Category: Daily Trust

The declaration of a low-key celebration should not be for Independence Day alone. This has been the style in recent years, as the nation comes to terms with its realities. However, scaling down on celebrations should not be merely symbolic. It should be part of a national strategy to confront the tragedy that has happened to the country so that the time to celebrate can come.

This is a hard fact that Nigerians have come to accept because the mood of the nation at the moment does not agree with any form of flamboyant or elaborate festivities.

This is why many young Nigerians, especially the Gen Z generation and younger, have lost or missed the joy of nationhood. Every year, the citizens look forward to a celebration of the beauty of being born in Nigeria. However, for several years now, this expectation has turned out to be a mirage.

Nigeria’s conditions at the moment make celebrations of any sort irrelevant or impractical. Nigeria is besieged on virtually all fronts. The country is facing financial difficulties, making grand celebrations impractical.

Nigeria is facing perhaps the worst national turbulence. On the economic front, times are hard for many citizens. On the social front, there is evidence of discontent. On the physical plane, Nigerians have not been so unsafe and vulnerable. Indeed, the nation is besieged on every side, grappling with crises, conflicts, health, and security emergencies. These warrant a more subdued tone of any form of merrymaking.

Nigeria’s crisis state is not sectional or regional. What we have is a nationwide conflagration that requires deep thinking and reflection, and then strategies to confront it. It is not a short-term phenomenon either. It has lingered for years now and has since widened. It is also evident that without concrete efforts being deployed to arrest it, the crisis portends wider and deeper social, economic, and physical dislocations.

There are a million reasons why Nigeria must suspend all forms of celebrations. Celebrations cost money, to start with, and whatever the government can do now to cut expenses must be done from now on. A time when the government is experiencing an economic crunch, the emphasis must be on cutting off all forms of extravagant expenditures, and the national independence celebration at a time such as this is one of such events. After all, the value of everything must be viewed contextually.

Often, these celebrations merely reflect the notions of national greatness that countries or governments confer on themselves. Sometimes, these notions of national greatness are misplaced, especially at times when the overall well-being of the citizens is at stake. The truth now, however, is that any such notions that we carry of ourselves and the country have been greatly impacted. Nigeria’s notion of greatness has been seriously dented, and the government must focus on the restoration of the greatness of the country first. Based on the above facts, celebrations should wait.

Besides, who indeed will be celebrating in Nigeria now? Celebrations are done within physical and social milieus. Which of these is fit for elaborate or even moderate celebrations, if we are not out to deceive ourselves? Celebrations are not held in environments of fear and intimidation, which is what Nigerians are going through currently. We are harvesting the deaths of citizens on different fronts. Nigerians are being plucked off their vehicles – whether cars or buses – and marched into the forests by bandits. At home, they are not safe because death – whether from armed robbers or kidnappers – also comes calling with so much ease.

The above realities have left deep cuts or disruptions on our economy, the very foundation of our national life. The economy is feeling the impact of insecurity on different fronts. Farmers are running away from their farms because of bandits who now see them as easy prey. So, farming communities are getting deserted as those who are expected to produce the food for the nation run for their lives. Any wonder then that the country suffers or will suffer from a food crisis? If it is not evident now, it will soon be, should the trend continue. Who would be holding lavish celebrations at such a time?

What is happening to farmers in the rural areas is also confronting some in the cities. The roads are not safe for them as they travel in their luxury vehicles or by public transport. Therefore, the economy faces constraints because goods can no longer be transported easily from where they are produced to where the consumers are. This is a redefinition of economics because being produced and not getting to those who need them means that there is a break in the cycle of economic activities.

What Nigeria needs now, more than any other thing, is a cap on irrelevancies and a focus on the matter of the moment. That matter is the restoration of the nation’s sense of dignity- the dignity of the country and the dignity of each citizen, big or small. We need a return to the stage where each citizen counts.

The Kano State Shura Committee has suspended Sheikh Lawal Shuaib Abubakar, popularly known as Triumph, from all teaching and preaching activities pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of blasphemy leveled against him.

Briefing journalists after a review meeting on the matter, Secretary of the committee, Shehu Wada Sagagi, said the committee had listened to and viewed audio and video clips of the cleric before reaching its decision.

‘Today, we reconvened to receive and review the allegations against Sheikh Lawal Shuaib Abubakar, popularly known as Triumph. We listened to and viewed both audio and video clips from him.

‘In our deliberations, we carefully examined the issues, separating those supported by evidence from those without. We resolved that allegations lacking evidence should be set aside, while those with verifiable evidence have been duly recorded. Even instances where he stammered or hesitated in the videos were noted in the report,’ the committee said. It added that Sheikh Triumph will be summoned in writing to defend himself, after which recommendations will be submitted to the government for further action.

‘A formal summon will be issued, and pending his defense, he is suspended from all teaching and preaching activities. After he presents his defense, the committee will submit its report and recommendations for the government’s decision on the matter. He will be invited shortly and given adequate time to appear,’ Sagagi added.

Daily Trust reports that the allegations against Malam Abubakar include claims that he made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (SAW), questioned aspects of his birth, and suggested his parents were in hellfire.

A farmer, identified as Ishaku Abalis, has been beheaded in the Panyam District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Bulus Dabit, the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the attack occurred amid incessant attacks and kidnappings in the Panyam and Pushit districts of the Mangu LGA.

Dabit, who described the attacks as relentless, called for the creation of state police, explaining that local policing is critical to enhancing federal security operations, effectively tackling unlawful killings, and ensuring the safety of all citizens.

He stated, ‘Abalis’ head was cut off and taken away by the killers. The local security outfits are aware. The Sector Commander in Mangu LGA mobilised his officers and men to the site and is aware of the sporadic attacks on our people. The DPO Mangu is aware.’

The National President also called for an enhanced security presence to prevent the vulnerability of the region, urging for a strategic and robust deployment of security personnel to the most affected areas.

He believes that a visible security presence can deter further attacks, instill confidence among residents, and safeguard innocent lives from the lurking threat of violence.

While calling for the deployment of security forces, Dabit also urged security agencies to intensify their efforts in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators of these heinous acts.

Major Samson Zhakom and DSP Alabo Alfred, spokespersons for Operation Enduring Peace and the State Police Command respectively, did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent regarding the incident at press time.

For Hajiya Rukaiya Abubakar Kushu, a near-death experience from pregnancy complications led her to start helping less privileged women with similar conditions. What started as assisting women who faced gynecological problems over the years grew into offering assistance in various sectors.

‘My passion for humanitarian work, especially in maternal and child health, was inspired by a near-fatal pregnancy complication I survived. I underwent three different surgeries during birth, and in each surgery, I had to travel abroad for medical treatment. After my third birth, doctors recommended a permanent stoppage of childbirth; in other words, I should be prevented from giving birth for the rest of my life.

‘That painful experience was what drove me into thinking of coming up with something that will save the lives of the less privileged women suffering from gynaecology-related sickness,’ she told Daily Trust.

She said the experience of her maid prompted her, in 2018, to establish the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, named after her father, to help less privileged women and children. ‘Divorced due to her gynecological complications and sent back to her parents with ten children, she spent two years at home battling with the illness and at the same time taking care of her children. The day she told me her story, I could not sleep throughout the night.

‘In the morning, I took her to the hospital and after all the necessary checkups, the doctors said she needed to undergo a minor surgery. And to my surprise, the cost of the surgery was just N30,000. So, I went back home with the intention of raising funds from family and friends.

‘I posted the woman’s case on my WhatsApp status and requested my followers to come to her rescue by donating money to cover the expenses of her surgery. In less than five minutes, people started sending their donations. It was on a Friday, I recall, and by Monday, I went to the hospital with over N200,000 in my account.

‘After the woman was treated and discharged, I told the doctors that I wanted to spend the remaining money on other patients suffering from related sickness.’

After a meeting with the management of the hospital, her request was granted, and she spent the remaining money on treating other patients. I saved the lives of seven women with the remaining money.

Following these incidents, she told the management of the hospital to contact her whenever they received such cases, and since then she has been helping women with such complications, especially the less privileged, divorced and widows. These categories of women have all been treated free of charge under this arrangement.

‘All I was after then was what I could do to ensure no woman or child suffers in silence when compassion and action could save their lives. The foundation was to handle only gynecological surgical cases because that was what I suffered. That was how I started because I realised that many women were dying simply because they didn’t have the means to treat themselves.’

A few months into the activities of the foundation, Rukaiya also saw the need for the foundation to include children suffering from pediatric-related illnesses in its programs. She said, ‘So, from women suffering from gynecological-related cases, we included children with pediatric cases in our activities. This is because anything to do with the mother has to do with her child.’

An activity that started on her WhatsApp status gradually evolved into a foundation today known as the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, which gave birth to El-Kush Community Development Initiatives, another body rendering assistance to communities in need.

Through both organisations, Rukaiya champions advocacy to policymakers, leads grassroots sensitisation, and works with communities to improve access to healthcare services. With support from family and friends, she has facilitated over 200 free surgeries, as well as providing financial support for Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients.

‘I have achieved all these through updating my WhatsApp status with my activities. Family and friends view and donate. My foundation has never received a donation from any foreign or local organisation. Alhamdulillah, together we are saving the lives of many vulnerable and less privileged people.

‘Whenever I hear of a patient with gynae complications in need of help, I personally go there and assist the patient with the little I have and also solicit funds on her behalf through social media, and people do contribute immensely,’ she said.

The 43-year-old mother of three has, through both platforms, remained committed to turning empathy into action, restoring dignity, and building equity in underserved communities.

Beyond health, she’s involved in humanitarian services as she has mobilised resources to provide over 200 wells and boreholes, building and equipping more than ten community schools with solar power, sanitary facilities, housing for teachers, and recruitment of qualified staff.

Rukaiya’s humanitarian services are also extended to provide potable water because of the demand from various communities. ‘What normally happens is that after I post a project like a local well on my WhatsApp status, someone indicates interest in building a mosque around the well, or if it’s a mosque that I posted, a donor will volunteer to construct a well or a borehole around the mosque.’

Also, Rukaiya was able to take off the streets over 250 out-of-school children and enrolled them into western and Islamic schools, providing them with uniforms, books, and other learning materials. She shoulders their school fees and other fees with a view to retaining them in the schools.

Apart from that, Rukaiya has also renovated several Islamiyya schools in her community through the assistance of family and friends, saying, ‘As a result of my frequent visits to the schools where my sponsored students are studying, I observed that the structures of some of the schools need renovations and therefore initiated a special project for that.

‘Some of the benefiting schools, which operate as purely Islamiyyah, now combine both Islamic and Western education,’ she said.

Rukaiya also empowers women with take-off capital for businesses, thereby promoting financial inclusion and self-reliance among women.

Explaining the secret of her success in humanitarian services, Rukaiya said: ‘I believe the secret behind my success is nothing but honesty, transparency and commitment. We do things openly; we don’t hide anything, and whatever you ask us to do with your money, we will ensure that we spend the money judiciously and for the purpose it was meant for. Whatever we do, we post it for donors to see.

‘Let me tell you an incident that involved my sister. She sent $100 from abroad as a donation from her Christian friend. It was during Christmas, so I treated a Christian child with part of the money, and when the girl was discharged, I gave her the remaining balance to celebrate Christmas. I later posted the details of how I spent the $100, and the donor was delighted when she saw it on my WhatsApp status.

‘Just two weeks ago, Favor and her mother visited my house and spent time with me. We took pictures which I posted on my WhatsApp status with the following question: Do you remember this girl? You need to see the reactions of the donors.’

She said she was motivated by the smiles on the faces of the less privileged and vulnerable families. ‘This is what I enjoy most in my life, and Alhamdulillah, I am really achieving my objectives through the activities of the foundations,’ she concluded.

Those whose lives have been touched one way or the other spoke on the emphatic nature of hajiya Rukaiya.

Malam Rabi Muhammad is the maid speaking to Weekend Trust said that she worked with Rukaiya as a maid before she got to know about her health condition and It was her co-worker that btold her about her condition.’After we had a discussion, she took me to the hospital and paid the bills for the surgery conducted on me. It’s exactly seven years now.’

‘After I was discharged and fully recovered, I returned to her house and continued with my work. However, courtesy of Hajiya’s generosity, she asked me to relocate to her residence; so, as I speak with you now, I reside in her residence. Sincerely, I don’t know how to thank Hajiya for all the things she had done for me. Asides myself, my parents have also benefited from her kindness.’

She noted thatHajiya Rukaiya is a rare person with passion for helping the less privileged and vulnerable familiesin society. She is just a kind person whose concern is to help and assist the needy. I have known her to be like this since I met her ten years ago and has not changed.’ she attested.

Malam Usman Muhammad Gambo, founder of Inara Islamic Academy at Fadamar Mada quarters, one of the schools that benefited from the humanitarian services from the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, noted that Hajiya built three additional classrooms and furnished them with seating facilities and also renovated the three existing classrooms and toilets in the school. ‘Annually, Hajiya pays not less than N360,000 as school fees for these students besides their expenses for books and other items. I recently forwarded the names of three additional students to Hajiya requesting her to sponsor their education and she promised to get back to me,’ he said.

Also commenting on Rukaiya’s contributions to the education sub-sector, Malam Ibrahim Muhmmad Inuwa, founder of Madarasatul Tathnim Litahfizul Qur’anil Kareem Wal-Dirasatil Islamiyyah, Fadamar Mada, confirmed that Rukaiya had renovated his school and provided it with seating and teaching facilities.

‘She has been sponsoring 20 students comprising 10 orphans and 10 children of the less privileged families in the school for two years now. She asked the management of the school to select the beneficiaries from within the community and she had been paying their school fees annually,’ he concluded.

Recently, Rukaiya was inaugurated as an AIM-MNCHN Advocacy Champion under the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). AIM-MNCHN-Maternal Neonatal Child Health and Nutrition is an organisation handling a project about reducing maternal mortality.

She is also an active member of several health, peacebuilding, and development committees under the Bauchi State Network of Civil Society Organizations, and a member of the Forum of Executive Directors of CSOs in Bauchi State.

‘Through these platforms and my foundations, I remain committed to turning empathy into action, restoring dignity, and building equity in underserved communities.

A holder of a B.Sc. in Sociology and Anthropology, a M.Sc. in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Rukaiya is currently the Deputy Registrar and Head of the Guidance and Counselling Unit at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.

The Malaria Consortium, an international non-profit organisation, has said that a national roll out of the perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) intervention could reduce severe malaria cases among Nigerian children by as much as 43 percent.

Senior Project Manager of Malaria Consortium, Dr Chinazo Ujuju, said this in Abuja during the National Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) and Policy Uptake Task Team (NPRPUT) dissemination meeting organised by the consortium.

Nigeria currently bears the highest malaria burden in the world, with children under five most at risk of severe illness and death.

Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) involves the administration of a full course of anti-malaria drugs to children of defined ages who are vulnerable at specified times regardless of whether they have malaria or not. Ujuju said the PMC pilot programme carried out in Osun State has shown highly promising results that demonstrate the intervention’s effectiveness and feasibility for nationwide adoption.

‘PMC is an intervention designed to protect children by giving them a complete dose of anti-malaria medicine during routine immunisation. Our results are really very interesting. They show that PMC is effective, operationally feasible, and widely accepted by caregivers and health workers. Most importantly, it can lead to up to 43 percent reduction in severe malaria cases,’ Dr. Ujuju said.

Dr Ujuju explained that the PMC initiative is being introduced as an additional intervention to existing measures such as Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), insecticide-treated bed nets, and Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTP).

According to her, the project was carefully designed to generate evidence for policymakers before full-scale adoption.

The Consortium expressed optimism that if scaled up, PMC would significantly complement Nigeria’s malaria control strategies and help reduce the overall disease burden.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has expressed readiness to adopt the perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) as a major intervention strategy to tackle malaria among children of two years and below, following encouraging results from a recent pilot study carried out in Osun State.

National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor, who spoke at the event, said preliminary findings from the study show that the intervention has the potential to significantly reduce malaria infection and severity among children in areas with continuous transmission.

‘From what we have seen in the pilot studies, children who adhered to the guidelines for PMC recorded a significant drop in severe malaria cases. With this evidence, we are confident that Nigeria will be adopting this intervention, particularly for children in the southern states where malaria transmission is all year round,’ she said.

Prof. Olubenga Makuolu, Strategic Adviser to the Minister of Health on Malaria Elimination, described PMC as a crucial addition to Nigeria’s malaria control strategy.

He stressed that malaria elimination requires multiple approaches, combining vector control, treatment, and drug-based prevention.

‘Malaria is everybody’s business. ‘If individuals adopt preventive measures such as using bed nets, keeping the environment clean, and embracing chemoprevention, it will help break the transmission cycle. A mosquito that bites someone without malaria has nothing to transmit to another person,’ he said.

The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Africa has called on the Lagos State Government to immediately lift the suspension placed on the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) for Legal Indications.

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of WARDC Africa, made the call in a statement to commemorate World Abortion Day.

WARDC described the suspension as a major setback to women’s rights and maternal health, warning that it exposes countless women to unsafe procedures and preventable deaths.

The STOP guidelines, developed by Lagos State, were designed to standardise medical practice and strengthen the capacity of health professionals to provide safe care within the legal framework-particularly where pregnancy threatens the life or physical and mental health of a woman. ‘On this World Abortion Day, our plea to the Lagos State Government is simple: lift the suspension on the STOP guidelines immediately,’ said Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi.

She stressed that the suspension denies victims of rape and incest the full range of medical services due to them under Nigerian law, including provisions under the domesticated Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

‘For survivors of rape and incest, safe termination of pregnancy is not merely a medical procedure but a pathway to reclaiming their bodily autonomy, mental health, and dignity,’ Akiyode-Afolabi said.

WARDC commended states that have taken progressive steps to implement or clarify reproductive health provisions, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to demonstrate similar leadership.

The group demanded the immediate reinstatement of the STOP guidelines, explicit inclusion of rape and incest survivors in the framework, and prioritisation of women’s health and rights over political or religious sentiments.

WARDC reiterated its commitment to working with the government and stakeholders to protect the rights and lives of women and girls across Nigeria.

The administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has commenced the digitization of Adamawa State Government archives in a move aimed at modernizing records management and boosting administrative efficiency.

The Managing Director of Truck Transit Park Limited (TTP), Jamal Onwubuariri, has stated that poor infrastructure, inadequate technology deployment, and long delays at border posts are major factors slowing down trade logistics in Nigeria and the West African subregion.

Onwubuariri stated this while presenting a goodwill message at the 2025 Transport Summit organized by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) in Lagos with the theme, ‘Driving the Transport Logistics Value Chains for Economic Growth.’

He revealed that in July, he undertook a 6,000-kilometre road trip from Nigeria to Liberia to observe firsthand the state of road transport infrastructure, challenges, and opportunities along the corridor.

‘We have infrastructure gaps. The roads we have, both here in Nigeria and across the West African region, are not sufficient for the volume of road traffic,’ Onwubuariri said. ‘The second challenge is that our ports, in terms of their infrastructure and technology deployment, are not sufficient for the volume of cargoes that comes into this region.’ The TTP boss identified long delays at border posts as another hurdle for trade, explaining that Nigerian truck drivers often spend weeks transporting perishable goods to neighbouring countries.

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned newly inaugurated Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) that the rank is only a privilege that can be withdrawn at any time if it is abused.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 57 new SANs and the opening of the new legal year 2025/-2026 on Monday, Justice Kekere-Ekun said their achievement signifies not only professional excellence but also a commitment to ethical conduct and the upholding of the integrity of the legal profession.

‘The conferment of this rank is a rigorous process, reflecting the high expectations placed upon those who bear the title,’ he said.

‘It signifies not only professional excellence but also a commitment to ethical conduct and the upholding of the integrity of the legal profession. ‘You have all actively participated in the pre-swearing-in induction programme organized by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), where invaluable insights were shared with you.

‘I urge you to uphold and internalize those principles, so that you may carry this rank with the utmost dignity, grace, and sense of responsibility it demands.

‘Let me take a moment to reiterate a caution I delivered at last year’s ceremony. The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a privilege, not a right. The privilege can, and indeed will, be withdrawn in appropriate circumstances where it is abused.

‘I commend the efforts of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee in sustaining the standards and integrity of the processes leading to the final selection of successful applicants.’

She said the judiciary remains steadfast in its constitutional role of dispensing justice fairly and impartially, adding that they will continue to work tirelessly to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial process, uphold the rule of law, and protect the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), bemoaned the adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of the judiciary due to low public confidence in the judiciary arising from perceptions of undue influence, inconsistent rulings, and delays that frustrate justice, and allegations of corruption.

He recalled the Supreme Court’s decisions that have strengthened the country’s judiciary, including the 15th November 2024 matter of Attorney-General, Kogi State V Attorney-General of the Federation, which affirmed the constitutionality of the establishment laws and prosecutorial powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

According to him, another major decision was the 22nd November 2024 judgment in the Attorney-General, Lagos State V Attorney-General of the Federation, which nullified the National Lottery Act, establishing that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional power to legislate on lotteries, which is a residual matter for the state houses of assembly.