Nigeria

By Uzair Adam

The Council of Ulama has resolved the leadership dispute over the Imamship of Masjid Jami’ur Rahman in Kundila, Kano.

Announcing the resolution, the council’s National Chairman, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, stated that after consultations with both parties, they were able to resolve the matter.

He added that it was agreed that Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman, the original Chief Imam of the old mosque, would return to Sahaba Mosque to continue leading prayers and teaching.

The Daily Reality recalled that the dispute had generated widespread concern, especially after videos of the controversy went viral, sparking discussions among the public and scholars.

Speaking to journalists after the council’s meeting, Sheikh Khalil added that the faction led by Mai Kifi would retain leadership of the newly established mosque, Jami’ur Rahman.

He confirmed that Sheikh Muhammad Bin Usman had accepted the decision and would resume his role at Sahaba Mosque.

The council chairman also commended security agencies for their role in resolving the matter, which had drawn attention across Nigeria.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The U.S. government has announced plans to investigate past foreign aid allocated to Nigeria and other countries, following President Donald Trump’s 90-day suspension of foreign assistance. 

The decision comes amid concerns about global destabilization and whether aid aligns with American interests.

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria confirmed ongoing efforts to track past assistance provided by the U.S. government. 

The Mission also condemned the violence and loss of life caused by Boko Haram, the extremist group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Secretary of State in November 2013.

The review aims to ensure transparency and accountability in aid distribution while addressing security challenges in affected regions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Assembly has forwarded the Investments and Securities Bill, 2024, to President Bola Tinubu for approval.

Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, made the announcement during the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) budget defense on Tuesday in Abuja.

He stated that the bill, which had already been signed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, had been sent to the executive for final assent.

According to Izunaso, President Tinubu is expected to sign the bill into law within 30 days.

Izunaso also mentioned that the committee had issued a written directive to the Minister of Finance requesting the inclusion of a N10 billion special fund for investor education in the 2025 budget.

During the meeting, Senator Anthony Yaro (PDP-Gombe) commended the SEC for its efforts in 2024.

He expressed optimism about the agency’s improved performance.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Kano State Government has inaugurated a High-Powered Committee to profile and regulate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and donor organizations operating within the state. The move aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the state’s development priorities.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruk Ibrahim, emphasized the crucial role of NGOs in sectors such as health, education, and governance. However, he noted growing concerns about unregulated activities, necessitating a structured oversight framework.

The committee has been mandated to profile all NGOs and donor organizations, investigate their funding sources, assess their activities, and recommend a regulatory framework. It has also been granted the authority to suspend or shut down any organization found engaging in suspicious or unauthorized activities. Additionally, it can escalate cases to security agencies for further investigation and prosecution if necessary.

The committee is chaired by Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, with Mallam Tijjani Auwal, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, serving as Vice Chairman. Other members include key government officials, security agencies, civil society representatives, and religious groups.

In his remarks, Waiya assured that the committee would carry out its mandate with diligence and fairness to ensure NGOs operate within legal and ethical boundaries while contributing to Kano’s development agenda.

The committee is expected to work closely with stakeholders to enhance transparency and accountability in the operations of NGOs and donor organizations in the state.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The Federal Government of Nigeria owns thousands of abandoned and incomplete buildings, roads, dams, electricity, etc, projects, vast tracts of unused land, thousands of obsolete and unserviceable vehicles, and millions of scrap machines and equipment scattered across the country. These assets, though neglected, represent significant untapped potential that could be leveraged to generate much-needed revenue.

Both the federal and state governments need additional funds to finance developmental and humanitarian programs and sustain ongoing projects and programs. The solution to this financial challenge may lie in the assets that have been left to deteriorate. By auctioning some of these assets, commercializing others through private sector participation, and completing abandoned projects, the government can unlock substantial revenue streams.

For instance, Nigeria has thousands of kilometers of abandoned or dilapidated federal highways. Rehabilitating and conventionalizing these roads through private sector involvement would improve infrastructure and generate revenue for the government. This approach would shift the financial burden from the public purse to private investors, who would fund the construction or rehabilitation of the roads and recoup their investments through tolling.

In 2022, the Federal Government introduced the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), a commendable program that identified 19 federal highways for rehabilitation and tolling. However, recent reports suggest that the current Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has become a bottleneck to the initiative.

As Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), noted, “This idea was thwarted with the entrance of the current Federal Minister of Works, who came into the picture, first as a catalyst and next as a spoiler.”

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration should prioritise reviving schemes to convert abandoned properties, highways, lands, vehicles, machinery, and other assets into sustainable revenue streams. However, the process must be meticulously planned, transparent, and supported by robust legislation and institutions. Given Nigeria’s history of failed concessions and partnerships, neither private sector players nor international investors will be willing to participate without these safeguards.

Failures include the Lekki-Epe Concession, Ajaokuta Steel Company’s 2004 concession to GSHL (revoked in 2008), Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’s 2009 concession to Bi-Courtney (revoked in 2012), and the Nigerian Ports Concession program, where operators failed to meet obligations due to weak enforcement and oversight. Another case is the ALSCON concession to UC Rusal, leading to ownership disputes and legal battles.

To succeed, the government must learn from past mistakes and create an enabling environment that fosters trust and accountability. By doing so, Nigeria can transform its abandoned assets into a goldmine of opportunities, driving economic growth and development for the benefit of all.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Uzair Adam

The federal government has announced plans to integrate 28,000 health workers into Nigeria’s healthcare system after their salaries were blocked by a policy under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television, noting Nigeria’s commitment to reducing reliance on foreign aid.

Pate acknowledged the significant support of the U.S. government in Nigeria’s health sector, particularly in combating HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

However, he stressed that Nigeria aims to take full ownership of its healthcare system. “There are health workers, 28,000 of them, who have been paid through U.S. government support.

While we appreciate this, these workers are Nigerians, and we must transition them into our system,” he said.

Trump had issued an executive order that paused funding for HIV treatment in developing countries, affecting the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Despite the funding suspension, the U.S. government later approved a waiver allowing continued treatment for people living with HIV.

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently allocated N4.5 billion for HIV treatment packs to support affected Nigerians.

By Anwar Usman

The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to resolve the ongoing land dispute between Bayero University Kano and neighbouring communities.

Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaibu Ahmed made the call on Saturday in Kano during the 39th convocation ceremony of the university.

He called on the governor to take swift action by issuing the university’s title deed to resolve the matter.

He stressed the importance of securing the institution’s land.

Regarding infrastructure, Tinubu acknowledged the lack of perimeter fencing at the university’s new campus. He assured that the Federal Government had allocated funds for the project.

She stated that, “The Federal Government has already provided funding, and work is underway”.

The president reiterated the administration’s commitment to upgrading university infrastructure nationwide.

Tinubu stated that the government was supporting research and infrastructure improvements through the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities Intervention.

He called on Nigerian universities to include research into teaching and learning to build a knowledge-driven society.

The President further explained that the future of Nigeria depended on quality human capital.

He emphasized the government’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for national development.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has rejected allegations from a viral video suggesting that its fuel products are substandard. NNPC called the claims false and based on unverified amateur research.

The company stressed that its fuel is formulated for optimal performance and that a significant portion of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sold in Lagos is sourced from the Dangote Refinery, which meets strict quality standards.

NNPC described the video’s spreading as a tactic by “economic saboteurs” to misinform the public and harm its reputation.

The company plans to take legal action against those disseminating false information and urges Nigerians to rely on verified sources for accurate updates.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian government has issued a strong statement dismissing recent accusations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American official at Binance, following his trial in Nigeria for financial crimes.

The government describes Gambaryan’s claims as outrageous, defamatory, and misleading, urging the public to disregard his statements.

In a press release, the Federal Government clarified that Gambaryan and his colleagues visited Nigeria voluntarily, with no official involvement from the government.

However, when an alleged bribery demand surfaced during the visit, the Nigerian authorities swiftly launched an investigation, despite the absence of a formal complaint.

Gambaryan’s second trip to Nigeria, according to the government, was part of a broader investigation into criminal activities related to the manipulation of the Nigerian currency through platforms like Binance.

The statement alleges that Gambaryan and his team used tactics to obstruct the investigation, which frustrated Nigerian officials.

In October 2024, Gambaryan was released from custody on humanitarian grounds following high-level diplomatic intervention, which the Nigerian government claims resulted in tangible benefits for the country.

The statement revealed that Nigeria rejected a $5 million offer from Binance for Gambaryan’s release, instead choosing a more advantageous agreement with the U.S. government.

The government categorically denied Gambaryan’s retaliatory accusations against Nigerian officials, stating that his claims are baseless and motivated by a desire to discredit those who ensured he faced legal consequences.

They also expressed confidence that both Nigerian and American courts would provide Gambaryan with a fair chance to present evidence supporting his claims.

Until then, the Nigerian government urged the public to exercise caution and dismiss the unsubstantiated allegations made by Gambaryan.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the continued detention and possible execution of Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu on blasphemy charges. The resolution, adopted on Thursday, urges the Nigerian government to immediately release Sharif-Aminu and abolish blasphemy laws that violate human rights.

Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano State on August 10, 2020, for allegedly composing a song with lyrics deemed derogatory to the Prophet Muhammad. His trial was conducted without legal representation, and his family has reportedly faced harassment and persecution since his arrest. 

Although the Kano State High Court ordered a retrial in January 2021 and later upheld by the Court of Appeal in August 2022, the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws was affirmed, raising fears that the death sentence might still be enforced. His appeal to the Supreme Court, filed in November 2022, remains pending.

The European Parliament highlighted that Sharif-Aminu’s health is deteriorating due to inadequate access to food, clothing, and medical care while in detention. The resolution calls for his unconditional release, guarantees for his safety, and an expedited and fair appeals process at the Supreme Court.

The Parliament further criticised Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, stating that they contravene international human rights commitments, the African Charter, and Nigeria’s own constitution, which upholds freedom of expression and religion. It also highlighted that blasphemy accusations frequently lead to mob violence and extrajudicial killings, putting religious minorities at risk.

In addition to demanding Sharif-Aminu’s release, the European Parliament urged the Nigerian government to abolish blasphemy laws, impose a nationwide moratorium on executions, and take concrete steps to prevent impunity for those inciting or perpetrating violence over alleged blasphemy cases. It also called on the European Union and its member states to raise human rights concerns with Nigerian authorities and observe future legal proceedings related to blasphemy cases.

The resolution commended the recent acquittal of Rhoda Jatau and the release of Mubarak Bala, both previously detained on blasphemy-related charges. It reaffirmed that blasphemy laws should be abolished to protect fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.

The European Parliament’s President has been instructed to forward the resolution to the European Commission, the European Council, the European External Action Service, and the Nigerian government and parliament for immediate action.