Nigeria

By Uzair Adam

Saudi Arabian authorities have approved Hausa and Yoruba among 35 international languages selected for the live translation of the 2026 Arafah sermon during Hajj, a move aimed at widening global access to one of Islam’s most important annual sermons.

The initiative, coordinated by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, is part of ongoing efforts to utilise digital technology and media platforms to reach millions of Muslims worldwide in languages they understand.

The selected languages include English, French, Urdu, Indonesian, Turkish, Persian, Chinese, Russian, Hindi and Swahili, alongside Hausa and Yoruba, which are widely spoken in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.

Saudi authorities said the project was designed to ensure that the spiritual teachings, guidance and messages contained in the Arafah sermon are accessible to Muslims across different linguistic backgrounds without barriers.

Speaking on the initiative, Abdulrahman Al-Sudais described the translation programme as one of the major projects developed through years of experience in serving pilgrims and promoting Islamic teachings globally.

He noted that the live translations would help non-Arabic-speaking Muslims better understand the sermon’s messages of faith, morality, compassion and spirituality while also conveying Islam’s message of peace and coexistence to the wider international community.

The Arafah sermon, delivered annually at Mount Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage, is regarded as one of the most significant sermons in Islam and attracts millions of listeners and viewers across the world each year.

Saudi authorities also urged participating countries to continue educating pilgrims on compliance with Hajj rules and regulations to ensure a safe and successful pilgrimage exercise.

Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it was aligning its operations with evolving digital standards, noting that its information technology department was developing comprehensive technological systems to improve Hajj operations in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms.

Observers of Hajj affairs described the inclusion of Hausa and Yoruba among the official translation languages as a major recognition of Nigeria’s large Muslim population, noting that it would enable millions of speakers of both languages to follow the sermon more directly and benefit from its teachings.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Some passengers abducted along the Itobe-Ajegwu-Anyigba Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State have regained freedom after escaping from their captors inside a forest.

The incident occurred on Saturday after armed men reportedly attacked two commercial buses conveying passengers along the route.

One of the affected vehicles reportedly bore Ebonyi registration number NKE 737 XA.

Sources said the attackers also seized a motorcycle rider and took him away with the passengers to an unknown location.

A resident of the area, Ahiaba Michael, said local vigilantes, hunters and security personnel launched a search operation shortly after the attack. However, the gunmen escaped with the victims.

Security sources later disclosed that operatives arrested a suspect, identified as Monday Agi, about three hours after the incident.

According to the source, the suspect allegedly became stranded in the area due to pressure mounted by security operatives during the search.

The source said: “When interrogated, the suspect claimed to be on board of a trailer from Ekiti, but decided to alight around the scene of the incident to continue the journey by trekking to his destination.

“He said when he heard gunshot, he decided to flee into the bush with two herders whom he claimed he did not know.”

The source added that the suspect remains in police custody while security agencies continue efforts to track down the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, three victims identified as Micheal Adejo, Monday and Mariam Yakubu narrated how they escaped after their abductors slept off in the forest.

The victims said the gang consisted of about 10 armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and pump-action guns.

One of the escapees said: “The bus I boarded suddenly ran into their barricade. On stopping, they filed us out, wielding AK 47 rifles and pump Action guns . The second bus behind us was shot at and the driver rammed into cashew trees. All of us were taken to the bush thereafter.

“On our way, we were stopped, and asked to lay face down. In the process, they searched our pockets and evacuated everything in it , including, money, our cell phones and other valuables. We are many , all passengers from two Hummer buses.”

Another escapee, identified as Adaji, explained how they managed to flee from the forest.

“When I noticed that the hoodlums closer to my position started sleeping , I started crawling gradually. After a distance was covered, I got up ,and with luck I ran until I reach a village with these two others,” said Adaji.

Efforts to get a response from the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to her were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential election. He maintained that no opposition figure, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, poses any threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retaining power.

Namadi made the remarks after participating in the APC presidential primary election at his polling unit in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

He also restated his pledge to mobilise over one million votes for President Tinubu in the forthcoming general election. According to him, the target is achievable due to the level of support the APC currently enjoys across Jigawa State.

The governor pointed to the high voter turnout recorded during the party’s primary election as evidence of public confidence in both the President and the APC-led administration. He said the orderly and peaceful conduct of the exercise also reflected respect for democratic principles and internal party processes.

Namadi added that the outcome of the APC primary signals what may unfold in the 2027 elections, predicting a decisive win for the party across the country.

He further described Jigawa as a key stronghold of the APC, noting that the state is among those with a large number of registered voters nationwide. He maintained that party supporters remain fully prepared to meet the goal of delivering over one million votes for President Tinubu.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a young man, Mr. Ya’u Mohammed from Gashua in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, after findings showed that he had no link to any alleged wrongdoing.

The Service, under the leadership of Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, also provided him with ₦2 million. The financial support was aimed at helping him settle back into society and start a means of livelihood for himself and his family.

The development was made known by the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), during a visit to the DSS State Command Headquarters in Damaturu. The young man was formally handed over to him before reuniting with his family.

General Abdulsalam said his visit to the Command was to verify the circumstances that led to the detention and subsequent release of Mr. Ya’u Mohammed. He explained that follow-up reviews and investigations conducted by the Service cleared the young man of any involvement in the allegation that led to his arrest.

The retired military officer described the outcome as unusual within his long years in public service. He noted that it was the first time he had witnessed a situation where an individual, after being cleared, was released and also supported financially for reintegration.

He added that the action reflected a clear commitment by the Director General of the DSS to justice, compassion, and rehabilitation. He further called on other security agencies to maintain respect for the rule of law and uphold human rights in order to build stronger public confidence.

After his release, Mr. Ya’u Mohammed expressed gratitude to God for what he described as a difficult but defining experience. He also thanked the DSS Director General for the support given to him and promised to use the ₦2 million responsibly to build a stable livelihood and support his family.

His father, Alhaji Muhammadu, was visibly emotional during the reunion with his son. He expressed appreciation to the DSS leadership, describing the intervention as compassionate and commendable.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to officially receive the certificate of return and the party flag as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2027 elections on Sunday.

The Presidential Primary Elections Committee will present the items at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja following the nationwide collation of primary election results.

The ceremony will be attended by APC governors, members of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, and the National Assembly, as well as party stalwarts.

In a statement released on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed the event.

The presentation marks a formal step in the APC’s preparation for the 2027 general elections, with President Tinubu expected to lead the party’s campaign for a second term.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Yusuf Tuggar, former minister of foreign affairs, has failed in his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2027 general election in Bauchi State.

The primary election, held on Saturday, produced Mohammed Abubakar, a former governor of the state, as the party’s candidate after he defeated Tuggar and five other aspirants.

John Abang, who chaired the APC governorship and house of assembly primary committee in Bauchi, announced that Abubakar emerged winner with a total of 57,517 votes.

Tuggar came second with 26,001 votes. Nura Manu Soro polled 13,638 votes, while Bala Wunti scored 13,648 votes. Kabir Ma’aji recorded 8,157 votes.

Abang said the votes were collated after the exercise conducted across the state and confirmed Abubakar as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election.

On March 30, Tuggar stepped down from his ministerial position following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, which required political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of blocking access to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following the denial of a party delegation to visit him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

A delegation comprising the ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and Salihu Lukman, Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, was refused entry to see El-Rufai, who remains in ICPC custody.

According to the party, the situation escalated when at least three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility, creating a tense atmosphere. The ADC described the heavy security deployment as disproportionate and unnecessary, given the peaceful nature of the delegation.

“The heavy deployment… created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage,” the party said in a statement signed by Abdullahi.

The ADC noted that it had previously written to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over alleged denial of access to doctors and food. The party recalled that Hajiya Asia El-Rufai had publicly alleged that her husband was refused access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him.

While acknowledging that the ICPC has denied these allegations, the ADC insisted that the continued refusal to allow party leaders to see El-Rufai deepens suspicions about the nature of his detention.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law,” the statement read.

The ADC warned that “Nigeria and the world are watching” and demanded that the ICPC immediately grant unrestricted access to El-Rufai by his family, doctors, lawyers, and party leaders, threatening to mobilise party members nationwide if access continues to be denied.

By Muhammad Masud Yerima



From 2005 to 2025, the global electricity access story changed dramatically. Countries like India and Bangladesh moved from being among the countries with the highest populations without electricity access to largely exiting the list. Meanwhile, Nigeria moved in the opposite direction from third place in 2005 to leading the world in the number of people without access to electricity by 2025.

That should concern every policymaker, investor, planner, and citizen.

In 2005, India had over 360 million people without electricity access. Today, India is no longer on the list. Nigeria, on the other hand, increased from roughly 77 million people without access in 2005 to over 88 million in 2025. This is despite Nigeria being one of Africa’s largest economies and one of the world’s biggest oil and gas producers.

The question is simple:
What did India do right, and what is Nigeria still getting wrong?

India treated electricity not just as infrastructure, but as a national development priority. The country invested aggressively in grid expansion, rural electrification, generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, and policy reforms. Programs like village electrification schemes, renewable energy deployment, and public-private sector collaboration accelerated access across both urban and rural communities. More importantly, India planned long-term and executed at scale.

Nigeria’s challenge is more complex than simply “not enough power generation.” The issue is systemic.

First, population growth has outpaced infrastructure development. Nigeria’s population has expanded rapidly, but transmission networks, distribution systems, and generation capacity have not grown at the same pace. Even where generation exists, the grid often cannot evacuate or distribute the power efficiently.

Second, infrastructure investment has been inconsistent. Transmission bottlenecks, aging equipment, weak distribution networks, vandalism, and underinvestment continue to limit reliability and access. In many parts of the country, being connected to the grid does not even guarantee stable electricity.

Third, planning and execution remain fragmented. Energy policy changes frequently, projects are abandoned, and long-term continuity is weak. Electrification requires coordinated planning across generation, transmission, distribution, regulation, financing, and industrial development not isolated projects.

What makes this more worrying is the timing.

The world is entering a new economic era driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, automation, robotics, and digital infrastructure. Data centers are becoming the factories of the digital economy, and none of them can function without reliable electricity.

From the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, then the Information Age, and now the AI-driven digital economy, every major leap in civilization has been powered by energy.

Without reliable electricity:

* industries cannot scale,
* manufacturing becomes expensive,
* innovation slows,
* startups struggle,
* and Nigeria risks falling behind in the global digital economy.

The next global race will not only be about oil or population size. It will be about computational power, digital infrastructure, and energy resilience.

Beyond politics, this is a conversation Nigerian youths and every citizen must begin to take seriously. The future of Nigeria cannot depend only on election cycles and political debates. We need long-term systemic thinking about infrastructure, industrialization, energy security, education, and technology.

Nigeria is our country.

And if we truly want to compete globally in the modern economy, then stable and accessible electricity can no longer be treated as a secondary issue. It is the foundation upon which modern nations are built.

Muhammad Masud Yerima Mohayerima@gmail.com

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has provided support to pupils of Kondawa Nomadic School in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State through the distribution of school uniforms and learning materials.

The organisation also recruited three teachers to address the shortage of teaching staff at the school, which serves several neighbouring communities.

The intervention took place on Thursday as part of efforts to improve access to education in remote communities, especially among nomadic Fulani families.

Executive Director of CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u, explained that educational support remains important for increasing school attendance in underserved areas.

Ya’u, who was represented by Isah Garba at the event, said, “We supported the pupils with 100 uniforms today.”

He expressed concern over the growing number of children without access to education. According to him, poor access to learning opportunities contributes to insecurity in parts of the country because many young people become vulnerable to criminal influence.

The CITAD boss stated that the intervention in Jama’are was part of similar projects the organisation has carried out across northern Nigeria.

He recalled that the organisation earlier intervened in Shara community in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State after residents complained about the absence of a primary school. He said advocacy efforts later contributed to government action that led to the establishment of the school.

Ya’u also mentioned another intervention at Bakin Kamanda Nomadic School in Danshoshiya community of Kiru Local Government Area, where pupils received uniforms and other learning materials.

Speaking during the event, the Education Secretary of Jama’are Local Government, Malam Shuaibu Umar, praised the intervention and advised the newly employed teachers to remain committed to their responsibilities.

“We task the newly recruited teachers to uphold their obligations and discharge their duties effectively,” he said.

Umar noted that the support came at the right time and would encourage better enrolment and improve learning among children in nomadic communities.

The Emir of Jama’are, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmad Wabi, MNI, also commended CITAD for supporting nomadic education in the region.

The monarch, who spoke through the District Head of Gilar and Gongo, Alhaji Wada, urged other local and international non-governmental organisations to collaborate with CITAD on similar educational and humanitarian programmes.

CITAD had previously raised concerns about the poor condition of Kondawa Nomadic School, which caters for pupils from Kwandawa, Digawa, Yangamai Ayas, Kundi, Dolede, Talba and Gundumi communities.

The school was established about eight years ago by the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) for over 100 pupils. However, it currently operates below capacity because only one teacher handles all classes.

The school facilities have also deteriorated over the years. Several walls have collapsed, roofs are damaged, classrooms have been vandalised and the compound has become overgrown. The situation has affected regular attendance because many children now engage in grazing and farming activities.

By Uzair Adam

The member representing Gwale Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mai Rigar Fata, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mai Rigar Fata represents Gwale Local Government Area, the hometown of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The lawmaker was officially received into the NDC on Thursday by former Kano State governor and party leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Kwankwaso described the defection as a major boost for the party’s grassroots structure in Kano State, saying the new entrants would strengthen the NDC ahead of future political activities.

Mai Rigar Fata was first elected into the Assembly in 2023 under the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) before later moving to the APC alongside Governor Yusuf.

His latest defection followed his failure to secure the APC ticket to contest for another term in the Assembly.

Others who also joined the NDC include former Gwale Local Government Vice Chairman, Hon. Kabiru Sani Auwal Obi, and Malam Mahadi Isa Umar.

The development came shortly after a Federal High Court ruling on Thursday which reportedly created fresh openings for political defections previously restricted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reacting to the court decision, the spokesman of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ruling could trigger mass defections from the APC.