THE Founder and President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has felicitated the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on his 59th birthday anniversary. Prof. Gwarzo’s felicitations were contained in a statement he personally signed and issued to journalists in Kano on Monday. According to Prof. Gwarzo, the customs CG deserved to be celebrated on the auspicious occasion in view of his commitment towards bringing various transformations in the Service. “It is indisputable fact that the Nigeria Customs Service has witnessed a revolutionary change under the current Controller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi…
Author: Khadija Abubakar
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THE Brazilian government has announced the formal admission of Nigeria as a partner country in the multinational bloc known as BRICS. This was contained in a statement by the Brazil Foreign Ministry on Friday. According to Brazil, BRICS and Nigeria share common interests, as both actively strive to enhance cooperation among Global South countries and advocate for the reform of international organisations. “With the world’s sixth-largest population—and Africa’s largest—as well as being one of the continent’s major economies, Nigeria shares convergent interests with other members of BRICS. It plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that 7,746 deceased voters were removed from the national voter register in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of December 2022. The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Etta-Messi, disclosed this to our correspondent on Thursday. “Seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-six decreased persons across the 36 states and the FCT were removed from the National Register of voters as of December 2022,” she disclosed. According to INEC, a thorough cleaning of the voter register is usually done before every general election. In its 2023 post-general election review in December…
THE Federal Government has confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, in Kano State. The disease, which affects various bird species, including layers, ducks, guinea fowls, and turkeys, has raised concerns over its potential spread in the region. In a circular signed by Dr. Taiwo Olasoju, on behalf of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, authorities highlighted the heightened risk of transmission during this period. “We urge all state veterinary offices and relevant agencies to activate their surveillance systems immediately. Strict biosecurity measures must be implemented, and public awareness campaigns intensified to curb…
THE Federal Fire Service (FFS) has disclosed that an estimated property loss of N67.1 billion, and was recorded in 2024 as a result of fire outbreaks. A statement by the FFS quoting the Service’s Controller General, Abdulganiyu Jaji while addressing a press conference at the FFS headquarters in Abuja, added that no fewer than 100 deaths as a result of fire outbreaks were also recorded within the same period. Jaji, however, said that the Service saved property worth N1.94 trillion last year. “In the year 2024, the Federal Fire Service effectively saved property worth N1.94 trillion and recorded an estimated…
A SENIOR Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, has blamed the difficult legal procedures involved in extradition for the inability of the Nigerian government to properly prosecute former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for over 8 years. Alison-Madueke is alleged to have looted millions of dollars belonging to Nigerian when she served as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan. She has been away in the United Kingdom since the end of Jonathan’s administration and has been unable to appear before Nigerian courts where cases have been instituted against her by the government. Shittu, who was a guest on Channels Television’s…
THE Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has reiterated its commitment towards preparing young learners in basic education schools adequately on Design Thinking, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The disclosure was made by the National Coordinator, UBEC Digital Resource Center, Prof. Bashir Galadanci, on behalf of the UBEC Executive Secretary while declaring open a four-day workshop on Design Thinking, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (DTCRA) Curriculum Review. The workshop which was jointly organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC) and Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) also deliberated on Development of a Teachers’ Guide for Smart Schools. In her welcome…
THE Nigerian Army Women Command celebrated the promotion of Army Warrant Officer Hajara Egbunu on Friday. The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, describing it as a historic milestone. According to the statement, Brigadier General Mathias Amatso, Commander of the Nigerian Army Women Command, decorated Egbunu with her new rank badge during a ceremony held at the Command Conference Room in Abuja. This landmark achievement, it noted, makes Egbunu the first female soldier from the elite Infantry Corps and the Nigerian Army Women Command to attain the prestigious rank of Army Warrant Officer. Lieutenant Maureen Ogbuka, Acting…
THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has proposed to spend N85 million on publicity and advertisement in its 2025 budget. The total expenditure submitted to the National Assembly for approval amounts to N7,040,944,703, with personnel costs taking the largest share of N4,161,567,813. This includes N2,703,362,530 allocated for salaries and wages and N1,458,205,283 for allowances and social contributions. The agency has also planned to spend N70 million on welfare packages, while N459,721,666 has been set aside for the purchase of office furniture and fittings. In addition, N35.6 million has been allocated for the maintenance of motor…
THE First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has welcomed the first baby of the year 2025. She first visited the Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja where she handed gifts to the first male child of the year, the first female child of the year and other babies delivered on the 1st of January. Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, Mrs Tinubu pledged support to ensure a better life for Nigerian children. She said the current administration is committed to providing an enabling environment where every Nigerian child can thrive to become somebody in life. The…
THE Rumfa College Old Boys Association (RUMFOBA) Class ’94 marked its 30th anniversary in Kano on Thursday, with a call to the Kano state government to establish database centres in each community. These centres, to be led by village heads, would provide vital data on households across the state, enabling informed decision-making, planning, and project implementation.¹ Chairman of RUMFOBA Class ’94, Engineer Professor Ibrahim Sani Madugu, emphasized the importance of these database centres in ensuring security, supporting community development, and promoting small-scale industries and trades. The class chapter has undertaken two major projects to support their alma mater: ensuring water…
THE Local Government Area Council of Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State has indefinitely closed the Kwanar Gafan Tomato Market over alleged illicit activities ranging from prostitution, adultery, homosexuality, and other immoral activities reportedly taking place within its premises and around the market. The local government chairman, Hon. Barr. Aminu Salisu Kadawa, confirmed the development to this newspaper citing the need to restore order to the area. He said all market occupants must vacate the premises before January 1, 2025, warning of strict consequences for those who defy the directive. He said, “Looking at how the market has…
GOVERNOR Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has pledged ₦670 million to combat malnutrition and enhance maternal and child health services across the state. This was announced during the official flag-off of the second Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week in Kumbotso Local Government Area. Governor Yusuf disclosed that ₦500 million of the funds will serve as counterpart funding to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for various nutrition initiatives aimed at addressing malnutrition among children and pregnant women. Additionally, ₦170 million has been earmarked for the renovation and upgrading of malnutrition treatment and referral centres. Speaking at the event,…
IN a bold step to combat sickle cell anaemia, Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is set to commission a state-of-the-art clinic dedicated to providing free, comprehensive care for patients living with the disease. The announcement was made by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, during the flag-off of the 2nd Maternal and Neonatal Week 2024 at Kumbotso Local Government Area. A statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, revealed that the specialized care center is located at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. The facility will offer a wide range of free services, including…
THE economy grew by 3.46 per cent in Q32024, with output reaching ₦20.115 trillion, up from 3.19 per cent (₦18.285 trillion) in Q2 2024, driven mainly by the non-oil sector. This was revealed in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s newly released Economic Report for the third quarter of 2024. The report said inflation moderated during the quarter, reflecting the fall in the food component of the Consumer Price Index basket, and driven by the restrictive monetary policy stance. Domestic crude oil production increased, following enhanced security measures around oil pipeline infrastructure in the Niger Delta region. Despite persisting headwinds, CBN…
OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State. The suspect, an importer and exporter, was nabbed on Sunday, December 15 with 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6 kilograms. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. “The seizure, which is the single largest interception of cocaine at the Kano airport since the creation of MAKIA Command of NDLEA in 2006 was made on Sunday 15th December 2024 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941…
THE House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance has given a seven-day ultimatum to 19 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government to honour invitations to appear before various relevant committees of the House or face sanctions. Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Yusuf Ahmed Badau, stated this while speaking to journalists over the weekend on the refusal of MDAs to honour the invitations of various committees of the 10th House on a wide range of issues based on the House resolutions. He said, “Its resolutions are key instruments through which it exercises its oversight functions as enshrined in…
IN a sign of stability in the downstream sector, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, has said that the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol declined marginally to N970 in December 2024, from N971 per litre in November 2024. This comes against the backdrop of a similar drop in the crude oil price to $73.77 per barrel, yesterday, from $74 per barrel last week. However, in its daily energy bulletin, obtained by Vanguard, MEMAN, said that the latest landing cost was based on N1,533.57/$ and $73.91 per barrel of crude oil (Brent). However,…
KANO State has been named the overall best state at the 2024 National Agricultural Show held in Nasarawa State. The state also secured second place in the fisheries value chain category at the just concluded national agric show. A statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Wednesday, revealed that the trophy was presented to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, during the 22nd State Executive Council Meeting in Kano. Governor Yusuf commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources for its outstanding performance under Dr. Mahmud’s leadership.…
THE Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has predicted dust haze from Wednesday to Friday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook released on Tuesday in Abuja envisaged moderate dust haze on Wednesday with visibility range from 2Km to 5km in the northern region. According to the agency, localised visibility of less than or equal to 1km is expected throughout the forecast period. ”The North central and the inland areas of the South is expected to be in moderate dust haze with visibility range from 2km to 5km and localised visibility of less than or equal to 1km throughout the forecast period. “Early…