By Uzair Adam Imam

A former Kaduna State lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has claimed that the viral video showing a prominent Kano political commentator being molested for criticizing Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sano, was nothing more than a planned movie designed to attract public concern.

He described the viral video as “rubbish skit” that was amateurishly planned and directed for calumnious purposes and therefore should be discarded.

The senator lambasted the alleged planned video on his verified X timeline, as reported by The Daily Reality on Friday.

It was reported that Danbilki found himself a victim at the hands of unidentified men who whipped him severely for allegedly criticizing the governor, as shown in the video that went viral on social media platforms.

The Daily Reality reports that the video has generated significant concern among people on social media, with many, despite political rivalry, sympathizing with the whipped Danbilki.

However, despite the molestation, Shehu Sani perceived the viral video as a plan to generate sympathy from people.

He wrote, “The viral video going around that depicted a prominent Kano-based political commentator being physically molested for criticizing the Kaduna State governor appeared to be nothing but a rubbish skit.

“The movie is amateurish and intended for calumnious purposes. It should be ignored,” Shehu Sani added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, announced the seizure of various contraband items worth N3,636,594,600 within June 2024.

Comptroller Kola Oladeji, in charge of the unit, made the announcement at the Unit’s headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday. 

The seized items include 1,500 pieces of bulletproof jackets, 989 kg of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 5,229 cartons of expired drugs, and other contraband items.

Comptroller Oladeji stated that the importation of military wares by individuals is prohibited and requires an End-User Certificate (EUC) for controlled items and products. 

Other seized items include 343,750 liters of premium motor spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used motor vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, and 3,560 cartons of poultry products.

Four suspects were arrested for various offenses, including violating import/export guidelines and smuggling. 

Comptroller Oladeji warned about the dangers of expired drugs and urged patriotic citizens to provide valuable information to aid in the arrest of illegal importers.

He also encouraged importers and licensed agents to make sincere declarations and adhere to existing guidelines. 

The unit recovered N62,017,875.82 in revenue for June 2024 through meticulous documentary checks and the issuance of Demand Notices.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

According to a report by the World Health Organization, Nigeria, after India, has the highest number of maternal mortality in the world. The report shows 788 women and children deaths per hundred thousand’ in India, and 540 women and children ‘per thousand’ died in Nigeria.

Other countries with high maternal, neonatal, and stillbirth rates are Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

‘About 57,000 mothers died from pregnancy and complications during childbirth in 2023 alone,’ said Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, at a public health function.

Unfortunately, the frequent loss of lives among pregnant women in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria, remains an issue of concern. This gives Nigeria a poor global ranking.

Pate explained that the Federal Government was committed to drastically reducing maternal mortality through the new Safe Motherhood Strategy. He noted that the central government will take actionable steps and cascade the strategies to state and local governments, targeting at least seven million pregnant women.

“The aim is to ease six million new births by activating the Decentralised Facility Financing package, establishing robust collaboration with health NGOs, community leaders, and media to boost awareness campaigns.” 

Sequel to the Health Minister’s lamentation, the Girl Child Concerns (GCC), in collaboration with the Borno State Government through the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), has trained 300 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) on Basic Emergency Obstetric Care and Early Neonatal Care in Borno State.

The Chief Adviser and Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Partnerships, and Humanitarian Support to the Governor of Borno State, Dr. Mairo Mandara, stated that the training aimed to improve maternal and child health services across the state. The training was conducted in three zones of the state. Each zone underwent one week of theoretical training followed by one week of clinical training. 

The training for Borno Central was held on May 27, 2024, for Borno North on June 3rd, and for Borno South on July 1st, with each zone being exposed to theoretical and clinical aspects of the training.

Dr. Mandara emphasized the governor’s commitment to ensuring quality health services for the resilient people of Borno State, especially the locals, given the magnitude of the challenges they face due to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram insurgents in their communities.

Dr. Mina Endeley from the Namu Project in the UK and Oluwaseyi Akinlaja from Princes Alexandra Hospital Trust in the UK have also joined the training, leading a practical session on successful delivery and universal approaches to handling emergency cases.

Endeley at MCH Biu Local Government Area practically taught non-medical attendants the concepts of basic life support, including managing catastrophic bleeding in the community.

The participants practised approaching the scene safely, calling for help, managing catastrophic bleeding, and reviewing the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation using a mnemonic we created.

Oluwaseyi Akinlaja from Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust, UK, explained the labour mechanism: how a baby is delivered as it passes through the pelvis into the birth canal and is born by expulsion. This was done to enable CHEWs to visualize the birth process so that they could make early referrals when necessary.

She exposed the participants to the seven steps/processes that a baby passes through before delivery, namely engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and extension.

On his part, the Emir of Biu, Maidala Mustapha Umar Aliyu II, described the combined efforts of the organization—GCC—and Borno State Government as a “timely homily” and expressed readiness to support the effort in every way possible.

The lead facilitator of the training, Hadiza Yahaya, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the participants during the training and expressed hope that the CHEWs will help greatly in the fight against maternal mortality. 

The training offered to Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Borno State is expected to result in each participant putting the knowledge into practice and witnessing a drastic reduction in maternal mortality in the state.

Lawan Bukar Maigana is the Communication Officer for Girl Child Concerns, GCC, and can be reached via email at lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

The president made this announcement during a meeting with leaders of organised labour, including the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Usifo, among others. 

Prior to the meeting, labour leaders had demanded a minimum wage of N250,000, but the approved amount is a compromise.

This development is a significant step in the ongoing negotiations between the government and labour unions.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The House of Representatives has resolved to support the Federal Government by cutting down its salaries by 50% for six months to address the high cost of food and support food sufficiency across the country.

This decision was made on Thursday during the plenary session in Abuja, and the lawmakers also appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as it addresses the challenges and hardships faced by citizens.

The House mandated its Committee on Appropriation, Humanitarian Affairs, Finance, and Budget to ensure compliance with the resolution. The motion was moved by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC-Ogun State) and adopted by the House.

Additionally, the House of Representatives has pledged to support the Federal Government with ₦648 million for six months to address food sufficiency and the high cost of food.

Details later….

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has reversed its earlier decision, announcing that 16-year-olds can now be admitted into tertiary institutions.

Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had initially directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to only admit candidates who are 18 years or older.

However, stakeholders at a policy meeting organized by JAMB in Abuja objected to this decision, arguing that it is illogical to deny admission to 16-year-old students who have passed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams.

Following this feedback, the minister accepted the stakeholders’ suggestions and announced that candidates aged 16 and above would be eligible for admission this year, while the new policy would take effect from next year.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, seeking to quash the charge against him regarding an alleged unlawful drug deal.

The three-member panel of the appellate court found Kyari’s appeal to be unmeritorious and affirmed the findings and conclusions reached by the Federal High Court.

Kyari had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him and four other serving police personnel, arguing that they had not been subjected to internal disciplinary mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

However, the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have held that the Federal High Court has the exclusive right and jurisdiction to hear drug-related cases, as enshrined in the Constitution and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

Kyari and four members of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) are charged with conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine, dealing in cocaine without lawful authority, conspiracy to tamper with cocaine, and unlawfully tampering with the 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers. The trial will continue at the Federal High Court.

The Court of Appeal’s decision was unanimous, with Justices Peter Obiora and Okon Abang agreeing with the lead judgment. Kyari’s appeal was against the March 22 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, which declined to quash the charge and dismissed an application filed by Kyari.

The Federal High Court has the exclusive right and jurisdiction to hear drug-related cases, and the powers of the Police Service Commission (PSC) do not supersede the powers of the Federal High Court.

By Yahaya T. Baba, PhD

Allah (SWT) is indeed the ultimate source of human life; to Him, we shall all return at His appointed time. It is a promise from the supreme being that every life must taste death. All human beings, regardless of their belief system, recognise death’s sanctity. Life without death makes no meaning. However, the meaningfulness of death to mankind fits only a few logically justifiable circumstances. These circumstances may include but are not limited to old age, terminal illness and death sentence for capital offences. Other than these and similar circumstances of the transitional nature of human life, human beings are fond of describing death as tragic, sudden, untimely, devastating and destructive. 

The nature of ill-feeling about death makes mourning habitual to mankind. Across cultural divides, therefore, the dead are mourned regardless of the natural or unnatural circumstances surrounding their death.  People who are in their prime times and full of life are usually heavily and severely mourned after their death. This is because their death is considered sudden, premature, and even truncated to their path of personal growth and development and their contributions to the growth and development of other people, communities, and humanity. This explains why mourners always refer to these kinds of deaths as tragic and devastating, comparable to even disasters of monumental scales. 

Someone’s death could mean the creation of a vacuum that is challenging and sometimes impossible to fill. This feeling after death is more familiar to teachers and scholars, particularly in sane societies. The death of scholars and intellectuals truly creates a vacuum that is difficult to fill. This is why rational societies pay great attention to their teachers’ and scholars’ livelihood, safety and security for long life in anticipation of prolonged and continuous service to humanity. 

In Nigeria, however, this category of people is among the least catered for. A good number of them in Nigeria, out of sheer neglect, die in mysterious circumstances, which is unacceptable in modern societies. Some had succumbed to death from common, avoidable, curable and manageable ailments. Others are victims of epidemics, pandemics, traffic accidents, plane crashes or violent crimes such as armed robbery, terrorism, insurgency, communal clashes and armed banditry. 

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has, in recent times, lost a number of its top and seasoned academics to some of these unnatural causes of death. The long list of deceased Professors at the University in recent times includes, among others, Prof. Usman Argungu of the Biological Sciences, Prof. Aminu Isiyaka Yandaki of the History Department, Prof. Y.Y. Ibrahim, Islamic Studies Department, Lawal Abubakar, Nasiru Muhammad and A.I. Yakubu all of whom were Professors in the Faculty of Agriculture. Others include Prof. Bello Agaie of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Majeed of Biological Sciences and Professors Nasir Mukhtar Gatawa and Shehu DanHassan, both of the Department of Economics, as well as Prof. Mamman Audu Wasagu of the Faculty of Education, who died in a ghastly traffic accident. The last but one in this count was Prof. Muhammad Sani Sagir of the Physics Department in the Faculty of Physical and Computing Sciences. 

These seasoned and veteran scholars passed on in the last five or six years. In all of these episodes of recurring deaths, the University community was thrown into mourning and bewildered by the seeming value deficits of academics in Nigeria, mainly because of the circumstances of their death. Some died from a protracted illness, while the death of others has been termed as sudden and devastating. Some of these veterans succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic, while others died as a result of the complications of their health condition during the ASUU prolonged industrial actions of 2020 and 2022.  

These professors died at a point in their academic career that was considered evolving, prime, or even the most productive in their professional cycle. They all left behind indelible marks in their respective teaching, research, mentorship and community service disciplines. Since the year 2020, year after year and sometimes within intervals of a few months, the academic community at the Usmanu Dnfodiyo University has been grieved and saddened by the deaths of not just its members but some of the finest and academically most productive elements among them. 

Since this tragic cycle of recurring deaths of scholars from this university, I have dedicated a little time in the past. I paid tributes through short but glowing testimonials of the deceased to show respect to people who served the knowledge industry with enthusiasm and dedication. However, instead of this sad moment being irregular, it is almost becoming recurring. At a point, my pen dried up, and the appetite to bid our veterans farewell diminished due to one death too many. 

However, this short break of tributes ended with the shocking news abruptly of the tragic death of Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu, who was, until his death, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Development of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. From the time the news of his death was broken to the confirmation of the news up to the period of his funeral and the third-day Fiidda’u (prayer) in his remembrance, I have been engulfed in sober moments of reflections on his life, career and relationship with the people. 

My encounters with him at different times over the years and the testimonies of various people about his life influenced my decision to bid him farewell with a tribute befitting of his personality and life. The caption of this tribute truly reflects my understanding of Prof. Yusuf Sai’idu and the people’s testimonies about him. He was indeed an icon of scholarship and an embodiment of humility that has been tragically and suddenly lost to annihilators, breaded by structural injustice, aided by insensitive and incompetent rulers and officials at all levels of politics and governance in Nigeria.

The dying moments of the afternoon of Monday, the 24th day of June 2024, were intense grief for the family, colleagues, relatives, friends, students and well-wishers of the late iconic scholar and humble personality. For those who got the news earlier, their hearts melted with shock and bewilderment. The news thus spread quickly like wildfire. It eventually became a Black Monday in the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and the academic community in Nigeria. There were calls everywhere probing the sources and spuriousness of the news. All callers were anxiously hoping that the news could be fake or a mistaken identity but to no avail. It eventually dawned on us that the devastating news was real and the worst had happened. How I got the message was immensely grieving and tormenting. 

It was some minutes after the Hour of 3 pm, and I had a hard knock and a bash on my door at the same time while I was busy with my laptop. I furiously looked up to see who was, without courtesy, gatecrashing into my office. It was my Deputy Dean, Prof. Jimoh Amzat (the Great JAO), as we fondly call him. He asked frantically,  wearing grief and shocks on his face. Is it true that bandits killed the DVC Research, Innovation and Development? At a stretch, I couldn’t even figure out what he was asking or what sort of strange enquiry he was making. He repeated himself furiously with a sad voice and weak gestures. Only then did my senses reconnect, and I said how, why, where and by who. He responded that Prof. Aminu Bayawa had posted it on the RI&D WhatsApp platform. Again, the shocks in me increased, as Prof. Bayawa was a close friend of the deceased and worked directly under his office as the Director of Research, Innovation and Development. However, I quickly checked the ASUU WhatsApp platform to fact-check the story, but there was no such post then. Moments later, I saw the information posted by Prof. Sahabi Mahuta, another close friend and colleague of the deceased in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. That was enough confirmation of the tragic loss of a complete gentleman. 

After the confirmation, Prof. Jimoh lamented over and over again, “This is not how to die, Prof.” But the worst had already happened, and the reflections of the life and times of the humble Professor continued between us before we were joined by Prof. Ibrahim Dankani who came to fact-check the news. All of us were profoundly mourning and stressing the good character of our colleague. We all agreed on two of the most apparent traits of Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu: scholarship and humility. If these are not the trademarks of intellectuals, our understanding of these two qualities of his deserves special mention and acknowledgement because he embodied these virtuous attributes. 

If there is anyone in my assessment to whom I should attribute the trait of humility as his personality, I will hardly skip Prof. Saidu. This attribute has become an ascription that made his personality. The testimonials of this claim are justifiably overwhelming from different categories of people familiar with our deceased colleague. As teachers and scholars expected to symbolise humility as a guiding principle of knowledge production and advancement, Prof. Saidu has thrown us a huge challenge. He did his utmost best and lived up to the expectations of an iconic scholar, symbolising humility as an indelible trademark of a scholar. This is because knowledge and humility are inseparable. Thus, to be a scholar, one must also be humble. This is a global cultural heritage of scholarship and the teaching profession.

 It is often said that knowledge and humility are intertwined. Humility is the path to acquiring useful and quality knowledge. Most scholars are humble because humility increases the craving for new knowledge. Many scholars imbibe humility only as an inevitable virtue of knowledge-seeking individuals. Thus, in advancing scholarship, students and scholars are guided by the principle of humility. However, there is a difference between humility in pursuing knowledge and humility as a way of life. This is where Prof. Yusuf Sai’idu was exceptional and noteworthy.  

He stood out conspicuously tall among his colleagues. He wore the trademark of humility naturally in his disposition and in relations with people around him and with other people he met, even at first instances. This is a quality attested to by everyone who knew and interacted with Prof. Sa’idu.  Unlike other categories of scholars who are only humble in their path to seeking knowledge, Prof. Sa’idu carried with him the trait of humility in all ramifications of his relations with the people.   

At every contact with him, regardless of your status, low or high, he welcomes you with smiles and accommodation; he maintains such smiling postures and accommodation throughout the conversations and bids you farewell with such smiling, grinning and cheerful facial expressions. Everyone that meets him wantsto meet him again. This is regardless of the issues at stake in the conversations. This humble nature of Prof. Sa’idu didn’t compromise his steadfastness in upholding truth, rules, regulations and guiding principles in formal and informal engagements and activities. He was not economical with the truth but very diplomatic in telling the truth and insisting on the truth. If he had studied Political Science and/or Diplomacy, we could have had an excellent diplomat who could solve complex gridlocks and stalemates. Many facts about his life proved the naturality and originality of his humility.

From the brief biography of the late revered professor of biochemistry, he graduated from the top of his class in 1990, earning him the Northco Holdings Prize for being the best-graduating student in biochemistry. However, in one of my direct conversations with him, he told me how he took up an appointment as a teacher in secondary school because of his passion for the knowledge industry. He didn’t at that time push for an appointment with the University or any Higher Institution of learning but humbly pursued a career as a teacher in secondary school. He told me that he was posted to Kontagora as a teacher and gradually began to build a career there. To prove his greater thirst for knowledge and humility, he enrolled in an M.Sc programme at the University of Jos and completed it with outstanding results. In 1994, he taught at secondary school. He waited until 1998 when the opportunity presented itself for an appointment at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 1998. 

This adventure was the countdown to a glorious academic career that came to an abrupt end on Monday,  the 24th day of June 2024, through a mysterious incident that all of us have the government of this country to blame for being insensitive, ineptitude and incompetent in the management of the affairs of the people for whom they govern on their behalf. I had interacted with him officially and unofficially for different purposes. As a member of the University Fellowship Committee, which he coordinated, as a member of the University Journals Committee and on matters of Tetfund National Research Fund  (NRF)and Institutional Based Research (IBR) as well as on different other official and unofficial matters. 

In all of my interactions with him, I saw in him a near-perfect gentleman. His humility drives smoothly every aspect of the work he led. It is, therefore, not a surprise that he became the scholar he was until his death. He is widely published and won numerous research grants, which he successfully coordinated and executed. All of us know how difficult it is to work with colleagues, particularly on research grants, but it wasn’t an issue of much concern for him. He was among the young professors at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, who presented their inaugural lectures. As a Nutritional Biochemist, Diabetics Not a Death Sentence was his topic. It attracted huge scholarly attention and instigated a series of other inaugural lectures from young Professors in the university.    This trademark is thus a great stride to emulate for academic excellence.

The humble nature of our late colleague is noticeable not only in the scholarship business. Even beyond the university, Prof. Sa’idu’s marker and identifier was humility. The congregation that attended his funeral attested mainly to this fact. Although members of the University community populated the congregation, it was nearly divided between people in town and the people in town. The community in which he lived outside the university appeared to even mourn him severely and dearly compared to his colleagues. Their testimonies about him, his humility, and his generosity were outpouring among them, as they claimed to have lost one of them who had no equal. The choice of his residence is a clear testimony of the claim made mainly by the community members. He built his house in a deep local community, reminiscent of a slum. The location of his house is even more profound than the community inhabitants. His idea was to melt in the community and contribute to the livelihood of the people of the community. He did just that. 

At his residence, he built a mosque and an Islamic school where community members attend and their children are educated. He also supported the education of many children in the community whose parents were reluctant to educate their children because of poverty. At the funeral, I met one local person who lamented bitterly about the loss of Prof Sa’idu. He argued that he is a living beneficiary of Prof’s humble gestures. He said he supported him in establishing his company, volunteered as a director of the company,and was always supportive of the growth and development of the company. They built excellent relations so much that he trusted him with many dealings. This is humility beyond scholarship. Many similar conversations and testimonies were countless to the credit of this great person who left us in his prime time and when he was full of healthy life.

This tribute is indeed from one who barely knows him. I have not been close to him, but I have only had opportunities to interact with him on a few official and unofficial occasions. Even then, I learned a lot from him, and his death taught me good lessons in my academic and human career. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to offer additional condolences to Prof. Sa’idu’s family. He left behind three wives and twenty-one children. 

The grief of his loss is weighty in your hearts. He was indeed a good and caring husband and father. You all have to take solace in the fact Prof Sa’idu lived a humble, generous, productive and exemplary life. All of you should be proud of him. The good he has done in life will come back to you indirectly. But you should follow in his footsteps and continue to fly the flag he raised of humility and hard work. Your obligation to him now is to pray for Jannatul Firdaus to be his final abode. The pains are enormous for his parents, but returning all matters to almighty Allah will comfort you. Yours is continuous prayers for his gentle soul to earn the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus. 

For the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, no one except his immediate family is equal to you in terms of the pains of the departure of your mentee. You typically raised him as an academic son, from his undergraduate days to his maturity as a sterling scholar and at various academic and professional development levels. You provided all the necessary support for him growing up, and he has supported you in many of your academic, professional and administrative endeavours. This colossal loss is for you but shared with many within and beyond the university community. Sir, your efforts, investments and sacrifices for Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu are not in vain. You built someone that built communities. 

You should be proud of what you did and of your product. To the entire university community and, indeed, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to which the deceased had been a loyal and committed member, the grief and sorrow is for us to endure and be energised to continue in the struggle for decent and improved conditions of service as well as a favourable and serene environment for academic excellence.

May the Almighty Allah grant the soul of Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu eternal rest, may Jannatul Firdausi be his final abode, and may the family he left behind be protected, guided and provided for by the grace and mercies of Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala, amin Ya Rabbi.

Adieu, rest in peace, our dear brother, friend, and colleague.

Yahaya T. Baba, PhD, wrote from the Department of Political Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. . He can be reached at yahaya.baba@udusok.edu.ng or tkbabayaha@yahoo.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A recent report by Statisense, a data collection organisation, reveals that a staggering 664,384 Nigerians sought asylum in other countries between 2016 and 2023.

This significant increase occurred during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The report, which cites the United Nations Refugee Agency, shows a steady rise in asylum seekers.

In 2016, 66,862 Nigerians sought asylum, increasing to 91,924 in 2017, 84,624 in 2018, 112,382 in 2019, 73,233 in 2020, 83,105 in 2021, 83,402 in 2022, and 68,852 in 2023. 

The Republic of Niger hosted the largest number of Nigerian refugees in 2023, with 200,497 individuals.

This brings the total number of Nigerian refugees in Niger between 2015 and 2023 to 1,268,464. 

Nigeria also topped the list of African countries whose citizens sought asylum in Canada in 2023, with 10,111 individuals.

Additionally, 1,345 Nigerians sought asylum in the United Kingdom, and 5,136 in the United States. 

This trend highlights the need for policymakers to address the underlying factors driving Nigerian citizens to seek asylum abroad.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at introducing a single six-year term for the President, state governors, and Local Government Area chairmen has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers, seeks to reduce election costs and promote stability in government. 

If enacted, the amendment would extend the tenure of these offices from four to six years, commencing from the date of their election.

The bill also provides for the extension of the term in cases of war or election annulments. 

The proposed amendment has sparked debate among political analysts, with some arguing that it could lead to a concentration of power and undermine democratic principles.

However, proponents of the bill argue that it would reduce the financial burden of frequent elections and promote continuity in governance. 

The bill will undergo further debate and scrutiny before a final vote.