Author: Bala Muhammad

THE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to support northerners running for the presidency and other offices who might be interested in contesting elections in 2027 in order to save the region and the country in general. The forum at its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna State expressed concern over the deplorable economic situation in the North under the President Bola Tinubu administration, blaming poor socio-economic policies of the Federal Government for the region’s deteriorating condition. It warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the North may face severe economic difficulties, stating that it will declare support…

SUSPECTED Boko Haram insurgents have ambushed a monitoring team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The attack occurred on Monday, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State when the operatives were inspecting the National Grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State. Disclosing this in a statement, NSCDC spokesperson, DCC Afolabi Babawale, said the NSCDC team, comprised of nine officers and 71 other ranks, was mobilised in response to recent attacks on power lines, a development that had led to a blackout due in northern part of Nigeria. “As they patrolled vulnerable areas, they encountered…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded a landslide victory in the just-concluded Zamfara State local government election, winning all fourteen chairmanship seats and securing every councillorship position. The Chairman of Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) Bala Aliyu announced the results on Sunday morning. Speaking with newsmen shortly after the collation exercise in Gusau, the Commission’s chairman said that PDP candidates had emerged victorious across all LGAs, including Gusau, Kaura-Namoda, Maru, Talata Mafara, and Anka, among others. He described the elections as free, fair, and credible, attributing the success of the exercise to the collaborative efforts of security agencies,…

THE Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency has said intending pilgrims for 2025 are required to pay a minimum deposit of N8.4 million by December 31, 2024. This is just as the agency announced the commencement of registration for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage on the state. Yunusa Mohammed Abdullahi, the agency’s Public Relations Officer who disclosed this in a radio programme in the state, said the registration process is now open across all the 23 local government areas of the state. He emphasised the importance of strict adherence to registration guidelines by local government registration officers. He explained further that…

OYO State Governor, Seyi Makinde and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, appealed to chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party to forge a united front by not allowing their individual presidential ambition to divide their rank. The two party leaders made the plea at the official inauguration of the Board of Governors and the unveiling of the road map for the Peoples Democratic Institute at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. The move comes in the wake of palpable fears that the individual ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and Makinde may…

THE former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, is still being held at the Port Harcourt, Rivers State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This makes it his second night in the custody of the anti-graft agency. This is as the Delta State chapter of All Progressives Congress backed the detention of the former governor, describing it as a positive step in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption. Okowa, who was the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, reported at the EFCC office, following an invitation by investigators…

A FEMALE doctor, Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, has regained her freedom after 10 months in captivity. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna State, was abducted alongside her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, who is a Squadron leader, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who stays with them. After several negotiations with the kidnappers, the husband was released on March 8, 2024, but the doctor and Abdul-Mugniy were not released. However, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Tope Osundara, confirmed the release of Popoola and…

THE Nigerian Army has dismissed media reports suggesting that there is a leadership vacuum following the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. It also issued a warning to those calling for a military coup, describing it as a treasonable offence under the law. The clarification comes in a statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau on Monday, after a viral video where some persons were aggrievedly calling for a military takeover surfaced online. It also clarified that there was never an appointment of an acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to…

THE Nigerian Army on Saturday pulled out 15 Generals of the Artillery Corps who retired from active military service. Out of the 15 retired artillery officers pulled out of active service at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, NASA, in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, 11 were of the rank of Maj.-Gen. and four of Brig-Gen. The Reviewing Officer leading the pack was retired Maj.-Gen. James Myam, who spoke on behalf of the retirees. Myam said : “Having come this far, we can only say that we feel highly fulfilled and give all the glory to the Lord…

INDICATIONS have emerged that some Army generals are lobbying for the position of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), following reports that current COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, is on admission at a foreign hospital undergoing treatment for a yet-to-be-disclosed health issue. Army Headquarters (AHQ), through the spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, responded to the reports, saying Lagbaja is on leave and that arrangements are in place to ensure there is no vacuum in his absence. An online medium, Saharareporters, had reported that the Army chief, who was allegedly flown out over the undisclosed ailment, is incapacitated, as…

THE Ministry of Defence will soon establish a Joint Military Command Centre in the North West code-named ‘Operation Fansan Yamma’, as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address the security challenges confronting the region. The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, disclosed this on Thursday when he visited the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House as part of his working tour of the North-West Zone. The visit was aimed at finalising preparations for the official launch of ‘Operation Fansan Yamma ‘, a joint military theatre Command established by the Defence Headquarters…

BARRING any last-minute changes, this newspaper gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party will postpone its National Executive Committee meeting originally scheduled for October 24 to allow governors agree on political solutions to facilitate the exit of acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. Multiple high-ranking members of the PDP NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, stated that the NEC meeting would be delayed as governors sought to alleviate recent factional tensions and buy time to address issues hindering Damagum’s removal while also gathering resources for his compensation. Recall that since assuming…

AS the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party persists, new factional acting National Chairman Yayari Mohammed has challenged the rival National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum to act on their security threats. The acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi of the Damagum-led NWC faction, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday warned of potential security measures against Mohammed’s faction in order to uphold the rule of law during the ongoing internal disputes. The opposition party has been embroiled in an internal crisis since 2022, which has polarised its NWC. The crisis rocking the PDP took a twist on…

THE Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service, will on Monday (today) ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty running into several billions of naira, this newspaper can authoritatively report. According to documents exchanged between the NCS and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, which were exclusively sighted by this newspaper on Sunday, the enforcement exercise will commence on October 14th, 2024. There are reports that duties are not being paid on the majority of private jets currently in the country with the NCS seeking to recover unpaid import duties running…

AS the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party persists, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has charged the factional acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, to revert to the status quo. A senior party member informed this newspaper that the PDP Governors Forum has called for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss various concerns regarding the party’s future. The source, who wished to remain anonymous due to not being authorised to comment, also revealed that PDP stakeholders were considering the establishment of a caretaker committee to guide the party toward…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, over the tragic loss of his beloved daughter Fatima Kyari. In a message signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the National Chairman, Edwin Olofu, Dr Ganduje described the passing of Mallam Kyari’s daughter as a great loss, not only to the family but also to all who knew and loved her. He conveyed the collective grief of the APC family, stating that no…

THE Defence Headquarters stated on Thursday that it chose not to go after former Niger Delta militant warlord, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, to avoid being accused of acting “undemocratically.” The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, made this remark in Abuja while responding to a recent report about Asari-Dokubo’s alleged threat to shoot down a military helicopter that had reportedly hovered around his residence. Addressing journalists, the DHQ spokesman described Asari-Dokubo’s threat as laughable, challenging him to confront soldiers on the battlefield if he was bold enough. Buba said, “Now, the comment by an individual that he can shoot…

THE Nigerian Army has opened its portal for 88 Regular Recruit Intake Exercises for trades/non-trades men and women. Interested candidates have been directed to apply by clicking on the Nigerian Army Recruitment Portal to complete the free online application form, submit it online, and print a copy until November 8, 2024 when the application will close. Applicants are then directed to print and complete the Guarantor Form. Eligible applicants must be single, be Nigerian citizens by birth, possess a National Identity Card/NIN slip/BVN, and a valid certificate of state of origin. Applicants are also expected to be medically, physically, and…

THE Kaduna State government has described as false and misleading a media report alleging that the state has borrowed the sum of ₦36 billion on the past six months. Instead, the government said it is paying nearly three times the size of loans taken by the past administration due to the massive devaluation of the Naira. In an official statement by the Commissioner of Planning and budget, Mukhtar Ahmed, the state government explained that the exchange rate fluctuations would affect the ongoing repayment of the inherited loan. The statement noted that the inherited debt burden from the previous administration consisted…

TENSION is escalating between Russia and Ukraine, as both countries exchanged sharp statements over allegations of interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs. The Russian Government on Friday issued a stern warning to the United States, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom for accusing it of sponsoring protests in Nigeria. Russia, in a release, said the countries should rather be blamed for attempting to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs and undermine its bilateral relations with Russia. The warning comes amid growing concerns over foreign influence following the October 1st protests across Nigeria. The protests followed earlier demonstrations on August 1, which were sparked…