Category: Daily Trust

Residents, commercial vehicle drivers and transport operators have raised the alarm over the worsening condition of the Dandume-Funtua-Bakori-Malumfashi- Gidan Mutum Daya-federal highway, saying years of neglect and persistent insecurity have turned one of the North-West’ busiest transport corridors into a deathtrap.

The approximately 175-kilometre highway links Katsina State with Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states and serves as a major route for passengers, agricultural produce and commercial goods.

Findings by Weekend Trust show that deep potholes, failed sections, accident-prone spots and recurring bandit attacks have continued to endanger commuters while disrupting economic activities across the region.

Commercial drivers said travelling on the highway had become increasingly dangerous as motorists contend with kidnapping, armed robbery, fatal crashes and mounting vehicle maintenance costs.

A commercial driver based in Funtua, Malam Abubakar Tarzana, described the highway as one of the most dangerous in Katsina State.

‘This road has become a deathtrap. Apart from its terrible condition, insecurity has made the situation even worse. Every journey along this highway is a gamble with one’s life,’ he told Weekend Trust.

He identified the Dandume-Funtua, Bakori-Malumfashi and Malumfashi-Dayi sections as some of the worst stretches, saying commuters are frequently exposed to attacks by armed bandits while struggling through damaged portions of the road.

‘There are days you hardly hear that the road is peaceful. Either there is an attack by bandits or a fatal accident caused by the terrible state of the road,’ he said.

According to Tarzana, insecurity around Marabar Musawa, Rimaye and Gidan Mutum Daya has displaced many families and severely affected farming and commercial activities.

‘Women and children are leaving their communities almost every day in search of safety because of repeated attacks. Many people have abandoned their farms and businesses, while others have relocated completely,’ he also said.

He added that the deteriorating condition of the highway had significantly increased vehicle maintenance cost and discouraged many transport operators from using the route.

Tarzana appealed to the federal government to urgently reconstruct the highway and strengthen security operations, saying improved road infrastructure would restore confidence among motorists, reduce travel time and stimulate economic activities.

A community leader in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Abdul’aziz Abdul’aziz, said criminal groups had continued to exploit the poor condition of the highway to attack travellers and neighbouring communities.

According to him, the Malumfashi-Yammama-Dayi stretch has become a regular crossing point for armed bandits.

‘The Malumfashi-Yammama-Dayi road remains a major security concern. Bandits often use this corridor to move into neighbouring communities; and in many cases, innocent commuters become victims while travelling,’ he said.

Although he acknowledged the efforts of security agencies and the Katsina State Government in tackling insecurity, Abdul’aziz said more needed to be done to secure the strategic highway.

He said, ‘We appreciate the sacrifices being made by security personnel and the support of the Katsina State Government. But there is still a need to improve intelligence gathering, intensify patrols and establish more stop-and-search points if these roads are to become truly safe.’

He described Yammama bridge as one of the most dangerous black spots on the highway, saying its deteriorating condition has contributed to frequent accidents and heightened security concerns.

‘Hardly a week passes without an accident there. The potholes are so deep that drivers are forced to leave their lanes; and in many cases, they collide with oncoming vehicles,’ he said.

Abdul’aziz also criticised the practice of excavating sand from road shoulders to fill potholes, warning that it had created dangerous depressions capable of causing additional crashes.

‘When drivers try to manoeuvre through those areas while avoiding potholes, they risk losing control or crashing into oncoming vehicles,’ he added.

He further argued that the deplorable condition of the highway had become a security challenge because damaged sections slow traffic and make it easier for criminals to ambush travellers.

He added, ‘A good road would improve surveillance, security patrols and emergency response. Fixing this highway will save lives, reduce accidents and make it more difficult for criminals to operate freely in the area.’

A resident of Karfi village in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Babangida Karfi, said a notorious accident black spot near Government Secondary School, Karfi, had claimed numerous lives over the years without any permanent government’s intervention.

According to him, the failed section of the highway has existed for decades, forcing motorists into dangerous manoeuvres that frequently result in fatal crashes.

‘The black spot near Government Secondary School, Karfi, has existed for decades. We have lost many lives and valuable property there, yet no permanent rehabilitation has been carried out. Every rainy season and even during the dry season, motorists continue to suffer while families keep losing their loved ones,’ he noted.

Karfi also identified the sharp bend between Layin Minister in Malumfashi and Gangaren Makurdi in neighbouring Bakori Local Government Area as another accident-prone section of the highway.

He said the combination of a dangerous bend and a deteriorating road surface had become a major threat to motorists travelling along the strategic corridor.

‘The bend between Layin Minister and Gangaren Makurdi has become another accident point. Drivers approaching that section struggle to control their vehicles because of the failed portions of the road; and crashes occur regularly,’ he observed.

Beyond the frequent crashes, Karfi alleged that armed bandits often exploit the poor condition of the road around the Layin Minister axis to target travellers.

‘Bandits usually cross through the Layin Minister area before attacking motorists. There have been several incidents where travellers were robbed or abducted after slowing down on the damaged portions of the road. The fear among road users is real,’ he added.

Another resident and civil servant, Abdullahi Usman, said the deteriorating security situation and poor condition of the highway had drastically altered the movement of residents.

He said many civil servants working outside their hometowns avoided travelling home on weekends because of the risks associated with the route.

‘Many civil servants and residents of these communities could no longer travel home during weekends as they used to. People now think twice before embarking on the journey because of persistent insecurity and the deplorable condition of the road,’ he said.

He said rehabilitating the highway would restore confidence among commuters and stimulate economic activities across the affected communities.

‘This road is vital to the economy of Katsina State and the North-West. Reconstructing it and improving security will save lives, encourage people to travel again and revive economic activities across the communities it serves,’ he added.

For Yakubu Musa, a commercial driver who has plied the Funtua-Dandume route for several years, every journey has become a test of courage.

He told Weekend Trust that apart from constant vehicle breakdown caused by deep potholes and failed sections, the threat of attacks by armed bandits has made the job increasingly difficult.

He said: ‘The road is in a terrible condition. Every trip is a risk because you don’t know whether you would return home safely. Our vehicles develop faults almost every week because of the bad road. Many drivers have abandoned the route,’ he said.

Musa said the dangers extended beyond damaged infrastructure, recalling colleagues who lost their lives while trying to earn a living.

‘I personally know many commercial drivers who lost their lives over the last two to three years. Some died in accidents caused by the bad road, while others were killed during bandits’ attacks along this route. It is painful because they left wives and children behind,’ he noted.

But despite the dangers, he said commercial driving remained his only means of livelihood.

‘This is the only business I know. It is what I depend on to pay my children’s school fees, take care of my family’s health needs and provide food for my household. If I stop driving, I have no other means of survival,’ he said.

He appealed to the federal government to urgently reconstruct the highway and strengthen security patrols to protect motorists and restore confidence along the corridor.

An official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the highway as one of the most dangerous routes for commercial transport operators in the North-West.

According to him, years of neglect have left the road riddled with potholes and failed sections, increasing the risk of fatal crashes while inflicting huge financial losses on transport operators.

‘We have lost hundreds of passengers and drivers over the years on this highway. The road has deteriorated beyond imagination.

Every trip has become a risk because motorists constantly struggle to avoid potholes and failed sections. Many families have lost their breadwinners, while countless people now live with permanent disabilities after surviving these crashes,’ he lamented.

He added that transport fares had continued to rise as operators struggle with mounting vehicle maintenance costs.

‘This road is not only killing people, it is destroying vehicles and livelihoods. Transport fares keep increasing because of constant repairs, while traders lose goods whenever accidents occur. The economic losses are enormous,’ he noted.

The union official urged the federal government to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Dandume-Funtua-Bakori-Malumfashi-Dayi-Gidan Mutum Daya highway, saying the project would save lives, reduce transportation cost and improve economic activities across Katsina State and the wider North-West.

A security analyst and public affairs commentator, Abubakar Ibrahim, said that while the recent deployment of additional security personnel had improved confidence among residents and farmers, rehabilitation of strategic highways should complement ongoing military operations.

‘The increased deployment of security personnel is already yielding positive results. Communities that previously lived in fear are beginning to regain confidence, and many farmers are gradually returning to their farmlands because they now see a stronger security presence,’ he said.

He also said deteriorating roads had become a security challenge because motorists were forced to slow down at failed sections, making them vulnerable to attacks.

‘Security operations alone cannot solve the problem. We must also fix our roads because bad roads have become a security risk on their own. When vehicles are compelled to reduce speed because of potholes and failed sections, criminal elements exploit the situation,’ Ibrahim added.

He urged both the federal government and the Katsina State Government to treat road rehabilitation as an integral part of efforts to combat insecurity.

‘Once roads are reconstructed, security agencies can respond more quickly to emergencies, while residents and businesses can move freely without unnecessary delays and fear,’ he said.

The concerns were echoed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which identified deteriorating highways as one of the major factors contributing to fatal road crashes in Katsina State.

The FRSC public education officer in the state, Deputy Route Commander Shamsuddeen Babajo listed the Dandume-Funtua-Bakori-Malumfashi corridor among the state’s most critical highways requiring urgent intervention.

‘Road safety is a shared responsibility. While motorists must obey traffic regulations and drive responsibly, the government also has a critical obligation to rehabilitate deteriorating roads. Reconstructing these highways will significantly reduce crashes, protect lives and improve the movement of people and goods,’ Babajo said.

Residents, transport operators and community leaders unanimously called on the federal government to urgently rehabilitate the Dandume-Funtua-Bakori-Malumfashi-Dayi-Gidan Mutum Daya federal highway, describing the project as essential not only for reducing accidents and improving security but also for restoring economic activities across Katsina State and the North-West.

They said restoring the strategic corridor would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, reduce transport costs, improve emergency response and deny criminal groups the opportunity to exploit failed sections of the road to attack unsuspecting travellers.

For many commercial drivers, however, the crisis is not only about bad roads or insecurity but also about survival.

The chairman of Funtua Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulmutallib Sulaiman Goya, acknowledged that the federal highway is in a deplorable condition, describing its rehabilitation as a matter of urgent public importance.

He, however, disclosed that the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had concluded discussions with the relevant federal authorities on the reconstruction of the road, and expressed optimism that work would commence once the necessary approvals are completed.

He also noted that the North West Development Commission was considering rehabilitating the road as part of efforts to address the worsening condition of the highway.

Goya added that while the road falls under the federal government’s responsibility, the Katsina State Government was making every effort to facilitate immediate palliative repairs to ease the hardship faced by motorists and commuters.

The council chairman stressed that the highway is a major economic corridor linking Katsina with several northern states, noting that traders from Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, as well as Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states, relied on the route daily to transport goods to and from Kano through the Funtua axis.

He said the strategic importance of Funtua as the commercial hub of the southern senatorial district underscored the need for urgent intervention, renewing his appeal to the federal government to prioritise the rehabilitation of highway to safeguard lives, improve security and stimulate economic activities across the region

Reacting to the development, the federal comptroller of works in Katsina State, M.I. Macinja, an engineer, said the federal government had commenced the rehabilitation of critical sections of the Gidan Mutum Daya-Malumfashi federal highway and awarded an emergency repair contract for the most deteriorated sections of the Funtua-Dandume road.

Macinja disclosed this while responding to growing public concerns over the deplorable condition of the strategic highways linking several communities in Katsina State with the neighbouring Kaduna State.

According to him, the ongoing rehabilitation of the Gidan Mutum Daya-Malumfashi road forms part of a major federal road project that begins from Basawa and Hunkuyi in Zaria, passes through Marabar Dabai in Danja and extends to Kafur before terminating in Malumfashi.

He said the project had been divided into three phases. Phase one covers the Basawa-Hunkuyi to Marabar Dabai section while phase two stretches from Marabar Dabai through Kafur to Malumfashi. He added that the Malumfashi-Gidan Mutum Daya section constitutes phase three of the project.

He also said the phased rehabilitation was designed to restore the road corridor, improve safety for motorists, facilitate the movement of people and goods and boost economic activities along the route.

‘The rehabilitation contract for the Gidan Mutum Daya-Malumfashi road is ongoing. The project commenced from Basawa-Hunkuyi in Zaria through Marabar Dabai in Danja, straight to Kafur and Malumfashi by Mother Cat Construction. Work is progressing and forms part of federal government’s efforts to improve the condition of our road infrastructure,’ Macinja said.

He further revealed that the federal government had awarded an emergency rehabilitation contract covering about 11 kilometres out of the badly damaged Funtua-Dandume highway, one of the state’s busiest transport corridors used daily by commuters, commercial drivers and traders travelling between Katsina and Kaduna states.

‘An emergency rehabilitation contract covering approximately 11 kilometres of the Funtua-Dandume road has already been awarded to AFDIN Construction Company. This intervention is intended to address the most critical failed sections and ease the hardship currently experienced by road users,’ he added.

Macinja also acknowledged the deteriorating condition of the remaining sections of the Malumfashi-Funtua highway, assuring residents that the federal government is fully aware of the challenges confronting motorists.

He said the road had already been captured under the federal government’s procurement process, and expressed optimism that the rehabilitation contract would be awarded once the necessary administrative procedures are completed.

‘We are aware that the Malumfashi-Funtua road has deteriorated considerably. The project is presently under procurement, and we are hopeful that it would be awarded in due course,’ he said.

Appealing for patience and understanding, the federal comptroller assured residents, transport operators and other road users that the federal government remained committed to rehabilitating critical road infrastructure despite prevailing financial constraints.

‘We appeal to members of the public to remain patient. The government is doing everything possible within the available resources to execute projects that will improve the lives of citizens. These interventions are being carried out in phases; and more roads will receive attention as funds become available,’ Macinja said.

The federal government, in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), has launched the Renewed Hope Smallholder Agricultural Financing Programme to increase Nigeria’s annual grain production from 11 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes as part of efforts to boost food security and curb rising food prices.

Speaking at the launch of the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund in Zaria, Kaduna State on Friday, the Managing Director of BOA, Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, said the initiative would provide affordable financing, improved seeds, fertilisers and other critical farm inputs to millions of smallholder farmers nationwide.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with Arzikin Noma Africa and selected private-sector aggregators.

Sotinrin said the intervention was expected to benefit 500,000 farmers during the current wet season, expand to two million farmers next year and eventually reach five million farmers across the country.

According to him, if each participating farmer cultivates one hectare and harvests an average of five tonnes, Nigeria’s annual grain output could rise to about 25 million tonnes, creating opportunities for food sufficiency, exports and job creation.

He stressed that the farm inputs were not grants but financed through BOA’s single-digit loan facility at 9 per cent interest, describing the revolving financing model as critical to the programme’s sustainability.

Sotinrin said only 20 farm aggregators were selected from more than 1,240 applicants after meeting the bank’s technical and operational requirements for the pilot phase.

He also disclosed plans to introduce irrigation financing and irrigation-as-a-service to promote year-round farming, reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and improve farmers’ productivity and incomes.

He urged beneficiaries to use the inputs strictly for farming, comply with extension services and repay the loans after harvest to enable more farmers benefit from subsequent phases.

Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the federal government’s strategy for addressing food inflation was to increase domestic agricultural production rather than rely on food imports.

He noted that nearly 90 per cent of Nigerian farmers cultivated less than one hectare of land but accounted for about 85 per cent of the country’s food production, underscoring the importance of supporting smallholder farmers.

Kyari said participating farmers would receive quality farm inputs, extension services, weather advisories and a Guaranteed Minimum Price mechanism to protect them from post-harvest price fluctuations.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, Mr Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, described the private sector as essential to the long-term success of the initiative, saying government should provide an enabling environment while private firms drive implementation.

He said the financing model allowed farmers to repay after harvest, enabling the funds to revolve and support additional beneficiaries in subsequent farming seasons.

The Tenth National Assembly (2023-2027) held its three-day 2026 Open Day activities between July 14 and 16, 2026, which offered the general public an opportunity to see aspects of the routine enterprise of Nigeria’s central legislature. With the theme: ‘Three Years of the 10th Assembly: Advancing Transparency, Inclusion and Reform,’ the exercise offered a befitting tribute to the enterprise of the institution as it provided citizens the opportunity of direct engagement with senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as other organs of the country’s arm of government, which is listed by the constitution as first among equals.

Moreover, given that the life of the Tenth National Assembly expires by early June 2027, the 2026 Open Day exercise might as well serve as the valedictory dispensation for it; hence, it enjoys more than casual significance.

For many reasons, the Nigerian legislature at literally every tier of governance, ranging from the 774 local governments and the 36 state assemblies, is often denied its pride of place, even as it constitutes the very point where citizens’ input in governance is provided for formally.

As the arm of government that exists for the primary purpose of fostering citizen participation in governance, the legislature is the crucible of democracy as it provides for representation of constituents in statutorily delineated constituencies. This condition makes it the eyes, ears and mouth of the people. Yet it is often seen as being relegated to the status of an appendage of the executive arm, which is generally seen as the dispenser and enforcer of state power.

Yet such a dispensation hardly vitiates the statutory potency, democratic credentials and notionally populist orientation of the legislature. That is so unless the very legislators fail to assert themselves as is often the case in Nigeria. Hence, the 2026 National Assembly Open Day exercise remains a most welcome dispensation that accentuates the people-oriented posture of the institution.

Equally commendable is the address of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, which in no small measure traversed, along with other areas, the high points of the enterprise of the institution. Of particular interest remains the fact that the 10th National Assembly received as many as 2742 bills, out of which 363 had been passed while 72 had been assented to by President Bola Tinubu. Just as well, the institute received over 800 petitions, many of which had been resolved through legislative intervention.

While his address did not feature only adulation for the institution, it also accommodated appreciation of some of the concerns of Nigerians over the state of the nation and, in particular, the interface between the National Assembly and the executive arm, state police, reserved parliamentary seats for women and the physically challenged, among others. These are among the concerns of Nigerians with respect to the enterprise of the nation’s legislature.

Just as well, beyond his take are also other areas of public concern which the institution needs to accommodate as they detract from the merit of its enterprise. Most pronounced among such areas for markup in the performance of the institution is that of information management. After all, if for any reason, a public institution finds itself not riding along with its perception before the public, the onus lies with it to address that aspect of its performance. And for the institution, much of whatever misgivings by the wider public often remain reduceable to paucity of information in that area.

That is why, whereas Abbas may have eulogised the institution, there are some areas of weaknesses of the Nigeria’s National Assembly, which its leadership needs to take into consideration. One of these is the widespread questionable public perception that the National Assembly as unduly and chronically subservient to the executive arm, in a manner that has earned the institution the toga of a rubberstamp legislature. The public cite this tendency as a cause of ineffectual oversight of public funds and a persistent focus on personal patronage rather than constituent needs. In a wider context, such flaws erode public trust and cripple the legislature’s ability to drive good governance.

To accentuate the public concern is the fact that whereas it holds constitutional powers to investigate government agencies and expose corruption, the National Assembly’s oversight function remains critically weak. Committee probes often end without concrete outcomes, and findings are rarely fully implemented.

Another area of misgiving by not a few Nigerians is that of perceived vulnerability of the budget process. Currently trending is the case of the PFIPC – a parastatal whic origin is controversial with the entire matter presently before a court of law. To many Nigerians, the national budgeting process is frequently marred by manipulation, lack of transparency and unauthorised insertions (often termed padding). This allows for the funding of suspicious or non-existent projects at the expense of national development.

A further area of concern over the performance comes from a high turnover rate of experienced lawmakers, which leads to the factor of institutional capacity deficits.

Another area of the Assembly’s own handicap is that of financial and operational dependence on the executive arm, which spawns the syndrome and not only limits its autonomy but manifests in weak enforcement powers. Hence under the current constitutional framework, the legislature is often powerless to enforce its resolutions or arrest executive appointees who blatantly disregard legislative summons. This limits the Assembly’s ability to assert its authority as a co-equal branch of government.

However, whereas the cited handicaps remain needy of attention by the institution, a higher level of sustained enlightenment from the perspective of a democratising Nigerian society with its multifarious, social diversities will largely help the situation.

Meanwhile, beyond them also lie some crying reforms that would further the impact of the National Assembly on the politics and economy of the country. Top among these is the adoption of a national converge of the nation’s state legislatures with the National Assembly. To accentuate the imperative of this dispensation is the example of the other arms of government, namely, the executive and judiciary. Whereas in these arms operatives at both the national and state tiers of governance meet regularly and on schedule, to fashion wider-perspective driven strategic approaches to national development, it remains out of place that the legislature, which should oversight their functions, operates without formal, regular interface among the tiers of governance.

Meanwhile, congratulations to the Tenth National Assembly over the 2026 Open Day activities.

It was contrasting fortunes for the 206 FIFA World Cup finalists Spain and Argentina as weather disrupted training for both Spain and Argentina in New York on the eve of the biggest match in world football.

Spain called off their outdoor training session due to threat of thunderstorm following a rainy day in New York.

Euro 2024 winners La Furia Roja’s training session that was supposed to take place at the Melanie Lane training ground in New Jersey was called off on a day the city was drenched in rain with flood alert initiated and thunderstorms were expected.

This led to implementation of the US protocol to cancel any outdoor sporting event due to lightning or electrical activity detected within an eight-mile radius of the weather event.

According to a statement by the Spanish football federation, the team was able to undertake warm-up sessions indoors after suspending training outdoors.

‘The Spanish national team’s training session on the pitches at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey has been suspended in accordance with the US storm safety protocol.

‘The players are currently taking part in a warm-up session indoors.’

However, defending champions Argentina were able to train after a 45-minute delay at their base in Morristown.

The South Americans train five miles away from Spain, and were only briefly affected by the weather before Lionel Messi and co. fine-tuned their fitness ahead of the final.

Spain are gunning for a second World Cup title, while Argentina are looking to successfully defend the World Cup title and become the only team after Brazil in 1962 to achieve the feat.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will take place at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

The first thing that comes to mind when anyone thinks about China is its scale; scale of ambition, scale of achievement and scale of influence. Few countries have transformed themselves as dramatically or shaped global affairs as profoundly in the past four decades.

That reality struck me again when I attended the commissioning of new ECOWAS Headquarters, Abuja, a magnificent China-Aid Project. Standing before the imposing structure, I saw more than an architectural landmark. I saw a symbol of China’s growing role in global governance, diplomacy and development.

Today many have their first glimpse of China through the lenses of the media and the pages of books. One appreciates the country’s role in global politics especially reading about its revered leader, Mao Zedong, who is credited with laying the foundation for the China economic growth, transforming from a struggling economy into a global power through the leadership of the Chinese Communist from a Party.

By the time one has contact with its people, most probably through movies, magazines and interactions with Chinese nationals one is left with the impression that the Chinese are highly innovative and technologically driven people. It will also be glaring that they have built an efficient social and justice system while preserving their heritage and values, many of which have been introduced to other parts of the world.

The growing popularity of Chinese cuisine and traditional attire in Nigeria reflected The increasing number of Chinese restaurants and cultural exchange, has further strengthened my interest in learning about the world’s most populous nation.

Over the years, China has continued to evolve. Beyond the impressions formed through films and literature, if one closely followed global developments one will come to see China as a country poised to play an even more strategic role in shaping the future international order.

When China released it White Paper on Global Governance, it was generally viewed it as a clear indication that the country is seeking to assume a more prominent role in international affairs. Considering its vast human and natural resources, coupled with its remarkable advances in science, technology and industrial development, it is understandable why China seeks a stronger voice in global governance.

The White Paper outlines principles centred on sovereign equality, respect for international law, inclusive global cooperation, people-centre development and practical action over rhetoric. These principles suggest China’s desire to promote a more balanced and equitable international system. For many people in developing countries, this vision holds significant appeal.

During the COVID-19, pandemic, for example, China supplied billions of vaccine doses to countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America without attaching political conditions to aid. This gesture earned considerable goodwill among many developing nations and demonstrated China’s willingness to contribute to global public health.

Equally impressive was China’s rapid response to the pandemic at home. As many countries went on their knees on the heavy yoke of the pandemic, the speed with which China constructed medical facilities and mobilised resources to contain the outbreak reflected remarkable planning, organization and national resolve. It left a lasting impression on me about the people who confront challenges with determination and resilience.

Another issue is China’s manufacturing strength. Home to thousands of factories, industries and technology companies, the country continues to produce globally recognised products while investing heavily in research, innovation and industrial development.

China has supported development projects in many countries, often focusing on infrastructure, trade and investment. A typical example is the railway infrastructure being constructed across Nigeria. This approach has made it an attractive development partner for many nations.

For example, expanding the footprint of Chinese technology, investment and products across the Africa continent is not only rejuvenating commerce or trade, but also offering the continent a viable alternative to traditional Western-led models of economic cooperation and development.

One aspect of China that particularly fascinates many is how it manages a population of more than 1.4 billion people. One often wonders how such a large population is accommodated through an efficient transportation system, housing, healthcare and other public services. Countries with populations of fewer than 10 million still struggle to provide these services effectively, understanding China’s approach would offer valuable lessons.

China is also increasingly emerging as a pacesetter in the regulation of social media and online content. Its approach to protecting young people from harmful influences while maintaining order in the digital space is commendable. Although opinions differ on these policies, they reflect the country’s unique governance model and it emphasises on social stability.

For years, many of China’s digital regulations were met with scepticism and criticism in parts of the West. However, growing concerns over the impact of social media on children and teenagers have prompted several countries, including European countries including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Denmark and Poland, to reconsider aspects of online regulation. Measures such as restrictions, parental controls, limiting on excessive screen time and safeguards against cyberbullying and online exploitation are increasingly finding support among policymakers.

While these approaches differ significantly from China’s broader regulatory framework, they suggest a growing recognition that protecting young people in the digital age may require more active government intervention than was previously accepted.

As China’s influence in global affairs continues to expand, it is understandable why so many people are eager to visit the country, experience its rich culture and better understand a nation whose role in shaping global governance is becoming increasingly significant.

For me, China represents not only economic and technological advancement but also an evolving model of governance whose ideas and policies deserve careful study and thoughtful engagement.

One thing that Nigerians do very well is to honour our dead.

General Abacha died in 1998, but twenty-eight years later, you can still find the odd lorry, Keke Napep or ‘Okada’ with a faded picture of the general wearing his signature sunshades. People still write accolades and attribute many road constructions to his tenure. Death has a way of making us look at things differently, and nowhere is this truer than in the case of Abacha, whom people prefer to remember fondly. Never mind the horrific atrocities that occurred under his rule, Nigerians, especially Northern Nigerians, prefer to warmly idolise their general.

The same love has been largely extended to President Yaradua. Now and then, in May, Nigerian Newspapers are flooded with remembrance ads and memorials of the gentle President from Katsina. His people still remember him, and his stickers are still found on vehicles around the country.

Why then is President Muhammadu Buhari’s case different? Where is the love? Jama’a, where is the love??

Exactly one year ago, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) died on July 13 in London. He had a befitting burial in his hometown of Daura, and many family, friends, political loyalists, employees, well-wishers, hangers-on, and political clout chasers all flocked to his hometown to register their sympathies.

Now, just a year later, everywhere is silent.

No newspaper ad, whether online or in hard copy, had PMB’s plastered on one of its pages. No long eulogy. No touching tributes discussing how life has been post-Buhari. Not even NTA remembered him by replaying their standard documentary on the life of PMB. NTA fa!

Nothing. Shuru kawai Alhaji! Why?

I have a few theories that many of you may not like.

The first is factual. We have become a generation with memory loss. When a major news trend lasts for a few hours, and by the end of the day we have all forgotten how children are kidnapped and sleeping in the forests with bandits, then we have a serious problem. It’s like we all have collective Attention Deficit Disorder. Once a news no longer trends, we move on to the next exciting thing.

The second thing is our collective apathy, which I have discussed previously on this page. Collective apathy is when a group of people stops caring about social problems. It happens when everyone thinks someone else will fix a problem. People feel powerless, tired, or overwhelmed by bad news. This causes everyone to ignore the issue. We no longer care about problems long enough to feel the impact. In Nigerian terms, ‘We no send anymore’. PMB is gone, so let’s face our ever-increasing mountain of problems.

Thirdly, I think, it has to do with PMB’s government, and this I feel, would be where many will disagree. In public spaces, I like to carry out informal surveys by asking about their opinions of the government. Whenever the issue of PMB arose, people always lamented about the following issues.

One is the End SARS Massacre. The 2020 End SARS protests against police brutality, particularly by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), were a turning point in Buhari’s presidency. Nigerians, led by young people, demanded an end to extrajudicial killings, extortion, and harassment. The protests were largely peaceful until October 20, 2020, when security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos. The incident, which left an unconfirmed number of dead and injured, became a symbol of the administration’s disregard for its youth. Buhari’s silence in the aftermath, coupled with the government’s denial of the massacre despite evidence, deepened public distrust. To date, justice has not been served.

Then came the cash scarcity of 2023. In early 2023, under Buhari’s leadership, Nigeria experienced a severe cash scarcity due to the naira redesign policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The new notes were unavailable, and the old ones were declared illegal, leading to widespread suffering. People stood in endless queues outside banks. Fights broke out at ATMs. Small business owners lost their daily income. Several Nigerians reportedly died due to lack of cash to pay for food, medication, or transportation to hospitals.

I remember seeing rural farmers in Danbatta, Kano, selling a whole basket of tomatoes for only N5000 cash so that they could feed their families. These people lived in remote villages and had no bank accounts and so had to slash the prices of their produce so as not to starve. Yet, the government pushed on with the policy, offering no meaningful relief. It was suffering inflicted by choice, not by chance. Despite a Supreme Court ruling against the policy, the Buhari administration ignored it, only reversing course after President Tinubu took office. For many, it was yet another example of Buhari’s tone-deaf governance.

But perhaps one of the most painful aspects of Buhari’s presidency was the total breakdown of security. In his campaign, he promised to defeat Boko Haram and restore peace. Instead, new threats emerged: kidnappers, bandits, and unknown gunmen. Traveling by road became a nightmare. Children were kidnapped from schools. Villages were attacked with impunity. Citizens were left to fend for themselves while the government offered ‘thoughts and prayers.’ I have lost count of the number of organised kidnappings that occurred during his eight-year tenure. An online search to count the number of kidnapping and raids in Nigeria from 2015 to 2023 came up with more than 300 hits.

I got tired and left the search.

So yes, in a way, I understand the silence. I understand why a man, who was once our darling, our hero, our messiah, whom we campaigned fiercely for, whom we stood in the hot, scorching sun to vote for, can die and we forget about him one year later.

But we are Nigerians, and singing praises about the dead is our area of expertise! Some of us may be grieving silently, but much like Abacha and Yaradua, I believe you can increase the tone a bit. Like the MC’s say: ‘Make some noise!’ Flood our timelines with his pictures so that we can erase memories and instead remember him fondly.

Afterall, our own time will come.

May his soul rest in peace, ameen.

And for us, may our ending be good. Allah ya kyautata namu karshen. Ameen.

Every community has a hospital that tells a story. Some tell stories of neglect, where broken equipment gathered dust, overstretched health workers struggled with limited resources, and patients travelled long distances in search of quality care. Others tell stories of hope, where government investment restores confidence in public healthcare and brings life-saving services closer to the people.

For many years, Kwara belonged largely to the first category. Decades of underinvestment left many public health facilities in poor condition. Specialist services were limited, and access to quality healthcare remained a challenge, especially for rural communities. Many residents who could afford it sought treatment outside the state, while those who could not often settled for inadequate care.

Under the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, however, a different story is unfolding. It is a story reflected not in political rhetoric but in upgraded hospitals, improved healthcare outcomes, renewed confidence among development partners, and the growing number of Kwarans who can now access quality medical services within the state.

Unlike many reforms that begin with headline-grabbing projects, Kwara’s healthcare transformation started with the basics. The administration focused on rebuilding the primary healthcare system, strengthening secondary facilities, investing in modern medical equipment, expanding health insurance coverage, and improving the welfare and capacity of health workers.

The results are increasingly visible across the state.

Nearly 200 primary healthcare centres have been renovated, equipped and solarised under programmes supported by the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the World Bank-assisted IMPACT Project, and state resources. Of these, 83 have been upgraded to modern Level-Two facilities with labour rooms, laboratories, pharmacies, immunisation units, clean water, reliable electricity, staff quarters, and perimeter fencing. Communities including Alapa, Magaji Ngeri, Ago Oja, Aboto-Alfa, Ijagbo, Babanloma, Oro, and Lade now have health facilities that are not only functional but also capable of delivering quality services closer to the people.

The reforms extend well beyond primary healthcare. General hospitals in Patigi, Lafiagi, Kaiama, Yashikira, Oro, and other parts of the state have undergone major upgrades, while the former General Hospital, Ilorin, has been transformed into the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH). More than a change of status, the upgrade positions the institution as a centre for specialist healthcare, medical education, and the training of future health professionals.

Nothing symbolises this ambition more than the ultramodern Intensive Care Unit recently completed at KWASUTH. Commissioned by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her official visit to Kwara State, the facility is the largest Intensive Care Unit in North Central Nigeria. It significantly expands the state’s capacity to manage critically ill patients and complex surgical cases, reducing the need for emergency referrals outside Kwara.

The administration has also prioritised modern diagnostics. At the inception of the AbdulRazaq administration, much of the state’s diagnostic infrastructure was outdated or no longer met contemporary standards. Rather than continue relying on obsolete technology, the government procured a state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla MRI machine and a 160-slice CT scanner, significantly strengthening the diagnosis of neurological, oncological, spinal, and other complex medical conditions. Modern ultrasound machines have also been distributed to health facilities, while Sobi Specialist Hospital has received new ophthalmic equipment to strengthen eye care services.

Complementing these investments is a state-of-the-art Oncology Centre under construction in partnership with ASR Africa. When completed, it will improve access to cancer diagnosis and treatment, sparing many families the emotional and financial burden of travelling outside the state for specialised care.

Healthcare infrastructure alone, however, cannot deliver better outcomes without qualified professionals. Like many parts of Nigeria, Kwara has not been immune to the migration of doctors, nurses, and other health workers. The state’s response has been both pragmatic and proactive.

The AbdulRazaq administration has implemented the full CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures alongside hazard allowances to improve staff welfare and retention. Hundreds of healthcare workers across different cadres have been recruited, with additional nurses currently being employed to strengthen service delivery. Equally important is the sustained investment in training. Dozens of midwives have been trained in Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care, while hundreds of health workers have received specialised training in nutrition, immunisation, quality improvement, childhood pneumonia management, and disease surveillance.

Kwara also became the first state in Nigeria to commence payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund in 2025, supporting resident doctors and reinforcing its commitment to developing a sustainable healthcare workforce.

The reforms have been matched by deliberate efforts to make healthcare more affordable. Through the KwaraCare Health Insurance Scheme, more than 100,000 residents, particularly the poor and vulnerable, now enjoy access to essential healthcare services without the crushing burden of out-of-pocket expenses. Regional offices established across the state have further expanded access, making Kwara one of Nigeria’s leading examples in the drive towards universal health coverage.

The annual free medico-surgical outreach has become another defining feature of the administration’s people-centred approach. In 2025 alone, more than 10,000 residents across the 16 local government areas benefited from free consultations, surgeries, medications, eye care services, and the distribution of eyeglasses. Emergency response has also improved with ambulances deployed across all 16 local government areas, supported by outreach vans, motorcycles, and digital tools that have strengthened service delivery, monitoring, and accountability.

The impact of these reforms is no longer measured only by projects completed but by outcomes achieved. Kwara has consistently ranked among Nigeria’s best-performing states in primary healthcare delivery, winning the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge several times and attracting incentive funding of more than $1.4 million to further strengthen health services. Immunisation coverage has consistently surpassed national targets, while nearly half a million children have received Vitamin A supplementation and deworming medication through state-supported programmes.

Independent health indicators also point in the right direction. Kwara now records one of the lowest under-five mortality rates in Nigeria, reflecting sustained investments in maternal and child healthcare, nutrition, immunisation, and community-based interventions. The renewed confidence of development partners such as the World Bank and UNICEF further underscores the credibility of the state’s healthcare reforms.

Recognition has naturally followed these achievements. In 2025, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq received the Nigerian Medical Association’s Award of Excellent Service in recognition of his contributions to healthcare delivery and human capital development. The honour complements other national recognitions earned by Kwara for excellence in primary healthcare and public health programming.

No serious observer would argue that every healthcare challenge has been solved. Healthcare remains one of the most demanding sectors of governance, requiring continuous investment, innovation, and adaptation. Population growth, the migration of health professionals, and emerging public health threats mean that the work of building a resilient health system is never truly finished.

Yet governance should be judged not by the absence of challenges but by the quality of its response to them. By that standard, Kwara’s healthcare story has become one of steady, measurable, and verifiable progress. From revitalised primary healthcare centres and upgraded general hospitals to the largest Intensive Care Unit in North Central Nigeria, modern diagnostic equipment, expanded health insurance coverage, and improved health outcomes, the state has demonstrated that purposeful leadership can transform a critical sector.

Perhaps the most enduring achievement of the AbdulRazaq administration is not the number of facilities renovated or the sophistication of the equipment procured. It is the restoration of public confidence in a healthcare system that increasingly works for ordinary people. For thousands of Kwarans who can now access quality healthcare closer to home, healthcare has ceased to be a promise. It is steadily becoming a reality.

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the shocking revelation of over ?210 billion in overlapping and duplicated allocations in the 2026 Federal Budget, coming on the heels of Nigeria’s dismal performance on nearly 90 percent of globally recognised prosperity indicators, has exposed the Tinubu administration as one of the most fiscally reckless governments in Nigeria’s democratic history.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the two independent reports have finally stripped away the propaganda surrounding the administration’s so-called economic reforms and revealed a painful truth: Nigeria is not failing because of a lack of resources, but because of a profound failure of leadership.

‘For more than three years, Nigerians have been subjected to relentless hardship. They were told that fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, higher taxes and rising tariffs were bitter pills that would eventually restore economic stability. Yet today, the same government cannot explain how more than ?210 billion found its way into duplicated and overlapping budget provisions.

‘When a government asks its people to sacrifice, it must first demonstrate discipline. Instead, what Nigerians have seen is a budget riddled with duplication, questionable insertions, overlapping projects and expenditures that offend both common sense and fiscal responsibility.’

Atiku noted that this latest investigation did not emerge in isolation but adds to a growing catalogue of troubling budget practices that have repeatedly raised serious questions about the integrity of public finance.

‘In recent months, Nigerians have witnessed budgetary allocations for projects outside the statutory mandates of agencies, controversial insertions running into billions of naira, and expenditures that bear little relationship to the pressing needs of ordinary citizens. Rather than responding with transparency, the government has too often resorted to denial before reluctantly acknowledging problems when confronted with overwhelming evidence.

‘Nothing illustrates the bankruptcy of this administration’s so-called reforms more than the fuel subsidy deception. Nigerians were told in 2023 that subsidy was gone and were compelled to endure unprecedented hardship-skyrocketing fuel prices, crushing transportation costs, runaway inflation and a collapsing standard of living-in the name of economic reform. Yet NNPC Limited’s own audited 2024 financial statements now reveal that a staggering ?7.13 trillion was still expended on what it calls ‘Energy Security Expenses,’ a category the company itself identifies as petrol subsidy, otherwise known as under-recovery. This means Nigerians were never told the whole truth. The subsidy was not eliminated; it was merely repackaged, renamed and quietly charged against the Federation. A government that conceals ?7.13 trillion behind a convenient euphemism while demanding sacrifice from millions of struggling citizens cannot claim the moral authority to preach reform, prudence or fiscal discipline. Nigerians deserve to know who authorised this expenditure, who benefited from it, and why the administration chose to market deception as economic reform.’

According to him, this pattern demonstrates that the problem is no longer isolated errors but a systemic breakdown in budget discipline.

‘The national budget is the single most important economic policy document of any government. It should reflect national priorities, inspire investor confidence and assure citizens that every naira borrowed or earned will be spent wisely. When that document itself becomes contaminated by duplication and overlapping allocations, confidence in the entire machinery of government is undermined.’

The former Vice President said the consequences of this fiscal indiscipline are evident in the country’s declining prosperity rankings.

‘While government officials celebrate selective macroeconomic indicators, Nigerians are experiencing a different economy entirely. Families are skipping meals. Parents are struggling to pay school fees. Small businesses are shutting their doors. Manufacturers continue to battle soaring production costs. Young graduates cannot find jobs. Farmers are trapped between insecurity and inflation.

‘It therefore comes as no surprise that Nigeria is now lagging behind its peers across almost every meaningful indicator of prosperity. A nation cannot budget for waste and expect prosperity. It cannot institutionalise inefficiency and hope for development.’

Atiku said the contradiction at the heart of the Tinubu administration has become impossible to ignore.

‘On one hand, government claims reforms are succeeding. On the other hand, it continues to borrow aggressively despite periods of stronger oil prices, while revelations of duplicated allocations raise legitimate questions about how public resources are being managed. The tragedy is not merely that Nigeria is borrowing; it is that Nigerians are increasingly uncertain whether those borrowings are producing commensurate value.’

He stressed that genuine reform requires government to subject itself to the same discipline it demands from citizens.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged anyone disputing his administration’s claim of constructing 317 kilometres of roads across satellite towns in the territory to appear on national television within 24 hours to prove otherwise.

Wike issued the challenge while commissioning the Bazango Road, popularly known as Arab Road, in Kubwa, saying his administration’s records on road construction were verifiable and open to public scrutiny.

He maintained that the road projects were part of the FCT Administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and opening up communities for economic and social development.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the commissioning, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said the projects reflected the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’

According to him, the road infrastructure is aimed at improving connectivity, strengthening security, reducing traffic congestion, particularly along the Kubwa axis, and improving the quality of lives of residents.

He added that the projects demonstrate the federal government’s commitment to delivering infrastructures that meet the needs of residents across the Federal Capital Territory.

A coalition of Fulani socio-cultural organisations in Kwara State has declared support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yakubu Danladi Salihu, ahead of the 2027 election.

The endorsement came at a gathering of leaders of Miyetti Allah, Gam Allah, Jamu Naati Fulbe and other Fulani associations, where the groups also passed a vote of confidence in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Announcing the decision, former Special Adviser on Strategy to Governor AbdulRazaq, Abdulsalam Atiku, said the endorsement followed consultations among Fulani stakeholders across the state.

According to him, the groups considered Danladi capable of sustaining the programmes and policies of the present administration.

‘Our support is founded on the expectation that his administration will promote inclusive government where every community has a sense of belonging, and strengthen security across the state.

‘We believe it will also modernise, expand nomadic education infrastructure, empower pastoralists, farmers, encourage youth, women development, and promote peaceful coexistence as the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity,’ Atiku said.

He urged members of the Fulani community to remain united and work towards another electoral victory for the APC in the 2027 general election.

Atiku expressed confidence that the ruling party would replicate its successes in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO), Kwara State Chapter, Hon. Saliu Umar Sanda, reaffirmed the group’s confidence in Governor AbdulRazaq.

He described his administration as inclusive and responsive to the aspirations of the Fulani community.

He said members of the community appreciated the appointment of qualified Fulani indigenes into strategic public offices.

The development, he noted, had strengthened their sense of belonging in the state.

‘On behalf of the Fulani communities and associations in Kwara State, we reaffirm our confidence in your leadership and respectfully assure Your Excellency of our continued support for your administration and the progressive ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

‘We equally wish to state that we will continue to stand by and support candidates presented by our great party at the national, state, and local levels, while working tirelessly to promote peace, unity, and progress within our communities,’ Sanda said.

Sanda particularly praised the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development, describing it as evidence of the government’s commitment to strengthening livestock production and expanding its contribution to the state’s economy.

While reaffirming the loyalty of Fulani communities to the APC, he appealed to the state government to sustain programmes that would widen opportunities for the community through appointments, education, agriculture, livestock development and empowerment initiatives.

In his remarks, Ardo of Baruten, Alhaji Hassan Yusuf, applauded the APC for nominating Danladi as its governorship candidate.

He argued that Kwara North deserved the party’s ticket in recognition of the district’s loyalty to the APC and in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.