Category: Daily Trust

The Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Saleh Hodi Jibri, has resigned to contest the chairmanship of Shira Local Government Council under the Allied Progressive Movement (APM).

Jibri, who represented Disina Constituency, announced his resignation on Wednesday during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman.

In his farewell remarks, Jibri thanked stakeholders in Shira LGA for selecting him as the party’s candidate, as well as Governor Bala Mohammed for the confidence reposed in him.

He also expressed appreciation to the Speaker and his colleagues for their cooperation, guidance and support throughout his tenure in the House.

Earlier, the Speaker informed lawmakers that Jibri’s resignation followed the decision of the APM to nominate him as its candidate for chairman of Shira Local Government in the forthcoming local government election.

Suleiman described his relationship with Jibri as extending beyond their roles as parliamentary colleagues, noting that they had worked together since the Ninth Assembly and developed a bond comparable to that of biological brothers.

Other lawmakers paid tribute to the outgoing Majority Leader, describing him as a patient, dedicated and selfless leader whose contributions to the House had earned him respect.

Following Jibri’s resignation, the APM nominated Hon. Auwal Hassan Yana of Shira Constituency as the new Majority Leader.

The House subsequently approved Jibri’s resignation and the emergence of Yana as his successor.

In his acceptance speech, Yana thanked God, party stakeholders and Governor Bala Mohammed for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to build on the leadership qualities of his predecessor and appealed to his colleagues for guidance, constructive correction and continued support as he assumed his new responsibility.

The newly established Veteran Sport FC, based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is strengthening its football structure through strategic player recruitment, partnerships with football academies, and participation in competitive youth football programmes.

Speaking during an interview, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Veteran Sport FC, Mr. Moses Amos Momoh, said the club is positioning itself for a strong future in Nigerian football with an ambitious programme focused on professional football development, youth talent discovery, and the creation of clear pathways for promising young footballers.

Momoh explained that a major component of the club’s development strategy is its participation in the NLO U-19 Youth League, which provides young players with valuable competitive experience, exposure, and an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a structured football environment.

‘Our goal is to build a football structure where young talents can be discovered, developed, and given the right platform to progress.

‘We want to create opportunities for players who have the talent and determination but may not have had the right exposure.’

He explained further that Veteran Sport FC is committed to combining football development with discipline, professionalism, education, and player welfare.

According to him, the club recognises that developing a successful footballer requires more than technical ability.

‘Football is not only about talent. Discipline, character, education, commitment, and professionalism are very important.

‘We want to develop complete players who can represent themselves, their families, and the club positively wherever they find themselves,’ he stressed.

The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) has urged the federal government to extend import duty relief to the printing industry to reduce the price of books published in the country.

President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria CIPPON, Printer Koko T Clement, made the appeal in a press statement, saying lack of local production of critical materials needed in the industry has made importation the only option for the industry.

He explained that some African countries have extended duty concessions or waivers on printing inputs, leaving Nigerian printers competing at a structural disadvantage.

He added that sustained high input costs have pushed capacity utilisation in many printing establishments below viable operating thresholds, resulting in closures, job losses and a shift toward finished-product importation.

He said the continued trend posed a serious threat to over 50 million Nigerians that depend on the sector for jobs to feed their families.

‘The required raw materials and machinery are not yet produced in Nigeria at the volume or quality the industry needs, making import dependence structural rather than a matter of preference. Each quarter of delay compounds these losses and erodes formal-sector capacity that will be far costlier to rebuild than to preserve,’ he said.

He added that the benefits of activating the concession extend well beyond the printing industry itself to create lower-cost books, packaging and essential printed materials for the health, electoral and public sectors.

Makinde made the announcement at the elective National Convention of the APM held at the Rilwanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, where he also declared that the task before the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election was bigger than merely winning power.

He said the central challenge was to give Nigerians a genuine choice about the future of the country and demonstrate, with measurable plans and records, how an alternative government would improve their lives.

‘As we approach 2027, therefore, I believe the task before all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of their country,’ Makinde said.

Congratulating the new national officers elected at the convention, the Oyo State governor said the APM had, within a short period, emerged as an opposition party to reckon with.

He urged the new leadership of the party to work with other opposition political parties towards presenting a credible alternative to Nigerians in 2027, stressing that a viable opposition remained indispensable to the survival of democracy.

‘As I said during the Ibadan Declaration in April this year, the presence of credible opposition is what sustains democracy.

‘So, our new leaders must be ready to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general election,’ he said.

Makinde said the coming campaign season would inevitably feature political slogans, promises and declarations by candidates but argued that Nigerians should demand more from those seeking to lead them.

According to him, the 2027 election should be about measurable outcomes rather than government announcements, policies and promises that do not translate into improvements in the lives of citizens.

‘The 2027 election must be an election about outcomes. For too long, we have measured governance by announcements. We are presented with policy after policy, rather than evidence of whether those policies have made people’s lives better,’ he said.

Using the experiences of ordinary Nigerians to illustrate his point, Makinde said economic policies should ultimately be measured by citizens’ purchasing power rather than official statistics.

‘When our mothers go to the market, they don’t experience economic policy as a statistic. They experience it in what their money can buy. How much rice, beans and gari they can take home,’ he said.

He added that young Nigerians would judge employment policies by their ability to secure productive work and build independent lives, just as farmers would assess agricultural policies by their productivity, access to markets and whether farming had improved their economic condition.

On security, Makinde said the effectiveness of government should not be determined by the number of security meetings held by officials but by whether Nigerians could live and pursue their livelihoods without fear.

‘Families do not judge security by the number of meetings government has held. They judge it by whether they can travel, farm, work and sleep with their two eyes closed,’ he said.

The APM candidate said the defining question of the 2027 election should therefore shift from what government claimed to have done to what had actually changed in the lives of Nigerians.

‘The question before Nigeria in 2027 should not simply be: What has government done? It should be: What has changed for Nigerians?’ he said.

He added that opposition candidates must equally subject themselves to scrutiny by explaining what they would do differently and the measurable improvements Nigerians should expect if they were elected.

Makinde said his administration had applied the same principle in Oyo State by focusing not merely on projects announced by government but on their impact on the people.

He identified poverty reduction, job creation, education, healthcare and security as some of the major issues that should dominate the 2027 political conversation.

Abdullahi, who previously swore on the Qur’an to affirm that Kwankwaso did not send Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC earlier this year, announced his resignation from the NDC in a letter addressed to the party chairman of Kofar Ruwa Ward in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

He said his decision was prompted by frustration over what he described as ‘failed promises’ within the NDC, adding that he would now support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid under the APC.

‘I have been with Kwankwaso for 29 years but have only benefited from failed promises. I will go to where I will be respected more,’ Abdullahi said.

In his resignation letter, he thanked the NDC for the opportunity to serve the party but announced his immediate resignation from its membership.

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have neutralised an armed herder and recovered an AK-47 rifle while foiling an attack on Azege community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The troops, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, achieved the feat in response to a distress call on Monday reporting an attack on the community in Tombo Council Ward of Logo LGA.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said the troops swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.

Zubairu said the troops overpowered the assailants, forcing them to flee in disarray, adding that they pursued the fleeing attackers and discovered one of the suspected armed herders who had been neutralised during the encounter.

He listed the items recovered from the scene to include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine containing 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one Nokia mobile phone.

He added that the recovered items had been secured, while the remains of the neutralised assailant were evacuated by the police.

‘Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the group who fled the scene,’ the statement said.

The JTF, however, commended the troops for their tactical resilience and the police for their cooperation during the operation, while urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities in their communities to security agencies.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne youths and other stakeholders have issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to suspend E-Call Up levies imposed on trucks entering Onne Port and fix the port’s dilapidated internal roads or face a shutdown of operations.

The stakeholders issued the ultimatum at a joint press conference in Onne, Rivers State, on Wednesday, warning that they would suspend business activities from Monday, August 17, if their demands were not addressed.

Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Eastern Port, Comrade Uche Ogbu, said the poor condition of the roads and the manner in which trucks are being managed under the E-Call Up system were disrupting port operations and endangering lives.

He also faulted the absence of adequate holding and loading bays for trucks despite repeated appeals from stakeholders.

According to Ogbu, the absence of designated facilities has resulted in indiscriminate parking of trucks along Onne roads, creating serious safety and traffic concerns.

‘We are the people carrying the burden of the E-Call Up levies. We, the maritime workers, in collaboration with other stakeholders and Onne communities, are going to down tools from Monday,’ he said.

He said the unions would also direct their members to stop E-Call Up operations at the port until the government responds to their concerns.

Ogbu argued that the NPA should communicate the infrastructure challenges at the Eastern Port to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Federal Government, insisting that stakeholders could no longer bear the consequences of the poor facilities.

Also speaking, the Onne Chapter Chairman of ANLCA, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, called on the Federal Government to allocate part of the revenue generated from Onne Port to rehabilitate its roads.

He said the Onne Port Command generated approximately N439 billion in customs revenue between January and July 2026, while the Oil and Gas Free Zone Customs generated about N48 billion during the same period, bringing the combined revenue to approximately N487 billion.

Isikaku said it was unacceptable for the port to generate such revenue while its access roads remained in a deplorable condition.

He said the stakeholders had resolved to reject arbitrary payments associated with the E-Call Up system and demanded its suspension until adequate holding bays were provided.

According to him, the suspension would take effect from Monday, August 17, and remain in place until the identified challenges were addressed.

The stakeholders also demanded proper maintenance of all access roads leading to the port to reduce accidents, container falls, injuries and loss of lives.

The NPA management at Onne Port had not officially reacted to the demands as of press time. However, a source within the organisation said efforts were being made to address the issues raised by the stakeholders.

Stakeholders in seven states have approved wider use of Sentinel XS after pilot tests in Kaduna showed near-zero Fall Armyworm infestation and increased yields.

The endorsement came during a 2-day hybrid validation workshop held in Kaduna State, convened by the Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) in collaboration with NISSCORP, Sentinel XS’s in-country provider.

The event brought together authorities and farmers from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Jigawa, as well as regulators, researchers, banks, insurance companies, cooperatives, and development partners.

Sentinel XS is developed by Informiton and deployed by NISSCORP.

Sentinel XS is a photonic, non-chemical system which uses the sun’s near-infrared spectrum to stimulate crops to naturally repel pests like Fall Armyworm.

It requires no chemicals, GMOs, or new farm equipment. Farmers pay a single seasonal subscription instead of 3-4 rounds of pesticide and fertiliser spraying.

Data presented from Kaduna pilot farms showed near-zero Fall Armyworm infestation; measurable gains in crop performance and yield; lower input costs for pesticides, fertilisers, equipment and labour; reduced chemical exposure and residues in food.

Declaring the workshop open, KADA General Manager, Mallam Muhammed Rili, said the initiative aligns with Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani’s agenda on food security, climate-smart agriculture and farmer prosperity.

Speaking for the Kaduna State Government, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mallam Murtala Mohammed Dabo, urged stakeholders to adopt practical and affordable solutions that cut production risks and boost livelihoods.

NISSCORP President, Kingsley Obaji, and Country Manager, Igo Ogbu, pitched Sentinel XS as a safer, more affordable alternative that can make Nigerian produce more competitive globally by cutting chemical residues.

Stakeholders are already committed to the project. State ADPs like KNARDA’s Dr Farouk Kurawa and reps from Zamfara, Kebbi, Plateau states welcomed deployment in their states and urged adoption to meet global organic standards.

Representatives of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mohammed Kabir and other groups, cited rising chemical costs and called for transparent subscriptions and farmer-group involvement.

Representatives of financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), asked for bankable models, credible farmer databases and measurable indicators to fund scale-up.

Participants at the workshop, however, called for independent technical assessment by research and regulatory bodies, mass farmer sensitisation and stronger extension support.

In his closing remarks, Mallam Rili called for further nationwide validation and stronger collaboration among government, research, finance, insurance, and private-sector players to drive commercial adoption.

The workshop ended with a joint commitment to support the evaluation, financing and commercialisation needed to integrate Sentinel XS into Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and Zonal Coordinator, Zone B, Kaduna, Nsikak Patrick Umoh, disclosed this on Wednesday during a tour of the Niger/Kogi Area Command Headquarters in Minna, Niger, where she met with vehicle importers to discuss the command’s operational challenges.

Umoh said the security challenge had affected several Customs commands, particularly across the North-West, where officers are increasingly exposed to threats in the course of performing their duties.

‘The security challenge is not peculiar to only Niger/Kogi Area Command. A whole of North-West comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara States, which are all under my command, are facing the same security challenge,’ she said.

Umoh said the resultant effect was that some Customs officers had been killed or maimed, while others had been forced to limit their operations because of fear for their lives.

She explained that the situation had contributed to a reduction in revenue collections in some commands, as officers were compelled to adopt more cautious approaches to their operations.

‘But we are trying our best to encourage them to use an intelligence-based operating system to do their job, and that is why in most of the commands, we have a reduction in revenue collections,’ the ACG added.

Umoh said insecurity was also taking a toll on the health of Customs personnel, with some officers developing hypertension due to fear of death.

She said despite the challenges, the Niger/Kogi Area Command had continued to record strong revenue performance, surpassing its monthly target of N17 million.

She disclosed that the command had generated more than N200 million as of August 12.

Five people have been killed, several others injured and many houses burnt in separate attacks on communities in Riyom and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.

While two people were killed in attacks in Riyom, three others were reportedly murdered in Mangu.

Residents from the affected communities in Mangu LGA told Daily Trust that several houses belonging to both herding and farming communities were burnt.

The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Mangu and the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) confirmed the incident.

The Secretary of MACBAN in the area, Musa Muhammad, said two herders, Salisu Abubakar and Yusuf Ali, were attacked and killed in their homes on Wednesday in Jwak Maitumbi, Halle Ward, Mangu.

He added that several houses belonging to members of the community were also burnt.

‘They were killed for an offence they knew nothing about,’ he said.

However, the MDA president, Bulus Dabit, said several houses belonging to their members were attacked and burnt.

He said one member of the association was killed while others were injured and hospitalised.

Dabit said the attacks affected communities along the Sabon Gari-Mangu Halle-Mai Rana-Arangai-Mararaban Kantoma axis, forcing some residents, especially women and children, to flee their homes.

4 communities attacked in Riyom

Two people were killed in separate attacks on four communities in Riyom LGA.

The spokesperson of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attacks on Wednesday in Jos.

He said the attacks, which occurred on Tuesday night, were reported in at least four locations, including Gwa-Wereng Rim, Kyeng, Dorong and Jol.

A resident of the area, Lyop Gabriel, said the attack on Gwa-Wereng Rim occurred at about 9:30pm when gunmen invaded the community and opened fire on residents.

He said Bulus Mwagwong, popularly known as Dikko, was killed while his cousin, Yakubu, was injured.

The association said 47-year-old Stephen Dachollom Kaze was also killed in Kyeng village, Bachi District, at about 8:30pm.

BYM said another attack was recorded in Dorong, where attackers allegedly set houses ablaze, destroying property and forcing residents to flee.

Efforts to obtain confirmation or reaction from the security agencies were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.