By Muhammadu Sabiu 

In a recent turn of events, the emerging star of Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr., known as Vini Jr., encountered a fresh setback in the form of an injury during a recent fixture. 

Fortunately, the gravity of the injury appears to lean towards the milder side, a fact affirmed by the club’s esteemed head coach, Carlo Ancelotti. 

In the aftermath of the match, Ancelotti undertook the task of allaying apprehensions surrounding Vinicius Jr.’s physical condition.

He asserted, “Yes, Vinicius has sustained a new injury, albeit one that does not seem overly grave.” 

While this announcement may bring a semblance of comfort to the supporters, there lingers a period of concern as the player is poised to sit out upcoming matches. 

Ancelotti proceeded to shed light on Vini Jr.’s convalescence, expressing optimism in the progression of his recovery.

The coach’s foresight indicates the potential for the player to rejoin the action following the conclusion of the international hiatus. 

Based on this timeline, the promising young talent is anticipated to make a triumphant return within a span of a few weeks, presuming his recovery transpires as envisaged. 

This unfolding scenario has triggered inquiries into the depth of Real Madrid’s roster and the possible necessity for an additional striker. 

In light of Vini Jr.’s temporary absence, the club may confront challenges in maintaining an unwavering offensive formation.

By Hauwa’u Abubakar

Overtime, Nigerians have experienced hike in basically all goods and services required to live and run their day to day activities. This goes without saying has been aggravated by proclamation of subsidy removal on premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, some three months ago.

It becomes imperative to understand the factors responsible for high cost of living as it leads to higher expenditure for individuals and households. Some of the factors leading to this unwanted development include inflation or an increase in the general level of prices.

Nigeria has experienced persistent inflation over the years, with prices of goods and services continuously rising. This reduces the purchasing power of individuals, making it more challenging to afford basic necessities. Also, depreciation of the country’s currency.

The naira, has faced fluctuations and depreciation in value against major foreign currencies like the US dollar. This has led to higher import costs, making imported goods more expensive for consumer. Furthermore, dependence on imports for various products, including food, fuel, clothings, building materials and other consumer goods, has the tendency to result in higher prices due to transportation cost, tariffs, and exchange rate fluctuations.

Again, infrastructural challenges is another force to reckon with. Inadequate infrastructure, such as power shortages and poor transportation networks can increase the cost of goods and services. Businesses often have to bear the burden of additional expenses since they are not provided by the authority and they eventually pass these expenses to consumers so as to make profit and keep their trade afloat.

Income quality as a factor. Nigeria has a significant income disparity, with a large portion of the population living in what is termed multidimensional poverty due to the disparity. This poverty limits access to basic resources like education, healthcare, and housing, further exacerbating the cost of living for many individuals. Government policies such as removal or reduction of subsidies, can lead to price hikes for essential commodities also.

To address this worrisome situation, it is firstly important for citizens to understand that the high cost of living in Nigeria is a complex issue influenced by various factors such as those aforementioned. Efforts to address this challenge should involve measure to tackle inflation, improve infrastructure, diversifying the economy, and promoting policies that support income equality and affordability for citizens.

Strategies to employ in improving infrastructure are; investing in infrastructural development, such as transportation power, road network, water supply among other can help reduce cost associated with transportation and other expenses passed down to consumers.

Enhancing agricultural productivity. Promoting and supporting the agricultural sector can reduce food prices and enhance food security. Improving farming techniques, access to quality irrigation systems are all strategies through which dependency can be reduced on imported goods.

Encouraging competition could be a tactics. Promoting competition in key sector such as telecommunications, banking, and energy to prevent monopolies and encourage market efficiency can help lower price for consumers.Control of inflation, implementation of effective monetary policies and fiscal measures to control inflation, increased wages and ensuring that wages and salaries keep pace with inflation can help improve people’s purchasing power and reduce the burden of high costs.

Developing effective social welfare programmes can provide a safety net for vulnerable populations, reducing the impact of high cost of living on those with limited financial resources.

In conclusion these are just comprehensive approach that addresses multiple aspect of the economy and society and if adopted by the government and relevant agencies, Nigerians can be saved from the bondage of high cost of living, the time this now!.

Hauwa’u is a 200-Level Student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State and can be reached via: hauwaat@yahoo.com

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Suspected gunmen launched a daring attack on an Army patrol van in Edo State, resulting in the tragic death of a soldier and the successful theft of cash-laden sacks. 

The incident occurred on Wednesday as the military vehicle was en route to Ikpoba Hill. 

At about 2:10 p.m., the assailants ambushed the patrol unit at a traffic light along Akpakpava Road by First Junction. 

The attackers executed their plan with precision, employing an unmarked Toyota Camry to confront the military vehicle head-on.  

Two of the four occupants of the Camry disembarked and unleashed a hail of gunfire upon the soldiers, causing them to flee their patrol vehicle and the sacks they were transporting.

Witnesses on the scene recounted the soldiers’ hasty retreat and shared that the gunmen brazenly seized the bags from the abandoned van. 

A witness who owns a nearby shop described a poignant moment, revealing that one of the soldiers had been wounded in the chaos while his colleagues were unable to provide assistance. 

The injured soldier’s condition prevented him from standing up, and his companions were left helpless. 

Authorities were alerted to the situation, prompting inquiries from both the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Police Command. 

Captain Yusuf Sokoya, the Public Relations Officer of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army Headquarters in Benin City, initially responded that he would investigate the matter. 

However, he failed to follow up on his commitment at the time of the press’s inquiries. 

In contrast, the state police public relations officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the distressing occurrence. 

He stated that a soldier lost his life during the attack in Benin City. Nwabuzor further explained that a vigilant citizen promptly reported the incident to the local police station, which serves the affected neighbourhood. 

The attackers managed to escape with bags believed to contain substantial sums of cash stored inside the targeted Army van. 

The incident highlights the audacity of the gunmen and the risks faced by security personnel in the line of duty. 

As investigations continue, the community remains on edge, awaiting further updates from both the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Police Command.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Auren Zaurawa Mass Wedding Initiative will get N854 million from the Kano State Government. 

According to the government, this was approved on Wednesday at the state executive council meeting, looking at the nation’s economic situation. 

Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of the state, announced this on his verified X handle, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. 

He wrote, “Also from yesterday’s meeting. The Kano State Executive Council has approved the release of the sum of N854 million for the first phase of the Auren Zaurawa Mass Wedding Initiative. 

“And the sum of N700 Million for tuition fees of 7000 students of Bayero University Kano (BUK).” 

Recall that the governor also made an allocation for 7,000 native students at Bayero University Kano (BUK), who will receive N700 million to cover their tuition. 

By Salim Yunusa

Salim Yunusa As the summer break draws to an end and schools are set to resume in the coming weeks, parents are already grumbling over the increased school fees across many private primary and secondary schools across the nation, despite their salaries not increasing even by an inch. Due to the not-so-great condition of the public schools, parents have no other options than to send their wards to these private schools.

Although private schooling is a money spinning venture for many school owners, the least these schools should provide is excellent service delivery in teaching and imparting discipline on students. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many instances.

The learning facilities are substandard, to say the least and the teachers are below par in quality. Their sights are set on the profit the schools will return, not the excellence they’ll deliver and the students they will be proud of at the end of the day. Most of the buildings rented by these low budget schools are originally residential houses or uncompleted buildings that are converted to classrooms with little or or no ventilation; with tiny classrooms containing high number of students in each space.

Many of these schools are not fit for learning, with some of these classes demarcated with cardboards or plywood to create more space. There is absolutely no regard for safety standards and building regulations of any sort. I know of a “school” facility that serves as a school during the day and a football viewing centre at night.

Another school that upsets me anytime I pass it by is a school for young kindergartens and primary students that is directly beside a huge fueling station and inches away from a major highway.

I wonder what the development control authority was thinking; approving such a chaotic land use violation. Yet, it is these schools that charge parents outrageous amount of money every time. It is high time the government wades into these fraudulent waters; making sure that every private school that operates is duly registered, has a license and has ticked off every box of standards and regulations. It also has a responsibility of regulating the uncontrolled and unreasonable school fees and levies set by these schools themselves.

One would think that as these schools are extorting parents in broad daylight, their staff would be well paid. That is far from the reality. Teachers employed in private schools suffer the worst form of dehumanisation and extortion by their employers, unfortunately. They’re overworked and underpaid, with some teachers in some schools taking home less than N10,000 in a month…in 2023!

Their employers take advantage of the saturated labour market that is filled to the brim with young, unemployed teachers – qualified or not – and are desperate for employment. Some of these teachers are unqualified and burdened with many subjects in order to cut the cost of hiring more teachers. They learn on the job for long hours and meagre pay, with threats and deductions for the smallest of mistakes. They’re constantly in fear of speaking up or speaking out against their employers because they can be sacked without any reason whatsoever.

It is the height of wickedness to make parents pay through their nose for their children’s’ education without actually getting the value for their money in a tight, cramped up environment that is not conducive for learning while at the same time underpaying and overworking their staff.

Schools should not only be an avenue to generate more money for their rich owners. They should uphold a standard of excellence and quality delivery of education that’ll produce educationally sound students who can compete nationally and globally.

The government, as a matter of urgency, should continue to upgrade its schools so that they become more attractive to parents than private schools. That way, it will be a healthy competition; judged based on excellence and quality education but before then, they have the responsibility of registering, regulating and standardising private schools for the development of education in the nation.

Salim Yunusa writes from Zaria and can be reached at syunusa@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Katsina State Government disclosed that it received the sum of N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative approved to states by the federal government.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs, Malam Salisu-Zango, relayed the clarification to journalists in a statement on Wednesday.

Zango’s disclosure was in reaction to the insinuation that the federal government released N5 billion to the state.

He said that: “The attention of the state government has been drawn to news going round in the media that N5 billion has been released to states by the Federal Government for palliative.

“I wish to state that, [the] Katsina State Government received only N2 billion for procurement of grain to be distributed to the citizens of the state”.

Zango further stated that the state government had so far utilised N2 billion to procure 40,000 bags of rice for distribution to vulnerable persons in all the polling units across the state.

He added that the government would also utilise the next tranche of the fund from the federal government to purchase maize for distribution to deserving households.

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on students and families in the face of ongoing economic challenges, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State announced a significant financial commitment on his verified Facebook page yesterday. 

The governor’s post highlighted the decision made by the Kano State Executive Council, under his leadership, to allocate approximately 700 million naira for the payment of school fees for about 7,000 students hailing from Kano State and enrolled at Bayero University Kano (BUK). 

The move is expected to provide crucial financial relief to families struggling to meet educational expenses during these trying times. 

Details regarding the distribution and disbursement of the funds will be communicated to the students and the public in the near future. 

This initiative is part of the state government’s continued efforts to support education and ensure that the youth have access to quality learning opportunities despite the current economic constraints. 

Education has been a cornerstone of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, and this latest move underscores his commitment to prioritising the welfare of students and their families. 

As the payment process unfolds, many are anticipating the positive impact this allocation will have on the lives of the students and their educational journeys. 

Recall that tuition fees at Bayero University have recently increased to an unprecedented high, which forced many students to drop out due to their inability to meet the payment.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The police in Nassarawa State have warned residents in the state against widespread rumours alleging the disappearance of genitals.

DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, disclosed this in a statement he made available to journalists on Wednesday.

Nansel added that the command has observed with dismay the ugly trend where members of the public tag individuals with causing the mysterious disappearance of genitals in different parts of the state.

He added that, “The medical examination carried out on victims who reported cases of mysterious genital disappearance in Nassarawa-Eggon, Obi, Lafia and Keffi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state gave all the victims a clean bill of health.

“In view of this, the police commay wishes to state unequivocally that the cases of alleged mysterious genital disappearance is baseless, unfounded and without proof.

“Thus, anyone caught engaging in mob action and jungle justice or raising false alarm that leads to grievous assault on any member of the public shall be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law,” DSP Nansel added.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Spanish government called on the nation’s football organisation to take immediate and transparent action against president Luis Rubiales after he kissed a Women’s World Cup player on the lips. 

After Spain defeated England in the championship match in Sydney on Sunday, the head of the Spanish football federation kissed Jenni Hermoso, drawing harsh criticism. 

In response to growing calls for action against Rubiales, the RFEF convened an emergency meeting for Friday and launched an internal inquiry on Tuesday. 

Speaking to radio station Cadena Ser, Francos said, “I imagine that what the responsible people will do is talk to the two parties involved and issue a report. 

“I have personally told the federation this report has to be transparent and urgent, because, if it is not, obviously we are obliged to take the corresponding additional measures.” 

Despite tendering an apology, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain said Tuesday that Rubiales’ apology for the kiss was insufficient.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was growing tension among the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members when bandits attacked them on their way to the orientation camp in Zamfara State, killing eleven persons among them.

The bandits also kidnapped no fewer than eight corps members to an unknown destination and reportedly demanded a ransom of over 4 million naira.

Our reporters learned that the corps members were travelling in Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, for the one-year mandatory national service, when their vehicle was intercepted by the bandits.

It was also gathered that their driver, who was among the persons abducted, almost lost his life during the atrocious killing by the bandits.

However, three of the corps members were reported to have escaped during the terrorist attack.

Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering from Akwa Ibom State University and Victoria Udoka, a graduate in Mass Communication from the University of Uyo were among the young graduates that were kidnapped by the terrorists.

A source, who noted to be privy to the situation, revealed that the terrorists had contacted the family of one of the victims and demanded a ransom of N4 million.

He said, “Sad to hear that young graduates going for their National Service year in Sokoto have been kidnapped by bandits.

“Both the Federal Government and various State governments should do everything possible to rescue the eight NYSC members.

“Nothing must happen to them oh!!!Some of them included Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of [sic] Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University and Victoria Udoka, a graduate of [sic] Mass Communication from University of Uyo.

“At the moment, one of the families, it was learnt have been contacted to pay N4m. Please, this is [a] Federal government matter not the family and should be taking [sic] seriously to save these children from been [sic] tormented further by the wicked kidnappers.

“This is another challenge to the federal government to review deployment of NYSC [members] to nearby states where they schooled due to insecurity rather than posting them across the country.

“May the Almighty God rescue them and let those wicked kidnappers be arrested and brought to book. Their crimes must not go unpunished.”