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Headlines for the headless

Making it to headlines are lawyers in and because of the impeachment proceedings. And, athletes in the arena of sports. Josh Ybañez was picked best libero in the recent regional volleyball cup. The out, loud and proud gay athlete is another proof sexuality has nothing to do with athleticism.

Just as a law school has nothing to do with how their produce have become, or how they tell right from wrong, especially how to right a wrong. Skill too, some honor graduates and bar placers grope in and even refuse actual practice, while the bare minimum litigated beyond maximum, another proof a written exam only tests theory rather than application, the real gauge for continuing fitness to practice law, ethical considerations included.

Tennis fans in and out of the country are baffled why Alex Eala was picked star of the grass court swing over and above the Wimbledon finalists. By a landslide. It is a fan vote, it is not who plays best but who is liked most, otherwise known as favorite, which is personal. The poll asked who they think is the star of the season. No brainer, the Filipina ace is the biggest attraction of the women’s tour. Tennis greats notice her, analysts talk about her, the best on the tour fear her, and fans follow her. Otherwise known as charisma, beyond definition, much less explanation. But not within fanatical context that is beyond stupidity and mindlessness. Otherwise known as cultic blindness, some lawyers included.

Whether Eala inspired her nation to play tennis may be impeded by immense popularity of pickle ball among professionals, lawyers included, a few of whom had been humbled by the dean whose tranquil eloquence schooled without scolding them. Whether the slower clone of tennis lasts depends on the wannabes’ lust for sustained growth and excellence, without reference to their lust for another not their partner, lawful or awful. Is it a fad waiting to fade, or a facade waiting to unmask, some lawyers in the masquerade participate.

Then there is a small team of Filipinos sent to an international climbing competition. Fear the climbers might pull each other down, otherwise known as crab mentality. But no, they must have been trained to work individually and as a team. Hope they end up with a decent finish, the country is not known to excel in the sport of climbing. Never mind, bask in the glory that Filipinos are undisputed world champions of that sport. In the social climbing category, some lawyers included.

’Our focus is to develop agribusiness infrastructure’

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) said it is strengthening and enhancing infrastructure to support the growth of agribusinesses.

Reflecting on his two years in office, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Cornelius Adebayo told journalists in Abuja that agriculture is a highly ‘profitable business’ with the right infrastructure.

Adebayo stated that NALDA opted not to compete with existing agencies that distribute farm inputs adding that the agency has identified agricultural infrastructure as the crucial element needed to revolutionise the sector.

He contended that without well-developed farmland, efficient mechanisation, reliable irrigation systems, adequate storage facilities, and accessible roads, tractors, fertilisers, and superior seedlings alone cannot achieve the desired results.

He said instead of heavily investing in input distribution, the agency is prioritising land development, mechanization centers, and organized farming communities to support commercial agriculture adding that the strategy aligns with President Tinubu’s emphasis on infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth across sectors.

At the heart of this vision lies the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate initiative, a flagship programme aimed at creating modern farming communities across the nation.

Each estate will span at least 5,000 hectares, bringing farmers together in organised clusters instead of isolating them in remote rural areas.

This model takes inspiration from agricultural systems in developed countries, where large-scale farming clusters simplify the provision of infrastructure, mechanisation, extension services, financing, and security.

The Executive Secretary said that pilot projects are underway in Ekiti, Kwara, Bauchi, and Plateau states adding that discussions are also ongoing with Enugu, Edo, and Bayelsa states to ensure all geopolitical zones benefit.

He, however noted that the programme requires cooperation with state governments for land allocation noting that the agency develops land for local communities, not for commercial ownership.

‘The beneficiaries of this programme are your indigenous people. NALDA is not taking the land to go into personal business. We are developing it and onboarding the citizens of that area for collective prosperity,’ he said.

He noted that Nigeria is grappling with food insecurity issues, necessitating a multifaceted approach to mitigate this critical issue. In response, the authority has embarked on extensive agricultural initiatives, each encompassing approximately 1,000 hectares. These comprehensive projects integrate agricultural infrastructure development with food production, aiming to expedite food supply and bolster national food security.

Investment in greenhouses

The authority’s strategy includes the Green Hope Project, combining open-field farming with conventional and high-tech greenhouses. Phase one is operational in Giri, Abuja, and Shagamu, Ogun State, supplying vegetables to Abuja and Lagos. Thirty greenhouses already operation in Lagos, with another 50 planned. Abuja has 20 greenhouses and expects an additional 60.

Each greenhouse cluster is surrounded by open-field farms for year-round vegetable production. The Green Hope Project prioritises empowering women. NALDA has created about 38 large horticulture sites nationwide, each at least five hectares.

The program aims to benefit about 4,000 women initially, expanding to all federal constituencies and local government areas. It seeks to decentralize vegetable production, lower transportation costs and post-harvest losses, enhance access to fresh produce, and create sustainable income opportunities for women nationwide.

I Was Physically Assaulted On Movie Set – Nana Ama McBrown

Actress and media personality, Nana Ama McBrown has revealed that she was once physically assaulted by a film director during the early years of her acting career.

Speaking in an interview with Anita Akuffo on TV3 on July 20, 2026, McBrown said she was slapped twice on a movie set but decided to continue working because she was determined to succeed in the industry.

According to her, the incident was one of the many sacrifices and challenges she had to endure while building her career.

‘Some people can’t stand pressure, but in this line of work, there’s a lot of pressure. Our director slapped me twice on set, and I continued working. He shouted at some people, and they never returned to the set again, but I stayed after taking the slap. I knew I wanted to be there, so nothing stopped me,’ she said.

AI crocodile sparks school search in Chon Buri

A photograph appearing to show a crocodile lurking in floodwater at a school in Sattahip district sparked a frantic search on Thursday involving rescue workers, police and local officials, only for a student to later admit he had created the image using artificial intelligence.

The incident unfolded after a teacher reported that a photo of a crocodile floating near the library of Singsamut high school had been widely shared on social media and in the school’s Line chat group.

The image appeared convincing because the area had been flooded by heavy rain the night before, raising fears that a crocodile might have entered the campus and pose a danger to students and nearby residents.

Rescue workers from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Sattahip Foundation, joined by police and municipal officials, cordoned off the area and launched a search. More than 10 personnel spent about 30 minutes combing through standing water and inspecting potential hiding spots, but found no sign of the reptile.

The mystery was solved after teachers contacted a Matthayom 5 (Year 11) student, who was traced as the source of the image.

Arriving at the scene, the student apologised and admitted he had used AI to add a crocodile to a real photograph taken at the school. He said he had shared the edited image with friends as a joke and did not expect it to spread across social media or be mistaken for a genuine sighting.

The student said he had acted without thinking and never intended to cause disruption or concern.

The false alarm also drew the attention of Thanatharn Pramoonpong, a People’s Party MP for Sattahip, who travelled to the school after hearing reports of a crocodile sighting.

He said he appreciated the student’s willingness to admit what he had done and thanked all agencies involved in responding to the incident.

Sattahip officials and rescue workers urged the public to verify the source and credibility of images and information before sharing, especially AI-generated content, to avoid causing public panic and wasting resources on investigations triggered by false reports.

Raided steel company to cooperate in probe

Philstar.com / Irra Lising

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Officials of a steel manufacturing company shut down by authorities over alleged substandard products have committed to cooperate in the investigation that will be conducted into the firm’s operation.

The Chuangxing Steel Inc., whose plant in Magalang town in this province was recently raided by a joint team of the National Bureau of Investigation and the police, said it complied with Philippine laws and environmental regulations.

The raiding team arrested four company executives including three Chinese and a Filipino.

Authorities said the company’s products failed to meet Philippine standards, in violation of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Lawyer Ryan James Solano said Chuangxing Steel Inc. is a duly registered Philippine company with valid environmental compliance certificate and permits as well as other regulatory clearances.

‘We respect the legal process, and we are confident that a careful examination of the evidence will show the company has operated in accordance with the law,’ he said.

NBA 2K27 covers feature Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, Derrick Rose?

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose were revealed Wednesday as the cover athletes for NBA 2K27.

Wembanyama is on the cover of the Standard Edition, Clark is on the Deluxe Edition and Rose will appear on the limited-time Ultra Edition.

The Standard Edition launches widely on Sept. 4. Deluxe and Ultra editions launch with early access on Aug. 28.

Wembanyama said being on the cover was ‘a dream come true,’ and Clark said being on a cover ‘is special because this game reaches fans all over the world.’

Rose was also on the cover of NBA 2K13.

‘This is a chance to inspire young athletes to stay obsessed with the game,’ Rose said. ‘To show them that when you put in the countless hours of hard work, it rewards you.’

Tropical Hut and remembering the comfort of familiar places

A MEDIA colleague posted on her Facebook account on Wednesday, rather wistfully, that Tropical Hut Supermarket on Scout Borromeo St. was closing shop.

For those of us who have been long-time residents of Quezon City, Tropical Hut was one of the OG grocery stores we patronized, where we bought anything from fresh meats to canned goods and small toys. And when the holiday season came around, we would buy our leg of ham at the kiosk which sold Majestic Ham, which the supermarket hosted. Papa would also have his keys duplicated at one of the stalls outside, along the supermarket’s perimeter.

Boosting the popularity of Tropical Hut are its delicious burgers, which thank goodness will not be affected by the closure of the supermarket slated at the end of July. Back in my elementary years, whenever Mama said she was going to shop for groceries at Tropical Hut, I was very eager to tag along because, most likely, there would be an opportunity to eat a cheeseburger at the adjacent cafe.

While Mama was picking up our groceries, I would sometimes sneak off and cross over to National Book Store to check out the latest Nancy Drew books in stock, buy school supplies I needed, then after make my way to the small Sanrio store-the first of its kind in the Philippines-to see what new kawaii My Melody or Little Twin Stars stuff had come in. (Nope, I was never a Hello Kitty fan.)

These days, National Book Store at the corner of Quezon Avenue is a shadow of its former self. It’s now called just ‘NBS’, and the Sanrio store has been long gone. And much of the property is devoted to food and beverage merchants, instead of books. The small-sizing of NBS began sometime in the early 2000s, which was later mirrored by Tropical Hut, in that the favored supermarket which once dominated the Scout area had also gradually scaled back its operations. (Apparently, it is no longer a ‘Supermarket’ but a ‘Foodmart’.)

The area also hosts other equally popular community supermarkets-the former Rustans-owned The Marketplace at Scout Madriñan, which caters to the more affluent residents; another OG, Hi-Top Supermarket along Quezon Avenue; and just a hop and a skip away, Robinsons Supermarket along Tomas Morato Avenue on the ground floor of a towering condominium.

I suppose the onslaught of more supermarkets in the area, along with availability of online store delivery, no longer made it tenable for Tropical Hut to continue operating. With higher cost of utilities and persistent inflation, it may have been difficult for the supermarket to keep the prices of its grocery items affordable as it once had.

Besides, Tropical Hut’s owner, the Mercury Drug Group, already sells grocery items at its drugstores so in a way, the company hasn’t strictly exited the supermarket business. The grocery portion of the group will just exist inside its ever-expanding drugstore network, side by side its pharmaceutical business. In a way, it is serving more customers by killing two birds with one stone: buy your drugs, buy your snack food-in just one store.

While it’s a tad upsetting to say goodbye to my once favorite playground, Tropical Hut fans will be happy to know that the burger joint at Scout Borromeo will be kept, and even expanded to a full-blown restaurant, while the rest of property will reportedly house the burger operations’ main office. And perhaps, more restaurant branches will be rolled in the near future.

Once upon a time, I also thought Tropical Hut Hamburger would likely go the way of its supermarket business. But in 2022, one guy’s tweet about his visit to the burger joint’s Escolta branch, along with a photo of his order-burger, fries, and a glass of soda-sparked a sentimental frenzy of visits to other branches.

I admit that because of that tweet, I have since returned to patronizing the restaurant, ordering what is now dubbed the Super Cheeseburger Classic.

The sandwich is wrapped in foil such that it is still warm when I receive it via delivery, and doesn’t break the bank because it costs just P187. It is beefy, juicy, and just the perfect no-frills cheese burger. I also belatedly realized that Tropical Hut Hamburger now caters to group orders, so it makes for an inexpensive meal for company meetings or family hangs, while bingeing on the latest hot streaming series.

Meanwhile, according to another Facebook post, there is an ongoing closing-out sale at Tropical Hut Supermarket, uhm, Foodmart, where its remaining inventory are being sold at heavily discounted prices, in case our dear readers are interested in making a nostalgic pilgrimage to the place.

Living in Quezon City most of my life, I’ve said goodbye to other great well-stocked supermarkets, which sold some unique goods. My Lola’s favorite was Sunshine Mart near the Mayon St.-Quezon Avenue area, where she would buy prepared morcon for cooking during Christmas Day.

Then there was also Glo-ri Supermarket along Del Monte Avenue, which was walking distance from our former home in Santa Mesa Heights, where my favorite purchase was Caroline’s Potato Chips, which was a treat using my saved baon. (Sheesh. Who even remembers that chip brand? I’m definitely showing my age!)

Of course, cities must change. New businesses will come, old ones will find new lives, and today’s children will someday look back with the same fondness on the places they now take for granted. That’s the cycle of every neighborhood, and every generation.

Still, every now and then, I can’t help but grieve the loss of these familiar landmarks, because they were never just stores. They were the backdrop to our family traditions, small triumphs, childhood treats, and ordinary weekends that, without realizing it then, would become ingrained as my life’s sweetest memories.

Maybe that’s why the news about Tropical Hut Supermarket feels so personal to me. It isn’t really about the closing of a grocery store. It’s about saying goodbye to a place that quietly witnessed my youth. And while the shelves may soon be empty, the flavors, the faces, and the memories it gave me remain wonderfully, deliciously full.

Jabrayil’s new rail link set to drive economic growth in Araz Valley

Where standard-gauge tracks bite into the dust of the Araz basin, an ancient plain learns a new rhythm. Silence, long settled like fine silt over the scorched earth of Jabrayil, gives way not to the thunder of conflict, but to the steady click-clack of steel meets steel. The iron veins now piercing the quiet of the valley are drawn with the deliberate grace of a sovereign hand mapping its own destiny. Along the banks of the winding river, where wild pomegranates once dropped unnoticed onto abandoned soil, an industrial spine takes root, turning a hollow frontier into the genuine pulse point of a continent on the move.

The recent announcement by the Ministry of Economy regarding the construction of a dedicated railway spur connecting the “Araz Valley Economic Zone” Industrial Park to the newly minted Horadiz-Aghband rail corridor marks a pivotal moment in how post-conflict reconstruction is conceptualized and executed. Far too often, territorial rehabilitation suffers from the trap of emotional symbolism-building structures for the sake of presence rather than purpose. Azerbaijan’s approach in Jabrayil, however, reveals a stark pragmatism: economic utility built directly onto logistical bedrock. By running spur tracks straight into the industrial park, the state is effectively lowering the structural barrier to entry for capital, ensuring that factory floors are married to continental supply chains before the first foundations are even poured.

To understand the macro-level implications for the national economy, one must look closely at the math of transportation. Heavy industry, manufacturing, and agricultural processing cannot survive on asphalt alone. Trucking high-volume bulk freight-whether raw materials, building supplies, or processed goods-imposes severe wear on road networks and incurs a marginal cost structure that eats aggressively into profit margins. An integrated spur line changes this equation entirely. Rail freight dramatically lowers per-ton kilometer costs, preserving state-funded highway infrastructure from premature deterioration while simultaneously bestowing a competitive cost structure upon every enterprise setting up shop within the park. In an era where global manufacturing prioritizes low logistical friction, offering direct rail access from plant doors to international corridors is the most persuasive incentive a sovereign state can present to institutional investors.

Furthermore, this infrastructure serves as an essential anchor for the broader non-oil expansion strategy. For decades, the dominant economic challenge facing the nation has been diversification-reducing fiscal dependency on hydrocarbon revenues by fostering self-sustaining domestic industries. Yet, industrial diversification cannot happen in a void; it requires specialized hubs capable of raw material inflow and seamless outward dispatch. The Araz Valley zone is uniquely positioned to serve as a regional processing power, taking the untapped wealth of the surrounding districts and converting it into exportable high-value goods. Without a direct connection to the national and regional rail grid, such an economic node would risk remaining an isolated enclave. With it, the park transforms into a dynamic nexus, drawing domestic labor, attracting foreign direct investment, and expanding the non-oil tax base in a sustainable manner.

Zooming out to the geopolitical canvas, the spur line forms a critical synapse within the emerging architecture of the Zangezur Corridor and the wider Middle Corridor linking East Asia to Western Europe. As global trade patterns recalibrate away from vulnerable or politically volatile routes, the South Caucasus is asserting itself as a reliable, high-capacity bridge. Integrating local industrial zones directly into transcontinental arterial lines ensures that the nation does not merely act as a passive transit fee collector, but as an active producer and processer of the goods flowing across Eurasia. The value added within the borders of Jabrayil will ride the same rails that connect regional markets, converting transit potential into tangible domestic wealth for generations to come.

Ultimately, the development of the Araz Valley railway infrastructure reflects a mature economic statecraft-one that understands that true sovereignty is built not just with borders, but with ties, switches, and steel routes. By embedding logistically efficient channels directly into the newly reclaimed territories, the nation is laying down an indelible framework for lasting economic resilience, ensuring that the valley’s return to life is as permanent as the iron tracks crossing its floor.

Export earnings exceed $ 9 b in 1H

Sri Lanka’s export sector continued to demonstrate resilience and sustained growth, with the first six months’ total earnings surpassing $ 9.01 billion and reflecting a 7.96% year-on-year (YoY) growth despite global headwinds.

The latest data released by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) showed that merchandise exports shipped in June were up 18.25% YoY to over $ 1.31 billion, whilst estimated services earnings in the month increased by 3.75% YoY to $ 344.52 million. June exports also registered a 7.37% month-on-month (MoM) increase compared to May 2026. Total earnings during June surpassed $ 1.65 billion, reflecting a 12.53% YoY growth.

Merchandise export earnings during January-June increased by 8.95% YoY to over $ 7.07 billion, whilst services exports during the same period were estimated to have surged by 4.49% to $ 1.93 billion.

Services exports include sectors such as ICT/BPM, construction, financial services, and transport and logistics.

EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said: ‘Sri Lanka’s export performance during the first half of 2026 demonstrates the resilience and competitiveness of our exporters, with total exports surpassing the $ 9 billion milestone. The continued growth recorded across both merchandise and services exports reflects the sector’s ability to adapt to evolving global market conditions, while strengthening its contribution to economic recovery and foreign exchange earnings.’

He said the EDB remains committed to working closely with exporters and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position in global markets through innovation, market diversification, value addition, and improved trade facilitation.

‘The implementation of the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026-2030 will provide a strategic framework to further enhance export competitiveness, promote integration into global value chains, expand opportunities for businesses, and support sustainable export-led economic growth,’ Wijesinghe added.

As per the data shared by the EDB, the industrial sector showed a significant increase in performance.

Apparel and textiles remained the dominant contributor, but the sector saw a 6.07% YoY decrease between January and June, reaching over $ 2.44 billion.

Electrical and Electronic Components (EEC) exports surged by 123.48% YoY to $ 450.20 million, supported by strong performance in Electrical Transformers (36.99%), Insulated Wires and Cables (72.91%), and Switches, Boards and Panels (19.18%). In addition, exports of Boilers, Piston Engines, Pumps, and Vacuum Pumps increased substantially, reaching $ 171.39 million during January-June 2026.

Processed Food and Beverages export earnings also increased 24.45% YoY to reach $ 347.13 million during January-June, primarily driven by the strong performance of processed food exports, which grew by 44.07% to reach $ 164.61 million. This growth highlights the rising international demand for Sri Lanka’s value-added food products.

Agriculture exports also witnessed a remarkable growth during the first-half months. Export earnings from Coconut-Based Products increased significantly by 14.59% YoY to reach $ 614.93 million during 1H 2026, supported by broad-based growth across all major product categories, including Coconut Kernel-Based Products (4.57%), Fibre-Based Products (12.45%), and Shell-Based Products (50.74%). The strong performance was driven by increased exports of products such as Coconut Oil (15.19%), Desiccated Coconut (12.81%), Liquid Coconut Milk (4.33%), and Activated Carbon (44.59%), reflecting sustained global demand and enhanced value addition within the sector.

Earnings from the rubber sector increased by 5.24% to $ 492.32 million during the first six months, largely driven by performance in Pneumatic and Re-treaded Rubber Tyres and Tubes, which increased by 6.49% during the period. The positive performance reflects the continued competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s rubber-based manufacturing sector in global markets.

Seafood exports also grew by 17.61% to reach $ 122.51 million, supported by higher exports of Frozen Fish (7.6%) and Fresh Fish (50.06%). The growth reflects improved export volumes and strengthening demand in international markets.

However, tea exports, which comprised 12% of total merchandise exports, declined by 5.69% YoY to reach $ 700.80 million during the January-June 2026 period. The reduction was mainly attributed to weaker performance in key product categories, with Bulk Tea exports declining by 6.6% and Tea Packet exports decreasing by 6.43% compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

On the services side, the ICT/BPM and financial services sectors showed positive growth during the first six months, with increases of 17.66% YoY to $ 885.42 million and 28.32% YoY to $ 29.23 million, respectively.

The robust June figures build on the positive trajectory recorded in 2025. Sri Lanka’s total export earnings reached over $ 17.25 billion last year, marking a 5.6% YoY increase and achieving nearly 95% of the $ 18.2 billion export target.

For 2026, Sri Lanka has set an ambitious export revenue target of $ 20 billion, reflecting an anticipated YoY growth of 10-12%. Merchandise exports are expected to exceed $ 15.7 billion in 2026, while services exports are projected to rise to $ 4.3 billion.

Among Sri Lanka’s top 15 export markets are the US, India, UK, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, China, UAE, Australia, France, Trkiye, Canada, Belgium, Japan, and Mexico. India, China, Turkey, Japan, and Mexico recorded positive YoY growth in both June 2026 and cumulatively for the January-June period, reflecting emerging resilience across major international markets.

The US, Sri Lanka’s largest single export destination accounting for around 22% of total merchandise exports, recorded a marginal YoY decrease of 0.58% to $ 250.87 million in June 2026. Meanwhile, cumulative exports for January-June reflected a slight increase of 0.13%, reaching $ 1,436.85 million compared to the corresponding period in 2025, indicating stable but relatively subdued overall growth in exports to the US.

India strengthened its position as Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination, surpassing the UK, with cumulative exports increasing by 36.16% to $ 688.47 million during January-June. In June 2026, exports to India recorded a robust YoY growth of 156.73%, reaching $ 246.15 million. In contrast, exports to the UK experienced a significant YoY decline of 28.49% to $ 65.53 million in June 2026, while cumulative exports declined by 10.23% to $ 434.44 million during the January-June period compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

Exports to the EU, which account for 25.5% of Sri Lanka’s total merchandise exports, recorded a decline of 14.85% in June 2026 compared to the corresponding month of 2025. However, during the cumulative period from January-June, exports to the EU increased by 2.49% YoY, indicating a marginal improvement in overall export performance to the region.

Abdulmalik Zubairu Zannah: Appreciating the Legislative Agenda of an Uncommon Representative

Leadership is a sacred trust. It is deeply associated with divinity. Leadership is not a factor of propaganda, sloganeering, or mere noise-making and superficial popularity. A person may be popular and yet not qualify as a true leader.

In Zamfara State, we measure our leaders not by the number of lands acquired or buildings constructed for their personal use while in public office, but by the tangible impact of their performance on the lives and livelihoods of the common indigenes.

Leadership, to us, therefore demands intentional and demonstrable qualities of courage, vision, and an commitment to the welfare of the constituents. Added to this, for a legislator, is an unmistakably clear agenda that directly addresses the pain points of the people.

This remains a distinguishing factor, and this is precisely where Abdulmalik Zubairu Zannah stands out. Also known as Zannah Bungudu, he had his path clearly mapped out even before entering the House of Representatives to represent the good, lovely, and dynamic people of the Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency.

An honest and disciplined person, Hon. Bungudu’s achievements have been determined by his deep appreciation of the realities that we live in, as against the rhetoric and excuses that pervade the everyday life of most politicians.

He is determined to ensure that the farmer in Maru cultivates their crops and harvests the same in safety and quietness, and that the schools have adequate teachers who can teach in an ambience of safety and fulfillment.

He is desirous to see clinics that are not mere consulting centres but well-stocked with desirable drugs, while youths are sufficiently skilled to meet the evolving competitions and challenges they are daily confronted with.

In Hon. Bungudu, our people can therefore beat their chests that they have a deserving voice – a man who is trustworthy and dependable, because he is sincere, reliable, and consistent in his actions.

An effective grassroots mobilizer, he is deeply rooted in the thorough understanding of how things work in the constituency. He feels the pains of insecurity because he is directly affected by it, and he understands the cry of the unemployed because he was once one of them.

He passes through the rough roads and therefore fully comprehends the dearth of infrastructure in the land. As a genuine homeboy, Hon. Bungudu still buys from the local markets in Bungudu and understands the villages of Maru intimately.

He has worked closely with the Emirs, discussed extensively with the farmers and market women, so he understands what agricultural inputs truly mean and the urgent need to guarantee their sustainable supply. This is essential to improve the livelihoods of the rural people, scale up production, and ensure food security for all.

A man of compassion, commitment, and competence, he has combined capacity with legislative roles to advance the frontiers of lawmaking, oversight, and effective representation in prosecuting progressive common good.

Pedestalled to lead his people to greatness, he has anchored his legislative duties on practicality and productivity, resting firmly on the backbones of security, human capital development, and economic empowerment.

Through this approach, he has remained consistently the voice of the voiceless, making strong and convincing demands for decisive actions on banditry. Indeed, these presentations, with their clear roadmaps, have propelled the actions and successes of the security forces witnessed in Zamfara State presently, including strategic deployments that have yielded positive results.

It is to his credit that he has progressively and deliberately sponsored several motions, and risen on multiple occasions to draw the attention of the House of Representatives to the level of insecurity in his constituency and the state at large. Through these uncompromising outcries, the federal government has established forward operating bases as well as increased funding and equipment for intelligence gathering in our communities.

His conviction that peace is the foundation of growth and development aligns perfectly with our convictions. This has further strengthened the bond of unity amongst us, developed trust, and built immeasurable morale and confidence. We can now together echo the fact that, ‘No farm, no school, no business can thrive under the shadows of gunmen.’

Understandably therefore, and in furtherance of our shared future and livelihoods, Hon. Bungudu has made the security of our lives his first line of priority and not merely a bullet point.

Determined to lay a solid foundation for the future generations, he has invested in access to modern technology, developing cheaper access to credit, the establishment of federal schools, the rehabilitation of primary health centers, and facilitated scholarships and JAMB support to indigent but qualified students.

Known for his adage, ‘Forget the education of our children, and the empowerment of our youths and you breed uncommon trouble for the future,’ his brave and courageous actions are necessary because our state has been robbed of several opportunities through pervasive poverty.

His determination has led to the provision of different initiatives and agricultural programs, small-scale trade support, and vocational skills acquisition programs. He has distributed thousands of bags of fertilizers, grinding machines, and billions of Naira as start-up grants to thousands of women and youths.

These efforts ensure structural reforms that will reduce dependence and alleviate poverty in a sustainable manner. The truth is that Hon. Zannah is uncommon, exceptional, and empathetic. He acknowledges that our people are hardworking individuals who do not need arms but the ladder to greatness and prosperity.

His humble and accessible disposition has won the hearts of thousands. A devout listener, Hon. Bungudu knows his roots deeply. He attends our Juma’at prayers each time he is around, serving Allah with piety and accountability.

Although there is much more to be done, the people of Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency are convinced that supporting him through the 10th Assembly and thereafter will continue to be the best thing that will ever happen to them. Bungudu and Maru are proud. Zamfara is watching. And Nigeria should take note.

Allah ya kara mana zaman lafiya da ci gaba.