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Energy Minister to attend EU Ministerial Council, energy security and network charges on the agenda

The EU’s energy security ahead of the winter and the European Commission’s proposal regarding network charges will be among the issues that EU Ministers of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy will discuss in Luxembourg on Thursday. Cyprus will be represented by Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michalis Damianos.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Energy, the Council’s agenda includes a discussion on the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation regarding network charges, which aims to reduce electricity prices. The proposal focuses on digitalization through the deployment of smart grids and smart meters and on improving network tariff structures, with the goal of making network usage more transparent and cost-effective.

Moreover, Energy Ministers will examine the EU’s energy security, both in preparation for the 2026-2027 winter and from a longer-term perspective, taking into account pressures on energy supply and prices linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, as well as long-term challenges, particularly those related to climate change and the resilience of the energy system.

Regarding the energy framework beyond 2030, the Ministers will exchange views on the EU’s future energy architecture and potential targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, interconnections, and electrification, in the context of the EU’s 2040 climate target, the press release concludes.

Yobe North: Court reserves judgment in suit seeking to disqualify Ahmad Lawan

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit seeking to nullify the emergence of former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The trial judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, reserved judgment on Monday, after counsel representing the parties in the matter adopted their written addresses and presented arguments for and against the suit.

According to the judge, the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to the parties 24 hours before its delivery.

The suit was filed by an aggrieved APC aspirant, Hassan Kafayos

who is challenging the conduct of the party’s May 18, 2026, senatorial primary election in Yobe North Senatorial District.

Kafayos is praying the court for an order setting aside Lawan’s emergence as the party’s candidate, alleging that he was unlawfully excluded from the primary election despite being screened and cleared to participate.

The Plaintiff, through his counsel, Mr. Francis Mgboh, argued that Lawan did not participate in the May 18 primary election, insisting that he neither purchased the nomination form for the senatorial seat nor emerged from a valid primary conducted on the scheduled date.

The plaintiff’s lawyer further argued that the election was conducted under a repealed law and maintained that no valid primary election produced Lawan as the APC candidate and urged the court to declare Kafayos the duly nominated candidate of the party for the senatorial district.

However, the APC, Lawan and other defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, who represented the APC, said the party had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the suit was statute-barred because it was filed outside the time prescribed by law.

He noted that the primary election was conducted in May while the action was instituted beyond the constitutionally stipulated period.

‘The court has no jurisdiction because the suit is statute-barred, having been filed outside the time frame prescribed by the Constitution,’ arguing that the suit is an abuse of court process and urging the judge to dismiss it with substantial costs.

He further asked the court to discountenance a document containing proposed questions for the cross-examination of subpoenaed witnesses, describing it as incompetent.

Shaibu Aruwa, SAN, counsel to Lawan, equally urged the court to dismiss the suit and sought N100 million in costs against the plaintiff.

Abdulalim Akeem, who represented APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, also called for the dismissal of the suit.

Similarly, P. A. Bello, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who aligned himself with the submissions by the APC and Lawan, maintained that the suit lacked merit and ought not to have been instituted, urging the court to dismiss it with substantial costs.

In the Originating Summons filed by Mgboh, Kafayos joined the APC, Yilwatda, Lawan and INEC as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.

The plaintiff sought four major reliefs, including a declaration that his alleged exclusion from the primary election violated his constitutional rights and the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the APC’s constitution and nomination guidelines.

He specifically alleged that the APC and its national chairman violated Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination, alongside Sections 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Kafayos also argued that the alleged exclusion contravened Articles 2, 9.3 and 20 of the APC constitution, which he cited in support of his contention that the party failed to comply with democratic procedures in its internal affairs.

He asked the court to restrain the APC and its national chairman from forwarding Lawan’s name to INEC as the party’s duly nominated candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District.

He equally sought an order restraining INEC from accepting or publishing Lawan’s name as the candidate emerging from what he described as a flawed primary election conducted on May 18, 2026.

Alternatively, the plaintiff urged the court to order the APC to conduct a fresh primary election or declare him the party’s duly nominated candidate.

He also sought N50 million in aggravated and exemplary damages against the APC, Yilwatda and Lawan over his alleged wrongful exclusion from the primary election.

WhatsApp privacy feature leaves businesses uneasy

John Mwithimbu says he did not deliberately set up a WhatsApp username. He checked for updates on the messaging platform and then discovered a username on his account.

As a director at Elivebuyind Solutions, he says the change raises concerns about how prospective customers can reach him, particularly when they do not already have his phone number.

‘It is hard for us business people not to have your number for the new clients who would want to reach out,’ he says.

Mr Mwithimbu says some people have contacted him through WhatsApp, but he hasn’t been able to get their numbers to call them outside the platform.

He is also concerned about verifying people’s identities when usernames replace phone numbers as the details displayed to unfamiliar contacts.

‘At least with a number you are sure of its authenticity. With usernames you cannot be sure, and one can have similar usernames,’ he says.

For him, the limitations outweigh the benefits when using WhatsApp for business.

Gideon Karisa also shares concerns about the accessibility of contacts who use usernames. He recalls urgently needing to reach someone but being unable to obtain their phone number because the person was offline.

‘I hate that WhatsApp username feature. I was urgently looking for someone’s contact, and they’d done that nonsense, and they were offline. I nearly cried in anger!’ he says.

Social media giant Meta rolled out usernames on its messaging platform WhatsApp recently, which it says was a ‘major privacy feature’ designed to help people stay connected without giving away phone numbers.

However, critics say that the feature may materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims.

Now Kenyan business people say the WhatsApp usernames are jeopardising their online businesses.

Mr Karisa says phone numbers remain important for businesses that rely on direct communication with customers.

‘I think Meta rushed. They never gave a second thought to businesses and SMEs, especially in this region where a phone number means a lot. Apart from being an identity, it’s everything: business, transactions, availability,’ he says.

Jeff Mwaniki also raises concerns about impersonation and the implications for people who use WhatsApp commercially.

‘By the way, that thing was bad. People would impersonate you. If you are in business, people can’t call you,’ he says.

Mary Wanja similarly warns about the possibility of lookalike accounts misleading users. She also recounts losing access to her WhatsApp account in May before regaining it.

However, her belief that setting a username contributed to the incident has not been independently verified.

According to WhatsApp, usernames are an optional feature being rolled out gradually. They allow users to create unique identifiers and communicate without necessarily disclosing their telephone numbers to people who do not already have them saved.

When a user sets up a username, people who do not have their number saved will generally see the username instead. Those who already have the number saved will continue to see it.

WhatsApp says users can change or delete their usernames at any time. Deleting one allows other users to see the account holder’s phone number again, subject to the platform’s contact-display rules.

A phone number is still required to maintain a WhatsApp account. The username provides an alternative way to initiate a conversation on the platform, rather than replacing the number associated with the account.

The feature also does not provide a searchable directory of usernames. Someone who wants to contact another user through a username needs to know the exact identifier or receive a link or QR code directing them to the account.

A person who knows only someone’s username may be able to start a WhatsApp conversation but will not necessarily have the telephone number required to call them through the conventional mobile network.

For businesses, the choice of whether to use a username depends partly on how customers find them and if the contacts are available on other platforms.

Villagers’ apology for felled trees at royal memorial not enough

Villagers on Doi Pui mountain have apologised for allowing volunteers to “clean up” a memorial for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resulting in 15 beautiful majestic trees being cut down.

The apology is deemed insufficient and the government is proceeding with legal action against those held responsible for felling the trees, which were inside a national park.

Kritsiam Kongsatree, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 16, said on Tuesday that the apology was conveyed by Methaphan Phuchakrissadapha, the head of tambon Suthep, on behalf of the villagers living on Doi Pui.

They had approved a landscape improvement proposal made by a group of volunteers but had not expected them to chop down any trees, Mr Methaphan told him.

Fifteen large trees were felled at the memorial, which was built by Doi Pui villagers in honour the late king for his frequent visits to the mountain and royal projects aimed at replacing illegal poppy crops with legal commercial crops.

The memorial opened in 2007 and is inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, which is under the Protected Area Region 16 office in Chiang Mai.

No volunteer group has admitted responsibility for the tree chopping. However, a Ban Hmong Doi Pui Facebook post on Oct 9 showed the Suthep Group for Sustainability and some villagers cleaning up the place. One had a chainsaw on the ground beside him.

Mr Kritsiam confirmed that the park was intent on taking legal action against seven people suspected of cutting down the trees and had registering complaints at Bhubingrajanivej police station in Muang district of this northern province.

The investigation was continuing and others may also be charged if the evidence warrants it.

Sokoto Assembly passes State Police Bill

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has passed the State Police Bill, joining other state legislatures in the ongoing effort to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system amid persistent security challenges.

The bill was passed unanimously during plenary on Tuesday, presided over by the Speaker, Tukur Bala Bodinga.

Confirming the development, Bodinga told our correspondent that the lawmakers had approved the bill, adding that an official statement would be released shortly.

‘Yes, we have passed the bill today. You will see the statement any moment from now,’ the Speaker said.

The development comes amid growing calls for the restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly in the North-West, where banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes continue to threaten lives and property.

Proponents of state police argue that decentralising police operations would enable security agencies to respond more quickly to threats, improve intelligence gathering and strengthen collaboration with local communities.

They also contend that police officers operating within their respective states would be better positioned to understand the local terrain, identify emerging security threats and prevent criminal activities.

However, the proposed policing system has raised concerns over potential political interference, funding, operational independence and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights.

Experts have stressed that effective implementation would require adequate funding, professional training, independent oversight and robust accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse of power and ensure respect for the rule of law.

The passage of the bill by the Sokoto Assembly marks a step in the ongoing efforts to establish state police through the constitutional amendment process.

The National Assembly had earlier forwarded the proposed state police framework to state legislatures for consideration as part of the process of amending the Constitution to permit the establishment of state police.

The Sokoto Assembly is expected to issue an official statement providing further details on the bill’s passage.

Safaricom sacks 118 staff in fraud crackdown

Safaricom sacked 118 employees in the year ended March 2026, coinciding with a period the firm recovered Sh953 million in inflated agent commissions as it intensified the war on fraud.

The dismissals, disclosed in the latest sustainability report, rose from 113 in the previous year, marking the fourth straight year of rising number of employees let go due to fraud.

This emerged in a period when Kenyans lost Sh491.6 million after cyber-criminals hijacked victims’ mobile phone numbers in the so-called SIM-swapping fraud, according to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in a separate report.

Interpol reckons that Kenya’s SIM swap fraud surged by 327 percent last year on the back of increased use of mobile money platforms.

Separately, the company recovered Sh953 million linked to inflated agent commissions, down from Sh1.7 billion a year earlier. Safaricom attributed the recoveries to proactive monitoring and data analytics that helped identify irregular commission payments.

However, the report does not establish a direct link between the staff dismissals and the commission recoveries.

Besides the 118 dismissals, the telco issued three disciplinary warnings and reported 14 cases to law enforcement agencies. The firm closed the review period with 6,902 employees, with 6,616 on permanent contracts. In the previous year, it had 6,777 staff, with 6,462 on permanent terms.

The telco tied dismissals to misconduct including theft, falsification of company records, unauthorised access to customer call records or commits a criminal offence.

‘Fraud remained the most common category of concern reported through the ethics hotline in financial year 2026 and was managed through our fraud investigation processes,’ it says.

Safaricom says it identifies fraud through customer complaints or proactively using the fraud management system.

Safaricom aims to cut fraud by 90 percent saying it achieved a 82 percent reduction and recovered 46 percent of reported losses. It said proactive monitoring and analytics helped it recover Sh953 million in inflated commissions.

Interpol says mobile money fraud has become one of Africa’s most prominent cyber-enabled crimes, with 97 per cent of countries surveyed by the global police identifying it as their most common scam.

It reckons weak and inconsistent know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, coupled with the inability of some telecom operators to verify identities in real time, continue to leave mobile money users vulnerable.

Safaricom says a new technology, or the so-called Single View (View360) SIM swap platform, is helping fight the vice.

It provides Safaricom agents with a centralized dashboard to verify customer identities and safely execute telephone line replacements while flagging high-risk transactions.

‘The platform runs 18 automated pre-checks, covering roaming status, fraud location patterns, device activity, and more, handing decision-making to the system rather than frontline agents,’ says Safaricom.

‘Due to the adoption of Single View, fraudulent swaps have dropped by 65 percent, and this will drop further due to the enhancements that are in the pipeline.’

Cybersecurity remained another area of focus during the year. Safaricom said it monitored about 1.25 billion intrusion attempts and investigated more than 130,000 security events. It also mitigated distributed denial-of-service attacks without material customer impact. Safaricom is among the few Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firms that disclose employee-led fraud.

In the banking sector, KCB Group reported that it fired 60 employees last year, up from 34 in 2025, as it stepped up its war on fraud. The lender disclosed that it wrote off Sh760,000 due to fraud and forgeries last year, compared with Sh4.5 million in 2024, according to its latest sustainability report.

Many firms have been tightening checks on workers in the wake of increased insider-led cases of fraud as many transact online.

Safaricom says it has a compliance and fraud management function that oversees legal compliance, data privacy, anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions, trade controls and telecom fraud.

During the review period, the telco carried out fraud awareness training for over 5,643 participants.

Tinubu condemns murder of Katsina cleric, orders investigation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the murder of prominent Islamic preacher, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, and his friend, Adamu Abubakar, in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.

Gunmen killed the duo in a drive-by shooting incident on Monday evening.

A statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed that the President, who was deeply saddened by the news of the killing, described the act as heinous and an assault on the values of peace and the sanctity of human life.

‘President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, their followers, as well as the government and people of Katsina State, over the tragic loss.’

President Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to move swiftly, intensify efforts already underway by the Katsina State Police Command, and ensure the perpetrators are tracked down, apprehended, and brought to justice.

‘President Tinubu prays for the repose of the souls of the departed and for comfort for all those who mourn their death.’

Kaduna ginger farmers record promising harvest as BOA revives blight-hit industry

Ginger farmers in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State are recording promising harvests, following an intervention by the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to revive production after ginger blight destroyed a significant proportion of the crop in the area.

The intervention, which provides ginger planting materials and agricultural extension services, has reached about 3,400 farmers across 15 farming clusters, with plans to expand the programme to other communities and states.

Managing Director of BOA, Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, disclosed this, on Sunday during a visit to ginger farms in Kachia to inspect mature crops and harvested produce under the programme.

Sotinrin said the intervention, which began last year, was designed to rebuild Nigeria’s ginger industry following the devastating impact of ginger blight on farmers and production in major growing areas.

He explained that some of the harvested ginger would be used for tissue culture to multiply planting materials and enable the bank to extend the programme to more farmers.

According to him, the process involves taking ginger rhizomes to specialised laboratories for multiplication before transferring the resulting plantlets to nurseries, where they would be developed into seedlings for distribution to farmers.

The BOA managing director said the bank was working towards establishing ginger nurseries in 16 states as part of a broader strategy to expand cultivation and strengthen the country’s capacity to recover from the disease outbreak.

He expressed optimism that sustained intervention and expansion of production could raise Nigeria’s ginger output to three million tonnes within five years, potentially generating about $3 billion in economic value.

Sotinrin said the projected growth would create opportunities for farmers to increase their earnings, improve their livelihoods and contribute more significantly to the national economy.

‘The people that you’ll call poor farmers or vulnerable farmers, they’re the ones that will be making N70 to N80 million per hectare, not me,’ he said, highlighting the potential financial returns from ginger cultivation.

He added that BOA was providing agricultural financing at an interest rate of nine per cent, in line with the Federal Government’s directive to improve farmers’ access to affordable credit.

The initiative involves collaboration among the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government, agricultural institutions, local authorities, traditional leaders and farmer groups. The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) and Agrolog are also contributing to efforts to restore production and provide technical support.

The Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area, Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari, said ginger blight had destroyed about 90 per cent of production in the area, depriving many farmers of their primary source of livelihood.

Maigari explained that farmers received support, including alternative agricultural inputs, following the outbreak, but production had yet to return to its previous level.

He estimated that the sector had recovered to about 30 per cent of its former capacity, expressing confidence that sustained support could accelerate recovery within the next two years.

The council chairman also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the revival programme, saying it had set a target of at least 50 per cent female participation, although he did not provide the number of women currently benefiting.

Agrolog’s Operations Manager, Cham Datiyoung Yakubu, said the organisation was responsible for coordinating farmers into clusters and providing extension services to guide cultivation and monitor crop development.

‘Our role is to provide extension services and coordinate these farmers, which we did. We formed them into clusters,’ Yakubu said.

He disclosed that the programme also included internally displaced farmers affected by insecurity, with more than 900 displaced farmers organised into one cluster.

According to him, the farmers were expected to begin harvesting within three weeks of an earlier assessment, although security concerns had limited physical visits to their farms.

Yakubu said reports from extension monitoring indicated that the crops were developing well despite the challenges associated with accessing the cluster.

The programme currently covers 15 clusters: Assako 1, Matankadi Farms, Utro Akyi Muli Cooperative, Mothercat, Mission Farmers, CM Cluster, Maigidas, Zisshya, Gidan Tagwai Ginger Farmers, Sakainu Farmers Cooperative, Kachia Urban, Maraba Farmer, Bazachat Farmers, Ibika Farmers Group and Jerry Farms.

Cluster heads Malachy Gadani of Gidan Tagwai Ginger Farmers and Caleb Dallah of Ibika Farmers Group commended BOA for the intervention, saying it would help farmers recover from losses caused by ginger blight.

One of the beneficiaries, Blessing Ali, also expressed appreciation to the bank, describing the intervention as a positive development for ginger farmers in Kaduna State.

Beyond ginger, Sotinrin said BOA was working with the Federal Government on interventions across other agricultural value chains to improve farmers’ earnings and strengthen food production.

He cited the Guaranteed Minimum Price programme for maize, explaining that the government had intervened in the market by purchasing produce at a guaranteed floor price to protect farmers when market prices declined.

According to him, the intervention helped raise prices and encouraged farmers to return to their farms rather than abandon production because of unfavourable market conditions.

He also disclosed that the bank was exploring ways to support cassava farmers by partnering with processors of cassava derivatives to purchase produce left on farms and offer farmers better prices.

Sotinrin acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, the Kaduna State Government, the Kachia local government chairman, traditional rulers, cluster heads, BOA staff and NAERLS to the ginger revival effort.

He said the broader interventions were aimed at strengthening agricultural production, cushioning farmers against severe market fluctuations and making farming more profitable.

The progress recorded in Kachia offers renewed hope for farmers whose livelihoods were severely affected by ginger blight, although restoring production to pre-outbreak levels will require sustained support, wider access to planting materials, effective extension services and continued investment in the value chain.

Kaduna And the Meaning of Tinubu’s Second March

History has a way of choosing its own geography. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose Kaduna to flag off his 2027 re-election campaign on Saturday, October 24, 2026, he chose more than a location. He was sending a historic message.

Kaduna is Nigeria’s political ground zero. From here, the old Northern Region administered the entire North. It was here that alliances were forged. By starting his campaign where the North still feels its pulse, Tinubu told northern Nigeria, ‘I have not forgotten you.’

Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, the rally venue, was packed with party supporters and sympathisers who had thronged the stadium from as early as 7 am. Some supporters slept overnight at the stadium. President Tinubu’s speech was deliberate, confident, and unusually personal.

‘My good people of Kaduna, it’s good to be back here again. You have listened to many speeches. I’m not going to bore you down. I’m happy to be here with you.’

The President thanked Kaduna people for their support in the 2023 election, but stated that he had come to seek their support again for a second mandate to keep a promise of prosperity, continuity, progress and development.

For three years, Tinubu’s biggest vulnerability has been the economy. On Saturday, he did not dodge it.

He said: ‘I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger. We are trying to eradicate it.’

He declared that his administration had demonstrated its commitment to improving Nigerians’ welfare through economic reforms, regular salary payments, and development initiatives implemented by APC Governors across the federation.

President Tinubu could not have chosen Kaduna without addressing insecurity. Three years ago, Birnin-Gwari was synonymous with fear. Today, the Kaduna-Abuja road is safer, and farming is returning to Giwa and Soba. Tinubu credited the military push and Governor Uba Sani’s non-kinetic approach.

Governor Uba Sani himself highlighted these achievements in security, infrastructure, and more, commending the President for his support and interventions in the state. For Kaduna, that resonance matters more than any statistic from Abuja.

Unlike in 2023, President Tinubu came to Kaduna this time with receipts showing his performance. These include GDP steady growth, falling inflation, naira stability, doubled FAAC allocations to states, rising foreign reserves, infrastructure renewal, NELFUND loans for indigent students, and consumer credit for young people, among others. The message was clear: The first term was surgery; the second term will be recovery, progress and prosperity.

It is a powerful argument, because even his critics admit state governors now have more money than ever. President Tinubu doubled down on the governors’ performance: ‘We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working. I’m proud of them. They are developing. I salute all our governors today. I can see the development strides they are making in their various states.’

For the North, it’s a debt repaid. President Tinubu got about 62% of his votes from the North in 2023. He made promises to the region. He has kept his promises in terms of road and rail infrastructure, interventions in healthcare, improving security, and governmental appointments,

The Kaduna rally also included key strategic moments worth mentioning.

Both Vice President Kashim Shettima and Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential Campaign Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, harped on Tinubu’s strategic support for key Northerners in the previous bid for the presidency.

In 2007, President Tinubu offered former Vice President Atiku Abubakar his ACN platform to run when former President Obasanjo hounded him out of the PDP. The President also backed Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 and late Muhammadu Buhari to be president in 2015 and 2019.

According to them, Tinubu supported our sons for 20 years. Now, we should support him again for a second term. VP Shettima maintained that supporting Tinubu’s re-election is a matter of honour, integrity, political loyalty, and appreciation for the President’s contributions to advancing Northern political leaders over the years.

With VP Shettima beside him, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Campaign DG Yari, and even former opponents like FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governors Chukwuma Soludo and Ademola Adeleke now on his expanded Campaign Council, President Tinubu projected something the opposition lacks-a broad national coalition.

Why Kaduna Matters for 2027

The APC says it wants 2 million votes from Kaduna State. That is ambitious, but the symbolism is more important than the number. If President Tinubu can hold the North-West, with a Sokoto rally billed for December 5 and Kano for December 17, win the South-West, and split North-Central, the math becomes very difficult for Atiku’s ADC, Makinde’s APM, and Obi/Kwankwaso’s camp to solve.

The opposition is still running from one small party to another. Tinubu is running on a solid pan-Nigerian structure. Last Saturday in Kaduna, President Tinubu did not just flag off a campaign. He framed the 2027 election as a choice between continuity and chaos, between finishing the reforms and abandoning them midway. He is clear about what he thinks should be done: finish the job.

Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Special Duties, is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

Are we explaining what climate science means to people’s lives?

Carbon markets, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance, decarbonisation, adaptation and mitigation dominate climate policy discussions. Yet, their meaning often remains distant from everyday life. How does climate adaptation help a farmer facing crop failure? What does climate finance mean to a community experiencing water shortages?

These questions highlight the need to connect climate science and policy with people’s lived experiences.

In Kenya, where agriculture supports millions of livelihoods, climate information can help communities make informed decisions, prepare for risks and identify opportunities. For instance, drought can reduce pasture and animal feed, affecting dairy production, farmers’ incomes and milk supplies. Explaining these connections helps consumers understand how weather conditions influence food systems, while recognising that prices and availability also depend on market forces and distribution costs.

Seasonal weather forecasts present another communication challenge. Anticipated El Niño conditions and enhanced rainfall do not mean every region will experience identical weather. Explaining regional differences, forecasting uncertainties and the distinction between daily weather and long-term climate trends helps audiences interpret changing conditions accurately.

Effective climate communication requires more than scientific accuracy. Information must also be relevant and understandable. Farmers may be concerned about shifting planting seasons and rising feed costs, while urban residents face heat, flooding and water shortages. These experiences provide practical entry points for explaining complex climate issues.

Communities also possess valuable environmental knowledge. Listening to farmers and pastoralists can help communicators identify information gaps and understand local priorities. Journalists, community radio stations, teachers and agricultural extension officers can further improve access to reliable information.

Climate communication also strengthens public accountability by helping citizens understand government policies, climate financing commitments and institutional responsibilities.

For communication professionals, success should not be measured solely through media coverage, audience reach or online engagement. It should also be assessed by whether people understand information and can use it to make informed decisions.