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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed all approved air carriers for the 2026 Hajj to begin issuing flight tickets to pilgrims well ahead of their departure dates. In a statement signed by Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, on behalf of the NAHCON Chairman. The statement explained that, the directive was issued on 4 December 2026 during a meeting between NAHCON, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and representatives of the 2026 Hajj airlines at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to the Commission, the early issuance of tickets will ensure that every pilgrim has…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a company manager, Orbby Vanessa Agwuncha, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly failing to appoint a compliance desk officer and establish required anti–money laundering structures within her organisation. Agwuncha, who operates under the business name Bill Interserve Global, appeared before Justice O.A. Egwuata on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. She was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. According to the EFCC, the defendant classed as a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) failed between September 26 and October…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of former Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on December 1, 2025. His nomination was forwarded to the Senate the following day, where he received swift screening and confirmation. Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a second lieutenant in 1991. He rose through the ranks over a distinguished career and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Tinubu…

Khadijah Aliyu- Nigeria The African Union (AU) has reiterated that its Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment places strong emphasis on the need to work with and support practitioners in the media, cultural, and creative industries. This was disclosed by Leslie Richer, Director of the African Union Information and Communication Directorate, during his welcome address at the AWiM25 Women in Media Conference held at the AU Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AU Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality, Calls for Stronger Support for Women in Media According to Richer, supporting media professionals is vital to developing and implementing policies…

Khadijah Aliyu-Nigeria The 2025 edition of the African Women in Media (AWiM) Conference has commenced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Beyond Commitments: Advancing Policies for Gender-Safe Media”. The event brings together over 300 participants from across Africa to discuss gender equality, media representation, and the urgent need to end violence against women and girls. Speaking at the opening ceremony, AWiM Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola, said this year’s theme was inspired by the 2024 expert consultations on the African Union Convention to End Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). Africa Must Be Producer, Not Just…

Muhammed Jamil Abubakar In Kalargo community, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, mothers like Amina Isa once lived with the constant fear of watching their children grow thin, weak, and dangerously malnourished a harsh reality for many families in Northern Nigeria, where malnutrition remains a silent but persistent threat to child survival. But today, Amina’s story is changing. “My baby eats better and is growing well. I no longer worry like before,” Amina said with relief, her face bright with renewed hope. She is one of the hundreds of mothers whose lives have been transformed through the PARSNIP nutrition…

Muhammadu Jamil Abubakar The PARSNIP nutrition programme is improving the health and wellbeing of young children in Gombe State through supplementary feeding and improved nutrition practices. The initiative supported by UNICEF, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Gombe State Government targets children aged 6 to 23 months who are at the highest risk of malnutrition. The programme, formally known as Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition Through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP), is currently being implemented in Kwami, Kaltungo, and Dukku Local Government Areas. UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene, said the intervention is helping to reduce…

Ibrahim Suleiman A Paediatric Specialist at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, Dr. Fatima Abdullahi, has called on pregnant women to prioritize early antenatal attendance to promote safe motherhood and reduce pregnancy-related complications. Dr. Abdullahi made the call during a Health Education Workshop on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and Community Birth Surveillance for Men, organised by the Faith and Cultural Champions of Al’Mannar Women Association at Sarki Musa Primary School, Kwarba, Zaria. The specialist stressed that early and regular antenatal care enables healthcare providers to identify and manage risk factors that may endanger the lives…

The Association of Former Local Government Chairmen in Kano State, under the platform of the ALGON Integrity Group, has dismissed as false a report alleging that its members endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, as the preferred APC governorship candidate for 2027. Chairman of the Association and former Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government, Hon. Hassan Garban Kauye Farawa, described the viral report as “misleading, baseless, and entirely fabricated.” He called on APC members within and outside Kano State to disregard the claim. Senator Barau Emerges APC Candidate for Kano North Farawa clarified that at the…

Jamila Sulaiman Aliyu A civic advocacy group, One Kano Agenda, OKA has called on residents of Kano State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies as part of efforts to curb rising insecurity, particularly in Kano North. Director General of One Kano Agenda OKA Ambassador Abbas Yakasai made the appeal while addressing journalists in Kano, stressing that security is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation between government, communities, and traditional institutions. Why Police Withdrawal during Nig@60 Must Be Probed-One Kano Agenda Yakasai said recent reports of unidentified individuals operating commercial motorcycles in several communities have raised…

President Bola Tinubu has donated N200 million to the Nigerian Legion, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of serving military personnel, injured officers, and families of fallen heroes. The donation was announced during the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal Launch at the Presidential Villa. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also donated N100 million on behalf of the National Assembly, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, contributed N20 million. At the ceremony, President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the service chiefs,…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s education sector through increased funding and comprehensive reforms. He made the pledge while delivering the University of Maiduguri’s 50th Anniversary Lecture titled “Education, Leadership and National Development” at the Muhammadu Indimi International Conference Centre, Maiduguri. The event also featured the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on Borno State Governor and Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum; the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu; and philanthropist Sir Emeka Offor. Education as Nigeria’s ‘Immune System’ In his address, Vice President Shettima described education…

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, convened a high-level strategic meeting with the Commissioner for Education, senior ministry officials, and all secondary school principals in the state to address the worrying rise in fake news fabrication by students and other emerging security threats in schools. In his remarks, CP Azare expressed deep concern over recent incidents in which students created and circulated fake security alerts, edited videos, unfounded allegations, and misleading social media posts aimed at causing panic and disrupting academic activities. He warned that such acts constitute criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention,…

The Kano State government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing the capacity of its information officers and modernizing its state-owned media. This was emphasized by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, shortly after defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget at the Kano State House of Assembly. Advocates Engage Kano Assembly Over Decline in Health Budget, Immunisation Funding According to Waiya, the Ministry is dedicated to improving government communication and media relations to align with global standards. This includes upgrading facilities and modernizing the library at the Ministry, as well as focusing on the retraining of information…

The Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Jibril Ismail Falgore, has reaffirmed the Assembly’s unwavering commitment to enacting impactful legislation that addresses gender-based violence and other harmful practices undermining the rights, dignity, and well-being of women and girls in the state. In a statement digned by his Spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, Falgore emphasized that the Kano State House of Assembly is actively working on quality legislation aimed at improving the living standards of the people, particularly through oversight functions that directly safeguard human rights in Kano State. Nigeria’s Police IG Vows to Crack Down on Human…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum,personally visited scholarship students undergoing their studies in India, in a move that highlights his hands-on approach to governance, The Governor who is on an official visit to India, first met with beneficiaries of the Borno State scholarship scheme at Sharda University in Noida. He reassured them of his administration’s commitment to their welfare and academic success and encouraged them to focus on their studies. “I am here today for one simple reason: to remind you that the Borno state government believes in you and is investing in your future,” Zulum said. “You are…

In a decisive move to restore peace and security, the Kano State Government, in collaboration with the Joint Task Force (JTF), has intensified operations against bandits’ activities in Shanono and Tsanyawa communities. This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Tuesday Governor Yusuf visited the JTF bases in ‘Yankamaye, Faruruwa and Tsaure areas on Tuesday, where he met with officers and troops directly engaged in the fight against banditry. He assured them of full government support, promising enhanced logistics, operational resources, and all necessary assistance to sustain and strengthen ongoing security operations…

The Senate on Tuesday recorded significant progress on several legislative proposals as four new bills passed first reading during plenary. The bills include the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (HB. 979); Cannabis Reclassification Treaty (Ratification and Enforcement) Bill, 2025 (SB. 970); Digital Communication Platforms (Oversight & Regulation) Bill, 2025 (SB. 971); and the Digital Health Essential Services (Designation) Bill, 2025 (SB. 977). Political Tsunami as Tambuwal, Leads Senators to ADC Lawmakers also considered the recall and recommittal of Clauses 4 and 9 of the National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by the Senate…

Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu Coming to terms with the claim of life expectancy rates of Africans, especially in Nigeria, in view of what we see on the ground, remains one of the perplexing things that keeps reverberating in the minds of the discerning individuals. Fifty-six point three six years (whatever that means) has been pegged as the life expectancy rate of Nigerians in 2025. This figure is a significant improvement from 32.62years in 1950. Yet the 2025 statistics show that Nigeria was ranked as the country with the lowest life expectancy rate across the globe. Our faith and experience proved…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. The nomination, conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, comes following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Mondayn. General Musa, 58, is a highly distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and was awarded the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. Defence Ministry Goes Digital as Minister Launches ECMS Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before attending the College of Advanced…