Category: Daily Trust

Leadership powers reforms, while innovation drives development. Leadership, therefore, is not merely about holding a title or occupying an office, but about functionality, sound decision-making, effective citizen mobilization, and consistent results delivery, especially under pressure during times of upheaval and distress.

A true leader must always remain strategically clear about the chosen direction, execute plans in alignment with that vision, and do so with full accountability-boots on the ground-while delivering tangible outcomes.

Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali is not just a leader; he is a leader with a distinct difference. From his Maiduguri office as the Managing Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), he meticulously plans the Commission’s operations, which involve the management of billions of Naira, all anchored on comprehensive recovery frameworks.

Yet, he frequently steps out with his boots firmly on the ground across the six states under the Commission’s coverage-Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe. There, Alhaji Mohammed personally ensures that what is documented on paper is precisely what materializes on the ground.

Each state receives its fair share of the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda: schools are constructed or renovated, health centres are equipped and new ones built in underserved communities, and farming communities long devastated by years of Boko Haram insurgency are steadily rebuilt and restored.

These are the defining hallmarks of the leadership of this ubiquitous enigma. From the boardroom to the trenches, Alhaji Mohammed is recreating the NEDC, redefining its priorities, and transforming it into a masterpiece of humanitarian and post-conflict disaster management. His efforts continue to earn consistent applause as he delivers results even at the most challenging conflict-affected points.

Indeed, with a rich background of experience garnered from the private sector, Alhaji Mohammed cannot be taken for granted when it comes to adherence to standard operational procedures, workplace discipline, personal integrity, and an unwavering focus on results. He does not treat the Commission as a mere contract-dispensing agency.

Instead, he runs it as a proactive human conflict interventionist organization whose core target is the full reconstruction and rehabilitation of the entire North East region, alongside a deliberate reduction-if not elimination-of the prevailing level of poverty.

Driven by a strong sense of accountability and boardroom-level rigor, he ensures that every kobo allocated and released to the agency is utilized strictly for the benefit of the people. To achieve this, he mandates that all contracts pass through rigorous due process, maintaining zero tolerance for padding or any form of financial impropriety.

As a grassroots mobilizer, Alhaji Mohammed’s leadership is both seen and deeply felt by the people. Under his watch, roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities have been constructed across all six states, covering their 112 Local Government Areas.

To address the yawning education gaps created by the destruction of schools during the insurgency and the persistent challenge of out-of-school children, Alhaji Goni embarked on an ambitious programme of school construction and renovation.

Through the launch of the ?6 billion Education Endowment Fund and various targeted programmes for the training and re-training of teachers in Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools, he has successfully infused new life and vigour into an educational system that had almost collapsed under the weight of prolonged insurgency.

To revive food security and agricultural productivity, Alhaji Mohammed activated a comprehensive integrated Agricultural Programme. This initiative distributes farming inputs and tools-including improved seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and extension services-to enhance food production, sustain local economies, and support smallholder farmers who lost their livelihoods during the crisis years.

To cushion the devastating effects of years of insurgency and provide meaningful relief to displaced persons still living in IDP camps, he rolled out multiple targeted interventions. These include the deployment of ?3 billion worth of ophthalmology equipment to Borno State, among other critical support measures.

A proactive administrator and astute strategist determined to redefine the operations of this humanitarian support agency, Alhaji Goni prioritizes three key pillars of intervention. Working collaboratively as a team, he deliberately delegates roles and responsibilities to the executive directors in charge of humanitarian affairs, operations, and finance.

He promotes the efficient use of collaboration, stakeholder engagement, synergy, and inter-agency cooperation. This approach has brought state governors together, fostering greater community ownership of the various programmes and projects established within their respective states.

In 2025, the Commission effectively utilized the ?131.34 billion allocation it received, achieving 59% implementation of its ?290.99 billion budgetary provision. Building on this foundation, Alhaji Mohammed has prioritized infrastructural development, humanitarian support, and socio-economic recovery. These priorities are clearly encapsulated in the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal of ?244.07 billion.

His administration rests firmly on the twin foundations of transparency and the prudent utilization of resources, with accountability as its central fulcrum. Alhaji Mohammed adopts a pragmatic and innovative approach to the management of the Commission, ensuring proper and deliberate forecasting of needs and outcomes.

In a region where development funds have historically disappeared without trace, it is to Alhaji Mohammed’s credit that his leadership is anchored on truth. He insists on timely and open reporting of budget performance, doing so with honesty even when implementation is only partial.

He demands the even distribution of interventions across all 112 Local Government Areas, maintaining that development must not exist only on budget documents but must be manifest, verifiable, consistent, and impactful.

Reconstruction under his watch is practical, accountable, and people-centric, with emphasis placed on justice rather than partisan politics. For a region long defined by insurgency and years of neglect, this is more than leadership-it is resilience in action.

Little wonder, then, that the 2026 budget of ?244.07 billion, targeted at critical infrastructure, humanitarian support, and socio-economic recovery, speaks volumes. It prioritizes road construction, relief materials, agricultural skills acquisition, and capacity development for Commission staff. This reflects a man who is both competent and capable of doing what is right.

His insistence on regular field monitoring, transparency, and contextual integration further amplifies the fact that his plan is not a generic ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, but a progressive, adaptive action designed to rebuild what is broken, restore what has been lost, and prevent any relapse into crisis.

This is where strategy, funding, and legitimacy combine to win the war against underdevelopment. It is where boardroom promises ultimately meet ground realities.

Indeed, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali’s plans are working because he personally bridges both worlds-he does the work in the boardroom and equally commits to the trenches.

For him, politics may have provided the seat, but operational excellence is what keeps him firmly at the table of impactful service. This is the story of a man who has taken policy to reality, who refused to remain only at the top but deliberately moved to the ground-level spaces where decisions are tested by weather, politics, insecurity, and complex human behaviour-and is steadily winning.

Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has criticised Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Mr. Reno Omokri, over his widely circulated video interaction with Mr. Peter Obi.

Omokri had in a video he posted in his X account shown a pleasant exchange with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential aspirant, (Obi), but mocked Obi with the video title that President Tinubu will win the next presidential election.

But Onoh in a statement he made available, on Sunday, condemned Omokri’s conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where he approached Obi, exchanged greetings with a handshake and shoulder pat, while deliberately recording the moment.

Omokri later posted the footage on social media with the sarcastic caption: ‘Peter Obi And I Exchanging Warm Greetings Today At Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport In Anticipation of President Tinubu’s Reelection Next Year!’

Onoh described the behaviour as a clear lack of decorum and statesmanship.

‘Mr. Omokri’s actions fall far short of the character, composure, maturity, and diplomatic poise expected of a person nominated to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an Ambassador. Ambassadors are not mere political attack-dogs or social media content creators; they are the face of Nigeria abroad,’ Onoh said.

The Forum Chairman, who has consistently opposed Omokri’s nomination, said the envoy-designate’s conduct reflects poorly on his professionalism and sense of self-worth.

‘Approaching a former presidential candidate and respected elder statesman primarily for the purpose of manufacturing a viral clip, then framing it in a mocking tone, reduces what should have been a simple, private courtesy exchange into a cheap political stunt,’ he added.

Onoh stressed that even as a private citizen, such pettiness would be unbecoming, but as Ambassador-designate, it is utterly unacceptable.

‘Diplomacy demands tact, emotional intelligence, and the ability to rise above partisan trenches. Mocking political opponents on public platforms erodes the gravitas required for effective international representation.’

He warned that Omokri’s fixation on scoring cheap points risks portraying Nigeria as a nation that appoints individuals skilled in social media provocation rather than statecraft, thereby undermining the credibility of the country’s foreign service.

Onoh urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant authorities to impress upon all Ambassadorial nominees the need for higher standards of conduct, noting that public office, especially diplomatic appointments, requires setting aside personal animosities in favour of national interest and personal dignity.

‘Nigeria deserves better. Our diplomats must represent the very best of our national character – not its lowest common denominator on X (formerly Twitter),’ Onoh concluded.

There is a clear difference between an organic mammoth crowd and a rented crowd. The organic mammoth crowd is a very huge crowd that shows up unsolicited, unpaid, and uncoerced. This crowd grows out from the real, audacious buy-in, not artificial mobilization.

Basically, the structure of an organic mammoth crowd is tied to the attendance of traditional rulers, market women, children, clerics, youth leaders, and grassroots structures. They are there because they have a stake in what is taking place. It is a proof of intactness, and a powerful currency. This is what the South Africans call an ‘indaba.’

It was indeed an indaba in Zaria, when the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, GCON, made the grand declaration reaffirming support for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general election.

I must confess that I have not seen this Zaria crowd anywhere in Nigeria before. We all had the mindset that the usual northern crowd died when former President Buhari went to be with the Lord. Alas, I was wrong.

For a man whose performance at the National Assembly has been nothing less than superlative, the rally, turned into an Indaba – a gathering of intent – was however not strange.

Since June 2023, when he became the Hon. Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has leveraged the national budget and his connections to carry out gigantic interventions in his Zaria Federal Constituency and across the entire North West.

Given the 25 road projects that have been fully completed and the 18 more that are slated for commencement soon, along with the various police stations built or upgraded across the length and breadth of the constituency, TJ Abbas has spoken for himself. He has demonstrated his avowed commitment to both the fight against insecurity and improved interconnectivity, so much so that the indaba is a powerful symbol.

Few people are aware of the construction of various Primary Health Centres, including those in Bizaro and Dambo wards which have been fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical supplies, all initiated by him. Neither are they informed of the modern ICT Centres in Amaru and Kwarbai A ward.

The people of Abba village had to flow out in their thousands to that historic 10km road march because the reconstruction of the bridge that links them to the rest of the world – which was destroyed since 2014 – remains indelible in their hearts.

In the same vein, the hundreds of thousands of farmers who came out did so because they could easily associate the gathering with the over 80,000 bags of fertilizers, thousands of farm inputs, equipment, and the two-year supply of farm seedlings distributed to them by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

Again, the 1,865 constituents, including those from Zaria Zone 1 and Nuhu Babajo Stadium, who have benefited from the distribution of motorcycles initiated by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas remain grateful to his gracious magnanimity and had to come out to attest to this.

The thousands of civil servants and non-traditional students, out of the over 500,000 strong voters’ population of one of the strongest constituencies in Nigeria, that turned out did so in response to the National Open University Campus sited in the constituency, which now grants them easy and uninterrupted access to affordable university education. Meanwhile, the hundreds of lawyers who attended did so out of the fact that they have variously benefitted from the College of Legal Studies located in Zaria, an initiative of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

It is indeed noteworthy to state that the thousands of school children and hundreds of teachers came to give their support to a man who brought them a new initiative of enhanced leadership development, enhanced teachers’ productivity through the Teachers’ Education Fund, and also renovated hundreds of schools, changing the learning and teaching environment favourably.

Mr. Speaker will remain an enigma and a very strong formidable political force, not just in Zaria Federal Constituency but in the entire North West because of the over 50 billion Naira allocation that he attracted into the 2025 budget for sundry projects across 8 LGAs in Kaduna North Senatorial District, including ABA, Kasu, College of Education, and Gidan Waya.

Distinctively, using his clout and congruence, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly institutionalised the North West development plan beyond his Zaria home to the entire North West by concretising the Bill that created the North West Development Commission (NWDC). He also ensured the inauguration of the House Committee to oversee it.

He did not stop there but also made sure the Commission has a comprehensive Needs Assessment, inclusive of a 10-year strategic plan. In doing all these, he neither conferred with flesh and blood but instead publicly demonstrated strong deliberate action towards tackling the insecurity, poverty, and infrastructural decay within the region.

As the distinguished Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas remains the instrument for the passage of more Bills than any other House since 1999, and has personally sponsored more legislations on insecurity, agricultural policies, pharmaceutical regulations, and the resolution of ASUU-FG disputes than any other legislator. For these, the people of Zaria Federal Constituency are not just extremely proud of him but are willing to follow his direction.

His grassroots mobilisation and strategic influence in attracting several key federal government appointments and his unique partnership with his state governor, Governor Uba Sani, which has led to the establishment of several unprecedented development projects, programs and interventions in Kaduna and Zaria is not unnoticed by his constituents but has drawn applause, commitment and acceptability from them.

The Zaria crowd was therefore not an accident. They were there because TJ, as he is fondly called, has turned up when nobody did. They came in their thousands because Rt. Hon. Abbas turned the office of the Speaker into a delivery multipurpose vehicle. And now he came with a simple message, which they were all willing to listen to and act upon: ‘the North, after Buhari, is still here, and we are with President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu into 2027’.

The myth of a ‘Dead’ Northern crowd is only an assumption proven wrong by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas. The gathering was not a nostalgia to Late President Buhari; it was instead an alignment around a new centre of gravity and President Tinubu is good to go into 2027.

Zaria is symbolic, historic, and intact. It remains the leading centre of learning, commerce, and traditional authority not just in the North but all of Africa. Zaria also represents the North West corridor.

Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and his quality representation is a currency of inestimable value. A currency of consolidation, and a demonstration and assurance of a secured base before the field becomes crowded.

The ‘Indaba’ worked because it is a consultation, not a campaign. Traditional rulers spoke, clerics prayed effectually and fervently, youth leaders pledged their unalloyed loyalty and unreserved support, fostering a framework of shared responsibility and consensus, which was solidly built on the altar of public trust and acceptability.

A bulldozer, bridge builder, and strategic visioneer, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas resonates as a low-key but effective strategist with strong propensity to align federal projects with northern priorities.

He spoke the language of the Emirate system and the Ulama. He amplified cultural fluency, granting him immediate access and eliminating other federal characters. Without any personal cult or noisy aggrandisement, Rt. Hon. Abbas tied his political identity to President Tinubu, forging a strong administrative agenda that goes beyond self to an institution, and creating a larger buy-in.

Through this Indaba, he has sent a clear, unambiguous signal to conspirators that the North West has a formidable structure which has been reactivated early and will not repeat the mistake of 2023. He has made it clear that this organic northern mammoth crowd, with a majority of youths, was motivated above pecuniary benefits, less dependent on a single man, and strongly Buhari’s base without Buhari, but remains an alignment with continuity, stability, and federal projects.

Indeed, the Zaria Indaba is not a Buhari crowd but a reconstructed Indaba, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas is the architect of this organic mammoth crowd of like-minds.

*Hon. Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson, Federal House of Representatives writes from Abuja

Senator Mohammad Danjuma Goje says he is ready for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the January 16 presidential and National Assembly elections, reaffirming his readiness to seek another term representing Gombe Central Senatorial District.

Goje, a former governor of Gombe State and serving senator for Gombe Central, said this after undergoing the screening exercise of the APC in Abuja on Saturday.

The committee set up by the party’s national headquarters screened Goje alongside some other aspirants of the ruling party.

Speaking after the screening, Goje reiterated his loyalty to the ruling party, describing himself as a founding member of the APC committed to advancing the party’s ideals both in Gombe State and across the country.

‘Together with other aspirants, I have been screened to contest for the primaries of our great party, APC, for Gombe Central Senatorial District ahead of next year’s elections,’ he said.

‘Under the APC, the party we founded, I will once again humbly present myself to the good people of Gombe Central Senatorial District for the revalidation of the mandate they have overwhelmingly entrusted in me to sustain the developmental strides taking place in our senatorial district,’ Goje said.

He also pledged to remain committed to attracting more development to the area, while appreciating residents of the district for their continued support over the years.

‘I will always remain steadfast and unwavering in the quest to bring more development to our people. I thank all our people of Gombe Central Senatorial District for their consistent support over the years.

‘The solid support of my constituents across Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas, despite external influence, is my driving force,’ he added.

The statement was signed by Goje’s Special Assistant, Alhaji Ahmed Isa Kashere, on May 10, 2026.

Daily Trust reports that Gombe Central is among the senatorial districts where there is expected to be a tough contest.

Incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya has picked a consensus candidate for the district, a move Goje rejected and kicked against.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has zoned its presidential ticket to South, for a single four-year term.

The decision was taken at its convention where Afam Victor Ogene, the member representing Ogbaru Constituency of Anambra State in the 10th National Assembly, moved the motion, which was seconded by Seyi Sowunmi, another member and unanimously adopted by the delegates.

The convention also approved that after the single four-year term, the presidential ticket will be automatically zoned to the North.

This decision has cleared the way for the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, who had earlier vowed to spend one term if elected.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democracy, constitutional governance, and national development during the ongoing convention.

Zuwoghe welcomed party leaders, delegates, and participants, describing the gathering as an important platform for dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and collective engagement toward strengthening democratic values in the country.

He stated that the party remains committed to justice, freedom, and service to the people, stressing that the NDC was founded on principles aimed at promoting equal opportunity and national progress.

According to him, the party will continue to support liberty, peace, and the welfare of the people while working toward unity and a better future for Nigerians.

Our correspondent reports that there was commotion at the convention venue in Abuja when a large number of people tried to secure entrance into the building, which many described as too small for such a gathering.

It took the efforts of security operatives to restore sanity before the proceedings could continue.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki yesterday visited former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

The visit came barely 24 hours after Jonathan reportedly told his supporters that he would consult widely on calls for him to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Turaki was accompanied by members of his working committee and some party leaders.

Weekend Trust gathered that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations with founding leaders of the PDP on the future of the party.

Speaking on the visit, the spokesman of the INWC, Ini Ememobong, told Weekend Trust that the committee had been engaging strategic stakeholders across the country.

‘We have been meeting with different strategic stakeholders. When we think it is appropriate for the media and the public to know the outcome of such meetings, we will make it public,’ he said.

He disclosed that the committee had earlier met with former military president Ibrahim Babangida, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

‘So, when the outcome of the meeting is ripe for public consumption, we will surely tell the public what the meeting is all about,’ he added.

Meanwhile Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, shortly after the matter was called for hearing, that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5, praying the court to dismiss the case.

He said they got information about the case through the media and hence, the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter which questions the eligibility of the former President to contest in the next election.

The senior lawyer said it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served with Jonathan’s processes.

He said he would need more time to respond.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 11 by 2pm for hearing of the ex-president’s objection and the substantive suit.

The judge also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, praying the court to bar Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 poll.

Citing constitutional grounds, Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting in the poll.

He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.

Ikorodu today is clearly on a steady path of growth. From population increase to expanding infrastructure and rising economic activity, the constituency continues to move forward in many positive ways. With this progress also comes a simple expectation from the people: that representation should remain focused, responsive, and consistent in delivering development.

In Ikorodu Federal Constituency, leadership is about staying close to the people and working steadily to support ongoing growth across communities.

Over the years, Babajimi Benson has remained consistent in his approach to representation. His style has been practical and community-focused, with attention on projects and programmes that continue to support development across different parts of the constituency.

Across Ikorodu, there are clear signs of interventions in areas such as road infrastructure support, educational development, youth empowerment initiatives, healthcare outreach, and community-based projects. These efforts have contributed in different ways to improving access and opportunities for people at the grassroots.

A key feature of his approach has also been balance. In a constituency as diverse as Ikorodu, development must reach different communities fairly and steadily. This helps strengthen a shared sense of progress among residents.

Ikorodu is made up of many communities with different needs and priorities. In such a setting, leadership is strengthened when there is continuous engagement with traditional institutions, community associations, religious bodies, youth groups, market leaders, and other stakeholders. This kind of engagement helps keep representation connected to the people it serves.

Rep. Babajimi Benson has maintained this pattern of engagement over time, ensuring that different voices within the constituency are heard and considered in the development process.

As Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, I have seen the importance of coordination and steady cooperation between different levels of governance. When leadership works together with shared understanding, development becomes more structured, and communities benefit more effectively.

This is why continuity in leadership and policy direction is important for any growing constituency. Development is not a one-time achievement; it is a continuous process that requires stability and sustained effort to maintain progress already made and build on it.

In Ikorodu, the focus remains on strengthening infrastructure, improving education, creating more opportunities for young people, supporting small businesses, and enhancing community development. These are long-term goals that require consistency, experience, and clear understanding of local realities.

Rep. Babajimi Benson has, over time, demonstrated familiarity with these development priorities and has remained focused on supporting initiatives aligned with them.

The conversation around representation is therefore about ensuring that Ikorodu continues to move forward in a steady and stable manner. Communities progress best when there is consistency in leadership direction and when development efforts are sustained over time.

Ikorodu’s growth story is one that continues to evolve positively, supported by collaboration, community engagement, and leadership commitment at different levels.

As we look ahead, the priority is to maintain this steady momentum and continue building on the progress already achieved across the constituency.

Ikorodu deserves continued focus on unity, development, and collective progress for all.

Hon. Prince Adebayo Ladega writes From Ikorodu and he’s presently the Local Government Chairman.

As thousands of pilgrims continue their spiritual journey across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj exercise, technology and Artificial Intelligence are increasingly playing a vital role in bridging communication gaps among pilgrims and service providers.

For a group of Jigawa state pilgrims travelling from Madinah to Makkah, a journey that began a few minutes past 4 p.m. turned into a practical demonstration of how AI-powered translation applications are easing language barriers during pilgrimage operations.

The journey commenced smoothly with a stopover at the Miqat around 6 p.m., where the pilgrims observed necessary rites before proceeding towards Makkah.

After several hours on the road, the bus conveying the pilgrims stopped at a food court, allowing them to observe Maghrib and Isha prayers before resuming the trip around 9 p.m.

However, around 2 a.m., the vehicle made another unexpected stop which lasted for nearly an hour.

Concerned by the prolonged delay, some of the pilgrims approached the driver around 3 a.m. to seek clarification.

Communication quickly became difficult as the driver spoke only Arabic while many of the pilgrims could communicate mainly in English and local Nigerian languages.

Attempts to understand the reason for the stop initially proved unsuccessful due to the language barrier.

The situation, however, changed with the introduction of a translation application powered by Artificial Intelligence. Through voice-to-text and instant translation features, the driver was able to explain the reason for the pause, while the pilgrims also communicated their concerns effectively.

The translated conversation helped calm anxieties among the travellers and enabled both parties to understand themselves clearly before the journey resumed.

The pilgrims eventually arrived in Makkah around 4 a.m., but another challenge emerged as the drop-off location did not correspond with the hotel details printed on some of the accommodation cards issued to pilgrims from Nigeria.

This created temporary confusion and delays as officials and coordinators worked to verify the correct hotel destinations before the pilgrims were finally directed appropriately.

For many on the journey, the experience highlighted the growing importance of AI and digital technology in modern Hajj operations, especially in overcoming communication barriers among millions of pilgrims from diverse linguistic backgrounds across the world.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has criticised the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project over its reaction to a recent court judgment involving two operatives of the Department of State Services.

NANS described SERAP’s comments against the judiciary as reckless and capable of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system.

The students’ body stated this in a statement signed by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, and made available to journalists on Saturday.

The association threw its weight behind the judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in favour of the DSS operatives.

The case stemmed from the September 2024 incident at SERAP’s Abuja office, which the organisation had allegedly described as an ‘unlawful invasion,’ ‘raid,’ and ‘intimidation.’

According to NANS, the court found the allegations against the DSS operatives to be false and defamatory, awarding damages and ordering public apologies in their favour.

The association said the ruling reaffirmed the rule of law, judicial independence and the constitutional right of citizens to seek legal redress against defamatory publications.

‘NANS considers the judgment as a courageous and commendable reaffirmation of the sanctity of the rule of law, judicial independence, and the constitutional right of citizens to seek lawful redress against defamatory and injurious statements,’ the statement read.

The students’ body also faulted SERAP for allegedly describing the judgment as a ‘travesty’ and a ‘dangerous precedent.’

It argued that while parties had the constitutional right to appeal court decisions, no organisation should undermine the judiciary because a verdict did not favour it.

‘Such inflammatory commentary against the judiciary poses grave dangers to democratic stability, institutional confidence, and public trust in the administration of justice,’ NANS stated.

The association further commended the DSS for clarifying that the lawsuit was filed by the affected operatives in their personal capacities and not directly by the agency.

According to NANS, the clarification showed that the matter centred on personal dignity and the constitutional right to seek remedy against defamation.

The group maintained that the judiciary must be respected and protected from attempts to discredit it.

It also urged advocacy groups to avoid sensational narratives capable of inciting distrust against state institutions.

NANS called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to continue safeguarding the integrity of the judiciary and uphold constitutional order in the country.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to justice, responsible civic engagement and respect for the rule of law.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Rep Abdussamad Dasuki, has said that Sokoto State now has the financial capacity to pay a minimum wage of N150,000 to civil servants and significantly improve social services and infrastructure if the increased federal allocations are prudently managed.

The lawmaker stated this while receiving a delegation of retired civil servants from Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency led by Alhaji Sani Mode Dagon Daji, a retired Director in the civil service, during a courtesy visit to appreciate the inclusion of an earth dam project for Dogon Daji Town in the federal budget.

Speaking during the visit, Rep Dasuki noted that Sokoto State has witnessed a substantial increase in revenue from federal allocations over the past three years, particularly from the last quarter of 2023, creating an opportunity for transformational development across critical sectors.

According to him, ‘The current financial inflow to Sokoto State is enough to support the payment of a reasonable minimum wage of N150,000 monthly for civil servants, while also addressing major challenges in healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture and rural development through prudent allocation and responsible management of resources.’

He stressed that workers in the state deserve better welfare considering the rising cost of living and the strategic role civil servants play in governance and development.

The lawmaker also emphasized the need for improved pensions and retirement benefits for retired civil servants, describing them as citizens who devoted their productive years to the service of the state and deserve dignity and security in retirement.

He expressed concern over the socio-economic realities facing Sokoto State, including high poverty rates, poor healthcare delivery, low school enrolment and the alarming number of out-of-school children.

Dasuki further noted that insecurity continues to pose serious challenges to economic activities and the wellbeing of communities across the state, calling for greater commitment and strategic investment in social and economic development.

Addressing the retired civil servants, the lawmaker urged them to continue playing active roles in shaping the future of Sokoto State through responsible civic engagement and informed participation in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘As respected elders and opinion leaders in society, your voices and choices matter. The future of Sokoto State depends on electing leaders who possess competence, accountability and genuine concern for the welfare of the people,’ he said.

The federal lawmaker also announced empowerment initiatives targeted at youths in the constituency. He directed the delegation to submit 350 names for participation in his ICT/Digital Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Programme supported by NITDA.

In addition, he disclosed his plans to provide laptops to 70 students from the constituency currently studying in higher institutions as part of efforts to promote digital literacy and educational advancement among young people.

Dasuki reaffirmed his commitment to attracting projects and programmes that directly improve the lives of constituents, describing the inclusion of the Dogon Daji earth dam project in the federal budget as part of broader efforts to support agriculture, water supply and rural economic development.

The delegation commended the lawmaker for his representation and developmental initiatives, particularly the successful inclusion of the earth dam project in the federal budget, which they described as a major intervention for the people of Dogon Daji and surrounding communities.