Category: Daily Trust

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque has revealed how a prolonged water crisis forced repeated drilling of over 30 boreholes before a viable source was finally discovered on the mosque premises.

The disclosure formed part of updates presented during the mosque’s 2025/2026 joint stakeholders’ meeting held in Ilorin.

Officials reviewed ongoing projects, financial challenges, and support received from donors during the event.

According to the Secretary of the BoT, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, initial efforts to provide water failed due to the difficult topography of the mosque and surrounding palace environment, leading to repeated unsuccessful drilling attempts.

Relief, he said, eventually came when an engineering team led by Engr. Muideen Bello, deployed improved equipment and successfully located water in a small but sustainable portion of the site.

He said the operation, which began before dawn prayers and stretched into the night, marked a turning point in solving the mosque’s long-standing water supply challenge.

During the event, the trustees also highlighted a major intervention that led to the proposed construction of a N1.1 billion student hostel at the University of Ilorin.

According to him, the project was facilitated through high-level engagement involving the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who helped attract the participation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote in funding the initiative as part of a broader sustainability plan for the mosque.

Aside from the pledge to construct the hostel, he said Dangote currently provides a monthly N5 million support for the mosque’s maintenance, a commitment that has been consistently fulfilled since October last year.

He explained that the arrangement followed an assessment of the mosque’s monthly maintenance needs, which was estimated at about N5 million but has since risen due to inflation and currency pressures.

He noted that rising energy costs, including electricity bills exceeding N1 million monthly and diesel consumption approaching N700,000, have continued to strain operations.

Despite the challenges, AbdulGafar said several improvement projects were completed within the year, including the installation of 20 solar-powered security lights, refurbishment of solar systems, repainting of the mosque’s dome, and the installation of a solar-powered pumping machine.

He also listed ongoing works such as fountain renovation, internet facility restoration, and replacement of damaged internal speaker systems.

On long-term infrastructure plans, he disclosed that N40 million earlier raised for a new mosque carpet since 2021 had become insufficient, as current costs now exceed N100 million, leaving the project stalled.

He added that the mosque currently has no stable income base and remains heavily dependent on donations, prompting outreach efforts to stakeholders in Abuja, Lagos, and within Kwara State.

The committee further appealed for sustained collective support, warning that without continuous intervention, the upkeep of the historic religious edifice could become increasingly difficult.

He thanked the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and other benefactors for their continued support, describing the mosque as a shared heritage that must be preserved for future generations.

‘This iconic mosque is not only for the people of Ilorin Emirate but for the entire Muslim ummah. That is why you see that we are constantly embarking on renovation, and you may think it is newly constructed whenever you visit.

‘However, this requires funding, and that is why we are calling on all to support our efforts to keep its world-class status,’ he submitted.

No fewer than 400 houses, schools, health facilities, places of worship and other public infrastructure have been destroyed by devastating windstorms and rainstorms that swept through communities in Zamfara, Sokoto and Plateau states, leaving hundreds of families displaced and several others injured.

The disasters, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday following heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, have triggered fresh concerns over the growing impact of extreme weather conditions across parts of northern Nigeria.

Affected residents appealed to federal and state governments and other humanitarian organisations to provide emergency relief materials and support to enable displaced families to rebuild their lives.

The worst-hit community was Bela village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where more than 200 houses were destroyed by a violent windstorm that lasted for over an hour on Saturday.

One of the victims, Malam Barau, described the incident as the worst disaster the community had ever experienced.

He said the storm was accompanied by heavy rainfall and large hailstones that blanketed the village before powerful winds uprooted trees and destroyed houses.

‘The destruction is unimaginable. More than 200 houses, representing about one-third of the village, were affected. Trees were uprooted as if they were small plants,’ he said.

Barau disclosed that one child was killed, more than 20 people sustained injuries, and at least seven livestock were also lost during the disaster.

Another resident, Abdullahi Suleiman Bela, said many of the victims were widows, orphans and newly married couples who lost virtually everything they owned.

He added that several victims were now taking shelter in makeshift structures built with guinea-corn stalks, while others had been forced to crowd into single rooms with multiple families.

The storm also affected Rugar Kaya, Anguwar Marafa, Sabon Gari Bela, the old cemetery area and the palace of the district head of Rugar Kaya.

The member representing Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu, confirmed the incident on his Facebook page and expressed sympathy for the affected victims.

The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), Ambassador Bala Gusau, directed the agency’s Director of Disaster Management, Hassan Dauran, to respond to the situation.

Dauran confirmed that more than 200 houses were destroyed by the windstorm and disclosed that officials of the agency were preparing to visit the affected village alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is expected to arrive for a joint assessment and evaluation of the damage.

‘Actually, we have received reports of the windstorm that destroyed more than 200 houses, and we have forwarded the information to NEMA. We are awaiting their arrival for a joint assessment of the affected community,’ Dauran said.

In Sokoto State, a powerful windstorm wreaked havoc across Gada Local Government Area, destroying hundreds of houses and public infrastructure and displacing many residents.

A local government official said preliminary assessments showed that more than 100 houses were severely affected in Gada town alone, with many buildings losing their roofs while others suffered partial or complete collapse.

The storm, which occurred on Sunday night, also damaged schools, business premises, places of worship and other community assets across several towns and villages within the local government area.

Residents also lost food supplies, household property, personal belongings, and sources of livelihood as a result of the disaster.

The official noted that the total number of affected households could run into several hundreds as reports continued to emerge from different communities.

Member representing Gada-Goronyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bashir Gorau, confirmed the incident and called for urgent intervention by government agencies and humanitarian organisations.

He urged the Sokoto State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other stakeholders to respond swiftly to the needs of the victims.

Similarly, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Umar, said officials would soon conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities.

In Plateau State, more than 100 houses were also destroyed and scores of residents displaced after a rainstorm swept through Tom Gangare community in Sopp Ward of Riyom Local Government Area.

The storm, which occurred on Sunday following a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, damaged health facilities, places of worship and other critical infrastructure.

A resident, Bot Felix, said property worth millions of naira was destroyed during the incident, while many affected residents were rendered homeless.

He said the windstorm uprooted several trees, many of which fell on residential buildings, worsening the destruction across the community.

A community stakeholder, Dung Danboyi, described the incident as tragic and appealed for urgent intervention from the government and humanitarian agencies.

He said that although no life was lost, the destruction had left many households without shelter and exposed victims to severe hardship.

Danboyi called on the Plateau State Government and other relevant agencies to provide immediate relief materials and support for affected residents.

Also speaking, the Councillor representing Sopp ward, Gwong Ibrahim, urged relevant authorities to intervene urgently to cushion the impact of the disaster on victims.

He stressed the need for emergency relief assistance, noting that many affected families were struggling to secure temporary shelter and other basic necessities.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Riyom Local Government Council, Sati Bature Shuwa, visited the community to assess the extent of the damage and sympathise with the victims.

Addressing residents, Shuwa assured them that efforts would be made to facilitate assistance and support for those affected by the disaster.

He disclosed that a comprehensive assessment would be conducted to determine the extent of the losses and enable appropriate intervention by government and emergency management agencies.

A High Court in Oba, Idemili South of Anambra, has sentenced a commercial tricycle operator, Makuachukwu Ezike, to death by hanging for the murder of a passenger during a ‘one chance’ robbery operation.

Trial judge, Justice Lauretta Oyeka, in her judgment, convicted Ezike of the murder of Jude Onwuegbuchunam, an indigene of Umuoji in Anambra.

Justice Oyeka held that the circumstantial evidence against Ezike was compelling, citing the abandoned tricycle and him fleeing from the scene as strong indicators of guilt. (NAN)

She also relied on the convict’s voluntary confession and the medical evidence linking the victim’s death to the injuries he sustained after being pushed from the moving tricycle.

The court consequently found Ezike guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Earlier, the prosecution, led by Mrs L.N. Umeozulu, told the court that on Nov. 17, 2019, Ezike and two accomplices, who are at large, operated a ‘one chance’ robbery syndicate along the Oba-Obosi-Nkpor-Umuoji Road.

The gang, the prosecution said, disguised themselves as commercial transport operators, picked up Onwuegbuchunam as a passenger and attempted to rob him of his mobile phone and other valuables while in transit.

The prosecution said that when the victim resisted and raised an alarm, the assailants pushed him out of the moving tricycle at high speed near Abidi Hall, Umuoji, where local vigilante operatives were stationed.

According to the prosecution, Onwuegbuchunam sustained severe injuries from the fall and died two days later.

The prosecution told the court that Ezike returned to the area the following day to recover the abandoned tricycle but was apprehended by vigilante operatives and handed over to the police. (NAN)

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has dismissed suggestions that former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, poses a political threat in Delta State, insisting that Senator Ede Dafinone remains a formidable political figure with deep roots in the Urhobo nation.

Speaking on the recent resignation of Omo-Agege from the All Progressives Congress (APC), in an interview on ARISE TV on Tuesday morning, Oborevwori said the development did not come as a surprise, noting that signs of the former Deputy Senate President’s planned exit had been evident for months.

‘I will not use the word pretentious, but we saw it coming. Before he left, most of his people had already left over three months ago, so we were all aware,’ the governor said.

According to Oborevwori, Omo-Agege’s lack of engagement with party stakeholders before contesting the APC Delta Central Senatorial primary was a clear indication that he was not fully committed to the process.

‘That was why he was not serious in the contest of the primaries because he never consulted anybody. He never consulted me. He never consulted the leaders. APC is a big party,’ he stated.

Drawing a contrast with his own political approach, the governor explained that he sought the support and endorsement of party leaders before pursuing a second term in office.

‘As a governor, I met with people and told them, ‘Look, I want to go back for my second tenure.’ That is why nobody even indicated interest in contesting with me. We believe in the zoning arrangement in Delta State, and it is the turn of Delta Central,’ he said.

On the possibility of Omo-Agege’s political moves affecting the fortunes of the APC in Delta Central, Oborevwori was emphatic that the former Deputy Senate President does not constitute a threat.

‘He is not a threat because I have won it before,’ he declared.

The governor also spoke glowingly of Senator Ede Dafinone, who emerged as the APC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, describing him as a respected figure whose family name commands influence across Urhoboland.

‘The man who got the ticket in my party, Senator Ede Dafinone, is a gentleman. They have a reputation. Dafinone is a big name. Dafinone is a big name in the Urhobo nation because his father was a senator and he has contributed to the development of Delta State. So that legacy is there,’ Oborevwori said.

He maintained that the APC primary election that produced Dafinone was free, fair and transparent, arguing that Omo-Agege should accept the outcome. ‘Somebody was given the opportunity, we conducted a free and fair primary and he lost. It is for him to embrace the outcome because the process was transparent. Very transparent. I am a democrat, so it was transparent,’ he added.

The governor further questioned Omo-Agege’s political loyalty, alleging that the former Deputy Senate President had a history of falling out with political benefactors and allies.

‘This same man came into politics in 2002 with nothing. This state made him. The people who made him, he fought them. James Ibori made him, and he left. He betrayed Ogboru; he left. He fought others who helped him politically,’ Oborevwori alleged.

Despite the political developments, the governor expressed confidence in his administration’s performance, insisting that governance and delivery of democratic dividends remain the strongest campaign tools. ‘For me, I don’t think he is a threat because we are doing well as a state. What will make people support your party is what you are doing and what you are able to do. In terms of infrastructure, we are doing well. In terms of security, we are doing our best. You must have something to campaign with,’ he said.

Oborevwori’s comments come amid heightened political activity in Delta State following Omo-Agege’s departure from the APC and growing speculation over the shape of political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Chii.africa, Zimo Clan and Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Federation Limited have announced a strategic integration initiative aimed at expanding digital commerce, cooperative participation and cross-border market access across Africa.

The organisations disclosed this in a joint statement issued on May 31, saying the collaboration is designed to support farmers, traders, cooperatives, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), commodity aggregators and entrepreneurs seeking to participate in the continent’s growing digital economy.

According to the statement, the initiative aligns with objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), digital trade infrastructure development and efforts to strengthen cross-border payment systems, including alignment with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

The partners said the integrated ecosystem would combine Chii.africa’s trade intelligence and coordination platform, Zimo Clan’s community network and Maistrade’s cooperative development structure to facilitate trade participation and market access.

Under the arrangement, the platform is expected to support cooperative and SME onboarding, digital identity and verification systems, trade traceability, agricultural and commodity marketplace participation, cross-border trade coordination, cooperative finance structures and community-based economic activities.

The statement noted that participants on the ChiiMais platform would have access to a network of producers, buyers, traders, service providers and ecosystem partners operating across various African markets.

The organisations said the initiative seeks to create opportunities for farmers through market visibility and aggregation networks, while traders and SMEs are expected to benefit from improved access to structured value chains and regional markets.

They added that the collaboration would also focus on digital trust and traceability through product verification, supplier validation, transparent record management and digital trade coordination.

President and Chief Vision Officer of Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Federation Limited, Benjamin Okei Aduli, said the partnership was intended to support trade networks, digital infrastructure and economic participation across the continent.

Also commenting, Architect of Chii.africa, Tauya Langton Makoni, said the collaboration aims to strengthen trade coordination and interoperability among African communities and businesses.

The partners disclosed that onboarding activities have commenced through the Zimo Clan and ChiiMais platforms, with plans to expand operations into additional African markets through partnerships and cooperative networks.

Nigeria may soon discover, too late, that the collapse of farming is not merely an agricultural problem but a national emergency capable of deepening poverty, insecurity and social instability across the country. What is happening today in the agricultural sector, particularly in northern Nigeria, should alarm every serious policymaker because the nation is gradually weakening the very people responsible for feeding over 200 million citizens.

Across the North, farming is not simply an occupation. It is the economic foundation of millions of households and the backbone of rural survival. In states such as Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto and Kebbi, agriculture sustains entire communities. Yet the Nigerian farmer today faces perhaps the harshest environment in modern history: insecurity on the farms, unbearable production costs, unstable government policies, collapsing market prices and growing uncertainty about the future.

The federal government’s decision to open borders and encourage large-scale grain importation as a response to rising food inflation may have appeared compassionate on paper, but its impact on local farmers has been devastating. Farmers who borrowed heavily to cultivate rice, maize, millet and sorghum suddenly found themselves competing against imported grains entering the market under arrangements many Nigerians still do not fully understand.

One of the most troubling aspects of the policy remains the lack of transparency surrounding the importation programme itself. Nigerians deserve to know who imported the grains, the exact quantities involved, the prices paid and the subsidy arrangements attached. To hand over the importation of millions of tonnes of grains to selected contractor/contractors without full public scrutiny is, to say the least, reckless in a country already battling trust deficits and economic hardship.

Public suspicion deepened further when imported rice was reportedly rebagged with the portrait and insignia of the President before distribution across parts of the country as relief material. In several communities, citizens openly questioned whether food policy was gradually becoming an instrument of political branding rather than a genuine strategy for sustainable food security. Even more disturbing are widespread allegations that portions of the same grains later resurfaced in markets under different commercial labels for resale to the public. Whether fully proven or not, such perceptions have severely damaged confidence in the management of agricultural interventions.

Ironically, many Nigerians maintain that locally produced rice is superior in taste, freshness and quality to some imported alternatives now flooding the market. Nigerian farmers have spent years struggling to improve local rice production despite poor infrastructure, insecurity and limited government support. Instead of protecting these farmers, policy now appears to expose them to unfair competition from imported products supported by foreign economies and more stable currencies.

The greatest tragedy is that the Nigerian farmer is being crushed at both ends. While imported grains depress local market prices, the devaluation of the Naira has made farming itself almost impossible. Modern agriculture in Nigeria depends heavily on imported inputs linked directly to the dollar. Fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, improved seedlings, irrigation equipment and spare parts have all become outrageously expensive following the collapse of the Naira.

A farmer who once purchased fertilizer at manageable prices now spends several times more for the same product. Herbicides have become unaffordable for small-scale farmers. Diesel prices have turned mechanised farming and irrigation into luxuries. Transportation costs continue to rise because fuel affects every stage of agricultural logistics. Yet after enduring these crushing expenses, farmers often discover during harvest that grain prices have fallen below production costs because imported food has distorted the market.

Insecurity has worsened the crisis beyond imagination. In parts of Zamfara and Katsina States, many farmers reportedly negotiate access to their own farmlands with armed bandits. In some communities, portions of harvests are surrendered as informal levies before farmers are allowed to cultivate safely. The Nigerian farmer now faces a frightening reality: risk of kidnapping on the farm, heavy costs for fertilizer and transportation, months of uncertainty, and then selling produce at a loss. No nation can survive such contradictions for long.

What makes the situation more dangerous is the growing perception among many northern communities that politics is being played with agriculture and livelihoods. Every election cycle appears to bring emergency food interventions, politically branded distributions and sudden importation policies, while the structural problems facing local farmers remain unresolved. Such actions may temporarily create political excitement, but they steadily destroy confidence among producers expected to guarantee national food security.

The fears of Nigerian farmers are not unfounded. History offers painful examples. Haiti remains one of the clearest cases. Trade liberalisation policies in the 1990s opened the country to heavily subsidised imported rice, destroying local rice production and pushing rural communities deeper into poverty. Years later, even some international actors admitted that the policy badly damaged Haiti’s agricultural sector. Similar patterns have appeared in several developing countries where governments relied on imports to reduce urban food prices while neglecting domestic producers. The immediate political benefits often gave way to long-term dependence, unemployment and food insecurity. Nigeria is dangerously close to repeating the same mistake.

Today, many farmers openly question whether agriculture still has a future in the country. Some have already reduced cultivation because they fear another flood of imported grains as political activities intensify ahead of future elections. Others refuse to expand production because they no longer believe government policies protect local farmers. The atmosphere in many farming communities is one of frustration, exhaustion and hopelessness.

The irony is painful. Nigeria possesses vast arable land, favourable climate zones and millions of hardworking farmers, yet the people producing food are becoming poorer each season. Those who cultivate the land carry all the risks while others profit from import waivers, emergency contracts and politically managed interventions.

A country that destroys its farmers, destroys its future. Nigeria cannot claim to fight poverty while impoverishing those who feed the nation. It cannot speak of food security while discouraging local production through inconsistent policies and opaque importation programmes. It cannot continue exposing local farmers to imported competition while ignoring the devastating effects of currency devaluation, insecurity and rising production costs.

The country urgently needs transparent agricultural policies, protection for local producers, massive investment in rural security, affordable agricultural inputs, low-interest financing and stable pricing mechanisms capable of protecting farmers from sudden market shocks. Above all, government must stop treating agriculture as a political tool and start treating it as the foundation of national survival.

The Nigerian farmer does not ask for charity. He asks only for fairness: the opportunity to cultivate his land, harvest his crops and sell his produce without being ruined by insecurity, inflation, import manipulation and politics masquerading as economic policy.

If these warning signs continue to be ignored, Nigeria may soon discover that the collapse of farming is not just a northern tragedy. It will become a national catastrophe.

TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s innovative-driven non-interest bank (NIB) has maintained its lead position as Nigeria’s biggest ethical bank based on the approved statements of financial positions of the NIBs by the regulatory authorities at the end of 2025 year.

The latest data from the FY2025 statement of the financial position of TAJBank, showed that the non-interest lender had consolidated its frontline position in the subsector based on Gross Assets and Profit values as well as in other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) ratings during the year.

In the year under review, TAJBank’s Total assets grew to N1.34 trillion from N953 billion in the preceding year, representing 41% growth; Gross earning assets surged to N847.706 billion, from N467.377 billion in FY 2024, indicating 81% surge; while Total Equity surged to N149.230 billion, reflecting 144% growth over the N61.250 billion in FY 2024.

A further analysis of the TAJBank’s FY2025 approved financial statement indicated that it posted N132.563 billion in Gross earnings, representing 71% growth over the N77.550 billion in the previous year; Earnings value of N1.037 trillion; while its Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by 74% to N31.562 billion in FY 2025, from N18.166 billion in FY2024; and the Capital adequacy ratio stood at 30%.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of TAJBank, Mr. Hamid Joda, said: ‘The improving performance of our bank is a clear demonstration of the board and management’s strong commitment to making TAJBank the best ethical bank in Nigeria by all assessment parameters.

‘We owe our shareholders, customers, regulatory authorities and workers a lot of gratitude for supporting our efforts targeted at transforming TAJBank into a global brand in the ethical banking space in the years ahead.’

Commenting on TAJBank’s performance during the year under review, a chartered banker and former Director-General of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, who cited the bank’s KPIs in the financial statement to justify his views, said the bank has made some progress and that its financial performance indicators between 2024 and 2025 suggest that.

Ogubunka, who is the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), described the bank’s performance as ‘an excellent evidence that the bank is aggressively penetrating its targets, especially at the rural areas, and thus contributing to the level of financial inclusion of the people nationwide. It is also a testament to the profitability and viability of the non-interest banking sector in Nigeria.’

The bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, said: ‘The FY2025 performance of TAJBank is in furtherance of its corporation vision and mission and I want to assure all our stakeholders, particularly the shareholders and customers, that our bank shall continually promote their interest in line with our corporate shared value always.’

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the training of 35 researchers in computational catalysis as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s industrial development and reduce dependence on foreign technical expertise.

The workshop, organised in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, is aimed at equipping researchers with advanced skills to develop homegrown solutions for challenges in the petroleum, petrochemical and energy sectors.

Speaking at the event, Shu’aibu Shehu-Aliyu, PTDF Executive Secretary said the initiative was designed to translate scientific research into practical industrial solutions and strengthen indigenous capacity in critical areas of the economy.

Represented by Hajiya Rabi Waziri, General Manager, Education and Training of Fund, Aliyu noted that computational catalysis has become a vital tool for accelerating innovation, improving efficiency and advancing research in the energy sector.

He stresses that Nigeria must build expertise in specialized fields to support sustainable economic growth.

In his remarks, Prof Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor, ABU who was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Bello Sabo, said the training reflects the university’s commitment to developing indigenous knowledge and reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign expertise for catalyst design, process modelling and computational optimisation.

Earlier, the PTDF Chair, Professor at Chemical Engineering Department,.ABU, Abdulazeez Yusuf-Atta, said the participants were selected through a competitive process and would serve as trainers who would transfer the knowledge gained to others across the country.

He explained that computational catalysis enables researchers to conduct simulations before laboratory experiments, thereby saving costs, time and energy while enhancing research efficiency.

The workshop attracted participants from different parts of Nigeria and the Republic of Chad, with stakeholders calling on PTDF to sustain the initiative to support rapid industrial and technological development in the country.

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB) has expressed concern over what it described as gaps in rehabilitation services across the country.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Prof. Rufai Ahmad, raised the concern on Tuesday in Abuja while outlining plans to strengthen rehabilitation services nationwide.

Ahmad said the Board would implement a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at integrating rehabilitation into Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving access to essential services for patients recovering from illness, injury and disability.

According to him, the reform programme will focus on expanding the rehabilitation workforce, revitalising rehabilitation centres across the country and digitising regulatory processes to enhance efficiency and service delivery.

He noted that the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, road traffic injuries, conflicts, disasters and the growing elderly population has significantly heightened the demand for rehabilitation services in Nigeria.

The registrar said the situation underscores the need for the country to strengthen its rehabilitation framework in line with the World Health Organisation’s Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative.

‘Rehabilitation is no longer a luxury but a critical component of healthcare. It enables individuals to regain mobility, independence, productivity and social inclusion after illness, injury or disability,’ Ahmad said.

He added that rehabilitation services play a vital role in improving quality of life and reducing the long-term burden of disease on individuals, families and the healthcare system.

‘One-third of the world’s population has health conditions that can benefit from rehabilitation. Nigeria is not exempted. The need is increasing daily, but the services remain unavailable or inaccessible to many citizens,’ he said.

Ahmad called for greater investment and collaboration among stakeholders to address existing gaps and ensure that rehabilitation services become an integral part of healthcare delivery across the country.

Gunmen have killed at least 24 people and injured several others in separate attacks on communities in Sokoto and Plateau states.

The attacks, which occurred on Sunday, claimed 17 lives in Sokoto State and seven in Plateau State, according to residents and community leaders.

In Sokoto, suspected bandits attacked Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area, killing 17 people, including seven visitors who had travelled to the area for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Residents said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and riding on about 150 motorcycles, stormed the community between 10 and 11am, shooting indiscriminately, looting shops and forcing residents to flee into nearby forests.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, alleged that the attackers departed from Bagega village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State and passed through Barayar Zaki in neighbouring Bukkuyum LGA before spending the night in Gizazza village ahead of the attack.

‘We received information about their movement on Saturday. Usually, whenever they want to attack our communities, they spend the night in nearby villages before launching the assault the following morning,’ he said.

The source said the attackers remained in the community for several hours after the killings, preventing residents from burying the victims until they left around 7pm.

‘They stayed in the village and nobody could come out to bury the dead. Funeral prayers were eventually conducted later that night after they left,’ he said.

According to him, five of the victims were visitors from Adarawa in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, while two others came from Gidan Gambo in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said about 20 shops were looted during the attack, while many families abandoned their homes and fled to neighbouring communities in Tureta, Shagari, Gummi and Bukkuyum local government areas.

The attackers reportedly moved to nearby communities, including Kukoki and Birnin Magaji, where they abducted some residents. However, the captives later escaped during a rainstorm that caused confusion among their abductors.

A resident alleged that the bandits returned to some neighbouring villages on Monday morning and continued shooting.

‘As I am speaking, I am hiding somewhere and can still hear gunshots,’ he claimed.

The residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments to deploy more security personnel to the area and improve road infrastructure to enable faster security response.

They warned that persistent attacks could affect farming activities, as many villagers were now afraid to return to their farmlands.

The residents also recalled that the latest attack was one of several deadly incidents recorded in the area in recent weeks, with dozens of people reportedly killed in previous raids.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said security operatives were aware of the incident and had taken control of the situation.

In Plateau State, seven people were killed and more than 10 others injured when gunmen attacked Gwom-Ajang village in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The attackers reportedly invaded the community at about 9.30pm on Sunday and opened fire indiscriminately on residents.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the attack, described it as another tragic reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting communities in the state.

He called on the government to intensify efforts to end the recurring violence, noting that the attacks had claimed many lives and destroyed property over the years.

Tengwong also urged security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible for the killings were apprehended and prosecuted.

Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo said the state command had reinforced security presence in Barkin Ladi to prevent further attacks and assist in ongoing investigations.