By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Veteran Nollywood actor, Femi Ogunrombi, famously known as Papa Ajasco, has passed away.

The news of his demise was announced by a theatre practitioner, Husseini Shaibu, via his Twitter handle on Sunday. 

He tweeted, “I have just been reliably informed that the ethnomusicologist, former Music Instructor with #NATIONALTROUPE and one time stand in for the ‘Papa Ajasco’ character on the popular #waleadenugaprod comic series ‘Papa Ajasco’ Mr. Femi Ogunrombi is dead.”

Femi Ogunrombi became famous after starring in Papa Ajasco, a popular Nigerian television comedy created by Wale Adenuga in 1996.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Zaria-Kano Highway has been reopened after two days of blockage by the protesting tanker drivers in the area.

It was reported that the drivers protested over the alleged killing of their colleague by a soldier and demanded justice for the victim’s family.

The development Wednesday had led to a gridlock that left many travellers stranded.

Daily Trust reported that the drivers used their heavy vehicles to block the road but had agreed to remove them after a series of negotiations with security agencies and FRCN officials.

Our reporters gathered that the drivers decided to protest after a soldier attached to a construction company reportedly shot the victim dead.

The State Acting Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lawal Garba, said normalcy had returned.

“I’m happy to inform you this morning that the Zaria-Kano Highway was reopened around 9:30 am today after days of blockage. Traffic flow is smooth as the road is fully open. Personnel of the Command are in traffic control,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kofar Gayan Low Cost, Zaria, was thrown into deep mourning when fire outbreak in the area resulted to the death of a four-member family on Friday.

Multiple sources in the area relayed that the outbreak, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, was as a result of a high voltage supply of electricity.

Muhammad Umar, the Head of Service unit in Kofar Doka, Zaria, confirmed the traumatic incident to journalists in the area.

He disclosed that he could not ascertain the course of the fire outbreak, however, said it was speculated that it was as a result of an electric spark.

The Daily Reality discovered that the deceased were; Alaramma Mohammed Sani, who was an imam at Buhari’s resident, his wife, Raulatu Sani and two of their children, Hashim Sani aged 8 and Fatima Sani aged 1 and half years.

Bello Haruna, who is a member of the vigilante group in the area, told journalist that, “We were on patrol when we saw fire engulfing the resident of Alaramma Mohammed Sani and we all rushed to render assistance.

“I also blamed the sudden restoration of electricity to the area, which came in high voltage as the likely cause of the incident,” said.

The neighbours, who trooped out of their houses for help, could not hide their sadness as they described the incident as traumatic.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
A Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who had just been transferred to Plateau State’s Pankshin Division was kidnapped by gunmen thought to be kidnappers.
 
The DPO, whose identity was undisclosed, was abducted on Wednesday at the hotel where he was staying for the local government.
 
According to reports, a sizable group of gunmen broke into the hotel at around 10:45 PM, kidnapped the man, and carried him somewhere unknown.
 
The report added that “the kidnappers released several gunshots into the air before they could force their way into the hotel at about 10:45 pm. It was like the DPO was their target; they shot him in the leg before he was taken away.”
 
As of the time of filing this report, The Daily Reality could not confirm any police statement about the incident.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated that the deadline for exchange of the old Naira notes for new ones remains January 31, 2023.

In its official Facebook handle, on Friday, the apex bank wrote, “A reminder to the general public that the old series of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes cease to be legal tender by January 31, 2023. You are once again advised to return them to your bank before the deadline”.

It may be recalled that last October, CBN announced that the old Naira notes would cease to circulate, and be legal tender from January 31, 2023 after detailing a number of reasons for the action.

The announcement sparked various reactions from the public, which in part, informed the call by the National Assembly for CBN to extend the deadline of January 31, 2023.

By Aisar Fagge

There has been great excitement among women in Obajana community, Kogi State when no fewer than 40 women sponsored by Dangote Cement Plc. were graduated from skills acquisition training school on Thursday.

The women learnt fashion and design and were advised to be self-reliant on it.

The Daily Reality gathered that the training was meant to address the biting economic hardship prompted by job scarcity and unemployment in the country through job creation.

Mr JV Gungune, the Plant Director, of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, while speaking at the graduation ceremony, said, “even though the job creation scheme aptly fits into the company’s vision and mission, it cannot do it alone, nor can it employ everyone.”

He also pleaded with the beneficiaries to put the skills and equipment provided by the company into proper use, adding that the beneficiaries should count themselves lucky to have been selected and trained.

The women also expressed happiness and gratitude to the President of the Dangote Group, Alh. Aliko Dangote.

The traditional rulers of the various communities commended the company and described the development as a huge intervention.

Also speaking, his Royal Highness, the Olu-Apata, Oba Dr Frederick D.O. Balogun, expressed appreciation and pledged his community’s continuing support for the company.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

“Home is wherever you leave everything you love, and never question that it will be there when you return.” – Leo Christopher

My two-week stay in Borno after being away for a year has exposed me to some of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s developmental projects across the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. I have seen the ongoing reconstruction and construction of quality drainages and roads. The expansion of roads at Monday Market, Bulabulin Alinkotoko and Gwange Areas, among other places in the metropolis, is commendable and timely. It has been long overdue. There would be no traffic jams when the projects are completed, and people will have easy mobility within the metropolis. 

The state capital has however been in total blackout for the past two years since the destruction of utility poles along Damaturu road by the Boko Haram murderers. It is on record that the governor has spent a lot of resources on restoring electricity in the town, but all efforts have been consistently sabotaged by the terrorists. Their defeat and displacement have however supported the restoration of light in parts of the metropolis. 

My neighbour told me that they enjoy a minimum of 4-hour power supply daily. That is far better than being in a total blackout which the people endured for years.  

“They mostly restore electricity after Magrib and interrupt it before midnight. That is how we manage it,” he said. 

However,  I have heard many people bitterly complaining about the high rate of unemployment that is becoming a threat to the fragile peace of the state. The state has limited opportunities for youth. It is said that criminal activities likely thrive in places where a larger population of youths are restive and jobless. Therefore, Governor Zulum should introspect and start focusing on job creation. 

My interaction with some young people has made me realise that opportunities are limited in Maiduguri at the moment. One of them told me that even becoming a labourer is now not an easy task. According to him, the only sustainable and reliable job is tricycling.

The very day I got to Maiduguri, I saw campaign banners and posters everywhere courtesy of young people who were either hungry for power for the sake of it or living off godfathers. That is not bad, but it would have been better to invest their youthful energy and time in more productive ventures like learning a craft, acquiring a skill or doing business, each of which can stand the test of time. 

The state government has invested a lot in infrastructural projects which are spread across the state. However, Borno needs a lot of investments in human capital if the state must recover from the many years of destruction caused by the Boko Haram sect. 

In terms of business, the economy is struggling. Families have accused marketers, especially foodstuff sellers, of overpricing. They accused them of hiding under the exchange rate in the country to unjustly increase the price of goods and services in the state. They want the market authorities and state government to work together to ensure that marketers stick to the prices of goods without any corrupt changes. 

Shettima’s Legacy 

This is another opportunity to recall that the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima, put about seven production firms in different parts of the state, and they were meant to create jobs, eradicate poverty and generate revenue for the government. 

The plants include Tomato Plant, Garri Plant, Water line Plant, Solar Panel Plant, Onion Dehydration Plant, Corn Chips Plant, Plastic Plant and others. Out of all the plants, only the plastic plant is functional, and it has created jobs for an appreciable number of youths in the state. 

Aside from these plants, the state has other abandoned industrial establishments that can help generate revenues for the state as well as create job opportunities for youths. Why can’t we invest in those firms to overcome joblessness? Borno should learn from Kano, Kaduna, and other states that build firms to boost their revenue and provide jobs for their people. Borno state should not only build these factories but sustain them and take advantage of them, not abandon them. 

It is high time Governor Zulum directed his attention towards the establishment and reformation of institutions that can accommodate jobless youths and give their lives meaning. 

The fact that a lot of these firms are already in place, having been built by Senator Shettima, is a huge advantage for the present administration. Aside from the advantages of having those plants fully operational to the state, Governor Zulum should be more interested in sustaining the legacy of his boss and predecessor. 

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Abuja and can be reached via email: Lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam  

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State and his former boss, Dr Rabi`u Musa Kwankwaso, the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), have continued to trade words over Kano votes in the forthcoming general elections of 2023.

Ganduje, while addressing his party`s supporters, said Kano people would vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), against Kwankwaso, who is a citizen of the state.

He added that Kano would repeat what happened in the 1993 presidential election when the state supported a Southern candidate, the late MKO Abiola, against its citizen, the late Bashir Tofa.

However, responding to what Ganduje had said in a statement, Kwankwaso stated that whoever works against him in Kano in the forthcoming election would regret it.

Kwankwaso said, “I had a rally not long ago, which was one of the best rallies. I had one in Wudil, the southern senatorial district. I had one in Bichi, northern senatorial district. I opened my office in Kano Central, and one of the best rallies because you can’t compare it with the ones by some of the candidates who had crowds that came to Kano from neighbouring states and so on.

“Now, you see, I don’t want to talk about that man. I don’t know whether he said it or not. But the reality is that anybody who works against NNPP or Kwankwaso in 2023 one day will regret it, that he made a mistake.

“Anybody who knows me, who knows my antecedents, believes that, if I win this presidential election, Kano will have maximum benefit. Of course, northern Nigeria will benefit and, of course, the country.

“So, I am surprised if you go and say I should hold a rally. I have done many rallies in Kano. In just recent months, January and December in Kano, in all three senatorial districts. So, what is the problem with holding a rally in Kano?”

By Salim Ibrahim Isa

Since late last year, many public universities have released revised fees, primarily reviewed upwards in unprecedented percentages (mostly more than a 100%). Students, parents and other stakeholders have expressed shock, with many blaming the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for being behind the increase as a response to the Union’s fallout with the Federal Government last year and members of the Union laying responsibility to the executive councils of respective universities.

Whatever the reason for the increase and whoever is behind it, the rising cost of education is a reality students and other stakeholders have to face, for it is doubtful to be reversed.

It will be useful to consider the following discussion, especially by students who would be directly affected by the fee hike.

Choice of courses

Choosing a course to study has been a longstanding issue. Many students go to university to study courses for years only to realise later that they could have made better choices regarding their aspirations. With education being more expensive, prospective students will save themselves much disappointment later in their studies or after graduating by researching courses before applying for them and making informed decisions. Nobody wants to pay massive amounts of money to study a course only to find out later that it has no job prospects or something like that.

Alternatives to degrees

It is not a divine revelation that everybody must have a degree. Colleges of education, polytechnics and other higher institutions offer various types of training and award multiple certificates, which can be as useful as a degree, depending on how the holder uses acquired knowledge. A student who cannot afford the higher costs of a university education shouldn’t lose all hope. It is still OK to seek other affordable alternatives and acquire training and certification.

Many non-degree holders have had spectacular achievements the world over. The most important thing is the training and how and to what use it is put.

Distance learning

Thanks to the internet, a significant number of universities all over the world now offer many courses online. This eliminates the burden of physical presence and its attendant financial implications, making the courses a lot cheaper while maintaining the quality of the courses. Many of these courses have flexible payment schedules, so students can pay in instalments and flexible classes, allowing students to work while studying. One may explore the availability of courses of choice both within and outside Nigeria and enrol in a good course at a good university. In addition, students may apply for discounts and fee waivers to make their studies even more affordable.

Scholarships and sponsorships

Governments, universities, foundations, companies and even individuals within Nigeria and abroad offer scholarships and financial aid to students under various schemes to subsidise education. Some scholarships involve moving to the supporting country/institution, while others support candidates locally. Sponsorships may also be complete or partial. A good way to be up-to-date on scholarship information is to subscribe to scholarship advertising websites and make a good network, especially in academia. Students need to remember, however, that all scholarships have criteria, and many of these criteria revolve around sound academic performance. Nobody wants to waste money on candidates who are not serious about studying, so all need to buckle up.

Salim Ibrahim Isa wrote via saalimibraheem@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

People in Tumburkai, a community in Katsina state, have decried the rising level of insecurity ravaging the community in recent times.

Several attacks by bandits on the community have displaced many people and widowed an unidentified number of women.

The community members expressed worries on Thursday when a Kaduna-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, visited the area.

The Daily Reality gathered that, during the visit, the NGO distributed bags of rice, foodstuff and cash to women in the community and the neighbouring villages.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, Malam. Abdullahi Usman said there is a need for society to support the needy, especially widows.

He was quoted as saying, “Although we don’t have much, we are not happy seeing those affected by bandit activities cannot feed. So out of the little God has given us, we intend to ensure the needy are also fed.”

He added that the NGO would continue to supply food items and cash to the widows.

“The NGO intends to continue giving food items and cash to the widows and others for the foreseeable future, and we are calling on the state and federal governments and wealthy individuals to pool their resources together in helping the widows,” he added.