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Hamman Abdulkareem Reports of more than 50 children allegedly dying from diphtheria in parts of Kano have triggered a dispute over the actual death toll. While the Kano State Government has rejected the figure as unsupported by its surveillance records, it has now constituted a special committee to investigate reported cases and deaths. At the same time, the Federal Government has activated an emergency task force for Kano and Katsina and Kano has appealed for additional vaccines. Behind the conflicting figures is a more painful question: what happens to children in poor communities when a preventable disease meets poverty, inadequate…

The Taraba Police Command has arrested two women for allegedly abducting three children in Jalingo and attempting to traffic them to Adamawa. It was gathered that the suspects, who are from one of the states in the South-East, were arrested at a filling station while travelling in a commercial vehicle with the three girls. The women were reportedly taking the girls to Adamawa State when the driver of the vehicle became suspicious because the girls do not look like them. SupportingSocial Causes The driver subsequently alerted members of his union, who then informed the police, leading to the arrest of…

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed support for the strategic direction and proposed engineering initiatives of the Kano State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project. The Emir made his position known during a high-level technical and stakeholder engagement with the Kano SPIN team and members of the Kano Emirate Council, which lasted about two hours. The State Project Coordinator, Engr. Nuraddeen Isah Abubakar, led the team that presented proposed engineering concepts aimed at modernising irrigation infrastructure, rehabilitating dams and strengthening water resources management in Kano State. The presentation also…

Two Nigerian nationals, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, have been extradited to the United States to face charges over alleged financially motivated sextortion schemes targeting American minors. Adekunle and Olawale were arrested separately in Nigeria in August 2023 as part of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operation targeting alleged sextortion activities linked to Nigeria. Adekunle was arrested on August 14, 2023, while Olawale was arrested on August 9, 2023. The two suspects were extradited to the United States on August 27, 2026, with the assistance of Nigerian security authorities and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).…

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia has opened an early registration-of-interest process for international pilgrims preparing for the upcoming Hajj 2027 pilgrimage through its official Nusuk Hajj platform. The initiative allows prospective pilgrims from around the world to submit their details and indicate their interest in obtaining Hajj packages when they become available. According to information provided on the Nusuk Hajj platform, the registration is intended to help facilitate early engagement with prospective international pilgrims ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage season. However, the Saudi authorities stressed that submitting the registration-of-interest form does not constitute a confirmed Hajj booking. Applicants who…

The Kano State Ministry for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation (MPPPM&E) has submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the AKY Blueprint Development Committee, outlining its achievements, ongoing priorities, unfinished agenda and proposed legacy projects for inclusion in the administration’s proposed 2027 Blueprint. The submission seeks to ensure that the Ministry’s statutory responsibilities, institutional reforms and strategic priorities are adequately captured in the blueprint for the second term of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. AKY 2027 Blueprint Committee Unveils 16 Strategic Pillars for Second-Term Agenda The memorandum is anchored on the Ministry’s mandate under the Kano State Public Procurement Law, 2021,…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, says the distribution of motorcycles to teachers in Zaria will improve their mobility, punctuality and attendance, particularly those serving in rural schools. He stated this during the distribution of motorcycles to 500 teachers of conventional schools at the Nuhu Babajo Stadium in Zaria. Dr Tajudeen said many teachers travel long distances to their schools and spend a significant portion of their income on transportation. Speaker Falgore Leads Retreat to Boost Legislative Performance He explained that the intervention would reduce their transportation costs and enable them to arrive at school earlier…

Ibrahim Sulaiman Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has highlighted the potential of agricultural research and innovation to improve farmers’ productivity, increase food production and strengthen food security in Nigeria. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adamu Ahmed, stated this at a field day showcase organised by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), ABU Zaria, to demonstrate the performance and potential of TELA maize to farmers and other stakeholders. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Professor Aliyu Rafin Dadi Sunusi, the Vice-Chancellor said ABU researchers were working closely with farmers to promote agricultural technologies capable of addressing challenges…

The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated three solar-powered borehole projects in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State to improve access to potable water and promote community development. The projects, located at Gaya UMC, Kofar Gabari and Alawa communities, were executed under the Chief of Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Projects Scheme in honour of retired Rear Admiral Aliyu Ahmad-Gaya. CAPPA Opposes Lagos Water Concession, Warns Against Privatisation Inaugurating the projects in Gaya on Saturday, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the intervention reflected the Navy’s commitment to initiatives that have a direct and positive impact…

Khadijah Aliyu For years, diphtheria has refused to disappear from Kano State. While the disease has declined significantly from the devastating levels recorded at the height of the outbreak, health authorities say thousands of suspected cases have been investigated since 2022, with thousands of confirmed cases and more than 1,800 deaths recorded. Behind the statistics are children who arrived at health facilities too late, families who did not recognise the seriousness of the disease, and communities where routine vaccination remains dangerously low. Zamfara Boosts Diphtheria Surveillance, Contact Tracing There are also stories of traditional interventions, misinformation and rumours that sometimes…

Nigeria’s sovereign credit outlook has been revised from stable to positive by Moody’s Ratings, which also affirmed the country’s long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings at B3. The Federal Ministry of Finance, in a statement explained that, the development reflected the impact of the Federal Government’s macroeconomic and fiscal reforms implemented over the past three years. Man Bags 12 Years in Prison for N64 Million Forex Scam Moody’s attributed the improved outlook to Nigeria’s stronger external position, citing sizeable current account surpluses, rising foreign exchange reserves, improved functioning of the foreign exchange market and more effective transmission of monetary…

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised concerns over the appointment of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, as Director of Data Management in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections. CITAD said the development raised questions about institutional neutrality, conflict of interest and the protection of citizens’ personal and biometric data ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, YZ Ya’u, the organisation described NIMC as a sensitive national institution responsible for establishing, owning, operating,…

Ado Salisu Players and officials of Kano Pillars Basketball Club are expected to depart Kano for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday ahead of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League Final 8 Championship. The competition is scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 6, 2026, with the Kano side among the eight teams that qualified for the championship after impressive performances in the first and second phases of the league in Jos, Plateau State, and Minna, Niger State, respectively. Kano Pillars Seek FIBA Africa Qualification After Final Eight Berth The more than 20-member Kano Pillars contingent comprises players, coaches…

A Nigerian delegation comprising policymakers, academics, media professionals, chief executives and other stakeholders has examined Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, national unity and digital governance strategies during a study visit to Kigali. The delegation, organised as part of an international training programme by Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), in collaboration with Prospects Development Services (PDS)-UK, spent the second day of the programme at the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI). Nigeria High Commission Commends WOFAN’s Women, Youth Empowerment as Kigali Training Opens The training, titled “Strategic Communication: Integrating Digital and AI-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Leadership and Peacebuilding,” is designed to expose participants to Rwanda’s…

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has empowered 100 women and youths in Adamawa State with livestock starter assets and inputs as part of Federal Government efforts to promote inclusive participation, enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods in the livestock sector. The beneficiaries, comprising 50 females and 50 males, each received a heifer or young bull, alongside starter inputs including bags of concentrate feed, mineral salt lick and dewormers. Kebbi Police Arraign Four Suspects over Cattle Rustling Speaking at the empowerment programme in Adamawa State, the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the initiative was designed to bring…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Luanda, Angola, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The summit is expected to focus on strategies for conflict resolution and promoting lasting peace and stability across the African continent. Vice President Shettima will join other African leaders and key stakeholders to deliberate on regional security challenges and strengthen continental mechanisms for conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. AU Mourns Death of Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad Nigeria is expected to contribute to discussions on strengthening…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zone 5 Command, covering Kano and Jigawa States, has honoured the Chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji, as an Ambassador of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). The recognition was conferred on Thursday, when the Zonal Commander of NDLEA Zone 5, ACGN Mohamed Ajiya, led members of the command’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force. NDLEA Decorates 116 Newly Promoted Officers in Delta The honour recognises Magaji’s efforts in promoting inter-agency collaboration, public awareness, community mobilisation…

The Kano State Government has dismissed reports that 50 children have died from a diphtheria outbreak in Rano Local Government Area of the state. The claim, attributed to the member representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Muhammad, was described as unverified and misleading by the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas. Zamfara Boosts Diphtheria Surveillance, Contact Tracing In a statement, Professor Abbas acknowledged that diphtheria remains a concern in Rano and that the outbreak has resulted in fatalities, but said the reported figure of 50 deaths was not supported by the centre’s surveillance data.…

Adamu Yusuf Residents of Millennium City in Kaduna have appealed to the Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani to intervene in their dispute with Kaduna Electric over the proposed replacement of existing electricity meters and the recent plan ti disconnect the community. Kano Assembly Backs Electricity Reform, Paves Way for Independent Power The Chairman of the Ministerial Plot Housing Estate Residents Associations (MPHERA), Shafik Muazu Shira, made the appeal on behalf of residents of the affected estates during a press conference in Kaduna. He said the prolonged power outage could expose the community to security risks, particularly at night, warning…

The Federal Government has pledged stronger collaboration with the Taraba State Government to unlock the state’s potential in agriculture, energy, tourism, infrastructure and mineral resources. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Jalingo while speaking at the celebration of Taraba State’s 35th anniversary and the unveiling of the Taraba Regional Development Master Plan. Yobe BioRTC Can Attract Global Research Investment -NEC Idris, who conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s greetings to the government and people of Taraba, described the Master Plan as an important blueprint for sustainable development and commended Governor Agbu Kefas for adopting a…