actions tell a different story: his consideration of the whole North transcends every primordial boundary like tribe, region, and religion. Sardauna merely wanted to discharge his duties best to the people he was entrusted with. If Sardauna could govern Nigeria, he would ensure the country excels among its peers. He will pursue the Nigerian interest with the same vigour and rigour as the North.

Perhaps the most controversial stance of Sardauna after the Northernization agenda was his determined campaign against independence. This is what Southerners and Easterners, especially his colleagues such as Awolowo, Akintola, and Azikiwe, could not wrap their heads against. Was it not the independence that people die to get, but here is a potential premier kicking against it or, at best, asking for its delay? This particular unpopular campaign that Sardauna embarked on and his colleagues in the North are two sides of the same coin.

As of 1952, when agitations for self-government began to mount, the majority of staff in the North were Whites, Southerners, and Easterners of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, so Sardauna clamour was until the North became not only united and literate but capable of piloting its affairs before independence. This argument and most of other Sardauna’s interests would prevail, and the regional self-government was granted in 1955 to 56 instead, before the independence four years later.

This unprecedented vision of Sardauna for the delayed independence is a revolutionary—a potential antidote to the challenges plaguing many post-colonial nations. This could be the first time a potential president of a potential country could not be desperate, but instead harbour delayed independence subject to the capacity of the country.

Yesterday marks 59 years since Sardauna’s cold-blooded assassination by Lieutenant Colonel Nzeogwu. Yet, his legacy lives on, etched in the hearts of Northerners and Nigerians alike. May Allah forgive the shortcomings of North’s brightest son and grant him Jannatul Firdaus, amin.

Bilyamin Abdulmumin, PhD, wrote via bilal4riid13@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Presidency has criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his comments about democracy in the country.

The Daily Reality reported that El-Rufai, speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday to strengthen democracy in Nigeria, stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party has failed to fulfill its promises to the people.

He said, “I no longer see the APC as a party. There has been no meeting of any party organs for two years—no meetings of the party leadership, no NEC, nothing. We don’t even know if it’s a one-man party or if there’s no structure at all.”

The former governor added that there was a significant gap between the party and the people, noting that the APC had deviated from its founding purpose and could no longer deliver on its promises to the public.

He further stated that the country’s problems result from the leadership of incompetent, lackadaisical individuals who hold power.

In response, Daniel Bwala, former Federal Capital Territory Minister and Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communications, accused El-Rufai of plotting to destabilize the government he helped establish.

On his X platform, Bwala queried whether El-Rufai would make such remarks if he were part of the current government and seated in the cabinet.

“Brother, if you were in the government and the cabinet, could you take this position and express such views? History has shown such behaviour in the past. Now you want to overthrow the government you helped establish,” Bwala said.

By Yakubu Nasiru Khalid

Still, addressing the public’s issues remains challenging in northern Nigeria. Media outlets favour partisanship over accuracy or truth, and the Nigerian media requires a controlling apparatus. 

Media outlets are considered a room where the underprivileged can address their problems to the government or private individuals who breach their rights. However, media outlets are now mainly sponsored and do not act independently or impartially when telling the truth. 

When I was young, I saw journalists as saviours who worked as architects or social engineers to prioritise public interests and solutions over personal or government interests, but now I see the opposite.

This results in the loss of hope that the electronic or printing media cannot serve as a messianic approach to standing against the breaching of the rights of ordinary citizens.

Even though media and journalistic standards attest to and measure a report’s accuracy and truthfulness, the ongoing challenge for media outlets remains their preference for partisanship over impartiality and independence.

For this reason, fact-checking media and journalists are mostly needed in electronic media (online Newspapers). Most media companies are owned and managed by people not equipped with journalism etiquette; they do it for a passion. 

While passion in journalism can often render one unprofessional, incompetent, or unethical in reporting, investigating, or addressing issues, it is essential for those who have not studied media to understand its etiquette, even if it means obtaining a certificate in the field.

It’s known that Nigerian media companies are owned by private individuals and deprived of government-approved control mechanisms or apparatus. They aim to generate income, which leads to sparks of misinformation from various media outlets. 

Lastly, I suggest media companies refrain from favouring personal or political interests over factual or truthful reportingor addressing public issues. I also advise those passionate about journalism to learn its etiquette formally.

Yakubu Nasiru Khalid wrote via yakubunasirukhalid@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

The United States government has temporarily suspended financial support for HIV treatment programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries, following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump.

This decision has resulted in a 90-day pause in disbursements from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US initiative providing life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment across Africa and other regions.

The suspension is linked to an order signed on Trump’s first day in office, which instructed all government agencies overseeing foreign development aid to halt fund distribution temporarily.

PEPFAR, which operates on an annual budget of $6.5 billion, provides HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people worldwide. Since its establishment, the programme has reportedly saved 26 million lives, making it a cornerstone of global health initiatives.

According to NPR, the funding halt could extend for at least three months unless PEPFAR secures an exemption.

Public health experts have expressed concern over the potential long-term consequences, including the risk of the programme being permanently discontinued by the Trump administration.

Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that the government “is no longer going to blindly distribute money without returns for the American people.”

In Nigeria, where approximately two million people live with HIV, the suspension could have devastating effects. PEPFAR has been instrumental in providing life-saving medication and improving the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

Over the years, PEPFAR has contributed more than $6 billion to Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, saving countless lives and playing a pivotal role in controlling the virus’s spread.

The suspension now threatens to reverse these gains, sparking widespread concern among healthcare advocates and policymakers.

By Anwar Usman

Vice President Kashim Shettima sympathized with the victims and government of Enugu State over the fuel tanker fire which claimed lives in the state.

He added that it is time to bring an end to avoidable tanker accidents and explosions.

The fuel tanker had on Saturday skewed off course and burst into flames along the Ugwu-Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

In his condolence message to those who lost their lives and injured, signed by the spokesperson to the vice president Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president noted that President Bola Tinubu was very concerned and disturbed by the incident and other tanker explosions in recent times.

He said, “It was with a heart full of sadness that I received news of the fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Ugwu Onyeama Local Government Area of Enugu State. I am deeply saddened that another tanker accident would lead to the loss of lives of Nigerians, leaving others injured in the gory incident.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seriously worried by the frequency of these tanker explosion incidents on public roads and residential areas, which are ordinarily avoidable. Just as he has directed the relevant agencies in his message of condolence on Sunday, I want to reassure Nigerians that the government will stop at nothing to put an end to tanker accidents on our roads”.

The vice president promised that following Mr President’s directive, the government will engage relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on possible ways the road traffic authorities, as well as federal and state transportation ministries can cooperate to urgently forestall further tanker accidents and explosions across the country.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Nigeria’s former vice president, Atiku Abubakar addressed, has spoken at a recent conference on the major challenges threatening Nigeria’s democracy.

He warned that democracy is under a big threat due to weak institutions and judicial imbalances, calling for urgent reforms to tackle these issues.

The conference participants recommended strengthening political parties by ensuring that party members, especially leaders, adhere to both party and national laws to safeguard the integrity of democracy.

They also advocated for strict penalties for electoral fraud and the enforcement of rules requiring politicians who defect to vacate their positions.

The conference was attended by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Nasiru El-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, Liyel Emoke, Emeka Ihedioha, Sen. Olujimi, and other prominent figures.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that 411 Nigerians died in 2024 while attempting to scoop fuel from fallen tankers across the country.

This was disclosed by the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, during a press briefing on the Corps’ 2024 special patrol operations in Abuja.

According to Mohammed, the FRSC recorded significant improvements in road safety compliance in 2024, with a 26% increase in adherence to traffic rules and a 23.5% reduction in traffic law violations compared to 2023.

He noted that 21,580 traffic offenders were arrested in 2024, a sharp drop from the 29,220 recorded in the previous year.

Discussing road traffic crashes (RTCs), Mohammed stated that the Corps documented 9,570 RTCs in 2024, a 10% decrease from the 10,617 incidents recorded in 2023.

He added that injuries from these crashes also slightly decreased, with 31,154 people injured in 2024 compared to 31,874 in 2023, representing a 2% reduction.

However, the FRSC Corps Marshal revealed a 7% rise in fatalities, with 5,421 deaths recorded in 2024, up from 5,081 in 2023.

Of these fatalities, 411 were linked to fuel scooping, which accounted for 7.6% of total deaths.

Mohammed described the practice of scooping fuel as “the very monster the Corps is fighting,” and emphasized that without these incidents, the fatality figure for 2024 would have stood at 5,010.

The FRSC continues to advocate for strict compliance with traffic laws and urges Nigerians to avoid the dangerous act of scooping fuel from crashed tankers to prevent further loss of lives.