Category: Daily Trust

Some Nigerians have called on the military to disclose the identities of 16 officers reportedly detained over an alleged coup plot, as investigations into the matter continue.

This follows reports that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had apprehended several officers, including a Brigadier-General and a Colonel, for alleged involvement in a planned move to overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sources told Daily Trust that a former governor from one of the southern states is also under investigation for his purported links with some of the detained officers.

According to one source, the former governor, who previously worked in the oil and gas sector, is being probed to determine the nature of his recent interactions with the officers.

The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is said to be coordinating the investigation, with representation from all three services of the Armed Forces.

A senior officer, reportedly a Major-General, is leading the panel, while the comprehensive list of those being interrogated remains closely guarded.

Meanwhile, some persons have demanded transparency from the military, with many calling for the release of the detained officers’ names and the specific offences for which they are being held.

‘Breach of service regulations? Tell us the exact breach. Don’t put us in darkness,’ one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing growing public curiosity over the incident.

‘Every single coup started as a hoax. . At this point, Nigerians must warn this government to face governance and STOP playing these silly pranks that will lead the country into unnecessary crisis.’ – @JosephOnuorah on X/Twitter.

‘All these are warnings for our politicians to lead us well, things are truly bad and citizens are suffering.’ – @iamaguiyi via Instagram.

‘There was no coup plot. This is pure theatrics. Watch them build and amplify a narrative from this nonsense. If they are sure, let them release the names,’ – @Mic_Thighson.

‘The situation is far from clear. Just like the story alluding to the arrests, another has surfaced, ostensibly from the Defence Headquarters. . The most responsible course of action is to remain calm and await credible clarification.’ – ACF statement

‘The constitution clearly states that government cannot be changed except through constitutional means . But the military always suspends the constitution immediately they take over.’ – Comrade Jare Ajayi (Afenifere).

Team Nigeria’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have returned home after proudly representing the nation at the African Hockey Cup of Nations (ACN) held in Ismailia, Egypt.

Made up entirely of local-based players who trained intensively for over six weeks in Abuja, both teams delivered spirited performances against some of Africa’s hockey powerhouses – including South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and hosts Egypt.

The men’s team claimed the bronze medal – their best finish in recent years – after defeating Kenya 3-1 in the third-place playoff. Nigeria’s James Samaila shone brightly, emerging as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive eight goals.

Meanwhile, the women’s team, who had previously secured bronze in earlier editions, put up a commendable fight but narrowly missed out on a podium finish this time.

President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Nkom, speaking on arrival from Egypt, praised both teams for their ‘dedication, teamwork, and resilience,’ and pledged continued support for the sport’s growth.

‘Our players showed the true Nigerian spirit. We’ll keep building on this foundation to achieve greater results,’ he said.

Engineer Nkom also described the men’s bronze medal as a major milestone for Nigerian hockey.

‘Our players displayed exceptional passion and discipline throughout the competition. This achievement is a significant step forward for Nigerian hockey,’ he added.

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has stressed the need for collaborative efforts in the battle against cancer, which remains one of the country’s most significant public health challenges.

Mahmoud made this call at the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Cancer Week held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Maitama, Abuja.

She noted that the theme, ‘Redefining the Future of Cancer Prevention, Access, and Equity for All,’ underscores the urgent need to guarantee all Nigerians, regardless of background, timely and affordable access to prevention and treatment services.

The Minister emphasized that cancer continues to be a leading cause of illness and death globally, with Nigeria facing the impact directly.

She outlined the FCTA’s ongoing commitment to supporting cancer prevention, citing sustained investments in awareness campaigns, early detection programs, and public-private partnerships.

Mahmoud reiterated the administration’s goal to strengthen the healthcare system, focusing on disease prevention and accessible, quality care for all FCT residents.

Addressing the need for broad-based action, the Minister said the fight against cancer extends beyond medical interventions, requiring empathy, education, innovation, and research investment.

She commended the role of International Cancer Week in fostering dialogue, encouraging partnerships, and mobilizing collective action to alter the fate of families and communities affected by cancer.

The League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State has expressed concern over a strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), saying the industrial dispute often disrupts academic sessions and weakens the quality of education.

In a statement on Monday, the secretary general of the body, Imam Tajudeen Adewunmi, urged the Federal Government to act quickly and decisively to find a permanent solution to the problems.

According to the statement, the lingering strike has placed a financial burden on parents and guardians who cover living expenses and housing costs even while schools are closed.

The statement read in part: ‘As religious leaders, we cannot remain silent when the education of our youths and the stability of our nation are repeatedly placed in jeopardy. Each round of strike leaves behind painful scars. Students are trapped in prolonged academic calendars, unable to graduate when expected. ‘Parents and guardians are weighed down financially, paying for accommodation and living expenses even while schools remain shut. Families endure emotional stress as uncertainty about the future of their children grows heavier. Beyond this, the long periods of idleness expose young people to vices such as crime, drug abuse and restlessness, problems that later spill over into our communities.

‘The effect on the nation is equally profound. Frequent disruptions weaken the quality of education, producing graduates who are less competitive globally. Continuous strikes encourage brain drain, as both students and lecturers seek stability abroad. Local businesses around campuses collapse during closures, affecting livelihoods. More dangerously, the repeated instability erodes trust in our public institutions, weakening the hope and faith of citizens in the future of Nigeria.

‘We therefore appeal to the Federal Government to take urgent and concrete steps toward resolving these issues once and for all. This includes ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration for lecturers, improving infrastructure and teaching facilities across universities and providing continuous funding for research and innovation to drive national development.’

The body also called on the ASUU leadership to engage in dialogue with sincerity and respect for one another, acknowledging that while complaints are legitimate, protracted strikes only make things worse for students, families, and the country as a whole.

Nigeria’s food and soil systems are under growing threat from industrial agriculture and excessive chemical use, according to experts who spoke on The Volume Pod.

Faith Nemie Ayegba, a food systems and climate advocate, said industrialisation and capitalist pressures have forced farmers to prioritise speed and profit over sustainability, leading to widespread soil degradation.

‘Most of our soils are getting depleted in terms of nutrients and microorganisms needed for healthy growth,’ Ayegba said.

She explained that the shift from communal to industrial farming practices has worsened the problem.

‘When industrialists came into agriculture, they introduced genetically modified seedlings and pesticides with promises of high yield and drought resistance,’ she said.

‘These innovations depleted the soil further and destroyed the natural processes that support farming.’

Ayegba said farmers are now driven by ‘fast cash’ rather than sustainability, skipping essential soil restoration steps in pursuit of quicker harvests.

‘Everybody wants to do things fast, fast, quick, quic. ‘You boycott the processes that should get you to your destination because you want quick money.

‘But the technologies we introduce end up harming the soil, human health, and the natural world,’ she said.

Ikenna Donald Ofoegbu, a programme manager and researcher who leads the Sustainable Nigeria Programme at Heinrich Böll Stiftung, said Nigeria’s approach to agriculture is not in harmony with nature.

His words: ‘The whole soil is looking the same. The quality is declining. It’s a system problem driven by the ‘get money quick’ mentality.’

He noted that rapid urbanisation and deforestation are also putting immense pressure on the environment.

‘Nigeria has one of the fastest deforestation rates in the world. We’re losing forests, insects, and microbes because we’re farming in ways that are not in tune with nature,’ he said.

Ofoegbu criticised the lack of transparency surrounding fertiliser composition and chemical use in agriculture.

‘Ninety percent of farmers don’t know the active ingredients in the agrochemicals they apply on their farms.

‘Consumers too don’t know what’s in the food they eat. There are no full disclosure clauses for what’s in these fertilisers or pesticides,’ he stated.

He said agencies such as NAFDAC and the Biosafety Agency often approve products after limited trials without disclosing the full chemical makeup to the public.

‘They’ll just tell you it’s safe and put it out in the market. But farmers don’t know how it affects the soil, the next farming season, or even unborn babies,’ he said.

Both experts called for stronger regulation, transparency, and a return to ecologically balanced farming systems that prioritise human and environmental health over profit.

Nigeria’s political orbit has a new rhythm, not the boom of campaign rallies yet, but a steadier, subtler beat: governors switching colours, lawmakers stepping across the aisle, and entire local caucuses seemingly folding into the ruling party. Defections are hardly new in our politics, but the recent pace and scale have raised a question many Nigerians are asking in quiet tones and louder op-eds alike: is this momentum a reflection of genuine political realignment, or the deliberate co-option of opposition space by the APC?

At face value, the APC’s gains are impressive. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen dozens of state legislators and several high-profile governors move their allegiance to the ruling party. In Kaduna State alone, a large group of lawmakers formally crossed to APC in a single, conspicuous event, a public signal of shifting local arithmetic. Interestingly, Governor Uba Sani has managed to maintain a fine balance between consolidating his political base and keeping his doors open to dialogue. His approach so far has been marked by restraint and quiet engagement, as he continues to navigate both internal and external pressures with relative calm. The headlines scream consolidation; in party rooms, they cheer the narrative of national unity and momentum.

There are two ways to read these movements. One is benign: politicians are pragmatic actors reacting to realities on the ground. They argue that working with the party in power improves their ability to deliver for their constituents, granting greater access to federal resources, smoother cooperation with ministries, and a better chance of getting projects across the line. From this vantage, defections are simply political calculation, not collusion. APC leaders and spokespeople insist freedom of association is alive and well; they say no coercion took place, and that defectors chose the party out of conviction.

The other reading is darker and cannot be ignored. Critics, including the ADC and other opposition figures, argue these defections are part of a coordinated strategy to hollow out opposition structures and edge toward a one-party dominance. They point to patterns: mass announcements timed before key moments, high-visibility receptions with federal officials, and the steady flow of resources to newly converted strongholds. For many Nigerians who watched the APC’s 2015 predecessor coalition sweep across the country, this feels eerily familiar, a steady accumulation of advantage until contestation is no longer competitive.

Which of these narratives is truer matters, because defections change the rules of engagement? If defections are driven by patronage and the promise of immediate gains, then elections become less about ideas and more about transactional survival. Political parties risk becoming brand names rather than platforms organized around policy and grassroots structures. We already see the consequences: internal party organs complain of being sidelined when national dealmakers broker state-level transfers; grassroots organisers feel betrayed when leaders jump ship without local consultation. The human cost is real, volunteers and local chairs left with the reputational fallout of decisions made in elite rooms.

A second effect is strategic. The APC can deploy defections as a tool to shape the electoral map before campaign season begins in earnest. Winning over governors and state assemblies is not symbolic; it matters for incumbency leverage, control of local appointments, and the capacity to influence electoral logistics. For example, governors can redirect state-level patronage and administrative goodwill that shape voter choices and party machinery. If the APC retains these gains, opposition efforts to mobilize at the grassroots are necessarily harder and more expensive. This is why ADC and others have framed the trend as a threat to pluralism because political competition requires credible, organized rivals at every level.

But the story is not all one-sided. Defectors themselves are vulnerable. Switching parties near an election often brings short-term advantages but long-term costs. Voters remember. In some states, defections have sparked local backlashes, legal challenges, and questions about the integrity of local party processes. Opposition parties sometimes gain moral capital by painting defectors as opportunists, using these defections as proof of principled resistance. Moreover, when defections look too orchestrated, they can stiffen civil society’s resolve to demand transparency and electoral fairness. The tug of war between spontaneous political calculation and organised co-option will define how these defections land with the electorate.

So, what should Nigerians watch for next? First, watch the legal and institutional responses. Parties or factions sidelined by defections may turn to courts; where the judiciary is seen as impartial, legal outcomes can alter the benefits of switching. Second, follow the local organisers. If new APC entrants are followed by concrete grassroots payoffs such as staffing local offices, funding ward activities, and training polling monitors, that suggests real consolidation. If the opposite happens, and new members remain a top-heavy spectacle, the political gains may be shallow. Third, watch public sentiment: defections only stick if voters accept them. A defector without a convincing narrative to voters, one that explains why the shift serves the public interest, risks being rejected at the polls.

Finally, there is a broader democratic question. Healthy democracies accommodate party switches; crude one-party dominance is the problem. The real test for Nigeria is whether institutional safeguards such as media scrutiny, independent electoral bodies, active civil society, and a vibrant judiciary can check the excesses of political engineering. If those institutions remain robust, defections will be an episodic feature of competition. If they weaken, the stakes for 2027 grow exponentially higher.

Defections, then, are both symptom and strategy. They reveal fractures within parties, and they are weapons in the battle for political survival. The APC’s current gains may reflect genuine support for its economic message and the solidity of incumbency. They may also be the careful, slow accretion of advantage. The difference matters for who governs, how they govern, and whether the next election will be a genuine contest of ideas or a managed procession.

For now, the best response is what democracy always demands: scrutiny. Journalists, civic groups, and everyday citizens must keep asking the difficult questions. Where did allegiance change hands? Who benefited? What were the terms? Answering those questions is not an act of partisanship; it is an act of citizenship.

If the APC is building through persuasion, let voters see the policies and projects that explain the shift. If it is purchasing loyalty, then the public should see that too – because the health of Nigeria’s democracy depends not only on who wins, but on how they win.

While Property owners in Kano, the most populous state in Nigeria, are smiling to the banks owing to the phenomenal rise in value of their landed properties, low income earners are increasingly overburdened with house rent and therefore looking for affordable options just to meet the basic need of shelter.

Rising cost of building materials, provisions of basic infrastructure like access road and general inflationary trend are some of the factors driving cost of property up in the state.

This report takes a look at five areas in the commercial nerve centre where affordable properties are available for rent or outright purchase

According to those involved in property business , Kano has both formal and informal settlements, and the chances of getting increased settlements in the state are high as people are migrating from old settlements to the new, modern estates that provide security, serenity and are conducive to better living.

1. Hotoro/Kawo

Hotoro quarters is a vast area in Nasarawa Local area stretching to eastern bye pass and hosting key institutions like NNPC depot, Mobile police barrack, CBN staff quarters.

Some parts of Hotoro are considered exclusively for the rich while other areas are affordable for medium and low income earners.

Mamman Sarina ,an estate agent , said he usually procures houses for people seeking rent in Hotoro where rent is is relatively low.

‘ Rents in Hotoro start from N400,000 essentially because some areas are without pipeborne water and where houses do have boreholes the rent can go up to N800,000 or one million naira.

‘ Houses for outright purchase are categorised depending on the finishing, location and the quality.Price ranges between N20 million and above in densely populated areas known as ‘awon igiya’,’ he said.

Kawo is an extension of Hotoro bordering Government Reserved Areas (GRA) like Lamido Crescent and Giginyu.Kawo evolved from the congestion in in Kano to pave way for new settlements.

Like Hotoro, affordable houses are available in Kawo with tenancy rate going to as low N400,000 for a two bedroom apartment.

Wasilu Kawo a radio anchor who lives in the area said the area is attractive owing to its proximity to strategic location like Giginyu quarter where you have the headquarters of Department of state services,DSS, Tarauni Market, Nassarawa GRA and Hotoro.

He said ‘ Kawo is a mixed area with all the major tribes.The attraction to Kano is affordability of houses and it’s proximity to other strategic places.Maryam Abacha University is a stone throw distance away just a Nasarawa GRA is next door neighbour to Kawo and so people find it attractive.’

2. Kwankwasiyya/Amana cities

These are new cities built by Kano State government with luxury duplexes and bungalows scattered all over but left unoccupied until recently when Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf completed new government house in Kwankwasiyya city where cabinet meetings often are held.

Initially property owners in the two cities were not willing to move in because the estates were a bit isolated and far from the metropolitan areas . Caretakers of the properties rented them out to squatters at giveaway amount just to protect the property from petty thieves.But the renewed passion and directives of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to property owners to move in or face revocation of allocation has brought life to the two cities.

Constant supply of electricity from Kano independent power plant and KEDCO have also been complimenting government’s efforts of bringing life to the cities attracting tenants.

The prices of the houses at the time of allocation ranged from N11 million for a bungalow to N35000 million for a duplex, but the current market value of the houses may have more than doubled now.

The acting Managing Direction of Kano state Housing corporation has introduced a clean up exercise at the Kwankwasiyya city to enhance its livability and aesthetic appeal to promote physical occupation by owners or tenants

It was also learnt that these areas are attracting property investment owing to either a notable government project going on, or being established in the area, or rising number of the people living in the area.

3. Jaba/Gama

Jaba located in Nasarawa Local government area, is another place where property is affordable because it is densely populated area attracting property investment

Virtually every ethnic group in Nigeria is represented in Jaba which neighbouring the Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), the Nigerian Airforce training school/Air force base, immigration training school and NDLEA headquarters in Kano.

Ado Fela, an estate agent in the area said prices of affordable houses start from N15 million and above while annual rent starts from N600,000 up to one million naira depending on the property.

In the past few years, the area was near empty with only locals engaging in the farming activities but it has blossomed into a lively settlement attracting property investors.

Gama, on the other hand, is largely occupied by low income earners. According Fela a house could go for between N9 or N10 million in Gama A and Gama B with annual rent starting from N200,000 or more. Mud houses whose annual rent could not go beyond N50,000, are still obtainable in Gama, said the estate agent.

4. Danbare

Danbare is close to Bayero University New site and the popular Janguza Army Barrack, hence the reason for its rapid development and attraction to investors.

Most people working in the University find the area attractive. It was established that people are now trooping to buy land and reserve for future uses,even as many private student hotel appears to be a lucrative business.

A mass housing project by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is ongoing just after Janguza barracks which suggests that the area is rapidly expanding and therefore attracting property buyers.

5. Sharada/Ja’in

Sharada located in municipal local government area is both industrial and residential area where property business is booming.

Factory workers prefer to live close by to get place of work with ease.Most of them find rent in the Sharada area closed to the market affordable.Others who cannot afford would go elsewhere in Ja’in which next door for cheaper houses for rent with a future plan of buying a piece of land to build their own gradually.

There are several other areas in Kano where houses are affordable even as new private housing estates are springing up across the state making Kano a massive construction site.

An organisation, Ikore International Development Limited, in partnership with ChananHill, has taken a nutritional campaign awareness to Aso Pada, a neaigbouring Abuja community in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Abuja Metro reports that the event, held on Thursday, was part of the activities to mark this year’s World Food Day with the theme, ‘Hand in Hand – Better Food, Better Future.’

It was attended by more than 200 community members-including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and local leaders and was designed to promote healthy eating habits and better food choices using locally available foods.

It featured a series of interactive sessions and a symbolic Food Pledge to encourage lasting behaviour change toward improved nutrition.

Speaking at the event, Ikore’s Managing Partner, Ogheneovo Ugbebor, highlighted that the initiative reflects Ikore’s ongoing commitment to improving food and nutrition outcomes through inclusive, locally owned solutions.

‘At Ikore, we believe real change begins in communities. Taking this year’s commemoration to the grassroots is our way of showing that nutrition is everyone’s business-from the household to the market, and from mothers to fathers,’ Ugbebor said.

She said the partnership between Ikore and ChananHill paved the way for the official activation of the Balanced Plate Initiative-a program designed to improve household nutrition by empowering women and nutritionally vulnerable groups with the knowledge and tools to make better food choices.

Hembafan Martina, Head of Program at ChananHill, underscored the importance of community-led nutrition awareness in achieving food security and healthier families.

‘The Balanced Plate Initiative is about helping women and pregnant or lactating mothers understand that good nutrition starts with what’s already in their kitchens,’ Martina said.

The World Food Day celebration in Aso Pada not only commemorated a global cause but also paved the way for a sustained community nutrition movement-one that places women at the heart of change and promotes a future where every household can achieve better food and better health.

A Kano State High Court, sitting at Court No. 15, has sentenced three men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering a carpenter, Abba Aminu Yalwa.

The convicts, Sagir Lawan, Kabiru, and Alaramma, were said to be friends of the deceased.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences committed at Danbare Quarters in Kano.

According to the prosecution counsel, Barrister Aminu Ado Bello, the incident occurred after the deceased had lent money to the first defendant, Sagir Lawan.

When Yalwa later demanded repayment, Sagir reportedly lured him to Danbare under the pretext of showing him a plot of land.

According to the prosecutor, Sagir and his two accomplices then conspired to attack him, stabbing him in the stomach and causing his death.

They had earlier denied the charges.

The prosecution presented six witnesses, all of whom testified before the court, corroborating the charges against the accused.

In his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji, stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence presented and found the defendants guilty as charged.

He subsequently sentenced all three men to death by hanging.

Globacom at the weekend backed this year’s edition of Ofala Festival demonstrating its support for culture with a car and other prizes delivered to subscribers.

Held at the Ime Obi, Onitsha, this year’s festival featured the Iru Ofala on Friday and the Azu Ofala on Saturday. The two are the major ceremonies that make up the grand Ofala Festival, a time-honoured tradition of the people of Onitsha.

The Iru Ofala was Obi’s first public appearance after spending weeks in spiritual retreat and communion with the ancestors, in propitiation for the good of the land.

The Imperial Majesty’s appearance in his rich traditional attire and dancing around the Ime Obi was significant and symbolic of his readiness to lead his people into a new year of prosperity.

Public figures in attendance included the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, and several other highly placed individuals.

The Obi lauded Globacom for its strong support for the Festival over the last 14 years. ‘We thank them for believing in us, and I trust that the mutual benefit that we all derive from the festival will continue to prevail,’ the royal father said.

The Azu Ofala, which was the grand finale of the festival, was a time of thanksgiving, joy, and community festivity. The Obi again graced the occasion in a lighter, festive mood, as he received goodwill messages from dignitaries and visitors, including Globacom, the official sponsor of the festival.

Globacom added glamour by presenting prizes to various winners in the Ofala promo, which was specifically introduced for the people of Onitsha.

The promo ran for four weeks before the Ofala festival and the eventual winners were presented with various prizes, including a brand new Kia Picanto, two tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, grinding machines and so much more.

The Kia car was won by Chidinma Esther Obi, a businesswoman in 33 Area of Onitsha. For Tricycles, known widely as Keke, the duo of Ibeziakor Onyebuchi Anthony and Ejike Chiememma Gloria emerged winners.